Game On!. Dani Jace
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.
Chapter 5
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