Текст книги "The Heat of the Moment"
Автор книги: Katie Rose
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Текущая страница: 6 (всего у книги 15 страниц)
Chapter 12
The Cincinnati Reds rode into town with a flourish. While they were not as good a team as the Sonics, they had a way of playing the role of a spoiler, costing the team games and keeping them off balance for much of the season, so the Sonics did not approach the series with confidence.
But for Jessica, it was the awareness that Zach was here, right in her backyard, that was more than a little nerve-racking.
She’d meant what she said to her brother, that she couldn’t run away every time he came to New Jersey. She was in her career for the long haul, and as a sports therapist for a baseball team, she was bound to cross paths with him occasionally. She just wished there had been a little more time for the emotion to die out before she’d have to see him again.
And she knew it would, eventually. Zach couldn’t understand her breaking up with him over cheating, told her she was being ridiculous. When she made it clear there was no going back, he got angry and spiteful. She had wanted to stay friends, but he made that impossible. He would send her irritating texts at strange hours and phoned her day after day, hanging up if she answered. She’d heard that he had moved on, was dating a gorgeous actress, so she didn’t understand his need to try to get an emotional rise out of her.
So she asked him politely to knock it off, and when he persisted, she changed her number. That was a royal pain, but well worth it for her peace of mind. She now understood when people had rules about dating coworkers, especially professional athletes, where the chances of success were less than one in a million. Even though she wasn’t part of the team, the circumstances were enough that he would always be a presence in her life.
And, as if she needed it, he was a constant reminder to stay away from sexy baseball players. Like Gavin.
So she expected him to walk in at any moment, a thought that kept her slightly off-kilter. She didn’t know what he was liable to say or do, how he would feel by now. She hoped he’d grown past all that and had truly moved on. When she dropped her clipboard for the second time with a clatter and swore, Gavin looked over at her curiously while Phil simply kept his distance. She gave them an apologetic shrug, and then tried to return to work.
So she was a little relieved when the door opened and instead of her ex, Pete entered, his arm around a pretty brunette.
“Hey, Jess. Want you to meet Nikki Case. She’s one of the best PR reps in the business, did some work for us last year. Got some real good stories out there about the team.”
Jessica stood up and extended her hand. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard nice things about you.”
“Likewise.” Nikki’s smile was genuine as she glanced about the room, her gaze settling immediately on Gavin. “I take it you are our reluctant hero?”
Gavin shrugged from the exercise table where he was working out. “I don’t think I’d go that far. Right now all I’m doing is taking up bench space.”
“We know that will change,” Nikki said decidedly, and then turned to Jessica. “I heard you had some issues with the press, reporters trying to get some dirt on the new player. The management team thinks it’s really important that we take control of what is being published about Gavin, his progress, things like that. You were right to shut that down. Not only does it violate his privacy, but bad news to reporters is good news. More emotional, gets people all worked up. But that doesn’t help our cause.”
Nor Gavin. Negative media coverage could be as devastating as the injury itself. Jessica began to relax, sensing that Nikki was on her side. “How can I help?”
“Is there someplace we can chat?” Nikki asked, but then stopped suddenly and followed her nose to the coffeepot. “Oh my God, what is that amazing smell?”
Jessica gestured toward the mugs. “Help yourself.”
“I absolutely will.” She glanced at Pete, who seemed puzzled over the fuss. “Have you tasted that sludge they drink?” She shuddered. “This,” she said after a sip, “is to die for.”
“Jamaican Blue Mountain today. Let me grab my jacket and we can head out.”
Pete walked with them part of the way, explaining the plan. “We don’t want to disclose a lot of details about Gavin’s progress. In fact…” He looked at both women, concern in his eyes. “We are all friends here. And we want what’s best for him. We know it’s not certain that he will make a full recovery. But I don’t think it’s good for him or the team to let the papers speculate that way.”
“I agree.” Nikki looked at Jessica over the coffee mug, which she didn’t seem to want to pry from her lips. “I did a lot of work for this team last year to help polish up their image. Pete’s doing a great job keeping the fundamentals going, but with Gavin on board it’s a whole new ball game. What I’d like to understand from your perspective is how he’s really doing, what we can expect, so that I can craft the right messages.”
“Fair enough. And I appreciate you coming to me directly on this. Gavin is a great guy and working hard to recover. I want to keep the momentum going.”
“I’ll leave you ladies to it,” Pete said, breaking stride and heading toward the locker room. Jessica looked at Nikki as a sudden thought occurred to her.
“Weren’t you the rep that had to handle the press for the game when the Sonics showed up in bright blue wigs?”
Nikki chuckled. “Yup. Lucky me. They pranked me the entire season. But I have to admit, it was a blast. And full disclosure: I met my dream man.”
“Jake,” Jessica guessed as Nikki nodded, blushing. “Had to be him or Chase.”
The one in a million, Jessica thought, seeing the other woman’s beaming smile.
But knowing Jake, she could believe it.
–
When Jessica headed back to the therapy room, she felt a little more at ease. Discussing Gavin with Nikki had taken her mind off of Zach, which was a welcome relief. And she found she really liked the PR rep and admired her approach when she laid out her plans for the Sonics. She was interesting and creative, but at the same time practical and aware of the tightrope she walked.
And she felt her compassion for Gavin as a man and not just a media event. So she was more than agreeable to meet several times a week and review Nikki’s work to make sure anything she released to the media was accurate and sensitive.
But as she walked back into the therapy room, she froze. Zach was sitting at the edge of her desk, talking to Phil. He looked exactly as she remembered: handsome, with burnished chestnut hair and a grin that seemed to light up the room. He appeared relaxed and casual, as if this were an everyday chance encounter, just a couple of old friends renewing their acquaintance.
And not the man who had devastated her.
His eyes shifted to hers and the smile broadened. The wound inside of her that had just started to heal ripped open, and a thousand memories flooded back to haunt her. He tilted his head at something Phil said and laughed, and she remembered that laugh, as well as the quirky lift of the corner of his mouth. When he saw her, he grinned and attempted to put his hand on her shoulder, but she stiffened immediately and stepped back.
“Good to see you, Jess. It’s been a while.”
“Zach.” Her voice was flat. “What’s up?”
“Wanted to stop by, say hello.” He sounded reasonable, charming. She wasn’t fooled. He gave her his most dazzling smile. “Thought we could grab a cup of coffee later, catch up.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. If you don’t mind, I’m really busy…”
She saw Gavin watching them closely, paying attention to the discourse between her and the athlete. His eyes narrowed, and she realized he had figured out that this was the man who had broken her heart.
“Come on, Jess,” Zach persisted. “We haven’t seen each other in months. I promise to be on my best behavior. I just want to talk to you.”
He lifted his hand in a Boy Scout’s pledge and made it sound like she was the one being unreasonable, a tactic she’d seen him work before. But she wasn’t an innocent little girl anymore, fresh out of college and believing in love. Especially his.
When she saw Gavin rising as if to intervene, she made a decision. “Okay, I’ll meet you later, after work. But I only have a few minutes—I have a lot to do tonight.”
“Thanks. See you then.” He walked out of the room with that same cocky assurance that she once thought attractive. Now it just seemed another hallmark of what he was: an egotistical jerk.
“You okay?”
She looked up into Gavin’s eyes and felt like she was drowning. The warmth she saw there, the caring concern, was like a balm to her frazzled nerves. She wanted to pull him into her arms, feel the comfort of his embrace, followed up by that kiss guaranteed to make her forget everything.
Especially Zach.
Of course she did no such thing. Instead she managed a crooked smile, and taking a breath, she nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Do you want me to go with you when you meet him?”
Her eyes met his in surprise. Most of the men she knew hated emotional confrontations, and they certainly didn’t go out of their way to sign up for one. He was being protective, but she sensed it was more than just a big brother looking out for her. She couldn’t put her finger on it but the difference was there, subtle and confusing.
Yet she was deeply touched.
“No, I can handle him.” She gave Gavin a brave smile. “It’s probably better we get this out of the way at the beginning of the series rather than drag it out.”
“Think he wants you back?”
She shook her head. “I know he is seeing someone. I don’t know what he wants except he likes to think of himself as the good guy. It’s probably annoying him that I don’t see him that way, don’t want to be his gal pal when he’s in town.”
“I don’t know.” Gavin looked at the door that Zach had just walked through. “I can’t imagine him having a girl like you and letting her walk away.”
Before Jessica could internalize that, he glanced back at her and his eyes held hers. “But the offer still stands. I’ll be around after the game. If you need help, just call me or text me.”
It seemed the weight she was carrying was lighter and she felt ridiculously emotional, like she might cry. What the hell? She shook her head, shaking off the mood with it, and gave him a shove.
“You got it. And Gavin?” She gave him a warm smile. “Thanks.”
Chapter 13
Gavin watched the game, his eyes on Zach Holden. From what he knew of the outfielder, he wasn’t a bad guy. But he was definitely young, immature, and full of himself. Like a lot of pro athletes, he’d experienced success too quickly, before he had grown up enough to handle it.
He’d heard the guy had a string of girlfriends, one in every ballpark he visited. He didn’t know if the latest one, an actress named Katarina, was aware of the others, but his guess was she probably didn’t care. She had her own life, and in some circles her ballplayer boyfriend was probably considered a step down.
But the fact that Zach had hurt Jessica bothered Gavin. He saw Zach make an outstanding catch against the wall, robbing Brian of at least a double. So he was fast, talented, and a bit of a jerk where women were concerned.
No wonder she avoided baseball players.
In the next inning, he looked up in time to see Zach slide into home and score. His Cleveland teammates high-fived and embraced him, and he walked off the field the hero. Frowning, Gavin wondered if Jessica was watching. They had several televisions in the physical therapy room, so she didn’t have to be present to be aware that her ex was the man of the hour. Was she proud of that, proud of him? As the dark-haired, muscular outfielder returned to the dugout, Gavin tried to picture him as Jessica’s boyfriend.
Her lover.
The knot in his belly tightened and he refused to give in to the disturbing visual. He didn’t want to think of her that way, especially in the arms of this guy. Yet he realized he had no claim on her, no relationship other than a budding friendship.
Abruptly he got up and went in search of refreshment. Derek looked at him quizzically. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Just hoping there’s no goldfish in the water today.”
“Good luck with that.” Derek popped a peanut in his mouth and grinned.
–
Zachary was waiting for Jessica when she finished cleaning the physical therapy room. Everyone had gone, even Phil, and she was turning down the thermostat when she felt his presence behind her.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
She straightened, putting the last of the towels on the dryer, and decided to ignore the endearment. “Hello, Zach. I heard you scored the winning run.”
He shrugged, his smile that dazzling white glitter. “All in a day’s work.”
The self-deprecation didn’t fool her. He was beaming like a little boy, showing off, proud of his accomplishment. And she guessed he had a right to be, but not on her time.
“It’s a little chilly,” he said, his eyes twinkling in amusement. She knew he meant more than the temperature. “How about a cup of coffee?”
“There’s the pot.” She indicated the last of the beverage. When he gave her a questioning look, she shrugged. “Look, Zach, let’s get this over with. Say what you have to say and then go. I’m tired.”
“Fair enough.” He helped himself to the coffee, taking his time to add sugar.
She sat on the edge of her desk and waited. When he realized she wasn’t going to fall into his trap of making this a cozy little conversation, he sighed.
“Okay, I realize now I was kind of an ass to you after we broke up.”
“Kind of?” Jessica’s brow arched.
“You’re right,” he admitted, sipping the steaming brew. “I am not proud of the way I acted. I was just angry that you left me, I guess.”
Her gaze leveled him. “So is that it? You feel bad. I appreciate that. If that’s all…”
“No.” For the first time he seemed to struggle with what he wanted to say. When he lifted his face, his eyes were not those of the Zach she’d come to hate, but the one she’d originally loved.
“I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to put it on the table. I miss you. I haven’t been right since we broke up. It took me a while to get here, to know what I had lost. But I do now.”
She took a deep breath. She wasn’t expecting this. There was a time when she would have been thrilled to hear those words, but she was way past that, and for her there was no turning back.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t feel that way about you anymore. You can’t hurt me the way you did, and then think you can come back here and it’s all okay. It’s not.”
“I know I have to prove myself to you, that I have changed.” He tried to move closer to her, putting the mug aside and attempting to take her into his arms. But she stepped backward firmly and picked up her bag.
“Don’t. Don’t say anything else, don’t do anything else. I’m flattered that you want to make things right between us, but that’s it. I’m over it, and you should be too. You have a new girlfriend, a new start. My advice is to make the most of it.”
She wasn’t surprised when he didn’t argue; knowing Zach, he had no intention of giving up his actress. His silence only confirmed what she knew to be true, and she picked up the keys, starting for the door. But he grabbed her as she tried to pass him and pulled her into his arms.
“Come on, Jess. What’s the big deal? So I fooled around.” His apologetic manner was gone, replaced by the attitude of the jerk she remembered. He gave her that little-boy smile, certain it would make her melt the way it once did. “We all do. It’s part of being involved with a pro ballplayer. You knew that going in.”
He tried to kiss her, certain that she wanted this, wanted him. Her left hand holding the keys snapped forward, but he’d anticipated her movement and caught her wrist.
“Still ready to take on the world.” He grinned, an appreciative eye running over her face, hair, and slender figure. “I miss tackling you, feeling you squirming beneath me. I don’t believe you’re over me, not by a long shot, and I’ll prove it.”
“Get your hands off me!” She yanked away from him, and he stepped back, startled by the sudden severity of her movement.
“Let me make this perfectly clear,” she said, seething with anger. She hadn’t thought he’d try to get physical with her; he’d never done that in the past, so she had no reason to anticipate it. She didn’t know if it was all ego on his part, massive stupidity, or what. But in any case, she wasn’t putting up with it. “My answer is ‘no.’ Touch me again and I’m calling the cops.”
“Police?” He stared at her, astonished, as if unable to rationalize what he was hearing. “Jess, this is me.”
“I know exactly who you are. Zach, we are over. So over there should be another word for it. Goodbye.”
He hesitated for a moment as if in the middle of an inner debate, but then he swore, picked up his jersey, and stormed out.
Alone at last, Jessica locked the door and then slumped against her desk. Tears stung her eyes but she firmly blinked them back. She wouldn’t waste any more of them on him, and she discovered the anger made her stronger. But she couldn’t help the painful knot in her throat, or the crushing pressure around her heart. When she had gotten involved with the ballplayer, she never dreamed it could end up like this: nasty and ugly.
And now she was having trouble even remembering any of the good stuff. She felt like ten times a fool for ever getting involved with him in the first place, especially now that she understood what an asshole he was. It wasn’t even her he wanted: he just needed to prove to himself that he could have her again.
It was beyond disgusting.
A knock sounded, bringing her abruptly out of her thoughts, and anger flashed through her. If he’d had the nerve to come back, this time she would make good her threat. Picking up one of the weights, she opened the door.
Her breath whooshed out as she saw Gavin.
“You all right?”
He looked so handsome, so calm and rational, a port in a storm. He was dressed in his Sonics uniform and jacket, his jaw tight, his eyes searching hers. The devastating smile was gone. He’d obviously been waiting, worried and concerned.
For her.
To her utter disbelief, she fell apart.
Chapter 14
“Jess?” Gavin was inside in a second, his arms around her. The weight slipped from her fingers and crashed to the floor, but neither one noticed. Kicking the door shut behind him, he led her to her desk, and she sank down onto the wood top, sobs emanating from deep inside of her.
“Did he hurt you?”
There was fury in his eyes. Dimly she realized what he was asking.
“No. Not the way you think.” She tried to wipe at her eyes with her hands, but it didn’t help. It was as if all of the pain had been neatly bottled up for a very long time, and now there was no stuffing it back inside.
“I’m sorry,” she said when she could speak, pulling her face away from him in embarrassment. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I just can’t stop crying.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He tipped her face up to his and smiled. “I needed a shower anyway. That’s the first hot water to hit me all day.”
She tried to laugh, but the emotions were so intertwined she was sobbing again. So he simply held her as if she were a little girl, patting her back, comforting her.
“It’s okay. It’s going to be okay. It’s over now. He’ll be out of here in a couple of days. And he won’t come near you again. I promise.”
Somehow those few phrases helped, as did the feeling of his strong arms around her. Warmth suffused within her, radiant and healing. The raw ache inside of her began to subside, replaced by a surprising upwell of a different feeling altogether that swept her like a tidal wave, bowling her over as if she were something small and insignificant like a pebble in its path.
Lifting her face to his, Jessica saw that his eyes now glittered with something other than anger. Desire. He was feeling it too, this primal attraction to another person that had nothing to do with logic and everything to do with the heart. She could sense it emanating between them, a shimmering energy that seemed to draw them inevitably closer like two magnets. So when he slowly lifted her face to his and brushed away a tear, she kissed him.
She took him by surprise; she could feel it. Then his lips brushed hers in a silent question, and she answered him eagerly. All of her instincts urged her on, knowing this was right, that this was what she needed to erase that pain inside her. She didn’t want to stop; she wanted Gavin to make love to her now.
He caught on quickly and pulled her up against his hard body as he tasted her, his hand sliding down her waist to her hips and positioning her firmly and possessively in his arms.
It was perfect, a melding of relief and passion. At first the kiss was tender and comforting, soothing away her pain and disappointment. And then it began to change to something deeply erotic as the heat built between them. Jessica moaned, no longer able to think, totally giving herself over to what was happening between them. His tongue stroked hers in a blatant imitation of what they were both craving, and she could feel his erection against her stomach, hard and pulsing. She had felt disgust when Zach touched her, but she wanted Gavin in a way she had never wanted any man.
Ever.
Somehow they made it to the cot and she was on her back. Desire shot through her, hot and fierce as he yanked down her top, and when he sucked hard on her exposed nipple, she nearly came off the bed, the exquisite sensation shooting through her trembling body. Her clothing was a hindrance now and she wanted it off, needing to experience him, skin against skin, naked and writhing…
“Please. I need…”
“I know, sweetheart. Let me…”
She was so aroused he had to help her. Gavin tugged her yoga pants down while she wrestled with her top and her bra. In spite of his urgency, there was a gentleness in his touch, a reverence for her that drove her insane. Then she was down to her panties, and he removed them quickly, cupping her between her legs as she helplessly ground into him.
“Gavin, now. Please, fuck me now!” Her request was more of a moan as she pleaded, hot and wet with desire, her body begging for relief. Thankfully, he was in the same mindset, for he somehow produced a condom, ditched his pants, and then thrust boldly inside her.
“Oh, God…” she whispered as her body expanded to accommodate him. The feeling was utterly exquisite, and she couldn’t stop her gasp of excitement. She could sense he was fighting for control as he slowly withdrew, but when she lifted her hips impatiently and met his, he swore.
“Damn.” He finally gave in to what was happening between them, thrusting deep inside her, holding her in position as he pounded her thoroughly. The tension had already built to a breaking point and she let go, shattering beneath him.
“Jess…” He arched his back and called her name, reaching his own thunderous climax. Far away she heard him groan with pleasure, pumping, throbbing as everything became very still. Then she was in his arms and he held her closely, tenderly, as if cherishing her above all else, and she could feel her body contracting around him.
One of the groundskeepers called outside to his companion, and Jessica slowly came to her senses. The room came harshly into focus; she saw the weights on the wall, the straps, and the exercise equipment, Gavin’s muscular arms with that sexy tattoo entwined with her own…
She had to get out. Now. The haze of pleasure quickly dissolved, and she slipped out of his arms and reached for her clothes.
“Jess…” He rose up on his elbows, watching her in bewilderment. “Are you okay?”
“We’d better get going,” she said shortly as she quickly got dressed. “We both have work tomorrow, and it’s late.”
“Don’t.” His voice was grim, and he came to stand beside her, slipping on his trousers. “Don’t do this.”
She couldn’t look at that sculpted chest and those biceps, the arms that had just held her moments ago, bringing her to utter ecstasy.
“I can’t talk about this now. Not tonight. I don’t have it in me.”
“Okay. But we are going to discuss this.” His tone was firm, promising her that he wasn’t letting her sweep everything under the rug as if it hadn’t happened.
It seemed like he wanted to say a lot more, but instead handed over her jacket. Jessica struggled into it, grateful for something to do.
“Can you lock the back door and I’ll hit the lights?”
It felt ridiculous to be talking about the normal things, lights and locked doors, when her mind was in a whirlwind. But it also helped to ground her, to force her to focus on a mindless job that needed to be done.
He nodded, and they took care of the final tasks before going outside and walking to the parking lot. Neither of them spoke as the night enveloped them. It was silent and still, too early for the music of the summer insects, too late for the chatter of spring birds. Jessica noticed the clouds had cleared, and a beautiful moon shone brightly above.
When she reached her car, he opened the door for her. His eyes met hers and she could see the question in them. “Are you all right to drive?”
“I’m fine,” she said abruptly, and then softened her voice. “See you tomorrow.”
With that she drove off, and didn’t look in the rearview mirror.
–
Gavin stood in the parking lot next to his Jeep, his mind racing a thousand miles an hour.
Their accidental encounter had been hot. It was something neither of them had planned, but once he had her in his arms there was no going back.
Yet it was more than just the erotic nature of their embrace that made this unique. He’d felt a connection with her that he’d never experienced with any woman.
He knew he should get his car and go, but he didn’t want to leave yet, didn’t want to lose the night and Jessica. It was ridiculous—she was already gone, and it was over. But he felt that if he went home alone to his townhouse, he’d fall asleep and it would all just vanish.
And tomorrow they would try to forget what had happened in the heat of the moment.
–
At the end of the parking lot, another car waited in the shadows. Roger had forgotten his wallet in the locker room and had to return after the game to retrieve it. He was thoroughly surprised to see Jessica and Gavin in the parking lot, engaged in what appeared to be a romantic tête-à-tête.
Well, now, he thought, his eyes narrowing as he saw Gavin close the door and Jessica speed off. Apparently the redhead, for all her proclamations of not dating ballplayers, made exceptions.
Starting his car, Roger grinned to himself. He wasn’t a math major by any means, but he knew enough to calculate when one plus one equaled sex. And Jessica’s little escapade had that written all over it.
