Indulgent Pleasures (2 page)

“Sorry I ran into you.” Her voice was brusque, her expression hurt. He shouldn’t have pushed her away so abruptly and he immediately felt contrite. “Thank you for catching me.”

She turned and walked away, her skirt still swirling, her feet a bit unsure on those tall heels. He watched her go, stunned. Women didn’t walk away from him
ever.
He was Justin Hawkins, superstar baseball player.
The Hawk.
He was the one always in flight.

Correction, the former superstar baseball player, as well as the host of the grand opening party tonight. And she just walked away from him.

The party had bored him, the women attending bored him even more. They were all the same. Tall, bony and blonde with enormous breasts and Botox-injected lips. He could have any one of them with the snap of his fingers, he knew it and they knew it. Many women had eyed him throughout the entire evening, waiting for him to give the signal so they could approach.

He hadn’t done it, he’d given no signal. Not one of them interested him.

Until this klutzy woman came along with her ruby red lips—hell ruby red everything—and a face full of freckles.

Determination filling him, Justin moved through the crowd, nodding and smiling at those who recognized him. His limp wasn’t as pronounced tonight, something he’d been working on in vigorous daily physical therapy and he was glad. He still received the pity-filled looks though, and the questions.

Shit. He despised their pity.

His gaze locked on the entrance, he headed straight for the open doors. If he was fast enough, maybe he could catch her. The urge to talk to her and find out her name was almost overwhelming.

Had she even recognized him? He didn’t think so and for the first time in a long while, he liked that. He found it a breath of fresh air.

He couldn’t remember the last time he breathed fresh air.

Chapter Two

Stephanie stood on the sidewalk and craned her neck, checking the approaching cars coming down the street. It was a Friday night, the streets were busy and there wasn’t a cab in sight.

Figured. Luck hadn’t been with her the entire day. Why change now?

A breeze washed over her, tangy with salt from the nearby Bay and she shivered. She wished she’d brought a sweater or a coat. She hadn’t expected to be out at this time of night since she’d left for the party straight from work.

“Cold?”

Stephanie startled and turned in the direction of the deliciously deep voice that came from behind. There stood her new hero looking far too appealing for his own good. The wind ruffled his dark hair across his forehead and he looked so debonair in his black suit. Good enough to eat.

Heat tinged her cheeks and warmth bloomed throughout her entire body. Suddenly she wasn’t so cold anymore. “I’m fine. Thank you for asking.”

She winced at her clipped words but she couldn’t help it. She couldn’t forget how rudely he’d pushed her away, as if she had cooties or something.

“Hey, listen I want to apologize for what happened inside.” He smiled, charming and easygoing and the sight of it made her toes curl inside her sandals. “I didn’t mean to push you. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

“Don’t worry about it.” She waved her hand, taking a step backward. “I’m just thankful you caught me. I would’ve made a fool of myself in there.”

He took a step closer. She caught a whiff again of pine and spice and she thought of cool mountain nights. Cuddling beneath a thick blanket, watching flames dance in a giant river rock fireplace. A strong man’s arms wrapped around her, his silky hot breath in her ear, firm lips against her cheek...

“Looking for a taxi?”

His deep voice shook her from the little fantasy she’d conjured up and her eyes met his, held for a moment too long. Uncomfortable she let her gaze wander, drinking him in. His stance was casual, hands in his pockets, arms akimbo and the sides of his jacket tucked back. His white shirt stretched taut across his broad chest and flat belly and she licked her lips, suddenly hungry.

This man would work most definitely. Sex with a stranger was one of the top ten female fantasies according to the extensive national poll conducted by affiliates of
City
. He certainly qualified as a stranger.

A shiver moved through her. Sex with
this
man, the best looking man she’d ever had the chance to run into, let alone meet? Was he even interested in her?

“You’re definitely cold.” He shrugged out of his jacket and then wrapped it around her, his wide palms cupping her shoulders for the briefest moment before he released her. “Better?”

“Thank you.” The jacket was still warm from his skin and it dwarfed her, the hem hanging to the middle of her thighs. It smelled like him, his scent reminded her of fresh autumn air and she wanted to close her eyes, breathe deep and absorb it.

But she didn’t.

Instead, she watched the passing cars and she switched from one foot to the other, her arches aching. Her liquid courage abandoning her as fast as it had arrived.

“So you need a ride?”

“What? Oh, yes I’m waiting for a non-existent taxi.” She glanced at the street once more. She couldn’t help her sarcasm as the cars whooshed by, not one taxi amongst them.

“I can give you a ride.”

Stephanie turned to face him again and she bit her lower lip. His smoldering gaze swept her over from head to toe, doing a slow perusal and her body reacted as if he had physically touched her. She was all tingling bits and hardened nipples, hot skin and slick panties.

Never had she reacted this way just from one man’s glance.

She should be offended by the blatant way he checked her out. But she wasn’t, not by a long shot. “You have a car?”

“Oh, yeah. Hold on.” He pulled out his cell phone and pushed a single button, speaking so low she couldn’t make out what he said. As quickly as he’d made the call, he slipped the phone back into his pants’ pocket, a small smile curving his lips.

“You know the ankle you twisted when you fell into me back in the club?” One dark brow lifted, an incredibly sexy move and his words slowly sunk into her alcohol-addled brain.

Her personal savior grabbed her again, his hands wrapping around her upper arms and keeping her steady. Her heart fluttered at his touch.

Stephanie paused, gauging the situation. She was about to climb into a very expensive car with a very handsome man she didn’t know. A man who had a nice smile, a hot body and extremely quick reflexes.

Should she do it?

He opened the door, waiting for her with an expectant expression on his face and she didn’t even think, just climbed into the car and slid across the soft leather seat. He got in after her and pulled the door shut. He was so close she could feel his body heat and his scent surrounded her, making her dizzy.

“Where to, boss?” The driver was smiling at the two of them as he gazed into the rearview mirror.

“Where do you live?” Handsome man’s golden eyes met hers and she couldn’t help but suck in a quick breath at the heat she saw there.

“Emeryville.” In a hellhole apartment with a bitchy roommate she worked with, but she didn’t bother sharing those little details with him.

He whistled low. “Going across the Bay Bridge this time of night ought to be an adventure.”

“You said it, man.” The driver shook his head as he put the car into drive and pulled out onto the street.

“You don’t have to give me a ride if it’s any trouble. I can find another way home.” She felt kind of bad making him go all the way out to where she lived.

He shook his head. “Trust me, I don’t mind. Now why don’t I look at your ankle and make sure it’s okay?”

She blinked once, twice. He wanted to put his hands on her? She didn’t know if she’d be able to take it. “What exactly do you want me to do?”

“Let me see your ankle. I’ll be able to tell if it’s sprained or not.” He patted his thigh, indicating exactly where he wanted her ankle to be.

Holding her dress down at the knees, she lifted her leg and rested her sandaled foot on his muscular thigh. It was hard beneath the fabric of his pants and so very warm. His big hands wrapped around her ankle, his fingers probing gently and she winced. It still hurt a little bit, not that she was complaining about his touching her.

“What’s your name?”

“Huh?” His quiet question didn’t quite penetrate her foggy brain. She was too enraptured watching his long, tanned fingers touch her, gently stroking her skin. His touch felt amazing, his calloused fingertips sending tingles skittering throughout her body.

“Your name?” He glanced up and his gaze met hers. “And your ankle is a little swollen but I don’t think it’s sprained.”

“Oh. Good to know.” She paused and he waited, his fingers still stroking her skin though they moved away from her ankle. Yeah, now they were sliding up to her calf. “Stephanie. My name is Stephanie.”

“Nice to meet you, Stephanie.” He reached toward the door and pushed a button on the armrest. The tinted glass partition that separated the back seat from the front slowly slid up, cutting them off from the driver. “I think you’re going to live.”

She laughed, thankful she’d shaved her legs this morning, and his fingers curved around her ankle, cradling it when he reached for her shoe.

“Mind if I take this off?”

“Only if you tell me your name.” The flirtation came easy, the situation that much more intimate with just the two of them in such close quarters. His hands were on her, her foot nestled in his lap and she didn’t even know his name.

He paused, seeming reluctant to say it which she found weird. “Justin.” He watched her, as if waiting for a reaction and all she could do was smile.

“Nice to meet you, too, Justin.”

She watched as he slipped her shoe off. It dropped onto the floorboard with a heavy thump and then his fingers were kneading the sole of her foot.

His touch felt so good she wanted to moan. She wanted to close her eyes and really enjoy it but she thought that might be a bit much. His thumb did slow, sweeping circles, pushing on the bottom of her foot and she curled her toes. Her skin tightened, grew hot and flushed and she shrugged out of his jacket, setting it next to her.

If he could make her foot feel this good then what about everywhere else? She almost shivered in anticipation.

* * *

She didn’t recognize him. Justin nearly breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing he wanted was a simpering fan raving on and on about how great he was and how sad she was that he didn’t play anymore. He didn’t need the strokes and he wasn’t in the mood. He was never in the mood for that bullshit anymore.

No, he preferred stroking this woman instead. He liked the way she sat in the corner of her seat, the full skirt of her dress resting primly against her knees with her foot in his lap. Those sexy red toenails wiggled and waved at him and her foot shifted against his thigh with every press of his fingers and thumb.

If she shifted just a bit higher, her toes would brush against his engorged cock. Just the thought of that made him grow another inch.

This was going to be a long night.

“So what’s with the fancy car?”

If he could avoid telling her exactly who he was then he would. “I knew I was going to drink tonight and I didn’t want to drive my own car.”

“So you rented this instead?” She sounded incredulous. Probably was though it wasn’t so unusual for someone of his status to do something like this. Hell, he had plenty of money to burn. Plus, like a hopeful ass he’d anticipated bringing a woman back with him.

“You guess?” He liked how she talked. She didn’t hold anything back and half the time she seemed a little confused. As if he confused her perhaps?

It was cute. She was cute. And she had sexy feet. A body part he’d never really found sexy before.

“Well, I think it’s better that you rented this versus potentially driving drunk. Though planning on getting drunk isn’t very admirable, you know.” She nibbled on her lower lip, the plump red flesh contrasting against the flash of little white teeth.

“Oh.” She nodded, her toes curling again and he had the strong urge to bring her foot up to his lips and kiss them. Suck each and every one of those little toes into his mouth.