“Kelsey,” she responded.
“Just Kelsey?” he asked.
“For now.” She smiled.
“Okay. Are you a secret agent or something?” Maverick leaned in a bit closer, his whispered words triggering another grin.
“Or something.” His nearness created a swarm of butterflies within her lower belly to add to the flush of heat, so she took a slight step back for her sanity. Then she stilled as her movement made her aware how her nipples had tightened as they brushed against her camisole. They’d become ultra-sensitized and achy at his nearness. Thankfully, the hated blazer was saving her from an embarrassing revelation.
Damn. Why had a mere brush of his hand and the sound of his sinful voice wound her up so tight? “It was nice meeting you, Mr. Jansen, but I think I’ve been out here long enough. It’s all yours. Enjoy.” She meant to walk past him, she really did. But there wasn’t much room on the balcony for more than two, maybe three people, and in the dark, she miscalculated its width. She ended up walking directly into his side. The impact lasting long enough that she felt how affected he was by her.
Never in a million years would she think a man like him would be attracted to someone like her. Curvy all over, she was as far from social media glamorous as a woman could get, or at least one that caught the eye of a handsome athlete.
“Oh, sorry. It’s getting dark out here, isn’t it?” Kelsey noticed a breathiness in her voice and cringed. She moved backward, but he placed a hand on the small of her back, then held it, and her in place. Heat bloomed instantly under his touch and she felt a warmth spread even lower. Her body was now pressed into his erection, erasing all doubt of what he was after.
Crazy. This was plain crazy. People didn’t respond this way, did they? Or agreeing to hook up took longer than this, right? Lord, how many chardonnays had she had, anyway? Not used to her body responding in such a fierce, instantaneous way, she leaned back, breaking the delicious contact, but still close enough to be enveloped by his body heat.
“No worries, Kelsey. This is actually right where I want you. I thought it would take a bit longer to get you here, but I don’t mind if you don’t.”
He flashed those dimples again. She was so screwed.
She found she wanted the challenge of turning around this man’s self-destructive image, if not his behavior. What she couldn’t allow herself was a night of guaranteed hot sex. And she was sure to receive it from him. Of that, she had no doubt.
But both TS and Maverick deserved her full attention and professionalism. And this…wasn’t going to happen.
She couldn’t afford to let physical attraction rule her decision-making when it came to working with Maverick. And she was determined not to make the same mistakes her mother did.
In the past, Kelsey had done her best to set aside her personal feelings when it came to working with professional athletes, but Maverick could prove to be her biggest challenge.
So, she took a deep breath and stood as tall as her current position would allow. “I’m sure there are plenty of women here who would love to be in my current position. But I’m not one of them. Please. Let me go.”
“Wow, you really think highly of me, don’t you?” He dared her with his sarcasm, then rubbed his thumb along the sensitive spot at the small of her back. A slow rhythm, back and forth. Unintentional? Practiced? At the moment, she couldn't give a damn.
“Kelsey, I’m not interested in anyone else. I’m not sure what exactly is drawing me to you, but I know one thing: it’s more than simple lust. Although I have a healthy dose of that going on, and call me crazy, but I think you feel this connection too,” he whispered.
Her pussy pulsed at his bold suggestion, and she had one word for her body’s reaction.
Traitor.
But she held her tongue. A future VP position in the USBL or one night of no-attachment sex that would only create awkwardness once he found out who she really was? The answer was easy, but that didn’t mean she had to like it.
He was waiting for a response, but she wouldn’t cave. Not now. He was her client, even if he was unaware of that fact, not a one-night fantasy lover.
Turned out she didn’t need to make a decision. He stepped back, and the warmth she’d been cocooned in vanished. One simple step left her aching for him to grab onto her again. To put back the rightness of the moment. But his hands remained stubbornly at his sides.
“I’ve never forced myself on a woman, Kelsey, and I won’t start now,” Maverick reassured her.
Looking up into Maverick’s eyes, she pinched her lips together, then replied. “Look, we don’t know each other, but I know who you are and I’m not looking to be another notch on your…your…Louisville Slugger.”
Leaning in close, Mav placed a hand on the railing momentarily trapping her, then he whispered into her ear. “Too bad. If that’s what I was looking for, I can assure you I would have no problem convincing you I had the perfect spot for that notch. But now, well, now you’ll never know my true intentions.”
His breath slid over her neck, and liquid heat pooled in her panties.
Then he stepped back, restoring her much needed personal space. But her body continued to be a traitor and leaned toward him, following his movement until she snapped back, catching herself from becoming the exact thing she just said she wasn’t looking to be.
Oh, boy, she needed to put as much distance from the temptation he presented as possible and maybe rethink working with him. Would a coveted position with the Outlaws be enough protection against Maverick’s heart-stopping looks and charm? And did she have the willpower to find out?
“You’re right, I won’t. But then again, there are other ways two people can interact successfully without anything physical happening between them.” She edged her way slowly to the door as she spoke.
“Ah, the age-old question. Can men and women be just friends? Is that what you’re looking for, Kelsey? Seems a shame, don’t you think? When two people meet and there’s that intense, instant spark, to not to test it out. See where it leads.” Maverick said.
Was he challenging her? Dammit, her need to prove him wrong almost won out. Taking in a cleansing breath, she deflected and, lord help her, lied. “We could philosophize all evening and never come to the same conclusion. Look, I’m flattered, I really am. But I’m not interested.”
He didn’t look like he believed her or was ready to give up as he flashed her a devilish grin. Darn him. She’d be dreaming about all those smiles later tonight, especially this last one.
“Fair enough,” Maverick replied. “Well, I hope to see you again. It seems one thing about moving to a smaller city is that you eventually run into the same people, over and over.”
He raked his gaze over her, lighting tiny fires along the way. Warm again, in all the right places. She cleared her throat before answering. “I guess it depends on your circles, but yes, that does tend to happen around here,” Kelsey said.
Before she crossed through the doorway, Maverick’s whispered words were loud enough to reach her. “Looks like I’ll be joining a new circle.”
Chapter 5
“Maverick, thank you for coming in on a Sunday.” TS stood and offered his hand to Maverick. Motioning to a burgundy leather chair, he indicated the seat opposite his desk. “How’s the arm?”