Chapter Nine

Josie

If I were to start my report on Trey, it would start by mentioning that he was infuriating, cocky, full of himself, and—as much as it pained me to admit—sexy as hell. As our conversation at the bar meandered and wandered, each dark smile, and every move he made only sucked me further into his rough around the edges brand of charm. And charming he was. He probably could have charmed me right out of my panties if I’d had any on. I shifted on my side of the booth, desperately looking for a way out of the conversation before I said—or did—something extremely stupid.

Like admit that I was crushing on the superstar.

It was dumb. Like, insanely moronic. But I couldn’t help it. It was like sliding down a hill. The farther I slid, the more speed I built up, until I was out of control and holding on for dear life.

He was so disarming that I’d almost faltered and revealed the real reason I was in Denver following the team. When I covered, by saying it was just a tester assignment, a fill-in, there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes. I wasn’t sure he bought my story. Part of me wondered if I should just spill the beans. If I could just flat out ask him for an exclusive sit-down interview. But then things got out of hand. We started talking about our families, our childhoods, and it would feel cheap to ask now. Like all I cared about was a story. I’d be just like every other sports reporter that Trey hated. A stereotype. And for some reason, it mattered to me what he thought of me.

Regardless of how much I told myself that I shouldn’t care.

I tapped my short, squared nails on the top of the foil covering my take out box and glanced up at Trey. “Well, I should probably get going. Thanks for dinner. You really didn’t have to do that.”

Trey smiled. “Not a problem. Now you can use your per diem cash on a Pay-Per-View movie or something.”

I laughed. “Right?”

“You a rom-com kinda girl? Or more into action movies?”

“Now, do I look like a rom-com girl to you? I gotta have some action. The bigger the explosion, the better.”

Trey laughed and my heart jumped at the sparkle in his eyes. I liked making him smile. He wore it well. The edges of it carved little lines around his full lips and I was tempted to reach over and trace them with my fingertips.

What is wrong with me?

I shook my head, desperate to snap out of whatever it was, and scooted to the edge of my bench seat. Trey followed suit. “I thought you were going to order something?”

“I’ll walk you back to your hotel first. You said you were across the street, right? Come on, I’ll walk you over there.”

“Oh! No, no. You don’t have to do that…” I nervously toyed with the ends of my wet ponytail and threw it over my shoulder. “I’m good. It’s not even that dark out…” I said, not even turning around to look outside. I had no idea how much time had passed since I’d crossed the street, following my nose to the hotel. For all I knew, it could be midnight and pitch black out there.

Trey laughed. “I’m pretty sure it is. Come on, let me walk you over there. I wouldn’t feel right just letting you go.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “All right, but you’re not coming in for a nightcap or a coffee or anything, so don’t even try.”

He chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”

He took my elbow and steered me away from the booth. We walked in step with one another and both sighed as we left the side exit and stepped out into the crisp night air. “Man, I could get used to this cool air.”

Trey laughed. “Tell me about it. Is Oklahoma City always like living in a sweat sock?”

“Yup. Pretty much. The weather report might as well just say sticky, with a chance of sweltering.”

Trey laughed and I smiled along, loving his thick, rumbling tone. It wrapped around me and made it hard not to lean against him. I wanted to feel the way the vibrations would run over his chest.

I blinked away the mental image and straightened my spine and threw my shoulders back. “You’ll get used to it.”

“I don’t know. You’re from Texas. You’re more adept to the humidity than me. I got spoiled out in SoCal. I lived right on the fuckin’ beach. The sounds of the ocean, the nice breezes. Damn…”

I glanced up at the sudden change in his tone. His jaw was set and a twitch played at the muscle there. He shrugged it away and relaxed but for a moment, I’d seen past the wall of confidence and assurance and caught a glimpse of something else. Something dark.

Regret?

“We have some really nice lakes, though. It’s not the ocean, but it can be a nice day trip if you need a break from the city,” I offered.

He looked down at me and I fully realized the difference between us in height. He had to be at least ten inches taller than me. I would fit perfectly, tucked away under one of his sculpted arms. “That could work. When do you wanna go?”

I laughed. “You never quit, huh?”

He chuckled. “Nah. It’s not really my style. I was just thinking it might be the best shot at getting you in a bikini.”

“Hah!” I laughed along but my entire body quivered and lit up at the suggestion and the look in his eyes as he said it. We paused at the crosswalk, waiting for the signal to change, and our laughter faded as our eyes locked.

“You’re a beautiful woman, Josie,” he said, his voice a husky, seductive whisper.

I shivered again and he wrapped an arm around me.

“Cold?” he asked.

“Just a little,” I lied. In reality, every dang inch of me was on fire. Being wrapped in his arm, tucked against his rock solid chest was just like I’d imagined minutes before. Only better…so much better. The scent of his deodorant or aftershave clung to his shirt and enveloped me. Pine and citrus. Fresh and spicy. Absolutely delicious. I could only imagine how it would mix with sweat and sex.

Trey was carved perfection. Even without seeing what was underneath his tee shirt and relaxed fit jeans, I knew he was impressive. Pressed against his chest, images passed before my eyes. Trey’s lips on mine. His fingers brushing against my jaw and then getting lost, tangling up in my long hair. The way he’d feel hovering over me. The look in his eyes as he entered me. The way his cock would feel. The sound of his name on my lips, echoing through the room.

My heart raced at the images, each one more intoxicating than the last. I squeezed my thighs together, fighting away the pressure building between them. I tried—and failed—to remind myself of all the news stories detailing Trey’s history of bad behavior. I tried to argue with myself that he was only after one damn thing. And that he’d use me up and throw me away like a piece of trash.

None of my arguments could rip away the sexy images flashing through my mind. If anything, they only made it hotter and harder to breath. He wasn’t a nice guy. The kind of guy my daddy always wanted me with. No, Trey didn’t play by anyone else’s rules and I had to imagine it would be more evident between the sheets. He would know how to make me feel things I never had before, to make me push my boundaries, and want things…crave things…I’d never wanted before.

He would ruin me.

Fuck.

The light changed, and Trey held onto me for a second longer before starting out into the street. As we walked, I shook my head slightly trying to clear away the images from my mind like my brain was an Etch-a-Sketch.

“You okay over there?”

I smiled weakly. “Yeah. I’m just…tired…”

It was a pathetic lie. I’d never felt so awake in my entire life.

But he couldn’t know that. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. For all I know, everything he told me was a lie.

“Here,” he said, taking a large step forward to grab the door handle for me as we reached the front entrance of my hotel.

“Thank you.”

He released me and let me walk into the hotel, and I immediately missed the feel of being under his arm. He walked with me to the elevator banks and I reached out and hit the button with shaking fingers. “Well…this place looks…nice.” He glanced around the non-descript lobby with a grimace. The puke colored walls, upholstery straight out of the ’80s, and too-large, bulky furnishings, weren’t exactly on par with the hotel we’d just vacated.

I laughed softly. “Yeah. Apparently the station’s travel budget isn’t exactly in line with the Warriors.”

He chuckled. “Luckily we’re only here one more night, huh?”

A ding alerted us that an elevator had arrived and we both turned toward the scraping, screeching sound as the doors slid open. I winced. “That doesn’t instill a lot of confidence,” I said, glancing at the doorway to the stairs.

“I better go with you,” Trey said, grinning at me as I reluctantly crossed to the elevator. “You don’t want to get stuck all alone, right?”

New images popped into my mind. The elevator would screech to a halt, the lights flicker off, and then, sudden silence. Trey would press me against the wall and kiss me hard, desperately, as though he’d planned the entire thing. The air would quickly become thick and hot. Steamy. He’d strip away my blouse and the air would tickle my exposed skin.

I squeezed my eyes shut. What is wrong with me?

“After you,” he said, ushering me inside.

We rode up to my floor, a quick and make-out-session-free ride.

I set off for my room and pulled my room key out of my pocket. “This is me,” I said, stopping in front of my door. “Thanks for walking me over.”

Trey grinned and set an arm over me, resting it against the door. He leaned in, his mouth lowering dangerously close to mine. “You’re really not going to invite me in?”

I laughed. “Shameless.”

“Guilty as charged.” With his other hand, he traced a gentle line over my cheek and down along my jawline. “I can’t help myself when it comes to you. You make me want… things. I want you.”

My stomach flipped over, and I bite at my own lip to keep myself from lifting them up to Trey’s.

“Josie…” he whispered, his fingers trailing down my neck.

Oh God.

I fumbled with my key card but managed to swipe it into the slot and a green light flashed, distracting him for a split second.

It was all I needed to break the spell he was casting over me. I twisted the door handle and pushed the door open. “Goodnight, Trey.”

He stopped the door before I could close it. “Tomorrow night, I’m gonna hit a homer, just so you know that I’m thinking about you.”

I grinned. “Just one?”

He reeled back, a look of shock on his handsome face.

I shrugged. “Just seems like a five-time home run champ could give a girl more than just one measly home run.”

He chuckled softly, the sound drawing me back in. “All right, for you, I’ll hit two.”

I smiled. “I’ll remember to put my money down on the Warriors.”

And with that, I closed the door, locking it right away, before I did something extremely stupid and irresponsible—no matter how bad I wanted to.