In Over His Head

'So, would you come out of retirement?'

'Nope. I've hung up my spurs for good.'

A sense of relief she didn't want to feel or examine eased through her. But a small inner voice whispered, Yeah, and Michael Jordan retired for good, too. Several times. Oh, yeah, it was a very good thing that her heart wasn't involved in this fling. Fun, wild and temporary.

Her gaze fell to their plates of uneaten food. 'I think our hot wings are way cold.'

'Would you like me to order a fresh batch?'

She shook her head. 'Why don't we have Vickie wrap these up, then we can reheat them.' She raised her gaze to his. 'At my place.'

His eyes darkened and his fingers tightened around hers. 'That's an invitation I'd be an idiot to turn down.'

'And we both know you're one of those smart-guy chemical engineers.'

'Ah. So you're only interested in my mind.'

'Not exactly.' She allowed her gaze to wander over him in a very suggestive way. 'Actually. I was thinking we could play a little game.'

'Mmm. You know I like games. What did you have in mind?'

'I was thinking we could play Ice Cream.'

'Can't say I'm familiar with it. How do you play?'

'I lick. You melt.'

He went perfectly still, smoke all but emanating from his eyes. 'Let's go.'

Chapter 6

Josh drove his rental car slowly down the winding street, one hand on the wheel, the other hand resting on the leather seat, his fingers entwined with Lexie's. Conversation consisted of Lexie giving him directions to her house, and that was fine with him as he felt pretty much incapable of making chitchat. Her sexy game invitation swirled through his mind like a tornado, whipping up a maelstrom of lust. It was all he could do to concentrate on the road. If he allowed his fantasies free rein, they'd end up in Louisiana.

In an effort to get his mind off ice cream-at least until they arrived at her house-he forced his thoughts elsewhere. As flattering as tonight's fan attention was, he certainly hadn't planned on an impromptu autograph session. At first he'd worried that Lexie would mind, but she'd taken the interruption of their evening right in stride, a fact for which he was grateful. He'd been in similar situations before where his date had gotten all huffy and pouty and jealous, and he'd spent many evenings coaxing disgruntled dates back into good humor. It was refreshing that Lexie hadn't reacted that way, even though a few of the women had made some blatantly suggestive verbal overtures. Lexie had simply smiled at him, winked at him, and even favored him with looks that clearly indicated she was proud of him, and several that made it plain sex was in his immediate future.

He risked a quick glance at her from the corner of his eye and instantly regretted it as the glimpse he caught showed her pursing her full lips.

Damn, this was bad. This woman turned him on just sitting there. And she was hell on his ability to concentrate. But even worse were his powerful feelings for her-a woman who'd made it very plain tonight that this was a fling and nothing more. He feared his former occupation wasn't going to help his cause any. She clearly harbored an aversion, with good reason, to guys she designated as adrenaline junkies. And while her former alligator-wrestling fiance sounded a bit over-the-top, Josh suspected that 'rodeo cowboy' probably lumped him in the same category.

Before he could ponder further she said, 'My house is the second one on the right, with the porch light on.'

He pulled into the driveway, then cut the engine. The house was cream-colored stucco with a small, neat yard, nestled between two similarly styled houses. After opening her car door, an act that brought a smile to her lips, she led him up the cement walkway, then into a foyer tiled in pale green.

He followed her into a pristine kitchen done in cheerful shades of green and yellow. She opened the refrigerator, then bent over to slip in the foam to-go boxes containing their food.

The way she looked, bent over, with her dress riding up the backs of her thighs, forced him to take several long careful breaths. Then she straightened, closed the fridge, and leaned back against the white door.

'Would you like to see the rest of the place?'

'Darlin', I'm anxious to see anything you might like to show me.'

She smiled, then waved her arm in an arc. 'Kitchen and breakfast room.' She led him through an archway, then said, 'Family room.' The cozy room was done in shades of blue and pale yellow, with a whitewashed wood entertainment center surrounded by an overstuffed sectional sofa. Several fitness magazines rested on a glass coffee table, alongside a large sand-filled bowl decorated with an assortment of colorful shells. Framed photos were scattered around the room, but before he could examine them, she crossed the hardwood floor and opened the vertical blinds along the back wall. Sliding open the patio doors, she said, 'Deck.'

He stepped outside and was immediately engulfed in steamy tropical air. A tall wooden fence enclosed the small backyard. In one corner of the deck stood a grill. In the other-

'Hot tub,' she said, pointing toward the other corner.

An image of them, together in a pool of warm, bubbling water flashed in his mind, leaving a trail of heat in its wake.

'I love to indulge in a muscle-relaxing soak after an active day at work,' she said. 'The fence provides complete privacy from the neighboring houses.'

Their eyes met, and Josh swore something passed between them. Something more than the arousing possibilities the hot tub offered. Something warm and intimate and knowing.

Reaching out, she clasped his hand then led him back into the house. She brought him through the tidy kitchen, then down a short corridor, murmuring, 'Guest room, bathroom, laundry room,' as they passed a trio of doors. At the end of the hallway she said, 'My bedroom.'

He followed her inside, then waited while she lit several candles. Like the rest of the house, her bedroom was cozy and attractive, and decorated with 'beachy' touches, from the bedspread depicting various shells against a pale aqua background, to the starfish-shaped candleholders she now applied her attention to. Except for the headboard, which was brass, the furniture was pale wicker. Again he noted a number of photos resting on her dresser and night table. Wandering over to her dresser, he picked up a frame that contained a collage of four pictures.

One showed Lexie flanked by a smiling, older couple. Clearly her parents, as he could easily see the resemblance to both of them. Her dad sported a military haircut but Lexie had his firm chin. And she'd inherited her mother's eyes and glowing smile. Two of the other photos also showed Lexie with her parents, one where they were all dressed formally, the other on a golf course. The last photo was of a grinning Lexie in the water with a dolphin.

Looking up, he watched Lexie blow out the match, her lips puckered in a way that made him ache. She walked slowly toward him, her hips gently swaying, her full skirt skimming her legs. Halting beside him, she tapped on the frame. 'My parents.'

'Looks like you enjoy each other's company.'

'Oh, we do. My folks are great. And tireless.' She chuckled. 'Whenever we're together, I'm always the one suggesting we sit down and rest for a minute.'

The sharp pang of loss hit Josh. 'That's how my dad was. He wasn't happy unless he was doing something.' Pushing aside his sadness, he pointed to the dolphin picture. 'Another relative?'

She laughed. 'Swimming with the dolphins. It's an amazing experience. You might want to try it while you're in Florida.'

'Thanks, but I reckon I'll pass. If you recall, the last time I went into water that wasn't in a pool, I got bit on the ass.'

'Dolphins don't bite. Besides, you can't fault that snake on its taste. You've got a great ass.'