The sun was hot and I sipped my water until it was gone. I had no idea how long they practiced, but I needed a few hours before dinner to begin typing notes from my recorder. My first article was due Sunday morning. I wanted it ready and only needing a line or two added after the final score of the match.I left the field while the team was practicing the jumping lift thing I'd seen in a few videos. My room was nice and cool. I finished typing my notes by six and took a shower in preparation for dinner.With limited options, I decided on comfortable jeans and a loose, dark blue top. I wore flat shoes because they were steady. I don't know why I put on a little more makeup than usual. God, now I was lying to myself. I knew exactly why I added the extra makeup and his name was a three-letter word.Van knocked on my door at seven. He held a vase of yellow daisies and had a slight blush on his cheeks. What Van was this? I would bet a paycheck the man never blushed in his life."They re
Van took my elbow and led me through the packed parking lot. I didn't object because it seemed more helpful than proprietary. He released me when he opened the door. It was dark inside and it was a moment before my eyes adjusted. People milled around waiting for tables. Van took my arm again and guided me into the restaurant seating area.What the hell was he doing?A table near the back in a quiet corner had a reserved sign on it. Van pulled my chair out, walked behind me, and took the inside chair beside mine. The realization hit that he pre-planned this. "You think of everything don't you?"I could see his sexy smile in the candlelight. "I try. What would you like to drink?"After my disastrous glass at The Slam Tavern, I craved a nice glass of wine. "Red wine would be wonderful." A waitress approached before I finished speaking.Van barely glanced her way, keeping his eyes on me. "Cheryl, my lady here would like Cabernet Sauvignon and I'll have my usual."His lady. He did it
What the hell? "Umm, I don't even know how to answer that. Do you have more than one brother?""I'm not sure how to answer that." Van's tightly controlled anger spilled over with every word.This was ridiculous. "If you're speaking about Joel, he hasn't done anything but give me dirty looks and I have no idea why. Hopefully that answers your question. While I'm at it, I'll answer another one you haven't asked- me and you are not getting involved sexually. I'm here representing the Cleveland News and Journal. Somehow I've given you the wrong impression and for that I'm sorry."Van huffed out a breath, but didn't speak for a moment. When he turned my way, he had control of himself and his bad-boy smile was back. "Does this mean you're not going home with me tonight?"I groaned loudly. "Please watch the road so you don't crash this incredible car." I waited until he looked straight ahead. "No, Van, I'm not going home with you tonight.""May I kiss you goodnight at your hotel?" He was
Joel had no plans to make this easy on me. I ground my teeth because I refused to get into a word war about rugby that I would hands down lose. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I've never played a sport in my life beyond what was forced on me in PE. As a matter of fact, I have two left feet and the hand-eye coordination of a dinosaur with flappy arms. What I am good at is research and I spent many hours preparing myself for this interview. Is there anything else you'd like to know or do you think you could explain sevens to me?" God I was a bitch, but I could see the twitch of his lip as he fought a smile. He held it back and I sighed internally. Hostility with this brother and sexual pressure from the other. I wasn't sure which one was worse. Both took me far outside my comfort zone."Sevens is played with seven players and the rules are vastly different than league ball or union ball. Sevens, league, and union have separate rules similar to the differences in NFL football and are
For the first time, I watched league rugby matches opposed to sevens and union on YouTube. I don't know what I expected, but being confused even more wasn't it. I shut down my laptop and headed for a local fast food drive-through for a salad.I was on the field again at two. From my discussion with Van the evening before, I knew a little more about the practice drills. I walked up into the stands and watched from there. I used my recorder to remind myself of things to ask Van. After practice, I tried sneaking out, but Van called for me to wait up.Sweat and dirt took nothing away from his sexual pull. It may even have made it stronger. I don't know where my cave girl mentality came from, but I had a horrible feeling it was here to stay. I'm sure I could find a man at my office who would happily partner me to sports events. If not, maybe I could join some of my co-workers when they had tickets. I needed to attend something with lots of muscle on display and somehow get it out of my sy
"This is where I grew up," he said softly."Your mother's house?" Now the decor made sense."Now mine and my brother's. We share the place.""You both live here?""Yes, but he has a date tonight and won't be home until late. Come on into the kitchen and I'll grab the chicken for the grill. I have potatoes in the oven and a salad made.""Your domestic side.""The easiest thing I could think of to make. I can grill, but kitchen duty is not my strong suit."This was not a good idea, but wild Cami pushed my nerves aside. I followed him into the kitchen walking past a winding staircase that I guessed led up to the bedrooms. Modern appliances filled the kitchen, and I envied the space. I would love to run loose in here. My tiny apartment had a small L-shaped counter with two barstools. It had a total of about three square feet to move around in. This room was a chef's dream."Your mother liked to cook?"His grin disappeared for a moment. "No, well yes- all this is new. Joel likes to
The kiss changed as Van took over. His fingers sought the zipper on the back of my dress. Once the material was loose, he pulled the sleeves down, exposing my lace bra and dipping his rough fingertips under the material."God, your tits are incredible," he said with a whispery groan. Every nerve ending on my body centered on each stroke against my breast. Before I realized what I was doing, my arms were around him, my fingernails digging into his back. A dizzying whirl of sexual need shot straight to my inner thighs. His mouth took complete control. He sucked my lower lip continuing his assault with gentle nips. I could no longer think past the driving ache that wanted to explode from my body. Never had I felt such blinding need. He pushed my dress past my hips until it pooled on the floor. I had no idea that he unclipped my bra until it fell to the floor too. He swung me into his arms without ending the kiss. My shoes fell off along the way. I couldn't think. I didn't want to think
Joel didn't seem surprised to see me. He casually placed the panties and bra on top of the dress, picked them up, and carried them to me. Our eyes remained locked the entire time. A foot away, his arms came out offering me my clothes. I did the worst thing I could possibly do. Tears rolled down my cheeks. Joel looked at me for one long moment before doing the last thing I expected. He pulled me into his arms, my clothes pressed between us.That's when I lost it. I sobbed against his chest feeling like the biggest idiot on the planet."Shhh."His whisper coincided with his tightening arms."I'm sorry," I hiccupped, but didn't pull away.He stood there holding me, swaying gently. Finally, he loosened his arms just a bit. "You need to get dressed, and I'll drive you back to the hotel."I took a trembling breath and moved back slightly. "You will?""Yes." It was said so gently I almost started crying again. I stood wrapped in a sheet with Joel comforting me because his brother was an