Hart, Catherine

by Impulsive

  "Besides Mr. James?" Claudia inquired archly.

  Jess ignored the jibe. Ty grinned openly. "Please, call me Ty, or Tyler. No point in standing on formality at this stage, is there?"

  Jess shot him a glare. "One of the other players is married to Corey Rome, the model," she said to her mother. "She's very sweet, and not in the least stuck-up, despite her fame."

  "I'll bet she's also tall and thin, like you," Claudia supposed. "Maybe she could give you some pointers on the latest styles." Claudia's gaze swept over Jess's worn jeans and faded T-shirt, a look of weary resignation on her face.

  "I'm already on top of that," Ty assured her. To Jess, he added, "Why don't you show your mother your new duds. I'll bet it's been years since she's seen you in a pair of high heels."

  "High heels?" Claudia echoed incredulously. "My stars! This I've got to see to believe!"

  By the end of her visit, short as it was, Claudia was duly impressed. After kissing Jess goodbye, she offered her hand to Ty. "I must say, you have excellent taste, Tyler. I wouldn't have guessed it."

  He took her hand, but rather than merely shaking it, he brought it to his lips and kissed her fingers. Then, as if the courtly gesture was too much, he winked. "Modesty aside, I have to agree. I have superb taste. I chose your daughter, didn't I?"

  CHAPTER 13

  They were supposed to use their flight time to review the playbook and strategies, and to psych themselves up for the upcoming game, but it was nearly impossible to concentrate with one flight attendant or another interrupting every second or two. It got so ridiculous that Jess was becoming greatly perturbed.

  "Good grief! You'd think you guys were rock stars or something, the way these women are hovering over all of you!"

  "Jealous, love?" Ty teased.

  Jess scowled. "Yes, blast it. They could at least have one good-looking steward to attend to us girls."

  Ty frowned. "That's not what I meant, Jess. I was asking if it bothered you to have other women showing an interest in me."

  "I know what you were fishing for," she grumbled, "and the answer, again, is yes. As absurd as it may seem, I guess I'm already used to having you to myself."

  "Me, too," he admitted, taking her hand in his and stroking her fingers. "I just needed to know if you felt the same."

  Phoenix was hot, but dry. Given even a smidgeon of humidity, the hundred-degree temperature would have been unbearable. The air-conditioned hotel felt wonderful. This time around, Corey had come along, so Gabe would be staying with her. Jess was slated to room with the cheerleaders again, but it didn't take much talking for Ty to persuade her to share his quarters instead.

  "Should I at least make some pretense, for propriety's sake?" Jess asked in a low voice. "I could have my bags sent to my room and only bring what I need to yours."

  Ty chuckled and shook his head. "What good would that do? Even if you waited until the others were all asleep and sneaked down to my room, they'd still know. You wouldn't be fooling anyone, Jess, so we might as well be up front about it."

  "I suppose you're right," she conceded, "but I don't want to get you into trouble with Coach Danvers. After all, aren't you jocks supposed to conserve your energy the night before a game?"

  "As in no sex?" he questioned with a wide grin. "Get real, sweetheart. That old myth went out with the Model T."

  She grinned back at him. "I was hoping you'd say that."

  Ty laughed and hugged her close to his side. "That's my horny little bunny," he whispered into her ear, his warm breath making her shiver. "We humping wabbits have got to stick together."

  "Sure do, you wiley wascal," she retorted on a giggle.

  The phone was ringing before they got their door open. "Oh, come on," Ty said wryly. "Our neighbors can't be onto us yet. We haven't even made it out of the hall, let alone into bed!"

  Ty answered the call. It was Corey, wanting to know if he and Jess would join her and Gabe for dinner and dancing that evening. While Corey waited on the line, Ty relayed the request to Jess.

  "I don't dance very well," Jess told him ruefully. "Not too many guys care to look as if they're dancing with a giraffe, so my experience has been severely limited."

  Ty shrugged. "We can go along and enjoy the music if nothing else. Maybe try a slow number or two. You did bring that black dress and your heels, didn't you?"

  Jess nodded.

  "Corey, we'd love to join you. What time?" A pause, then, "That's fine. I'd like to get in a little pool time and enjoy some of this Arizona weather first. What? Sure. We'll look for you at the pool in about fifteen minutes, then."

  He hung up, only to find Jess with a dismal look on her face. "Let me guess. You didn't bring your swimsuit."

  "No, and I wouldn't wear it if I had," she told him. "Ty, when are you going to get it through your head that I'm extremely self-conscious about exposing my body for everybody's viewing. I don't need to advertise the fact that I'm skinny and have small breasts."

  "Babe, you're being silly. There are women who would kill to have your shape, breasts and all. Just ask any of a zillion females who have been counting calories all their lives. You are slim, trim, and have the most incredible legs in the world. You'd be a knockout in a bikini."

  "In your dreams, hotshot."

  "There, and elsewhere," he vowed. He dug his swim trunks out of his suitcase, grabbed her arm, and steered her toward the door. "Come on. We're going down to that shop off the lobby, and I am going to buy you a new swimsuit."

  "I won't wear it," she replied stubbornly.

  "Yes, you will, if I have to go into the ladies' room and stuff you into it myself," he threatened in return.

  Ty was as good as his word. When Jess refused to cooperate, he chose a couple of suits himself and literally pushed her into the changing stall. "If you're not out of there in two minutes, modeling one of those suits, I'm going in after you."

  "Damn bossy jock!" she muttered, yanking off her top. "Give him an inch, and he wants a mile." Her bra went the way of her blouse.

  "I heard that," he called from just outside the door. "That's what all the fellas say about you ladies. Give you an inch and—"

  "Oh, shut up!" she snapped, dropping her slacks to the floor. "Just stick a sock in it, will you?"

  She emerged wearing a red one-piece, similar to the style worn by Olympic swimmers. Ty studied her in it. "Nice, but it doesn't trip my trigger." He waved her inside again.

  Next, she came out wearing a blue two-piece, with a little fringe skirt. Ty shook his head. "Too frilly. It hides your hips."

  Jess almost laid a brick when she tried on the third suit and saw herself in the mirror. While it was probably modest compared to the thong things other women wore these days, it was still a bikini and covered less than the other two-piece. Not only that, but it was simply too bright, sort of a neon yellow, and extremely... noticeable. It was designed to attract altogether too much attention to the wearer, especially if that person were her.

  "Ty, I can't wear this yellow suit," she called out to him.

  "Why? Isn't it the right size?"

  "Yeah, if you count wearing a couple banana-colored handkerchiefs as being decently covered."

  "Let me see."

  "No."

  "Jess, get your butt out here."

  She poked her head out first, glancing around to make sure no one else was looking in her direction. "Look fast, buster," she instructed, inching out of the booth. "God forbid anyone else should see me in this."

  Ty stood gaping, his eyes all but bulging from their sockets. When he finally found his tongue, he let loose a low whistle. "Holy Moses! That's the one, Jess! That says it all!"

  "You've got to be kidding!" she hissed. "I feel like an idiot!"

  "Well, you look fantastic," he assured her. His grin grew. "I had a feeling this was the one I'd like. There's just something about those two big eyes on your breasts, and that smiley mouth on the bottom half. A touch of whimsy, if you will. And it makes your bell
y button look like a nose."

  "I'm so glad you're amused." Her look said otherwise. "Who has ever heard of a smiley-face bikini?"

  "We're buying it," he announced.

  "You can buy it, but I am not wearing it in public," she informed him.

  "That's what you think." In the blink of an eye, Ty darted into the changing stall, grabbed her clothes, and rolled them into a bundle. "C'mon. Gabe and Corey are waiting for us."

  He started for the sales counter, her clothes tucked under his arm.

  "Tyler! You get back here!"

  "No way. Now, stop being such a child, and loosen up. If you don't trust my judgement, you can at least let Corey see you in it and give you her opinion."

  Jess was left with little choice but to sprint after Ty, who was nearly running to keep ahead of her. She couldn't believe hotel security didn't nab her for indecent exposure as she loped down the hall toward the access door to the pool area. Moreover, she'd never in her born days felt so utterly conspicuous—so totally exposed! Or so righteously irate! When she caught up with him, she was going to kill Tyler James and stuff his drowned corpse down the pool drain!

  Gabe was the first to see them coming. His greeting froze in his throat as his jaw dropped comically. A single word emerged. "Wow!"

  Corey turned to see, and her expression mirrored her husband's. "Whoa, gal!" she exclaimed, her face bursting into a smile. "Now you're showing your true colors, and these guys don't stand a snowball's chance in hell against your arsenal, honey. They might as well surrender from the start and save their energy."

  "Any other man gets within ten feet of her, and I'll lay him flat," Ty declared loudly.

  By now Jess was breathless and next to tears. "Will you people please stop making fun of me?" she beseeched. "This wasn't my idea. It was Ty's. And I'm so mad right now I could spit!"

  "Jess, sugar, we're not teasing you," Corey proclaimed sincerely. "Honestly. I meant every word. You are simply stunning in that suit, and any male with eyeballs will verify that."

  "You can say that again," Gabe agreed.

  "Seriously?" Jess asked querulously. "I look okay?"

  "More than okay," Ty told her. "You're a knockout."

  "So why aren't you dressed for swimming?" Gabe inquired of Ty.

  "I was too busy trying to get Jess out here, but if you two will keep her corralled so she doesn't go back inside and change, I'll go get into my own suit. And don't let any of those drooling pool gigolos near her while I'm gone."

  "Home, James." Jess giggled, and punched Ty on the arm. "I've always wanted to say that!"

  Ty grinned and pulled her closer to him in the backseat of the taxi, making room for Corey to get in. "You're sloshed, love," he told her.

  Jess fluttered her hand, as if swatting a mosquito. "Nah, I'm just feelin' good." That set her off, and she began to sing. "I feel good. So good. Yeah!"

  On the other side of her, Corey laughed. "I'll bet you won't be feeling so perky in the morning."

  From the front passenger's seat, Gabe added, "Just let us know if you need to have the driver pull over to the side of the road. Feel free to pass out any time you want, but please don't puke in the car."

  "Oh, you guys are being so silly!" Jess hooted. "I just had a couple of margaritas."

  "A couple?" Ty echoed. "You had two at dinner, and at least three at the nightclub, despite all the time we spent on the dance floor."

  "I like that place," Jess announced. "The people are so friendly."

  "Right," Ty agreed mockingly. "Even when you bump into them and step on their toes. God knows, I'll be hobbling all through the game tomorrow."

  "Me, too," Gabe concurred. "But I guess it was worth it to see Jess loosen up the way she did. Who would have guessed it?"

  Corey chuckled. "You were really shaking your booty out there, Jess, high heels and all."

  "I never went to the prom," Jess mused in a faraway tone. "No one asked me, and it would have been foolish to buy a dress just to sit on the sidelines like some dumb wallflower." She ran her hand over the skirt of her new dress. "I felt so... pretty tonight, all dressed up like this."

  "Sweetheart, you are pretty, even when you're not all dolled up," Ty assured her, giving her a hug.

  "Of course you are," Corey added. "And don't you let anybody try to tell you differently."

  "You do have sort of an extra glow about you tonight," Gabe put in kindly. "I thought it was your sunburn, but maybe it's just the real you showing through."

  Jess pushed a lock of hair from her face. "It was probably all that dancing. Whew! I really worked up a thirst."

  Ty's mouth twisted in a wry smile. "We noticed. Which is why I'll bet you're going to have one dandy hangover tomorrow and not remember half of what you did tonight."

  In the hotel elevator, Jess leaned against Ty's side and hummed happily to herself. As the doors opened on their floor, Ty scooped her into his arms and carried her down the hall toward their room. "I'd better pour her into bed before she collapses face first," he remarked to the other two.

  "I'd offer to help, but I'm sure you can handle undressing her on your own," Corey said with a grin. " 'Night, now. Have fun."

  Over Ty's shoulder, Jess waggled her fingers at Gabe and Corey, who had stopped in front of their own door. " 'Night, all. Don't do anything we wouldn't do."

  Ty rolled his eyes. "Oh, boy! Remind me not to ply you with liquor anytime in the near future."

  He got her inside and set her on the bed. Kneeling beside her, he slipped her heels off and began massaging her arches.

  Jess purred. "Oh, that feels marvelous. I'll give you a month to stop." She reached out to thread her fingers through his hair, savoring the silky feel of it. "It's like spun gold," she murmured. "So soft and shiny. Have I told you that you're the first blond I've dated?"

  "I don't believe you mentioned it." He delved beneath her skirt to tug at her panty hose.

  Jess giggled. "Is it true that blonds have more fun?"

  "Yeah, it's a regular riot." He finally managed to peel them down her legs.

  Reaching behind her for the zipper of her dress, he was already off balance when Jess leaned back, pulling him with her onto the bed. She pursed her lips close to his. "Kiss me quick, before I turn into a pumpkin."

  They shared a long, slow, torrid kiss that left them both wanting when their lips finally parted. Jess, now lying half over him, sighed and rested her head on his chest. Her fingers found his shirt buttons and began working them loose, while Ty took the opportunity to unzip the back of her dress and unsnap her bra.

  Jess burrowed her nose in Ty's chest hair, her hands now wandering to his belt buckle. "You smell so delicious. Good enough to eat." She lapped at his exposed nipple, giving a low laugh as it tightened into a rigid bud.

  Ty shoved the sagging top of her dress to her waist, along with her bra. "Don't start anything you can't finish, darlin'."

  Her dress pooled around her hips as she pushed herself up to her knees. "Don't worry about it, big guy." Her hand slid into the open gap of his trousers to cup him through his shorts. Her fingers kneaded gently, eliciting a groan of pleasure from him.

  For someone he'd judged to be fairly intoxicated, Jess was remarkably dexterous and definitely in an amorous mood. Ty didn't know whether to let her continue, or to put a stop to it before she pushed him any farther. Like as not, she was two blinks from passing out and leaving him all hot and bothered.

  Before he could decide which course to take, Jess had him free of his pants and engulfed in her hot, sweet mouth. Her hair fell in a sleek curtain around her face, adding to the torment by tickling his stomach. Ty reached down and anchored it back. He wanted to watch her, to revel in the look of desire blossoming on her face as she suckled him. It had to be the most sensual thing he'd ever witnessed—her eyes glowing through half-closed lids; her face all flushed; her lips, moist and rosy, gliding up and down over his engorged shaft.

  Before she took him to the point of explo
ding, Ty reversed their positions, barely remembering to sweep her dress aside as he knelt between her thighs. His mouth claimed one pert nipple as he plunged into her, burying himself in her silken depths.

  The dual assault sent Jess into a frenzy. She thrashed beneath him, her head thrown back and her hips arching upward to meet his. Her hands clawed at him, urging him on—faster, deeper, harder—until their entwined bodies burst into a million sizzling shards, flaring high above them, only to enshroud them moments later in a glorious glimmer.

  CHAPTER 14

  Jess's hangover wasn't nearly as bad as Ty had predicted, for which she was supremely grateful. Moreover, she remembered everything they had done the night before, including their passionate coupling, in vivid detail.

  "I don't believe it," Ty groused. "You get soused to the gills and don't even have to pay with a hangover. However, now that I know you can handle your liquor that well, and how aggressive you become when you've tipped a few, I just may be tempted to ply you with it more often." He waggled his brows at her playfully. "You really were hot to trot last night, honey bunny. In fact, if I hadn't given in so readily, you'd probably have ravished me, whether I was willing or not."

  "Ha! I told you before, you're entirely too easy."

  "Hey, Jess! Where were you last night?" Pepper asked, sidling up to Jess as they stood on the sidelines awaiting the start of the game. "Your bed wasn't even slept in."

  "Now, Pep, you know she was with Ty," Destiny put in before Jess could reply for herself. "Why would she want to room with us, when she can bed down with a hunk like him?"

  "Why, indeed?" Jazz commented with a naughty wink.

  "Okay, you three. Enough already," Jess told them, her face turning pink. She still wasn't used to being teased this way by other women. Not tormented, but teased in a friendly manner that held no rancor. Moreover, she was surprised to find that the more she got to know them, the more she liked these gals.

  Pepper was a hoot, her sense of humor as earthy as her voice. That sexy, raspy timbre, Jess had learned, was a result of a childhood accident that had damaged Pepper's vocal chords. Thus the nickname. Jazz's name was a shortened version of her real one, which was Jasmine. Actually, Jazz fit her better, for she was energetic to the point of being hyperactive. Destiny's ditzy outlook on life, and her name, were a direct result of being raised by hippie parents. Though somewhat spacey, she didn't have a mean bone in her body.