Текст книги "The Heat of the Moment"
Автор книги: Katie Rose
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Текущая страница: 9 (всего у книги 15 страниц)
Chapter 20
Boston was a hell of a lot colder than New Jersey in May.
Gavin zipped up the fleece jacket he wore, shivering as he sat on the bench. When their plane had landed at Logan Airport, it was barely forty degrees.
The Sonics didn’t seem to overly mind the weather. In fact, they were playing a little better today, capitalizing on the fact that Boston’s leadoff pitcher was having a problem with location. They’d managed to string together a couple of runs and were leading 2–0.
But even though the Red Sox were having a bad year so far, Gavin knew they could turn this around in no time. Once a team began winning, it helped build momentum and confidence.
Both of which the Sonics sorely needed.
He’d gone to therapy that morning and met Stan. He was not surprised that Jessica had transferred all of his information to the clinic manager, including his rehab routine. So it was as if he were still in New Jersey, and able to continue his exercises without missing a beat.
As he went through his cooldown, he glanced at the manager and had to suppress a grin as he recalled Jessica’s words, that it wasn’t a good idea to kiss him. Not that he had any inclination that way, but he enjoyed the way she used humor as a device to break the tension between them. It was something he liked about the Sonics as well, the way they pranked each other relentlessly.
Even now he could see Cody behind the benches with a can of shaving cream and a couple of paper plates. He wasn’t sure if the cream pies were intended for the Sonics in case of a win, or the Red Sox.
Either way it was bound to be fun.
The crowd applauded and Gavin glanced up to see Pete heading out to the mound to take Chase out of the game. He turned to the scoreboard and saw that the pitcher had thrown over a hundred pitches, which was about right. Chase didn’t want to leave; that much was clear by the look in his eyes and his defiant stance. But silently, Gavin agreed with the manager’s strategy. Chase was simply too valuable to risk a strain for a game that wasn’t critical to the season.
Reluctantly, the pitcher handed the ball to the manager and walked toward the dugout. Even though he was playing for an opposing team, the Boston crowd acknowledged his professionalism. It was amazing, Gavin thought as Chase took a seat at the end of the benches amid thunderous applause, obviously disappointed. The New Jersey crowd wouldn’t be caught dead cheering for a Red Sox ace.
But Boston, he knew, was just as rabid when it came to New York.
Antonio came out of the bullpen, where he had been warming up. The reliever had gotten hurt last year and had spent the winter rehabbing. Although he was back in the game, he was having a tough time.
Gavin watched intently. Antonio gave up a leadoff double, and the next batter drove a single past the shortstop into the hole. As the next guy came to the plate, he nailed a fastball over the wall, sending everyone home.
And no outs.
“Shit,” Pete said, snapping his gum in agitation.
Gavin’s eyes shifted to the scoreboard. Rory Hart was the guy who’d gotten the home run. Jessica’s brother. He remembered her mentioning that he was playing in Boston. And now as he jogged around the bases, Gavin could see the resemblance, though Rory’s hair was more of a chestnut red and he had a stockier build than Jessica. He was undoubtedly a first-class player, and the crowd went wild when he came home.
It was over after that. Antonio never recovered, and although Pete replaced him with their closer in the ninth, the damage was done. Gavin got his answer shortly after the game when Cody greeted Rory with a shaving-cream pie in the face.
Gavin got up and grabbed a towel and tossed it to Rory, who grinned as he wiped the mess from his face.
“Thanks, man.” The hitter handed him back the towel. “Aren’t you…”
“Gavin King.” He extended his hand, and Rory shook it. “I’ve been working with your sister in rehab. She’s great.”
“Jess. Right.”
Was it his imagination, or did something subtly change in the ballplayer’s friendly demeanor? He wondered if she had said something about him, and then immediately dismissed the thought. Jessica wouldn’t diss him to her brother for no reason.
But then maybe she thought he had given her one.
“You up for a beer?”
“Sure,” Gavin responded, surprised at the invite after what he’d just thought. Maybe it had been nothing, or a misjudgment on his part. He’d find out soon enough.
“Why don’t we go to the Beer Works? There’s a back room where we won’t be running into fans. Work for you?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. It’s right across the street, and I can drop you at the hotel later. Let me explain to the guys and I’ll catch you in front of the stadium in about fifteen or twenty minutes.”
He nodded, more puzzled by the moment. Jessica’s brother was going out of his way to talk to him.
And he had a feeling it wasn’t about baseball.
–
Rory met him out front in less than the time stated. They walked together across the street to the brewpub, taking care to stay far away from the clusters of fans still hanging around.
Entering through a back door, Rory led him into the private room. Gavin saw there was a small bar set up with taps, a couple of wine bottles, and a bartender. The petite young woman in a black tee-shirt with a bottle opener sticking out of her jeans gave them a smile.
“The usual?”
“Nah, I’ll go with the Bay State,” Rory said.
“Make it two,” Gavin said, digging into his pocket.
“I’ve got this,” Jessica’s brother insisted. “I’m all set up here.”
“Thanks.”
“So how do you like being with the Sonics?” Rory accepted the frosted glass from the bartender and drank deeply of the ale.
“It’s different,” Gavin said with a grin. “They are a young team, and struggling. But a hell of a lot of fun.”
He knew the sports talk was just a way of breaking the ice, as was the beer. He waited for the questions Rory was certain to ask, taking a liberal pull of the ale. He found it was excellent. On close inspection, Jessica’s brother looked even more Irish than she did. His hair curled around his face, and he was decidedly good-looking in a Gabriel Byrne–type way. He wondered if the guy had his own romantic entanglements.
“So how long have you known my kid sister?” Rory asked casually, getting around to the real reason for this meeting.
“I started working with Jess in April. She really knows what she’s doing with the physical therapy.”
“Yeah, she does. But not everything.” His eyes met Gavin’s, measuring, weighing. “She got involved with a baseball player last year, some guy who played for Cleveland.”
“Zach,” Gavin acknowledged. “He was here last week. I think he upset her.”
Rory nodded. “I know it’s always tough to see someone you once cared about when things don’t work out. But he was pretty nasty to her when she walked away from him. Jessica isn’t the kind of girl to call me crying, but she did last summer. Maybe at the time she was just inexperienced, didn’t know that she couldn’t trust every guy and wear her heart on her sleeve.” He looked Gavin right in the eye. “He did her some real damage. I don’t want to see that happen again.”
Gavin took a deep breath. Rory had every right to look out for his sister; he couldn’t blame him for that. “I get what you’re saying. And I’m going to be honest with you; I’m attracted to her. I think she’s beautiful, funny, and just great. But she has some doubts, and after seeing her with Zach, I get it.”
He didn’t tell him the rest, that both of them had already crossed a line unintentionally. Gavin knew better. After all, even if he developed a friendship with the guy, Rory was still her brother. And that would always be his first loyalty—Gavin didn’t expect anything else.
Some of the clouds seemed to leave Rory’s face, and he gestured to the bartender for refills. “I’m really glad to hear that. The last thing she needs is a rerun, another guy walking all over her feelings.”
“I have no such intention; I like her too much to hurt her. I very much want to see her, to treat her the way she deserves.” Gavin accepted the drink with a grin. “But your sister can be a little stubborn. She has decided that she won’t date another ballplayer. I intend to change all that.”
“Good luck, pal.” Rory snorted. “You are right about that. In all the years I’ve known her, I have yet to see her back down or change her mind once it’s made up.” His brow furrowed thoughtfully. “You know not to try the candy-and-flowers thing, right?”
Gavin had a feeling that in spite of everything, he had passed some kind of test and Jessica’s brother was on his side. “I thought about all that, and don’t know what it would take to win her. She’s not your average girl.”
“You’re right about that,” Rory agreed.
“But I get a sense that there is a part of her that would enjoy the feminine stuff. She doesn’t get to express that side of herself much, especially in her line of work. Romantically, I think she would like to be courted.”
Rory choked on his beer and Gavin pounded his back. When he could talk, he grinned in admiration. “This ought to be good. To strength and patience.” He tipped his glass to Gavin’s. “You’re going to need a boatload of both.”
Gavin tipped his glass in return.
Chapter 21
“Okay, ladies. We need to make a final decision around our exotic dancer.”
Nikki handed out photographs of the top contenders for Darcy’s bridal shower. Cara and Jessica shared the stack with the other women from the Communications Department, each of them setting aside their personal favorites.
As she sipped a cocktail, Jessica thought this was one party that was turning into a load of fun. She had dreaded showers in college, since traditionally it meant a lost afternoon of watching the prospective bride unwrap the latest digital iron or place setting.
That didn’t hold a candle to drinking cosmopolitans while being entertained by half-naked men.
She had to hand it to Nikki. The PR rep knew how to make an event memorable for one and all.
“So we seem to have narrowed it down to three eligible bachelors.” Nikki grinned, setting out the top picks and turning the others facedown. “We have Tall, Dark, and Handsome, Bookish and Interesting, or Muscles and Mustache. What do we think?”
“I like the bookish guy,” Emily said decisively. “He’s sort of a Clark Kent type.”
“What?” Cara scoffed. “Look at Tall, Dark, and Handsome again. Very Taylor Lautner. You know, the werewolf in Twilight.”
“Gotta love that movie.” Emily sighed blissfully. “They used every possible excuse to show him without a shirt.”
“But Muscles and Mustache is cute too,” Kelly interjected. “Kind of Lance Gross.”
“Decisions, decisions.” Nikki sighed, gesturing for another round. “One more drink and we have to pick.”
“Maybe we should choose a first-, second-, and third-place winner,” Jessica suggested. “Just in case our dream guy isn’t available. After all, Memorial Day is a holiday weekend. Some people may go on vacation or take off to see family.”
“Good point,” Nikki said as the second order of drinks arrived. “I vote for Muscles and Mustache, then Twilight, and then Clark Kent.”
“Agreed,” Jessica and Cara concurred. The communications girls bickered among themselves, but then gradually came around to the majority viewpoint.
“Good. Now that that’s done, we can move on to our next task.” When Jessica gave her a blank look, Nikki grinned and spoke over the rim of her martini glass. “We have some shopping to do.”
–
The store was called Lace, and as Jessica wandered inside, it was self-explanatory. Never had she seen so much of the delicate fabric in so many colors under one roof. There were bras of every type, panties, garter belts, and thongs. There were négligées, nightgowns, teddies, and camisoles. The undergarments ranged from practical everyday cotton to sexy black and red corsets and something called cheekinis.
Nikki plunged fearlessly into the naughty stuff, holding up a pair of crotchless panties for the communications girls to admire, while Jessica and Cara glanced at each other as if lost in an adult Disneyland. Yet as Jessica fingered a stunningly beautiful ivory satin demi-bra with a lace overlay and a matching skimpy panty, an unknown part of her responded playfully.
She’d seldom thought of herself as the kind of woman who would like dainty lingerie. But now she couldn’t help thinking of how much fun it would be to wear something beautiful like this, even under her sportswear. No one would ever need to know; it would be her personal secret.
“I see you’re looking at our new collection,” the salesclerk said, approaching her with a measuring tape draped around her neck. “Would you like me to check your size? Most women are wearing the wrong one.”
“No, I’m actually just shopping for a friend who is getting married. We all are. Looking, that is.” Jessica hurriedly dropped the delicate lace.
“That’s okay,” Nikki said from across the rack. “There’s no reason we can’t do double duty. Go ahead and let her measure you—try on a few things. Let’s have some fun.”
In the past, the idea of trying on clothing was something that Jessica dreaded. But when the saleswoman picked out a couple of the really beautiful pieces, she was curious. And when she found herself behind the velvet curtain of the dressing room clad in black lace, an astonished woman stared back at her in the mirror.
She looked…sexy. She was used to wearing practical cotton and sports bras, but this made her appear entirely different. The running had paid off, as well as all of the squats and lunges. Her backside, encased in the lace, was firm and taut, and when she turned around, she saw that the underwire lifted her breasts, erotically displaying the nipples through the sheer lace.
Very Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge.
“You look incredible,” the young salesclerk said in admiration. “Not a lot of women can wear that. Let me get you the matching robe.”
It felt exciting to wear something so outrageously female. The robe consisted of a sheer chiffon jacket, which enhanced the seductive quality of the undergarments. It provided no warmth, no coverage. Which was exactly what it was meant to do.
“Try the satin. That will look gorgeous with your hair and skin,” the clerk said, handing her the lingerie. Jessica slipped out of black lace and into the gorgeous ivory bra.
The garments were just beautiful. As the woman had predicted, the color looked warm and glowing against her skin. Delicate lace enhanced the top of the demi-bra, which plunged recklessly almost to the band. And the panties, barely a scrap of rich satin, were the perfect size.
She almost hated to put back on her cotton briefs. When she exited the dressing room, she got into line at the register and turned to Nikki with a scowl. “Look what you got me into. This is a habit that can become an addiction. I think I might regret this.”
“Oh, no, you won’t!” Nikki said knowingly, and Cara laughed.
“So have we decided on anything for the bride?” Jessica asked in exasperation as she plunked down her credit card and cringed at the amount.
“Yes. We are getting the store special, if it’s okay with you. It contains a robe and gown. And the rest is all the naughty stuff, the kind of things the aunts and cousins won’t buy for her.” She indicated a scrap of red lace panty.
“I love it,” Jessica said as Nikki piled her own purchases onto the counter. Even Cara, to her surprise, had selected several of the exquisite undergarments.
She shrugged when Jessica looked at her inquisitively. “Hey, even though I work in construction, I’m still a girl and entitled, right? We have enough of the disadvantages. About time I indulged in one of the perks.”
Jessica nodded. She couldn’t agree more.
–
When she got home, the first thing Jessica did was put the expensive lingerie in her top drawer. She grinned as she saw her sports bras and cotton panties beside it, all neatly folded and very practical and athletic. The black and ivory lace looked exotic and beautiful in contrast, almost like fine jewelry sitting next to the costume stuff.
It had been a lot more fun than she would have thought, trying on beautiful things. As she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she remembered how surprised she’d been at the transformation created by the lingerie.
She removed the band that held her hair back and let it fall well past her shoulders. It had been ages since she’d gotten a haircut, and she didn’t own any decent cosmetics. Maybe it was time to get out of her rut. While she would never be a glamour girl like Kristin, it wouldn’t hurt to wear a little lip gloss once in a while, maybe even earrings.
She refused to think Gavin had anything to do with this. Her decision felt right. So right, she ventured next door and pounded on Terrell’s door.
Girlfriend had promised to help her, to assist her with picking some new clothes and developing a personal style that worked with her life, yet was feminine and pretty.
She was going to take him up on it.
–
The plane ride home was quiet. The Sonics had been shut out by Boston.
Pete stood in the aisle, his hand resting on Jake’s seat back, holding onto Cody’s with the other as he eyed the team. “We all need to do a whole lot better than what we’ve been doing. Now I know it’s early in the season. And we’re all counting on Gavin here to help our offense. But we can’t lay it all on him. We need to work with what we’ve got right now.”
Jake looked at Gavin, and they exchanged a grin. No one knew that he had continued taking batting practice with the shortstop, or that his hitting had improved dramatically since the beginning of the season. It was too soon to tell Pete, but in a few more weeks…
“When we get home, I know you boys are all excited about Chase’s bachelor party, and there’s nothing wrong with having a little fun. But we need to kick it up a notch. Brian and Shaun, I want you to take extra batting practice starting this weekend. Antonio, I want you and Jimmy to work with the pitching coach, focus on accuracy. We need to see some improvement there. Jake and Cody, keep up what you’re doing. We play the Mets next week. We need a couple of wins.”
Normally they would have argued, but today no one said a word. Pete was right, Gavin mused. While he was confident he would be back in the game soon, they couldn’t count on one player to lift the team out of the doldrums. To be successful, everyone had to give 100 percent.
That is, if the Sonics wanted to make it into October.
But he was glad to be heading back to New Jersey. And he was looking forward to seeing Jessica.
As he sank back into his seat, he was glad to leave Boston for another reason: while Rory had been agreeable, it was clear he was concerned about Gavin’s involvement with his sister given the circumstances. He got that, and if anything, he liked the guy more for looking after her. But he felt as if he were a germ under a microscope all week, and was relieved to see the plane touch down at the Trenton–Mercer Airport.
He was home.
Chapter 22
“Did you miss me?” Gavin said the next morning as Jessica entered the PT room, her gym bag slung over her shoulder.
He wasn’t sure at first, but when she grinned at him he was certain something had changed. She looked…really pretty. She still had her hair pulled back, but instead of seeming haphazard, the tendrils framing her face looked to have been styled that way. Her eyes seemed to sparkle more than ever, and he noticed what appeared to be amethyst eye shadow.
Eye shadow!
“Yeah.” She smirked. “So what?”
He grinned back. He was about to compliment her when his thoughts went back to his conversation with her brother. Rory had been right about how to approach her. And he knew not to compliment her at work, within earshot of her team. Yet he was sure that a part of her longed to express her womanly side, and he was just the guy to bring it out…
“So are we still on for a walk?”
“Sure, Slugger,” she said. “Let me update my calendar and we’re out of here.”
As she turned to her tablet, he saw that her yoga pants were new and of a better quality than what she had been wearing, and were more form fitting. The top she had on was stylish, a beautiful fluttery gold thing as opposed to a simple tank, and he thought he saw the strap of a black lace bra peeking over her shoulder, enticing him to find out for sure.
He swallowed hard. Nothing had changed between them, he thought dryly as his body reacted to her closeness. What was it about her that made his heart throb with awareness? He wanted nothing more than to slip off that top and see what she wore beneath, tease her like she was teasing him…
“So I met your brother,” he said, trying for idle conversation as they ventured outside and walked the track.
“Rory.” She nodded, her eyes meeting his, unreadable. “How is he?”
“He’s great. We went out and had a couple of beers. I enjoyed his company.” He glanced at her and grinned. “Of course he grilled me about you.”
She actually stopped in her tracks. “What?”
“A hundred years ago he would’ve come right out and asked me what my intentions were where you were concerned. Since that doesn’t fly in this decade, he pretty much asked me what my intentions were where you were concerned.”
“You’re kidding,” she said, her eyes glittering. Embarrassment replaced outrage as she stared at him, obviously hoping it was just a joke.
“I didn’t mind,” he said. “He was just looking out for you. I was an only child, but if I had a sister I would like to think I’d do the same thing…”
“Really?” She rounded on him. “So just because I got upset when Zach was here, I’m suddenly incapable of taking care of myself? For chrissake. Wait till I get hold of him.”
“It’s not like that,” Gavin said firmly. “Neither your brother nor I think you are some weakling. He knows what the deal is with a lot of young ballplayers, and he just doesn’t want to see you hurt again. Neither do I. And I told him that.”
“You really did?”
“Yeah.” He shrugged. “He seems like a reasonable guy.”
She barked out a laugh. “You think so?”
“He wound up buying me a couple of beers, and then warning me about you.” This time he did tease her, unable to resist the temptation. “That you wanted nothing to do with athletes, let alone baseball players. I told him I already knew about Zach. But he was pretty adamant that this was a road you had no intention of going down again.”
“And?” She looked him dead in the eye.
His gaze locked with hers, equally intense. “I told him the truth. I am crazy about you; nothing will stop me from pursuing you. And I will do it in the right way, with the best of intentions.”
He had the satisfaction of watching her mouth fall open, and then just as quickly close. It took her ten whole seconds to recover.
“That’s pretty funny.” She shoved him playfully, certain he was joking. “Now if you’re done with the amusement at my expense, especially with my brother, who by the way I plan to murder, I bet I make it to home before you.”
She took off, and he smiled, aware that he had hit a nerve. Jessica didn’t know what to do with the prospect of being courted by him.
And that he found delightful.
–
“Hey. I was just getting ready to call you,” Rory said in a-matter-of-fact way.
Jessica paused for a moment in surprise. She’d wasted no time in reaching out to her brother as soon as they returned to the PT room, fully intending to read him the riot act for interfering with her life, so she didn’t anticipate this reaction.
“What do you mean?” she asked, puzzled.
“Mom just called. They are having a little get-together for Memorial Day. I guess she didn’t get around to telling you yet? In any case, I think I can go. We’re playing the Orioles, but I can head up right after the game.”
“Well, that’s good,” she mused, her mind racing. Darcy’s shower was that weekend, but on Sunday. So a barbecue at her parents’ place would work out for her as well. And she always enjoyed seeing her brothers.
Even if they did drive her crazy.
“Who all’s going?”
“Colin and Coulter for sure. Liam maybe. And of course, Logan’s out.”
“You mean he’s not coming home from Europe for some hot dogs and burgers?” She grinned, settling into the chair in her office, her annoyance momentarily forgotten. “Glad the twins are coming, though. I haven’t seen them in ages. But football season doesn’t start until the end of summer, so I guess they’re going to grace us with their presence.”
Rory chuckled. “That’s about the size of it. So it should be a good time. Think you can go?”
“Yeah. At least for a few hours. Some of my clients need day-to-day work, but I can figure something out.”
“Great.” He started to hang up, but recovered quickly. “Oh, I meant to tell you. I met your buddy Gavin.”
“So I heard,” Jessica said indignantly, remembering the reason she’d called him. “What’s the big idea of grilling him? This isn’t the Victorian period, you know.”
“What, did he dime me out?”
“No. He actually said it made him like you more, that you were looking out for me. He also stated if he had a sister, he would do the same thing.”
“Okay, then. What’s the problem?”
Suddenly she didn’t know how to explain. “Well, it implies that I make bad choices, can’t handle my own love life.”
“It doesn’t mean that at all, and Gavin knew it. As do you. Look, I can’t help you with a lot of things. But if you are interested in a ballplayer, instead of sitting on the sidelines I can find out where his head’s at easier than you can. Right?”
She knew he was correct, but didn’t want to admit it. “But still, how would you feel if I were interrogating one of your prospective dates?”
“I would think you were concerned, and you had my back.”
She couldn’t say anything to that. It was true. And if she had to think back, she did grill his girlfriends. So she heaved a sigh of disgust instead. “What am I going to do with you? All of you?”
He laughed. “Get used to it. And by the way, I’m thinking of inviting him for Memorial Day.”
“Him who?”
“Gavin. After all, he hasn’t been in New Jersey long, probably hasn’t made a lot of friends yet. I figured he might appreciate the invite.”
“What?” Jessica said, now pacing. “Why? Don’t you think that’s kind of weird?”
She couldn’t explain the panic that had set in. Obviously, Gavin had earned the Hart seal of approval. But the thought of having him there with her family, at her parents’ home, after what had passed between them, made her feel more jittery than being stuck on the New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 8, where thirty-minute delays were common.
“I don’t see why. He seems like a decent guy, and we all bring pals along when we get together. See you later, baby girl.”
He hung up before she could curse.
