Page 39 of Play for Keeps

“Ten?”

“Miles. I’m doing a half marathon next month. I’m in training, Coach.”

She bit her lip as she placed her hands on his chest and made a show of trying to push away, but they both knew she didn’t want to go. She wanted to be convinced.

“I saw your shoes in that suitcase you carry around. Stay, and I’ll give you a complimentary membership to the home gym downstairs. I’ll even loan you a T-shirt.” Her smirk telegraphed her intention to shoot him down, so he went in for the kill. “I’ll throw in hot tub time and breakfast at no additional fee.”

The tips of her ears flushed pink. She ducked her head, but the curve of her cheek gave her away. He almost had her. All he had to do was sink the last couple of shots, and victory would be his.

Lowering his head, he pitched his voice low and soft. “Want me to tell you what all’s included in hot tub time?”

She trailed the tip of one nail through his chest hair. “I was more concerned about the breakfast menu.”

Ty threw his head back and laughed, but he didn’t let his amusement get in the way of his ultimate goal. Sliding his hand up her back, he found the clasp of her bra.

Millie gasped, her eyes widening with surprise, then frank admiration as the elastic band opened. “Wow. You’re good.”

“When I was in junior high, my friend Mike stole one of his sister’s bras so we could practice.” He let his own smile spread as he drew the straps down her arms. “I can tell you, you look much prettier in yours than he did.”

She barked a laugh and let the bra fall to their feet. “I’d be willing to wager you haven’t seen a pair as small as mine since his.”

Her cupped one subtle mound. She barely filled the palm of his hand, but size didn’t matter one bit. He’d touched a lot of boobs since those days he and Mike spent mastering the hook and eye, and every time, the soft curve of a woman’s breast was a fresh wonder to him. Millie wouldn’t believe him if he said as much, so he didn’t bother with anything more than the unvarnished truth. “I think you’re beautiful.”

To prove he meant what he said, he folded his body nearly in half and took the tightly furled nipple into his mouth. Millie moaned and clutched at his head, arching her back and pressing into him in silent command, an order he was more than happy to obey. He sucked deep, relishing her soft gasp. Her hips rolled, instinctively seeking him out. Cursing their height difference, he released her with a loud pop, then staggered back a step.

“Take your skirt off. Stay awhile.”

Her eyes locked on his as she withdrew another couple of steps, granting him full view of her as she drew the zipper down over her hip again. A shove and a shimmy later, the skirt lay puddled around her feet.

“On the bed,” he ordered.

Her eyebrows popped up, and she hesitated a beat. He countered with a blank stare, hoping he could convince her he was willing to wait all night for her compliance, but playing it cool was next to impossible when his dick was hard and practically dancing with joy at the prospect of another go with her. Her gaze dropped to his crotch, and her mouth curled into a knowing smile.

“Impressive recovery time, Coach.”

Ty didn’t dare admit he was impressed with himself. Clutching this scrap of pride, he shrugged. “I’m highly motivated.”

Millie backed up until her thighs hit the edge of the mattress. Without breaking eye contact, she sat down, hooked a heel on the rail, then pushed back until she lay stretched out atop his comforter in all her cream and pink glory, her hands resting on the pillows above her head. “Like this?” she asked in a throaty whisper.

“Just like that.” Unwilling to be sidetracked again, he held up one finger in a stern motion for her to stay put. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

He booked out the door and down the hall, her laughter chasing him as he hurtled down the stairs bare-assed naked. He nearly tore the door to the garage off its hinges in his haste. His foot barely skimmed the cool concrete step. His left shinbone sang out in protest when he hit the concrete floor at full stride. The right joined the chorus when he drew to an abrupt halt.

The overhead door was wide open, and Mrs. Westlake’s Yorkshire terrier was taking a leak in his flower bed. More specifically, on the Wolcott Warrior garden gnome Mari had won in some booster club auction. And he was naked. Stark naked. For a few endless seconds, he and his neighbor across the street, Mrs. Westlake, stared at one another, frozen in shock.

The thought clicked, and he lunged for the button to lower the door. Then he crouched behind his car, taking what cover he could get as the damn thing lowered at a snail’s pace. Squeezing his eyes shut, he did his level best to pretend what had happened hadn’t happened, and by the time the door touched the sealed concrete floor, he might have convinced himself if he hadn’t heard Mrs. Westlake call out a mocking “Go Tigers!” through the paneled steel.

Ty narrowed his eyes at the door as he rose. He’d seen the orange-and-blue logo of Wolcott’s in-state rivals on his neighbor’s car, but he hadn’t realized the Westlakes were rabid fans. Nor had he suspected their overgrown guinea pig of trashing his landscaping. Now he knew better.

Glancing down at his nearly deflated dick, he hoped the nosy neighbor had gotten a good eyeful of him at his best. He wanted her to remember this moment well, because as of two minutes ago, there was no team Ty was more devoted to defeating than Mrs. Westlake’s beloved freaking Tigers.

He moved to the driver’s door and reached in to press the button to release the latch on the trunk. Between his luggage and the new set of Ping golf clubs he’d treated himself to as a divorce present, the compartment was cram-packed. But the last thing Ty wanted to do was haul his bags into the house like he was the bellman at a nudist resort. Unzipping his suitcase, he groped inside until he felt his shaving kit and yanked the bag free.

Tucking the small bag under his arm, he slammed the trunk lid, tossed one more scowl in the direction of the garage door, and stomped back into the house. He was still grumbling under his breath when he walked into the great room to find Millie perched on the edge of the red suede sofa. Every bit as naked as he was.

“Wha—”

“I heard the garage door and a dog barking.” She gave him a slow once-over, and Ty had to resist the urge to cover his junk with his toiletry bag. “Tell me you hit the button before you made your mad dash.”

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