The Outlaws had a five-game home stand and Kelsey had decided to invite some of the veteran players over for a dinner party.
Even though they could now technically be labeled a couple, Lara still felt funny arriving with Luke at Kelsey and Mav’s place. There were going to be members of the team there she hadn’t met yet, as well as their spouses or girlfriends. She didn’t want to give out the impression they were a couple when in a few weeks’ time she’d be leaving—hopefully.
Luke drove them, and he was in a great mood. It was the first time he’d been able to get back behind the wheel of his treasured Camaro. His hand had been on her thigh the entire drive over. He massaged her exposed flesh until she thought she’d reach over, slam on the brake for him, and jump him for anyone passing by to see.
He kept her on a slow simmer at all times just by looking at her. When he touched her, all bets were off. “Luke, you keep that up and we’re going to be late for the party.” Her breath shallow, she reluctantly pushed his hand away.
When she looked over at him, she was struck by his profile backlit by the setting sun. He had a wicked grin on his lips and laugh lines around his eyes as he squinted. Her gaze traveled to his hands on the steering wheel, along the corded muscle of his forearms, and higher to his tricep where his Outlaw tattoo peeked out under the tight short sleeve of his shirt.
Her fingers itched to touch. So she did. She turned toward him and ran her fingers along the route her gaze had just traveled. His muscles tensed under her light touch. She heard him draw in a quick breath. She peeked up at him and noticed his lips had thinned out. She grinned in triumph.
She burrowed under his sleeve and outlined the bandanna-wearing outlaw that spanned the width of his upper left arm and thought how fitting a symbol it was for him. Wildness and risk taking wrapped in one hard-bodied, gorgeous man who for the time being was all hers. Where was she going to find the strength to end this when the time came?
“Darling, just say the word and I’ll pull over and be happy to let you have your way with me.” The hint of a dare filled the car and she was tempted. Damn, she was tempted, and she loved how his Oklahoma drawl deepened when he was hungry for her. But Kelsey was counting on her help with the setup tonight. Bestie before hot car-sex won out.
She let out a long dramatic sigh. “Next time, I’m afraid. If we’re late, Kelsey will never forgive me. She’s a nervous wreck. For someone so cool and collected in her job you’d think she’d be the same with a simple dinner party.”
“Well, how many dinner parties has she hosted?”
“This is her first one.”
“I’d say the tension of being the star player’s fiancée is messing with her usual ‘what I say goes’ approach in her job. She’ll be fine. And as much as I’d love to watch as you come sitting on my lap, where we could get caught at any time, we’d better not.”
She nodded. At a loss for words. The image of her losing control like that for any passerby to see brought an unexpected tightness to her core. She’d never thought of herself as an exhibitionist, but the thrill the suggestion gave her was something to think about. He’d opened her world to a new level of sexual pleasure, and with him she felt anything was possible.
“Shoot, there’s the turnoff. Guess we missed our chance.” He picked up her hand and kissed the palm and winked at her. “Next time, darling.”
“Promises, promises.”
“Oh, I keep my promises, Lara. Let there be no doubt about that. If you’re willing, anytime, anywhere. Just say the word.”
He parked the car and left her staring out the front window picturing them sweaty and needy in the front of his Camaro. She was not going to make it through the evening without him touching her, or being inside her. She’d make sure they found some time alone.
He opened her door and helped her out. She was still grinning from her naughty thoughts.
“What’s with the smile, darling? You look like you’re up to something.”
Oh, she was. And he would be too, as soon as she could find the right time to drag him to one of the guest rooms upstairs.
Lara had been acting funny since they’d arrived. No, not funny. Different for sure. She was definitely in a good mood, but it was deeper than that. She seemed thoughtful, and he had to say her name several times before she heard him.
When he asked her earlier how her interview went, and when she would find out about the job, she just smiled and said “soon.” He felt she was holding something back and the old defenses came up. He was used to most women playing his emotions, but he hoped to god Lara wouldn’t be one of them.
He took Mav up on his offer for a drink and watched her sashay away from him as she and Kelsey headed to the kitchen to finish the dinner prep.
“Luke? Hey man, put your eyes back in their sockets and tell me what you want.” Mav was waiting for him at the wet bar in his over-the-top man cave. “You’ll have her all to yourself again in a few hours.”
Luke clapped his hands together and shook off the dirty thoughts he was enjoying. “I’ll take whatever beer is the coldest.”
They took their beers over to the monster of a couch. Mav never did anything halfway. The room was filled with all the latest audio/visual gadgets you could ever wish for, and what looked like a torture device in the corner.
“Hey, Mav. What’s that contraption for? You and Kelsey into kink now?”
“Nah, I don’t need that crap. It’s some friggin’ Pilates thing that Kelsey claims will help me with my flexibility. She’s been the only one using it. I’m not going near that thing.”
“Never figured you for a coward, Mav. Give it a try. You never know, it may help your technique on the mound . . . and in the bedroom.” Luke almost took a throw pillow full in the face, but he was quick. Had to be. Five Gold Gloves proved that he had the fastest home-to-second toss in the league.
“Whatever. Let’s talk about you, shall we?” Maverick leaned back into the deep cushions of his leather couch and sent Luke a look reserved for disapproving fathers.
“About what? We talk practically every day; what’s up?”
“It seems the day before JR went off on you and Lara, he told Chaz that he heard a rumor about you using steroids. Said he met this guy at O’Malley’s who’d tell anyone who listened that you were paying off the team trainer to keep silent and shit.”
The hair on the back of Luke’s neck stood on end. Shit. His mind raced to what Howie had told him about the loser who’d caused a scene just last week. He didn’t know anyone named Nate or anyone who hated him that much to go into his soon-to-be bar and talk smack about him.
Mav finished off his beer and set it on the coffee table. “I think JR has some issues with you he hasn’t shared with anyone. Hell, he used to hit in the .400s until it was discovered he juiced. Then after he fulfilled his suspension, he struggled to get close to .250. He starts to gain some ground again, but ‘Bam!’ your stick is on fire this season, he gets pushed to the back of the lineup, and he goes back to his old ways because he can’t handle being second best. I’d say he’s dealing with some paranoia or jealousy where you’re concerned, at the very least.”
Luke thought long and hard about Mav’s theory and it made sense. Parts of it also matched up with what Howie had told him when he’d brought Lara into O’Malley’s that first time. JR must have swayed this Nate character to badmouth him. Maybe even paid him off to do it. Shit, he hated drama.
Mav squeezed his shoulder. “I’m sorry I didn’t know about this sooner. Chaz just told me yesterday.”
He was the one guy on the team who understood what Luke’s thoughts were right now, and it wasn’t the time to hash it out with the other players about to arrive. “Thanks for letting me know. I’ll be talking to Chaz the first chance I get.”
“All right, sounds good to me. Hey, we need to get moving. Kelsey wants me to pick some wine out from the cellar before everyone starts showing up.”
“Wait. You, have a wine cellar? Since when did you get so fancy?”
“Fuck off. It was her idea, and the builder converted a small room in the basement for us. It’s pretty cool actually. I’m thinking of adding a cigar room right next door.”
“Judas priest, Mav. What’s next. A bidet?”
“Nope. Already have one.”
Luke had heard it all now. He burst out laughing and couldn’t stop. He followed his red-faced friend downstairs to the brand-spanking-new wine cellar. Mav picked out several bottles in silence. He didn’t find Luke’s belly laughing amusing.