She cringed at what was about to come out of her mouth. “As friends, I guess? We both have jobs to do, and at the end of next week I’ll be back in New York and you’ll be in the thick of pre-season games. It’s better if we stay focused on what we’re here to do. But, you’re right.” She smirked and blinked her eyelashes at him. “You are a total bastard.”
Garrett barked a laugh, the sound ringing her ears as the tension around them lessened. “Now that we have that cleared up, some of the guys and their wives are going out to dinner tonight. You wanna go?”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Like a date?” Hadn’t they just been over this?
“Nope. Like dinner. Friends, remember?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Why not?”
The playful spark in his eyes made her grateful his mood seemed to be improving. She hoped it lasted. “No.”
“I thought you were supposed to keep an eye on me.” He gave her that smile again. The one that promised long, slow, deep pleasure.
Damn him.
“Oh, that’s right, Jessa. I know all about why you’re here. So, what’s to stop me from doing something stupid if you aren’t there to make sure I behave myself?”
Jessa knew what he was doing. Using that wicked Southern charm to goad her into going. “I have responsibilities, Garrett.” She leveled her gaze on him. “I can’t go out drinking with a bunch of ballplayers.”
“And their wives,” he added. “For dinner. If you don’t want to drink, don’t drink. Eat, dance, laugh. Blow off steam like the rest of us. Besides, I’m one of your responsibilities. And I’m going out tonight. Sure would be nice to have a chaperone.” His sing-songy voice trailed off as he watched her.
“It’s weird for me,” she blurted. She hated to admit it, but she wanted him to understand.
“Dinner is weird?”
“Jesus, Garrett.” She laughed, amazed at the difference a few ounces of caffeine could make. “No. People are different around me, you know, because of my dad. It’s really hard to get to know someone when they’re always afraid to speak their minds for fear I’ll run and tell him every word. I don’t want to spend the evening with a bunch of people being fake nice to me.”
He put a hand over his heart. “I give you my word it won’t be like that. Come on, Jess. Live a little. You do know how to have fun, don’t you?”
The challenge was clear. She pinched the bridge of her nose. It was too early to have a headache but she was fast on her way. Her dad had accused her of never having any fun, and now Garrett. Well, to hell with both of them. She could have fun. And she’d go all out, too. Hair, makeup, new outfit. The works. Which meant she’d have to get busy.
“All right, Garrett.”
His smile morphed into a frown. “What is that look? And why am I suddenly scared?”
She reached over and patted him on the knee. “It’ll be okay. You’re right. I’ll go. It’s about time I stepped out.”
*
Jessa cocked her head to the side and stared at the woman in the mirror as if she were a complete stranger.
I can’t do this.
She’d managed to get a little work done that morning, but with Garrett spending the majority of the day with his strength coach and working the PR schedule his agent had set up, she hadn’t felt too guilty about slipping out early.
She’d spent the first two hours at a local spa she’d found that could work her in. She’d walked out waxed and buffed and feeling more relaxed than she had in days.
Until the shopping.