Read Online Playing for Keeps by Kate Donovan - Free Book Online Page B

the phone, I would have tried to change your mind. It’s fine,” he added, moving around the table but stopping a few feet from her. “I’ve seen guys mess up at pivotal points in their careers—make one innocent, bonehead mistake—and then never recover. So the best thing to do is just drop this cold, right here, right now.”
    She stared at him, surprised and grateful. “Thanks so much. I just hope you don’t regret signing with Caldwell. I mean, it’s good money, at least. Right?”
    “I don’t need the money,” he countered gently. “But your spiel about my reputation hit home. I might not have done it, honestly, if I’d known I didn’t have a shot with you. But I don’t regret it.” He took her hands and pulled her to her feet. “There was that stuff about being a role model too. Showing girls they deserve respect. Your idea does that. You have a right to be proud.”
    She licked her lips, mesmerized by his deep, sexy voice. He was making the right choice and for all the right reasons . She was the one who wanted to second-guess it. To have the scheduled fling after all. Or maybe even rip his clothes off right now.
    “Wait a minute,” he instructed her suddenly. Then he went into the kitchen, took something out of a paper bag on the counter, and brought it back to her. “For your flight home.”
    It was an orange, but it might as well have been a priceless jewel. Taking it from him, she marveled silently at the perfect shape and color, then held it to her nose and inhaled the fragrance. “Yum, Johnny. That was so sweet of you.”
    Now more than ever she wanted to suggest the good-bye kiss. But wasn’t that more hypocrisy? Or at least mixed signals on steroids?
    “I should get going.” She picked up her briefcase and slipped the orange into it, then walked over to the door. “Thanks again for understanding. You’re an amazing guy.”
    “You’re pretty cool yourself.” He smiled ruefully. “I just wish I hadn’t sent the flowers. It didn’t even occur to me people would think it was a morning-after gift.”
    “Morning after? Oh . . .” She tried to laugh. “It’s crazy, right? I mean, when did they think it happened? We were only gone for half an hour, and spent the whole time in a public place.”
    “Murf thought we did it too.”
    “What?”
    He laughed. “It’s not my style, trust me. But he could see how hard I fell for you. And they could see how we looked at each other when we got back.”
    She touched his cheek. “You’re probably right. I tried to blame it on Frank for spreading rumors, but I think Steve and Caldwell thought so too.” She gave a wistful shrug. “There’s nothing I can do about that. But going forward, we’ll project an attitude of pure business. Because that’s all it is. Unfortunately.”
    “That’s interesting though, don’t you think?”
    “Hmm?” She flushed as he edged closer. “Interesting how?”
    “They all think we did it. And we can’t undo that. So maybe we should.”
    “Should?”
    “Do it.”
    Oh, God . . .
    He quirked a sexy eyebrow. “They owe us one, don’t you think?”
    She tried to breathe, but there was no air. It was a crazy suggestion, but there was truth in it. Caldwell would always think she slept with him at least once. Had fun and excitement and wild sex—in a bar, no less.
    “Just once,” he wheedled. “They’ll hold it against you either way. So it’s a free shot.”
    She couldn’t think of a reply, and apparently he read a lot into that non-answer, because he backed her slowly, gently, relentlessly against the door. Then he whispered in her ear, his breath warm and steamy, “They owe us one, baby.”
    “Oh, God . . .” She shrugged her briefcase off her shoulder and slid one hand behind his neck. “They do owe us one. Just once.”
    “Absolutely.” He kissed her mouth, his tongue probing while his pelvis moved against her in slow, hedonistic enjoyment. She gasped and egged him on, her free hand