Page 18 of 7 Nights of Sin

Chapter 6

Caro

In the morning, I was up at the usual time, and in my car to head to work when my phone rang with an unfamiliar number. That wasn't unheard of, so I answered it over the car's bluetooth.

"Carolyn James," I said.

There was a beat of silence and then a laugh. "It's weird to hear you say your full name like that," Kevin's voice said, echoing around my car.

For just a second, just a tiny second, there was a flash of heat through me as I thought about coming to the sound of his voice, and then I shook myself. Back to business.

"Can I help you?" I asked, and if I sounded more frosty than usual, I didn't think I could be blamed.

"Yeah, actually. Kathleen sent me a list of the things you want me to do, and I have some notes."

"Notes," I replied. "I'm not taking feedback on the plan. If you want to keep--"

"I know, I know," he cut in. "If i want to keep my career and life of excess then I'll do what you say. I've heard the lecture from you and Kath, thanks. But I do want to discuss some of this, so can you swing by for a quick meeting?"

I checked the time. I was due into the office, but I would just be working on Kevin's stuff anyway, so I short detour wouldn't be the end of the world. Maybe I would grab breakfast after whatever it was he wanted from me.

"Fine," I said. "Where are you?"

He gave me an address, and I plugged it into my car's gps while I sat at a red light. Just a few minutes out of the way.

"I'll be there in about ten," I said.

"Great. Looking forward to it."

And he ended the call before I could.

There was a little voice in the back of my head that I usually liked to refer to as my 'bullshit sense', and it was telling me to be on my guard, but I rationalized that I was always on my guard, so it would be fine.

Of course, when I got to the address, it was a gym. One of those fancy ones that looked more like an office building from the outside, and needed a keycard or an invitation to get in.

All I had to do was say my name at the door, though, and the security person let me in. "Mr. Porter is on the treadmill, I believe," he said, gesturing me forward.

Everything about the place was swanky and expensive, and I walked down the hall, heels clacking on the polished floor until I found a glass door that looked into a room full of top of the line treadmills, exercise bikes, and ellipticals.

Most people just went running in Central Park or around their neighborhoods, but of course that wasn't good enough for a major league star like Kevin Porter.

I rolled my eyes and let myself in.

Kevin was on the farthest treadmill away, of course, running like he couldn't break a sweat if he tried. He had good form, back straight, head up, arms pumping as his legs moved.

He also wasn't wearing a shirt.

Immediately my eyes moved over the hard planes of his chest and the muscles of his arms. He was no body builder, but he was in good shape, and it was clear that even during the off season, he kept himself in routine, working out and taking care of his health.

That was admirable, and I shook myself as soon as the thought entered my head.

But it was too late. Last night flashed through my mind as I thought about those strong arms, and then I was flashing back to all the sex we'd had in college, and how easy it had been for him to lift me up and pin me against the wall of the locker room one night when I'd gone to meet him after his practice.

My cheeks flushed, and I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek, clearing my throat to get his attention. The sooner I found out what he wanted, the sooner I could leave and never have to see him less than clothed again.

"Oh, hey," he said, turning his head to look at me. He sounded slightly out of breath, but he didn't stop running. "Sorry about the location, but Kathleen would kill me dead if I let up on my workouts while all this is going on."

I waved a hand and tried to look like I didn't care one way or another. I was sure I wasn't doing a great job of that. "What did you want to discuss?" I asked.

---