Page 7 of Quarterback Sneak

“Gabriella is gay, and the only reason she wants a playdate is to hide the fact that she has a girlfriend.”

“She’s a carpet muncher? I knew we had something in common.” Howler snickered at his own joke. “You really should play the field for a while. I can tell you from experience, one-night stands have their advantages.”

“I’ll save myself a trip to the free clinic, thank you very much.” Sam changed his grip and began a series of sideway jumps, alternating his feet to avoid the whipping nylon. “And as you pointed out, I’m not normal. The last thing I need is for the tabloids to broadcast my hook-ups all over the papers.”

“Then you’d rather have them hound some innocent civilian instead?” Howler raised his feet. “Because the minute they learn you’re dating Ivy, they’ll be over it like stink on shit. Take my advice and find yourself some actress or model to date, someone hungry for the spotlight.”

“Ivy won 3Square and is a rising star in her field.” Being in an international magazine would put her even more in the public eye. Sam was confident after their conversation from the night before that she was resilient enough to handle the craziness surrounding his fame.

He just hoped she felt the same way.

Ivy entered through the back door of the restaurant, tired from a late night but exhilarated despite a nagging insecurity about Sam. An odd impression of him rested shy of her consciousness and she couldn’t put her finger on the exact reason for it. Perhaps it was intuition or old hurts coming back to haunt her. She raced up the stairs to her office, wishing she could shake the unsettling feelings.

Beth sat at her desk filling out an inventory sheet. She glanced up at Ivy’s entrance. Her bloodshot eyes above dark circles glinted with curiosity. “So, how did last night go? I heard you in the kitchen when I left at midnight. You sounded like you were enjoying yourself.”

Heat rushed to Ivy’s cheeks and an inane smile curved her lips despite her unease. Spending time with Sam made her happy, and she needed to focus on the positive. “He’s not like any guy I’ve dated before. He actually pulled out my chair and helped me do the dishes.”

“Sweet. In addition to being gorgeous, he doesn’t suck in the kitchen. The big question is, what’s he like in the bedroom?”

Between bouts of uncertainty, Ivy had dreamed all night about the question. She wasn’t about to reveal her fantasizes to Beth, however. “Do you have sex on the brain?”

“When you’ve been involved with someone as long as I have, you live vicariously through others. Besides, Aaron set off to Alaska this morning for a cruise gig and isn’t even in cell phone range, let alone in fucking range.”

“Such a lady,” Ivy said, trying to keep her dislike of Aaron from showing. “You look like you had a rough night.”

Beth stifled a yawn. “We stayed out too late. Aaron wanted a bon voyage party, so his buddies tapped a keg. I had a hell of a time keeping up with them.”

“You look tired and hung over,” Ivy said, censoring her irritation. In addition to his other annoying traits, Beth’s boyfriend was an alcoholic, yet another reason Ivy wished Beth would break up with him.

“Probably because I am tired and hung over. But enough about me. Did you kiss Sam?”

“Actually, no.” Ivy grabbed an apron from the stack in the corner and tied it around her waist. “He didn’t get all handsy simply because we were alone. We shared a big hug after he walked me home, but that was the extent of it.”

The hard press of his body, all solid muscle and sinew, had been hard to resist. At five-nine, Ivy was taller than many men. Sam was well over six feet, and his height and bulk made her feel ultra-feminine and petite, a sensation she hadn’t experienced since her growth spurt in middle school. Being cradled against his body had left her dying for more contact. On sheer physicality alone, she was his for the taking. Mentally, she had to tread carefully least she suffer another broken heart.

“He walked you all the way home. Nice. Are you seeing him again?”

“I only live three blocks away, and yes, I’m seeing him tonight,” Ivy said, thrilled yet apprehensive over the prospect. What the hell was wrong with her? Granted, she’d been out of the dating scene for a few years, but she’d never had a problem before Kevin meeting men. “He said he was taking me somewhere special, but because he isn’t officially in town yet, I’m sure it will be somewhere private.”

“He’s big news right now. I’m sure the paparazzi would pay a pretty penny for the information. Not that I would tip them off. I promised him last night I’d keep his secret, and he promised me an autographed football.”

Ivy tilted her head, eyebrow raised. “He said you bribed him.”

Beth nodded, unabashed by chastisement. “Damn straight.”

“Thank you. I understand how hard it is for you to keep a secret, especially from Aaron.” Too bad Aaron wasn’t equally as trustworthy.

“Well, he’s in Alaska for a week, and even if he could, who would he tell, the polar bears?”

Ivy wouldn’t put it past him. If anyone would sell Sam out, it would be that jerk.

“So, what are you going to wear? And don’t say jeans and those granny panties you’re so fond of. God willing, you might get lucky tonight,” Beth said.

“What’s wrong with cotton briefs? It’s not like I wear Urkel pants up to my armpits. They don’t even reach my belly button.” While the idea of looking nice for Sam heated her entire body and imagining stripping off said panties for him flamed her growing fascination, her apprehension level increased. Not only had it been three years since she’d dated anyone else, but also since she’d had sex.

“You’re hopeless at being a femme fatale.” Beth spun back around in her chair and grabbed her purse. “Sadly, you need my assistance. I’m going to take you shopping.”

Ivy wiped damp palms down the front of her apron, a shot of panic making its way up her stomach and tightening her chest. “We can’t leave. There’s too much work to do.” Work. She needed to throw herself into work and forget about her mounting insecurities.

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