Hard and Fast

“I don’t,” Brad said.

“That’s not how I hear it.”

“It was a long time ago.”

“And now you’re above all that?” She leaned on the wall, mimicking his posture.

“Now I’m at a different place in my life and my career.”

“Which is where?” she asked.

Laura exited the ladies’ room before Amanda could get Brad’s answer—an answer she’d really wanted to hear. “I’m back,” Laura said, stating the obvious. “The line was too long to wait.”

“Well,” Amanda said to Brad. “I guess I’ll go grab a drink.”

Brad eyed Laura a moment, then motioned for her to give them a minute.

“Oh,” Laura said. “I’ll wait right over there.” She pointed to a corner bar.

So much for escaping. The minute Laura was out of hearing distance, Brad said, “I guess you’re not ready yet.”

Ready? For him?

“Ready?” Amanda asked, her voice not quite as firm as she’d hoped.

“For the interview,” he said, a half smile giving him a sexy dimple in his right cheek. “Let me know when you’re ready.”

She felt her cheeks warm. “Oh. Yes. The interview.” Not sex. The interview. The one she hadn’t asked for but he’d offered to give. The one she couldn’t begin to think about while she could still feel his nice, hard chest beneath her palms. “Give me a couple minutes to say hi to everyone and I’ll be…ready.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

***

LATER AMANDA SAT in a booth next to Laura, with Tony on the other side of the young groupie. Laura clung to him like a second skin, obviously smitten with the ballplayer. Tony, on the other hand, seemed more interested in the brunette fawning over the team catcher, Kurt Caverns.

Kurt, who could deliver a joke with a straight face and dry tone better than anyone she’d ever met, appeared more attached to his cowboy hat than the brunette.

Amanda listened to Laura praise Tony’s amazing bat and experienced a touch of empathy for the girl. Laura was headed toward heartache. Her adoration of Tony was obvious in her words and gestures. And in the way she seemed to overlook that he didn’t return her affection.

Kelli’s God complex rules came to Amanda. Athletes were players. Safe for a good time, but never ever safe for the involvement of the heart. Maybe she should share that little tidbit with Laura. Maybe she could give Laura perspective, help her realize there were other men who would appreciate and respect her.

Right. Amanda was in no position to be giving advice about perspective. She was having a hard enough time keeping Brad out of her thoughts right now.

With a sigh, Amanda reached for her margarita, and took a drink, trying to escape Brad’s presence. No, she couldn’t see him, but she could sense him, as sure as she could still smell the spicy cologne he wore. The scent lingered on her clothes from when he’d pulled her close. The heat of his body still surrounded her, warmed her. Even though logic told her he’d be trouble, her libido teased her with images of how good he’d be between the sheets. She was aching to remember what a good time felt like.

Lord, she was in deep trouble. Brad Rogers had gotten to her. The fact that she was a big ball of sexual need wasn’t helping one bit. Who knew avoiding the pleasures of male companionship would make her so vulnerable to lust?

And as much as she wanted that interview with Brad, Amanda knew she had to exercise caution. She was far from control when in his company and it seemed only a matter of time before logic abandoned her to lust.

At that moment, Jack disrupted her thoughts by sliding into the booth next to the brunette. His sports coat had been replaced by a western shirt. “Dug up any gossip yet?” he asked Amanda.

“She didn’t have to dig,” Kurt said, his manner friendly, as if he liked Jack and was teasing him. “I’ve been telling her all kinds of shit about you.”

“I hope you haven’t gotten to all the good stuff,” Jack said, contempt in his expression, despite his easy tone. “I might have something to add.”

Before Amanda could reply, Casey appeared at the table, his attention on her. Blond, blue-eyed and well-dressed, he was a catch. But he was a kid to Amanda. A cocky one at that.

“Would you like to dance, Amanda?” he asked, clearly broadcasting his interest.

Jack snorted and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Oh, please.”

“What’s wrong? Upset because he didn’t ask you?” Amanda taunted.

Tony let out a bark of laughter. “That would be a sight.”

“Shaking your ass won’t get you readers,” Jack snapped.

“But it will get her a story,” Laura chimed in.

Okay, Amanda didn’t need that comment. Nothing brilliant came to mind, so she went with what did. “You’re an ass, Jack.”

“And you, Amanda, are a wannabe who won’t. You are going nowhere fast.”