Page 8 of Quarterback Sneak

Oblivious to her anxiety, Beth whipped out her wallet and pulled out a credit card. “Hello, there’s a thing called the Internet. Nordstrom has a website. I’ll pick a cute dress for you, and we can call the store to have it set aside. If the lace underwear I choose doesn’t get you laid, then the guy is gay.”

“He said casual dress,” Ivy said. Perhaps she should just call off the entire date and go back to— Go back to what? Working from morning to night and returning to an empty apartment to snuggle up next to her cat? She was too young to be the crazy cat lady and another date with Sam was too tempting to pass up.

Her back to Ivy, Beth flicked on the computer monitor and the screen lit up, a web browser popping up. “Don’t worry, I’ll find something versatile but girly.”

Ivy stiffened her spine while strengthening her resolve. It was one night. She could do this and if she still experienced unease about him, then she’d decline a third date. If he asked her. There was a chance things would fizzle on their own and she’d be off the hook.

A web page popped up on the monitor and a football player with the Pioneer logo flashed on the screen. Ivy curled her nails into her palm, eyes sweeping the news ticker for the player’s name. Her shoulders slumped as a rush of relief shot through her. It wasn’t Sam.

The urge to type his name into the search engine on her phone had been nagging at her all morning but she was afraid of what she might learn. Somehow looking him up online seemed intrusive yet curiosity got the better of her. “Beth, what’s the story with Sam?”

“Like what? That he’s in contract negotiations, or he’s rumored to have been offered a multimillion-dollar endorsement deal, or before you, he dated—”

“Stop, I don’t want to hear it.” Ivy battled the need to place her hands over her ears like a child. Her mind screamed for information, but her heart said no. She had to find out about him the old-fashioned way, through conversation and time.

“Then why did you ask? Is something up? You’ve been acting weird since you got here, “ Beth said.

So much for Beth being oblivious. Her friend knew her better than anyone, a good thing or a bad thing? It depended on the circumstances. The unsure part of Ivy needed to keep her suspicions to herself, yet the practical side overruled it. “Sam is a great listener, but he didn’t talk about himself much, which makes me nervous. Kevin was secretive and we’re both know how that turned out.”

“Is that all that’s bothering you? Then let’s Google him,” Beth said, fingers flying across the keyboard.

Ivy placed her hand on the other woman’s shoulder before she could click the mouse. As much as she wanted to cheat, she couldn’t. “No. I don’t want secondhand information from some random reporter, and I definitely don’t want to read about his countless girlfriends, who I’m sure were all beautiful supermodels.” She worried her lip as the wave of uncertainty she’d been holding back crashed over her. “I want to hear about him from him. Is that too much to ask?”

Beth spun around in her chair, concern etched in her gentle smile. “Did you ask him outright and he ignored you, or did he skirt around your questions?”

“He answered all the direct questions I put to him. What he didn’t do was volunteer anything. Mostly our conversation revolved around me, my family, my career, the typical first date stuff. And the things he did ’fess up to are a bit intimidating. In addition to being a fantastic athlete, he went to Africa as an ambassador for UNICEF. Who does that kind of stuff?”

Beth tugged on Ivy’s hand and forced her to sit on the chair next to her. “A really good guy. The kind of guy somebody as nice as you deserves. Kevin and his childish temper tantrums did a number on your confidence, and you need to get past it. Regardless, you’re as successful in your own right as Sam is. You’re going to be in Seasoned-freakin’-Chef magazine. Don’t let that shit with Kevin stop you from giving this guy a chance. Now get ready to shop. We’re going to sex you up.”

Ivy barely paid attention to Beth’s impromptu shopping spree and fiddled with her cell-phone case. Overwhelmed didn’t cover half of what made her stomach churn and her foot to shake. She was about to take a chance on a man, one who could break her heart. Or help it heal. If the possibility existed, she had to grab it with both hands or regret it forever.

Chapter Four

Sam wanted to sweep Ivy into his arms and find the stateroom. Pronto. Instead he allowed one last lingering kiss before he battled the temptation. They weren’t alone yet, and while the staff was supposed to be discreet, wherever Sam went, gossip seemed to follow. And cameras. Before they got further involved, he had to warn Ivy about the media baggage he carried, and he could not allow his lust for her to distract him. “Shall we sit? I hope you like sushi. I had it catered from this little Japanese place Howler swears by.”

“Howler?” Ivy asked as he assisted her into her chair.

The back of her dress dipped to her waist and her smooth, olive skin glowed golden in the sun. He skipped his finger along the curve of her neck and left a trail of goose bumps in his wake. The stateroom was looking more and more appealing by the moment. “Cold?” he teased, whispering it into her ear.

She thrust her shoulders back, bringing her chest into full view. “Far from it.”

Pleased by her cheeky response, he slipped into his own chair. Despite the awkwardness of dating someone new, he liked the ease with which she recovered her equilibrium. She was confident in herself and it showed. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist.”

“Touching me or teasing me?” she asked.

Seduction went both ways, and he was definitely affected by his own play. He lifted his beer and drank deeply before he lowered it to the table. “Both.”

The steward appeared on deck with a sushi tray in hand and a pitcher full of water. “Is there anything else I can get you?” he asked, sitting the objects on the table.

Although he appreciated the excellent service, Sam was more interested in immediate privacy than food. “This looks perfect. We’re ready to set sail whenever you are.”

“I’ll let the captain know,” the man said before he left.

“Where are we going?” Ivy asked, inspecting the food with a chef’s critical eye.

“Across the Sound to a private beach in West Seattle. It’s not too far from here. We could take advantage of the weather and go for a walk. Unless you’d rather not. That’s a beautiful dress; I’d hate to chance getting it dirty.” He refrained from telling her the beach belonged to him lest it make her uncomfortable. Bringing a woman to his house on the second date seemed presumptuous.

“It is, isn’t it? Beth picked it out. I had planned to wear my best chef’s coat with my chili-pepper printed chef’s pants but she wouldn’t let me.”

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