Perfectly Ms. Matched(29)

She’d call Shelby when she got to the car and ask if she could pick up another book for Ryan on the way home. Then she’d ask her buddy to remind her of all the pain and suffering Chad had put her through. Maybe it’d make her heart stop asking her brain to give the guy another try. Because when he’d said she still owned his heart, her own had skipped a beat.

When the doors parted, she grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder again.

Just as she stepped out, Chad appeared before her, panting and still in just a towel.

She asked, “What are you doing?”

“I ran down here to tell you something.”

“You ran all the way down the steps? What were you thinking? Your knee—”

“I want to make a point.” He knocked the remaining words right out of her mouth with the strength of his arm pulling her against his hard chest. Then he kissed her.

Her traitorous heart leapt in victory, while her brain screamed to make him stop. All she’d have to do is shake her head or push him away. But he was practically naked, and his hard pecs were all snuggled up with her aching chest. It felt too good.

She dropped her bag and let her hands run themselves up and down his corded back, just like they’d been wanting to do all week. Mmmmm. She loved the way Chad’s muscles quivered ever so slightly under her light touch. Missed exploring all the hard bumps and dips of his well-honed body.

His hand slid along her cheek to maneuver her mouth just the way he wanted, so she let him. She’d tell him to stop . . . soon. But then his tongue began to dance with hers in such a familiar, comfortable, inviting rhythm, she figured maybe she’d give him just another minute to prove his point. Sixty short seconds wasn’t too much to give. She was a reasonable person, after all.

When his large hand slid down to her bottom and squeezed, the alarm bells from her endorphin-soaked brain began to clang in her ears.

Her heart told her brain to mind its own business, while his busy hand slipped up her side and cupped her breast. The way his big, rough, football-player hands could be so gentle and yet flip her “yes, please, do that” switch like no one else, finally brought her crashing back to reality. It’d be a mistake to let their kiss last even another second. Twenty more and she’d be dragging him back upstairs. So, technically, she had a few more seconds to enjoy touching him before she got serious.

A countdown started in her head, but when his hips pressed against hers, making it abundantly clear he wanted her as much as she wanted him, she lost count. Time to blow the game whistle and call time out.

She broke their kiss, panting as hard as he’d been after running down the stairs. She laid her head against his chest and shut her eyes until she could find the words to excuse her actions. She wasn’t usually so weak.

His heart thundered under her forehead.

“What do those actions say, Jo?”

“That we’re both idiots who can’t control our lust?” she whispered.

“No. It proves there’s still more than simple attraction between us.”

There was no question that was true for her. He had those smooth-talking ways and an irresistible body that was hard for her to ignore. But she couldn’t risk what little remained of her wounded heart again. “You’re just lucky I warned you the strikes would start tomorrow. Or I’d . . .” What? It was as much her fault as his that the kiss went on for so long. “Never mind. I have to go.”

He called out, “I’ll take the strike. It was worth it.”

Yeah, it had been worth it. But he’d never let it get to strike three. He’d get to two and stop, and then he’d shape up so as not to risk his beloved career.

She could take that to the bank just as she had his check. Now if only her heart would believe it.





8

MOTHERS ALWAYS KNOW BEST.

Chad settled back against his headboard, determined to push away the thoughts of Jo and how she’d kissed him back like she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Hopefully, with a little more time, she’d figure out he was different now and forgive him. If he had to, he could settle for just being friends, but he hoped they could be more than that one day again.

But when she smiled at him like that, it was so hard to turn off his emotions. He used to live to make Jo smile and laugh. He’d never had such an easy relationship, one filled with fun banter and teasing. She was the only woman who he’d call a true friend. Maybe that was all she could give him going forward. He needed to keep his eye on the prize, and get back out on the field.

He grabbed the remote from his nightstand to catch up on the pregame chatter. Tomorrow was a huge game for his team. If they won, they’d be first in their division. Right where they hoped to be early in the season. Their second-half schedule was going to be tougher. He needed to get better so he could help them make the playoffs.