Challenging the Center (Santa Fe Bobcats #6)(27)

“Form the bond,” Michael said slowly. “Smaller groups from the start, that they stick with the entire week, including the coach.”

“We had larger drills and stuff, don’t get me wrong,” Kat said quickly. “I can’t tell you how to set up your own camp, that’s not what I mean. It’s just, you know, after camp is over, they’d be going home with a T-shirt or something that didn’t just say ‘Michael Lambert’s Football Camp’ or whatever.”

He wrinkled his nose at that. Too pretentious.

“It would say ‘Killian Reeves’s Kickers,’ or ‘Harrison’s Harassers.’” She blushed again, looking down. Then she mumbled, “I sort of suck at team names, so ignore those. They were just examples.”

“And you’re thinking the guys would stay in touch.”

“Make it an assumption from the get-go. They don’t have to drop everything and answer a phone call. But an e-mail a few times a year maybe. Or an encouraging letter mailed out the first week of the kid’s next football season. It would go a long way for everyone. The kids would feel like someone gave a damn, and the players would be training themselves to look outside their own ego from the start.”

She was fantastic. And she didn’t even know it. Without breaking eye contact with Kat, he asked, “Martin?”

“I’ll start something,” the lawyer said, standing. Martin earned his keep by being a perceptive son of a bitch, and right now his lawyer had quickly picked up his papers. Tapping Kat on the shoulder to gain her attention, he shook her hand. “Very well done. Nice to meet you, Ms. Kelly. Good luck with all your athletic endeavors.”

She chuckled at that, but shook. “Thank you, Mr. Bennett. It’s been a pleasure.”

Martin let the conference room door close behind him. Michael still couldn’t stop watching her. She was glowing. “Teddy.”

“Yeah.” His partner sighed. “Do I get a say in any of this?”

“Is it going to be negative?”

“It’s not all going to be positive,” he confirmed.

“Then go out there and write it in an e-mail.”

“Why can’t I just tell you right now?”

Kat’s eyes kept ping-ponging between them.

“Because I want you to get out of the room.”

Thankfully, his business partner didn’t need to be told twice. “Yeah, yeah,” he said easily, standing. Unlike Martin, he didn’t make a point of saying good-bye to Kat, but he wisely closed the door behind him.

Then silence enveloped the room.

“He’s… interesting,” Kat said after a minute. One fingertip traced the smooth grain of the wood of the conference table. “Friend of yours? Or just business partner?”

“Both.”

“Interesting.”

He wanted to know what that single word meant, but he wouldn’t ask.

“Did you really like the idea, or were you just doing that to make me think you liked it?” she asked on a rush of words. They flew out of her as if she’d been damming them up all day, and the dam couldn’t hold them back any longer.

“It’s perfect. Needs some tweaks, but I needed the outside perspective, and you provided it. Thank you.”

Kat’s smile turned satisfied. “Well. You brought me all the way here. I figured I should help.”

“Come here.”

She blinked at that. “What?”

“Come over here.” He motioned to the chair Teddy had vacated, which sat closest to him.

She hesitated, then walked over and sat primly down, hands folded in her lap. Not at all like the loose-limbed, relaxed Kat he’d hoped for.

“Your business partner slash friend didn’t seem to like me being here too much.”

“I don’t give a shit.”

He didn’t curse often, especially out loud, so he wasn’t surprised when Kat’s head snapped up at his sharp retort.

“You should care. If you’re working with him, and you want this camp up and running, then you should be working in harmony.”

“Maybe I care about what’s best for the camp more than hurting his feelings.” He held out his hands and was pleased when she automatically reached hers out to place in his. He let his thumbs and fingers roam over her wrists, the palms of her hands, lacing and unlacing with her own fingers. “How did that feel?”

Her pulse leapt under his fingertips, and her hands stiffened.

He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. “I meant the meeting. Is this the same sort of thing you do normally when you do volunteer work?”

“I don’t… no.” She shook her head. “I do volunteer, but something of this magnitude… no, I’ve never been in a meeting where they’re taking an idea from the ground floor up.” Her eyes looked a little dazed. “It’s a bit exhilarating, isn’t it?”

He leaned over and kissed her then. Because he couldn’t seem to stop himself. Kat yielded immediately to his touch, his embrace, leaning into his body and wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him closer. This time the kiss spun into something deeper. Their breathing synced, their mouths met at the perfect angle, and when he wrapped his hands around her waist to pull her over him, she came without resistance. Snuggled on his lap, her core meeting his growing erection, she pressed into him like she could melt over his body.