HEAD COACH BUCK Mitchel is speaking and he's pretending this is just another news conference and Jordan Givens is just another player. He's giving the opposite impression I got from him yesterday, and he now appears to agree that Jordan should be on the team.

Kiss ass, I say beneath my breath.

I'm in a piss-poor mood after losing valuable sleep the night before. I drank a bucketload of coffee this morning and the dark liquid did nothing to help the throbbing pain in my jaw from clenching my teeth throughout the torturous night.

A few minutes ago, Mitchel informed me I have the pleasure of tagging along with Miss Givens' entourage after the news conference when she's officially introduced to the team. I spent the entire night trying to find a way out of what would happen today. I was also under strict orders to keep my mouth shut about our new kicker. The news hit the media less than an hour ago and half the team has texted or tried to call me. My phone is on silent mode because I can't answer their questions. I hate this. These are my teammates and my position as captain is placing me in a bad spot.

During my sleepless hours, I also did my homework on Jordan Givens. I combed the internet for any story on Little Miss Field Goal. I watched the interview she did for News World when she was playing college ball. My anger stayed until she spoke about her mother. Yes, I have a heart. It was hard not to feel emotion when she teared up. News World also showed highlights of some of her games. I admit she's a talented kicker. But. There's a huge difference between community college ball and pro football. I have no idea why anyone would think she could play at our level. In the interview, they spoke to her high school and college coaches along with a few of the players. All appeared to have respect for her. That doesn't change the fact that no girl will make it in the pros. After one hit, she'll be carried off the field on a stretcher.

All I need to do is forget how damn sexy she is. She could be a runway model. Hell, she needs to give real consideration to another career. Last night, I replayed one section of video about twelve times because it showed her running off the field after a successful forty-yard field goal, removing her helmet, and smiling for the camera. Her smile got to me. Those damn lips belong in porn films.

"You have anything to add, Aiden?" a reporter asks and I realize I've paid little attention to the press conference. It's been basic small talk while the coaching staff prepares the press for the star of the hour. Hell, the century.

"I believe someone with Miss Givens' talent deserves a shot," I say in my best "it's all about team unity" voice.

"But you don't believe she'll make the grade," he replies with a laugh, putting words in my mouth. Doesn't matter that it's exactly how I feel, his tone pisses me off. This is only the beginning. The Pronghorns are a laughingstock as it is. This is icing on a moldy cakesticky, messy icing made with rotten eggs.

"She'll either prove herself or she won't. It's as easy at that." I'm such a liar. The woman doesn't have a shot in hell.

Cameras begin flashing and the entire audience turns to the door where Jordan makes her entrance. She smiles like she just won the Miss USA Pageant and God, she's wearing dark red lipstick that matches her silky shirt. Pro football players do not, I repeat, do not wear fucking lipstick. My entire body tightens like its preparing for a dive play with one yard needed to win the game. It's that damn little mouth of herspursed to perfectionthat makes my dick take notice again. Hell.

Everyone else at the table stands and reluctantly I take my feet, glad that all eyes are on her and no one is looking at my crotch. There is one chair available at the center of the table and it's directly next to mine. I pull out the chair and want to punch myself for acting the gentleman for a new fucking player. If she were a he, I'd be laughed out of the room. It's this kind of shit that proves we don't need women in football.

Her smile drops for a split second when she looks from my hands holding the chair up to my eyes. "Thank you," she says in that husky voice that gives my cock another jolt. Her attention turns to the crowd and she doesn't appear fazed in the least as she takes her seat.

"Miss Givens, Miss Givens." It's a massive volley of her name as the press tries to gain her attention and get the first question in.

She starts talking and of course there's too much noise to hear her. What the hell is she doing? I'm sitting beside her and can't make out a word she's saying. She doesn't stop and slowly the room becomes eerily quiet.

"answer your questions in an orderly fashion or not at all," she says in a calm, smoky voice. "I don't know any of you personally, so I think it best I defer to Coach Mitchel on whose questions I take first."

I peel my eyes off our new kicker who just quieted a room full of reporters and look at the coach. He gives her a chin nod and calls out Cloe Smythe by name. He's playing this smart and selects a woman who has inched her way up the sports reporter ladder.

"Miss Givens," she says.

"Please, call me Jordan."

"Thank you, Jordan. When did you decide you wanted to play pro football?"

Jordan folds her hands in front of her and interlocks her fingers. For the oddest reason I want to tug on the back of her braid and fluster her. She's just too damn calm. "I don't remember a time when I didn't want to play football. My father will tell you I sat quietly on his knee and watched entire games as a toddler. I was quite rambunctious, so sitting still for any length of time was a gift for my parents." Everyone laughs and hangs on every word that comes out of her prissy mouth as she continues speaking. "Playing football isn't a lark for me. I live, eat, and breathe the game. Right now good kickers are in high demand, so I'm getting a shot to play a game I've always loved."

"Are you a good kicker?" Cloe asks quickly.

"I'm one of the best," Jordan shoots back.

No hesitation. No doubt. Hell, she almost convinces me. Nervous laughter fills the room now. Or at least I think it sounds nervous. Coach calls the next reporter.

"You think kicking for a mediocre community college team makes you qualified to play pro football?" This comes from Mike Goodwyn, a local news sports reporter and radio personality. He slams the Pronghorns at every opportunity and seems to have the red-ass for me particularly. I've never liked the guy.

Jordan's back goes a tad straighter. "Aaron Rogers and Jordy Nelson didn't let the blind eye of Division 1-A colleges stop them from their dreams and I assure you, I wouldn't be here if I weren't qualified. I do understand what you're really asking, though. Can a girl play in the pros? You don't need to sugarcoat your questions with me. This girl can."

My gaze leaves Jordan and I glance at Larry Modiess. There's a sparkle in his eyes. He knew Jordan could handle this crowd. Her ability to meet them head-on leaves me feeling almost defeated, but she has no idea that a room full of reporters is nothing compared to a locker room full of jocks. Hell. The locker room. The thought of the male domain hadn't occurred to me yet. What the fuck will happen there? She'll obviously use the women's locker room which is available for stadium use during off season. I've never been in there but I know women's soccer tournaments are held here and they need a place for the ladies to change.

I miss Mike's second question but not her answer. "I'm not ignorant. Kickers are the unwanted step children of football. We're seen and rarely heard. Doesn't matter if you're a grade A kicker. Your teammates designate you as a second- or third-rate player. When I do my job, I'll be lucky if the second-string quarterback doubling as my holder gives me a high five. Glory for a kicker is a self-satisfying event. The offense and defense work their asses off and they don't enjoy having someone in a clean uniform walk out on the field and win the game. Personally, I don't blame them." Her gaze sharpens and her pouty lips tip into a condescending grin. "Maybe you should interview a few kickers, bone up on your game, and then come back with some new questions for me, Mike."

It isn't easy to hold back a chuckle at that hit. Mike's face turns a dark shade of red. Ha. He's my nemesis and I actually feel sorry for him. He's been schooled by a college kicker. I may not like her but she's smooth and knows her shit. Aaron Rogers and Jordy Nelson were passed up by college's 1-A division in high school. Aaron played one year at a community college before he was picked up by Cal Berkeley. Jordy was a walk-on for Kansas State. Jordan's rightthey didn't allow anyone to hold them back from their dreams, and look at them now.

The questions continue and Jordan tackles each like a pro. Damn, but I actually admire her. I just wonder who will be there to lift her mangled body off the field. As a kicker, she won't practice with the first-string players. Special teams is a rough group of guys who will make her life hell.

More questions fly and Jordan proves she understands the game and her part in it. The coach puts a stop to questions after an hour. It's time to meet the team and I have a feeling things won't run as smoothly.