Page 37 of Quarterback Sneak

Ivy dropped her eyes, before she raised dark lashes. “The producer from 3Square offered me a guaranteed spot on the championship tournament this upcoming spring but there were strings attached.”

“Strings? What kind of strings?”

“If you recall, the assistant snapped a picture of us together in the kitchen on the day of filming.”

“She knows about us.” Staring at her terse face, the pieces fell into place. He caressed the soft skin of her jaw with his thumb. Once again, his fame was hurting someone he cared about and it tore him up inside. He’d warned her but it didn’t make it any easier to stomach.

Air hissed through her teeth, her fingers flexed around his hand. “I only get the show if you agree to do a cameo. If I win, it’s fifty-thousand for the charity of my choice. Alice suggested I raise it for yours.”

“If that’s what you want, than I’m okay with it. It’s for a good cause.” He would do anything for her and if it helped his charity, all the better.

“See, that’s the thing. I want to do the show because I deserve to be on the show, not because they want you on it….” her voice trailed of. She cleared her throat and continued. “But I have to ask myself how bad do I want this? By not being on the show, I’m placing a barrier between me and my goal to be a competitive chef.”

Pride. He understood where she was coming from more than he cared to admit. His first instinct was to try to convince her to accept his help. He kept the thought to himself. She needed to work this out on her own and he was simply a sounding board. “What do you want?”

“To have someone make the decision for me,” she said with a self-effacing smile. Arching her back, she shook her head, visibly shaking off her upset. Determination showed in her eyes. “But I didn’t come all the way up here to talk about 3Square. I came here to forget the rest of the world and enjoy a day out with my boyfriend.”

Full lips caught his, soft and slightly moist. She glided her hand down his stomach, murmuring against his mouth, “How’s the itch?”

“Tolerable except for where your fingers are heading.” Her seduction was a deliberate move to change the subject. He could either insist she finish trying to work out her dilemma and risk getting in a fight, or allow things to progress where she was leading him. He should have insisted on the former but he opted on the latter.

Selfish? Yes. She was right, this outing was about spending time together and escaping the drama in their lives. Although his vision for their future transcended a mere affair. Sliding his hand to the nape of her neck, he explored the hollow of her throat, his own need for her growing stronger with each caress. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Once all his contract negotiations were behind him, and he was financially stable, he’d ask her to marry him.

Chapter Fifteen

Ivy followed Sam into the parking lot at the base of the trail, the late afternoon sun specking the ground through the tall trees. She’d insisted on carrying the backpack down the mountain to spare Sam the additional discomfort. He’d made it seem so light and easy to carry. Wrong. The thing weighed a ton but she’d die before she admitted it. She dumped the offending luggage on the pavement by the car and twisted her neck to remove the kink.

Sam retrieved another antihistamine from the first aid kit and took a bottle of water from the trunk of the BMW sportscar.

“You know, I should probably drive since you’re taking medication and since this car is speaking to me…” she let her fingers glide along the spoiler, biting her bottom lip. Jutting out her butt out in an exaggerated angle, she pretended to kiss the cool metal. She’d fallen instantly in love with the fully loaded sports car and was itching to drive it.

Shaking his head, he glanced down at the key in his hand. “You can’t drive the car without these?”

“No, I can’t.” She straightened and sauntered over to him, wiggling her eyebrows. Reaching for the key, she raised on her toes to kiss his smiling lips. She grabbed the key from him and started to dance away when he rested the cold drink to the side of her neck. She spun around, gaping at him. “You brat.”

Sam merely shrugged, chuckling until she snatched the plastic bottle from his hand and wrenching the spout open, squirted him in the chest. “Someone needs a cold shower.”

Laughter crinkled the corner of his eyes and he dodged the stream “Or a good—” He lunged at her then halted in mid step, the color draining from his face.

“Oh my God, what’s wrong?” The playfulness evaporated and she rushed to his side, heart in her throat.

He grimaced, lips tight. “I twisted my knee.”

A flicker of apprehension rushed through her and she crouched beside him. With a gentle hand, she placed one palm on the back of his knee, the other clasping his knee cap. “Try putting pressure on it.”

Brow furrowed in concentration, Sam cupped her shoulder for support while he put weight on his leg. After a terse second, his expression lightened, the tenseness gone from his broad frame. “It’s fine, just a twinge.”

Rocking on her heels, she stood and flashed him a teasing grin. “Then you were just playing me? Isn’t one time on my knees today enough for you?”

“It’s never enough.” He took a few tentative steps to test his knee, and then shrugged. “It must have been a muscle cramp.”

Relieved, she went to the driver’s side. “In the future, I’d suggest you stop chasing innocent women. The last thing I need is the fans of Seattle blaming me for breaking their favorite toy.”

He climbed in and rested his hand on her upper thigh, the healthy color returning to his face. “I don’t plan on chasing any woman except you. I’ll be your toy anytime you want to play.”

“I will definitely take you up on that offer.” She leaned in for a kiss and allowed her lips to linger on his mouth. Kissing Sam brought about the ever-present need he evoked and she tilted her chin, her tongue breaching the seam of his lips. A sensuous light passed between them at the intimate caress. His hand drifted between her legs, his fingers massaging her through the fabric. Her kiss turned desperate, legs opening, inviting. This man was driving her to the edge of reason.

A shout from some approaching hikers halted their make out session.

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