“I guessed as much when you stalked out mad as hell. I still want you, but I’m willing to earn my way into your bed. Not assume you’ll automatically let me there.”
Awareness—no, anticipation buzzed through her body. “You’re here to let me know you’re planning to seduce me?”
He straightened from the door and shook his head. “I do think you should know that I’m perfectly willing to pick up where we left off, but that’s not why I’m here. The other reason for this visit is because I need a favor that involves the River Watchers.”
Her brain fought to keep up. He wanted a repeat of that night? That shouldn’t make her so giddy. Pushing the giddiness firmly aside, she focused on the second statement. “A favor? Really?”
“Really.”
“What kind of favor?”
He rubbed his hands together and examined the various framed awards and news clippings on her office wall. “I’d like to volunteer, do some things to improve my image by helping the environment.” He focused back on her.
“Why?” She crossed her arms and studied him.
“Out of the goodness of my heart.”
She shook her head. “Not buying it. Try again.”
He grinned, completely unperturbed by her reply. “You’re still a hard-ass.”
“I still know when you’re avoiding getting to the point. Why do you suddenly want to help an organization you hadn’t heard of before Saturday?”
“I’ve got a five-game suspension. It’s going to be announced later today. I need something to boost my image in my free time.” He said “free time” as if it were a bad word. For him, she guessed it was. She could imagine how frustrated she’d be if someone took her work away from her.
“What do you have in mind?”
“I checked your website and saw that you have a few things coming up. A cleanup and silent auction. I’ll come help, invite the media, and show everyone that I’m more than just a distraction for the team.”
“You’ve got it all figured out.”
“Those were just my thoughts. You’re the head of this thing. You tell me where you need me to be and I’ll be there.”
She frowned, not sure if she liked the idea. The part of her that needed ticket sales for the gala knew having the star of the Gators attend her events would bring much needed attention, ticket sales and donations the River Watchers desperately needed.
The skeptical part thought this was an offer too good to be true. In her memory, those types of situations always ended with her left behind and forgotten.
“I can tell you’re not convinced,” he said. “I know having me around might cause a headache for you guys. I don’t want to cause you too much trouble. If you’d like, we can go out to dinner and discuss the arrangements.”
Skeptical, Danielle smirked. “We don’t need to go to dinner to discuss you volunteering here.”
“I know that. The dinner is my way of getting you out on a date.” He held up two fingers. “Two birds with one stone.”
Danielle stood and placed her hands on her hips. “Volunteering isn’t how you earn your way into my bed.”
Jacobe stepped away from the door. With one long stride, he stood before her in the pitifully small office. “Volunteering is only about my basketball image. I came here straight from a meeting with my agent, coach, PR and one of the owners. My suspension right before play-offs is making them question resigning me next year.”
Danielle doubted the Gators would turn away a talent like Jacobe just because of one disciplinary action. But he had been traded because of his outbursts. His point might be valid, but the look in his eyes said something else was on the line.
“What’s really at stake? This isn’t just about re-signing with the Gators.”
His head tilted to the side and surprise filled his gaze. “Why do you think it’s something else?”
“Just a feeling.”
He was quiet for a few seconds before speaking up. “Are you in the habit of turning down people who want to volunteer?”
Fine. He could keep his secrets. As long as he understood she wasn’t going to fall at his feet just because he was bringing publicity to the River Watchers.
“We can discuss volunteer opportunities right here in the office. It doesn’t have to be over dinner.”
“If it’ll make you feel better, we can do that. I still want to take you out tonight.” He tugged on the edge of her sweater, right above her breasts. “Consider a date as the second half of my apology.”
“The first half was more than enough.”
“Then consider it two old friends catching up.”
“We were hardly friends.”
“Then accept the fact that I just want to spend a little time with you. No expectations and no strings attached.” He took her hand in his and threaded their fingers together. “Believe it or not, I’ve thought of you a few times over the years and my thoughts weren’t always about that night. I really do want to go out with you tonight.”
His eyes never left hers. There was nothing sly or mocking in his gaze. The look, his smile and the delicious heat from his body delivered a sensual knockout that nearly stole her voice.
“Jacobe, we shouldn’t blur the lines.”
“Danielle, even if I found another organization to volunteer for I’d still be here asking you out.” He pulled slightly on her hand until she shifted closer to him. “One date. That’s all. Okay?”
His thumb brushed lazily across the inside of her palm. The light touch sent delicious shivers over her body. His gaze grabbed hers and held it hostage. Danielle was lost in the brown depths and lulled bythe slow play of his hands on her. Jacobe’s gaze lowered to her lips. Danielle felt every excited beat of her heart throughout her body.
She nodded. “One date.”
His eyes heated to delicious pools of melted chocolate. He leaned closer. He was going to kiss her. Danielle’s heart jackhammered.
She jumped back. He immediately let go. Her arm hit a small stack of papers on her desk. The sheets flew to the floor. Turning away from him, she quickly bent to pick them up. “Um...as for volunteering, I’ll let you talk with Debra. She helps coordinate volunteers.” She slapped the papers on her desk. He stood in the middle of the small path to the door. She tried to quickly scoot past him without touching.
Her breasts brushed his chest. White-hot desire slammed into her. Her nipples tightened. Danielle jerked forward and almost tripped. When he reached out to help her, she held her hand away and righted herself.
“No worries, I’m good.” She glanced at his face. He was watching her, smiling. Danielle looked away and opened the door. “I’ll get Debra.” She hurried out of the room before she turned into even more of a stuttering ninny.
Chapter 4
“What’s really going on between you and Jacobe?” Debra asked as she and Danielle skimmed a row of party dresses in Revelry Dress Shop.
The second she’d agreed to a date with Jacobe, Danielle realized she had nothing to wear for a date with a NBA superstar. Her dating life of the past few years had been filled with other men from the conservation field. Hiking, biking, and kayaking with the occasional dinner at Applebees. Jacobe hadn’t said where he was taking her, only that he’d text with the details.
“Nothing. It’s just two friends catching up.” She picked up a pink sequined scrap of material she assumed was supposed to be a dress. “What’s this? Why did you bring me here? I said I needed help picking an outfit for a date, not prom.”
Debra laughed and pushed back several other dresses on the rack in front of her. “You said you didn’t have anything to wear.”
“I thought we’d just go to the mall.”
Debra leaned close. “You’re going out with Jacobe Jenkins.” Her voice was low as if conve
ying a big secret. “He’ll probably take you to a nightclub. Do you have a nightclub dress?”
“No.” She eyed Debra’s Supernatural T-shirt and gray earrings in the shape of a skeletal hand. “Do you?”
“No, but if I needed one this is where I’d go. Now look.” Debra pointed to the dresses.
Danielle sighed and looked through the dresses. “This isn’t necessary. I just needed a simple dress and a new sweater. This isn’t going to be a big deal.”
“You don’t know that. He came all the way downtown to apologize for whatever he did to piss you off after the game.”
Danielle hadn’t told Debra exactly what Jacobe said. Doing so would require revealing they’d slept together in college. She’d just said he’d been the same jerk she remembered.
“He’s volunteering to help us,” Debra said.
“To help his image.”
“But it still helps us. And he asked you out. For once don’t be so doubtful and just have a little fun.”
“I’m not being doubtful, I’m being realistic. In what world does the professional basketball star fall for the conservation girl?”
“I don’t know. Yours maybe.”
“Look, I’ve been here before. Professional athletes have an unlimited access to money and women. Long term relationships aren’t on their agenda.”
“Hold up. Wait a minute.” Debra turned to face Danielle and leaned one arm on top of the dress rack. “You’ve been here? I need the, who, what, when and where?”
Danielle nearly swore. She didn’t like talking about what happened with her ex-boyfriend. She’d never mentioned him to Debra. She straightened her glasses and turned back to the dresses. “It’s a figure of speech.”
“Spill it, Danielle. Come on, I thought we were friends.”
“We are.”
“Then tell me the story. You hear all of my baggage. Spill yours.”
Danielle stopped searching to glance at Debra. She had the determined look that said she wasn’t going to let the subject die. Why not tell her? Maybe then she’d realize this date with Jacobe meant nothing.
“I dated Luke Kinard in college,” Danielle kind of mumbled.
Debra’s jaw dropped. “Luke Kinard? Like, professional football player, Luke Kinard?”
Danielle tried to give a no-big-deal shrug. This is why she didn’t talk about Luke much. People got overly excited about a disappointing time in her life. “Yeah. We met at an Earth Day clean up my sophomore year and hit it off. We dated through college. I knew he wanted to go pro, but we both never really thought he would. He wasn’t drafted, but he decided to try to be a walk on in Philadelphia. He said if he made it, we’d move to Philly and get married.”
A line of confusion formed between Debra’s brows. “He made it. He’s one of their biggest defensive linemen.”
“After he go the offer, he told me about the women who throw themselves at rookies. How much time he’ll have to spend at practices and learning the play book. He didn’t break up with me. I don’t think he wanted to, but I could tell he didn’t want to miss out on all the perks of being in the league. So, I broke up with him. Took the job with the River Watchers and moved on.”
“That sucks.”
“No, it’s reality.”
“But weren’t you upset?”
She had been upset. Hurt. She and Luke had talked about marriage. They both had similar interests. She’d loved him, and she believed he had loved her. He would have tried to make their relationship work. She hadn’t wanted them to end up hating each other because of the pressures from being in the league.
“It was better that way. We’re still friends. I meet up with him for lunch whenever he’s in town.”
“Wait? The friend Luke you meet up with every so often is Luke Kinard? Geez, Danielle, I can’t believe you didn’t tell me Luke was Luke Kinard!” Debra sounded a little hurt by the revelation.
“Only because I didn’t want to sound like I was bragging. We’re just friends now.”
“Friends or not, that’s important background information. Dang, first you know Jacobe Jenkins now you’re Luke Kinard’s ex-girlfriend. What next, is Halle Berry your cousin?”
Danielle laughed. “No. There are no other celebrities in my background.”
Danielle’s phone chimed with the text message alert. She pulled the phone from her purse. “It’s from Jacobe.” She read the message. “He wants to go bowling. He’s asking if I mind.”
“Bowling?”
Danielle grinned. “Yes! Thank goodness.” She put the pink monstrosity back on the rack. “I really didn’t want to wear a sequined party dress and go to a nightclub.” She texted back that bowling was cool. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Bowling?” Debra said again and followed Danielle to the door. “That’s not very romantic.”
“Exactly. What did I tell you? We’re just two friends catching up with each other. There’s nothing that’s going to come of this.”
“I swore there were sparks between you two.”
Sparks, flames, knee melting electric energy. All of that flowed through Danielle whenever Jacobe was near. She’d been burned by that flame before. She wasn’t about to get burned again.
Danielle pushed open the door of the dress shop and marched out to the warm spring air. “Forget sparks. All I want, and need, from Jacobe is his help selling tickets to the gala to save the River Watchers.”
* * *
Jacobe chose bowling for several reasons. One, he liked to bowl. He’d bought the bowling alley after the owner wanted to let it go a year ago. He frequented the place enough to not be mobbed by fans. Guaranteeing a little bit of privacy for him and Danielle without being too intimate. He also remembered seeing Danielle at the bowling alley in college a few times and hoped she still enjoyed playing.
“I hope you don’t mind bowling?” he asked as he opened one of the double glass doors to let her in. In his other hand he carried the bag that held his bowling ball and shoes.
The sounds of music along with the crack of bowling balls against pins filled the air. She wore a pair of sexy black jeans that hugged her hips, a ruffled white top and a cute black cardigan with a flower on the breast. She wasn’t wearing heels and he could look down at the top of her head, making him infinitely aware of how small and feminine she was.
“I don’t mind,” she said. “I haven’t bowled in a while. This might be fun. Don’t you own this place?”
The smell of her light flowery perfume drifted around him as she passed. He took a deep breath to take in more of her. “You know I own this place?”
“You’re a local celebrity. I saw something on a news report once.”
“I sponsor most of the leagues that play here. When the previous owner started to shut it down, I stepped in so they wouldn’t have to find a new place to play or quit all together.”
She glanced up at him as they made their way to get bowling shoes. “Wow, that’s a lot of investment.”
“I like bowling.”
“I do, too, but not enough to buy a bowling alley. Why do you love bowling so much?” Her big brown eyes were filled with curiosity.
“I said I like bowling. Not that I love it,” he deflected.
“To buy this place so the teams could keep playing says you love it. Why?”
He shrugged. “Just do. I played a lot as a kid.” He turned away from her curious gaze to look at the guy behind the shoe-exchange counter. “What’s up, Dennis. I brought a friend in for a few rounds.”
Danielle turned around to greet Dennis. Usually, when asked why he’d bought a bowling alley, he answered because he liked bowling. At that response, people just moved on. He didn’t get into why he liked bowling. After his dad was killed, his grandfather would take Jacobe bowling on Wednesday nig
hts. They’d kept up the routine for years until his grandfather passed away. Those Wednesday night bowling sessions had kept Jacobe sane after the craziness of his dad’s passing. But to tell Danielle that meant he had to reveal too much of himself.
“I hope you have a good arm,” Dennis was saying to Danielle. He pointed to Jacobe. “This guy is serious about bowling.”
Danielle handed over her flats and took the shoes Dennis held out to her. “I’m decent. I think I can hold my own against him.”
“I wish you luck then.” Dennis looked at Jacobe. “You got your shoes, or you need a pair?”
Jacobe held up the shoes in his hand. “Brought mine.”
“You have your own shoes?” Danielle said as they walked toward the first alley. It was against the far wall, with two empty alleys between them and the other people out bowling. Jacobe smiled and nodded at the regulars he recognized.
“Yeah.”
“But you just like bowling. I think there’s more to the story.”
She smiled at him, and it was so cute he couldn’t help but smile back. “Maybe there is, but I’m not ready to tell the story.” Her brows drew together and he knew she was about to go digging again. He leaned down and lowered his voice. “We’ve got to save something for pillow talk.”
She waved a hand as if his words were ridiculous, but he caught the spark of interest that had briefly lit up her eyes. “Stop that. I thought we were just here as old friends.”
“You said we were hardly friends.”
“I had to say that. I wasn’t sure if you meant what you said about volunteering or not. But after listening to you and Debra set up your volunteer schedule, I figured you are serious.”
“Very serious. I need some good press.”
“Because of the suspension?” She walked away to check out the balls on the rack near their alley.
“That and I’ve got plans. I don’t need people thinking that all I am is a bad temper and partying.” Jacobe sat behind the controls to set up the automatic scoring for the game.
Danielle came over and sat next to him. “What type of plans? Hey, I bowl first.”
Full Court Seduction Page 5