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  After the scene on the deck? How could she not? She nodded silently.

  He touched her cheek, a brief caress. “I don’t want to ruin things.”

  She looked hard at him and nodded her head. The emotion surrounding them was powerful, the air so thick with it she could barely breathe. Then, before he could move, she pointed the syrup bottle at him and squirted it over his chest. Just like that, the spell was broken and the air lightened.

  “Hey!”

  He grabbed for her but she was too fast for him. She tossed the bottle on the counter and danced out of his reach, giggling.

  “Better get cleaned up, or I’m going to eat all the ice cream.”

  “You little minx.” When he reached for her, she twirled farther away.

  “Better hurry or the ice cream will be melted.” She raced into her bedroom and closed the door, waited until she thought he’d given up, then cracked the door open a little. She flinched when the hinges squeaked.

  “It’s okay,” Joe called. “You can come out. I put away all the dangerous weapons like the syrup.”

  She tiptoed into the kitchen where he stood holding the two bowls of now melting ice cream.

  “But take heed,” he warned, one corner of his mouth crooked up in a grin. “This battle is far from over.”

  The little byplay took the edge off the intensity vibrating in the air and gave them both some breathing room, which was exactly what she’d intended. They needed to examine this new jump in their relationship so neither of them did anything to screw it up. Especially her. When they settled back in the living room, his posture was more at ease and she relaxed into the couch.

  After The Blind Side, Shay found another movie she wanted to watch.

  “You’re kidding.” Joe cocked his head. “A chick flick? Don’t you know us macho guys don’t watch them?”

  “My lips are sealed. Come on.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “There might be more ice cream in it for you.”

  “I expect more of a bribe than that,” he teased.

  “This won’t hurt, I promise. And I won’t tell a soul.” She made an X across her chest.

  “Okay, but you’ll owe me big-time.”

  She sat on the couch curled against Joe, his arm around her, the warmth of his body seeping into hers. They talked very little. Shay was startled to realize sometimes silence could be as informative as conversation. By the time the second movie ended, Shay felt a quiet peace wrapped around them like a cloak. The ramped-up sexual tension still buzzed beneath the surface only now it had a much deeper quality.

  “Wasn’t it great the way he set up the seduction scene?’ she asked Joe, turning off the television. “Champagne and chocolates by the pool. Expensive champagne, too. And gourmet chocolates. What a guy.” She couldn’t quite stifle the sigh.

  He slid his lips over hers. “I’m amazed some hot guy hasn’t pulled out all the stops for you by now.”

  She only wished, but she wasn’t about to tell him that.

  “You deserve royal treatment.” There was something strange in his voice. Something she couldn’t quite identify. An unexpected intensity.

  She pushed it out of her mind before she overthought the situation.

  “So bedtime?” she asked. “And whose bed?”

  The smile he gave her curled her toes. “Let’s try yours for a change. Is there something in there you’re hiding?”

  “Not at all. I didn’t know if you wanted to sleep in the middle of a bunch of feminine stuff.”

  “If it’s your feminine stuff, I’m good with it. Come on.”

  He took her hand and led her to her room, waiting while she folded back the covers, watching her every movement. When she finished, she turned to face him.

  “At least you don’t have far to go to brush your teeth.”

  He burst out laughing. “Works for me.”

  It was at once strange and familiar to be doing these things with him. They stripped out of their clothes and Shay pulled her sleep shirt out of a drawer, sliding it over her head. Joe left his boxer briefs on and followed her into the bathroom. They brushed their teeth side by side at the vanity, and when Shay looked in the mirror and caught his eye, he had the strangest look on his face. Not desire, not discomfort, almost one of longing. Strange.

  He slid into bed first and coaxed her body up against his, wrapping his arm around her and tucking her head into the curve of his shoulder.

  “You know what I’d like tonight, Shay?”

  “What?” What could he have in mind? Something outrageous he thought might turn her off?

  “I’d just like to fall asleep like this, with you in my arms, right against my body.”

  No sex?

  “You know this is about more than just sex, right? That it’s about being together?”

  Had he read her mind?

  His lips were close enough she could feel his breath. “I plan to make you totally addicted to me.”

  She wanted to tell him she was well on the way, but she forced the words back. Too soon, she told herself. Instead she snuggled against him, ignoring his semihard cock bumping against the crease of her ass and the warm hand cradling her breast through the fabric of her shirt. The feeling of closeness and intimacy was like a warm blanket around her.

  This was good. Very good.

  * * * *

  Joe had slept fitfully. His dreams filled with erotic images of Shay on her knees beside him, his cock in her sweet, sweet mouth. Her tongue licking him carefully. Her slender fingers wrapped around his pulsing shaft, stroking him. Her very lack of experience was a huge turn-on—and one of the reasons she’d managed to open his emotional well and send it bubbling to the surface.

  Less than forty-eight hours ago, he’d told himself he was in love with Shay Beckham. Hell, he hadn’t even known what the word meant until then. It wasn’t just the act itself. It was the circumstances. The way she’d thrown herself into such an intimate act with him without question. The way she’d touched him.

  The way she’d swallowed every drop. Keeping his hands to himself last night had been sheer agony but he’d needed to let his emotions settle down. When he took Shay to bed again, every stroke, every movement would have special meaning. His mind spun like a top as he thought of the many ways he wanted to enjoy her. To pleasure her. He wanted to build on the new intensity between them, the temperature of their relationship up several notches after the episode on the patio.

  At least that was how he saw it. He hoped she did, too. Hoped she wasn’t seized with delayed embarrassment. Or worse, sudden regret. She didn’t seem to be. So why had she slid out of bed so softly this morning, leaving him to wake up by himself? Did she suddenly have regrets? He gave his head a mental shake. His knowledge of this new mature Shay was so brand new he was examining every signal under a mental microscope.

  Meanwhile there was today to get through. Why the hell had he agreed to go to the Lazarus christening? If that wasn’t bad enough, he’d committed them to the party afterward. In his addled state, he’d imagined spending the day alone with Shay. Maybe making use of the huge sunken spa tub on the deck.

  Damn!

  Okay, he’d just have to use the time to plan carefully for tonight.

  While he was trying to unscramble his brain, the door opened and Shay walked in carrying two mugs of hot coffee.

  “You were so dead to the world I didn’t want to wake you.” She grinned. “Did I tap into all your energy, big guy?”

  He smiled back at her. “Not yet.” He took the mug she handed to him and inhaled the aroma of the rich roast. “You are a goddess.”

  As he took a swallow of the coffee, he let his gaze roam over every inch of her. Her face was free of makeup, her hair messed and tucked back behind her ears, and from what he could see she wore a ratty old T-shirt and little boy sleep shorts. And she looked sexier than hell. Shit, he had it bad.

  “So.” She sat down on the edge of the bed. “We have to buy a present this morning.”

/>   “What? Buy what?” What the hell was she talking about?

  She gave an exasperated sigh. “For the christening party. We can’t go without a present for the baby.”

  Oh, yeah. The party. His brain was definitely fried. He scrubbed his hands over his face, set his mug on the nightstand, and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He gave thanks he’d slept in his boxers last night but he kept the edge of the sheet across his thighs in an effort to hide his ever-present erection.

  “Okay. Whatever you say.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Give me a few to get my act together.”

  “How about using Hank’s shower this morning, so we can both get ready?”

  He reached for her free hand. “How about if we shower together and conserve water?”

  She giggled. “Because we’d never get to the christening. Come on. We have to get going.”

  “We also need food,” he reminded her. “We’ll grab a bite while we’re out getting the present, if you’re okay with it. What time do we have to be at the church, anyway?”

  “Big help you are. Don’t tell me you forgot. And these are your friends.” She shook her head. “One o’clock. Be sure to bring Mike’s business card. It’s got his home address on the back. We can just plug it into the GPS.”

  “I’ll do much better when I’ve mainlined the coffee,” he assured her.

  He waited until she was gone before getting out of bed. Thank God she wasn’t in the kitchen when he went to fill his mug. He had a boner tenting his shorts enough to let in a small band. First order of business was an ice-cold shower and then giving himself a stern talking-to.

  Yeah, like that was going to help.

  Outside of the incredibly sexy black dress Shay had worn to dinner, he wasn’t used to seeing her in anything except jeans or shorts and T-shirts. When she met him in the foyer his heart nearly stopped beating. How was it just the simplest clothes on her made her so breath-stealing? Navy slacks, a light blue jacket, and a multicolored print top shouldn’t have made her look like an erotic goddess. With her golden hair tumbled to her shoulders and tempting gloss on her lips, he wanted to ravish her right then and there.

  “You look great,” he told her.

  “Thanks.” She eyed his blazer and slacks. “You’re not too bad yourself.”

  Think Alaska, he told himself. Ice cubes. Igloos. Antarctica. Oh, yeah. He was definitely hooked. Damn straight. And he’d better handle it properly.

  “Ready to go?”

  She nodded. “And I checked. There’s a baby boutique not far from here where we can get a gift. Let’s hit it.”

  He grinned at her and opened the front door. “After you, madame.”

  * * * *

  “Hey!” Mike Lazarus moved away from the small group where he’d been chatting and held out his hand. “Glad you could make it.”

  “It was nice of you to ask us.” Shay handed him the gift. “Just a little something for the baby.”

  “Totally unnecessary.” Shana moved up to stand beside him. “But thank you.”

  Shay looked around at the people in Mike and Shana’s backyard. Even after this long, she recognized some of the Coyotes players from the years Hank and Joe had played. They were older, bigger, some not in such great shape anymore. Most of them were married. Meeting their wives was interesting, learning the kind of women they’d chosen to be with.

  Joe introduced her to some of the people, Shana to others. They looked at her strangely at first, as if she’d come from a different planet. Then she realized it was because they still remembered her as a skinny little kid chasing after her big brother and his friends. She hadn’t been that person for a long time.

  “Let me get you a beer,” Mike offered. “Then you can pick your side of the debate.”

  Joe cocked an eyebrow. “Debate?”

  “Yeah. Which championship game was the toughest, the one against Chandler High or the one against West Hills.”

  Joe laughed. “They were both ball busters, if I remember.”

  “True,” one of the other guys chimed in. “They both had defenders who were after your ass.”

  “But he always hung in there,” Mike pointed out. “Never faltered in the famous three-step drop and hardly ever missed a receiver.”

  “That’s because my golden hands caught the ball.” A tall, lanky man with dark brown hair and a familiar face held out his hand to Shay. “Marcus Williams. Running back. I used to hang out at your house sometimes.”

  “Oh, sure. I remember.” Shay shook hands with him. “You were always nice to me.”

  Some of the women hooted with laughter. “Doesn’t say much for the rest of you,” Shana pointed out.

  “It’s okay,” someone else added. “They were too busy telling each other what great stars they were and pounding their chests over the females they attracted.”

  More laughter followed, with a few choice remarks by some of the wives.

  “Fortunately they’ve matured a little,” Annie put in.

  “Hey.” Mike lifted an eyebrow. “We played some tough games and we won them. We deserved a little reward.”

  “Tough games is right,” said a heavyset man, walking up to them. “It seemed like the other teams were always laying for us, ready to pound us into the ground.”

  Joe nodded his agreement. “But thanks to the offensive line they never could shut us down.” He looked at the man who now joined them. “And Rocky here led the toughest defense in our division.”

  “Okay, enough.” Shana held up her hands, palms out. “You guys can hang out and tell each other how great you were. I’m taking Shay to join the ladies. We’re much more refined.” She winked at her husband.

  “I can take a hint.” He kissed her on the cheek. “I want to keep on your good side.” He winked at her and walked off toward the other side of the yard, the others following with him.

  Shana pulled over a lawn chair for her and made sure she was comfortable. It took some time, but eventually Shay began to relax, listening to the conversation and contributing something when she could. She admired the baby, a real cutie. Congratulated Shana. Smiled at the people she was introduced to. Mostly she was interested in watching Joe interact with his former teammates.

  She remembered them as high-energy teenagers, ramped up on hormones and testosterone, full of themselves; they were often obnoxious. Those golden years when the Coyotes were champions were burned into her memory. She’d even gone to the championship games with her parents, sat in the stands and cheered and yelled as loudly as anyone when Joe, as the captain of the team, hoisted the trophy for everyone to see.

  She’d watched some of them play in college later on, seen their interviews and thought, yeah, well, a little older but not much growing up there. Joe was the only one whose NFL career she’d followed even though some of the others had been drafted as well. Now they all seemed—different. More settled. Even the ones not married.

  As usual at functions like this the group separated, men on one side of the yard, women on the other. Snippets of conversation bumped into each other. Until some of the guys, overgrown kids they were, began tossing the football around. She didn’t know who started it but soon there were a half a dozen guys lobbing the pigskin back and forth.

  “Come on, Joe,” someone yelled. “Let’s see if you’ve still got it. Send me out for a pass.”

  Shay watched from the corner of her eye as Joe uncorked a long one from the other side of the yard. Whoever the man was who’d expected to catch it misjudged direction and the ball sailed right past him. Something clicked in Shay’s head as the ball headed toward her. The habits of her long-ago childhood when she’d dogged Hank and Joe in her backyard, the instinctive reaction, kicked in. Leaping up, she plucked the ball out of the air, tucked it into the crook of her arm, and ran to the other end of the yard, just as she’d done all those years ago when she’d tried so hard to make them let her participate.

  When she reached the trees, she stopped and
looked around, grinning, expecting to see Hank and Joe with fists on hips, glaring at her for somehow stealing the ball again. Just like always when they’d practiced in her family’s backyard and she pestered Joe and Hank, shrieking with glee whenever they slipped up and she managed to steal the ball from them.

  Only they weren’t in her parents’ backyard. And Hank wasn’t here, only Joe. She was in a strange place with at least three dozen people she didn’t know staring at her as if she’d grown two heads.

  Holy crap.

  Chills froze her skin followed by the hot flush of embarrassment. For a long moment she couldn’t breathe, her breath trapped in her lungs. What had she done? And in front of the people filling the backyard? If she prayed hard enough, would the ground open up and swallow her?

  Okay. Now what?

  Joe pulled her in tight to his body. “Now you know why I call her Slick.”

  Rafe Ortiz burst out laughing. “Shay, I have to say I’m impressed. I think you learned better than the rest of us. Damn! Maybe we should have been hanging out at your house more often.”

  Shay had two choices, the way she saw it. She could hide her embarrassment and try to pretend the whole thing never happened, or she could celebrate her skills and laugh about it, hopefully with everyone. Shay clutched the ball to her chest for only a moment before she raised it over her head in victory.

  “She scores!” she shouted. “Let’s hear some applause.” If they thought she was crazy, well, she’d just deal with it.

  “Go, Shay,” someone shouted.

  Applause broke out, peppered with more cheers.

  “That’s my girl.” Joe gently plucked the football from her and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “Who knew those hours of practice in your backyard would make a wide receiver out of you? Or we’d discover you’d still be so good.”

  She stood there, wondering what to do next, when she found herself surrounded by a crowd. Women hugged her and men patted her on the back.

  “She could have been our secret weapon, Joe,” Mike commented. “You know, for when you got hurt.”

  Shay grinned at the crowd. “Maybe he was afraid I’d grow up and take his place.”