Keeping Score

by Sara Rider

  “Do you have money for a cab?” Jaime asked.

  Alex opened his wallet, but Karina nodded. “I’ll be fine.” He shoved a couple of twenties into her hands anyway, just in case it was the shock talking.

  The blood was still pounding in his ears by the time they saw Karina safely off in the back of a taxi. He grabbed Jaime’s shoulders with both hands and swung her around to face him the instant the cab was out of view. “What the hell were you thinking? You could have gotten hurt!”

  She rolled her eyes, stoking his rage. “I’m fine. Nothing happened.”

  “Have you ever even been in a fight before?”

  “No, but I’m naturally scrappy, and I can outrun anyone if things go bad.”

  In spite of his overwhelming relief that she was unhurt, he wanted to strangle her. “You should’ve let me handle it.”

  She scoffed. “Yeah right, Mr. Straight and Narrow. Like you’ve ever been in a fight.”

  “Of course I’ve been in a fight.”

  Her eyes bugged. “Really?”

  “I’m the youngest of four brothers. I had to learn to defend myself or spend my weekends doing their chores.”

  She quieted for a moment. “I didn’t know you had brothers. You don’t share much about yourself, you know.”

  “Never had a reason to.”

  “Of course you do.” She smacked him lightly on the chest, her beautiful face scowling. “We’re a team.”

  “You’re a team. I’m the physiotherapist.” He could sense she was about to give him hell with that last remark, like a volcano pushed to the brink of explosion. He needed to redirect quickly. “What about you? Any brothers or sisters?”

  “Yeah. No. I mean no. Just me.” She crossed her arms and let her gaze follow the distant vista of ocean peeking through the buildings.

  He wanted to prod her about that curious answer, but something told him it wasn’t the right time or place. “Come on. Let’s get back to the hotel.”

  Jaime hesitated and gestured to her feet. Her bare feet. “We have a bit of a problem.” She held one shoe up. “My heel broke.”

  Alex raked his hand through his hair. “We can grab a cab.”

  “For three blocks? That’s just silly.”

  “You’re not walking barefoot.”

  “I agree.” She blinked a few times, eyes wide and innocent. A slow mischievous grin spread across her face.

  He inhaled deeply, trying to hold on to his last ounce of sanity. “You don’t really expect me to carry you.”

  “Yep!”

  “No.” He turned and hoofed it down the sidewalk, leaving her behind.

  “You’re not going to leave me here!”

  He didn’t bother to turn around. “Watch me.”

  “Fine, I’ll let you have another look at my ankle tonight if you carry me back. I’ll even do those stupid single-leg squat thingies.”

  The slight desperation in her voice succeeded in getting him to stop walking. “Deal. Hop on.”

  She bounded toward him and jumped on piggyback-style, but the press of her full breasts against his back reminded him that nothing between them was child’s play. He loosened her death grip around his neck and set off for the hotel, wondering how in the hell his career had come to this. Never had he had to work so hard to help an athlete with their recovery. But with the Daniels fiasco threatening to resurface, he wasn’t walking away from Jaime Chen’s inflamed ankle, no matter how ridiculous she was.

  “I know you’re angry and all, but you have to admit, it was kind of heroic of me to help Karina.”

  Just two more blocks . . .

  “Maybe I should come up with my own superhero name,” she mused, kicking her feet like a child. “Like the Black Lily.”

  He hoisted her higher on his back to keep her from slipping. She wasn’t particularly heavy, but her exaggerated hand gestures weren’t helping him keep his grip. “The Barefoot Fool?”

  “No offense, Martinez, but you kind of suck at the superhero name game. Wait! I’ve got it. The Jade Dragon, riding my trusted Zebra-Corn to save the day!”

  “Zebra-Corn? You know what? Never mind. I don’t want to know.”

  “Of course you do. It’s a zebra-unicorn. Much more badass than a regular unicorn. Now giddyup!” She kicked her heels into the sides of his thighs.

  “That’s it,” he grumbled. He pitched forward, making her scream as she launched over his shoulder. He caught her in his arms and used the momentum to flip her back over his shoulder in a fireman carry like she was a rag doll.

  “This isn’t funny, Alex!”

  “We’ll agree to disagree.” He smoothed the thin fabric of her dress down the backs of her thighs and ignored the curious looks from other pedestrians. His mind had a singular focus: getting Jaime back to the hotel before she annoyed him to death.

  “A zebra-corn is a trusted and obedient creature.” She swatted him on the butt, making him skip a step, but he refused to put her down. “This is not obedient!”

  “Some beasts are too wild to be tamed.” Relief was sweet as the hotel courtyard came into view. A few more steps and he could put her down and start pretending this whole day had never happened.

  “Yeah right. The wildest you get is watching Animal Planet on a Friday night.”

  For a split second, he wondered if she was right. When was the last time he’d had any excitement? “I’m making an exception tonight.”

  The outdoor path wound around the hotel to the pool. Dozens of white plastic loungers ringed the oval pool, lit up by submerged purple lights, but the place was empty.

  A wicked idea crossed his mind.

  No. Bad, bad, bad idea.

  “Maybe I need to get you a collar. Or better yet, I heard castration is an effective tool for domestication.”

  He sighed, feeling her weight settle into his aching shoulder. He pivoted ninety degrees and swung the gate open.

  “What are you doing? You can put me down now. Right now.” The slight note of panic in her voice did nothing to deter him. If anything, it was more fuel for the fire. He was moving on autopilot. She struggled, wriggling her compact body side to side, but in this position his hold on her was sure.

  “Here’s another little-known fact about zebra-corns.” He took his wallet and phone out of his back pocket and tossed it, along with her purse, on the ground. “We’re amphibious.”

  “Put me down!”

  “All right.” He flipped her back into his arms like he was carrying a baby.

  Then he tossed her into the deep end.

  “ARGH!” JAIME HAD JUST enough time to scream before the cold sting of water enveloped her.

  She clambered her way up to the surface and brushed the thick mass of hair from her eyes with one hand while treading water with the other. After the shock wore off, it occurred to her that she probably deserved it for teasing Alex all afternoon. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to get revenge.

  She dog-paddled to the edge of the pool where he stood with arms crossed and a look of smug satisfaction on his face. But before she got close enough to hook her arm around his ankles and drag him in, he kicked off his shoes and cannonballed into the pool, splashing more chlorine into her face.

  She rubbed the sting from her eyes and growled when she saw the black smudges on her palms. “Remind me to wear waterproof mascara the next time you dump me into a pool,” she said as he emerged from the water in the shallow end like a Greek god. His soaked T-shirt rode up a few inches on his stomach, revealing chiseled abs dusted with a treasure trail of dark hair dipping below his jeans.

  “You expect there to be a second time?” He scrubbed the droplets of water from his face. His biceps swelled and contracted deliciously from the movement, sending a jolt of tingling naughtiness to her core. God, the wet T-shirt look did amazing things for
his body.

  She shrugged, aiming for cool in spite of the fact she probably looked like a crazed panda. “I’ve had first dates go worse and still said yes to a second.” She mentally face-palmed herself the instant she said that. This wasn’t a date; this was a battle of wits and strategy. At least, it’d started out that way. It didn’t feel that way to Jaime anymore as she stood waist deep in moonlight-streaked water just a few feet from the man she’d firmly believed was her worst enemy. But dancing with Alex was gloriously fun, like their bodies had been artisan-crafted to fit together. Most importantly, all her anger over getting benched had disappeared for those precious few hours.

  He shook his head. “I never know if you’re serious or just bullshitting me when you say things like that.”

  She skimmed her fingers along the surface of the water, fighting the grin that tugged at her cheeks. It felt good to know they were on an even playing field in that regard. “That makes two of us who are confused, because I’ve got no idea why I’m in this pool.” She flicked a splash of water at him.

  “Because this way you’ll leave a trail if you decide to run away on me again. Now give me your ankle.”

  Her body tensed, the urge to run hammering through her veins. Relax, Jaime. He’s not trying to hurt you. He’s trying to help. Why was it so hard to believe the little voice of reason in her head? Besides, every last bit of pain had disappeared over the last couple of days and the fact was, he wouldn’t have gone to so much trouble today to get another assessment if he wasn’t trying to help. And after putting up with her zaniness all afternoon, he deserved some points for perseverance.

  Buoyed by the water, she let him grab hold of her ankles and pull her feet toward him, while her arms splayed out like a starfish. She closed her eyes and focused on the water lapping at her face. The late-night air was only a few degrees shy of sweltering, and her body had adjusted quickly to the pool’s temperature.

  “The water will provide some mild resistance. Tell me if you feel anything, okay?”

  Jaime hummed her assent. Alex bent and rotated her lower leg in every direction, checking with her with every twist. Some of it was uncomfortable, but nothing that would qualify as painful. After a dozen or so minutes, she grew restless and righted herself.

  “I wasn’t lying when I said it’s all better.”

  His serious face was back, the one that was all work and no play, and that just wasn’t right. “I want to try a few more things out of the water before I make any judgment calls. And I want you to start trusting me. I’m not your enemy. All I want is to help you get back in the game. Okay?”

  “Fine, but I want to try something first.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “What’s that?”

  “You have to admit we dance pretty well together.”

  “Sure,” he said warily, taking a small step back.

  “We didn’t get to try a lift.”

  “No.”

  “Come on! You’re strong, I’m small. We can totally do it. Imagine how awesome it’ll be the next time we go to a salsa club.” She swam up to him and placed his big hands on her waist. “Now lift, just like they did in Dirty Dancing.” He had no excuse for not knowing the scene, since that was one of the handful of movies on constant repeat on their bus’s DVD player.

  He tried to remove his hands, but she caught his wrists and gave him a stern look. He shook his head. “I can’t decide whether to admire your persistence or be afraid of it.”

  “Both. Now lift.”

  “Nowhere to go but down,” he muttered. The tips of his fingers pressed into her ribs, and before she knew it, she was up above his head.

  “Holy crap! This is amazing. I feel like a bird.” It wasn’t just the sensation that was amazing, it was his arms. He had lifted her effortlessly, like she was weightless.

  “This is ridiculous, and I’m putting you down. Just stay still so I don’t drop you.”

  “All right.” She wobbled slightly as he lowered her. Instinct kicked in, and she clamped onto his ears to steady herself.

  “Dammit, Jaime,” Alex said a split second before they crashed into the water.

  She held her breath just in time to avoid choking on a mouthful of water. They splashed around in a tangle of limbs, grappling toward the surface. Just as the air in her lungs grew scarce, she felt Alex’s hands lock on to her arms and pull her up.

  She was still in his grasp once they were standing again in the waist-deep water. Moonlight reflected into his dark eyes with a slight shimmer, like she was getting a rare glimpse into his soul. Suddenly, every inch of her skin touching his lit up like a flame. It was easy to ignore her fierce attraction to him when it was just physical. But the man had just withstood every one of her half-baked attempts to get him off her back. Not only was he still standing by the end, she was pretty sure he’d had some fun somewhere along the way. She’d definitely had a blast, which left her with the inevitable realization that she was actually starting to like the guy. Really like him.

  That was the first step down a dangerous path.

  He cracked a half-smile while her mind raced.

  “What?” she asked nervously.

  “You still have makeup all over your face.” He cupped her cheeks and rubbed his thumbs along the delicate skin under her eyes.

  She groaned. “Is it gone yet?”

  “Nope.” His chest rumbled with quiet laughter.

  “Glad to see you still have a sense of humor.” Her gaze wandered to his chest, and she took advantage of the chance to inspect him as well. His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. Even his neck was potently masculine. Thick with a hint of black stubble and veins that led like a road map to the exact spot where the press of her lips would bring him to his knees. Every trace of his body was outlined by his wet cotton T-shirt.

  Which meant . . . She looked down at her own chest in panic and gasped. Her dress was stuck to her breasts like ClingWrap, leaving no details to the imagination. She crossed her arms and blushed when she realized she’d pretty much pointed a flashing neon arrow at her own puckered nipples.

  She looked up to catch him staring. He swallowed and his gaze zeroed in on her face, his hands still cupped along her cheeks. An electric charge sizzled between them. He tipped her head upward to him and her heartbeat kicked into gear as her mouth parted slightly with shock, lips tingling with anticipation. Was he going to kiss her? Did she want him to kiss her?

  Hell yeah.

  She went up on the tips of her toes to close the distance between them, chest heaving with nervous, reckless excitement. He didn’t back away.

  Erasing those few short inches between them, she brushed her lips against his. Teasing him. Testing him. Giving him the chance to change his mind.

  His lips met hers, dialing the intensity up from sweet to so-freaking-hot. She melted under his touch. He tasted sweet and spicy, overlaid by a slight tang of chlorine. His tongue probed her mouth with delicious need, stealing her breath and sending a jolt of desire through her body. Never in her life had she been kissed like this. He was in total control, electrifying her core with each stroke of the tongue.

  He caressed her collarbone, and then slipped a finger beneath the strap of her dress. She shuddered with anticipation. His touch was unbelievably sensual, stirring emotions inside her that she hadn’t been expecting. She pressed her body against his, needing to feel every inch of him.

  He released her mouth and moved on to her neck while his fingers explored the delicate swell of her breast. She tucked her hands beneath his shirt, reveling in the feel of his corded muscles and the hard planes of his stomach.

  “Wow,” she said in a rushed breath.

  She dipped her hands to the edge of his jeans and he groaned. It was a delicious sound. Addicting.

  His palm flattened against the top of her breast. His other hand titled her face upward, forcing h
er to look at him. “Jaime?”

  She met his eyes with confusion, vision hazy from the euphoria of her lust.

  She licked her lips and nodded, craving his touch like an addict. A small part of her was screaming that this was a bad idea, but she didn’t care. Her breasts were hot and heavy and ready for him. She needed him to touch her before she exploded.

  A blinding beam of light hit her in the face before her lips recaptured his. She yelped and jumped out of Alex’s arms with a splash, blinking away the unwelcome black spots dancing in her vision.

  A middle-aged security guard stood at the edge of the pool with a flashlight. “Pool closes in two minutes, folks.” From the amused expression on his face, he’d snuck up on them a while ago and waited to deliver his message.

  She climbed out of the pool and wrung her hair out while Alex gathered their stuff. All traces of humor disappeared from his face as he handed Jaime her shoes and purse. In the blink of an eye, the lust had turned into a strange, awkward energy. It swirled around them as they headed into the hotel, where a blast from the overzealous air conditioner greeted them.

  They rode the elevator in silence. It was rare for Jaime to hold back her nervous chatter, but she was afraid to spark a reaction from him. She wanted to bask in the afterglow of the crazy, beautiful moment that had just passed between them, not deal with the inevitable regrets. Not yet, anyway.

  Their rooms were on opposite sides of the same floor. As the doors opened, Alex stepped out to the left then hesitated, like he’d remembered it was polite to at least say good night.

  “Thanks for a fun evening,” she said before he had the chance to speak. “I had a really good time.”

  “I did, too.” A strange look passed across his face before settling into a wry smile, like he barely believed he’d just admitted that.

  Tingles rolled down her arms. He had shown her a side of him that she didn’t know existed beneath his crusty exterior. Deep down, he was a man who knew it was vital to the soul to dance your heart out. That you needed to go out and hunt down the crazy so that it didn’t sneak up on you and pull you under. A man who knew how to kiss the daylights out of a woman.