Hot Stuff (Hot Zone 1)

"Just to say goodbye to Nick and see if he takes the bait."

Annabelle nodded. "Sounds like a plan."

"You?"

"I thought I'd go back to Vaughn's, check my messages, see if anyone called me back for bookings. I'd really like to get Vaughn's face out in front of the general public again."

Mara rolled her eyes. "Are you telling me I just plied you with alcohol, let you watch two gorgeous sweaty guys, and all you can think of is work?" She nudged Annabelle in the ribs with her elbow. "Surely you can think of something more exciting to do with your evening."

Annabelle closed her eyes and let her imagination flow. What would she want to do if nothing stood in her way? She asked herself. Spend the night alone with Vaughn. Under the stars in a place where no one would bother them. Not his parents, not her uncle, her sisters or even her pets.

She opened her eyes and began digging into her purse.

"Now what are you doing?"

Annabelle scribbled a note onto a sheet of paper, then folded it in half. "Do you think you could give; me a ride back to the lodge?" she asked. The rest she ' could handle from there.

Mara sighed. "Okay, okay. So you learned nothing during our hour together. You're still determined to work."

Annabelle folded the paper in half yet again. "One thing about me, Mara. I'm a quick study." She glanced at the other woman. "Watch and learn."

She rose and adjusted her clothing, pulling the waistband of her skirt up a notch, which had the desired effect of raising the hem. Next she shrugged until the left side of her wide-necked top fell casually off one shoulder. She ran a hand through her tousled hair, popped a mint from her purse into her mouth and walked down the bleachers toward her unsuspecting target.

VAUGHN AND NICK dismissed the guys from the huddle. They were a select group of talented high schoolers who'd asked them to coach them throughout the summer and give them pointers before the season started again in the fall. Like Vaughn, Nick always enjoyed a chance to hone a kid's skills and so they'd agreed. But even while busting the guys for being too damn lazy, Vaughn's focus had been diverted more than once by the beautiful blonde hanging out on the bleachers.

He was sure the visit had been Mara's idea but if Nick had been as distracted as Vaughn, he hadn't let it show. And Vaughn was determined to have the same restraint and focus on the players, not the women, until his work here was finished.

"Hey, Todd."

The kid ran over. "Yeah, Coach?"

"Good practice today."

"Thanks." He glanced down and kicked his feet at the dirt.

"How's the summer going?" Vaughn asked him.

He shrugged. "Not bad considering I have to mow lawns and work with a tutor instead of hanging out with the guys."

Vaughn laughed. "I'm sure you're finding time for your friends too."

Todd grinned. "Yeah, yeah."

"Whenever you get frustrated, just remember the goal. You need an education as a fail safe. Just look at me. If I'd blown out this knee in my first season, I'd be out of luck because I didn't have the help you did to work on the problem."

Todd glanced up at him, trust and idol worship in the kid's gaze. Vaughn wasn't comfortable with either but hell, if he kept the kid motivated, who cared if he thought Vaughn was a saint?

"I hear ya, Coach."

On impulse, Vaughn reached out and ruffled the boy's hair, then shoved his hand back into his pocket.

"Hey, Todd, you coming?" One of his friends called.

Vaughn inclined his head. "Better get going."

"Yeah. Uh, Coach?"

Vaughn raised an eyebrow. "What's up?"