He eased down beside her, taking in her little skirt spread out in the sand. The shimmering top left most of her tanned back bare, while her breasts pressed teasingly against the thin fabric, nipples pebbled in the cool air.
Interesting outfits youve been choosing lately, he heard himself observe, dragging his gaze away from her sexiness.
I needed a new look, she told him, nodding out to sea. If I want to snag a man.
Something hitched in Mitchs stomach. You want to find a man?
Of course I want to find a man. All women want to find a man. She turned back to him and pointed her index finger for emphasis. And if they tell you they dont, well Well, maybe they dont. But most of them do. And I do.
Her eyes were round and soft in the glow from the gardens. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were pursed in a determined little moue that he wanted so badly to kiss. He gritted his teeth against the unruly urge, his stomach tightening.
You had them lining up at the Moberly Club, he pointed out. You must have danced with Jeffrey five times.
Jeffreys nice, she sighed.
Mitch felt his gut clench tighter. He needed to nip this Jeffrey fixation in the bud. Jeffreys not a good guy for you.
Im not that crazy about his ponytail.
Well. Good. Not that the ponytail was the biggest worry by any stretch of the imagination.
Jeffrey likes you a lot. She smoothed out a patch of sand with her palm, then traced her fingertips in a pattern through it.
At the moment, Mitch couldnt say he was exactly returning the favor. What if Jeffrey decided to cut his ponytail? Mitch would cut off a ponytail. For the right woman.
Wait a minute. What was he saying? There was no right woman. There were only women. Plural. Sophisticated and uncomplicated, and in keeping with his pro-football lifestyle.
Jenny smoothed out the sandy patch again, then drew a big heart with her index finger.
Mitch found himself waiting for her to draw initials.
Jeffrey says youre psychic, she put in instead.
Mitch glanced up. He what?
He told me you were psychic. She pushed the sand off her hand and held it out to him, palm up. Go ahead. Read my future. She came to her knees looking decidedly earnest. Tell me about the tall, dark, handsome dream man Im going to marry. Id like two kids, a white picket fence. And throw in a dog, will you?
He took her hand, realizing it was just an excuse to touch her, but not particularly caring.
She looked so sweet in the dappled light.
What kind of dog? he asked, pretending to take her seriously.
A Dalmatian.
Isnt that a little big?
She gazed up at him. This isnt how its supposed to work. You tell me what kind of dog.
Oh. All right. He obediently looked down at her outspread hand.
He gave in to the temptation to run the pad of his thumb over her palm, tracing the faint lines on her soft skin. I predict a long and happy life.
Thats lame.
I thought everybody wanted a long and happy life.
You need to be more specific.
Okay. He squinted. Here we go. Next Tuesday. He paused. Youre going to buy a purple dress.
She tipped her head, peering closer. Will it help me snag a man?
Tall, dark and handsome, he put in, ignoring the jolt of emotion at the thought of her on a honeymoon with some random stranger. It was bad enough watching her dance with Jeffrey.
Tall, dark and handsome, he put in, ignoring the jolt of emotion at the thought of her on a honeymoon with some random stranger. It was bad enough watching her dance with Jeffrey.
A serene smile grew on her face. That sounds nice.
Mitch found he didnt like her reaction, not one little bit. Wait a minute, he elaborated. He cheats on you and you kick him to the curb.
What? No. No way.
Mitch shrugged. Afraid so.
Youre lying.
I calls em as I sees em.
She tugged her hand away and gazed out across the bay. Youre a terrible fortune-teller.
He couldnt help but chuckle at her outrage. To make amends, he held out his own hand. Here, you predict mine.
She didnt even bother to look at it. Youre going to die alone and lonely.
What did I do to deserve that? Not that he was denying it. It was most likely true.
Youre a heartbreaker, Mitch.
Not on purpose. There had been a few women whod expressed disappointment that he didnt want to get into a serious relationship. Hed always chalked it up to the fame and money factors. He knew he wasnt enough of a prize that a woman might actually miss him for himself.
Results the same, she told him. And she looked so dejected, that he found himself desperate to put the smile back on her face.
How bout I make up for being such a cad, he teased. I could get you a Dalmatian puppy. Or a kitten. Kittens are a lot less work.
She gave him a look of exasperation. I dont want a pet.
She wanted a man. He got it. He hated it, but he got it. She wanted the kind of man Mitch would never be. He knew what he should say, knew what he had to say and what he had to do.
His tone was decisive. Ill help you find one.
A pet?
A man.
Jennys eyes went wide. What?
If youre sure thats what you want. His voice grew stronger. Im here for you, Jenny. I know a lot of men. Jeffreys a bad choice, but-
She jumped to her feet, swiping the sand off the back of her denim skirt. Have you lost your mind?
He watched the strokes of her palms for a moment, but then quickly checked his wandering imagination. Im happy to help out, he lied, rising with her.
You are not going to fix me up with your friends.
It certainly wasnt his first choice, but it was a perfectly practical approach to her problem. And to his. Since mooning after her like a lovesick adolescent wasnt getting him anywhere. I dont see why not.
Because its insulting, for one.
How is that insulting? I have nice friends. Most of them are physically fit. Most have money. Many of them are considered handsome.
Read my lips. She stared up at him in the dim light.
His gaze went obediently to her mouth.
No, she enunciated.
Wow. Such a coherent and cohesive argument.
Her eyes crackled emerald. Hell, no.
He couldnt help but grin.
Mr. Hayward? came a strangers voice.
Mitch swiftly cut his attention to a cluster of teenage boys tentatively approaching across the sand.
Is that you?
Mitch inwardly sighed but mustered up a hearty professional smile for the teenagers. It sure is.
There were five in all, maybe sixteen or seventeen years old. Barefoot, they wore knee-length, brightly colored shorts topped with an assortment of team T-shirts.
Wow, one breathed, while a couple of the boys elbowed each other playfully.
We play varsity for Gulfport Collegiate.
Took State last year.
Im a quarterback, just like you.
Mitch widened his smile. Congratulations, he offered to them collectively.
Man, I wish we had something he could sign.
I wish we had a ball.
The tallest jumped up and made a mock catch. Mitch Hayward, right on the money.
His friends chuckled at their own cleverness.
Except for Davey, here, one spoke up, taking the smallest of the group in a headlock.
The short boy struggled to get out.
Davey doesnt play, said the tall one.
Too puny, voiced another.
One of my best friends is your size, Davey, Mitch offered, and the larger boy immediately let him go.
He played baseball in high school. Mitch folded his arms across his chest. But he spent most of his time in the computer lab. His software company now owns twenty percent of the Texas Tigers. Mitchs gaze took in the rest of the group. Youll want to treat Davey with a little respect. One day, he might be signing your paychecks.
Davey grinned, while the rest of the boys sobered, obviously absorbing the information.
Tell you what, said Mitch. I think I can do a little better than an autograph. Davey, you drop me an email through the Tigers website, and Ill hook us up with some tickets to the next Houston game.
Five sets of eyes went wide. Seriously, man?
You bet. He draped an arm across Jennys shoulders. But right now Ive got some pizza getting cold.
Oh, man!
Thats awesome!
Thank you, sir!
The boys calls of appreciation followed them as he steered Jenny along the path to the restaurant veranda.
Were you serious about that? she asked.
The tickets?
No. Well, you better have been serious about the tickets.
I was.
I meant about Cole. I assume Cole was the baseball player in your story.
He was.
She twisted her head to stare up at him. Cole owns part of the Texas Tigers?
He owns a company that owns part of the Texas Tigers.
Why hasnt he ever said anything?
To who? I knew. I expect plenty of other people did, too.
I never knew.
He gave her shoulder a reflexive squeeze. Youre smart, Jenny. But nobody knows everything.
She harrumphed. Well, now I know this.
Does that put him on your husband list?
Jenny immediately jerked away from Mitchs arm, glaring at him, putting a few feet of distance between them while her voice ramped up an octave. How dare you?
He wasnt really sure how hed dared. The question had just popped out.
Have I ever done anything to make you think Id marry a man for his money?
I only just found out you wanted to get married at all. Though he supposed hed long since suspected. Jenny was exactly the kind of girl who should settle down with a family. Shed be a great mother, an amazing wife.
He swallowed against a dry throat.
And I am exceedingly sorry I ever told you that. She put her nose in the air and flounced toward the veranda, ending the conversation.
Five
Jenny kicked off her boots and tossed her small purse onto one of the two queen-size beds in the opulent hotel room in downtown Houston. It was nearly two in the morning. The excitement of the game and party had long since worn off, and now she was simply exhausted.
I dont understand why you said no, Emily said as she dropped down onto the couch that faced two blue upholstered armchairs in front of a bay window offering a view of the nighttime city.
To Mitch, fixing me up? You dont see an inherent conflict there?
You mean because youre in love with him?
You mean because youre in love with him?
I am not in love with him, she quickly denied. I was temporarily infatuated with him. And, sure, I slept with him. But I recognized my mistake, and Im moving on.
So, wheres the conflict? Heck, Id like him to set me up. Did you get a look at some of his friends?