Page 7 (2/2)
They were the real reason she needed personalized tailoring
“Thanks,” she answered, quickly clearing her throat to be able to add, “You too”
That was no reat He always had And she’d always been lost for words around him Words other than math instruction that is Uh-huh, she was that pathetic
“It’s been a helluva long ti in the middle of the path
“Yeah” Nine years since they’d spoken, though less since she’d seen him But he didn’t need to know about the couple of times she’d been in the crowd to watch hiht? Given Joe had been young, hot, and successful girls-wise before he hit the big tione to college on a sports scholarship, only to leave at the end of the first year to go into the draft He’d been a first-round pick and catapulted into the millionaire bracket just like that
“You’re living here?” he asked
“Yeah,” she muttered In central San Francisco A while away from the refined, leafy suburb where they’d been at school, but this city was her hoh to answerdown the street”
“On a Saturday?”
Was he teasing or pitying? She lifted her chin “Not so bad—I like my job You?”
“Love it Work all the tienuine tone
That made her smile “Even Saturdays?”
“And Sundays” He nodded piously “You impressed?”
“No” She chuckled “So what are you working at all the time?”
“I’ve got a fitness center, in the process of opening another”
It figured he’d still be doing so after the hideous on-court accident that broke his leg
“You’re not still playing?” she asked, wincing as her voice skidded into husky territory He looked it—fit enough to run back-to-backinto a sweat Agile enough to—
“Playing?” His voice dropped in a playful imitation of hers But his expression was more than playful, it icked
Abbi’s throat closed Oh hell, she hadn’t meant it like that Flustered, she stared up at hi ht into her eyes, as if he could see through to the way her brain was frying in his presence?
“You really do look a,” he murmured
Oh, the guy knew his power And relished it
Abbi sed hard Every article she’d read so far talked about confidence being key Ha Cultivating confidence wasn’t easy when your bedroom style had been shredded But she couldn’t stand here floundering like some pathetic fish on a hook Damn it, she did have some assets, even if she knew they couldn’t be relied on for anything but initial attention Maybe she ought to try the “fake it ’til you make it” tip?
She pulled her shoulders back, letting her curves thrust out a little enius brain Surely she could act a part for a ain anytiht?
He shook his head slowly, his eyes still glued to hers “I think it’s your hair—”
“It’s the pole dancing,” she cut hio wholly out there
His entire body snapped, he lifted another inch in height, his biceps bunched, and now those aze dropped to her chest before it quickly flickered back to her face “That’s what you’ve been doing?”
Pleasure rippled within her at his reaction “Best form of exercise I’ve found”
His brows lifted and he slowly shook his head “Second best,” he said softly
“To bas
ketball?”
That had been the guy’s nuame Certainly not relationships That’d irls he’d played at school
He paused, his lips curving “I like to basket some balls, sure”
His ansas pure auditory tease Yeah, he was the same cocky player and slayer, only even more potent ith the years of experience
“You always liked to play any chance you got,” she said
“Whereas you were theher all the more intently—as ieared up for the physical?”
She let her brows lift a little in a iven her just before “Seems so”
Was she actually doing it? Talking flirty with a guy for the first tiuy orked hard and—rumor had it—screwed harder than anyone she’d ever known?
He stepped closer “How physical?” he asked
Her gaze was locked in his Ensnared He was so damn tall Suddenly her mind absolutely blanked She couldn’t think, speak, move
She gazed up at hi thud of her heart
“We’re talking sweaty?” he asked, soft but so lethal “Fast?” He h?”
Ooookaaay Uh Yeeeeaah
She had to tilt her chin higher to keep her focus on hi breeze brushed her neck A shiver whispered down her spine She lowered her gaze a few inches to his
“How hard do you like things to get, Abigail?”
“I—” Can’t think
She touched her tongue to her dry-as-dust lips Her nipples were harder than titaniu to take the ache away So She stared soain to her lips without thinking, only wanting to feel
“Excuse me Sorry” A random pedestrian jostled past
Dazed, Abbi briefly glanced after the passerby; actually, there were three of the up all the sidewalk…