Читать книгу Game On! - Dani Jace - Страница 10

Heath’s baby blues consumed Jordan like the hottest flame. From there, their meal ended quickly.

Maybe it was his southern charm, but he’d put her at ease and stirred the temptress in her. She initiated the body parts game as a tease.

Unlocking her plain sedan, she couldn’t help drooling over his jacked-up four by four with tires almost as tall as her car. Maybe one day she’d have a vehicle that represented her personality. Could she talk him into taking the bad machine down to OBX for a ride on the beach? She’d be willing to do something special for him. Damn, she was getting ahead of herself. They hadn’t even kissed yet.

As she turned to say goodbye, she nearly bumped into him. “Oops, sorry.”

“I’m not.” He snaked a hand around to her lower back, and tenderly brought her against him.

The man smelled like the ocean and felt like a solid wall of muscle. One she’d like to climb up and ride. Eager to taste the day’s body part, she ran a finger along his jaw.

His eyes darkened.

Leaning closer, she rose on her toes and nibbled his mouth. He was like standing next to a mountain.

He cupped the back of her head. “So sweet.”

She melted against him and locked her fingers behind his neck. “Interested in more?”

“Can’t wait.” He chuckled and pressed her against the car.

The bulge against her belly and his hot exploring tongue made her shiver. Her feet left the ground as he continued his sensual assault.

For a year, she’d been in exile, avoiding this. Avoiding men. Heath’s sexy kiss awakened the woman she’d hidden from herself and the world. This man fueled her desire in a bad way.

“Wow, it’d be fun to work a little longer on that part.” He brushed her hair behind her ear.

Her cheeks heated while she tingled all over. Afraid she’d lose control without some contemplation time, she begged off. “I’ll call you. Show you some of the local sights.”

“Already liking what I see.” He winked. Lighting a kiss to her cheek, he smiled and squeezed her hand. “Can’t wait.”

One kiss and damn.

Without the aid of a footstep, he slid into the high Jeep.

As she drove on autopilot, white lines zipped past. A fucking football player? So much for keeping a low profile when the owner of her favorite local restaurant already knew him.

She licked her lips, enjoying the lingering taste of his masculinity. Why her? She’d snatched a football out of mid-air right in front of him and then he’d guessed her profession. Did he like athletic women or had he grown bored with the groupie types?

Funny thing though, she didn’t feel athletic around him. Every bit of his six-foot-plus frame and two-hundred-plus pounds of hard male made her soft. Feminine in fact.

A first for her.

Richard had made her feel intellectual, attractive but astute. Then he sold her down the river as his adulteress tramp. She doubted she’d ever feel worthy again.

Jordan punched on the stereo and cranked the volume to drown her negative self-talk. Damn Good by Nickelback blared through the speakers, forcing her to smile. She bet her blond football god would surely be better than damn good!

But could she follow through on the game she started?

* * * *

The center snapped the ball. Heath blocked a tackle then sprinted through the defensive line. The ball bulleted overhead. With outstretched hands, he snagged the pigskin, stutter-stepped to avoid the cornerback, and gained another couple of yards. A thick arm snagged him at the hips.

“Nice catch buddy.” Dugan heaved his weight off Heath, and then offered a hand.

“Didn’t know it was you dragging my ass down.” Heath accepted the help and wiped the grass off his pants. “Thanks for being gentle.”

The whistle sounded for a break, and Dugan snapped loose his chin guard. “That’s not what GiGi was screaming last night.” He smacked Heath on the butt.

“Gotta a second date?” Hell, he was surprised he didn’t already have a standard invitation.

“Turns out I’ve got more stamina than her musician lays.” He wiggled his brows.

“Yeah, and you don’t usually pass out in your vomit.” Heath turned for the water station on the sideline.

“You’re just jealous I got the easy one.” He grabbed a line and guzzled.

Hardly, but Dugan needed to be the star. Like Jordan said, he liked the limelight. “Maybe I like the thrill of the chase.” He grinned and gunned some water over his head.

“Just don’t get dragged into any of her games. I’ll catch you later. Got some afternoon delight planned.”

Heath laughed. “Got it covered, buddy.” If Dugan only knew the game had Jordan offered him.

* * * *

From his view on the deck, surfers bobbed on the high tide afternoon swells. Heath itched to join them but couldn’t risk an injury. He’d grown up on the coast of South Carolina near Folly Beach. Since college, he’d been deprived of the Atlantic, and a lake wasn’t the same for an ocean lover.

With stomach growling, he returned inside to the kitchen. After tossing mixed lettuce in a large bowl, he loaded the salad with grilled chicken and poured on his vice of peppercorn dressing. A few sundried tomatoes served as croutons.

While eating, he fired up his computer hoping to video chat with his sister, Ashley. No response. Even though her husband made plenty of money, she’d never been a girl satisfied to sit at home. She worked at a law office while Jeremy was in pre-school. At twenty-four she already had a career and a family. Chasing the elusive football dream had Heath far behind in both.

Curiosity drove him to Google his game girl. He typed Jordan Walker and clicked on the first link, a newspaper article.

Richard Branscome, CEO of Bodies, a sports equipment chain from Richmond, has been removed from the board for inappropriate relations with Jordan Walker, a teacher in Hampton Roads, and captain of a woman’s semi-pro lacrosse team sponsored by the corporation.

The fork fell from his fingers. Digging deeper, he searched Mr. Branscome. The man was a staunch supporter of women’s sports in the state. It didn’t take long to also surmise the man was a high-class hound and young female athletes were his prey. Somehow Jordan had gotten caught in his web. If he hadn’t been privy to similar situations while elbowing amongst pro football players, he might not have believed her innocent plea. He knew a player who kept a secret house where he and his friends and teammates invited ladies and partied hard.

He distinctly remembered Jordan scrutinizing his left hand at the café. She might have been gullible, but he didn’t believe her the type to knowingly carry on with a married man.

After lunch with more than food for thought, he drove to Sandbridge where he’d first met Jordan. The multitude of vehicles surprised him. Several teens unhitched surfboards as he passed. “No school today, guys?”

“Last day, early release, dude!” The lanky one grinned.

Heath found a quiet spot on the surfing side and planted his chair. Before long, the noise of beachgoers blended into the lulling surf while thoughts of Jordan filled his twilight sleep. Hopefully, with the school year finished, his hottie teacher would be free to play their little game over the summer.

* * * *

Jordan clicked save after entering the last grade and shut off the computer for the summer. While lying low after her legal troubles, she sighed in relief having made it through the school year. Her cell phone buzzed on the desk.

“You didn’t call me back on Sunday. Did you meet him for brunch?” GiGi didn’t even wait for her to say hello.

Crap, she’d hoped GiGi’s fun with Dugan and her trip to New York had dulled her memory. She grabbed a box and started unloading her desk. “Yep. It was nice.”

“Hold on a second, Jordan. Let me double check this order before sending it to the vendor. Found some great fabrics here this week.” Clicking keys followed. “Okay sister, give it up.”

“He’s a guy in town for a few weeks and I’m not looking for a relationship.” Just needed a hot body taking her to heights she’d only imagined.

“Jordan, are you actually clamming up on me?”

“You know they’re both players on the new Tritons football team, don’t you?” She closed the box, ready to sprout wings and fly away in freedom.

“Say what?” GiGi let out a long whistle. “Sneaky fuckers!”

“Your guy’s a middle linebacker, so no wonder he’s meat on the hoof.” Jordan laughed.

“And between those massive thighs, too.” GiGi moaned. “If I hadn’t had to pack and fly out for this fashion show, I would have kept him at my place the rest of the weekend.”

How many dates would it take to reach that particular body part on Heath? Warmth built in Jordan’s lower stomach and migrated down. Maybe she could surprise him and skip straight to the ‘D.’ “So are you hooking up with Dugan again when you get back?”

“Yes ma’am. I ain’t done ridin’ that bull yet. Told him I’d be busy while in New York and I’d call after my flight back on Thursday. Now you’ve got me thinking I should text him. Maybe I should send him a cleavage shot to give him a reminder.” She giggled. “Why waste a chance to show off this designer bra. What about you and Mr. Dreamy Eyes?”

So she had noticed those stunning baby blues in spite of the meat man. “I offered to be his local tour guide, no strings attached.”

“Good girl. Heard he’s coming off an evil woman and out for some summer fun like you.”

So body parts it would be. Jordan frowned, unsettled about how much she longed to see him again. “We’ll get together for lunch when you get back. Get a freebie dress from the fashion show to loan me. One that will bring him to his knees.”

“Only if I can watch!” GiGi razzed her before disconnecting.

Forever notorious that girl.

With a pang of regret, Jordan packed some of the lacrosse gear she’d loaned to the new coach for the season. She said goodbye to her fellow PE teachers, the office staff then loaded her car destined for home.

Still paying lawyer’s fees, she’d given up her apartment, hoping to get out of the hole. She turned into her parent’s fancy bricked driveway. With no raises for city and school employees in the last three years, she doubted her residence would change in the near future.

Her dad stepped out the front door as she started unloading. “Let me help you.”

“I’ve got it, Dad.”

He rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt. Though he had a desk job, he stayed in shape playing tennis. His protective and giving nature demanded he help her until the boxes sat stacked in her room over the garage.

“Are you going out tonight?” He knew the usual school’s-out parties that she used to attend.

Her life had changed dramatically after being cross-examined by a bulldog lawyer and having her whole life exposed for the public’s eye. Her Dad admitted it was one of the most painful moments in his life. He even said he wished he could have taken her burden.

“I’m meeting a friend for dinner.”

His eyes brightened. “Glad you’ve started to get out again, hon.”

He wouldn’t have lectured her about going out with a guy she just met, but Jordan decided against mentioning Heath. He was just body parts.