by Debra Elise
Croissants were Kelsey’s Sunday splurge. After the evening she’d had, she deserved two. When she’d left Maverick Jansen staring after her, she’d found T.S. She’d debated telling him about her encounter, but thought he’d make too much of it, so she kept quiet.
He had his driver drop her off at her condo, with the promise her car would be delivered the next morning so she didn’t have to go back to his office. She spent the night dreaming about a blue-eyed knight gifting her with dazzling smiles at every turn.
All in all, she was proud of herself on how she’d handled both men and couldn’t wait to share the news with her best friends. Now that she was back in town for a while they could pick up their old college ritual of croissants and coffee. If they ever got here. Lara had been through a bad breakup last year and Kelsey was worried about the amount of partying she’d been doing lately.
She loved being back in Pineville. It was a vacation destination community and made for some interesting nightlife. Tourists arrived in early June to play on neighboring Lake Coeur d’Alene, and the area’s world-class golf courses in the summer and surrounding ski mountains in the winter. Today was a chilly fifty degrees and the sky promised rain.
So far, she had the upscale pastry shop, Just Desserts, all to herself as she sipped her favorite drink, a caramel and white chocolate macchiato with whipped cream. She was biting into her croissant when Lara finally made her appearance.
A bundle of energy, Lara had her sun-bleached blond hair pulled up in a side pony, a bright pink warm-up suit and owl-eye sunglasses. Kelsey couldn’t help but grin and shake her head at her bestie. Even hungover, Lara managed to pull off the chic effect.
After hugs and a few tears, they picked up like it hadn’t been over a year since they’d last seen each other.
“So where was the party last night? Sully’s or Club Cortana?” Kelsey asked.
“You think you know me so well, Kelsey Sullivan. I’ll have you know I was home and in bed by ten p.m.,” Lara answered.
“Really? I find that odd, and yes, I do know you well. Friends like us can’t hide the truth for long, Miss Sass. Now give.” Kelsey took another sip of her drink and added, “Your night had to be more fun than mine, maybe.” She placed her chin in her hand and gave Lara a pointed stare. She always won their staring contests, even when they were seven.
“Now who’s fibbing, Ms. Society. I wasn’t the one having cocktails with the pillars of our community and hot baseball players. Thanks for the text last night, by the way, letting me know where you were. It was the highlight of my night.”
Something was off with her friend and Kelsey was about to ask what was going on when Noel strolled in, cell glued to her ear. Where Lara was easygoing and the life of the party, Noel worked nonstop. She spent her off hours building her interior design business. No partying for her. The serious one of the three, they often had to physically drag her out to have fun.
“Hi, sorry I’m late. But I have this new client and she’s proving to be . . . a challenge.” The tallest of the three of them, her hair several shades darker than Lara’s, and curves in all the right places. She also could eat whatever she wanted and not gain an ounce. Kelsey would hate her for that if she didn’t love her so much.
“So, what’d I miss?” Noel asked.
Lara leaned back in her chair and answered first. “We were getting ready to debate who had the worst evening. And I’m pretty sure I’ll win. “I spent it with an overserved, wanna-be golf pro who pawed me every chance he could. Until he passed out in our booth, that is.”
“He did not.” Kelsey was instantly sympathetic. “Damn, you had such high hopes for George too.”
Noel rubbed her arm. “Me too, Lara. I thought he might be a keeper.”
“Yeah, well, he was doing his best to keep his drinking problem a secret. I think something happened to tip him over the edge. He broke down on me last night and confessed some past sins better left in the vault. I don’t know how you do it with your clients, Kelsey. Listening to their problems and confessions, then having to fix them. Doesn’t it ever get you down?”
Kelsey looked at her “life is good” friend and took a moment before she answered. She’d had plenty of things in her life get her down, but what she did for a living wasn’t one of them. An absentee father and an alcoholic mother who both hopped from one bad relationship to another had tested Kelsey’s resolve, but she never let it bleed over into her work.
Kelsey knew at a young age she wasn’t going to let herself end up like her mom. And she thought if she took psychology courses in college along with business classes she could fix her mother. Too bad it didn’t work. But it taught her an important life lesson. People only changed if they really wanted it bad enough.
Funny how life worked. She ended up using her minor in psychology to help in her media consultation business. She might not be able to change a person’s thoughts or behaviors but she could guide them and give them the tools to make better decisions. Her business boomed.
She went from Kelsey the fixer in grade school to Hollywood’s most sought-after PR consultant. And it was in school where she and Lara and Noel first met.
One day in second grade, Kelsey came to her best friend’s defense without making the bully or Lara feel bad. In the end the bully had become another lifelong member of their circle. Noel. She wasn’t really a bully, just lonely and in need of friends.
“Lara, do you remember when Noel was teasing you about your shoes back in grade school?”
Lara nodded and sat forward, crossing her arms in front of her on the small table. Long over the trauma of the event, both women grinned at each other.
“That was the day I felt it,” Kelsey said.
“Felt what?”
“The rush of helping. And not the ordinary, ‘oh you dropped your package, let me get that for you’ helping. No, that was the day I realized I could make a difference in how someone else thought, felt, and looked at others and themselves.”
“Hmm, come to think of it, you did seem pretty jazzed when Noel sat down at lunch with us.”
“Yup, and even when I went home that day and told my mom what had happened, I didn’t let her reaction dim my happy glow. I ignored her scolding me, that ‘no good’ would come of helping someone because everyone was out for themselves, blah, blah, blah.”
“Right, didn’t she ground you or something?” Noel asked.
“I’m sure she did. But you know, looking back, it’s all been worth the crap she put me through. I’ve come to terms with how she couldn’t be anyone other than who she is, even when she refused to help herself. And even though I still want to fix her to this day, I no longer feel sorry for that little girl who ended up being more mother than daughter.”
Lara leaned over and placed her hand over Kelsey’s. “You’ve come so far, Kelsey. And now you’ve got a great business, and both Noel and I are so happy to have you back with us. Now, tell us what we really want to know.”
“And that would be?”
“Tell us about all the hot players you got to hang out with last night and don’t leave anything out.” Finishing off her croissant, Kelsey smiled at the women who’d been in her life since childhood. Damn, it was good to be home.
Chapter 7
“Thanks for meeting me on such short notice, Mr. Jansen.” Kelsey couldn’t sit still. Her nerves were getting the better of her and she crossed her legs, again. She took a moment to calm herself and admired the restaurant. Soft yellow walls with the glossy surfaces of the tables and the floor-to-ceiling windows created a fusion of old-world charm.
“I know you have an early morning pitching camp tomorrow, but we need to get on top of the firestorm you’re in the middle of and I believe the first thing you should do is send out an apology on Twitter. You could do it right now actually.”
Maverick’s gaze didn’t miss a thing; she’d caught him staring at her legs.
“Call me Maverick. So why didn’t you tell me who you were t
he other night at the party? Did you set it up just to test me?”
There was no anger in his voice, but his hands clenched and Kelsey noticed a slight tic underneath his right eye.
On his gorgeous face.
Keep it professional, Kelsey, she chided herself. And she would. After all, professional was her middle name. She’d decided last night that in order to distance herself from the superstar and the man who’d triggered something new, something exciting within her, she’d address him as Mr. Jansen.
Clearing her throat, she continued. “I’ve read everything I could find on your career, your personal life, but I’d like to hear it from you. If we’re going to restore your reputation, I need to know it all. Let’s start with the video,” Kelsey said.
“How about you call me Maverick? Everyone else does.” He grinned.
Damn those dimples.
“Why are you avoiding using my name?” he prompted, while his smile made her insides twist and shout.
“Um, I’d rather keep this on a purely professional level and I promised T.S. he would be the one to tell you about my new role with the Outlaws and with you. I didn’t want to break his confidence.”
“That’s not much of a reason. Sure, T.S. hired you, but we’re going to be working together—closely, and I don’t want to start off our association with secrets or hidden agendas. Plus, I want to hear how you say Maverick.” He took a moment and made a production of looking her up and down. Damn if she didn’t feel it right to her bones.
Her skin heated as his gaze traveled up her legs, making them itch with awareness. Higher to her waist and then he briefly stopped on her chest. An area that she was desperately trying to control movement in by using a breathing technique she learned in yoga. One she also found quite helpful when she was stressed. And lordy, was she stressed now, but he didn’t need to know that.
Kelsey wasn’t going to give him a reason to continue his flirtation. She didn’t want him thinking she was as easy to woo as every other woman he came across or that she’d fall all over herself for a chance to be seen on his arm—or naked in his bed.
“Mr. Jansen?” She put a thread of old schoolmarm into her tone. “Eyes up here. I know you’re used to women fawning all over you and maybe you even think you can sweet talk me, but I can assure you that it won’t work,” she said.
“It won’t?” He blinked and gave her a look of innocence she knew darn well wasn’t.
“No. There is a goal here and playing footsie is not a part of it. I need your cooperation. Not your seduction attempts,” Kelsey responded.
He shifted forward and placed his forearms on the table between them. “Kelsey, look, I know you think I’m what the media portrays me to be. And maybe I tend to play it up a bit too much, but that spark I felt with you last night, that was real. And professional relationship or not, I plan on exploring it. So, fair warning, Doll Face, when it comes to something I really want, I rarely play fair.”
Oh. My. She was in trouble. She needed to get back on equal footing with this man and fast. “Right. Duly noted. Now back to Operation Restore Reputation.”
“Excuse me?” Mav said.
“I name all my projects and for you I’ve dubbed this ‘Operation Restore Reputation.’ It helps me focus on the goal. Typically, my clients find it reassuring.”
“Well, I’m not typical, and we don’t need a silly name to label what I think is a pretty straightforward solution. Take pictures of me working with disadvantaged kids, or going to the openings of hospitals and boom. Problem solved.” He sat back with a Cheshire grin on his handsome face. She wanted to scream.
“Look, I’m not playing games here. You have a major image problem. I’ve been hired to repair that problem and I’m damn good at what I do. Silly name or not, T.S. assured me I would have your full cooperation for at least the next two weeks. But it doesn’t look like you’re willing to give me what, a mere twenty minutes, so . . . what’s it going to be?” She began tidying up the papers she had placed in front of him and stared him down.
“Now hold on a sec, put that evil eye back in its cage. I’m only making conversation and you’re treating this as if we need to solve cold fusion or some damn thing,” Mav said.
“Do you want my help or not? Because I can assure you that TMZ is not going to let up on you and lookatme.com is ignoring all the team lawyer’s calls. It’s your decision, Mr. Jansen. You in, or are you out?” Kelsey demanded.
Maverick had been staring at her mouth the entire time she scolded him. She reached for her water glass and took a few sips. She looked back at him and noticed his gaze still on her as she licked her lips. A low groan sounded. Was that him, or her?
This was ludicrous. If she didn’t get her libido under control, all hope of having the upper hand with Maverick Jansen would be lost.
“When you work up a good head of steam, you’re stunning, Kelsey. And . . . no, wait, please sit down.” Maverick pushed his chair back and placed his hand on her forearm to guide her back into her chair.
“Yes, of course I’m in. Please take a breath, let me buy you a glass of wine, anything. Stay. Please?”
For the first time in their short acquaintance, Maverick appeared unsure of himself. Maybe he realized he’d played his hand a bit too aggressively? She hesitated and glared at him. Thoughts of him groveling on his knees made her smile. So she stayed. Crossed her arms, and gave him another chance.
Not five minutes into their meeting and he’d managed to tick her off. Not a good start. Damn, how was he going to break through her cool exterior? She was turning out to be a tough cookie and he needed to get inside her pretty little head to convince her they’d be perfect together.
“Mr. Jansen, have you ever done charity work?”
Her voice sounded way too prim and proper. If this was going to work between them, he needed to set one thing straight.
“Look, if this relationship is going to work, you’re going to have to call me Maverick.” She opened her mouth, but he cut her off.
“And without that scolding tone you use too. Hell, you sound like my grandma every time you refer to me in that tone. And the last image I want in my head when you scream my name as you come, is my Gramma Jansen.” Maverick sat back and waited for the fireworks.
Kelsey blinked and blushed. “Does it really matter what I call you? How about Mr. Asshole? Would that work?”
“Would you be wearing lingerie? If yes, you can call me anything you want.” That damn grin appeared again and her lower half went liquid.
“How did I lose control of this meeting?” Kelsey mumbled to herself. She picked up her purse and made to rise from the table again, but he placed a large warm hand on hers. She hesitated but managed to get out one more scolding. “And don’t call me Doll Face.”
“Why? It fits you. And I like how you get all flustered when I say it.”
“Why do you always do that?” she asked.
“Do what?”
“Fall back on flirtation? Is it so hard for you to have a straightforward conversation with a woman without peppering it with innuendos?”
“I can assure you that everything I say to you is not a line, and I stand behind each comment I’ve made to you as sincere and honest. Besides, I definitely plan on making you scream my name.” Maverick watched as she opened her mouth, closed it again, and repeated the action at least two more times. He had her right where he wanted her. Off balance.
“Maybe I’m trying to break through your protective layer to the soft inner one I know is just begging to be revealed? I can see it in your eyes when you look at me, Kelsey. You can’t hide the desire I see and I want to be the one to let it out.”
When she didn’t say anything, he thought he’d miscalculated. “Damn, why won’t you budge? I mean, do I stink? Have bad breath?” Maverick coughed into his hand to check his breath and she broke.
Her laughter was like a balm. It punched him point blank in the gut and he felt lighter. It was her first unguarded moment
with him and he was hooked. He wanted, needed more.
“There you are. Nice to meet you, Kelsey Sullivan.” He held out his hand and introduced himself. “Hi, I’m Rand Jansen, but my friends call me Maverick. I hope you will too.”
Chapter 8
Damn all charming men. This one was going to be her downfall. Kelsey could feel it. She didn’t know how to respond to such blatant seduction. Her one semi-serious relationship had hardly been the heart-pounding, I-can’t-live-without-him connection.
Deep inside her, way down where she’d buried all her dreams of happily ever after, a trigger had tripped. Her skin still tingled from his touch, and her heart pounded. It was on the verge of escaping the thick, cold shield she’d created around it each time he smiled at her. She needed to diffuse this situation.
“I see the wheels turning in your pretty little head, Kelsey, but you have to promise me one thing?” Maverick asked.
“What’s that?”
“Stop trying to fix me,” he demanded.
“But that’s my job.”
“No, your job is to repair my damaged reputation in the eyes of the media-crazed society and ensure the ticket-buying public I’m not unstable because of a couple of bad choices,” Maverick said.
“All right, I’ll strike ‘fix’ from my vocabulary, but you do need my help and I have a few ideas.” Kelsey noticed his eyes had changed in color, from a cornflower blue to something darker, dangerous. Exciting.
“A shrink, right? T.S. mentioned it in our meeting earlier and I agreed only because I need to save my career.” Maverick lifted his chin in defiance. “There’s nothing wrong with my head.”
“I have a college friend whom I’d like you to meet. Her name is Dr. Caris Sloane. She’s very well respected in the area and she’ll do her best to . . .”
“Fix me?”
Oh, the man was truly pissed now. “No, think of it like a checkup for a well-tuned sports car. Even the best machines need maintenance now and again.”
“Maintenance, huh?” He squinted at her and crossed his well-defined arms. She noted the fine dusting of dark blond hair on them as her gaze traveled to his long, blunt fingertips. She had trouble not thinking of his earlier touch and having those arms wrap around her and . . .
