I don’t think I had ever laughed so hard at dinner before in my life. The Italians were insane. Scott and Reyna laughed as much as I did. I looked over at Sierra who had tears in her eyes from the stories they told. It was going to suck tomorrow when we beat the shit out of them in the second set. But that’s what happened on the sand.

We had long since finished the meal and desserts. I didn’t want to overeat, but the food was amazing in Brazil. The candles on the table had melted down to pools of wax. The last wick was about to extinguish.

I saw Reyna tap Scott on the shoulder and he stopped to check his watch. “Looks like we better get going.” She smiled up at him.

Normally a gesture like that would make my stomach turn, but not tonight. I was in a good mood. And the sooner dinner was over, the sooner I’d be in Sierra’s room. For once Reyna was helping me out.

“Oh, I was going to look at your neck,” Sierra mentioned.

“That would be amazing.” Reyna walked over to our side of the table and the two women stood.

“I think there’s a lounge. We’ll be right back.” Sierra led her away from the rest of us and I watched her cute little ass as it disappeared around the corner.

Scott stretched his leg. “Fun night.”

“Yeah it was.” I threw some bills into the pile to cover my portion of dinner.

“Couldn’t help but notice Sierra.”

Everyone noticed her. She was stunning. She was smart and sexy. She knew sports and medicine. I didn’t know if there was a more perfect combination for a woman—not that I was in the market for anything other than tonight. But if I were—that would be the kind of woman I’d have my eye on. The kind of woman I could see having dinner with. Maybe taking a vacation with. Maybe even going to a movie with. But Scott knew me better than I knew myself and he knew I didn’t expect anything after tonight.

“Yeah, she’s hot.”

“Reyna likes her. I can tell.”

I eyed him. “Are you trying to play matchmaker right now, brother?”

He backed up in mock defense. “I’m just calling what I see. She’s a pretty girl. Reyna likes her. And she seems to be able to tolerate your cockiness. Why don’t you ask her out?”

“Ask her out? Date her?”

“Why not? Try something different for once, man.”

“That’s not what I do.”

He sighed. “Whatever, Pierce. Do what you’re going to do.” I saw his exasperated grimace change to a smile when Reyna emerged. “Ready?”

“Yes.” She beamed. “You have no idea what Sierra just did to my neck.”

“Please tell me it involved both of you getting naked.” I laughed. I should have followed them in there.

Reyna slapped me on the chest. “No. But my neck feels a hundred percent better.”

“I’m glad, sweetheart.” Scott kissed the top of her head. “We have to go. If the storm lets up, we have to play early.”

“Any word yet on a time?” she asked.

“No. Haven’t heard from Eric.”

I hadn’t mentioned to Scott about the conversation Eric and I had earlier today. His warnings to me had done the exact opposite of what he wanted. I couldn’t want Sierra more.

I turned to see Sergio and Paulo each wrap a heavy arm over Sierra’s shoulders. She looked small between the tall dark athletes.

I wanted to be the one to take her home. To walk her back to her room. To have people see her on my arm. But there were enough reasons to be cautious. I winked at her as they walked past me. I’d see her soon enough.

I stood with my hands in my pockets as everyone walked ahead of me. Tonight it was ok. Tonight I had to wait my turn. Learn some fucking patience. Because in the morning I was going to be with Sierra.

* * *

I wasn’t the kind of guy who brought flowers to a date. I didn’t believe in romantic shit like that, and I didn’t believe in dating. But here I was standing in front of Sierra’s door with a bouquet of something I had swiped from the lobby in my building. I thought there might be orchids in the bunch, but I didn’t know anything about flowers. These just looked tropical and girly to me.

I rapped on the door.

A few seconds later the door swung open and standing in front of me was the most beautiful woman I’d met since arriving in the country.

“For you.” I presented the colorful stems.

“Flowers?” She looked surprised. “Didn’t think you were a wine and roses guy.”

I chuckled. “I’m not. I didn’t bring either.”

She pursed her lips together. “Well, thank you, but pretty flowers don’t change what I said earlier.”

“I don’t expect them too.” I walked inside.

“I can’t treat your knee and I can’t see you outside of the matches. I need you to know I’m serious, Pierce. Dinner was fun, but this …”

“What? This isn’t fun?” I joked.

“I-I … why do you want this so badly? Why do you keep showing up? Why do you keep trying? This can’t lead to anything good for either of us.”

My hands were desperate to hold her. My fingers burned to touch her. I couldn’t explain it. I didn’t know how to put in words how I reacted to her or why.

And I wanted to prove Eric wrong. I wanted him to know he had made a mistake not hiring Sierra. I wasn’t going to wreck or ruin her. He didn’t know what in the hell he was talking about.

I had run out of patience. I was tired of playing games.

I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her against my body. She fit there in my arms as if she had always meant to be in my hold. Her eyes widened as my lips came crashing down on hers.

At first she wiggled, but as my mouth moved, her lips parted and I slipped my tongue between them, dancing and flicking my tongue over hers. The flowers I had given her fell to the floor in a scattered mess as her arms clasped the back of my neck. The sounds from her throat became moans and her lips kissed me hungrily.

Fuck, she was a good kisser. My hands slid down her back, over the firm curves of her ass, squeezing every inch of her as I explored her backside.

“Such … a … bad … idea,” she whispered.

I ignored her warnings and scooped her legs under my arms, carrying her to the bed.

“But I have so many good ideas,” I growled into her ear.

I felt her shiver in my arms as I laid her on the mattress, raking my eyes over her body. Her breasts bobbed lightly under her tank top and I could make out the pointed outline of her nipples. I lowered my mouth to the fabric covering her skin and kissed one side and then the other, taking my time to let my breath heat through to her skin.

“Ohh,” she moaned as I traced my fingers over her collarbone. “This is so bad.”

I grinned. I liked bad. I liked forbidden. She had summed up everything I wanted in four simple words. It was everything that turned me on.

The more out of reach she was, the more I wanted her. The more people told me it couldn’t happen, the more I wanted to show them it could. With every moan and whisper that came from her lips, I knew she felt exactly the same way.