Hard and Fast
“I’m sure he’ll see it that way.”
“Maybe Casey has a better sense of humor than you.”
“According to the stats you listed, it’s all he has better than me.”
“He fares well against your stats when you were a rookie.” Brad snorted. “Ah,” she said. “You’re a little touchy when it comes to Casey, I see.”
“Not at all. I just don’t like the kid.”
“At least you’re honest.”
He changed the subject. “I think you should invite me over tonight.”
Amanda was thankful to pull up to a stoplight because his words caught her off guard and left her more than a little rattled. A couple of nights of sex was one thing. But spending two nights in a row together was leaning toward a relationship. And no matter how much she wanted him, she couldn’t have him. At least not without jeopardizing her career.
“We had a one-night stand. Well, two nights, but regardless. That means we don’t see each other again.” Disappointment settled in her gut as she said the words.
“But we will see each other again because of your job. Why not work the sex out of our systems? If we have so much sex we don’t want each other anymore, then there will be no chance we’ll give ourselves away.”
Amanda laughed. Somehow she doubted she’d ever work sex with Brad out of her system. “You think that’s possible?”
“Be fun to try.”
Yeah, it would. “But dangerous. We both have a lot to lose if anyone catches us together.”
“You’re right.” Pause. “How about tomorrow night?”
She should say no. She told herself to say no. Instead, she said, “This is insane, Brad.”
“I have a pool. You can swim.”
A smile touched her lips. “Bribery is so unfair.”
“I never claimed to be fair,” he said. “Just honest.”
“That you did.” His offer was so very tempting.
“You know you want to,” Brad said. “And you owe me. I waited until Karen left before walking to my truck.”
“Okay. Fine. What time?”
“Do you have my number in your phone?”
“Hold on.” Amanda checked to be sure. “Yeah. I got it.”
“Good. Call me before you go to bed and we can make plans. You can tell me a naughty bedtime story while you’re at it.” The line went dead.
Amanda hung up and took several breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. Oh, God. She was so falling for Brad Rogers. She didn’t just lust after him. She actually liked him. But what future could they have? If anyone found out, it would really affect her professional image with the team. She should tell Brad no when they talked later that night. Better yet, she shouldn’t call him.
But she knew she was going to call him. And she knew she was going to see him. She couldn’t seem to help herself.
***
“I GOT THE ÉCLAIRS. Now talk.” Amanda fixed Reggie with a challenging stare as she set the box on her desk. “What other news do you have?”
He reached for an éclair but she pulled the box out of reach. “No eating until you start talking.”
He sighed. “Has anyone ever told you you’re very demanding?”
She crossed her arms and tapped her foot. “Reggie.”
“Okay. Okay. Kevin arranged for us to travel with the team on their private jet. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how rare that is. Not even Jack Ass flies in the team jet. This should really get his panties in a wad.”
“Really? I can’t believe it.”
“Yep. And that’s not all.”
“More? What more could there possibly be?”
“Kevin mentioned another piece of news while I was in his office. Are you familiar with L.A. Woman?”
“Remotely. I think it’s a lot like Dallas Woman in Texas.”
“I don’t know about that. But I do know L.A. Woman is big here. Apparently one of the editors reads your columns and is intrigued by your take on things. She wants to book an interview. Kevin seemed quite pleased. Well, as pleased as Kevin can ever seem.”
Amanda’s mind was racing, her excitement hard to contain. “When? What kind of interview?”
“That’s all I know. You’ll have to see Kevin.”
“I need to just back up and calm down. I don’t want to get too excited. Maybe it’s not that big a deal.”
“It is a big deal. But before you go getting all happy, I took a call from Becker you need to deal with. He’s pissed.”
“Any specifics on why?”
“The garter thing seemed to be the focus of his rambling.”
She pursed her lips as she thought of her conversation with Brad. “I didn’t say he wore garters. I said he didn’t.”
“Funny how some guys can get so sensitive,” Reggie said.
Amanda gave him the evil eye, then she claimed the box of éclairs. She needed a sugar fix and at least two cups of coffee before she called Casey.
Sucking up took lots of energy.
17
TWO GLASSES OF WINE in his hands, Brad watched Amanda finish a lap in the pool, knowing she had two more to go. He’d watched her swim every night for a week, loving every minute of being in the water.