“Brooke and I didn’t get to spend much time together as kids.” He balanced the balls in his hands on auto. “We were separated not long after our mom left. A family wanted her, but not me. Usually the social workers don’t like to break up siblings but in this case… They thought it would be better for Brooke to go.”
Abbi just didn’t know what to say to that. A million questions went through her head but she so wasn’t going to ask them. That must have been hideous. To have been separated? To be the one who hadn’t been wanted? But one question slipped out anyway. “How old were you?”
“Five.”
She gaped. “How could they not want you, too?”
“Oh I dunno.” He forced out a laugh. “I guess I was too much boy. I was always stupidly tall. I looked older. Didn’t act older though. I acted my age. So I didn’t live up to expectations people had.”
“Unfair expectations,” Abbi pointed out.
He shrugged. “Don’t look so horrified.” He tossed one of the balls to her. “It turned out I was the luckier one. But she never told me.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Never once told me.”
“Told you what?”
He sighed and then threw the other ball right across the room, where it hit the wall with a loud smack and then bounced on the floor. He turned back to look at her, his eyes hot, angry. “That family looked so fucking perfect. All apple pie and health insurance. And Brooke was the prettiest girl. I thought she was living the fairy tale, you know? Abandoned girl gets picked by the best and lives happily ever after. But they weren’t the best. And she’d never once admitted how bad it was for her. Not for years and years. Not to me.” He choked the words out. “But I saw the bruises on her arm when we had a scheduled visit one time.” He grimaced.
Oh, dear Lord. Poor Brooke. Poor Joe.
“And what happened?”
“I confronted her. Stormed around there acting the big little brother and decked the father. Brooke was livid. Screamed at me. She didn’t want me interfering in her life. It was her business and she could handle it. So…” He shut his mouth, his jaw more chiseled than ever.
“Oh, Joe.”
“Forget it. It’s old history.”
Was it, really? Not when she’d seen the way he’d looked at her. The only family he had and they didn’t even wave across a bar?
“You should talk to her.”
He shook his head. “She’s fine now. She’s better off without me. I’m okay. It’s all good.”
But Abbi wasn’t letting this drop just yet. She hugged the ball close to her stomach. “Why couldn’t she have come to stay with you and the Burnses? Wouldn’t they have welcomed her?”
He bent his head, his chest rising and falling fast like he was speeding up and down the gym. But he wasn’t. He was still. “Trouble with that was things with the Burnses weren’t so good for me, either. Not by then.” He jerked his head up, caught the appalled expression that crossed her face. “Oh, they never lashed out. At least, Ted and Brigit didn’t. But Zach…”
Abbi remembered Zach. Total jock. Ruler of the school sporting scene. Until Joe had arrived. Joe, who’d had more raw talent in his little finger than any of the others put together.
“He resented your success.” Abbi bit her lip. What a mess it must have been.
“Hated it. Hated me. And fair enough. I stole his scholarship. And encroached on his home. I don’t blame him.”
“I had no idea.” But then, why would she? She’d been studying like mad, heading off for math Olympiads and teen-coder conventions.
“Brigit and Ted sat me down, said they thought it might be best if I moved into the boarding house for the rest of the school year. They were right, of course—their family was better off if I wasn’t there. And it suited me. I spent every spare second at basketball camp. Every weekend. Every holiday.”
Her heart tore. She ached to help somehow. Which was stupid because Joe didn’t want help. He just wanted easy times and carefree fun.
Well, she reckoned she was coming to grips with that. Maybe she was the one going to take the tone back to sex this time. “You know how you said I could ask anything?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I’d really like to skinny-dip in your pool, that okay?” She swallowed. “I’ve never swum naked.”
He looked down at her with surprise. “I’d really like to watch you.”
She giggled as he led her over to the door that led to the pool and opened it for her. She shimmied out of her dress and bra and, a moment later, dived in. “Oooh,” she squealed as she surfaced. It was cooler than she’d expected.
He laughed. “People don’t like it too warm when they’re swimming laps.”
“You’re not going to come in?” She smiled back up at him, so glad to see him looking more relaxed. She wanted to splash with him.
“No.” He stood at the edge of the pool. “I never learned to swim until I was an adult, and it’s still not really my thing. The shower, on the other hand…”
“Okay,” she murmured. Yeah, she knew how he liked a shower. But his words tugged her heart—what else had he missed out on as a kid? What had happened to him in all that time before he got to her school?
Had it been rejection after rejection? No wonder he’d played so ferociously on the basketball court. Like his whole life was at stake. It pretty much was.
He stood silent, watching her. She didn’t like that distanced look in his eyes. She wanted playful Joe back. “What about the spa?” she suggested. “Would you like to spend some time relaxing in that?”
His signature grin reappeared. “There’s not enough lubrication if you’re right underwater. And for you to take me, you need lubrication.”
Oh my. There was no point in her trying to be suggestive; he’d top her every time. She slithered over to the edge of the pool.
“It’s my turn for a fantasy,” he muttered as he reached down and hauled her out of the water. “I’m going to fuck you on the floor of the gym in front of the mirrors.”
Her nose wrinkled. She really didn’t want to see her bits wobbling. But she hooked her wet and slippery legs around his waist anyway. “That’s not a good fantasy.”
He laughed and hauled her close. “It is from where I stand.”
Chapter Fourteen
“Don’t dominate the conversation.”
Just after midday the next day, Joe pushed his chair away from his desk and looked longingly out the window at the blue sky. Sitting still and doing paperwork wasn’t his thing. He wondered what Abbi was doing. How long had she been sitting at her computer screen already? It was probably time she had a break from it.
He’d gotten through the morning classes and his first business meeting okay, but Abbi was never far from his mind. But now she was almost the only thing on his mind. He wanted to see her.
But if he was going to play this as easy and light as always, he needed to step back. Too much time together would lead to too much intimacy of the wrong kind—the emotional kind. He knew it worked that way for women, and knew he had to avoid it to keep this okay.
Had he really spilled his guts like that? Telling her things he’d never told anyone—crossing that border from physical intimacy into emotional. Which wasn’t smart. She was too damn easy to talk to. So serene. She didn’t judge. And she’d looked so hurt when she’d caught him looking at Brooke—when she’d thought he was checking out another woman. He couldn’t let her go on thinking it. Couldn’t leave her alone. He’d had to speak, to settle her.
Except she was so quiet about her own life it was almost secretive. And damn it, that wasn’t fair.
He’d never talked to anyone about what those years prior to moving in with the Burns family were like, when he’d gone from one group foster home to another. He’d never talked about the heartbreak of the occasional visit from Brooke, where he looked at the pretty sister who’d grown more and more distant as each visit went by. Or the bitterness and disappointment when Ted Burns had sat
him down and told him it was best if they put him into the boarding hostel at school instead of staying with them at the one home he’d thought he might finally settle into.
Yet he’d talked to Abbi—told her almost the worst thing ever. His heartbreak over what had happened to Brooke. And that stuff the other night about how anxious he’d been when he’d first moved to her school.
He closed his eyes. Regretting it. Because he’d seen the horror in her eyes and he so did not want pity. He was pleased with how his life had turned out. He’d played in the NBA for fuck’s sake.
He’d worked so freaking hard. But he was happy with his life. He’d done okay. More than okay. He didn’t even curse the injury that ended his pro basketball career after only a couple of seasons. There were other things he needed to do. But relationships weren’t part of that.
Yeah. He needed a time out. He still had a week to get the rest of her lessons in. A couple of days’ break would be good.
Except, even as he made that decision, he reached into his pocket and grabbed his phone. He had to let her know, right? Or she’d get all angsty and insecure and he didn’t want to do that to her. She needed the lesson schedule.
What about the art of the flirt-by-text? You game to practice?
He sent the text and waited.
I’m not sending you a sexy pic.
He chuckled at her instant response.
Why not? It could be a good part of your game plan. Tantalize me.
Smiling, he waited again. Again, not for long.
Words are better.
Yes and no. He still ached for the picture. Actually, he ached for the real thing. Not just to look at, not even just to hold. And like she said, words were better.
He wanted to talk to her.
But even as he tried to remind himself about his priorities, his fingers slipped over the touch screen of his phone.
“Hey Joe.”
Pleasure filled him at her rapid answer. At the slight breathiness in her voice.
“How’s your day going?” he asked. Lame.
“Not too bad.”
“You getting all the framework together for your app?”
“It’s coming along nicely.”
He grinned. “Glad to hear it.”
“How about you?” she asked. “Your day going well?”
“Not too bad. Too much paperwork.”
“You’d rather be out doing your jumping jacks or something?”
“Always.” He spun his chair back to face his desk and pushed bits of paper around with his finger. “Whereas you were always the bookworm. Did you go straight to college from school?”
“Yes, I did,” she answered.
“Did well and stayed there for years, I bet.” He didn’t know why he was asking when he knew what her answer would be.
“Yeah.”
It was the brevity of the answer that bothered him. He waited, but she wasn’t volunteering anything extra. His eyes narrowed as he spotted a small rectangular card poking out of his in-tray. He reached forward and grinned as he read the invite. “There’s an art exhibition opening on Saturday night,” he said. “You want to come with me?”
His heart stopped for half a beat—was he really nervous about her reply?
“Of course I want to come with you. But you’re going to an art exhibition?”
He chuckled at the flirt in her voice, but he was less amused at the audible shock about the exhibition. “Why so surprised? One of my gym clients is a sculptor. From what I’ve heard, talented too.”
“Oh. Okay. That would be great. Thank you.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“Okay, uh, what’s the lesson going to be this time?”
“Lesson?” He frowned, then remembered. This was meant to be one of their tutoring sessions. Hell, he’d forgotten. “Ah…you’ll see. Saturday.”
He hung up. Should be satisfied. Saturday was three days away. Plenty of time to have the space he needed.
Perfect.
Twenty-four hours later he tossed his phone onto his desk, not giving a damn if the screen cracked. He couldn’t stand it anymore. He was thinking about her all the fucking time. What he needed was fresh air.
It was only a short walk to her office and before he knew it, he was there. He got the receptionist to phone Nadia, who gave him security clearance to go up to their floor. So it was easy to spin Abbi on her seat and surprise her.
“Hey.”
“What are you doing here?” She looked pleased. He loved the way she sparkled when she saw him.
“You had lunch yet?” he asked.
She brightened more at his suggestion. “No. Give me a second.”
She disappeared for a couple of minutes and looked so bright-eyed when she returned, he couldn’t resist kissing her. Just a brief touch of his lips to hers. Forty seconds later he had to stop and get them out of the building before he really lost it.
Apparently making out in cubicles was frowned on by management.
Abbi chuckled and reached up to kiss him again as soon as they got out onto the pavement. Giving in to temptation, he gripped her hips and pulled her closer. He swept his hands over her butt, sliding over the silky fabric of her skirt.
His heart stopped. “You’re not wearing any panties.”
She pulled back and arched her brows. “You told me not to. First lesson. I took them off upstairs two minutes ago.”
He was finding it difficult to breathe.
She thought he’d come to her for lunchtime quickie? He hadn’t. Though he wouldn’t say no, and yes he’d been thinking about having sex with her all morning. But that really wasn’t why he’d—hell.
She didn’t expect to see him for any other reason. And why should she? That was the arrangement and that was okay, wasn’t it?
She ran a finger down his chest, bringing him back to the moment. “You taught me the lesson about anticipation already. And spontaneity. What’s the message here?”
“Sorry.” He didn’t want to disappoint her, but he was gonna have to. “I can’t mess you up for the office. You have to work all afternoon and I have a meeting.”
“And I thought you were a wild one.”
He laughed. “Oh no. I was always discreet. Never did anything to compromise anyone or get myself into trouble.”
“Except for making me come at the game the other night.”
“Yeah, except for that.” He still didn’t feel sorry for it. But it was out of character for him. “I’m gonna have to rescind the lunch offer though. I can’t be held responsible for my actions if we stay here longer and I really don’t want to mess you up.” Though right now it felt like he was the one getting messed up.
“Then I’ll see you later,” she said, her voice husky, teasing.
She put her hand in his and turned to walk back into the office. He curled his fingers around her small ones.When she left him in the lobby he couldn’t resist lingering to watch her walk to the stairs. Damned if she didn’t have the peachiest ass he’d ever seen. Knowing there was nothing under that pretty silk drove him crazy. He was a lunatic for letting her walk away.
With an irritated sigh he turned and found Nadia standing just to the side of him, watching him knowingly. He hadn’t even seen her leave the building earlier.
“I know,” she murmured. “Believe me, I know.”
Joe cleared his throat.
“Don’t fuck with her though,” Nadia said.
No. He didn’t want to do that at all. “Someone else has already done that.”
“Yeah, and she doesn’t need a repeat. He did enough to her self-esteem. She’s just now getting back on her feet. Don’t undo the good that’s been done, that’s all I’m saying.”
Joe lifted his hands. “I’m just now starting to fully understand what a fucknut her ex was.” He eyed Nadia speculatively and decided to try fishing for info. “She’s not that easy to get to know.” Which she wasn’t. She’d spent time physically pleasing him, list
ening to him waffle on about the old days, but now that he thought about it she hadn’t offered up much about herself—only some minor info about her breakup and hating Elle Manning in high school.
Nadia turned an impassive face toward him. “Try harder.”
Joe grinned as Nadia walked away. He should’ve known he had no chance of getting Nadia to confide any of Abbi’s secrets. She was way too good a friend.
Abbi was the kind of person to attract good friends. Protective friends. Because Abbi wasn’t just a sexpot in training. She was a sweetheart.
Damn it.
Chapter Fifteen
“Go for subtle sexy. It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed.”
At 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Abbi rolled her eyes at her reflection. This was the third dress she’d tried on and there was no way she was going without panties. It had been fine for that five-minute flirt in the bar, while knowing full well she’d be off somewhere private with him super quick. But for an art exhibition? With lots of other people?
She was wearing panties. But Joe had told her not to wear them.
She looked at her reflection again. No-brainer. His punishment wouldn’t be anything awful; in fact, it might even be enjoyable.
She grinned wickedly at her reflection. Oh yeah, she was ready to test him out.
He picked her up right on time, looking hot as ever in jeans again. The guy did casual so well.
“I really like this dress,” he complimented. “I’m looking forward to taking it off.”
“Thanks.” She swatted his arm as she walked with him out to his car. “So what kind of sculpture—marble, metal, clay?”
“No clue. We’ll be surprised together.” He laughed.
It turned out to be amazing—giant metalwork pieces showcased in a huge converted warehouse. Apparently the artist attended Joe’s most hard-core muscle training classes, and Abbi could see why he needed to if he worked on lumps of metal this size.
Joe walked around each piece with her, holding her hand. She had no idea what he had planned for tonight’s lesson, but her anticipation levels were rising with every minute. And her happiness meter as well, because the guy was gorgeously attentive.
Taming His Tutor (Entangled Brazen) Page 13
