Chapter 14
It had been thirty-six hours since agreeing to secretly date Jimmy. For thirty-five of those, I wondered if I’d made the right decision. After Linc, I’d vowed not to get involved with anyone in the industry. I’d been true to my word until the moment Jimmy’s lips met mine.
Then all bets were off because when he took control and kissed me, I knew I was screwed. Never ... and I mean never in my life had a kiss sent a tingle down my spine. At that moment, every nerve in my body pricked my skin. His warm breath heated me from the inside out. Everything about it turned me on ... everywhere.
But it wasn’t only the physicality aspect that prompted me to change my mind about him; it was a feeling in my soul that told me I’d be a fool to say no. Even though every instinct I had told me to do just that. With Jimmy, and as much as I hated to admit it, I felt a connection unlike any other.
I sat in my office, smiling for no reason. If anyone walked in, they’d think my coffee was spiked. Normally, work would be my escape from whatever my personal life had going on, but in this case, Jimmy was my work too. My phone was full of gala pictures that I needed to upload. One photo was better than the last. Finally deciding on one with him signing a ball to be donated to charity, I clicked “Upload,” tagged the gala’s page, and added the hashtags #jimmyhall #hawkspitcher #charitygala.
Deciding there wasn’t much else to do for his image right now, I opened up a few spreadsheets, prospective player statistics, and also those who had contracts coming up on our team and others. As much as my grandfather praised me for the job I’d been doing regarding PR, I still needed to show him why I should be moved up in the ranks.
By the fourth report, my mind started to wander, and images of Jimmy kept popping into my head: his smile, his laughter, his touch, and a kiss that surpassed all others I’d ever had. All of it became a slow-motion film in my head, playing on a constant loop.
Naturally, I couldn’t help but wonder what he’d been thinking. Although something told me I could guess, but still, was I on his mind like he was on mine? Or, now that I agreed to date him, was I just a passing thought? God, I sounded like a teenager. I knew he was at practice and then leaving for an away game, which I’d decided to skip, except he didn’t know that yet.
The sound of my phone buzzing snapped me out of my Jimmy-induced haze. I flipped the phone around to see a text from the man in question.
Jimmy: Hi, beautiful. Just wanted to say good morning.
His greeting had me feeling instantly hot and bothered.
Me: Hi.
Jimmy: I can’t wait to see you. You’re going to Indiana, right? Are you flying with us?
Me: Yes and no. I’ll be there tomorrow. I have work to do here.
Jimmy: OK, that’s a bummer. I’m not sure if I’ll see you before I leave.
Me: Sorry. I want to get caught up on a few things.
I couldn’t believe we were only a couple of weeks away from the playoffs, which meant the end of the season wouldn’t be far behind. My proactive mindset had me gearing up for the spring.
Jimmy: OK. I’ll miss seeing your gorgeous face. Now I need to stare at Remington.
Me: You’ll survive.
Jimmy: Whatever. * wink emoji *
Me: LOL
Giddy.A word I would have never used to describe myself before Jimmy Hall came into my life. Since then, I’d been questioning why he’d been on my mind so much. Bringing my focus back to the report on my computer, I made a note of two potential pickups before the playoffs and three college kids for next year’s draft.
Completely immersed in drafting my recommendations to my grandfather, something I would have done if I was in the position I felt I deserved, I never heard anyone come into my office. So, when the door closed, my heart leaped into my throat.
“Hello, beautiful.”
“Shh, someone could hear you,” I scolded.
I could have used the same description for him. He had on a Persian-blue suit, which not many men could pull off, but on him, it looked perfect. The rich color made his eyes look like the ocean, one that I could float in for days. Beneath the tailored jacket was a white button-down shirt with the top two buttons open. There was zero debate ... Jimmy Hall had to be the hottest man on the planet.
He set his brown leather duffel on the table near my door. “No one heard anything. And I’m sorry to just pop in, but I had to see you.”
“Shouldn’t you be heading to the airport soon? And I’ll see you tomorrow.”
A naughty smile appeared on his handsome face as he took confident strides toward me. “Yes, but I had to take care of something first.”
Still in my chair, I swiveled toward him. His strong hands found their place on the arms on either side of me, caging me in. My heart raced, and I couldn’t help my eyes from darting toward the door.
Reading my mind, he appeased my worry. “I locked it.”
I would have asked why, but then his lips met mine, and time seemed to stand still. Like the first time, the warmth of his touch sent shivers down my spine. As though on autopilot, my hands went up and found the scruff on his face. He deepened the kiss on a groan, and in that moment, not much else mattered.
My chair tilted back, and I felt his lips curl up against mine. He broke our connection, and I wondered if he could hear my heart beating. Jimmy took my hands, slowly helped me out of my chair, and hugged me.
When his arms wrapped around my back, he pulled us closer in until our bodies were flush with one another. The scent of his cologne, or maybe it was bodywash from his after-practice shower, filled my senses. I inhaled and made a mental note of what he smelled like.
Who the hell am I right now?
Our arms loosened. He took a step back and tucked a few strands of hair behind my ear. “You have no idea what you do to me.”
I took a quick glance at his pants before meeting his eyes again. “Something tells me I do.”
He chuckled. “Babe, you haven’t felt anything yet. One day, when you’re either beneath me or on top of me, lady’s choice, then we’ll talk. Or not.”
“Is that so?”
“It’s very much so.” He paused before adding, “I like this side of you. And I like you a lot, Sommer Bennett. But before I beg you to test your desk’s stability, I need to go. I’ll call you tonight.”
“Okay.”
He walked over to the table, grabbed his duffel, and put his hand on the doorknob. Before opening it, he turned. “Hope you’re not opposed to phone sex.”
Without waiting for my response, or maybe my gaping mouth had been response enough, he walked out and closed the door behind him.
I dropped down into my chair, grabbed my phone, and sent out a group text that Sarah had aptly named “Ride-or-Die Bitches.”
Me: SOS! My place. Tonight at 7?
Annie: I’ll be there. Are you okay?
Sarah: Is this about the hottie? AKA Jimmy? Please tell me you finally jumped him!
Me: *rolling eye emoji*
Lila: Count me in!
Sarah: Oh, yeah. Me too!
I laughed at my friends and realized I was going to break my own rule of only telling one person. But when it came down to it, they really were my ride-or-die girls, and I couldn’t tell just one of them. Feeling a bit guilty, I quickly called Jimmy.
After one and a half rings, he answered, “Miss me already?”
“You’re funny. Listen, another thing that is important to me is honesty. I wanted to tell you that I’m telling my friends tonight. Only because they’re a package deal ... one entity, if you will. I may need advice when it comes to a man like you. Here’s more honesty, I’m not even embarrassed admitting that.”
He chuckled. “Okay. So does that mean I can tell my team since they’re one entity?”
All the saliva in my mouth evaporated.
“I’m kidding, Sommer. You can tell whomever you’d like. I’ll stick to Remington. If he knows, then he’ll be my wingman when the guys want to pick up women at the hotel after the games.”
My stomach soured at the thought of Jimmy doing that like he had in the past, but since I’d been in charge of his public relations, that hadn’t happened. Still, my body temperature rose a few degrees.
“Sommer, are you still there?”
“Yes, sorry.”
“Hey, I don’t want anyone but you. Understand? Plus, we have a phone sex date later. Do you think I’d fuck that up?”
Finally letting out a breath, I licked my lips. “I don’t remember agreeing to that.”
“Don’t worry, you will. Are we good?”
“Yes, we’re good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You can count on it.”
* * *
They all stared at me. Even Sarah, who had been telling me to go for Jimmy since she met him. Then, as though a flip had been switched, they squealed like schoolgirls, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Holy shit. This is huge,” Annie said, taking a sip of her wine. “Tell us everything. What happened to your no-dating-work-people rule?”
“Fuck that rule,” Sarah touted. “That man is beyond gorgeous. God, I can’t wait until you sleep with him. I’m jealous already.”
That hadn’t been the first time Sarah had mentioned sleeping with Jimmy. Lila scolded her, and Annie sucked in a breath, but then they both laughed.
“Jimmy is different than I thought. And, girls, when he kissed me, I felt it everywhere ... and I mean everywhere.”
Another truth I had to admit to myself. When Jimmy kissed me, I’d never been so aware of the muscles in my vagina. They clenched more times than I knew possible. Every ounce of my being reacted to the man. Maybe that was why I felt drunk around him. Unable to push him away or stick to my guns.
Lila took a sip of her wine before saying, “People are going to flip out.”
“Well, that’s the thing. No one will know. We’ve agreed on me telling you three and him only telling his best friend.”
Annie tilted her head as though trying to read between the lines. “So what you’re saying is that you want to keep your relationship private.”
“Ooh, like a secret romance?” Sarah cooed. “That’s hot.”
Lila shook her head. “Why, Sommer? It’s been so long since you’ve been with someone who makes your face light up like it is now. Why hide it? You’re both adults. Who cares what people at work think? There are a lot of workplace romances.”
“Because, Li, in my field, it’s harder for women. It doesn’t matter that my last name is Bennett. In fact, it’s almost worse at times. Look at what I’m currently doing. I got assigned to Jimmy to prove myself. I’ve been proving myself my entire life. Did Mason or any of the other guys need to prove themselves? No, they didn’t. I’m more comfortable keeping this to ourselves. Maybe down the road, we can revisit our agreement, but for now, it’s our secret. Plus, I’m not sure my grandfather would be pleased that his granddaughter is hooking up with his star player. As soon as I hit my teenage, boy-crazy years, he told me players were off-limits.”
“That was years ago,” Lila replied.
“I’m still Sommer Bennett. In other words, I could be fifty and that rule would apply.”
“But you like him,” Annie stated without question.
“I didn’t want to, but yes, I do.”
Sarah batted the air around with her hand. “Keep it a secret then. Either way, you deserve happiness.” She raised her glass. “To our girl and her hot man. May the sex be amazing and the orgasms be plentiful. And if he does anything to hurt you, he’ll be sorry. Ride or die, bitches!”
Annie and Lila both giggled, and I couldn’t help but laugh a little myself. Although the thought of getting hurt hadn’t been remotely funny, and I wouldn’t let that happen. We settled in and talked about Annie’s wedding, Lila’s date this weekend, and Sarah’s latest conquest.
They left about an hour later. Telling them felt like a weight had been lifted off me. Not because my secret had been kept for a long time but because I finally admitted to myself and to them that I liked Jimmy.
Exhausted and forgoing packing for my morning flight, I brushed my teeth, washed the day off my face, and crawled into my nice, warm bed. Closing my eyes, I began to drift off when my phone rang from the charging pad.
Reaching over, I looked at the screen, and Jimmy’s name was at the top. Picking it up, I tapped the screen and answered. “Hi.”
“Hey, did I wake you?”
“No, I did just get into bed, though. I’m exhausted. It’s been a long day, and I have an early flight tomorrow.”
“How did it go with your friends? Did you tell them?”
“Yes, they’re all on board. For some reason, they think you’re great.”
“I am.” He chuckled. “Is it safe to assume that I should refrain from phone sex tonight?”
“Probably. Plus, I never agreed to it.”
“You should know that changing your mind is one of my favorite things to do.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Sweet dreams, beautiful. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You too. Good night, Jimmy.”
And what sweet dreams they were… and the sweetest dreams were still to come.