To Win Her Heart (Players)

by Mackenzie Crowne

  “A secret, huh? Hmm. With fifty-eight million, you could buy pretty much anything you want, so that must mean they don’t want to sell whatever it is.” Tapping a fingertip to her lips, she studied him with shrewd eyes. “You said you don’t care about the team. I’m guessing…real estate?”

  Damn it. What were the odds she’d hit the target on the first try? He looked away.

  “I’m right, aren’t I?” Her smile was victorious.

  “What you are is nosey.” He shoved to his feet and swept up the magazine he’d been flipping through before the game. Returning it to the bookshelf, he turned back and pinned her with a stern glower. “And if you share any of this with anyone, I’ll…go to the cops and tell them about the hit man.”

  She sniffed, but her eyes were full of silent laughter as she held up three fingers.

  A helpless chuckle rumbled in his chest, and he shook his head. “When my mother graduated from college, her father let her choose from among several of the family’s real estate holdings to make her home. She chose a house on the Jersey shore and named it Haven Place.”

  “What a pretty name.”

  “It’s a pretty house.” He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “Mom loved it there. She once told me the two years she spent in her house on the shore were some of the happiest days of her life. I think it was because for the first time in her life, she was out from under my grandmother’s control, at least partially. My parents met there. Right outside on the beach.”

  “Oh. How romantic.”

  Jessi’s smile went dreamy and sparked misty memories of the bittersweet longing in his mother’s eyes whenever she spoke of Haven Place. He could still remember the yearning in her voice as she talked about the magical summer his parents had met and fallen in love. He rubbed a hand over his chest at the pang in his heart.

  “They dated for a couple of months before her parents found out. When they did, they were pissed. They didn’t approve of their daughter wasting her time with a blue-collar cop. Her mother gave her an ultimatum. Dump my father or lose Haven Place.”

  Shocked anger replaced Jessi’s smile with a thin-lipped frown.

  “Mom married Dad in a civil service the next day, and when she refused to follow their edict and get a quick divorce, they tossed her out of the home she loved and cut her out of their lives.”

  Moisture shimmered in Jessi’s eyes and she shook her head. “Their loss, Max, and your mother’s gain.” Her voice softened and her eyes filled with empathy. “It sounds like she made the right choice.”

  He scraped a palm over the back of his neck and nodded. He agreed and from what he could recall, so did his mother. Unfortunately, the happy memories from those early years of his life were in stark contrast to the misery and grief that arrived with the unmarked car pulling up to the curb in his twelfth summer. In the blink of an eye, life changed. His mother had lost the only man she ever loved, and her broken heart was no match for the cancer that killed her less than a year later.

  “So, you want to buy your mother’s home, but it’s not for sale?”

  He blinked and shook his head in an effort to shed the dark memories from his mind. “Actually, they’re willing to sell it, but no way in hell would they sell it to me.”

  “Hmm. Yeah, I can see where that might be a problem.” Her lips twisted as she considered the situation. “You know, between my music and Tuck’s football, my family has a lot of connections. Maybe we could help.”

  He stared at her. Although he hadn’t used the exact words, her father had made the same suggestion. Max didn’t like it any better coming from Jessi.

  Her brow wrinkled. “What?”

  He wiped the suspicion from his face. Ryan’s offer had to do with negotiation. He was worried about his daughter and would use every option available to him to keep her safe. Jessi simply wanted to help. She had a soft heart and was a fierce defender of those she loved. It blew him away that she included him in that group.

  “Nothing. I appreciate the offer, but I’ve got it under control.” He checked his watch. “Are you finished working for the day?”

  Confused hurt darkened her eyes, but she nodded.

  He’d heard her moving around upstairs several times last night, which meant she’d spent another night awake. A few hours in the sun and wind would wear them both out. Maybe then she could get some much needed rest, and he could sleep without tossing and turning as his body ached for the woman right down the hall.

  “We’ve got a couple hours of daylight left. I thought a ride on the snow machines might be fun.”

  “I’ve never ridden a snowmobile.”

  “Then it’s time for a lesson.”

  Chapter 15

  “Don’t you dare laugh.”

  Bent over the snow machine as he checked the fuel level, Max lifted his head and fought back a smile. Gracie’s borrowed insulated ski gear swallowed Jessi’s much smaller frame. The unzipped jacket fell open to reveal bib pants, rolled at the ankles. Only the tips of her fingers peeked from the too-long sleeves. Like a North Pole pixie in hot pink, she looked like a kid playing dress up in her momma’s clothes—with a couple of notable exceptions.

  Despite her petite and slim frame, Jessi wasn’t lacking in the curves department. Her breasts filled out the bib nicely, and as she spun in a circle and he got a view of her backside, he blew a silent whistle. The slick pink material accentuated the sweet curves of her hips and ass.

  He straightened and rounded the machine. “You’ll do, Squirt. Zip up. Where are your gloves?”

  She tugged them from a pocket and held them up. “Where’s the other machine?”

  “It’s in the boathouse.” He turned back to cap the gas tank. “For your first lesson, we’ll ride tandem.”

  She zipped up her coat and accepted the helmet he handed her. “Where are we going?”

  “Out on the lake.”

  Tugging on the helmet, she eyed the wide stretch of snow-covered water. “Are you sure it’s safe?”

  “I checked the lake website this morning. The ice pack is plenty thick on this end, and it’s flagged where it isn’t. We’ll be fine. We’re not going far.” He helped her with the chinstrap and watched as she dropped the windshield in place. “The helmets are wired with an internal radio transmitter so we’ll be able to communicate without shouting over the roar of the motor.”

  She nodded her understanding as he donned his helmet, and jumped when he spoke.

  “Can you hear me?”

  Her teeth flashed in a grin. “Very cool.”

  He gave her a thumbs-up and straddled the machine. “Climb on behind me and wrap your arms around my waist. I’ll keep the speed down but hold on, and if you get cold, let me know.”

  Using his shoulder as a brace, she scrambled on and squirmed close to his back until she was set, her gloved hands resting against his stomach. He allowed himself the heady enjoyment of her body pressed to his. Maybe he was playing with fire, but shit, he was human. With each passing hour, his resistance crumbled a little more, and damn it, a man could only take so much. The cheap thrill of her full breasts pressed to his back, even through multiple layers of winter wear, would help to take the edge off.

  He slipped the key tether over his left glove and turned the key in the ignition. The machine rumbled to life, vibrating between their legs. Following a previously cut path down to the cove, he set a course close to the shoreline. On their left, fog shrouded the peak of Mount Major, but the sun broke through in patches. For January in New Hampshire, the day was mild.

  They rounded a small island marking the entrance to “the broads,” or the main part of the lake, and Jessi’s gasp filled his ears.

  “Oh, wow. Look.”

  She freed one hand, and he followed her pointing finger to a grove of pines hugging the coastline. Six feet of wingspan suspended a bald eagle on an invisible current. The bird glided through the air. On a graceful spiral, it
dropped toward the trees and, with three powerful flaps of its wings, came to a perch on a branch beside a large nest.

  “Did you see that?” She tucked her arm around him once more.

  Her breathless demand made him grin, and he couldn’t help teasing. “They’re trees, Squirt. We have them in Manhattan. They’re just smaller.”

  “Not the trees. The eagle. See it? It’s right there.” She tucked tighter against him to point over his shoulder. “It just landed. I can’t believe you missed it. Oh my God. That was awesome.” He chuckled, and she tightened her arms in a punishing squeeze, but there was laughter in her insult. “Jerk.”

  Setting a leisurely course, they crossed a section of “the broads.” They passed a half dozen ice huts and Jessi waved to several fishermen working their lines. The traffic on the lake was light, with only a handful of machines passing by in the distance. By the time they arrived back at Alton Bay, the sun had dropped behind the mountains.

  “Isn’t that the house?” She pointed to the Malones’ peninsula.

  “Yep.”

  “We’re not going in?”

  “There’s a restaurant beyond the next jetty. It’s one of the few open year round. I thought we’d have dinner before going back.”

  A dozen snow machines sat quiet in the lot of the small upscale restaurant, along with a couple of cars. A young hostess greeted them as they stepped inside. Her eyes widened and she held out her hands for their helmets and coats. “Miss Tucker. Oh, wow, this is a surprise. We’re honored you’re visiting us.”

  Shit. He should have considered Jessi might be recognized. She took the compliment in stride, but Max dipped his head close to the girl. “Miss Tucker is on a short sabbatical. I trust you’ll keep her presence here tonight quiet?”

  Jessi jabbed him in the small of his back. “Don’t mind him. He’s overprotective.”

  A blush colored the young woman’s cheeks. “Oh, no problem. I won’t say a word.”

  She stored their helmets and coats, then led them to an open table near the windows overlooking the lake. As she left them alone, Jessi’s face lit up at something beyond his shoulder.

  Max turned his head as Kip approached their table.

  “Good evening, Miss. Mr. Grayson.”

  “Another of your jobs?” Max smiled.

  Kip’s dimples flashed. “My girlfriend’s parents own the restaurant, and they’re short-handed in the winter months. I fill in once in a while.” He handed them their menus. “Would you like to see a wine list?”

  He rattled off the specials, and Max ordered a bottle of chardonnay. For their meals, he went with grilled cod. Jessi chose the lobster pie. Her choice of appetizer had him swallowing an inward groan. The woman was as persistent as she was beautiful.

  A challenging smile quirked her lips, and she offered him an oyster on the half shell. He accepted the shellfish, savoring the peppery bite of the mignonette sauce. Holding his gaze, she followed suit.

  Fighting a laugh, he picked up his wineglass. “It’s a fallacy, you know.”

  She set aside her empty shell and took her time selecting another. “What is?”

  “That oysters are an aphrodisiac.” He watched her over the rim of his glass.

  “Oh, I know. That myth is a load of bull.”

  Metabolically, she might be right, but as she lifted the shell to her pursed lips and the oyster disappeared, it didn’t matter. The tip of her tongue appeared for a moment, capturing a bead of moisture from her bottom lip. He hardened in a rush.

  “Did you think I was trying to seduce you, Max?”

  He forced his eyes from the glossy sheen left behind to meet her gaze. She peeked at him through thick lashes. Although her pose was pure coquette, the glimmer of uncertainty in her eyes ruined the effect.

  He blinked and suddenly wanted to slap his palm against his forehead. Bold and brassy, she talked a good game, but she wasn’t as confident as she let on. As with everything else she’d gone after in her life, she’d forged ahead with her plans for his seduction with a single-minded determination that overrode any deficiencies in expertise. However, that rapid-fire orgasm she’d experienced proved she had little familiarity with the sexual battlefield, while he had an entire arsenal of knowledge at his disposal.

  He’d been playing this wrong from the beginning. With very few exceptions, for the women he’d spent time with over the years, the attraction was about sex. Jessi was a healthy woman, with a woman’s needs, but for her, it was all about the heart. To reach her, he had to focus there.

  Kip arrived with their meals. “Can I get you anything else?”

  “Thanks, Kip. We have everything we need.” Max spoke without breaking eye contact with Jessi. He waited until the teenager left them alone. “You’ve been trying to seduce me since the moment you arrived at my door.”

  She picked up her fork and didn’t bother to hide a coy smile. “You’re very observant, if a little slow on the uptake.”

  Oh, little girl, you’re good, but you’re out of your league. He pasted on an easy smile. “I’m not slow. I’m particular.”

  She scooped up a bite of breaded lobster. “Particular?”

  “In my taste in women.”

  The flash of hurt annoyance in her eyes was quick, but he saw it. He pushed back against a stab of guilt. A little hurt now would save them both a lot of heartache later.

  She slid the tines of her fork between her lips and hummed in appreciation. Her smile lost some of its gleam as she chewed. “And I’m not to your taste?”

  “Nope.” He slid his eyes shut briefly as if he savored the tang of lemon pepper and cod on his tongue. The dish might as well have been sawdust. It congealed in his mouth in a tasteless blob.

  She cast a furtive glance at some nearby diners and lowered her voice. “The hard-on poking me in the belly on several occasions says different.” Though smug, her smile didn’t match the growing anger in her eyes.

  “That’s biology. You’re a fine looking woman, Squirt.” He scored a direct hit with his use of the nickname. Her lips stretched tight in a frown. Scooping up another bite, he pressed forward, aiming his fork at her. “You have all the right parts for my body, but I’m talking about what my head looks for in a woman.”

  Her frown slid away beneath a tight smile. “I’ve met quite a few of your bimb—dates, Max. Most of them were my age or younger, so if you’re going to tell me I’m too young, I’ll call you a liar.”

  “No, you’re the perfect age.”

  The little darling had a temper and it showed when she dropped her hand to the table to demand, “Then what’s the problem?”

  Heat flared in her eyes as he took his time, cutting another bite. “Before Tuck met and married CC, he and I had a little competition going.”

  “I hardly see how that—”

  “When one of us found a new woman, the other did his best to steal her away.”

  Impatience flashed in her eyes. “What’s that got to do with me?”

  He slipped a piece of cod into his mouth and chewed before answering. “I’m getting to it.”

  “Well, hurry it up.” She jabbed a fat chunk of lobster and shoved it into her mouth.

  He hid a satisfied smile. “We had a lot of fun before CC came along, and so did the women. At last count, I was ahead in the tally.”

  “I get it. You’re a slut, but I don’t care about that.”

  “Good to know.” He sipped his wine, then set it aside. “But that’s not my point.”

  She heaved an exasperated sigh. “What is?”

  “My point is, the women involved didn’t much care which of us won the battle. They saw the game for what it was, innocent fun, and in the end, the women got what they wanted. No strings sex in the comfort of five-star accommodations.”

  She set aside her glass and leaned her elbows on the table. “What are you saying? I’m not slutty enough for you?”

  “Not even close.�
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  “That’s…just stupid.”

  And there was the pout he’d expected the other night. He matched her position, crossing his forearms on the table, and pounded the final nail in her seduction coffin.

  “My taste in women tends toward those who know the score. Women interested in short-term relationships who shrug and move on to the next guy when I walk away. Because I will walk away, Jessi. That’s what I do. I don’t stick. Unlike you and your family, I don’t collect people. I use them, and when I’m done, I’m gone.”

  He sat back, picked up his wine, and hoped like hell she was listening. “When this is over, I’ll move on to the next woman. If you can live with that, I’m more than happy to accept what you’re so determined to give. If not, do us both a favor and stop offering.”

  Chapter 16

  Jessi stomped to the French doors, only to return and flop onto the bed to stare at the ceiling. Sleep was impossible. Torn between marching down to the next level to give Max a piece of her mind and crying, she was driving herself nuts. Couldn’t he see how wrong he was? The loner rogue he’d described as they sat in the restaurant wasn’t him. Sure, he’d dated a lot of women. Since he was gorgeous and single, that was to be expected, but the user he claimed to be bore no resemblance to the caring man who’d come to her aide when she’d asked.

  As for that asinine comment about not collecting people, wouldn’t Gracie have something to say about that! Then there was her family. User, my ass. For a man with a net worth of close to sixty million dollars, the Tuckers had nothing to offer Max but friendship, so why did he keep coming back?

  He’d said he didn’t stick, a completely bullshit claim. He did when he cared, like with Gracie, and Tuck and the family, and her, damn it. A man didn’t drop everything and put his life on hold to help a woman if he didn’t care.

  Her mind’s eye supplied the picture of the little boy left alone by his mother’s death, and the fear and confusion he must have suffered with his grandmother’s denial. Jessi didn’t need a shrink’s degree to guess what drew Max to her family, and if she could get her hands on Elizabeth Krandall at that moment, she wouldn’t need a hit man.