“I could ask you the same thing. The kid seems to like you, Amanda.”
“You’re avoiding the question.”
They’d danced their way to a corner away from the speakers and the music wasn’t as loud. He bent down, his face close to hers. “I couldn’t hear you.”
She wasn’t sure she believed that. But on the off chance he hadn’t heard her question, she stood on her tiptoes to repeat it near to his ear.
One of his hands splayed across her back, inching her closer, and suddenly Amanda couldn’t remember what she’d wanted to say. “Behave, Brad.”
As she started to ease away from him, he stopped her, his mouth lingering mere inches from hers. Their eyes locked in a stare that almost knocked the breath out of her. For several seconds, she lost herself in Brad. In what her body was feeling, desiring.
“Behaving is overrated,” he finally responded.
Was it ever.
Someone bumped into them and jolted Amanda to her senses. Could the others see them here in the shadows? Did it look as though they were doing something inappropriate? Her gaze slid around the room, and she was thankful to find they were hidden in this crowded corner.
She shoved away from Brad, forceful enough to send him a message this time, but not enough to draw attention. She didn’t know what to say to him, didn’t know how to express the emotions colliding inside her, so she started walking.
Damn, how had she let the situation get so out of hand? She fumed. Yes, she’d been a willing participant. And while she may not have encouraged that little corner interlude, she hadn’t stopped it. What had Brad been thinking putting on that seduction display for all to see? A club filled with reporters and ball players was not the place for them to explore the thing going on between them.
A hand on her arm stopped her and she turned to face Brad. “Don’t go. Let me buy you a drink.” The music changed again and people began to two-step around them. “Please.”
The entreaty got to her. “Fine,” she said, tugging her arm free. “But I want a real interview. And don’t try any more cute moves.”
He nodded and waved her forward, obviously having no trouble hearing her now. She headed toward the bar, wishing she had skipped this night out.
There would be plenty of time to get to know the team, but no, she’d had to do it now. Her drive to over-achieve had spurred the competitive need to defeat Jack, so she’d pushed herself rather than letting the relationships evolve. Instead of playing flirtatious games with the team’s star pitcher, she could be at the hotel working on making her next feature better than the first ones.
Sure, she wanted another interview with Brad, and she wanted a bit more from Casey for her next piece. But she had tomorrow and Monday in the locker room with them. And if they didn’t deliver either of those days, she had outlined several other good story ideas that she could make great.
It was time to cut her losses tonight. She’d get out of here before she did any damage to her career. And once she’d calmed down, she would figure out a plan to deal with Brad and her hard-to-control desire for him.
“I need to leave,” she announced as she faced him. “I’m not ready to interview and this isn’t the place for it.”
He bent at the knees, bringing himself to eye level with her. “The back room is quieter.”
“I’m leaving,” she said firmly.
“I’ll walk you to your car.” Brad wasn’t giving up easily.
“No.” She needed to get away from Brad to clear her head. “I’m fine. I’m going to say good night to everyone.”
“I’ll meet you at the door.”
“No,” she said again, but it was too late. He was already headed to the bar, removing his wallet as if to pay a tab. Fine, she’d deal with him outside.
Ten minutes later, Amanda had said her goodbyes. She wasn’t surprised to see Tony dancing with the brunette he’d been flirting with, nor was she surprised to see Laura sitting at the table looking dejected. Jack hovered over her. Amanda suspected that any sympathy from Jack came with an agenda. She thought about intervening on Laura’s behalf, but she didn’t know the actual situation, so her efforts could worsen the circumstances. Besides, she had her own mess to worry about.
Somehow, she’d invited the very man she was trying to escape, the one who made her so hot he might as well have sex as a middle name, to join her in a dark parking lot.
Brilliant. Just brilliant.
She’d have to get rid of him quickly so she could find peace in her hotel room. Simple. She’d wish him a quick adios and be on her way.
But her bravado disappeared in the parking lot when Brad was nowhere in sight. In fact, the relief she should have experienced knowing she’d avoided another encounter with Mr. Temptation was not to be found. Instead, a solid ball of disappointment settled deep in her gut, refusing to be dismissed.