Craving Heat

by Adrienne Giordano

  Sunlight glinted off Jay’s blond hair, bringing out red flecks she hadn’t noticed before. Intimacy did that. Brought a level of focus that hadn’t been there before.

  When he left her house that morning, he’d been in jeans from the night before. Post-workout, he wore basketball shorts with a sleeveless T-shirt that showed off the tree trunks known as his arms.

  Ooh, the man was jacked. “Hey, mister,” she said.

  He glanced up and cocked his head, watching her as she walked. She fought the urge to break the eye contact and check her attire.

  “Hey, yourself. Have I mentioned I love looking at you?”

  “Last night. Several times. It doesn’t get old.”

  “Good.”

  He eased his arm around her waist, his warm fingers cruising under the long-sleeved yoga top she’d thrown over her sports bra. On contact, she heated up, her body responding to the same touch that had driven her half mad the night before. He kissed her gently, gliding his lips over hers, a soft caress unlike the kisses they’d shared before. And one she liked. Very much.

  So many sides to this man.

  “Um,” she said, “Gage is inside. And, well, you know Reid’s security cameras are probably recording.”

  Jay shrugged. “It’s not a problem on my end. Yours?”

  “Not one bit. Just reminding you in case you don’t want people to know.”

  “Why would I want that?”

  “I…” Why indeed? “I don’t know, actually.”

  “Unless one of the Steeles intends to sell the story to the rags, I’m good with it. Even if your over-amped cousin tries to kick my ass.”

  She laughed. “He just might.”

  “He’ll have to wait until Grif gets done with me.”

  “Grif?”

  “My agent isn’t too happy.”

  “What happened?”

  “He found out about Sam getting fired. I should have told him about it yesterday.” He circled a hand by his head. “The day got away from me. Now, Grif’ll be here in thirty to remind me that any scandal will cost me. And if it costs me, it costs him.”

  “It’s not about money with him. He cares about you.”

  “I know. I didn’t mean…” He shook his head. “I’m all wacked out. After he tells me to get my head out of my ass, I’ll update him on the embezzlement situation.”

  “He’s on your side, you know. He’ll help.”

  “I know. It’s still bad timing.” He looked out over the obstacle course where the various pieces of equipment would kick her rear. “But we’re not here for me. Let’s talk strategy.”

  “Ah.” Maggie held up a finger. “Subject change. For someone so adept at charming the media, you’re terrible at avoiding personal conversations you don’t want to have.”

  She’d experienced that twice now with him. The first when he’d walked out on her yesterday and now the subject change.

  He scooped Reid’s dreaded stopwatch from the table. “Let’s have you run the course. On the first try, don’t get hung up on time. Put it out of your head. You’re a doer. Work the course. Visualize it and when I say go, shut your mind down. Your body knows this course, Maggie. Let it do the work.”

  For a girl whose thoughts constantly looped, it all sounded good. Too good. “What if my time is bad?”

  “Don’t think about that. Besides, it’s only me. Who cares? The point is to relax. Put the stressors out of your mind and focus.”

  How lucky was she? A professional athlete giving her advice—not to mention those recent multiple orgasms. Talk about a girl with a little pep in her step.

  She saluted and walked to the starting line. “Sir, yes, sir.”

  “Get warmed up.”

  Under Jay’s watchful eye, she cruised through a series of stretches and Reid’s favorite inchworms and after five minutes, shook out her legs. “I’m good,” she said.

  “Honey, you’re more than good. You’re a fucking beast. You hear me?”

  She peered over the obstacle course to the first element. The low log. Got this. “I hear you.”

  “Good. What are you?”

  “I’m a beast,” she muttered.

  Then he was beside her, closing into her personal space, getting up in her grill. “I didn’t hear you. What?”

  She knew what this was. The superstar trying to wind her up. Get her good and motivated to kick some ass. She shoved him. Sent him sailing a full two steps. “I’m a beast.”

  “Attagirl! Damn straight.”

  He smacked her on the ass and walked back to the table where he plopped his fine self on top, resting his feet on the bench. “On three, you’re going.”

  “Got it.”

  She squatted into a sprinter’s stance, focused on that low log. I’ve got this. And then something happened. Something light and fun and powerful streamed from her brain to her toes.

  Usually, about now, her mind exploded. All the stress and determination coiling into a tight ball before she even left the starting line.

  “Shut your mind down,” Jay said.

  She closed her eyes, took a deep inhale and opened them. Her gaze landed on the first obstacle.

  “I’m a beast,” she said.

  “Yeah, you are. One, two, three. Go!”

  She took off, her sneaker-clad feet flying over the moist grass. Don’t think about the grass. I’m a beast. First obstacle. She rolled right over that sucker and cleared it.

  Next up, low wall. Done.

  She scrambled up the twenty-foot ladder, tripping up on one of the rungs—dammit. Keep moving. Only two more rungs and she’d climb over the top and work her way down. Halfway down, she leaped to the ground, sticking the landing and sprinting to the high wall.

  Her arch nemesis.

  “Don’t think!” Jay shouted.

  She grabbed the rope, concentrated on climbing up and—upsy-daisy—over the top.

  Next element. Get it.

  On and on it went, her mind completely dialed in on each obstacle and shutting everything else out. This must be what Reid referred to as “in the zone.” Whatever it was, she’d take it.

  “You’re a beast!” Jay shouted, clearly enjoying his coaching duties.

  She hit the ground, army-crawling under the barbed wire obstacle. The one, according to Jay, she consistently beat Reid’s time on. Go, go, go.

  Done.

  Go.

  She leaped to her feet and rounded the turn, flying and not even breathing as hard as usual. Her time must have sucked, but this run was like none of the others. This one was…fun. Euphoric even.

  She breezed through the finish line, slowed to a light jog and lapped the table once before shuffling her feet back and forth while catching her breath.

  “Well?”

  “Well, what?”

  She’d kill him. “How’d I do?”

  He showed her the stopwatch. She slid her gaze from her time back to Jay. “No way.”

  “Told ya.”

  “That’s a half second faster than my best time.”

  “Happens to me all the time. When I stop thinking and rely on instincts, I do better.”

  She angled back, stared out over the course. At that blasted wall she’d spent so much energy trying to conquer. “All along I’ve been battling that wall and getting more and more frustrated and you’re telling me I only needed to focus on something else.” She turned back, stepped a little closer. “Where the hell have you been all this time?”

  He flashed the superstar smile and the warm buzz she’d been feeling for days now took hold. She was gone. Not just a little either. Smitten didn’t cover it. This was full-blown, I’m keeping him for myself lust.

  Period.

  No sharing.

  As with his visualization technique, it sounded great. Except, any minute now, Grif would find him a job and he’d leave. Off to play football and enjoy the attention of any number of supermodels.

  And what if he wound up on the West Coast? Some couples
made cross-country relationships work.

  Maggie didn’t want it.

  Besides, did one night—no matter how incredible—give her the right to assume he wanted to be part of her life? That this was more than just a quick bit of fun?

  “Mags?” Using her own trick, he snapped his fingers in front of her. “You with me?”

  How had she never realized how annoying that was? She grabbed his fingers, bit the ends gently. His eyes flashed and he let out a low moan.

  Seriously? Men were dopes. Everything revolved around sex. “Jay?”

  “Yes?”

  “Don’t make me smack you.”

  “You’re the one who put your mouth on me. Just sayin’.”

  She shoved him again and he burst out laughing before lunging at her, grabbing her around the waist and—whoopsie—swinging her into a fireman’s hold.

  From atop his shoulder, she smacked his butt. “Hey! Put me down.”

  “No.”

  One night and he turned caveman on her? “No? Are you serious right now?”

  With his free hand, he scooped his phone and stopwatch from the table and shoved them in his pocket. If he dropped her, she’d hurt him. But he’d locked that big, iron arm around her and held tight. Just like the night before when she’d fallen asleep curled against him and thinking life didn’t need to be so lonely.

  “I won’t let you fall,” he said.

  It might be too late for that.

  * * *

  Jay carried Maggie halfway to Miss Joan’s while she swore at him like a truck driver and chattered on about the revenge she’d take for manhandling her. She could have at it because he wasn’t putting her down. Maybe ever. He tipped his head up, let the sun’s warm rays wash over him. In a couple hours, the crisp morning air would disappear and turn into a seventy-degree day.

  Autumn in North Carolina. He liked it. Even more, he liked holding Maggie. Her being the independent, responsible sort didn’t give a man many opportunities to beat on his chest some, so he’d take what she called a caveman stunt and consider it a win.

  Ten yards from the house he stopped walking. “Sheriff, you’ve got a potty mouth.”

  Gently, he lowered her to the ground and held on while she steadied herself.

  “When men throw me around like a sack of potatoes, you know it.”

  He smacked a quick kiss on her. “I like it. Makes me think naughty thoughts.”

  “Please, something tells me you think them anyway.”

  “When it comes to you, yes. Plus, I have to make it up to you for ruining your vacation.”

  She cocked an eyebrow, leaned in a little. “Now you’re talking. What did you have in mind?”

  “First, I’m making you breakfast. After that obstacle course run, you deserve it.” He anchored one arm around her waist and nuzzled her neck. “Then if there’s anything left of me after my agent gets done with me, I thought I’d let you start your day off with a bang.”

  “Sounds interesting. What kind of bang?”

  It’d be more than interesting. He’d make sure. “Any kind you want. Fast and hard. Slow and easy. You name it. That’s if you can spare me some time.”

  “Lucky for me, I’m the boss. And I suddenly have a meeting I can’t miss. I need to take advantage of this before you skip town.”

  Ah, yes. His job. Any time now, he could be on his way somewhere. Anywhere. At this point it didn’t matter. He needed to be back on a field. Which meant leaving Steele Ridge. And Maggie.

  But football was his life right now. Being a career woman, she’d understand. Maybe they’d work something out. One thing about Maggie, she didn’t need a man around. She took care of herself.

  And, hell on earth, when did he become the long-distance relationship sort?

  Silence muddied the air between them. What could he say? They both knew he’d go. Of course he would.

  She bumped his shoulder as they walked. “Relax, Jay. I’m not about to make any demands on you. I know what this is.”

  What the hell did that mean? “Really,” he said, trying like hell to leave the pissy out of his voice. “What is it you think this is? Enlighten me.”

  “Oh, come on. Don’t be that way.”

  Apparently he’d failed at leaving the pissy out. “How am I being?”

  She waved one hand. “Offended. All I’m saying is I don’t expect anything from you. I know this is a temporary stop for you. There’s no pressure here. We’re having fun.”

  “What if it’s more than fun?”

  Jesus, where was he going with this?

  “Is it?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Exactly. Right now, we’re having fun. Let’s leave it there.” She stopped walking and faced him. “I’m not usually a casual affair girl. And I absolutely don’t make a habit of sleeping with men just passing through my town. This is…different.”

  “Good. It’s new for me, too.” He ran his hands over his head and blew out a breath. “My life is a shitstorm. You know that. For the first time in years, I don’t belong anywhere. I’m in the middle of this embezzlement thing with Sam and could be facing criminal charges for slugging a guy.”

  “It’s challenging, I’d imagine.”

  “But I like being with you. You take the edge off. You make me laugh when my life is imploding.”

  “The life you knew is imploding. Make a new life.”

  She made it sound so easy. Make a new life.

  He tipped his head up to the sky again, felt that warm autumn sun. North Carolina. A new life. He smiled. “I like that idea.” He dropped his arm over her shoulder and guided her toward the house. “I’m thinking waffles for breakfast.”

  Before Jay could get too ahead of himself on the joys of breakfast with Maggie and Miss Joan, a minivan stormed up the driveway.

  Maggie let out a sigh. “I swear, I can’t get used to seeing my slick as a greased wheel cousin driving a minivan. It defies all logic.”

  “But look at him go in that thing. Let’s run. We’ll get inside and lock the door.”

  The two of them sprinted to the back door, laughing like a couple of high schoolers. Lost my fucking mind.

  They bolted into the house, found Sam and Miss Joan chatting over coffee in the kitchen, and drew up short. Barely winded, Maggie swung back and flipped the lock. “Ha!”

  “Goodness’ sakes,” Miss Joan said, “what are y’all doing?”

  Jay jerked his thumb at the door. “Grif is here. We’re locking him out.”

  At that, Miss Joan blinked. Three times. “Setting aside the fact that you’re locking my son out of my house, you do realize he has a key.”

  “Dang it!” Maggie snapped her fingers. “Aunt Joanie, you’re totally ruining this.”

  Shaking her head, Miss Joan laughed. “Y’all are nuts. Sit down and I’ll make breakfast.”

  “No ma’am,” Jay said. “It’s my turn. How do waffles sound?”

  “I love your waffles.”

  This from his sister, who’d been the first to try his cooking and had never pulled a punch when it came to critiques.

  Miss Joan hopped out of her chair. “I have that thick maple bacon.”

  A thunk near the door sounded and they all swiveled to see Grif standing on the other side jiggling the knob. He stared at them through the glass with a scowl that should have had them all running. “Really?” he said, his voice carrying through the door.

  “Really,” Maggie fired back.

  A second later, the kitchen door lock tumbled and the fun ended. A pissed Griff entered. He wore one of his designer suits—Brioni, if Jay knew his agent—that told anyone sitting across from him that he’d take their head off and eat their brains for lunch.

  Good agents.

  Hard to find.

  “You locked the door,” he said. “Very mature.”

  Jay shrugged. “I know you’re irritated. Seemed like a good idea at the time.”

  “I am pissed.” He glanced at his mothe
r. “Sorry, Mom.”

  She slapped the bacon on the counter. “I’m going to give y’all a few minutes of privacy.”

  Following her lead, Sam rose from her chair. “Good idea. Me too.”

  “No.” Grif pointed at her. “You stay. Please.”

  “Nice try, Sis,” Jay cracked.

  Sam sat again. “Can’t blame a girl for trying.”

  They waited for Miss Joan to disappear down the hallway and Grif eyeballed Jay. “What do I always say?”

  I’m your first call. That’s what Grif always said. “Well, you say a lot of things—”

  “Don’t fuck with me.”

  Playtime was definitely over. Jay held up his hands. “I know. I know. You’re my first call.”

  “I’m your first call.” He glanced at Sam, then came back to Jay. “What’s this all about? Embezzlement? They’ve gotta be kidding.”

  “How’d you hear about it?”

  “I talked to someone in the league office this morning. They’re going through their books to make sure there’s nothing funky happening with the funds from the joint campaign with Celebrate Hope.”

  “Now the league is involved in this?”

  “They’re covering their asses. Last year that campaign brought in two hundred million in sales. They’re not risking anything.”

  Each year the league partnered with Celebrate Hope on sales of team merchandise. Jerseys, hats, socks, T-shirts. Whatever they could think of, they slapped the Celebrate Hope logo on and each team sold the merchandise. Once the league took their expenses out, each team received a royalty and the rest went to Celebrate Hope.

  “Are they finding any discrepancies?” Sam asked.

  “He wouldn’t say. They’re looking hard, though.”

  “If it helps at all, I didn’t see anything regarding the campaign in that weird account I found.”

  “What weird account?”

  Jay waved a hand. “That’s what started this mess. Sam found an account she’d never seen before. There were expenses that were supposedly paid to me.”

  “I thought—”

  “I pay my own expenses. Which she knows. She brought it to Will and now they’re accusing her of embezzlement. With the bogus payments to me, they’re probably lining me up as a coconspirator.”