“I mean, you’re the only sweaty man I want. Shit, you know what I mean! You can’t hold me responsible for anything I say when you’re tickling me.” She swatted his ass. “Get off. Go shower and I’ll take care of dinner.”
Part of him wanted to forget hearing the love word come out of her mouth. Another part wanted to hear it again. He’d be ignoring that last part. “Come, shower with me.” He pressed his nose into her neck, breathing in her scent. God, she always smelled so good. “I’ve been dying to get you wet all day.”
Her lighthearted laugh warmed the center of his chest. He could definitely get used to that sound.
“Considering what happened earlier today, I’d say you accomplished your goal.”
She pushed against him until he finally released her with a sigh. “I’m really dirty. Not sure I can reach all the places that need reaching.”
Her eyes were back on the sportscast. “You’ll have to manage. I’ve got to make a few more calls and then I’ll order us something to eat. Anything in particular you’re craving?”
He arched a brow, curling his lips as he looked at her breasts. Oh yeah, he had a craving. “I’d be happy to show you what I’d like to eat, darlin’.”
“It’s called time management, Garrett. If I get my work done while you shower, we’ll have more time to …” She put her palms on his thigh and pushed herself up to plant a chaste kiss on his mouth, giving him an amazing view straight down her shirt in the process. He groaned. She wasn’t wearing a bra. “… have dinner.”
She was killing him. “You’re a tease. Evil, wicked, tease.”
She pecked his mouth again and moved away. “Protein. You need protein. Steak okay?”
He wasn’t going to win. He hadn’t known her long, but long enough to know she was back in business mode. He’d make sure she made it up to him later. “Yeah, steak is great. Medium rare, if you don’t mind.”
“Baked potato?”
“No, thanks, but a salad would be great.”
She shook her head. “I’d never guessed you’d turn down potatoes for a salad. I figured a farm boy like you would be all about meat and potatoes.”
He patted his stomach as his cell phone rang. “Gotta watch my figure.” He put the phone to his ear. “Hey, Harlon.” He mouthed a thank you to Jessa and hitched his thumb toward the bedroom.
She smiled and made a shooing motion at him, indicating he should go.
He looked back at her as he entered the bedroom. She was typing on her laptop again, taking frequent glances at the TV. A warm feeling spread through him. It was all so natural, her being here. It felt good. Right.
Oh boy.
The voice drifting through the phone got his attention. “Yeah, I’m here, man. What’s up?”
*
Mortified. That was the only way to describe how Jessa felt. She’d said she loved him. Well, not really. Had she?
Shit.
She was getting in too deep. Her father would blow an artery if he found out what she’d been doing with his star player. And she’d be going back to New York soon. Sure, Garrett would be taking up residence there once the season started, but that didn’t mean anything. None of it meant anything. They were passing time together. Very pleasurable time, but that was it. Nothing more.
Yeah, her heart wasn’t buying it any more than her brain.
She needed to keep things light. Fun. As if they were friends. With benefits.
‘Cause that never goes wrong.
It was over an hour before Garrett returned, his hair wet from the shower. His face was drawn, a furrow occupying the space between his brows.
“Everything all right?”
He nodded. “Yeah. It’s just … my mom, ya know?”
No. She really didn’t. Jessa didn’t remember her mom. She’d seen pictures and heard the stories, but the only story that mattered was the one that ended with her mother leaving her husband and child without a word. “What about her?”