First Down (First and Ten #1) (4 page)

Jack took a moment to study her and decided that this was as good a time as any to ask the question. “Do you not like me specifically or is it all football players?” He watched her gaze down at her lap and carefully wipe her hands on the napkin. It seemed like she may not answer his question as she kept her eyes on the pattern of her dress. Her head lifted and she stared him straight in the eyes, and he briefly wondered if their children would have green or brown eyes.

“I don’t know you, so I’m not sure if I like you or not. As far as the football player question goes…I admit that I’m not a big fan. I’m sure it’s a prejudice left over from high school when a boy broke my seventeen-year-old heart.” She looked him up and down and admired his massive build. “I’ve recently sworn off alpha men, and I’m going to try and date some betas. I think I may have more luck. You’re not anything close to beta, so I don’t think it’s going to work out.”

Lifting one of her hands out of her lap, he held it gently and smiled into her eyes. “I’m going to change your mind about football players, alpha men, and anything else that is going to prevent you from giving me a chance.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to get to know you.” He let his fingers play over her hand and enjoyed the feeling of her skin against his. He felt like everything he needed to know about them was answered when he held her hand. It was like a key fitting into a lock. Perfect and indescribable.

“I’ll think about it.” She stared into his startling green eyes and saw a light in his gaze that she’d never seen before. He was looking at her like she was chocolate cake and everything he’d ever wanted. Maybe he had a concussion, or was suffering from a brain injury. 

“I think we should become friends and see what happens. I just want a little of your time,” Jack said with confidence. “I don’t want to change your life.” He gently squeezed her hand. “I’m sure that a lot of men are after you….I just want to be at the front of the line. A little time, Ana, that’s all I want.”

Slipping her hand out of his, she sat up straight. “All right, Jack Ellis. Let’s be friends and see what happens.” She noticed that his easy-going attitude covered up a will of steel. She’d seen it enough times with all the men she knew from the Teams. Maybe being a professional athlete was similar in some ways. A man didn’t play professional sports unless he possessed some determination and grit.  Jack laid his plans out clearly and presented them in a way that left little room for argument. The tricky part about that was he did it with a sweet, sexy smile that conveyed his absolute certainty of success.

Leaning over, he kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Ana.” He watched a blush wash across her cheeks as he lifted his head. Friends was a good place to start. He just needed a little window of opportunity to show her that he was a good guy. And….that he was the one for her. Time spent together would give him the chance he needed.

CHAPTER THREE

Friday

Ana stood in the kitchen and observed the two large men assembling her bookcases. “How did this happen again?” She noticed that their shoulders almost blocked out the sun from the patio windows, and they were handling her bookcases like they were children’s furniture. She stared at Jack and decided to quit denying her physical attraction to him. Who was she kidding anyway? The man was beautiful and pretending like it wasn’t true--was foolish.

Ella studied her friend with patience as she answered. “I had a fun date with Clark, and he asked to hang out today. I told him that I was going to help you finish unpacking, and he came along.” She admired Clark as he lifted something and sighed. “I’m not sure how Jack got involved. We shouldn’t complain, though, because they’re doing the work, and they look damn good doing it.” She tried to smooth her curls down and realized that it was pointless. “I Googled Clark this morning, and I saw pictures of him almost naked, and I can’t scrub the images from my brain. I really don’t care that we’re not going to last past next week, because I just want to see him naked.” She brushed her hand across forehead and noticed that she might be running a fever. “Before you say anything…I’ve become that woman, and I’m not even embarrassed. It’s not like I’m ever going to have an opportunity like this again. It would be prudent to take advantage of it, while it’s available.” She smiled in his direction and licked her lips. “I’ve decided to use him for his body…if he’ll let me.”

Ana studied her friend before answering. “Really?”

“Yeah, it’s weird. I think it’s because I have no expectations, and I don’t want to impress him. I want his body, and I don’t much care what happens after that. I think I may be turning into a frat boy, and I don’t feel guilty at all. It’s very freeing. B-T-W, I also Googled Jack, and all I have to say is,
lord have mercy
. That man has an amazing body, too. I read he’s been offered an underwear commercial. I wouldn’t mind seeing him in his underwear.”

Ana laughed and covered her mouth quickly. “Since when did we become those women?”

“Since a couple of football players started hanging around. It’s not like we went looking for this. We are the two most unlikely women to be spending time around professional athletes. But they’re here, and I think we should see what they have to offer. If it’s only their bodies, then I’m fine with that.”

“We are no better than any of the other women that go after them.” She noticed that Jack had a beautiful smile to go with his beautiful body.
Oh hell.

“Except we didn’t go after them. They’re coming after us, and we should see what it’s all about. It’s not like it’s going to last more than two weeks anyway.”

“That’s true,” Ana said. 
Naked Jack…naked Jack.
That was the only thought circling her brain. Hormones were more powerful than brain cells, they won every damn time.

Ella walked into the living room and smiled at the men. “Would you all like some iced tea?”

Clark looked up at her and beamed. “I would love some of your iced tea, Ella.”

She grinned and sauntered back into the kitchen. “Iced tea for two, please.”

Ana handed her friend two glasses of iced tea and wondered why she shouldn’t take a similar approach with Jack. She gazed into the living room and admired his athletic shorts.
I wonder what it takes to develop a butt like that?
As she watched him and Clark lift the bookcase into position, she realized her thoughts were becoming friendlier. She walked back into her kitchen and decided to see if she had anything to make for lunch. Lunch would be a good way to show her appreciation for all of their help. She rummaged in the fridge and realized that she didn’t have anything to offer them. Unless they wanted to eat salad or Chinese leftovers.

Ella returned and scooped up her purse. “Clark is taking me out to lunch. We’re going to head out.” She winked at Ana and smiled as she walked toward Clark.

Ana noticed that Ella’s hips were swinging a little more than usual and her cheeks were flushed. She called out a thanks to Clark as he and Ella left.

His attention was solely on the woman next to him, and he waved behind his head before closing the front door.

Shrugging, she put the glasses into the dishwasher, and heard Jack walk into the kitchen. Ana glanced up and smiled. “Thanks for coming over. I’m not sure how you got talked into this, but I appreciate what you’ve done.”

Smiling, he moved to the sink to wash his hands. “I’m happy to help you with anything you need.” It was important to show her that he was a nice guy and worth trusting, because he wanted a chance to get to know her. And kiss her. He just needed to keep doing things like this, so she would go out with him and then he would have a chance to lay his mouth against hers. Watching her leaning against the counter, he wondered if she tasted like candy…chocolate. She seemed like a woman who would. Sweet and dark and completely irresistible. “I’m happy to help out. I can come put your desk together next week. I noticed that it was still in boxes in your office.”

“What is the daily rate of the highest-paid defensive end in the league?”

“I see that you Googled me.”

“I did. Holy moly macaroni. You get paid a lot of money for crashing into other men.”

“I know. Don’t think that fact is ever lost on me. My brother put his life on the line every day for over ten years in defense of this country, and I know what he got paid, and it was a travesty. I think SEALs--for that matter, anybody in the military--should be paid what guys in the NFL make.” He dried his hands on the towel she handed him and smiled.

“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I’m not judging you.”

He took a step toward her and handed her back the towel. “I’m a little embarrassed by my paycheck, but not enough to turn it down.” Laughing, he wiped his forehead and looked into her eyes. “Truth be told, I have a shark of an agent, and I make sure that he does his best in negotiations. So I may be a bit of a hypocrite.” 

Deciding to leave the whole question of his paycheck alone, she changed the subject. “I think Clark and Ella have ditched us, so it’s just you and me for lunch. I didn’t realize that you guys were coming over, so I didn’t prepare anything. I’d like to take you to Larios in South Beach. I hear the food is great, and I thought it might be fun.”

“I’d love to go with you.” He took her hand and rubbed his finger over her ring finger. If he wasn’t mistaken, he just got asked out by the girl of his dreams. “So you like Cuban food?”

“It’s one of my favorites. My mother’s Cuban, so that’s what I grew up on. Usually, I go over to one of my aunt’s houses for Sunday dinner, but I’m going to miss it this week. So this will be my fix.”

Jack put his arm around her waist and led her out of the kitchen. “Let’s go to South Beach and have some lunch.” She walked next to him, and he thought her height was perfect for him, because she would fit perfectly under his shoulder. It was like she was made for him with her curves, pretty smile, and shiny hair. The more time he spent around her, the more alluring she became.

********

Ana sat on the patio facing the beach and enjoyed people-watching while Jack consumed a massive amount of food. It was interesting to see how many people tried to steal glances. He seemed immune to it though and chose to pay attention only to her. He had on a college hat, glasses and faced away from the sidewalk, but his massive size probably gave him away. That and all of the commercials that he’d been in recently. “Can I ask you a question?”

Jack set down his fork, wiped his hands, and leaned forward. “Of course. You can ask me anything?”

“Why are you trying to hang out with me? I’m not your usual type.”

He studied his hands and then glanced up and held her gaze. “I like you, Ana. I’ve been attracted to you since the moment I met you. I like the way you smell and your shiny hair. I know that sounds weird, but there it is. My heart pounds when I’m around you, and I want to get to know you.” He took her hand and held it. “I know you’re super smart, and I’m not sure if you would be interested in a guy like me, but I would like a chance. I haven’t been able to think about anyone else but you since I met you a couple of weeks ago.” He watched a pretty rose color spread across her cheeks, and she smiled into his eyes.
One step forward
, that’s all he needed.

“That’s very sweet and not the response I expected.”

“I didn’t want there to be any confusion about my feelings.” He was about to lean forward and drop a kiss on her cheek when he heard the click of a camera shutter. Turning his head, he tried to see who snapped a photo, but couldn’t tell among the sea of people in the restaurant and on the street. “Someone just took a photo, and I think you can expect to see your picture in the tabloids in the next couple of days.”

“I doubt anyone is going to be interested in me. They’ll just crop me out of the photo.” She touched her hair and hoped that it was behaving, because if there was a photo, then she wanted it to be a good one.

“Ana, I don’t get pictures taken with women. I think people are trying to figure me out, and I have a feeling that I just put you in the eye of the storm.”

“Let’s just worry about it when something actually happens.”

“You have a great attitude about this. Thank you.”

She laid her hand against his massive forearm. “To some degree, I’m used to it because of Alex. I’ve been linked to him over the years. It all eventually dies down, and people move on.” She felt his muscle move under her fingers, and she tried to suppress a smile. It would seem that Mr. Jack Ellis was being honest about his feeling toward her.

He picked up his fork and resumed his meal. He watched Ana studying him as she nibbled on a plantain. He could tell that she was trying to figure him out, and it seemed that she wasn’t having any success. That was probably a good thing, considering her prejudice about football players.

A commotion started on the street, and Jack twisted to see what was causing it. He noticed a pack of paparazzi, jostling people who were waiting to get into the restaurant, and he sure hoped an A-list star was in town. Turning quickly back, he saw Ana’s frightened face. He scooted his chair closer and made sure that his body blocked any view of her from the street. The last thing he wanted was for her to be in danger, because of his fame.

“Those photographers just shoved a woman who had to be over eighty. What’s wrong with them?” Ana fumed.

“They’re animals. That’s what’s wrong with them. They don’t care who they hurt or what laws they break or if they invade your privacy. They just care about the money they’re going to be paid for the shot they get.”

Ana slid down in her chair and looked around Jack’s large frame. “Don’t turn around, because I think they’re here for you. Several of them have their lenses pointed at us, and they’re very intent on getting a shot of you.” She put her glasses on and tried to appear interested in the food on her plate. “You live in a crazy world, Jack. I don’t envy you.”

Shaking his head, he pulled out his phone and texted the head of security for the team. “I’m texting Roland, and I’m going to see if he can get a couple of guys down here to clear them before we leave.” He took her hand under the table and squeezed. “Sorry about this. I didn’t think it would happen in the middle of the day. I haven’t been on their radar for a while, so it must be a slow news day for them.”