Beauty and the Baller

“Could be dehydration or the shoes or just about anything.”

“I can’t stop the shoes. I’ll be seeing Andrew!”

“You’d dress for a man who hurt you?”

“I’ll be dressing to make him see what he missed.”

My lips tighten at those words. “Flex your leg again,” I say and massage into her foot, pressing on the top toe, then drawing my hand out to her heel.

Relief crosses her features, a sigh coming from her. “It’s gone. God. Your hands are like magic. Thank you.”

“No problem. I’ve had a million cramps.” I sit down next to her on the floor. Her tank top has ridden up, and I see her stomach. I pull it down just as she does, and our hands meet. Our fingers pause, then lightly lace together. My thumb brushes over the top of her hand. Small circles on soft skin . . . heat ripples over me.

“Tell me your secret,” I murmur, leaning closer to her face.

A slow blush works up her throat. “I can’t.”

“Why?”

A shuddering breath comes from her as she gazes up at me, pupils dilated.

My breath quickens. “Nova . . .”

Her mouth parts. “Ronan . . .”

At the sound of my name on her lips, the desire I’ve been pushing away rushes in like a tsunami. Forget fucking Andrew. Yes, she’s still in love with him, but . . .

Her hand tangles in my hair, cupping my scalp. “What is this . . . ,” she murmurs.

This is crazy. It’s undeniable spark. Desire.

Part of me tells me to stop, to not go down this road, that I’m crossing a dangerous line . . .

I lean down, and she meets me halfway, our breaths mingling as our mouths cling in a desperate kiss. Her lips are pillowy, like satin, and I groan at the lush feel of her. Our lips pull away and go back again, searching for more. I tug on her lower lip with my teeth, and she does the same to me. Our tongues tangle, tasting each other, until we pull away gasping. It’s as if our mouths recognize each other, syncing in an age-old rhythm.

I hover over her, aligning my body with hers as my forearms support me.

“Pull up your shirt,” I breathe out.

She eases it up, exposing her full, creamy tits, and I take a nipple in my mouth and suck. Her areola is a dark pink, and I tease my tongue around it, then nip with my teeth. I move to the next one as my mouth learns the shape of her, the curves, the freckles on her chest, her collarbone. I taste it all. My dick rotates against her shorts, slow and easy, then harder. Her hands slide around my waist and under my pants to my ass, pulling me closer.

Sparks explode when she reaches around to cup my cock through my joggers. I push into her hands, groaning.

“Nova . . . ,” I whisper as I stare down at her. Her sapphire eyes glow with heat, and something inside me pauses, terrified, a war inside my mind.

This is the moment . . .

When I should stop.

But—

And that’s when the office door flies open.

Chapter 10

RONAN

“Ronan!” Lois calls as she and Skeeter barge in my office. “We’ve got to help—oh dear, sorry, um, I didn’t mean to interrupt your . . .” Her eyes widen at the bra around my chest; then she blinks rapidly and looks away. “Goodness. I didn’t know you had company. We rang the doorbell, and when you didn’t answer, we tried the door. I told you you can leave your door unlocked in Blue Belle, but if you do, people might just walk in, especially in an emergency. Bless.”

“I hadn’t gotten around to it,” I snap as Nova stiffens under me and jerks down her shirt. I pull her up from the floor, then turn down the music, trying to even my breathing.

What the hell are they doing here?

I rake a hand through my hair and put my back to Lois and Skeeter, wincing as I push down on the tent in my pants. I pretend nonchalance and look down at Dog, who wags his tail. “No wonder they dropped you off at my house. You’re pathetic.” I give him a pet, then move to my desk, wadding up the bra, then tossing it in a drawer and slamming it shut.

Nova sits on a barstool, her face pink.

I face Skeeter and Lois, my arms crossed. “What emergency? Start at the beginning.”

Skeeter grimaces, his auburn hair a mess. “The Wayne County sheriff pulled Bruno, Toby, and Milo over on Loch Ness Road out by the lake. He called Lois; then she tried to call you. Then she called me when you didn’t pick up.”

I pick up my phone, seeing twenty missed calls. “It was on silent.”

Lois waves her hands. “We’ve got to get down there and fix things.”