Read Online Throwing Heat: A Diamonds and Dugouts Novel by Jennifer Seasons - Free Book Online Page A

how many things there were in life that could get a person down, she considered island music a godsend. Losing herself in the rhythms of the Caribbean had gotten her through some pretty tough times when all she’d wanted to do was cry.
    Pulling to a stop as The Dirty Heads told her to wipe the dirt off or take her shirt off, she put the Mini in first gear just as a text came through on her cell phone. Knowing she shouldn’t because texting while driving was illegal in Colorado, Leslie quickly pulled down her Ray-Bans and scanned the message anyway.
    It was from Peter, and it was the first she’d heard from him since he’d left for St. Louis.
    Home. Had grass, want beer, need ass. Where you at?
    Laughter bubbled in her chest and she let it loose. God, that man was funny when he wanted to be, referencing their bet like that. Sorry pal , she thought. My ass is winning this thing. Hotbox was hers.
    After their rendezvous in her office he’d headed out of town, providing them both with an opportunity to assess the current situation and decide how to move forward. Not that she really had anything to think about. There was simply no way she was going to have sex with Kowalskin and lose this bet.
    That didn’t mean that she wasn’t going to drive him bat-shit crazy at every opportunity though.
    And have a little fun herself. Besides it being just so much fun to torment Peter all on its own, there was the added benefit of the man’s oral abilities and incredibly nimble fingers. It was the rest that had left her unsatisfied, since the night had been cut short. But for now she didn’t have any qualms about putting the former to use for her enjoyment.
    Leslie knew he didn’t mind either.
    If ever there was a guy who could corner the market on commitment-phobia it was him. Not in all the years she’d known him had he ever had a girlfriend. Or at least not a steady one.
    Certainly there were women. There had to be. It was Peter Kowalskin, for goodness’ sake. He didn’t just sit around all night playing canasta. Maybe he simply got laid on the road.
    The light turned green and Leslie let out the clutch and cruised through the intersection. She was heading west and could see the Rockies in the distance already snowcapped and looking beautiful. It looked like they were going to be in for a brutal winter, if the early snows were any indication. Then again, the high country always got pummeled way more than the Front Range—at least that’s what Lorelei told her.
    She was deep in thought about which ski pass to buy this winter when her phone went off. She grabbed it out of the front pocket of her purse and answered without checking the caller ID.
    “Leslie Cutter.”
    “You didn’t answer my text.”
    She rolled her eyes. Men. “I’m driving, Kowalskin. You wouldn’t want me to wreck my pretty little car by texting and driving now would you?”
    “Fine, you’re off the hook this time. Where are you going?”
    “Somewhere you’re not. What’s it to you?” Listening to him on the phone started her blood humming in her veins. Aside from the accent that he played up sometimes only to annoy her, he had a sexy voice. It was a little youthful and a lot rough-and-tumble with a hard edge. Just like the rest of him.
    “I’ve got plans for us, princess, and I don’t have much time. So you need to get your butt back here. I have a surprise.”
    She didn’t trust his surprises. Not as far as she could throw them. “I’m not missing my pole class.”
    “C’mon, Leslie. If you don’t come here then I’ll come to you.” He made it sound like a threat.
    The studio came into view and she whipped into the parking lot. “You can try, but there are a lot of pole fitness studios in this city. Good luck trying to find mine.”
    He snorted. “Girl, please. Do you honestly believe that I couldn’t just make a few calls and find out where you shake your ass?”
    Since he put it like that . . . “Whatever. Hey, I have to go.”