Read Online Too Hot to Handle: A Boys of Summer Novel by Katie Rose - Free Book Online Page B

ever noticed how differently some teams are treated by the umpires than others?”
    Jake dumped a handful of balls inside and nodded. “Yes. Some guys like Cliff Lee, Derek Jeter, they get the calls. The umps know their reputation and give them the benefit of the doubt.”
    “Whereas the Sonics are considered bullies, and are treated as such.” Nikki deposited a batch of the baseballs into a metal cylinder. “That’s what I’m hoping they’ll see,” she continued. “Not only does the game get easier when you are a team that’s respected, but even the media treats you differently. And then the fans follow suit.”
    “You don’t have to convince me. I’m a believer.” Jake put the last of the balls into the rubbish bin, and his eyes met hers. His smile was slow and deliciously lazy, and his hand brushed the hair on the side of her neck.
    “I had a great time last night,” he said.
    It was back. The sexual tension was, if anything, worse now. That kiss was a prelude to what the sex would be like.
    With him.
    “Yeah, it was fun.” The wall she was trying to build between them had developed a chink. She wasn’t prepared to feel an even deeper attraction, and it made what she had to say that much harder. “We had a good time. Let’s leave it at that.”
    “What are you talking about?” Jake looked amused.
    She took a deep breath. “I don’t think we should see each other again.”
    “Why not?” A knowing smile danced on his face. He didn’t look at all surprised, as if expecting her reaction.
    That infuriated her. Thankfully, her years of PR work had trained her to keep her emotions in check. “It’s the perfect time to begin fresh,” she said practically. “I am leaving tomorrow to go back to New Jersey, you and the team will follow in a couple of days. We can take a break from each other, recalibrate, and start over as teammates.”
    The blue eyes twinkled. “Seriously? Teammates?”
    Her eyes narrowed. “I thought if we got together, did the deed, we could then move on and work together without this tension between us. But that didn’t happen, so I think it’s best to reframe this relationship.”
    There. That sounded good. Detached and professional. But the look on his face dashed those hopes.
    “ ‘Reframe the relationship’?” He couldn’t hide a chuckle as he took a step even closer. “Do you honestly think that would work? If it’s like this now, what do you think would happen once we, as you said, did the deed? When we know how good we could be together?”
    Nikki glared at him. “This isn’t funny!”
    “No, it isn’t,” he agreed. He tipped her face up to his, his hand slipping dangerously into her hair. Her toes curled in her high-heeled pumps and her heart thudded at his nearness. “Do you really think we can ignore what’s happening between us?”
    He was going to kiss her. And God help her, she was going to let him. Her eyes started to close as he pulled her up against him, his hand sliding deliciously into the small of her back. He lowered his head, but before his lips met hers, Pete entered the room, followed by John Palmer and Jeffrey Caine, the Sonics’ owner. Quickly, he let her go and stepped back.
    “Ms. Case,” Jeffrey began. “Do you have a few minutes? I want to discuss a few things with you.” His eyes shifted to Jake as if sensing the current between them, and his expression changed to a frown. “Is everything all right here?”
    Nikki moved her chair in front of the trash can of baseballs. “Everything’s fine,” she said, positioning herself so its contents would not be revealed.
    “I was just going,” Jake said as his eyes met hers, and she saw a promise in them.
This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.
He left the room, closing the door behind him.
    Nikki exhaled the breath she didn’t know she’d been holding.
    “So Ms. Case, why was the team wearing those ridiculous wigs?” John asked, not even bothering to hide a smirk.
    “It was just