Anybody but Justin

by Shelli Stevens

  He met her eyes again and saw both nervousness and maybe excitement. Their gazes locked and her expression grew more nervous. Her tongue swept across glossy lips as her attention skittered to the baseball field.

  “Traffic was awful, or I would have been here sooner.”

  “You haven’t missed anything. They only just announced tonight’s lineup.”

  “Oh good.” Some of the tension visibly eased in her shoulders and a smile curved her mouth. “This is going to be a good game.”

  “It is.” He tore his gaze from her and glanced out over the field. “I’m glad you came.”

  “Thanks for the ticket…” she hesitated, “…and the flowers.”

  “I know you’re not a flowers fan—”

  “No, they were great. Phoebe and I got a kick out of them. I would never have guessed they even made flowers like that.” She bit her lip, appearing to want to say more. “I’m…I should just make sure you realize—I’m here tonight as your friend, Justin. Nothing more.”

  “That’s only because we haven’t actually become lovers yet,” he couldn’t resist teasing. Though, if he admitted it, he was pretty much serious.

  Her eyes widened and flickered with both disbelief and amusement.

  “You’re terrible.” She shook her head, but her words were spoken on a laugh.

  “How was your date with the suit last night?”

  “I thought we were here to watch the game.”

  “I’m watching.” He lifted the beer to his mouth and took another sip, his lips twitching.

  The first player from the opposing team went up to bat and they both went silent, switching into game-watching mode.

  They clapped and screamed, encouraging the pitcher, who immediately threw three strikes. The batter walked from the field, kicking the ground in disgust.

  “He has a name, you know,” Gabby said as they watched the next batter make his way to home plate.

  “Who does?”

  “The suit. It’s Steve.”

  Justin gave a slight nod, keeping his eyes on the player at bat.

  “When did you meet him? Obviously—Yeah! That’s two!” His attention shifted briefly as the pitcher threw another strike. “Less than six months ago. Unless you were dating him when…”

  She glanced at him sharply. “When I lived with you? No. I met him the month after I moved out.”

  His muscles tensed and he was careful to draw in a slow breath. Five months? For either of them, that was almost considered a long-term relationship.

  He just barely managed to bite his tongue before he could ask if she’d slept with him. That was not his business—and Gabby would probably tell him as much in a very non-polite way.

  “Oh damn!” She groaned as the batter hit a pop fly into centerfield.

  “He’ll catch it.” His confidence was proven when the centerfielder caught the fly ball with little effort. “What happened to your faith in our team, girl?”

  He nudged Gabby lightly in the ribs and she laughed and gave him a soft swat on the shoulder. It was so familiar. So much how they’d used to be. He missed it. Missed her.

  “I have plenty of faith in our team. It’s just been a while since I’ve been to a game.”

  Over six months, he’d wager. Seeing as he’d always been the one to bring her.

  “I’m going to grab a beer real quick.”

  Justin urged her back into her seat when she tried to stand. “I’ll grab you one. Sorry, I should have offered earlier.”

  Her brows puckered. “I can get it, Justin, it’s no problem.”

  “I invited you here tonight, Gab. I’ll get your beer.” He stood up and moved past her, giving her bare arm a quick squeeze.

  The minute his fingers touched her soft skin, his chest locked. The blood rushed south in his body and his gaze dropped to the soft curve of her breasts barely peeking above the tank top. Her nipples showed tight through the thin fabric.

  She inhaled quickly and flashed him a brief smile, sliding her arm away from him.

  “Thanks, Justin. I appreciate it.”

  “No problem.” He clenched his fists and strode up the stairs to the concessions.

  Some things felt the same between them, but others were brand spanking new. Like the mutual attraction. Would he ever get used to it? And even more so, could he convince her acting on it was the right thing to do?

  This was such a bad idea. Gabby tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and then pressed her palm against her belly, which seemed to be making somersaults with her lunch.

  Sitting next to Justin, having his hard thigh brushing against hers and smelling his familiar aftershave, was making her mind and hormones go into complete twitter mode.

  She should never have promised Phoebe she’d go to the game tonight. What had she been thinking? Besides—Homerun!

  Gabby rose to her feet, screaming and clapping along with the rest of the stadium as the batter knocked one out of the ballpark.

  Excitement bubbled through her veins and she gave another loud scream of support.

  “Ah, damn, I missed a homerun?”

  “Yes! It was awesome, too.” She took the beer he handed her and, still buzzing on excitement, pressed a kiss to his cheek.

  They both tensed, and when she finally thought to pull away, he’d already slid a hand around her waist to hold her close.

  She dragged in an uneasy breath and closed her eyes. Every inch of her aware of how hard his body was against her softness. Her knees went weak and she gripped his forearm, biting back a sigh when he nuzzled her hair.

  The crack of the ball connecting with the bat resounded before the crowd exploded with excitement.

  Justin pulled back from her, muttering a barely audible curse.

  She sank back down into her seat, her hand shaking slightly as she took a sip of the beer. It was just a hug, Gabby, calm yourself.

  Despite her internal pep talk, she knew how delusional she was. That hug had been loaded with familiarity, sexual tension, and oddly enough, tenderness.

  The rest of the game passed in a blur, a mild distraction, but nowhere near the intense eye candy she was used to it being. No, her mind was somewhere else completely. Leftfield, just not in the baseball sense.

  “I don’t suppose I could convince you to go get something to eat?” Justin asked as they filed out of the stadium with thousands of fans.

  She hesitated, but her stomach gave a soft growl at the idea of food. Salty peanuts somehow hadn’t qualified as dinner.

  She just didn’t want this to turn into a date. Or maybe it already had. Biting her lip, she gave a quick nod and figured out how to make it less date-like. “Sure. I can buy.”

  “Not a chance.”

  “It’s only fair. You bought the tickets.”

  “I have season tickets. I had to bring someone.”

  Her lips twisted. Of course. When she’d first met him years back in school, the season tickets had been one way he’d weeded out his women. If a girl couldn’t get down with a Giants game, she didn’t last very long.

  At some point, he’d stopped bringing other women on dates and he’d just started taking her. Not that she’d had any problem with that. Hell, it had been a free baseball game with her best friend. But then they’d barreled past that do not cross line and everything had just turned damn complicated.

  Sitting next to him tonight, she’d almost felt like one of the girls he’d dated from all those years ago. The best friend status was a memory that drifted further away each time Justin gave her one of those I wonder what you’d look like naked looks.

  “Okay, we can do Italian or greasy spoon. Those are the only two places I know that’ll still be open and serving food.”

  “Italian,” she answered without even considering the other option. “I’m totally down with some pasta.”

  “Still a garlic freak?”

  “Heck, yeah. I’m no vamp.”

  “You’re a total vamp,” he murmured, and caught h
er hand to pull her back from a particularly rowdy group of fans barreling through the gates.

  Gabby’s stomach tightened and she gave a flat laugh—not like Justin could hear it over the screaming fans. His comment had most likely been a joke. Her a vamp? As in sexy, femme fatale? Not freaking likely.

  When was the last time she’d worn a dress? Probably her cousin’s wedding years ago. She almost regretted putting on the small amount of makeup tonight. It meant she was trying. Trying to impress Justin.

  “Why don’t I drive?” he offered. “We can come back for your car after we eat.”

  She gave a short nod and her heart skipped when his fingers tightened around hers. Why was he still holding her hand?

  It doesn’t matter. This wasn’t sexual. It wasn’t romantic. It was just two friends hanging out.

  Right.

  Justin opened the door to his truck and she climbed up easily, all too used to riding up front with him.

  “So how come you had an extra ticket tonight?” she asked and immediately wanted to kick herself.

  “I’ve had an extra for a while.”

  His admission had her eyebrows lifting. Did he honestly expect her to believe that he hadn’t taken random women to the game once she’d stepped out of his life?

  “You didn’t take anyone?”

  “We’re only a few months into the season. I brought a co-worker once or twice.”

  But no women?

  “So tell me more about Steven.”

  Gabby flinched. Why the heck did he have to pick that subject to change to?

  “What do you want to know?”

  “What does he do?”

  “He’s an investment banker.”

  “Interesting.”

  “Is it?” She glanced at him sharply.

  He shrugged and backed out of the parking spot. “If you’re into that kind of thing.”

  “He’s a good guy,” she said defensively.

  “I’m sure he is.”

  Gabby folded her hands across her chest and cleared her throat. Don’t even ask. “What about you? Who’s your newest girl?”

  And you asked. Stupid!

  “There isn’t one.”

  Gabby snorted. “No, really. Who is she?”

  When he didn’t reply, she glanced over at him. His fingers had tightened around the steering wheel and there was a subtle tick in his rigid jawline. He seemed almost embarrassed and maybe even a tad frustrated.

  “What’s up? You drink an anti-love potion or something?” she attempted to tease him. “Usually you have women crawling all over you. Don’t tell me that’s changed.”

  “I won’t.”

  She looked away at his admission. Of course it hadn’t. The man was sex personified. He always had—

  “They’re just not the right woman.”

  Her heart sped up and her palms dampened. Woman. He’d said woman, versus women. It doesn’t mean anything, Gabby, not a darn thing.

  “How’s the job going?” she asked quickly, deciding it was her turn to change the subject.

  He gave a soft laugh, almost like he’d known she’d gotten all atwitter by his response.

  “The job’s good. I’m a construction manager now. Don’t know if you knew that or not.”

  She whipped her head to the side to look at him, her jaw falling open slightly.

  “Seriously, Justin? When did this happen?”

  “Few months ago.” His mouth curved into a smile, and she could see how proud he was.

  “That’s fabulous! You didn’t think that’d happen for another year or two at least.”

  “I know.”

  “Justin,” she squealed and reached out to pat his leg, her excitement for him momentarily making her forget the wisdom of her move.

  “Thanks, Gab. I knew you’d be excited for me.” His hand covered hers and squeezed, trapping her palm against the muscles of his thigh.

  Tingles of awareness rocketed through her body and, instead of pulling her hand free like she really knew she should, her fingers flexed against his leg.

  “You deserve the position. You worked your ass off to get that bachelor’s degree.”

  He didn’t reply, but his thumb brushed across the back of her hand.

  “We’ve both really kind of stepped it up this year career-wise, huh?” she murmured.

  He nodded and pulled the truck into the parking lot of a small restaurant nearby.

  People milled around outside, waiting to get seated. Apparently they weren’t the only ones who’d had the idea to grab food.

  “Hmm,” Justin’s brows drew together and his mouth twisted. “I don’t suppose I could talk you into letting me cook you something back at my place?”

  She drew in a slow breath. The idea both had appeal and shot off every warning signal in her body.

  “Doug would love to see you.”

  “Doug…” Her mouth curved into a smile. “Oh, man, do I miss him. How’s he doing?”

  Justin snorted. “Pain in my ass.”

  Gabby nudged him in the ribs with her elbow. “He is not. You love that dog.”

  He grunted in response, but she could see the fondness in his eyes. Loved his dog was an understatement. There was no word to describe how much Justin cared for the mutt they’d found barely alive on the side of the road a year ago.

  “So, what do you say?” he asked again. “I don’t think we’d even find parking here, let alone get a table anytime soon.”

  “Justin…”

  “It’s only dinner, Gab. We can do quesadillas and Doritos.”

  Just like the old times. She folded her hands in her lap and glanced out the window. Such a bad idea, Gabby. Say no. Tell him—

  “Okay.”

  Chapter Five

  From the corner of her eye, she saw some of the tension ease from his body and the smile flit across his face. He threw the truck in reverse and backed out of the parking lot.

  A few minutes later they were speeding down the highway toward Justin’s house and the place she’d called home for two years.

  By the time they pulled up in front of his house, Green Day was playing on the radio and they’d passed the time discussing the game.

  Before she could grab her purse off the floor and open her door, Justin had already climbed out to do it for her. That was one thing she’d always appreciated about him. His manners. He’d been raised by his grandparents—southerners who’d moved to San Francisco—and from all accounts, they’d made certain their grandson knew how to treat a lady.

  “Thanks,” Gabby murmured, taking the hand he offered to help her down.

  At the brush of his fingers against hers, more tingles swept through her and a warm heat grew low in her belly.

  “Come on. I want to show you something.” He didn’t release her hand, just tugged her along after him as he bypassed the front door and took her into the backyard.

  The gate swung shut behind them, banging loudly, but she barely noticed as her gaze swept the scene in front of her, lit up by a nearby street lamp.

  “Oh my God, you’ve been busy.”

  “Well, I hired a landscaper,” he confessed, squeezing her hand. “The new position left me with a little extra money.”

  “Justin, you can see…you’ve got a view of the city!”

  “A little one.” His grin expanded until he looked like an excited kid. “I was thinking about adding some kind of fountain back in the corner there. And I’m already checking into getting the hot tub repaired.”

  “I still owe you for that,” she muttered, guilt clenching in her belly at the memory of that summer night. “I told Vic not to bring the beer bottle in with us, but he snuck it in anyway.”

  Justin’s fingers tightened around hers for a moment, but then he gave a short laugh. “No problem. The thing is so old, it may just need to be replaced.”

  Gabby snuck a glance at him, wondering briefly if she’d imagined the bite of jealousy in his tone. But that would be silly. She�
�d dated Vic for two weeks, tops.

  A low and familiar bark came from inside the house, growing more frantic by the moment.

  “I think Doug figured out you’re here,” Justin stated sardonically, one of his fingers doing a light and feathery caress over her inner palm. “If I don’t bring you inside, he may just bust through a window.”

  A shiver slipped down her spine and she bit her lip to keep from sighing. Damn. Why did her body heat and respond to him the minute he touched her? It took away all control, made her feel all too helpless to this impossible attraction toward Justin.

  “Well, we shouldn’t keep him waiting then.” She pulled her hand free, knowing she’d do something stupid if she let him hold it a second longer, and walked quickly toward the house.

  At the back door, she waited, keeping her gaze lowered to avoid meeting his questioning glance.

  His keys jingled as he unlocked the door. He’d barely pushed open the solid wood door when Doug came bounding out.

  His fat paws slapped against her chest, nearly knocking her down. Fortunately, Justin moved back to catch her.

  “Doug! Easy boy,” she cried in between giggles. The mutt, a cross between a black lab and a St. Bernard, ignored her and continued to bounce around her, swiping her with big sloppy kisses.

  “All right, Doug. Let her catch her breath.” Justin snagged the dog’s collar and pulled him away gently. “You can go inside, Gab. I’ll let him run around outside for a second.”

  Still breathless from laughing, she hurried into the house and pulled her baseball cap off, setting it on the dryer.

  Her glance drifted around the laundry room before she walked down the hallway that led to the kitchen. The sink only had a few dishes in it, what looked to be from this morning.

  She snorted and shook her head.

  He’d always done that. Left the dishes until before he went to bed. She, on the other hand, couldn’t stand a dish just hanging out in the sink. Because, come on, how long did it take to just rinse the plate off and shove it in the dishwasher?

  Heavy footsteps on the wooden floor announced Justin’s entrance into the house. She held her breath, glad her back was to him.

  “Doug misses you.”