Pleasure at Midnight ; His Pick for Passion Read online

  Champagne flowed; people laughed and joked. The crowd grew. His dad drew lots of beautiful women. Young and old. Seeing his dad go back to playboy after a year of mourning their mother gave Will mixed feelings. On one hand he was glad his dad had shaken the cloud of mourning that had hovered over him for so long. On the other hand, he couldn’t put the man who’d been nothing but a faithful husband and father and the man who played women like a game of chess together.

  If this was what his dad was like before he’d met Will’s mother, and he’d walked away from being an unrepentant bachelor to dutiful husband for love, then Will knew he could do the same. He could be the man Erin deserved.

  He glanced around searching for Erin. She hadn’t come back to VIP, and he’d gotten so caught up in the stories and fun his dad drew that he hadn’t checked to see how her talk with Kelly had gone.

  He spotted her by the bar. Smiling, he headed her way when one of the women in their section stepped in his way. Will held up his hands to avoid bumping into her. She slipped her hand in his. Sliding a small piece of paper into his palm.

  “Call me,” she said with a grin.

  Will balled the paper in his hands. “You know what, I’ve got to go find my lady.”

  The woman raised a thinly arched brow. “You’ve got a lady? Since when?”

  He didn’t like how surprised she sounded. Was his being in a relationship that unheard of? “Doesn’t matter when. All you need to know is I’m not interested.”

  He stepped back from the hand she tried to run up his thigh. He didn’t want her touch, but he was also human. A woman’s hand that close to a certain part of his anatomy might cause an automatic response. He turned away from her skeptical smile and looked back at Erin. A guy had come up and started talking to her. A guy he didn’t recognize. Erin smiled during their conversation, but she didn’t look engaged.

  He quickly worked his way through the crowd to her side. When he walked up, he slid a hand up her back to gently clasp her shoulder. He didn’t care if he interrupted the conversation as he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the back of her neck.

  “Let’s get out of here,” he whispered in her ear.

  Her body shivered and melted beneath his hands. She turned soft brown eyes up to him. “Finally remembered I’m here,” she said with a small smile.

  He searched her face for any type of hurt behind her teasing. She hid her feelings well, but he saw the flicker of uncertainty in the quick way her lower lip slipped between her teeth and back out.

  “I’m sorry. You know my dad draws a crowd. I started talking and lost track of time.”

  He vaguely realized the guy who’d been talking to her had slipped away. Will quickly slid into the place the man had occupied next to Erin. He dropped his hand from her shoulder to lightly grasp her waist.

  “And what’s in your hand?” She lifted his hand that still held the scrap of paper.

  Will’s hand popped open. He tossed crumpled paper onto the bar. “Nothing important.”

  “I saw her slip you her number.”

  “And you also saw me ball it up.” He nodded to the crumpled paper. “I don’t want her number. I also can’t stop random women from trying to give me their numbers, but what I can promise you is that I’ll never keep them.” He met her eyes and hoped she saw the vow in his gaze. “I’ll never call them. I’ll never do anything to disrespect you. No turning back, remember?”

  Her face softened. The worry in her gaze finally drifted away. “Okay.”

  Relief swept through him. “How did it go with Kelly?”

  Erin took a deep breath and shrugged. “It went okay. She’s not happy. She thinks you’re going to break my heart and that I’ll hate her, but I told her not to worry. I asked her to trust me.”

  “And what did she say?”

  “That it’s my choice. She agreed to back off. I don’t think she likes it, but she’s agreed to accept it.”

  Will nodded. Good. He’d talk to Kelly more later. Even if their dad didn’t believe Will could be sincere, he wanted Kelly to understand. He wouldn’t give up Erin for Kelly, but he wanted his sister to trust that he wouldn’t break her best friend’s heart.

  Erin’s hand squeezed his knee. “Did you really want to get out of here?”

  He would have stayed longer. Enjoyed the party. Listened to his dad and the older players reminisce about the good old times, but with her hand on his knee and the warmth of her touch spreading up his thigh to a very welcome hardening of his anatomy, the idea of being alone with her was a lot more appealing.

  “Your room or mine?”

  She slipped off the stool and pressed her curves into his, and Will knew he’d leave any party when Erin looked at him like that. “Yours.”

  Chapter 11

  When the International Auto Show chose Jacksonville, Florida, for the location of its next exhibition, Erin had immediately signed on to oversee the event marketing and promotion. Now, as the auto show grew near and the project would mean spending several weeks in Jacksonville, Erin was glad she’d taken the assignment.

  After the success she had during All-Star Weekend, she’d gotten the expected promotion. Her life had been a whirlwind in the two months since. Now, as she sat in her office looking at tickets to Jacksonville, her toe tapped, and she hummed a happy tune. Even though she’d seen Will the weekend before, she was ready to be with him again.

  “Someone’s in a good mood.”

  Erin looked up from her laptop and grinned at her colleague Vivien standing in her doorway. “It’s the end of the day on Wednesday,” Erin replied. “Which means we’ve passed the halfway point. Of course I’m happy.”

  “I guess this has nothing to do with you getting to spend several weeks working on the auto show project in Jacksonville where your handsome and successful boyfriend lives?” Vivien teased.

  Erin pursed her lips. “Hmm...he does live there, doesn’t he?”

  Vivien shook her head. “You aren’t fooling me. I know you’re excited to go. You two hardly see each other.”

  “That’s not unexpected when we’re both busy,” Erin said with forced casualness.

  It was true they barely saw each other. Between the team lockdown, his frequent games and her getting up to speed with the new position, their time together was limited to snatched weekends, video chats and one quick hookup when they’d both been in New York.

  Despite the distance, things were still going well. Will showed no signs of being restless about their relationship. There were no reports of him out partying with a different woman on his arm every night. She liked to believe that was due to them dating and not the team lockdown. She was happy and couldn’t believe she was happy with Will.

  “True, but you have to admit it’ll be great when you’re both in town. Have you told him?”

  “I told him I was going to be in Jacksonville, but not for how long. I didn’t realize the show would turn into also scouting other clients so we can possibly open another office in the city.”

  That little nugget had come after this morning’s team meeting. The company CEO wanted to expand their reach in the southeastern United States. An office in Jacksonville, with two professional sports teams, a strong port system and plenty of businesses, was an ideal location. Erin was ecstatic about the idea of spending more time in Will’s city. She hoped he would feel the same.

  “After this morning’s team meeting I’ve spent the day on the phone with the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and the Florida tourism department. This auto show will bring in people from all over the world, and there are a lot of plans to be made. I’m booking a flight now to travel down for the rest of the week to meet with the head of the convention center and ensure there is enough space to accommodate.”

  Vivien’s eyes widened. “You should surprise him. Show up at his doorstep in nothing but a trench coat and
heels.”

  “And you’ve obviously watched too many movies. I am not the trench coat and heels type.”

  “Doesn’t mean you can’t try it. Keep things spicy.”

  “We’ve only been dating four months. Things are spicy.”

  Vivien shrugged. “Maybe so, but a guy like Will gets all kinds of erotic offers. You’ve got to make sure you’re always a step ahead of the groupies.” Vivien’s phone rang. She pulled it out. “Gotta take this. Let’s go to lunch when you get back, okay?” She answered the phone and was out of Erin’s office before she could reply.

  Her words lingered long after. Vivien knew what she was talking about. Her boyfriend played hockey professionally. They’d been together for over a year and Vivien always updated Erin on the myriad wild and freaky things she did to keep things interesting in their relationship. Erin had considered Vivien’s stories entertaining, and a bit impressive—such as the blow job during a movie premiere without getting caught by the Hollywood stars—but Erin didn’t think she’d have to go through that much just to keep Will interested. Would she?

  When they were together the sex was hot and amazing, but it was also pretty standard. Hotel rooms, in a bed. That one time on the floor. Would he eventually get bored with her and tempted by a woman who could make love to him while hanging upside down from a ceiling fan?

  “Now you’re being ridiculous,” she muttered to herself.

  She picked up the phone to call Will before she let her doubts blossom into paranoia. Every time they talked he sounded happy to hear her voice. She’d tell him her trip was extended. They could spend more time together. All would be well, and she’d realize Vivien’s suggestion was the exception, not the rule.

  When he answered, she heard female laughter and music before he spoke. Her heart jumped. A sick churning started in her stomach.

  “Erin! Hey, baby, what’s up?” He sounded happy she’d called.

  “Hey, where are you? There’s a lot of noise in the background.”

  “Yeah, sorry about that. Kevin’s in town with his wife. I decided to invite him and some folks over for a quick get-together. Give me a second—I’ll go inside.”

  She listened as he told someone he was going in. Relief swam through her. She hadn’t met Kevin or his wife, but that explained the voices. The guys Will hung with most on the team were all married now. The female laughter could have come from any one of those women.

  “Hurry back, sexy,” a woman’s voice said, loud enough for Erin to hear through the phone.

  Will chuckled. “Nah, take that over there to Rob. Didn’t you hear me say my lady was on the phone? Not interested.”

  Erin couldn’t make out the woman’s response, but her tone sounded pouty and petulant. That definitely was not one of the wives. She tried to tamp down her jealously and worry. Whoever she was, he had pushed her away.

  That doesn’t mean she won’t try again. Mystery woman is there. I’m not.

  “Hey, I’m back,” Will said.

  “So, who’s calling you sexy and telling you to hurry back?” she asked immediately. She hated the jealousy that edged into her voice.

  “Rob brought over some people when I made the call about Kevin being here,” Will said, sounding annoyed. “If I would have known I wouldn’t have invited him over.”

  “Oh.” She didn’t know what else to say. Well, she did. Kick out Rob and that thirsty woman immediately, but that wasn’t the best response. Irrational, jealous girlfriend wasn’t what she was going for. Will said he would be monogamous and give her what she wanted. She was going to trust him.

  “Look, don’t even think about her.” His voice lowered to warm silk on the other end of the line. “You’re the only woman for me. I miss you like crazy. I even asked Coach about another travel approval so I can get up there and see you during our bye week after you leave Jacksonville.”

  She snapped away the thoughts of the woman who was still at the party in her man’s house and focused on what he’d said. He was trying to see her. He missed her. They were secure.

  “No need to do that.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’ll be in Jacksonville for more than a few days. I’ll be there several weeks. Maybe longer.” She quickly filled him in on the plans to scout out the area for more clients and to open an office.

  “That’s what I like to hear. Do you know how great having you here is going to be?”

  His unveiled enthusiasm made her insides warm. “I have a pretty good idea. It’ll be nice to see you more often. I’m searching for flights now, and after that, I’ll start looking for a temporary place. The company has agreed to subsidize housing for me.”

  “No, no subsidized housing. Stay with me.”

  Erin stopped scrolling through the flights on the computer. She sat back in her chair, then rotated it to look out the windows at the city. “What?” Her heart drummed in her chest.

  “You heard me,” he said, sounding even more excited. “I’ve got more than enough space, and I’d love to have you here with me.”

  “Will, that’s a big step. We’ve only been dating a few months.”

  “But we’ve known each other for years. We know everything there is to know about each other already. I said I’m in and I mean it. If you’re here I want you with me.”

  “What if you get tired of me being around?”

  “I won’t. I’m going crazy not being able to see you more often now. Pick your flight and come straight here. No hotels. Let me make love to you in my bed. The way I want to.” His voice lowered to an octave that made her hot and slick.

  “If you’re sure,” she said in a low, shaky voice. They were really discussing doing this.

  “More than sure. Now book that flight and get your ass down here as soon as possible. I can’t wait to have you in my arms again.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Because just the idea of you here in my space, my bed, has me hard as hell.”

  She laughed and shifted in the seat. Her body aching to be next to his. “I’ll be there tomorrow.”

  “Good. I’ll be more than ready to see you.”

  When the call ended she was just as wound up for him as he sounded. She searched for the earliest flight she could with a grin. The idea of Will, hard and wanting, made her nipples hard and breasts tingle.

  Hurry back, sexy.

  The purr of the unknown woman’s voice whispered through her head. While she was wet and ready here, mystery woman was there. Erin clicked the earliest flight listed and thought about tomorrow. Not about her boyfriend, hard and ready right now in his home with a woman who’d called him sexy.

  * * *

  “I never thought I’d see the day Will Hampton avoided getting some ass,” Kevin said with a laugh.

  Will shook his head as he walked back into his kitchen where his friends Kevin, Isaiah and Jacobe finished drinking their beers as they sat around the island. His quick get-together to welcome Kevin home for a visit had grown way more than he’d expected. He’d invited a few of the guys from the team, not just his friends. He hadn’t expected Rob to bring not only his current fling but one of her friends.

  “She’s not the one I want,” he said to Kevin.

  “It’s true,” Jacobe said. “Will’s in a committed relationship now.”

  Kevin’s brows rose to his hairline. “Say what? I’d heard rumors, but I didn’t believe them.”

  Will laughed and stood next to them at the island. “Why didn’t you believe them? You three settled down. If that can happen anything can happen.”

  Isaiah slid a beer across the counter toward him. “Me settling down one day was never in question.”

  That was true. Isaiah was the first guy Will met who couldn’t wait to find a wife. He’d never been into the groupies or playing the field.

  Will nodded. “Ye
ah, but you falling head over heels in love with Angela instead of your perfect pick was unexpected.”

  Isaiah had been in a long-term on-again, off-again relationship with his college sweetheart. His friend had sworn she was the woman for him, but Will had seen from the start that they had a convenient relationship. Not a love match. Will had seen a love match firsthand with his parents. He could recognize the signs.

  “Passion picks better,” Isaiah said with a grin and a wink.

  The three other men laughed and clicked glasses. Will couldn’t agree more. The passion between him and Erin was proof enough that being with her was the right choice. The more time they spent together, the more he knew he was entering the territory his father warned him about. The land of no return. When you knew you’d met the woman you wanted to spend the rest of your life with.

  “Your sister’s best friend, right?” Isaiah asked.

  “Erin—you all met her during one of the All-Star Weekends,” Will replied.

  Kevin’s head tilted to the side. “What changed? You’ve known her forever. Now you’re ready to settle down.”

  “I didn’t say I was ready,” Will said. “But I can tell there’s something different with her. Something that makes me want to try to be that guy.”

  Isaiah laughed. “What guy?”

  “That guy like you guys. You know. The whole thing. Movies on the couch. Date night. Always and forever type stuff.”

  His three friends exchanged looks. He didn’t miss the doubt in their faces. Doubt they quickly hid behind smiles and congratulations.

  Will put down his beer and braced his hands on the island. He was ready to hear the truth. “All right, why do you three find it so hard to believe what I’m saying?”

  Jacobe spoke up first. “It’s not that we find it hard to believe. None of us were exactly ready to fall in love and be where we are now.”

  He knew that. All of his friends had had their plans, and when they’d first started playing together their plans hadn’t included being happily married to the women they were with now. “So what’s different about me?”