Page 3 of Game On

Okay, this was definitely a bad idea, she thought to herself. Letting a player kiss you would likely be frowned upon by management. Anything more would probably lead to dismissal. Carly really liked her job. She didn’t want to jeopardize her position with the Blaze in any way. It gave her an excuse to live in Baltimore where she could help take care of her sister. Besides, she was through with jocks. With all celebrities, for that matter. If she was going to have a fling, it had to be with an accountant or podiatrist. Someone who didn’t have paparazzi hiding in his bushes.

If she were being honest though, it was nice to be held in a man’s arms again. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed it these past months. Shane had been watching her all weekend—either through the pages of a magazine or in person. She couldn’t help but be flattered by his attention, especially with twelve bikini-clad models running around on the beach.

If he were any other man, she’d be tempted to let her inhibitions run wild for one night of sex. Judging by the attraction humming between them, she knew it would be an interlude she’d not likely forget. She wished the team had already picked someone else so she could let him have his way with her on the makeshift dance floor. Or on the beach. Or in his bungalow.

But he was who he was, and she’d been down this road before. Carly couldn’t let this get out of hand.

Shane somehow maneuvered them off the edge of the patio to a dimly lit alcove beside the pool. She looked up into his shadowed face as a lock of hair fell past his left brow. Intense gray eyes blazed with hunger as his hands gently rubbed her back, one hand roaming lower to lightly skim her bottom. Her body continued to betray her as Shane’s potent chemistry wore down her defenses. When he nipped at her collarbone, heat ricocheted through her belly and beyond.

Maybe just a kiss. Surely she could stop at one?

“What is it you want, Mr. Devlin?” she asked again, lifting her eyes to meet his.

“I want whatever you’ll give me,” he whispered, lowering his head.

She closed her eyes as her stomach quivered in anticipation, waiting for his lips to make contact.

But they never did. Instead, the Wizard of Oz ring tone grew louder. Julianne emerged from the shadows somewhere behind them, Carly’s ringing cell phone in her hand. Carly leaped out of Shane’s arms, a wild jumble of nerves, nearly bowling over her friend.

“You told me not to let you miss a call.” Julianne handed her the phone.

“I’ve got it!” Carly said, annoyed that her friend seemed to be enjoying the moment a little too much.

Julianne failed to hide her grin, and, offering Shane an elegant shrug, retreated back into the shadows.

Carly turned to Shane, who stood, hands on hips, that single lock of hair obscuring an eye. Aside from his breathing being a little ragged, he stared nonchalantly back at her.

“I’m sorry, but I have to take this call.” She spoke softly, embarrassment warming her cheeks. “I really have to go. Good night.”

He said nothing, his lips compressed in a thin line. Quickly, she crept away before she changed her mind.

Mortified by her behavior, she felt a tinge of guilt for leaving him in a state of potent arousal. But as she glanced at the text message on her phone, she breathed a deep sigh of relief. She’d just dodged a bullet. Shane Devlin was her team’s new quarterback.

Now all she had to do was find a way to avoid him altogether once he arrived in Baltimore.

TWO

Carly dug the heels of her Steve Madden boots into the carpet as she maneuvered the wheelchair through the hallway of the Blaze headquarters building, all the while trying not to jiggle the chair’s occupant too much. The Baltimore weather hadn’t been welcoming after the sun and warmth of Mexico. Winter seemed to have the mid-Atlantic still in its grip, complete with gray clouds spewing icy drizzle. Dressed in a sleek, gray wool pantsuit and silk pink blouse, Carly was beginning to regret her choice to dress for the weather as sweat began to pool on her neck, the result of wielding the bulky wheelchair for what felt like miles this morning.

“I can’t believe you busted up your knee skiing, Asia.” Carly tried not to sound as out of shape as she felt. “One would have thought you’d be a bit more graceful, being an All-American college basketball player and all,” she teased.

The going got easier as they entered the cafeteria with its linoleum floor, and Carly pushed Asia Dupree, media relations director for the Blaze, to a table near the row of coffee urns.

“Yeah, well, college was a few years ago, Carly. And all this sitting behind a desk hasn’t helped to keep my old body in shape.”

Carly slid into a chair on the opposite side of the table, reaching over to adjust the pillow cradling Asia’s injured knee. She smiled at the statuesque, African American beauty. “Thirty isn’t old.” Carly gestured to the coffee bar.

Asia nodded. “Yeah, well, it’s the last time I celebrate my birthday with a ski vacation.”

Carly carried over a steaming cup of coffee, placing it on the table near Asia before going back to grab a handful of sweetener packets and a container of creamer. “Ah, but you did get rescued by a handsome hero. Seriously, if you wanted to get a certain director of security’s attention, wouldn’t it have been easier to break a heel here at work?”

Asia shot her a glare that turned to a smile before taking sip of coffee.

Laughing, Carly poured herself a cup of tea. “Next birthday, head to the beach. Cabo is beautiful this time of year,” she said.

“Oh girl, I’m so sorry that my accident ruined your vacation. I should have been the one vetting our new players, not you. But I was pretty hopped up on the pain killers. I feel badly you didn’t get to relax yourself.”

Carrying her own mug to the table, Carly gently squeezed her friend’s shoulder before taking the seat next to her. “Don’t be silly, Asia. I had a great trip.” She gave her friend what she hoped was a reassuring smile as she blew on her tea.

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