Playing with Fire - A Sports Romance

by Lydia De Luca

  “She likes you, cuz. Remember when we met that night? She felt so bad for you after the way her brother treated you, and she really started to feel close to you.”

  I force myself not to shake my head. I can still see her standing there, watching. I can’t believe what my cousin’s saying. Jen and I barely spoke that night. She was lost in Vinny’s world through most of it, and after a short interrogation about what Corey did before he stormed out of the bar, she went on her way and I on mine.

  Vinny squeezes my shoulder with his hand, bringing me back from that night at the bar to the present. I glance over at him and take in his puppy dog eyes. “Please, Frankie? For me and Jen?”

  My stomach starts to churn again and I’m starting to regret the hot dog and beer. “Who’s going to be there?”

  Vinny pulls me to him and kisses my cheek. “You’re the best, cuz. Come find us after the game, ‘kay?”

  I groan and pull away from my cousin. “Whatever.” Now I feel like a teenage girl.

  Before the final inning is finished, before I can grab my bag and escape the box and my cousin, he’s there with Jen, waiting for me at the door.

  “You ready?” Vinny asks, smiling as if he knows I was trying to sneak out.

  “I need to run home and change.” I gesture to the black trousers and a white blouse I wore to work this morning.

  “You look fine.” He rolls his eyes as he laughs at me.

  “At least let me put my bag in my car, then.”

  Vinny grabs my tote from my shoulder. “You’re going to be out late. Why don’t we stop by your office and leave it here for the night?” He laughs again as I glare at him. “You’re not getting out of this, cuz. We’re taking you out with us.”

  Jen looks so sad, and all I can think about is how much Corey cares for her, how heartwarming it is that he does. I don’t think he’d want her to be sad, and for the life of me I can’t understand why I want to make her happy, too.

  “Fine,” I say, and Jen’s face lights up. “My office is downstairs.” I begin walking away without looking back, leaving Vinny to carry my heavy tote. They follow behind me, their shoes echoing across the clean tile floors even over the loud music and celebrating crowd.

  I try stalling in my office, dawdling over my computer, checking my voicemail one last time. Vinny stands there watching me with a frown on his face while Jen looks out my window over the departing crowd. When I’ve run out of things to do, Vinny slings one arm over Jen’s shoulders and offers the other to me before leading us out, down the back stairs, and to his waiting Town Car.

  Corey

  I cannot even begin to explain how much I don’t want to be here right now. Club Forte is the hottest new club in town, and I’ve been roped into going tonight. Matt gave me hell for bailing on him and Ramon back in Phoenix, leaving them to deal with an abandoned and upset Ashley. In retrospect, he was too calm about it. And now I know why. He planned all along to make me pay him back, and I’m not talking about the money for my tab.

  Of course, my little sister would be in on it. Introducing her to Matt, Ellen, and Ramon last year was a mistake. They kept in touch, and one way or another, the four of them decided it would be freaking hilarious to drag me out to this club tonight. Jen played it off as a celebration - three out of three of our first home games. I have no doubt they have something up their sleeves. Just as I’m now sure that Emily went searching for someone for me back in Phoenix - someone who was unfortunate enough to have the wrong name.

  The only thing that can make this night worse than it’s already set out to be is the fact that Jen’s going to be here with her new boyfriend. Her clingy, rich boyfriend, who not only flew halfway across the country to see her shortly after they met, but also paid to fly her back for the week so she could be here for the spring opener. Sure, he seems all sweet on her, and it’s nice of him to use his considerable wealth to fly my sister in for the games. But it rubs me the wrong way. Jen and I aren’t from money. We’ve never been able to hop a plane and fly wherever we want. This guy has more means than brains, I think, and I don’t want Jen wrapped up with someone like that. I don’t see it ending well.

  The only good thing about tonight is they’ve all let me sit here in our black velvet-covered booth, nursing a bottle of beer, with little interruption. Matt and Ellen disappeared into the dance floor before our drinks even arrived, Ramon and Emily are at it again on the other side of the booth, and Jen and lover boy haven’t gotten here yet.

  “Ah, let me guess, my brother is running fashionably late again?”

  I glance up and find a knockout gorgeous brunette standing in front of me. She’s wearing a lascivious little black dress. A deep-V plunges to her navel and the skirt clings so tight against her thighs I have to wonder how she can walk in that thing. That, and the five-inch fuck-me stilettos on her feet.

  “Corey, right?” the woman asks as she slides into the bench at my side. She holds out her hand, not as if she wants to shake, but instead as if she expects me to kiss it. I furrow my brow and run my hand over my chin.

  “I’m sorry, have we met?” She looks familiar, but I can’t place her.

  “I’m Vivian,” she says, dropping her hand to my knee and pressing her chest forward in an obvious attempt to get my attention. When I don’t react, she elaborates. “I’m Vinny’s sister. We met last month.”

  “Vinny?” I’m trying, I really am, but I cannot for the life of me remember this dame. Vivian looks at me like I’m dense, and maybe I am. I should remember meeting someone as beautiful as she is.

  “Vinny,” she assures me. “He’s dating your sister?”

  Oh shit. “Vinny! Oh, yes!” Shit. “Sorry, I uh…”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Vivian removes her paw from my leg to flag down a waitress. She turns back to me, but before she can say another word, Vinny is sliding into the booth next to her with my sister in tow.

  “Viv,” he says, “you remember Jen?” Without waiting for an answer, he leans around his sister and looks at me, extending his hand in my direction. “Corey, right? I’m Vinny.”

  “Yeah, hey, how’s it going?” The man has a firm grip, I’ll give him that. He doesn’t look the type. He looks all weak, like he might wither in direct sunlight.

  “Hey Tiger!” Jen leans over the short table with her arms extended, and I stand to give her an awkward hug.

  “Jenny, good to see you.”

  Jen pulls back and glares at me for using her much-despised nickname. I know how much she hates it. She knows I know. But I do it to make a point - I’m not happy she dragged me out here tonight.

  “You remember Frankie, right?”

  As Jen turns to the side to slide into the booth next to Vinny, I catch sight of the woman whose face torments my dreams and my every waking moment. It all comes racing back to me. Vinny and Vivian and Frankie, when I was at the Riverside with Jen. The heat of Frankie’s skin under my fingers as I slipped the money inside her shirt. But even more damning, the feel of her body pressing down on mine in that office down in Arizona a couple weeks ago, as her hands tugged my hair and her lips rained fire down upon me.

  She’s got a deer in the headlights look to her, and I’m sure the same expression is on my face. Before either of us says a word, though, everyone’s all in a jumble. Matt and Ellen come back and greet Jen and her friends. Ramon and Emily pull themselves away from each other to greet Frankie. Jen shoos me over on the bench to make room for Matt and his girl so she can talk to them, and Ramon takes off to flag down a waitress while Emily ushers Frankie to a seat. Everyone’s moving and talking, but the instant my shoulder hits warmth, I’m frozen in my spot.

  I look to my left and find Frankie there beside me. She’s so breathtaking, I’m lost in her beautiful hazel eyes. It takes me a minute to feel the wiggling beneath my fingers. Glancing down, I realize my hand is resting upon her fingers.

  “Good evening, Mr. Bond.” Frankie’s voice is low and quiet in my ear, and sexy as hell
. Her soft smile is one I’ve seen in my dreams so many times - the way she smiled at me when she was waiting for me to get the punch line of her jokes that day in her hotel room.

  “Good evening, Ms. Galore,” I say back, and I’m rewarded with a flush of red in her cheeks as she drops her gaze between us. My hand is still on hers. I brush my fingers against her skin, and she pulls her hand out from under mine.

  “Corey?” Jen’s voice draws my attention away from Frankie. When I look up at her, she’s got a look of concern on her face. She leans closer, across Vinny and Vivian, to speak to me. “Do you need to move or are you gonna behave yourself?”

  Jen, Vinny, and Vivian all glance between me and Frankie, and I scowl at my little sister. Before I have a chance to respond, Frankie leans forward, her shoulder grazing mine as she does.

  “It’s fine, Jen, don’t worry.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Frankie nods, juts her chin out, and claps me on the shoulder. “I’ve promised him I won’t bite.”

  Jen’s eyes whip between me and Frankie like she’s trying to figure out a puzzle with only half the pieces. To Frankie’s left, Emily leans in and draws her attention away. Jen turns back to Matt and everyone is off again in their own little conversations.

  Vivian makes another attempt to talk to me, but I’m not interested. When her hand on my knee fails to get a rise out of me, she heaves a sigh and turns to Vinny.

  “You two want to dance?” she asks. “I’d like to dance.” She pushes her brother’s shoulder and a chain reaction begins. Matt, Ellen, Jen, and Vinny start scooting out of the booth. Vivian returns her attention to me, fingering the collar of my button-up shirt. “You want to dance?”

  I shake my head as I look out over the packed dance floor. “Nah, I’ll just stay here.”

  After another deep sigh, Vivian saunters off to the dance floor, the eyes of nearly every man in the club stuck to her like fast-acting super glue.

  “Corey, come with us,” Jen pleads. I scowl at my little sister and she holds her hands up in surrender. “Fine! Be that way.” She grabs Vinny’s hand and drags him across the room with Matt and Ellen in their wake.

  It isn’t long before Ramon has Emily’s attention again. After a few long, overzealous kisses, the two get up and leave the booth so I don’t have to watch them play tonsil hockey again.

  “Do they always do that?” Frankie chuckles, her eyes twinkling as she watches them walk away. Ramon’s hand is riding Emily’s ass like he’s worried she’ll fly away if he doesn’t keep hold of her.

  “Yep,” I say, popping my lips at the end of the word. “Every minute they’re together.”

  “Makes me a little sick to watch it.” Frankie speaks so quiet I almost don’t hear her over the sound of the music pumping through the club.

  I chuckle and she turns to me, looking like she’s embarrassed I overheard her musing. After a few tense moments where our eyes are locked on each other, Frankie gives me a tentative smile.

  “You did good today.”

  I grin at her and her eyes drop to my lips. “You watched the game today?”

  She nods, looking down at her hands in her lap. “And yesterday. And the opener.”

  “You stalking me now?” I joke, bumping her shoulder with mine.

  “I could ask you the same thing,” she answers. “You know I was going to be here tonight?”

  “Doll, I didn’t even know I was going to be here tonight. I got roped in.”

  “Me too, actually.”

  “I’m glad you came,” I tell her. I run my thumb along the pants seam at her thigh, slow so as not to scare her off. “Your friends have made this night tolerable.”

  Frankie shifts in her seat, scooting her leg away from me. “I don’t have friends.”

  “I don’t believe you,” I respond. “Vivian and Vinny? This is the second time you’ve been out with them that I’ve seen. That, to me, says ‘friends.’”

  “Cousins. Like I said, I don’t have friends.” Frankie’s looking out over the club like she’s trying to avoid my gaze.

  “And the bartender? Mike or Mark or something?” Her eyes flash back to me. Her fists clench in her lap and her whole face tightens, her mouth a thin slash across her face. My heart rises to my throat. “Unless you’re more than friends now.”

  Frankie takes in every inch of my face, her eyes sliding from my eyes to my forehead to my lips and back. “Mitch,” she says before looking down at her clenched fists. She relaxes them, shaking them out and pressing them into the bench on either side of her. “We’re just friends.”

  I take the opportunity she presents me and run the back of my fingers over hers. I lean in a little closer. “I’d still like to be your friend.”

  She clenches her hand into a fist again but leaves it at her side, with my hand still settled on top. Without looking at me, she says, “I don’t think that’s wise.”

  I pull my hand away from her and grab my beer off the table in front of me. “Not wise?” I chug the last of the warm liquid before slamming it down on the table. “I don’t get you, Frankie. One minute you’re jumping my bones, the next you’re slapping me and telling me to stay out of your life. You’ve been running away from me since the night we met. You know what I think? I think you’re scared. I think you tasted something and you can’t get enough of it, and it scares you. And that’s too fucking bad, because I’m tired of these games. You don’t want to be my friend? Fine.”

  I stand up to leave, but before I can take a step to exit the booth, a warm hand grips my wrist. I turn back and see Frankie looking up at me. The skin around her eyes is pinched and her bottom lip is sucked in between her teeth.

  “I didn’t say I didn’t want to, Corey.” Her words damn near stop my heart, and I drop to the bench beside her. “I said it’s not wise.”

  “What’s that mean? I’m not good enough for you?”

  “No, it’s nothing like that. It’s just… I’m scared, alright? I’m scared you’re going to get hurt, and I don’t want you to.”

  “You’re worried about me getting hurt?” I say with a laugh. But the look on her face stops me. She’s completely serious. “Look, doll, don’t worry about me. I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself.”

  Frankie’s brow wrinkles, and I want to reach out and smooth away the lines. Not because it detracts from her beauty. No, just the opposite. She’s a strong woman, I knew that from the minute I laid eyes on her. The hurt in her eyes makes her more beautiful, makes me want to wrap her in my arms and take away all her pain.

  “I need to go.” She’s so quiet I can barely make out her words. Her eyes drop from mine to her hand, still wrapped around my wrist.

  “You running away again?” I ask as I cover her hand with mine.

  She shakes my hand off and stands. “I’m sorry, Corey.”

  “Frankie, please.” My voice halts her before she can step away. “I want this, you and me. Whatever it takes. Just please, don’t go.”

  She falters there in front of me, swaying back and forth between the dance floor and the booth at my side. Her hands start smoothing the fabric of her blouse and her pants as her eyes dart around the crowded room. At last she looks back at me.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  My heart feels like it’s locked in a vise as she walks away. This is it. The end. I can’t keep doing this to myself. But I can’t get her out of my mind. I can’t help wanting to hold her, wrap my arms around her, and have her wrapped around me, too.

  “What’d you do?” Jen’s voice cuts through me and I pull my attention away from where I saw Frankie disappear. What’s it been? A minute? Five minutes? An hour? I have no idea how long I’ve sat here staring after her, but I do know it’s been too long. “What’d you say to Frankie, you ass?”

  Next to Jen is Vinny. While my sister is looking at me like I skinned her cat, Vinny nods at me before glancing back the way Frankie left. I don’t even try to figure out what that means. I stand and exit t
he booth.

  “Corey, what the hell?” Jen grabs my arm to stop me, but I shake her off. “What the hell is your problem?”

  “Jen,” I say, glancing back at her and shaking my head. “Let it go.”

  My sister yells after me as I rush through the crowd, but I don’t hear a word she says. Coming here was a mistake. Being with Frankie was a mistake. But no matter what I do, I can’t stop wanting her.

  Chapter 9

  Frankie

  I couldn’t bring myself to go to the next three days of home games. But I also couldn’t keep from watching them, or the next weeks’ worth of away games, on TV. I felt like I was inches away from losing my sanity. I needed to see Corey, but I couldn’t be close to him. I couldn’t risk it, knowing how he made me feel.

  It was worse now, knowing he felt something too. My heart clenched in my chest when he begged me not to walk away. But it was the only thing I could do to keep him safe.

  My cousins kept calling me, and I made the mistake of picking up once.

  “What’s wrong, Frankie?” Vivian asked. Her voice was full of anger and I cringed, glad I wasn’t there in person. “You’re freaking me out, acting like this. Poor Vinny doesn’t know what to do. Jen’s sure her asshole brother did something to you.”

  “He didn’t do anything, Viv,” I assured her. “Tell Jen and Vinny this has nothing to do with Corey.”

  “Do I need to have Daddy talk to you?”

  “What? No!” I was shaking, my heart was beating so fast. Marco couldn’t know anything about this. About me and Corey. “Jesus, Viv, just…I’m just…dealing with some stuff right now, okay? I need some time to figure this out.”

  It took a while to talk her down. When she was finally assured I wasn’t dead or dying, and there was nothing she could do to help me, I was able to hang up. I’d been ignoring all other calls from everyone. Well, everyone except Mitch.

  “You’ve gotta talk to him, Frankie,” Mitch insisted over the phone.

  “To who, Mitch? Corey or Marco? I talk to Corey, Marco will kill him. I talk to Marco, he’ll take it out on Corey. The only way to keep Corey safe is to leave him alone.”