Boys Of Summer: Sliding Home / Fever Pitch / The Sweet Spot

“Her dream man,” Callie said, laughter in her eyes. “Riley Kelleher is Janie’s seduction target and I now understand why you haven’t done anything about it. Goodness, Janie, when you decide on a conquest, you do aim high. The star of the team?”

“I know, I know. He’d never even consider…”

Callie put her fingers over Janie’s mouth. “Don’t you even think that. You’re lovely and he’d be damn lucky to get you.”

Babe’s nod set her blond curls bouncing and made her curvy figure jiggle in a way that her new boyfriend probably loved.

Janie didn’t wiggle. Ever. Not if she jumped up and down. Not even if she stood on her head. Or in a wind tunnel.

She grabbed the ice cream. “Forget it,” she said as she dug in, the chocolate and raspberry creating a cacophony of sinful excitement on her tongue. Much like Riley would, she imagined.

Not happening.

“I won’t forget it,” Callie said, looking her over. “You know what? I like this idea. You might be just what Riley needs.”

“A skinny fan-girl?”

Callie pinched her. Actually grabbed her arm and pinched her with her strong fingers. “That’s enough of that.”

Rubbing her arm, Janie began to laugh. “Okay, Mama.”

“If I were your mama, you’d stop trying to hide your looks.”

Babe, digging out a big spoonful of ice cream, nodded her agreement. “She’s right, you know. You’re exactly Riley’s type.”

Janie cast a doubtful look down at her unimpressive curves. “Uh-huh.” Then she licked her spoon, unable to stop thinking of Riley. And ripples. All those yummy, muscular ripples.

“I mean it,” Babe said. “He needs a nice, normal woman with class. Brodie says Riley’s a good guy, despite his reputation and his bad press from a few years ago.”

Callie backed her up. “I’ve known him since Donovan first bought the team. Riley went through a total dog phase after his divorce. But since then, he’s just been a great guy who ignores the skanks who follow him around.”

Well, she wasn’t a skank. There was that. But she was not at all convinced the man wasn’t a player. She’d seen Riley’s magnetism up close and personal. No way could he be that good with women if he didn’t get a lot of practice with them.

“What does it matter whether I’m his type or not?” she muttered. “All I wanted from the man was a one-night stand. Hot sex. Because there’s no way on God’s green earth I’d ever let myself actually fall for someone like him.”

Callie frowned, looking almost disapproving. “I just said he’s not a bad guy, despite his past.”

“Dogs and new tricks…ever heard of them?”

“Second chances, ever heard of them?”

“Okay, forget you being his type,” Babe said, cutting them both off. “You’re right, you said all along this would be a wild fling. Just because Callie and I batted out of the ballpark and found true love doesn’t mean you have to, or even want to.”

She did. She just wasn’t fool enough to think it would be with someone like Riley Kelleher.

Babe continued, “So, you can just have a couple of amazing booty calls with the pitcher, then go on with your life.”

Janie couldn’t help laughing. “Booty calls, huh?”

Callie rolled her eyes, but also smiled. “I still say you two are a great couple. But if booty’s all you’re after…”

“It is.” Janie wouldn’t even allow herself to consider going after more. Not a woman like her. Not with a man like Riley.

She was a plain Jane. And he was a superstud.

Uh-uh. It’ll never happen.

Sighing heavily, she admitted, “I’d be lucky to get a call for a beer, much less booty. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly the gorgeous, seductive, booty type.”

Maybe once she had a man naked she was. Her few previous lovers had always seemed…pleasantly surprised by her enthusiasm. But getting a man into bed wasn’t her strong suit.

“You’re lovely,” Callie said as she reached for Janie’s ponytail holder and tugged it free, sending her long hair tumbling. She lifted it and started piling it on Janie’s head, leaving a few tendrils draping down over her shoulders. “As for seductive? Well, honey, I know all about making yourself that.”

Babe was tugging Janie’s glasses off her nose. “I know a little something about makeovers myself.” Then, without warning, they both dove for their handbags and grabbed bottles of makeup, tweezers and containers of eyeshadow. Janie could only sputter as they began to smear and spread, highlight and pluck.

Unable to do anything but sit still for fear one of her eyeballs would get poked out, she put up with it for a few minutes, then tried one more time to protest. “Guys, I can’t…”

“Yes, you can!” they both said as they each took an arm and spun her around. They were watching while she caught a glimpse of her reflection in a mirror hanging over her desk.

And at that moment, spying the exotically made-up woman with the upswept hair, the shadowed eyes and the full, reddened lips, Janie began to wonder if they might be right after all.

4 (#ulink_56ac22c3-991e-5706-81bf-4cb5ee7cc477)

A few days later

RILEY HADN’T thought much about the fact that he hadn’t been laid in ages until he noticed the brunette in red. The woman was sitting a few tables away at Diamond, his favorite restaurant. He’d watched her come in, her nicely curved body nicely displayed in the sparkly cocktail dress that revealed a mile of leg. Not to mention a mouthwatering hint of delicate cleavage.

Riley’s heart had skipped a beat when she’d entered the place. It’d skipped another when he heard the soft, lyrical sound of her voice talking to the hostess as she’d approached.

She was a beauty, but a quiet one. A classy, petite, perfectly formed feminine package, and she’d made every masculine cell in his body come to attention. Instantly.

For some reason, he’d felt a flash of recognition, as if he knew her. But he knew he didn’t. He’d definitely have remembered a woman as sultry as this one.

Sipping his beer, he’d ignored the voice in his head that tried to convince him his celibate streak ought to end, because she had to be meeting someone. But as the minutes had stretched on, no one had joined the woman. He couldn’t believe any man would stand her up, but it looked as if that’s what had happened.

Since she was seated facing him, he surreptitiously noted the slender neck and her high cheekbones. Her delicate face was almost heart-shaped, framed by a mass of rich brown hair. Highlighted with streaks of gold, her hair was pulled back except for a few long curls brushing her shoulders.

Then there were the eyes. Wide-set, big and brown, like dark chocolate. With her lush red lips the color of ripe raspberries, he couldn’t stop thinking of the ice cream the shop around the corner had named after him. And how much he wanted to lick her juicy lips and to taste that creamy vanilla skin.

“Enjoying your evening, Mr. Kelleher?” a smooth voice asked.

He shook off his study of the stranger and glanced up to see the owner of the place. Rumor had it she was about to remarry Donovan Ross. “Yes, thanks, everything’s wonderful, as usual.”

“I was glad to hear you’d be dining with us,” Callie Andrews said. “Though I do wonder why you never bring anyone with you.”

He hadn’t been tempted to bring anyone anywhere—into this restaurant, into his life—for a long time. So why he couldn’t stop focusing on the brunette, he had no idea. “Can’t get a better steak in Louisville,” he said, speaking to Callie, though his attention was glued to the female four tables down.

The female who suddenly looked up and caught him staring.