Hard and Fast

He sat at the edge of the pool, setting the glasses on the pavement beside him. He was content to sit here and enjoy the night. The temperature was reported at ninety-plus, but his pool overlooked the ocean, and the evening breeze swept in from the water, delivering soothing coolness.

He wasn’t sure what Amanda was doing to him. All he knew was he couldn’t get enough of her. Thankfully the team had had a string of home games and off days that kept him in L.A. These past two weeks with Amanda ranked among the best he’d lived in a long time. He told himself this was just about great sex. That she kept his mind off his injury. But truthfully it was more than sex. He’d talked to her more than he had any other woman.

A voice deep inside whispered a warning. He was getting too close to her. Too involved. He wanted another five years on the mound before he could even think about settling down.

Reaching for his wine, he took a sip, reminding himself Amanda had a career to think about, too. She couldn’t afford to be seriously involved with him any more than he could with her.

She swam his way, stopping in front of him. She settled her hands on his knees, sending heat through his veins. Amazing how one touch could set him on fire.

He stared at her, searching for what it was about her that got to him. The answer seemed everything. Water clung to her long dark lashes and her hair was slicked back from her beautiful features, accenting her huge green eyes.

“Hey,” she said, smiling.

He set his glass down again and slid into the pool, pulling her close. “Hey, yourself.” His mouth brushed hers, absorbing the droplets of water still clinging to her lush lips. “Hungry?”

She nodded. “Starved.”

His gaze dropped to her pebbled nipples pressing against her light-blue bikini top. Brad slid his hands up from her waist, framing her breasts with his hands, before running his thumbs over the stiff peaks. “Me, too.” He shoved aside the material and rolled her nipple, pleased when she sucked in a breath.

She reached up and covered herself. “Not until you feed me. I’m weak. You wouldn’t want me to pass out on you, would you?”

He contemplated pressing her against the wall and taking her right here and now. He’d do all the work and she wouldn’t have to do anything but enjoy.

“Oh, no,” she scolded. “I know that look in your eyes. No means no. Feed me!”

Damn, she read him well. Caving to her demands, he released her and pushed up on the side of the pool, offering her his good hand in assistance. Once she sat beside him, he reached for the towels behind him and wrapped one around her shoulders.

“So what are we going to eat?”

“Pizza?” he suggested.

“Not chicken?”

He grinned. “Actually, I know this healthy place that makes fantastic pizza.”

She rolled her eyes. “I should have guessed. So far everything you’ve said would be good has been, so I’ll trust you.”

Brad reached behind him again and grabbed the cordless phone. Once their food was ordered, they sat in comfortable silence, as they had on several occasions.

“Are you excited to be traveling with the team?”

“I am,” Amanda said. “And I can’t wait to see Jack’s face when he realizes I’m invited on the team jet.”

“You and Jack. You’re like two dogs fighting over the same bone. Let him have it and make your own path. Otherwise this one-upmanship will eat you alive.”

“I know. I’m trying. Right now, the pressure is from my boss, not Jack. He has me chasing a big story to get it before Jack does.”

Brad’s jaw tightened. There wasn’t a ballplayer alive who liked the subject they were headed toward. “If you mean the way he’s been sniffing out a steroid story, so is every other reporter alive. It’s the hot topic everyone wants a piece of.”

“Yeah,” Amanda said. “That’s what I meant. I figured Tony told you I was asking questions.”

“I knew Jack was.” Brad thought of Jack’s accusations about Tony and prayed they were false. “He questioned me about some of the players and I told him to stick it.”

“I’d have loved to have heard that.” She kicked at the water, her expression thoughtful. “I’m not enjoying this part of my job. At first, when Kevin pressed me to go after this story, I didn’t hesitate. I wanted to beat Jack. But now I realize Jack’s agenda can’t be the same as mine. There’s no way to break this kind of story on your home team and still be allowed in the locker room later.”

“You got that right.”

“So why would my boss push me to get this story?” Amanda frowned. “Unless…unless that’s his plan. Maybe he knows he’ll have to replace me, so he’ll get the goods first.”