That first day of trying to get Josh to wake up was terrible.

Amy had hung in there, with her fingers and toes crossed that each day had to get better. But it didn’t. Each day actually got worse, and one week later saw her at the same spot, in the same position, with no progress whatsoever.

She’d had a week of hell where she tried everything she could think of to wake Josh up, but he wouldn’t budge.

After that first Friday she decided that if she wanted Josh to wake up at eight she’d have to be here at seven. She thought she was being generous in giving some of her personal time, but it was all for nothing. He ended up cursing her out of the room and didn’t wake up until eleven thirty. The same thing happened every day after, and he’d be in the worst mood with her for the rest of the day.

And here she was again, with a fresh week, the week that counted, no further than she was when she began. On Friday they would need to be at the studio at ten. That meant leaving here at around nine.

As she watched him lying flat on his face, passed out with a bottle of rum next to him, she wondered what the hell she was going to do. It was seven thirty. She’d been trying to wake him up now for the past half an hour, to no avail. Amy was tired herself. In fact she was exhausted and could have used her normal boost of energy that propelled her in the mornings. However, this whole exercise had taken its toll on her and she was getting more uncomfortable in her apartment to the point where she found it difficult to sleep. She kept feeling like someone was standing outside her door. The impression filled her the other day and it terrified her.

When she looked at Josh with this massive house, with all its bedrooms and rooms, she felt aggrieved because he didn’t know how lucky he was. Right now, her budget was so low that her main meal was lunch and then anything she might be able to grab her hands on while she was here.

“Josh, get up.” She was getting fed up now and he was seriously beginning to work her last nerve. “Josh.”

She rested her hand on his shoulder just above the soft cotton of his jersey and tapped him. He stirred a little but that was all she got.

A flutter of hope filled her when she shook his arm a little harder and his eyes fluttered open. He rolled onto his back and ran a hand through his ruffled hair.

Most people looked like hell when they just woke up, but Joshua Mancini managed to carry the look off and still look sexy. There was no wonder why GQ wanted him to do photo shoots, and it was for their cover. Same with Men’s Health and a few of the others.

“Woman, what the hell do you want?”

“You, you dumb oaf.”

“Oh, well why don’t you just take your clothes off and climb in here with me.” The corners of his sensual mouth slid up into a sexy grin that made her blush, and scowl at him.

“That is not what I meant.” If she didn’t know him she would have thought he was joking and laughed that comment off, but since she did, she knew he was totally serious. Amy didn’t know how anyone could be like that. So openly and explicitly sexual. “Get up.”

“Baby, please think about it, you could have so much fun, and you wouldn’t be so uptight all the time like you’ve got a stick up your gorgeous behind.”

This was not working, and everything he said was worse than the first thing he’d come out with. She couldn’t even tell if that was the drink talking or him. She hadn’t been with him long enough to make the distinction. She just knew that he became even more sexual at the point when he’d had too much to drink. The normal him was just grumpy and spiteful.

“Josh, can we please stop talking about me. Get the hell up.”

“I haven’t had sex in days. Come here.”

She grabbed a pillow and hit him with it several times hoping it would take his mind out of the gutter, but to her utter surprise he fell asleep again.

It was the same thing the next day. Tuesday. Zelda told her that a PR rep was coming here on Thursday to go over some of the questions Josh could be asked. She’d also sent some practice questions so Amy could run through them, too, with him.

It was a great idea, but once again she found Josh flat on his face with a bottle of rum, and when she did eventually wake him up he looked at her, licked his lips and said, “Baby, your breasts look really good in that top.” Then he went back to sleep.

She had to put the image of her mother in her mind at that point, and by the same token she felt deeply sad because it was looking like she wasn’t going to be able to wake him. And if she couldn’t wake him, then she wasn’t going to be able to get him to the show. If that didn’t happen, she wouldn’t get the upfront bonus to put down the deposit for her mother’s treatment and surgery.

Her job here would be over because Josh would more than likely get cut from the team. She had to do something, fast too before she lost her sanity.

He stayed in bed all morning so she used the time to respond to emails. Despite his protests, she booked in the appearances at the schools, charity events, and the photo shoots. Just before lunch Hilda came into the office and handed her a glass of orange juice.

“You’re too kind.” Amy smiled.

“And you work too hard. You’re one of those people aren’t you? That never stop.”

“Sadly yes.” She sighed.

“Well you should. Don’t always be in work mode. We should ditch this place and go do our nails.”

“I wish.” She didn’t have money for that. She’d had her nails done before leaving New York and now they were starting to look rough.

“Or we should go pick up some hot guys to take us on dates.”

Amy couldn’t do that either. She was testy when it came to relationships. It was most likely down to her parents’ disastrous one. Add that to the low-life jerks that had come her way. She didn’t have time to date and there was no room in her mind to contemplate it either.

“Unless if you’re seeing someone.” Hilda’s eyes brightened.

“No. I don’t have time for that.”

“Amy, are you kidding? Imagine having a really sweet guy to take care of you, especially during this time with your mom.”

“I wouldn’t know where to find a guy like that.” She giggled. “Hilda, I just seriously need to get through the rest of this week.” What she wanted was her mom better and the designer job with Dior. That’s all she wanted. Everything else was secondary.

“You will.” Hilda nodded positively and tucked a wayward strand of her shiny hair behind her ear. “Should we go to lunch now?”

“How about I catch up with you. I have two emails to send and an agreement to fax over, then I’m good.”

“Cool, I’ll order your sandwich so it’ll be ready by the time you get there.”

“Thanks so much.” Amy had gotten into the habit of getting a teriyaki steak and vegetable grill swaddled within hearty Italian bread. It was amazing and filling, perfect to get her through the day.

When Hilda left Amy returned her gaze to the bright computer screen. She was thinking about what she’d do tomorrow. Maybe she could get here at six and try everything again to wake Josh, but over a longer period of time. She was really starting to lose hope and needed to keep strong.

She got up to find the agreement she needed to fax, and as she was sorting through the suspension files in the cabinet two strong hands gripped onto her waist.

“I know what you want,” Josh slurred, turning her around. Before she could protest, his mouth covered hers hungrily with the strong hardness of his lips and paralyzed her with a heart-stopping kiss. Her mind became nonexistent and her brain receded into the dark, slipping into a void in the back of beyond as he ravaged her lips.

“No more games, baby,” he said between breaths.

She took the chance to gasp for air, but then he reclaimed her lips and crushed her to him as he slipped his hands down to her butt to lift her up.

A shred of sanity returned to her as he moved her over to her desk and placed her on top of it, knocking all the papers and letters to the ground to make room for them. Amy placed her hand on his chest in an attempt to stop him, but the rock-hard cords of muscle mesmerized her and something ignited within her, leading her to succumb to the weakness that lured her to explore. It lured her to give in to the overwhelming power of his masculinity and strength. As the kiss intensified she kissed him back with reckless abandon, allowing her tongue to mingle with his in desperate need. Fire consumed her as he ran his hands down to her breasts and squeezed her.

Heat escaped her as he left her lips and kissed his way down her neck and throat. He stopped at the swell of her right breast and she watched him suck her breast through the dark cotton of her blouse. She’d actually never had that done before and it felt amazing. He smiled up at her with those gorgeous eyes of his when he saw her reaction.

“You like that,” he slurred. He went to move the fabric away so that her bare breast would come through but she stopped him.

“Josh we have to stop.” She pressed her hands against his chest again and stole a moment to indulge in his chiseled perfection. In his boxers she saw exactly why he was getting so many requests from magazines. Ripples of muscle ran down his abs, which were only enhanced by the Chinese characters tattooed within the rigid line that ran along his happy trail.

“You can’t say you don’t want me.”

Oh, she really wished she could, but she couldn’t. “You’re drunk, and you have no idea what the hell you’re doing, or even who I am.” It was a sad truth.

He laughed and leaned in to kiss her again. “Amy,” he whispered saucily against her lips and smiled. “Beautiful Amy, my supposed PA. Amy, I know exactly what I’m doing.”

She found herself unable to move as he held her gaze. But her brain came back and it was waving red warning lights over her face. Something strange just happened and she wasn’t sure what it was. All she knew was something sparked within the depths of her heart as he said her name.

Maybe she’d gone completely crazy from all he’d put her through, but lust and attraction were having a field day with her. This was the worst kind of man she’d ever met and she shouldn’t have allowed him to get as far as to touch her. He was drunk and he might remember her name, but it would be nothing more.

“I want you,” he slurred.

“Okay, let me go slip into something more comfortable.”

He looked happy to hear that. She slid off the desk when he released her. Josh watched her until she turned the corner by the potted palm trees. Once she did, instead of going up the stairs like he thought she would she took off through the door and left the house, heeding Zelda’s warning to run like hell if he ever grabbed her ass. Too bad he did more than that.

* * *

“What happened to you? The sandwich is all soggy now.” Hilda grimaced, motioning over to Amy’s poor sandwich on the plate, which did indeed look flat and sodden. It still smelled great though.

“You look all flustered,” Gabriella noted. “Why is your face so red?”

Her face? Amy was surprised her whole body hadn’t turned lobster red with embarrassment. She spent the journey here questioning her sanity, and her actions. What was the matter with her? Why did she behave like that with Josh? Of all the men she could have allowed to touch her like that why him? There really was just one answer. She’d gone crazy.

Amy made her way around to the seat they’d left out for her and sunk into it. She had to catch her breath.

“Yes, you look very flustered indeed.” Hilda giggled.

She pulled in a breath and on release she told them what happened.

“Dias Mios. I knew he liked you.” Hilda pointed at her. “It was all that sexual tension. What was it like?” Hilda asked with a saucy glint in her eyes.

Amy widened her eyes and glared at her. “What was what like?”

She leaned in closer and said, “Sex.”

“I didn’t do anything. I ran like hell.”

“Really?” Hilda inclined her head and stared at her in disbelief.

Gabriella swatted her hand and shook her head at her. “Hilda, you bad girl.”

“Yes, I am, and there’s no way I would say no. What are you going to do when you go back?”

“I can’t go back today. There’s no way.” No, she couldn’t.

“So I have to go back to him? With his sex-crazed self?” Hilda glared at her.

“You just said you’d be fine with that whole thing.”

“I can’t now, he’s her guy.”

She closed her eyes and shuddered at the whole thought, and her behavior. What the hell was she thinking? She just hoped this was one of those times he’d forget what had happened.

“He’s not my guy. And I’m nowhere closer to where I need to be. Everything is a mess.”

This was not good at all. It was a disaster.

She had lunch, went back to her apartment, and decided on a new strategy.

At six a.m. the next day when she went in Josh’s room, she prayed to God in his high Heaven that today would be better than yesterday.

The glass of ice cold water she carried was her just in case, the weapon she’d use on him to wake him up. He was passed out again in his usual pose, again with the bottle.

“Josh, wake up.” Nothing, not even a flinch. “Josh.” She shook his arm.

“Go away, it’s far too early. Get out,” he grumbled.

“Josh I’m going to give you to the count of three to get the hell up.”

He just lay there.

“One, two…three.” She splashed the water in his face and he roared. She’d never heard anyone roar before. As he lunged forward and tried to grab her she reached for a pillow and hit him with it. That didn’t save her, he grabbed her around her waist and, in one deft move, pulled her towards him as if she weighed nothing more than a feather. Fear rippled through her and she screamed, smacking out at his chest.

“You’re pure evil, you know, Kansas,” he balked

“Stop calling me that, you blockheaded jock.” She elbowed him and shuffled out of his grasp. “Get up, Josh. Today is Wednesday. If you don’t want to play football anymore then tell me now.” She held his gaze, looking straight into those penetrative eyes of his, trying to reach his senses and understanding. “I have been up since before four. It’s six a.m. Tell me now if you don’t want to play and I’ll stop wasting my time and energy on you.”

He looked at her just like he did yesterday, but this was different. He was himself again. There was no trace of the man who had kissed her and told her she was his beautiful PA.

Good. Now she knew he was listening…and he was getting up. He pulled back the covers and got off the bed on the side nearest his en-suite bathroom. He looked at her, frowned, then walked into the bathroom.

Finally, some hope. She wouldn’t mention yesterday and she hoped he wouldn’t either. She just wanted to get this week over and done with.

* * *

“So, what do you have in mind?” Josh asked. He stood on the beach with Amy looking out to the horizon. Whispers of the fresh morning breeze caressed his skin and rustled the leaves of the surrounding palm trees.

The day was at that awakening phase after sunset that he used to like in his diligent days. He would have already been up hours ago, training at the stadium before the guys all got there.

He’d start with a hundred laps around the field, then he’d do some plyometric and circuit training. By the time the team was all there he’d be all revved up and ready for a great training session.

“We will sit here.” She brought a folder and that padded notebook that annoyed him so much.

She pointed to a spot on the sand that was perfect for sitting idly and watching the surrounding landscape.

He sat when they got there, crossed his legs, and looked up at her. She looked away and sat opposite him. Something was off about her today. He knew he’d pissed her off the last few days because he couldn’t wake up, but there was something else going on with her.

“I wanted to go through these questions on the list Zelda sent. The rep is coming tomorrow and they want you to be comfortable answering some of the potential questions you could be asked on the show.”

“I’m not commenting about my family, if that’s what they want.” These things tended to be so invasive, and media officials often had no regard for privacy. All they wanted was their story. And they’d get it at any expense.

“I’ve already told them not to ask you anything in relation to your private life or those related to you.” She smiled.

He was impressed she’d told them that. “What do they want to know?”

“Well, the first question is, are you looking forward to this season. Which is fine. However, I don’t particularly like the next few questions. Zelda said that you should see how you feel in answering them.”

“What are they?”

“Do you think this season will be better than the last? And, what would you do differently this season that you didn’t do last season? I don’t think that you should answer those questions.”

Well well, she was quite good, and surprisingly intuitive. There was no way he could answer any of those questions without talking about what happened with his mother and sister. He only played one game last season, so what was he supposed to say?

“Unless if you want to,” she added.

“I don’t. So Kansas, what do you suggest?” He leaned forward and she glared at him like he’d just said something wrong.

“Is there some reason why you can’t call me Amy? You called me Amy several times yesterday. Why can’t you stick with it?”

He couldn’t believe she could get so worked up over such a little thing. But since it annoyed her, he was only going to keep doing it. Also, he had no recollection of calling her Amy yesterday.

“I can’t remember seeing you yesterday.” He couldn’t. Yesterday had been a low day and he drank from the minute his eyes opened. It was the stress of Friday getting to him.

Now she looked at him with a deadpan expression. “You don’t remember seeing me yesterday?”

“No, did you come to work?”

“How do you forget a whole day? Who does that?”

This was what he meant about her being off. But he couldn’t put his finger on what her problem was. “Clearly me.”

“You could have killed someone and not remember,” she retorted.

“Did I?” Because maybe he did from the way she was going on.

“No.” She looked down to her notes and tucked a lock of her golden hair behind her ear.

It couldn’t have been the whole Kansas thing she was annoyed about. Something must have happened.

“Let’s just stick to the plan. It doesn’t matter what you call me. All that matters is we get to the show on Friday.”

He wouldn’t care normally, and normally he wouldn’t care about whatever was eating at her, but something held his interest and he was suddenly searching his mind.

He studied her and watched her flick through her folder, then she undid her jacket, revealing a dark pink t-shirt that fitted her slender curves perfectly. He couldn’t help himself; while she was distracted with her paperwork he stared at her breasts, and that was when the full memory of yesterday hit him.

Shit, he remembered everything. Damn, every single detail. Particularly how her nipples had hardened as he sucked on her breast.

He also remembered that she had kissed him back. He remembered how her lips felt, and how she tasted. Like forbidden fruit that was sweet and tempting and… He really shouldn’t have kissed her. And why in hell would she kiss him back? She couldn’t stand him.

That didn’t make any sense.

What made even less sense was how he could have forgotten the whole event.

He wouldn’t lie, he wanted her. But that was how he felt about all women who were beautiful and attractive. He would be the perpetual playboy because he loved women too much. Bereaved or not, that was how he was. And, sure, he’d made the occasional attempt to hit on her, hoping he’d get lucky, but he didn’t think she’d fall for it. What happened yesterday?

“I think you should focus on your team.”

Was it just him, or did she seem annoyed that he couldn’t remember, and more than the fact that she should be more irked that he’d tried something like that with her.

“Like how?” Best to drop it. They had bigger fish to fry. It was nice, though, to have had her like that. It felt like he’d made some kind of conquest.

“Talk about what you like, how you guys work together.” The beginning of a smile tipped at the corners of her delicate mouth, drawing his attention to her glossy pink lips.

Corey was right about her help. He needed it. It made him wonder what sort of work she’d done previously and what her story was. He wondered what would make her put up with him the way she had over the last few weeks.

“If you talk about that then that would lead to other things you want to talk about. It kind of locks them into a topic, and it would be hard to branch away. Plus, it would make them look bad if they tried to pry.”

“Looks like we’re onto something.”

She looked at him as he said that and smiled. “Look at us, we’re agreeing.” Her smile widened and he found himself fascinated with the warmth that rippled from it.

“Don’t get all kumbaya on me.”

She smirked. “I wasn’t going to.”

He flicked his legs out so he could lie back on the sand. “Good, I wouldn’t want you to go soft on me…Amy.” He turned his head to face her and saw that she was looking at him. Surprise tickled her pretty face. He resisted the temptation to stare and instead gazed ahead of them at the gulls that flew past screeching. He looked far out to the brighter horizon that showed off the blend of colors the sun cast onto the sea, making it sparkle in the bright morning light.

He still didn’t know if he could go through all of this. It was going to be difficult. While he knew there were boundaries and people would try to be sensitive, there was a chance he’d end up talking about his mother and sister at some point.

He’d just have to see what happens, and try. Josh wanted to play football again. He knew that truth, so he had to let that desire guide him.