“Exactly!” Paige pointed an impaled olive at her before biting it off the tip of the toothpick. “And even when you do have the opportunity to relax, you don’t take advantage of it. It’s as if you have some aversion to having a good time.”
“That is not true,” Deirdre protested.
“That is so true,” Paige insisted. “Forget that I had to practically get on my knees and beg you to take an all-expenses paid trip to Hawaii. You never want to do even the simple stuff. Every time I invite you to join me at one of Torrian’s away games, or to have a girls-only weekend, you come up with some excuse. You even refused to dance at Torrian’s and my wedding reception.”
“So I don’t dance in public. Sue me,” Deirdre said. “That doesn’t mean I don’t know how to enjoy myself.”
Paige tipped her sunglasses down and peered at Deirdre over the rim. “Should I bring up the Theo issue?”
Deirdre choked on the sip of punch she’d just swallowed. “Excuse me? What’s the Theo issue?”
“Oh, don’t give me that. You know for a while there that man was all into you.”
Was was the operative word, Deirdre mused. Theo may have been interested in her at one time, but she had managed to ice any warm feelings he may have had toward her. These days he barely spoke two words to her on the rare occasions they happened to see each other. She’d taken to staying away from the brownstone on those afternoons when she knew he’d be in Torrian’s basement/rec room for the ritualistic dominoes game they played along with two other teammates, Cedric Reeves and Jared Dawson.
“Theo Stokes is nothing more to me than one of Torrian’s friends,” Deirdre stated. She refused to acknowledge the stab of hurt that accompanied the admission.
“Because that’s all you allow him to be,” Paige argued. “If you gave him the chance, Theo would still be willing to be a lot more. Take a risk, girl. What are you so afraid of?”
“I’m not afraid of anything?” Deirdre scoffed. “I’m just…not interested,” she lied.
“I don’t know why not. They don’t get much sexier than Theo.”
“I’ll let my brother know you think so,” Deirdre drawled.
“Oh, you know what I mean. Admit it, Dee, Theo is pretty damn hot, and he is as sweet as can be. I think spending time with him would do you some good. Too much of your life revolves around Torrian, Dante and that restaurant. It’s not healthy.”
“My brother has put me in charge of the restaurant,” Deirdre pointed out.
“And it has a very capable staff. They can survive a night or two without its head chef. And Torrian and Dante can both take care of themselves. Though I question that about Torrian sometimes. You’ve spoiled that boy.”
Deirdre couldn’t refute her sister-in-law’s claim. She knew she’d spoiled both her brother and her son. But taking care of them had been her main objective for so long, she didn’t know how not to focus on them.
“You need to stop worrying about everyone else and concentrate on you for a change.” Paige said. “You’re in Hawaii, girl. Let your hair down. Do something crazy.”
“I didn’t put on any sunscreen before I left my room. That crazy enough for you?” Deirdre inquired with a fair amount of sarcasm.
Her sister-in-law let out an exasperated sigh. “I mean it, Deirdre. You need to stop hiding from life and start living it.” Paige pointed at her. “I know. Tonight after dinner, you and me at the hotel karaoke bar.”
“No way,” Deirdre said. “Feel free to make a fool of yourself, but don’t ask me to join you.”
“Coward,” Paige remarked. Her cell phone rang from within the straw bag she’d carried with her. “Hi baby,” Paige answered, leaving Deirdre no doubt of who was on the other end of the line. “Now? I just got out here.” A pause. “Fine, Torrian. I’ll be up to the room in a few minutes,” she said before disconnecting.
Deirdre held up a hand. “If that was a booty call, I don’t want to hear about it.”
“Didn’t I tell you to get your mind out of the gutter?” Paige admonished. “There’s a cocktail mixer for the coaching staff and Torrian wants me to go with him. I didn’t realize I would be on NFL wife duty for this trip,” Paige grumbled. She tipped her head back and drained her martini glass. “Our dinner reservations are at seven-thirty. I would offer to meet you at your room, but I don’t know how long this meet-and-greet thing is supposed to last.”
“I think I’m enough of a grown-up to find the restaurant on my own.”
“Look who has the nerve to get sassy.” Paige laughed. “Why don’t you act like a grown-up and order yourself a real drink before you leave here,” her sister-in-law said as she got up from the lounge chair. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“See you.” Deirdre waved as Paige headed toward the hotel.
Bringing her gaze back to the aquamarine waves crashing gently along the beach’s shoreline, she mulled over some of the things Paige had accused her of.
She knew how to have fun, Deirdre mentally asserted. Hadn’t she just attended a dinner party given by Torrian’s ex-teammate, Jared Dawson and his fiancée, Chyna McCrea? Of course, she had catered the event, so her attendance was required, but she hadn’t stayed in the back the entire evening fussing over the food. She’d mingled. At least for a few minutes. Hadn’t she?
Deirdre brought the straw to her lips but lowered the pineapple before she could take a sip, frowning as an unsettling picture began to materialize. When was the last time she’d done anything other people might consider fun? Even though she enjoyed the time she spent at the restaurant, that was still technically work. Cooking at home probably didn’t count either.
She had not consciously considered that her life was lacking anything, but Deirdre couldn’t deny the bouts of discontent she’d experienced leading up to this trip. Her dissatisfaction was so apparent it had prompted concern from both Paige and Torrian, which was why they had both insisted she join them here in Hawaii.
Maybe Paige was right. Maybe she did need to loosen up, take a risk or two.
But she was not singing karaoke, Deirdre decided. She wasn’t that crazy.
* * *
Fingering the petals of the lei still draped around her neck, Deirdre navigated her way through the hotel lobby, which bustled with the activity of newly arriving guests. Huge thirty-plus-feet vertical banners welcoming the National and American Football Conference players hung in the lobby, while grass-skirted Hawaiians greeted each newcomer with a smile.
The luggage-laden mob that converged on the elevator bank as Deirdre approached guaranteed that she wouldn’t make it up to her floor anytime soon. Deciding to wait out the crowd at the elevator, Deirdre propped her shoulder against a marble column and surveyed the scene as throngs of NFL players, coaches, and personnel settled into the hotel. Not surprisingly, she recognized several faces. She couldn’t turn on the TV without seeing an NFL player endorsing cereal, tennis shoes, or some kind of sports drink.
Deirdre’s heart skidded to a stop when she caught sight of a familiar set of shoulders just a few feet away. Her eyes slid shut as a rush of heat flowed over her.
She knew he would be here—Paige had told her he would be one of the analysts covering the Pro Bowl for Sports Talk TV. Yet seeing Thelonious Stokes in the flesh still sent a jolt of electricity zipping throughout her body. A moment later, the disquiet that had become a common companion whenever she thought of him settled into her bones. It was bad enough she had to deal with her third-wheel anxiety on this trip. The threat of running into Theo around every corner made her want to search for a flight back to New York.
Wait. What was she thinking? Theo Stokes was not going to send her running. She had come to Hawaii to enjoy herself. His presence shouldn’t have any affect on her whatsoever.
Besides, how hard would it be to
avoid him these next five days? From what she had gleaned from the internet, this resort was massive. And, like Torrian, Theo was here for work, not leisure. She would probably have an easier time avoiding him in Hawaii than she did back in New York.
“Dee?”
Deirdre turned and found herself wrapped in the arms of Sabers running back Cedric Reeves.
“What’s up, Dee? I didn’t realize you were coming to Hawaii.”
“I was coerced,” she said. “Paige wouldn’t take no for an answer. And I decided to take part in the celebrity chef cook-off on Sunday morning. You didn’t leave Payton back in New York, did you?” she asked, referring to Cedric’s wife.
“No, she’s in the room. Been on the phone all day. Working a deal, as usual.”
Cedric’s wife was the sole proprietor of one of the hottest new sports management companies in the business. People thought Cedric was crazy for hiring a female sports agent, but the dynamic couple was definitely having the last laugh. Payton’s agency had exploded with new talent over the last year.
“And I thought I was a workaholic.” Deirdre laughed.
Cedric shook his head. “You’ve got nothing on that woman.” His grin dialed down several notches as his eyes fixated on something just over her shoulder. “I need to go, Dee. Torrian invited us to dinner tonight. I’m assuming you’ll be there?”
“I’ll be there,” she answered.
“Good. See you then.”
He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and backed away, his expression becoming even darker before he turned and headed for the other side of the lobby. Deirdre pivoted to see what had caused Cedric’s abrupt departure and met with a wall of muscled chest sheathed in a light green button down shirt. She took a step back and looked up at Theo Stokes’s strikingly gorgeous face.
“Theo…hello,” she managed to get out.
“Deirdre,” Theo answered with a nod, his eyes drilling into Cedric’s retreating back. The scowl bracketing his mouth didn’t detract one bit from his handsomeness. He was just a couple of years younger than her, but other than a few laugh lines at the corner of his eyes, his skin was as smooth and flawless as a baby’s. It wasn’t fair. Neither were those whiskey-colored eyes that were still trained in the direction Cedric had fled.
Why was he staring at Cedric as if he wanted to snatch him back by the collar of his shirt? And why had Cedric retreated like the Raiders’ defensive line was gunning for him? Something wasn’t right here.
Theo brought his gaze back to her, the scowl lessening. His expression morphed into one of indifference, which was nearly as cutting as if the scowl had remained.
Deirdre took another step back, cursing the flustered feeling that came over her whenever she was around this man, as if she were a silly teenager with a first crush. But she couldn’t help it. Theo Stokes intimidated her just by existing. Even though he’d retired over a year ago, he kept his well-over six-foot frame in top form. He was massive, but completely solid, as if he dared an ounce of fat to sneak onto his body.
“I didn’t expect to see you in Hawaii,” he said. “You’ve never come to the Pro Bowl before.”
His apathetic tone bruised the part of her ego that had been bolstered by his one-time interest in her, but Deirdre refused to feel wounded. She willed her voice to come out as unaffected as his.
“I’m celebrating my birthday on Sunday,” she said. “This trip is my gift from Torrian and Paige.”
He shifted the duffel bag he carried from one hand to the other. “Happy birthday,” he said with an impersonal nod. And without another word, he moved past her toward the bank of elevators.
Deirdre’s chest expanded with the uneasy breath she inhaled, and the anchor of dread that had settled in her stomach sunk even deeper.
As much as she wanted to condemn Theo, Deirdre knew the blame for his terse greeting fell squarely on her shoulders. Paige was right. She was the one who had pushed Theo away. And if the dispassionate exchange she’d just been subjected to was any indication, the probability that he would ever give her another chance was slim to none.
Chapter 2
Theo pulled a twenty from the bills he’d tossed on the dresser and handed it to the room service attendant.
“Mahalo,” the man said, pocketing the tip. “Let me know if you need anything else, Mr. Stokes.”
“Thanks,” Theo replied. He unwrapped the plastic from the tray of freshly cut fruit that he’d just had delivered, and stuffed a wedge of pineapple into his mouth.
Glancing at the digital alarm clock, Theo let out a low curse. It had been less than an hour since he’d been released from a production meeting and he was due to meet with Ambria Cohen, another of the Sports Talk TV producers, in twenty minutes. Her flight into Honolulu had been delayed, and according to her urgent, all caps email, she couldn’t wait until tomorrow morning’s production meeting before speaking with him.
As each hour passed, it became more apparent to Theo that this week in Oahu would be unlike any of the previous he’d spent on the island. This was only his second day here, and he’d already been called into more meetings than the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. If he wanted to enjoy any of the countless diversions Hawaii offered, he’d have to carve out some play time around the network’s schedule.
Though it wasn’t as if he had any plans scheduled for the rare hours of downtime he’d get on this trip anyway. For the first time ever, Theo had elected to fly solo to Hawaii. Just one look at the production schedule and he knew he wouldn’t have time for entertaining. Besides, just the thought of having to deal with some high-maintenance shopaholic who didn’t know the Pro Bowl from the World Series made the back of his neck itch. He’d grown tired of women like that long before he’d given them up.
Theo popped a couple of grapes in his mouth and grabbed his sports jacket from the back of the chair. Pocketing his cell phone, he snatched up the leather portfolio that contained his notes from this afternoon’s meeting.
He made it as far as the door before succumbing to the onslaught of emotion he’d managed to stave off for the past twenty minutes.
Theo’s palm tightened around the handle, but he couldn’t turn it. Not yet. Not until he took a deep breath. Then another.
Shutting his eyes, he lowered his forehead to the door with a solid thump.
Deirdre was out there. Somewhere. Roaming the hotel in that light blue sundress that flowed like a luscious waterfall over her curvy hips and well-rounded butt.
Everything in him pulled tight, his skin prickling as if it had been shot with a thousand needles.
What in the hell was she doing here?
Of all the years for her to come to Hawaii, why this one, when he had everything riding on his performance in front of the camera, and zero time to sit and think about Deirdre and the knots she continued to twist in his stomach?
Was there any chance whatsoever that his being here had played a part in her decision to come?
Right. The woman avoided him like E. coli back in New York, yet she flew all the way to Hawaii just because he would be here? When had his ego started taking steroids?
Deirdre wasn’t here because of him. If the shocked expression on her face when she’d encountered him in the lobby was any indication, she hadn’t expected to run into him at all.
“Just because you’re in a different location, it doesn’t mean anything has changed,” Theo told himself, hoping that if he said it aloud the stupid part of his brain that was hell-bent on breaking through the barrier she’d built around herself would listen. If he’d paid attention to that part of his mind, he would have been on his knees begging Deirdre to tell him just what he’d done to make her despise him.
Maybe despise was too harsh a word. She had never said that she despised him. She just didn’t want anythin
g to do with him.
A pang of hurt gripped his chest.
“Damn, you’re pathetic,” Theo whispered on a terse breath.
No. He wasn’t pathetic. He was through, that’s what he was. He was done with this anguish over Deirdre Smallwood’s lack of interest. And why was he torturing himself anyway? It wasn’t as if he was hard up for female attention. Ever since the day he’d made the saving tackle as a freshman in the state high school championship game, he could get any woman he wanted.
If only he could convince himself that he didn’t want Deirdre.
With a deep breath and a resolve that was tentative at best, Theo twisted the door handle and headed for the elevators. His cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He retrieved the phone, his mouth pulling into a frown the minute he read the text message from Torrian.
REMEMBER DINNER TONIGHT AT JADE.
“Dammit,” Theo cursed. He’d forgotten about the dinner Torrian had arranged since it would probably be the only night all of them would be available. He would have a helluva time avoiding Deirdre with her sitting at the same table.
Thank goodness he had work as an excuse. Even though Ambria had promised in her email that she would only need about twenty minutes of his time, the others didn’t have to know that. He fired off a quick text message to Torrian, apologizing for having to miss tonight’s dinner.
He hated lying to his friends, but he wasn’t up to suffering through an entire meal with Deirdre treating him like a polite stranger. They had known each other for seven years, ever since Torrian’s rookie season with the Sabers. But in the breadth of time it took to issue a few invitations to dinner, Theo had managed to annihilate the friendship they’d once shared.
As he arrived at the elevator, Theo felt a rare grin break out across his face as he spotted his former college teammate, Chad Baker.
“I didn’t realize the Senior Citizen Bowl was happening this week,” Theo called out.
Pleasure Rush Page 2
