In It to Win It Page 3

  She cringed at the deep, sexy voice behind her. An entire monologue of curse words plowed through her thoughts as she considered whether or not she could pretend she hadn’t heard him.

  “Jane?” His warm hand came to rest on her shoulder.

  “Yeah, I do have a flight to catch. Don’t you?” She clamped a lid onto the cup and braced herself as she turned around to face Grayson. Not that the preparation did any good. He grinned and her heart screeched to a halt. Her knees went all gooey and she reached out to the metal counter for support.

  “As a matter of fact—” He lifted his wrist to reveal a Rolex, complete with diamonds all around the face. “—I have about thirty minutes. Can we talk?”

  “Sorry. I can’t. Nate’s waiting.”

  “Are camera guys doubling as babysitters now?”

  Her eyes narrowed and she heard herself snort, much to her mortification. “No,” she said, sounding like a child. She would have preferred a snappy comeback, but couldn’t come up with anything profound so kept her mouth shut.

  He gently wrapped his hand around her arm and led her to a cozy corner of the coffee shop. He offered her the chair facing the room and as she sat, he asked, “Can I get you something?”

  “No, I’m good.” She held up her drink, much like Nate had done a few minutes earlier. Although she doubted she’d perfected the you’ve-completely-lost-you’re-freakin’-mind expression that donned Nate’s face a lot lately. “Thanks though.”

  Grayson sat down in the chair and flashed another dazzling smile. Some of the tension seeped out of her, flowing down her body and out her toes to pool on the floor. She moved the straw around her drink, dunking the lemon and waiting for it to pop up again.

  This wasn’t awkward at all, she thought sarcastically.

  They sat in uncomfortable silence; Jane studiously watching the lemon in her drink and Grayson drumming his fingers on the table.

  “What have you been up to all these years?” he finally asked.

  “Just doin’ the sports thing. You?” Good grief, next they’d be talking about the weather.

  “Baseball.” He smiled, showing off straight white teeth and the tiny pale scar on his upper lip. It was barely noticeable under his trim-cut goatee. She liked the facial hair, not that she liked it on any other guy. But for some reason it looked exactly right on Grayson’s chiseled face. “It’s kind of my life.”

  She thought of all the extracurricular activities—and media attention they caught—and blurted, “It seems you have more to your life than just baseball.”

  His dark brows pinched together, forming a V, and Jane could have sworn he flinched, but the reaction was so quick she wasn’t sure. His face softened and he leaned forward, resting his large forearms on the table.

  “There are a lot of facets to me,” he said softly.

  “Good to know.” She stood, the chair screeching across the floor. “I should get going.”

  He reached out and snagged her hand. “It really was great to see you again, Janie. Maybe we can catch up in Phoenix. We’re there for a couple of days. I’d love to buy you dinner and … catch up.”

  “Listen, Grayson, I’m not the same girl you knew once...”

  His dark eyes warmed and moved over her body slowly. The blatant heat in his gaze interrupted her thoughts for only a moment, before solidifying what she needed to tell him—if for no other reason than self preservation.

  “I appreciate the invitation, but I want more than you can give me. Catching up would only be a waste of time—for both of us. Let’s just say ‘nice to see you’ and leave it at that.”

  “What if I don’t want to leave it at that?”

  She laughed; the feeling built in her stomach and burst from her in a loud guffaw that caused more than one head to turn in their direction. A little embarrassed, Jane felt heat rising in her cheeks. She didn’t voice another word, just gave him her back and walked away.

  “You okay?” Nate asked as she plopped down in the seat next to him.

  Soda splashed over the side of the cup where the lid wasn’t on tight enough and Jane groaned. “Yeah. Fine. Couldn’t be better.” She plucked at the damp denim, brushing at the little brown dots that splattered her jeans.

  “Jane.” That deep voice saying her name made her insides go all mushy and her irritation spike.

  “You have got to be kidding me,” she muttered under her breath, then turned and smiled—okay, scowled—at Grayson.

  “You left your purse in the coffee shop.” He handed it to her. “I figured you’d need it.”

  She thought she heard Nate chuckle, and knew she had when his Sports Illustrated ruffled, covering his face from view. She would get even. Right now though, she had to get rid of Grayson … again!

  “Yeah. Thanks.”

  “Does my chivalry constitute dinner?”

  “No,” she said just as Nate asked, “You buyin’?”

  She glared at the blond photographer—the guy who was supposed to have her back—beside her. Nate darted a mischievous grin at her before looking up at Grayson.

  Totally unfazed by her attitude, Grayson offered his knuckles to Nate. “Of course. Jane, will both of you come to dinner with me? Please?”

  She fought the urge to roll her eyes—and slap Nate silly—and nodded. “Fine. We’ll both have dinner with you.”

  There was an awkward pause, then Nate handed Grayson his card. “My cell number’s on there. Call us with the date and time.”

  Thankfully the flight attendant announced that it was time to board and Jane stood a little too quickly. Grayson reached out to steady her, those chocolate brown eyes of his staring into her Plain-Jane green ones.

  “I’ll call you,” he whispered, his voice low with promise.

  She couldn’t break the visual contact that had magically turned into something much stronger. Her lungs burned with the need to take a breath. Her eyes burned with the need to blink. And the rest of her burned with the need to touch him, taste him, give everything she had to him.

  “Thanks, my man.” Nate slapped Grayson on the back, breaking the spell.

  Jane could feel Grayson’s eyes on her until she rounded the corner to board the plane. Then she was able to breathe. All those years ago she’d felt disoriented and flustered when around him, but now it seemed to be worse. And she couldn’t afford that kind of distraction.

  Nate settled into the seat next to her on the plane and turned to look at her. “What?” she grumbled.

  “What, what?” Nate wasn’t very good at pulling off looking innocent, and this time was no different. “I was just wondering why Grayson Pierce invited you to dinner.”

  “Us. He invited us to dinner.”

  “Yeah, I only get to come along because you need a bodyguard.”

  “No, I need someone to run interference.” The words were out before she could censor them and Nate cocked a brow, his blue eyes suddenly much too knowing.

  Nate was a great guy, but he was a guy. A very manly guy. He didn’t want to hear the girly, emo crap. And she didn’t want to share either.

  “Look, Grayson and I have a past.” His grin widened and she clarified, “We went to high school together, okay? Nothing more. And I want to keep it that way.”

  “Cool.”

  He was quiet, his large hands in a death grip on the armrests while the plane took off. His jaw opened wide, cracked and then his head moved on his shoulders, loud pops emitting from his neck. It wasn’t surprising; it was his usual take-off ritual. Next he would stretch his legs—she smiled when he did—and press his arms out in front of him, stretching each out to its limit. Finally, he sighed and closed his eyes.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” she said, surprised. This was a deviation from the norm.

  “If you don’t want him around, I can make that happen.” It wasn’t said with arrogance, just cold, hard fact.

  “Thanks, but I don’t need a bodyguard.”

  His eyes o
pened. “I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know. I’ve been told that I should think before I speak. And I didn’t think … well, I didn’t think there was a history that sparked your hostility toward him.”

  “I wasn’t hostile.”

  “Pretty damn close,” he said with a smile. “Now excuse me, I’ve some sleep to catch.”

  As he closed his eyes, Jane had to smile too. Maybe having dinner with Grayson wouldn’t be so bad with Nate watching her back. She opened up her laptop and, after only a moment’s pause, she began to type. The story came easy this time. She quickly had it finished and closed her computer.

  Carefully, she snaked Nate’s Sports Illustrated and opened it to the story on Grayson.

  3

  “UGH!” JANE GROANED.

  Clubs were not her thing, nor were sports bars or restaurants that catered to the loud and obnoxious. Yet, here she stood.

  The lighting was low, the music was loud, and it was wall to wall people around the bar and on the small dance floor. It seemed the dress code was khaki slacks, button-down shirts or sundresses that showed off a lot of tanned leg, depending on your gender.

  Jane suddenly felt underdressed in her jeans and Arizona Diamondbacks t-shirt. She’d worn the opposing team on purpose, wanting to send a statement to Grayson. Unlike her high school days, she didn’t enjoy sitting on the sidelines watching him strut his stuff. Now, it annoyed her.

  Nate leaned over to her and whispered, “This place is awesome!”

  Annoyed and underdressed and over stimulated as she was, she had to agree … the place was pretty awesome.

  “Can I help you?” asked a feminine voice.

  Jane and Nate turned in unison to see a girl. A beautiful girl with long legs plugged into platform shoes that made her nearly as tall as Nate. Her skirt could easily double as a napkin, and extensions that made her platinum blond hair brush her butt. The smile she offered was full and lush and she only had eyes for Nate. She batted her well placed fake lashes and slid her tongue over her bottom lip.

  Nate didn’t notice a bit of her attentions. Gotta love a happily married man! His head moved on his neck as he searched the crowd for Grayson.

  He offered the hook- er … hostess a slight smile and said, “Yeah, we’re here to meet Grayson Pierce.”

  Her gaze slid from Nate to Jane as if she were surprised to find that someone besides Nate was standing there. Raising a perfectly arched brow her look said “sure you are” as loudly as if she’d screamed the words.

  Jane squared her shoulders and … didn’t know what else to do. She could cause a scene and insist that she be taken to see Grayson, knowing full well that it wouldn’t work. She could also gather her pride and leave.

  She was about to do just that when Nate put a hand on her arm. It seemed that he wasn’t deterred by the unspoken insult. “Is he here?”

  “I can’t verify that information.” The hostess smiled at an older couple who’d just entered and, ignoring Jane and Nate, asked, “Can I help you?”

  “Table for two,” the guy said.

  “Of course, right this way.” And with that, she walked away, leaving Jane staring after her with her mouth gaping wide.

  Nate snorted. “What a bitch! She’s gonna feel really stupid when Grayson is waiting for us.”

  “This is ridiculous.” Jane hiked her purse higher on her shoulder and stepped toward the door. “I’m outta here.”

  “Hold up.” Nate’s hand was huge on her shoulder. “I think the tide’s gonna change.”

  Jane could hear the smile in Nate’s voice and turned to see Grayson coming toward them, a sexy grin on his full lips.

  “Janie!” He raised a hand in a wave.

  Did the guy ever look bad?

  Tonight he sported beige slacks that hugged his thighs and a navy button-down shirt. (Obviously he’d gotten the dress code memo.) The short sleeves showcased his muscular arms. His goatee was trimmed close, his cheeks clean-shaven. One dark curl fell over his brow.

  Jane smiled, more at the gawking hostess than at the greeting itself. As Grayson swept Jane up in a hug and twirled her, the smile grew and she was honestly thrilled by the reception. She’d dreamed of being held tightly against Grayson’s chest. Giddiness bubbled in her belly and when she giggled, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  He kissed her check as he set her back on her feet. Her knees were wobbly and she was grateful when he eased a protective, steadying arm around her waist. She fit perfectly, tucked against his side. He held out his other hand to Nate.

  “It’s good to see you again, man. Thanks for coming.”

  The two men shook hands and Nate looked nearly as giddy as Jane felt. His grin was cheesy, and she would have laughed out loud if she hadn’t felt so idiotic about her own behavior.

  What the hell had gotten into her? Had she forgotten that she hated Grayson Pierce?

  Yes. Yes, wrapped in his arms, she had.

  But now she did remember and with a graceful side step, she eased out of his hold. It felt oddly comfortable being around Grayson. Way too comfortable. Her insides warred; wanting to push him away and pull him close all at the same time. As she inhaled the scent that was exclusively Grayson, she decided to just go with her gut. If she ended up crying a river, so be it.

  He glanced down at her for only a moment, his smile fading. “Nice shirt.”

  “Thanks. I got it at the Team Shop.” She rubbed a hand over the snake logo on her chest and didn’t feel quite so haughty now. The disappointed look on his face made her rethink her reason for wearing it. She’d wanted to make a point of not supporting Grayson, but now she saw it as the insult he’d obviously taken it for.

  Would anyone notice if she just whipped it off and continued dinner in just her bra? Surely that would at least divert Grayson’s attention.

  His eyes dropped to the motion on her hand, he frowned but didn’t comment. He waved an arm toward the crowd and took her hand in his other one. “We’re right through here.”

  Even though she felt bad for dissing Grayson with her ill-conceived t-shirt choice, Jane couldn’t resist the urge to look over her shoulder at the snotty hostess and smile.

  Okay, she was gloating. Only a little.

  Grayson led them past a bouncer, through a door into what looked like a banquet room, only smaller. Six tables lined the perimeter with a wooden dance floor in the center. Only one table was set—for three. They were the only ones here, the only ones expected.

  “I hope this is okay,” Grayson said.

  “This is awesome,” Nate said, pausing for Grayson’s indication of a seating arrangement.

  Grayson stood behind one chair and motioned for Jane to sit. She did and he took the seat across from her. Nate then sat next to her. All three of them flipped open their menus and began perusing their choices.

  A girl appeared—this one with dark hair—dressed in the same short skirt and tight top as the hostess, notebook poised in his hand. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “Water’s fine for me,” Grayson said without pause.

  Her black brows pinched slightly. “I would have thought…”

  “Don’t go dry on my account,” Jane said.

  Grayson looked at Jane like she’d slapped him. His eyes didn’t leave hers as he said once again, “Like I said, water’s fine.”

  “Sam Adams for me,” Nate said. Somewhere in the back of Jane’s mind she recognized that Nate was easing the prickly, awkward situation she’d created. But in the moment, with Grayson’s eyes on hers, she hated herself for being so callous.

  The waitress nodded and looked at Jane, who couldn’t stop looking at Grayson. She was such a jerk! Chagrin ate at her. Grayson could order whatever he wanted. He was a grown man and didn’t need to be reprimanded for ordering water for hell’s sake. Good grief, what was wrong with her?

  “And you, Miss?”

  “Oh, um…” She glanced down at the menu, not that she really needed to, but it gave her somethi
ng else to look at besides Grayson. “Diet Coke with lemon, please.”

  “Sure thing. Be back in a minute.” And then she was gone.

  Jane pretended not to notice the uncomfortable silence in the room, focusing on the black and white letters scattered across the menu.

  “Which way to the bathroom?” Nate asked.

  “Back out the door and off to your right,” Grayson answered.

  “Thanks.”

  Jane glanced up to see Nate’s retreating back. Damn him! She couldn’t believe he’d left her alone. But at the same time, she was grateful not to have an audience for the apology that needed to be offered.

  In the uncomfortable silence, Jane peeked at Grayson over her menu. He sighed and closed his menu, pushing it away. His hands—his strong, long-fingered hands—rested on the table in front of him, his fingers weaved together. His head was tilted down, his eyes on his hands. He sighed, a dramatic rush of air leaving his lungs.

  She softly began her apology. “I’m—”

  “Jane—” he said at the same time.

  They both smiled and he waved for her to go first.

  She dipped her head in submission and said, “I’m sorry. It’s really none of my business what you drink. And I had no right to give you a hard time for drinking water.”

  “It’s okay.” He rolled his head on his shoulders then scrubbed a hand over his face, his fingers smoothing the hair on his chin. “Geez, I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous on a date.”

  “Is that what this is?” she croaked. “A date?”

  He shrugged and grinned. “I don’t know what else to call it, but if that terminology makes you nervous then, by all means, call it whatever you’d like.”

  Fifteen years ago, she’d have given her eye teeth to be sitting across the table from Grayson—and not be tutoring him.

  Her palms were sweaty, so she briskly rubbed them on her thighs, and couldn’t believe what she was going to say next. She almost edited it, but instead confessed, “I have to admit I’m a little nervous, too.”

  She was grateful she’d wiped her hands when he reached across the table and took one, giving it a gentle squeeze. He smiled. “Why don’t we both take a deep breath and promise to relax and enjoy our non-date.”