Game On! (Seaside Heat) (4 page)

“Hold on a second, Jordan. Let me double check this order before sending it to the vendor. Found some great fabrics here this week.” Clicking keys followed. “Okay sister, give it up.”

“He’s a guy in town for a few weeks and I’m not looking for a relationship.” Just needed a hot body taking her to heights she’d only imagined.

“Jordan, are you actually clamming up on me?”

“You know they’re both players on the new Tritons football team, don’t you?” She closed the box, ready to sprout wings and fly away in freedom.

“Say what?” GiGi let out a long whistle. “Sneaky fuckers!”

“Your guy’s a middle linebacker, so no wonder he’s meat on the hoof.” Jordan laughed.

“And between those massive thighs, too.” GiGi moaned. “If I hadn’t had to pack and fly out for this fashion show, I would have kept him at my place the rest of the weekend.”

How many dates would it take to reach that particular body part on Heath? Warmth built in Jordan’s lower stomach and migrated down. Maybe she could surprise him and skip straight to the ‘D.’ “So are you hooking up with Dugan again when you get back?”

“Yes ma’am. I ain’t done ridin’ that bull yet. Told him I’d be busy while in New York and I’d call after my flight back on Thursday. Now you’ve got me thinking I should text him. Maybe I should send him a cleavage shot to give him a reminder.” She giggled. “Why waste a chance to show off this designer bra. What about you and Mr. Dreamy Eyes?”

So she had noticed those stunning baby blues in spite of the meat man. “I offered to be his local tour guide, no strings attached.”

“Good girl. Heard he’s coming off an evil woman and out for some summer fun like you.”

So body parts it would be. Jordan frowned, unsettled about how much she longed to see him again. “We’ll get together for lunch when you get back. Get a freebie dress from the fashion show to loan me. One that will bring him to his knees.”

“Only if I can watch!” GiGi razzed her before disconnecting.

Forever notorious that girl.

With a pang of regret, Jordan packed some of the lacrosse gear she’d loaned to the new coach for the season. She said goodbye to her fellow PE teachers, the office staff then loaded her car destined for home.

Still paying lawyer’s fees, she’d given up her apartment, hoping to get out of the hole. She turned into her parent’s fancy bricked driveway. With no raises for city and school employees in the last three years, she doubted her residence would change in the near future.

Her dad stepped out the front door as she started unloading. “Let me help you.”

“I’ve got it, Dad.”

He rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt. Though he had a desk job, he stayed in shape playing tennis. His protective and giving nature demanded he help her until the boxes sat stacked in her room over the garage.

“Are you going out tonight?” He knew the usual school’s-out parties that she used to attend.

Her life had changed dramatically after being cross-examined by a bulldog lawyer and having her whole life exposed for the public’s eye. Her Dad admitted it was one of the most painful moments in his life. He even said he wished he could have taken her burden.

“I’m meeting a friend for dinner.”

His eyes brightened. “Glad you’ve started to get out again, hon.”

He wouldn’t have lectured her about going out with a guy she just met, but Jordan decided against mentioning Heath. He was just body parts.

The sun dipped below the horizon while a sea breeze broke through the humidity. Heath sat on the deck sipping a beer while waiting for Jordan. The possible reasons she insisted on meeting him here piqued his curiosity. Privacy? Fear? Perhaps she didn’t plan on keeping him in her life long enough for it to matter.

She parked her sedan beside his Jeep. Thankfully, Dugan had found a corn hole game down on the beach at a neighboring house. Gathering a strengthening breath, Heath waved and met her at the bottom of the stairs.

She wore her hair pinned up. Small ringlets framed her face, teasing her temples in the warm breeze. Her frilly sundress emphasized her curves.

“Hello beautiful.” He leaned close and kissed her temple.

A flush of pink colored her tanned cheeks. She surveyed him. “Back at you, handsome.”

Thankfully, his shorts and polo met her standards. “Do you mind coming up for a minute while I grab my keys and cell?”

She smiled. “I’d love to get a peek inside the house.”

He followed her lovely swaying form up the steps.

“Nice.” She walked through the open living area that encompassed a bar.

“The place has been newly remodeled. There’s even a partial ocean view.” He motioned
across the bar toward the sliding glass door.

“Wow, you’ve got the TV, the beach, and internet all within reach of a cocktail.”

“Would you like one?”

She slipped onto a bar chair. “A little wine if you have some, please.”

Heath retrieved a bottle from the mini fridge and grabbed a glass from the cabinet. He gave it a slight roll as he finished half filling her glass.

She arched a brow. “Did you wait tables in college?”

“Yes ma’am. And even after college until I signed on to an NFL practice squad.”

The glass froze at her lips and her eyes lit. “You played NFL?”

“Not in games, but as a practice player on a couple of different teams. This year I’d hoped for a shot on special teams, with the Texans until the strike.”

“Were you still there when you were offered a place on the Tritons?”

It was a nice way of asking if he’d been let go. “Yes, but they had a full roster. Not sure they’d have had room for me after training camp. An opportunity to get on with the new team here presented itself and I was itching to get back on the eastern seaboard.” He poured the rest of his beer down the sink.

“Will you head back when the strike ends?” She stood, sauntered over to the door to the deck and glanced toward the ocean.

“Depends, I have to honor my contract with the Tritons. If the strike ends before their season is over, the team won’t wait to fill the practice squad.”

Returning to Texas was only an option if they called him back. Playing for the NFL had been great money and he’d saved most of his salary for three years, building a considerable nest egg. He’d come close to fulfilling his dream.

After what had happened to Jordan, he deemed close enough might have to be good enough. It damn sure beat losing everything and he wasn’t getting any younger. Football would always be a young man’s game.

“It’s never easy is it?” She returned to the bar.

“You know the saying, life is like the ocean.”

“I love the ocean, but the tempest of late has been a bitch.” She swallowed the last of her wine.

“Kinda been in the same boat. How about we change that?”

“I’m free for the summer.” She winked and played with the stem of her glass.

He smiled. The smallest things she did turned him on. “Yeah, the kids stormed the beach this afternoon, singing
School’s Out
.”

“You can deal with them for the next couple of months.” She chuckled. “Ready to go? I’m hungry after packing.”

“Running from defensive tackles has the same effect.” Heath grabbed his keys and phone then followed her out.

He helped her into the Jeep, catching a scant view of her luscious thighs, and his mind shot back to their game plans. Once behind the wheel, he asked, “Do you coach sports at your school?”

Her bubbly expression faded beneath her tan. “I used to.” She buckled her seatbelt. “I was recently involved in a lawsuit. Coaching during the suit would have put the school and me in an awkward situation.”

If he didn’t confess to knowledge of her situation now, she’d be mad later. “Since you bring it up, I’ll admit I read something about it.”

Her lips trembled, but her jaw remained set. “You Googled me?”

“Trying to find out what sport you played.” He started the engine.

“Nice try. But I did the same to you. Once burned twice shy, aren’t we? So now what?” She crossed her arms.

What a tough girl. Leaning close, he cupped her chin and touched his lips to hers. “We go to dinner.”

* * * *

His tempting kiss drained all apprehension from Jordan. She stared ahead as he shoved the Jeep into gear.

A few minutes later, he reached across the console, grasped her hand and squeezed.

“Better things are headed your way, Jordan.”

Not scared off easily either. Another positive check on his grading chart. Even in style, he tallied well, dressed in casual shorts and a striped polo. She wouldn’t have guessed him a football player. A guy that frequented the gym, definitely.

Dinner flew by as she questioned him about his time on the practice squad. She’d told him she had older brothers who played. If they’d had the lingerie semi-pro teams during her time in college, she’d have tried out.

“Would you be interested in coming out to one of our games?”

“Of course.” She smiled and offered him a spoonful of the tiramisu she’d ordered more for him than herself. As she ate the rich, creamy dessert, he continued to study her mouth with a passionate gaze. “Something wrong?”

“Mentally comparing.” He winked.

Her heartbeat skipped. Lord, he knew how to get her going.

“Back to the game.” He accepted another spoonful from across the table.

She cleared her throat. “The Tritons’ or ours?”

He shifted in the booth. “Do we have enough body parts to make it through the season?”

She scraped the plate for the last of it and licked the spoon. “If not, I’m sure there are other nice butts on the team to ogle.”

He growled deep in his throat. “Until you’ve gotten through all of my parts, you best be only checking out the ass belonging to number eighty-seven.”

“Is that so?” She slipped off her sandal and rested her bare foot between his thighs. Then she curled her pale frosted toes against his crotch.

His intake of breath and hard-on made her smile.

A muscle worked at the side of his jaw.

She loved being able to break his composure.

Their server appeared. “Are you ready for the check, sir?”

“Anything else, darlin’?” His deep southern drawl seemed determined to brand the endearment his own.

“Totally satisfied.” Jordan eased her foot up the ridge of his erection and let her spoon ting against the dessert plate.

At his nod, the waitress drifted to the next table. “As much as I’m enjoying your massage, we’re going to have to walk out of here soon.”

She chuckled.

“That’s the first time I’ve heard you laugh.” He raced his hand along the inside of her calf.

“It’s been a while since I’ve found anything amusing.” This playful side of him made her want to get to know him better.

* * * *

Giving Jordan a brief foot massage, Heath willed his dick into submission. He’d never seen that coming from his date. After leaving the restaurant, Jordan directed him to turn onto Atlantic Avenue.

“Locals call this The Strip.” She grinned.

With school just out, all the kids were trolling. They inched through traffic. From the oncoming lane, a leggy brunette leaned out of her car window and yelled at Heath. “Hey stud, you can be my daddy tonight!”

He glanced to Jordan. “Did you do this?”

She played with her hair. “It’s kinda liberating. You can be risqué as you want. It’s unlikely you’ll see the same person again.”

“Let it all hang out, huh?” He quoted the sixties slang term while several young babes dressed in bikini tops and shorts hung over the rear of a convertible. He’d seen bathing suit bottoms cover more. A year shy of thirty, he felt like a middle-aged man amongst the teens and young adults.

As they crept along, Jordan pointed out several nightlife spots. “I remember my dad saying The Raven used to be a cop hangout in his day.”

The large black bird emblazoned on the sign brought the Edgar Allen Poe poem to mind. “Was he a police officer?”

“Some of his friends were. Dad works in engineering for a company that does contracting for the Navy. Been here all my life. I’m happy to give you a tour of all the nearby cities and more if you’d like.” She winked.

Her little gesture lit him to a fury.

After arriving back at the beach house, Heath led her between the neighboring houses and onto the beach. A crescent moon hung lazily over the horizon.

He curled an arm around her waist as they walked. Her tropical scent had him snuggling closer. Wisps of her hair tickled his neck.

“Don’t you want to ask me what happened?” She kept her gaze straight ahead.

“About the lawsuit or the man?” He stopped and faced her. “You lived it, Jordan. Why would I want to put you through more pain to satisfy any curiosity I might have?”

“I care what you think of me. So for the record, I made the mistake of giving my trust to a man who hid his marital status by claiming to be his son.”

“Really? What a dick. At least his parents gave him the right name.”

“Richard is the senior executive of the company. Thinking back, there were clues, but I lived here while he was in Richmond. As soon as I found out, I broke all contact. His wife is also a shareholder in the business. She decided to make me the example of her husband’s many indiscretions.”

In the dim light, she appeared small and fragile, but he knew otherwise. She’d endured and overcome, but sadly, she remained overly cautious of people. He took her hands in his. “Nothing changes my opinion of the woman I met on the beach last Friday. But I am sorry for what you’ve gone through.”

She sank into his arms, resting her cheek against the center of his chest.

So soft. He drew her tight, smoothing rebelling ringlets of hair adrift in the summer breeze. His defensive armor dropped.

* * * *

Cradled in his protective embrace, she allowed the world to disappear. He certainly had a way of making her forget life’s troubles.

When they reached the house after their walk, he motioned to the stairs. “Come up for a few minutes?”