“I brought it up with my coworkers. And we took it up with the boss.”
“You don’t sound like it went well.”
He pursed his lips and reached for his wine.
“That bad, huh?”
“He’s an asshole. Just wants the money, not to run a descent company.”
“So why do you work there?”
“Cause it pays well. The hours are good. Gives me time to work on pet projects. Some buddies and I want to open our own company one of these days.”
“A hosting company?”
He nodded.
She thought about that while she ate. He certainly was smart enough. Not only computer smart, he had a pretty good business sense too from what she’d gathered. But she didn’t know the first thing about setting up a hosting company. She liked the determination in his eyes. And the way he’d rallied to provide better customer service, even if it got him into trouble.
Each night they talked, she grinned along with him as he recounted some of the issues from the day. Some of them made her feel better about herself. At least she knew what kind of computer she had and didn’t reply with “black.”
“You should do it,” she said as she finished half of the hamburger. She’d have to find something to wrap up the other half so she could stick it in the small refrigerator.
“One day.”
“Have you thought about buying him out?”
He paused, mid chew. Then he shook his head. He ate in silence for a few more minutes and she could see the wheels turning in his head. Every so often he’d glance out the window and his eyes would track back and forth.
She smiled. He was working out a plan.
CHAPTER SIX
New York City
They didn’t make it to dinner.
JJ wanted to smack her boss for interrupting her evening, but when the new owner of the New York Wolves was available to answer questions, John tripped over himself to get JJ there on time.
No sooner had Trevor declared he was taking her to dinner than her phone had beeped, alerting her to a text message. She hadn’t even gotten her blouse rebuttoned, ever aware of Trevor’s gaze on her, before the frustrating device rang in her purse.
Worse than being interrupted, her heart, make that her mind, wasn’t in the interview. No matter how hard she’d tried to focus on Ricky Mathers and his answers to her questions, her mind wandered back to Trevor. She’d never experienced such intensity before. Never felt like the very center of a man’s universe. He’d looked at her like he wanted to lick her from head to toe and back again.
When Ricky had uttered the word
catch
, all she could think of was what a
catch
Trevor Wyatt was. Even retired from the spotlight and no longer wearing those skin tight, ass hugging—She stopped that train of thought and blew out a sigh. Yeah, a woman would be crazy not to want him.
Every time Ricky had said
football
she remembered the magazine photo of Trevor, butt naked save for the nerf football he held in front of his naughty bits. Well, that and the devil-may-care smile.
It was probably one of the most famous photos the animals rights group had ever published…with good reason.
Finally done with the interview, she headed out to the street. Clutching her phone in one hand, she hailed a cab with the other. A courier whizzed by and JJ jumped back, clutching her chest. Crazy New Yorker. Her phone beeped and she momentarily gave up the task of flagging down a taxi as she checked the text message.
GOT THE PAINT FOR YOUR DECK. WILL HEAD OVER TOMORROW BEFORE THE GAME TO GET IT DONE. - G
Greg was the best. Her brother worked hard to help them both make money at this whole house flipping thing. She liked to think she had good taste and put together a cozy home. The buyers of their last four places had confirmed that. But Greg was the muscle. And he wasn’t afraid of hitting his thumb with a hammer.
She hit the empty bubble at the bottom of the screen to reply.
THANKS. CAN’T WAIT TO SEE IT. ORDERED THE KNOBS FOR THE KITCHEN ON MONDAY. SHOULD BE THERE SOON.
They liked to wait until as close to their date of putting the property on the market before freshening up the exterior paint. Since the inside had been painted weeks ago, the deck was the last item on the To Paint list.
A yellow cab pulled to the curb and she hopped inside just as her phone beeped again.
K. LET ME KNOW WHEN THEY GET THERE AND I’LL HELP YOU INSTALL.
Once they’d installed the knobs all that was left to do was stage the condo and put it on the market. That was always the nerve wracking part. They’d been really lucky so far and she hoped their luck would hold.
She exited the text messaging app and clicked on the phone icon. How many hours had it been since Trevor had stood with her in front of the shoe store and flagged down a cab? As it had pulled to the curb, he’d reached for her phone and programmed his number into it. That felt like a lifetime ago.
The fact that when she scrolled down to the T’s in her contact list, Trevor Wyatt’s personal number was there…it was surreal. Despite the fact that she’d interviewed dozens of pro athletes, he was the one who made her star struck.
She clicked his number and the phone dialed it.
“I thought you’d never get done,” he said by way of greeting.
“Me either.”
“Where are you now?”
“In the back of the cab. You?”
“At the store. Closed up properly.”
She giggled and lowered her voice. “You mean you don’t normally flip the lock in the middle of the afternoon and sneak women into the back room?”
“You’re the first.”
Gracious he knew how to stroke a woman’s ego…among other things.
“Did you eat?” he asked.
“No. You?”
“Nope. I know the perfect place.” He rattled off an address and she relayed it to the driver.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“I’ll be waiting,” came the deep reply that made her stomach quiver.
True to his word, Trevor was waiting for her in the very back booth of the charming Italian restaurant. It was tucked away and authentic looking. Not packed or posh, but quiet and the hostess was friendly. She didn’t even stare at Trevor as she escorted JJ to his table.
He rose as they approached. “Thanks, Dani.”
JJ started to slide into the booth across from him but he shot out a hand. “Come sit next to me.”
She smiled as she scooted across the old vinyl. “I don’t know,” she murmured as he slid in next to her, his arm brushing hers. “You might try to take advantage of me.”
“Always.”
His cocky response did amazing things to her insides. Warm, tingly and wet already? That was a record for her.
“What’s good here?” she asked.
“Everything. Especially the stuff that’s not on the menu.”
He put his arm on the back of the seat, amplifying the cozy atmosphere. She glanced up from the laminated menu, straight into those intense blue eyes that had haunted her dreams for the last five years.
“Mr. Wyatt, are you making a pass?”
“I’m the receiver baby. And while I’m sure you’re delicious, I was talking about Antonio’s secret meatballs. I can’t tell you what’s in them, but they are to die for.”
“That’s what I want then. I’m a big fan of meatballs.”
He groaned and his arm slipped down to her waist, pulling her up against him. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t adore the feel of all those muscles.
“You feel so good against me,” he whispered in her ear.
“You know how to make a woman melt.”
“Don’t melt yet, gorgeous. I want to get you back to your hotel where I can make you melt all over my tongue,” he whispered in her ear, sending a shiver over her shoulders. The hand curling over her hip emphasized his words and she trembled against him. If he kept talking like that—
Thank God their waitress showed up. She was hungry, and not just for food. But that would have to do for now. “Ice water, please.”
“Same for me,” Trevor said.
“Do you know what you want or do you need another minute?”
Trevor turned to her and lifted an eyebrow.
“I’ve heard I should ask for Antonio’s secret meatballs,” she told the waitress.
“Would you like a salad with that?”
JJ glanced at the warm gooey garlic rolls on the table. She should really get the salad and forget about the fantasy-inspired-carbs calling her name from the vat of golden butter. But as far as she was concerned, she was on vacation for the rest of the day and if she had a roll or two plus her dinner…maybe a dessert…nope. No room for veggies.
“Just the balls please.”
Trevor groaned again. “Me too,” he croaked up at the waitress. The instant she was gone, he turned back to JJ and slid his right hand between her thighs.
“Trevor!” she whispered fiercely.
It might be late, but they were still in public.
“You can’t talk like that baby. You make me hard and a little crazy.”
“I think you’ve always been a little crazy,” she replied with a smile.
“Honey, you have no idea. I’ve been half out of my mind since the moment I met you.”
JJ froze.
What?
He couldn’t be serious. She turned toward him, the movement causing her legs to part and he quickly took advantage. She growled his name again but didn’t push him away. The good girl in her demanded that she move to the opposite side of the table and put a little space between them. But the emerging bad girl was still dying for release. How quickly could he make her come? With nothing but his fingers?
And maybe his voice?
She swallowed back the lust and replayed his words through her mind. Now wasn’t the time to get lost in the feel of his touch, no matter how much she craved it. He’d just dropped a bombshell on her and she needed to know what he meant.
“Come again?”
He blew out a silent breath and looked up at the ceiling. Then he shook his head ever so slightly. “Do you say things like that to tease me?” he asked, still not looking at her.
“Like what?” She felt like she was missing something.
“I plan to come… again.” He glanced down at her. “And again.” He ducked his head until his lips were almost touching her ear. “And again.”
Oh…my…
She squeezed her thighs together and trapped his hand.
“Ready to get started sweetheart?” His other hand smoothed up her side and gently tugged her hair until her neck was exposed to his lips. “I’m more than ready to pick back up where we left off.”
Oh heavens, what was he doing to her? She was acting like…well, she didn’t know what exactly. A woman in serious lust, she supposed. But when he spoke to her like that, in that rich honey voice, and touched her…she lost all her reservations.
Thankfully the waitress brought out two plates heaping with spaghetti, fat meatballs and a delicious smelling red sauce. Otherwise JJ might have done something very unladylike.
She pounced on the food, thankful to have something to distract her. He chuckled and after several long, tantalizing seconds extracted his hand from between her legs.
“We’re going to have to get you over this shy thing,” he said, reaching around her for the salt. His arm brushed her breast and she wasn’t sure if it’d been accidental or not. Didn’t matter. Her nipples were standing at attention, practically flagging him down.
“I’m not shy. We’re in a public place.” She told herself that, but the place was deserted. “You need to go sit over there.”
“Why?”
“Because I find you incredibly distracting.”
“Really?” He leaned in close and caressed her thigh.
“Trevor,” she said in her firmest tone.
He threw his head back and laughed. When he had sobered, he glanced around the restaurant. “Would it matter if I told you we have the place to ourselves?”
“How do you figure that?”
He shrugged those massive shoulders.
“Oh my god, you didn’t get them to close for us, did you?” She’d heard of celebrities and star athletes doing such a thing.
“Sort of.”
She gave him a
well-spit-it-out
look.
“I own the place, all right?”
“You own…” He owned a restaurant? But…
“I’ve been eating here since I was a kid. When Antonio needed help, I had the resources to step in.”
He said it so casually, like it was no big deal…
“But…you own it?”
“He can make mean meatballs, but let’s just say he’s not the best with business management.” He smiled and she could tell that he was really fond of Antonio. “I have someone manage the business. He has the cash flow to keep making great food. Win win.”
Something inside JJ melted. He hadn’t bought the business to make money. He’d bought it to help out a friend.
“I bet you get free meatballs anytime you want, huh?” She twirled her fork in the pasta.
“Mmm huh. It’s good to own a restaurant,” he said with a satisfied grin.
She took her first bite of meatball. So many delicious flavors hit her tongue she groaned. “Lord, that’s good. Like the best meatball I’ve ever eaten. I—”
She shut up as he forked another bite into her mouth. Eyes locked with his, her lips closed around his fork. No man had ever fed her before and she had to admit, it was really sexy. Especially when she felt a smidgen of sauce slide down her chin and he was right there to gather it with his finger.
“You’re distracting me again,” she whispered. Not that she minded. Not really. If he kept looking at her like that and touching her so sweetly she would sit here forever.
“So tell me about you. I know you’re a crack shot writer from Atlanta.”
“There's not much to tell.”
Trevor didn't believe that for a minute. She was deflecting. And he wanted to know what made her tick.
“What do you like to do when you're not writing articles?”
“Well, there's what I like to do and what I actually do,” she said, stabbing another hunk of meatball. He had to crane his neck to watch her eat but loved the sight of her lips closing over the fork. After five years and more dinner invitations than he could count, she was finally sitting here with him. Eating at his favorite spot in the city. Close enough to touch…