It was all Ben’s doing.

The entire family, gathered at her parents’ house, had watched Carter play an abysmal game. Jordan was staying there for the summer to save money thanks to her exorbitant student loans. She didn’t even have to be a fan to know that Carter had pretty much sucked that night. The Sluggers had lost 3-7.

After the game, Ben gave her a slightly pleading look.

“If he happens to call you, can you maybe just go out with him if he asks?”

“If he happens to call? Wait a sec, how would he happen have my number?”

“Uh, well…”

“Why you little…”

“Don’t get mad. I just thought it would be really cool if my cousin was dating Carter Fox.”

“So you just gave it to him?” she said, actually laughing in disbelief.

“So you’ll go out with him?” Ben said, getting hopeful.

She didn’t answer, making him wait as a small form of punishment. Then she sighed.

“If he calls, I’ll think about it.” The whole idea of going out with Carter Fox was absurd.

Jordan hadn’t watched his press conference herself, sticking to her Carter Fox media blackout. From what she could piece together from others, he had actually given a rather sincere apology. In fact, a tiny part of her had been a bit flattered at some of the tidbits she’d heard he’d said regarding her.

But by now he had surely moved on to the next bright young thing to catch his eye.

“He’ll call,” Ben said, countering her doubt with firm assuredness. “You bring good luck.”

“What?” She laughed, giving him a skeptical look.

“Just look at how great this summer has been for me since you came back,” he had said,

Now he was just grasping at straws. “Yeah, and not so great for me,” she said, chuckling.

“Maybe you two can be good for each other?”

“Like I said, I’ll think about it,” she said noncommittally.

Ben was smart enough to realize that was the best he would be getting.

Jordan was smart enough to know someone like Carter Fox would never call her.

* * *

She was jolted awake in a panic by the loud noise coming from the nightstand right next to her head.

Why hadn’t she put her phone on vibrate? Why had she chosen the blaring, old-timey phone as her ringtone?

It dinga-linga-linged again and again as she blindly reached for it. Her hand groped empty air until she accidentally knocked the phone off the nightstand.

Crap.

She quickly slid over and bent down to grab it, only to hit her head on the edge of her nightstand.

“Oww!” she yelped grabbing her forehead with one hand.

She saw the lit phone lying on the floor just out of her grasp and she struggled to reach for it, only to tumble right out of bed. She fell with a thud and another yelp of pain.

She finally snatched the phone of the floor with a frustrated grunt. Looking at the number, she had no idea who it was, but at this time of the night she didn’t want to take any chances. Hopefully, it was just a wrong number.

“Hello?” she said with exasperation.

“Jordan? It’s Carter, Carter Fox.”

She blinked in surprise. Then she brought her phone around to look at the time, and her, admittedly pleased surprise turned to annoyance. “What the heck…do you know what time it is?”

“Oh…” he paused on the other end, no doubt using this moment to actually look at the clock.

“Oh shi—sorry. Did I wake you?” he asked.

Jordan let out a brief, sharp laugh. The question was so absurd she couldn’t help but be slightly amused. “That would be a definite yes.”

“Sorry about that. I just had this strong urge to call after the game tonight, but I guess I just wasn’t factoring in the time.”

“Did you and Ben form some sort of cosmic connection?” she joked, smiling suspiciously into the phone.

“Pardon?”

“Never mind,” she said, giggling. She was up now, and the pain in her forehead was beginning to dull, so she might as well have a bit of fun on his account. Her sleep fogged brain wasn’t quite sharp enough to be mad at Carter Fox at this hour of the night—or rather, morning.

“So, would you be interested in going out to dinner with me, Jordan?”

Blunt and to the point. She could appreciate that—especially at this hour. She actually chuckled into the phone.

“Is that a yes then?” Carter asked.

Jordan backpedaled right into all her doubts and concerns again.

“Listen, I appreciate the apology at your press conference. I know it was just a stupid mistake on your part that got blown out of proportion. Though, I certainly hope you have a bit more respect for your female fans now.” She had to at least get that little dig at him.

She could hear him chuckling on the other end. “That’s for damn sure,” he mumbled into the phone.

“But, I’m not even a baseball fan,” she continued. “I was only there that day because of Ben. It’s just that…I’ve just got a lot going on right now in my life with law school and this summer associate job, and….”

She had no idea how to just say no.

“And that means no dating?” She could actually hear the grin in his voice.

No dating. Now that she was rolling it around in her head, it seemed ridiculous. Of course she could date!

But Carter Fox of all people?

Oh, what the heck.

“Sure,” she said impulsively.

A date with Carter Fox. God, this was so surreal.

* * *

Coral.

It was a good color on her, especially when she got as brown as she did in the summer. Definitely coral.

Or maybe the white dress. It showed less skin. Did she want to show less skin? She didn’t want to look like a virgin. White gave the wrong impression.

No, coral. It was a good color on her.

She looked at herself in the mirror again. Coral sleeveless sundress. She’d bring a sweater just in case.

Definitely the coral.

Her summer curls were flat ironed and tucked behind a white headband. No telling how long that would hold up. Her feet were tucked into white sandals.

Definitely the coral. It looked good on her.

It was almost pick-up time.

She had wanted to meet him at the restaurant. He had firmly said no to that. So had her family, all of whom were waiting downstairs for her—scratch that—for him.

It was a bit embarrassing having him pick her up at her parents’ house like she was still in high school, but then she remembered the $800 she had spent last semester for books alone, which wasn’t even factored into tuition. Better to save that rent money than try to save face. Besides, why not do something fun for the family, like introduce them to her famous date for the night?

She sighed and opened the door to face the eager crowd waiting downstairs. Walking down the steps felt like prom night all over again. They were all standing there looking up at her proudly. All because of Carter Fox.

“You look nice, Jordan,” Ben said, grinning up at her.

“Yes, very nice Jordan,” Ralph, her dad, said, beaming.

“It’s just a date, y’all,” she reminded them.

The doorbell rang, startling her. She could feel her heart beating faster. God, why was she so nervous? It was one silly date. With Carter Fox.

She saw her dad heading over to open the door and she rushed to preempt him. This was not going to turn into a big deal. He frowned down at her as she grabbed the knob.

“Carter!” she squeaked a little too brightly. She saw the bouquet of pink tulips in his hand and looked at them with an almost puzzled expression. Who brought flowers on a date anymore?

It filled her with something warm and pleasurable.

He obviously wasn’t expecting such a pleasant welcome and gave her a broad grin. Then he eyed her coral dress with open appreciation.

Yes, definitely the coral.

“These are for you,” he drawled, handing over the flowers.

She took them and stood there in the doorway in dumfounded paralysis. Her eyes wandered over the muscles that lingered just beneath the surface of his blue dress shirt. Then there were his jeans, not too tight and certainly not too loose.

“Jordan don’t be rude, let the man inside!” her father said impatiently.

She blinked and raised her eyes to see Carter smirking down at her. He’d seen exactly where her eyes had ended up. She frowned and opened the door wider waving him in. He gave a satisfied smile as he passed the threshold.

“Mr. Douglas? It’s very nice to meet you, sir,” he said offering his hand.

Her father was only too pleased to shake it, holding onto it as he placed the other hand on Carter’s broad back to lead him further in to meet everyone else. Jordan just stood by the doorway to watch, hoping that this whole family meet and greet would be over quickly.

Carter made the rounds, shaking everyone’s hand, chatting with Ben, and making small talk with his parents. He was even able to charm her mother, who seemed surprisingly less than enthusiastic about all of this.

“Let’s get a photo,” her father said. The camera was already sitting on the living room coffee table.

This was the part that had made Jordan cringe internally. “You don’t have to, Carter.”

Before her dad could protest, Carter saved him the trouble.

“Nonsense,” he said, a grin appearing on his face. “I would love to take photos.”

Her dad gave her a satisfied smile as he went to pick up the camera.

Carter came in close to her and positioned himself slightly behind her as he placed an arm around her bare shoulders. The feel of that hand on her shoulder, touching her skin, sent an immediate shiver through her body. She only hoped he hadn’t noticed.

Standing next to him was like standing up against a brick wall. It made her feel rather feminine and tiny, in a frustrating sort of way. She could feel every pec, every ab, and the hard thighs underneath his jeans, not to mention….

Good God!

“Smile, Jordan!” her father urged.

She gave a tight, surprised smile. As soon as she heard the shutter click she pulled herself away, giving him a glare. He just gave her an unreadable smile, then turned to focus on her family.

“How about one with you Ben?” he offered.

“Cool!” Ben said, only too happy to get another photo op with his idol.

Jordan watched as Carter wrapped one huge arm around her cousin and smiled as her dad snapped the photo.

“What about with my mom and dad?” Ben asked, taking full advantage of the opportunity.

“Ben!” Jordan said with exasperation.

“Not a problem, little man,” Carter said.

It went on and on. By the time all was said and done at least twenty photos had been taken. He’d even managed to charm the seemingly reluctant Mrs. Douglas into posing for one.

“It was very nice to meet y’all, especially you Mrs. Douglas. I can see where Jordan gets her brains and beauty from.”

Jordan knew that the brains part was enough to earn him a grudging smile. Her mother was harder on Jordan when it came to school than she was on herself. With Deborah Douglas it was all school and work, work and school, when it came to her daughter.

“We should get going, Carter,” Jordan urged, hoping her family would take the hint. Not leaving anything to chance she grabbed his hand and led him back to the door. Even though he was twice her size he let her tug him away, enjoying himself a little too much.

Jordan pushed him out first, then leaned back inside, pulling the door closed just a crack. She stuck her head through and gave each of them a direct look.

“Don’t you dare wait up for us,” she warned them, hoping it was low enough that Carter didn’t catch it.

She could hear them laughing as she closed the door shut and turned to face her date with a relieved sigh.

“Nice performance in there, Carter,” she said, giving him an amused chuckle. “You certainly charmed everyone.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean. This whole”— she waved a hand at him—”amicable meet the family thing. Is this part of the plan to repair your image?”

He frowned at her. “Hey now. I may be a lot of things, but rude I am not. Your family was considerate and nice enough to invite me into their home. I returned the hospitality. You should appreciate having a family that cares enough about you to go through all this, even if it does embarrass you. I wish I had half as much.”

That left her speechless.

“Now, shall we go Ms. Douglas?” he asked, giving her a questioning look and offering his arm.

She paused, giving him a long, searching look, then nodded and took his arm as he led her to the passenger side door. Maybe there was more to Carter Fox than met the eye.