All Star

by KB Winters

  “His latest pitch was that he would have a house built on a few acres, with a pool, and a horse pasture all for myself.” She paused and rolled her eyes. “He’s relentless. He paid for my college and never complained, but I don’t know…I guess he never thought I’d take that degree and turn it into a real career. I don’t know why.”

  So that was it. She grew up with money, so my money or house wasn’t a perk to this crazy beautiful lady. “Hmm. So what does he want you doing instead? Barefoot and pregnant?”

  Josie laughed but then cringed, her freckled nose wrinkling ever so slightly. “He wants me to get married, have a house, with some horses and yes, I’m sure grandchildren would be in the top five things on his list.” She sighed deeply. “It’s suffocating.”

  “I bet.” I spun my beer bottle slowly in my hand. Before I could think of something to add, or change the conversation altogether, the waitress reappeared with a foil wrapped to-go container and set it on the table in front of Josie. She thanked her and went to dig through her purse for her wallet. “Charge it to my room. Twenty-one fourteen.”

  Josie jerked her head up from her search and looked from the waitress to me and then back again. “No, no. I’ve got it. Just one sec…”

  I laughed as she fumbled through her purse. “It’s fine, Josie. Really.”

  The waitress looked my way and I nodded, shooing her off with a wave of my hand. Josie sighed and stuffed the gutted contents of her purse back together. “I didn’t want you to buy my dinner,” she said, pouting at me.

  “Why not? You let me barge into your night. It was the least I could do.”

  She looked at me, her expression firm, skeptical. “What do you want, Trey?”

  “Nothing. Although, I wouldn’t say no to a bite or two of whatever you got in there. Smells damn delicious. And I’m starvin’.”

  She laughed and peeled back the foil covering the top. “Well then eat!”

  The warm scent of garlic French fries spilled out and we both made identical moans. Our eyes flashed together and locked in place. Josie’s were wide and alarmed.

  “I have a firm, ladies first policy,” I said, my voice low. “Applies to french fries as well as…other things…”

  Josie blushed, her face turning a dark shade of pink.

  She blinked a few times, clearing her shock away, and then dug into the box. She snatched a fry and munched on it mindlessly. I laughed and dove into the box and snagged a fry for myself. “Damn! I’m gonna need to order some of these myself.”

  “Mmm. These are really good.” She went back for seconds and our knuckles brushed together. She pulled her hand back at the contact like a viper was inside the box. “Sorry…go ahead.”

  I laughed and pushed the box over to her and wiped my hands off on the linen napkin that had been resting off to one side of the table. “Go ahead. I’ll have some sent up to my room.”

  She nibbled another fry and watched me. “You can always stay…you know.”

  “Aren’t you leaving?” I asked, struggling to keep a straight face. I was reeling her in, little by little, and inch by inch, she was lowering her walls.

  She shrugged. “I have to finish my drink.”

  “Right,” I said, grinning over at her halfway emptied glass. “So, then, where were we? Aha, yes, you’re moving to a ranch in Texas and popping out a herd of kids.”

  Josie roared with laughter. “No, no, no! That is so not the plan.”

  Damn. Damn. I grinned at her. “Then what is the plan?”

  She sucked in a breath and went for another grasp at the fries. “I’m working at the news station, trying to talk my boss into giving me a real job, instead of being the resident Starbucks gopher, and he told me that if I…” she looked up and stopped herself.

  “If you what?” I arched an eyebrow at her.

  She waved a french fry at me. “Oh, just, nothing. I’m uh—filling in for the normal sports guy. That’s why I’m here. He wanted me to get some on the ground experience, I guess. If I nail this, I’ll go home and get the promotion I want.” She picked up her glass and stirred the icy drink, trying to get it blended together again.

  “Hmm. Sounds exciting.”

  I wasn’t sure I believed her. There was obviously a detail to the story that she wasn’t telling me.

  “Any tips?” she asked, setting her drink down.

  “For what?”

  “Being a kick ass sports reporter?”

  I laughed. “Well, I’m not sure that I’m qualified to offer advice, seeing as how I’m usually on the other side of the camera, but from my viewpoint, all you have to do is ask repetitive questions, find wounds and sore spots to poke at, and learn to artfully drag up off-season shit and bring it back into the spotlight. Those things will get you a lot of airtime. For sure.”

  “Wow. Jaded much?” Josie asked with a grin before popping another fry into her sweet little mouth.

  I chuckled and spread my hands out wide. “Just calling it like I see it.”

  “Hmm.” She frowned and then sipped at her drink again. “Well I have no intention of staying in the sports world long enough to become a thorn in your side.”

  I laughed harder and shook my head. “Nah, you couldn’t be.”

  She smiled. “Is it worth it? All the drama and lack of privacy? You love the sport that much?”

  I thought about her question, turning it over a few times in my mind. Then I nodded slowly. “Yeah, you know, it sounds insane, but it is worth it. I love playing ball and that’s what keeps me going. I fell in love with the game at three, maybe four, when I was on the T-ball team. From there, I went to Little League, and on up through college. When I got drafted and signed with the Coyotes…damn…” I smiled, struck by the rush all over again. “That was the best damn day of my life.”

  Josie had the same faraway look. “That’s really cool, Trey. I don’t think most people ever find that thing that makes them tick.”

  I leaned in, like a magnet was pulling me to her. “That’s how you feel about being a reporter, huh?”

  “Yeah.” She nodded but then dropped her eyes to the top of her take out box. “Well…if I ever get to do it, that is.”

  “Stalking me seems like an odd way to get there, but—”

  She snapped her eyes to me and grinned. “I’m not stalking you!”

  I chuckled. “Sure, sure, keep telling yourself that. Come on, be honest, when you first saw me, out there on the tarmac, you were into me. You were squirming in those sexy cowgirl boots.”

  Josie rolled her big, beautiful eyes and a thrill washed over me at the wide smile tugging on her edible looking lips. “You’re impossible, Trey. Shameless.”

  I shrugged. “I’ve been called worse.”

  She snorted and polished off her drink. I watched her drink, running along the curves of her cheek, the way her damp hair fell over her shoulder in a long ponytail, and took a tour of the freckles spattered over the bridge of her little nose. Josie wasn’t like any other girl I’d met. At least not in a long ass time. She wasn’t throwing herself at me. Hell, for that matter, she didn’t even seem all that interested. If she were like the rest of the women I’d met, I’d already have her up in my room, stripped naked, and sprawled on my bed—or whatever the closest flat surface was. Then I’d spend the entire night fucking her silly—knowing that as soon as she walked out the door, I’d never have to see her again—if I didn’t want to. Which—most of the time—I didn’t. I couldn’t remember the last time a woman had actually managed to capture my interest for more than the span of a few hours.

  Not Josie. She wasn’t like the rest.

  She was gorgeous and sexy. Innocent and wild. Pristine and sun-kissed. I didn’t have her figured out yet. She was clinging to a shroud of mystery and I was desperate to tug it away and see all of her sides.

  “So, tell me something,” she said, pushing away her empty glass. The server rushed over to ask if she’d like a refill. She considered me for a long moment and
then shook her head and dismissed the server with a polite ‘no, thank you’ before shifting her attention back to me. “Are you planning to behave yourself now that you’re playing with the Warriors?”

  I grinned. “That depends on how you define, behave.”

  She flushed and my smile twisted. That’s right, baby, admit it. You want me. Bad.

  It was just a matter of time.

  9

  Josie

  If I were to start my report on Trey, it would start by mentioning that he was infuriating, cocky, full of himself, and—as much as it pained me to admit—sexy as hell. As our conversation at the bar meandered and wandered, each dark smile, and every move he made only sucked me further into his rough around the edges brand of charm. And charming he was. He probably could have charmed me right out of my panties if I’d had any on. I shifted on my side of the booth, desperately looking for a way out of the conversation before I said—or did—something extremely stupid.

  Like admit that I was crushing on the superstar.

  It was dumb. Like, insanely moronic. But I couldn’t help it. It was like sliding down a hill. The farther I slid, the more speed I built up, until I was out of control and holding on for dear life.

  He was so disarming that I’d almost faltered and revealed the real reason I was in Denver following the team. When I covered, by saying it was just a tester assignment, a fill-in, there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes. I wasn’t sure he bought my story. Part of me wondered if I should just spill the beans. If I could just flat out ask him for an exclusive sit-down interview. But then things got out of hand. We started talking about our families, our childhoods, and it would feel cheap to ask now. Like all I cared about was a story. I’d be just like every other sports reporter that Trey hated. A stereotype. And for some reason, it mattered to me what he thought of me.

  Regardless of how much I told myself that I shouldn’t care.

  I tapped my short, squared nails on the top of the foil covering my takeout box and glanced up at Trey. “Well, I should probably get going. Thanks for dinner. You really didn’t have to do that.”

  Trey smiled. “Not a problem. Now you can use your per diem cash on a Pay-Per-View movie or something.”

  I laughed. “Right?”

  “You a rom-com kinda girl? Or more into action movies?”

  “Now, do I look like a rom-com girl to you? I gotta have some action. The bigger the explosion, the better.”

  Trey laughed and my heart jumped at the sparkle in his eyes. I liked making him smile. He wore it well. The edges of it carved little lines around his full lips and I was tempted to reach over and trace them with my fingertips.

  What is wrong with me?

  I shook my head, desperate to snap out of whatever it was, and scooted to the edge of my bench seat. Trey followed suit. “I thought you were going to order something?”

  “I’ll walk you back to your hotel first. You said you were across the street, right? Come on, I’ll walk you over there.”

  “Oh! No, no. You don’t have to do that…” I nervously toyed with the ends of my wet ponytail and threw it over my shoulder. “I’m good. It’s not even that dark out…” I said, not even turning around to look outside. I had no idea how much time had passed since I’d crossed the street, following my nose to the hotel. For all I knew, it could be midnight and pitch black out there.

  Trey laughed. “I’m pretty sure it is. Come on, let me walk you over there. I wouldn’t feel right just letting you go.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “All right, but you’re not coming in for a nightcap or a coffee or anything, so don’t even try.”

  He chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”

  He took my elbow and steered me away from the booth. We walked in step with one another and both sighed as we left the side exit and stepped out into the crisp night air. “Man, I could get used to this cool air.”

  Trey laughed. “Tell me about it. Is Oklahoma City always like living in a sweat sock?”

  “Yup. Pretty much. The weather report might as well just say sticky, with a chance of sweltering.”

  Trey laughed and I smiled along, loving his thick, rumbling tone. It wrapped around me and made it hard not to lean against him. I wanted to feel the way the vibrations would run over his chest.

  I blinked away the mental image and straightened my spine and threw my shoulders back. “You’ll get used to it.”

  “I don’t know. You’re from Texas. You’re more adept to the humidity than me. I got spoiled out in SoCal. I lived right on the fuckin’ beach. The sounds of the ocean, the nice breezes. Damn…”

  I glanced up at the sudden change in his tone. His jaw was set and a twitch played at the muscle there. He shrugged it away and relaxed but for a moment, I’d seen past the wall of confidence and assurance and caught a glimpse of something else. Something dark.

  Regret?

  “We have some really nice lakes, though. It’s not the ocean, but it can be a nice day trip if you need a break from the city,” I offered.

  He looked down at me and I fully realized the difference between us in height. He had to be at least ten inches taller than me. I would fit perfectly, tucked away under one of his sculpted arms. “That could work. When do you wanna go?”

  I laughed. “You never quit, huh?”

  He chuckled. “Nah. It’s not really my style. I was just thinking it might be the best shot at getting you in a bikini.”

  “Hah!” I laughed along but my entire body quivered and lit up at the suggestion and the look in his eyes as he said it. We paused at the crosswalk, waiting for the signal to change, and our laughter faded as our eyes locked.

  “You’re a beautiful woman, Josie,” he said, his voice a husky, seductive whisper.

  I shivered again and he wrapped an arm around me.

  “Cold?” he asked.

  “Just a little,” I lied. In reality, every dang inch of me was on fire. Being wrapped in his arm, tucked against his rock solid chest was just like I’d imagined minutes before. Only better…so much better. The scent of his deodorant or aftershave clung to his shirt and enveloped me. Pine and citrus. Fresh and spicy. Absolutely delicious. I could only imagine how it would mix with sweat and sex.

  Trey was carved perfection. Even without seeing what was underneath his tee shirt and relaxed fit jeans, I knew he was impressive. Pressed against his chest, images passed before my eyes. Trey’s lips on mine. His fingers brushing against my jaw and then getting lost, tangling up in my long hair. The way he’d feel hovering over me. The look in his eyes as he entered me. The way his cock would feel. The sound of his name on my lips, echoing through the room.

  My heart raced at the images, each one more intoxicating than the last. I squeezed my thighs together, fighting away the pressure building between them. I tried—and failed—to remind myself of all the news stories detailing Trey’s history of bad behavior. I tried to argue with myself that he was only after one damn thing. And that he’d use me up and throw me away like a piece of trash.

  None of my arguments could rip away the sexy images flashing through my mind. If anything, they only made it hotter and harder to breath. He wasn’t a nice guy. The kind of guy my daddy always wanted me with. No, Trey didn’t play by anyone else’s rules and I had to imagine it would be more evident between the sheets. He would know how to make me feel things I never had before, to make me push my boundaries, and want things…crave things…I’d never wanted before.

  He would ruin me.

  Fuck.

  The light changed, and Trey held onto me for a second longer before starting out into the street. As we walked, I shook my head slightly trying to clear away the images from my mind like my brain was an Etch-a-Sketch.

  “You okay over there?”

  I smiled weakly. “Yeah. I’m just…tired…”

  It was a pathetic lie. I’d never felt so awake in my entire life.

  But he couldn’t know that. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. For a
ll I know, everything he told me was a lie.

  “Here,” he said, taking a large step forward to grab the door handle for me as we reached the front entrance of my hotel.

  “Thank you.”

  He released me and let me walk into the hotel, and I immediately missed the feel of being under his arm. He walked with me to the elevator banks and I reached out and hit the button with shaking fingers. “Well…this place looks…nice.” He glanced around the non-descript lobby with a grimace. The puke colored walls, upholstery straight out of the ’80s, and too-large, bulky furnishings, weren’t exactly on par with the hotel we’d just vacated.

  I laughed softly. “Yeah. Apparently, the station’s travel budget isn’t exactly in line with the Warriors.”

  He chuckled. “Luckily, we’re only here one more night, huh?”

  A ding alerted us that an elevator had arrived and we both turned toward the scraping, screeching sound as the doors slid open. I winced. “That doesn’t instill a lot of confidence,” I said, glancing at the doorway to the stairs.

  “I better go with you,” Trey said, grinning at me as I reluctantly crossed to the elevator. “You don’t want to get stuck all alone, right?”

  New images popped into my mind. The elevator would screech to a halt, the lights flicker off, and then, sudden silence. Trey would press me against the wall and kiss me hard, desperately, as though he’d planned the entire thing. The air would quickly become thick and hot. Steamy. He’d strip away my blouse and the air would tickle my exposed skin.

  I squeezed my eyes shut. What is wrong with me?

  “After you,” he said, ushering me inside.

  We rode up to my floor, a quick and make-out-session-free ride.

  I set off for my room and pulled my room key out of my pocket. “This is me,” I said, stopping in front of my door. “Thanks for walking me over.”

  Trey grinned and set an arm over me, resting it against the door. He leaned in, his mouth lowering dangerously close to mine. “You’re really not going to invite me in?”

  I laughed. “Shameless.”