Full Court Seduction

“Of course, dear. Oh, your dad’s home. We’ve got to go get a few things for your brother’s room. I’ll give you a call later, okay? Love you. Bye.”

The call ended before Danielle could say anything more. Danielle stared at the phone for a few seconds, sighed, and then shoved it into her pocket.

“Good thing I don’t crave my parents’ attention,” she said to the wind. “I would be constantly disappointed.”

* * *

The sounds of excited conversation filtered from the house as Danielle trudged up the steps to the office’s back door. She left her rain boots in the mudroom, slipped on her heels and followed the sounds of conversation toward the kitchen. Halfway there, the deeper sound of a man’s familiar voice slowed her steps. Her pulse raced with anticipation and she carefully eased her way to the open door.

“Jacobe?” she said.

He stood next to the sink, a mug of coffee in his hand, surrounded by three of the interns. Blue-gray slacks covered his long legs and a crisp white shirt wrapped his muscles like the most desirable of Christmas presents. Unwrapping all of that toned, tight body would be something worth celebrating. He glanced up from the group and hit her with his devastating smile.

“Just the woman I was looking for.”

He sounded happy to see her. Heat flooded her cheeks. She looked away and pulled off the rain jacket. If she kept eye contact, she’d start grinning and stammering along with blushing.

“I was out walking the beach. From the looks of things, everyone here made you comfortable while you waited.”

The interns all grinned and hurried to talk over one another about how they’d completed their morning fieldwork. Danielle lifted her hands. “You’re fine. I’m not that much of an evil boss that I’m going to get angry about you being excited when a famous basketball player comes into the office.”

“You have softened up,” Jacobe said. “The Danielle I knew was always on task and never took a break.”

She lifted her chin and met his eye. “That was the Danielle I allowed you to know.”

“I think I got a glimpse of the more laid-back Danielle once.” The corner of his mouth lifted in a smile full of the sinful secrets of that more laid-back Danielle.

She ignored the butterflies crashing around her stomach like drunken seagulls. “You said you wanted to see me—well, I’m here. Let’s go to my office.” She looked at everyone in the room. “You all can get back to work.”

Jacobe grinned and strolled over to her. “That’s the Danielle I know and love.”

She snorted. “Love had nothing to do with our relationship.” She spun away and marched from the kitchen. One of the interns winked at her as Danielle passed. She could only imagine the thoughts going through her mind.

She made her way down the hall to the last door on the right. Jacobe’s footsteps followed.

“You’re wrong,” Jacobe said. “There were a lot of things I loved about you.”

“What, my badgering you to come to our study sessions on time, or my endless lectures about what you could be contributing to make the world a better place?”

She stepped over the threshold into her office, but a tug on the back of her sweater kept her from taking another step. She faltered, then quickly turned. Jacobe let go.

“These little sweaters you wear. I loved those.”

Danielle looked down at her rather unremarkable outfit: gray slacks, a black-and-yellow polka-dot blouse and a bright yellow cardigan, then back up at him. “My cardigans?”

“Yes, you’re just as sexy in those now as you were then.” He lifted a hand and reached for her face. Danielle jerked back before he touched her. He grinned. “I was only going to compliment you on the glasses. I like these better than the ones you used to wear.” When he reached forward this time, she didn’t pull away. Jacobe ran a finger over the hinges and lightly brushed her face. “Between the glasses and the sweaters you’ve got the sexy, good-girl vibe going on. I always knew there was passion in you for more than just class work.”

Her body went up in flames. Taking a step back, Danielle inhaled a deep, shaky breath. “If you’re here to repeat your request from Saturday night, then you’ve wasted your time.”

She wished her office was big enough to stalk to the other side and put a decent enough space between them. Instead, there was little extra space in the small room. Between her desk, file cabinets and plastic tubs filled with materials they used for various functions, she barely had a clear path from the door to her seat behind the desk.

Jacobe followed her farther into the office. His huge, muscled form soaked up all the remaining space in the room. He pushed the door closed. When he faced her again, thankfully, he didn’t step closer and leaned against the door, instead.

“That’s not why I’m here. One of the reasons I came by is to apologize for the other night.”

She’d opened her mouth in preparation for a rebuff. She snapped it closed. “Come again? You’re apologizing?”

“Don’t sound so surprised. I am capable of admitting when I’m wrong. You remember that much about me.”

She did, actually. He may have given her a hard time when she fussed about him keeping her waiting and always had a reason for why he was late, but he never tried to blame his inability to keep to their schedule on anyone but himself. She would have had a much easier time not lusting after him if he’d blamed others for his problems.

“I do.”

“I am sorry about approaching you like that. I had a bad game, as you saw. When I spotted you, nothing but good memories of that night popped up. I can’t lie. I wanted you again.”

Her knees went weak. She sat on the edge of her desk to hide the effect. “Oh. Well, good memories or not, I wasn’t there to relive that one night.”

“I guessed as much when you stalked out mad as hell. I still want you, but I’m willing to earn my way into your bed. Not assume you’ll automatically let me there.”

Awareness—no, anticipation buzzed through her body. “You’re here to let me know you’re planning to seduce me?”

He straightened from the door and shook his head. “I do think you should know that I’m perfectly willing to pick up where we left off, but that’s not why I’m here. The other reason for this visit is because I need a favor that involves the River Watchers.”

Her brain fought to keep up. He wanted a repeat of that night? That shouldn’t make her so giddy. Pushing the giddiness firmly aside, she focused on the second statement. “A favor? Really?”

“Really.”

“What kind of favor?”

He rubbed his hands together and examined the various framed awards and news clippings on her office wall. “I’d like to volunteer, do some things to improve my image by helping the environment.” He focused back on her.

“Why?” She crossed her arms and studied him.

“Out of the goodness of my heart.”

She shook her head. “Not buying it. Try again.”

He grinned, completely unperturbed by her reply. “You’re still a hard-ass.”

“I still know when you’re avoiding getting to the point. Why do you suddenly want to help an organization you hadn’t heard of before Saturday?”

“I’ve got a five-game suspension. It’s going to be announced later today. I need something to boost my image in my free time.” He said “free time” as if it were a bad word. For him, she guessed it was. She could imagine how frustrated she’d be if someone took her work away from her.

“What do you have in mind?”

“I checked your website and saw that you have a few things coming up. A cleanup and silent auction. I’ll come help, invite the media, and show everyone that I’m more than just a distraction for the team.”

“You’ve got it all figured out.”