It Had to Be You (Chicago Stars #1)(100)

He settled at the other end, leaned back against the overstuffed arm, and propped one ankle over his knee. “You and Ron are getting good at pulling scams. Tonight was even better than the one you pulled on me. By the way, I’m a big enough man to admit you were right about him and I was wrong.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll even admit you might have been partially right about the team being too tense earlier in the season.”

“Only partially right?”

“Mostly right,” he conceded. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not looking forward to living the remainder of my life without hearing any more speeches about naked football players.” He shuddered. “Do you and Ron think you could let me in on your next scam ahead of time? I hope you realize I almost committed assault and battery tonight, although I’m not entirely sure whether I would have gone after Keane or you.”

“Probably Keane. For all your yelling, I can’t imagine you hitting a woman.”

“You’re forgetting about Valerie.”

“You should introduce her to Jason. They’re perfect for each other.”

“How do you know that?”

“Instinct. That man would enjoy every kinky little game she could conjure up.”

“I don’t know. Some of them—”

“Never mind. I have a weak stomach.” Even though Dan had told her he was no longer seeing Valerie, the thought of them together dug into her like sharp little spurs, and her voice was more waspish than she intended. “I’m sure other women must seem tame to you after being married to the kinky congresswoman.”

He sighed. “You’re determined to pick a fight with me, aren’t you?”

“I’m not doing any such thing.”

“Yes, you are, and I’m not in a fighting mood.” He uncrossed his legs and set his beer bottle down on the hooked rug. “What I’m in a mood to do is fetch a pair of pliers and see if I can get you out of that dress.”

She caught her breath and heat spread through her body, followed by uncertainty. “Dan, don’t joke about this.”

“I’m not joking.” His expression was so solemn it almost scared her. “Believe me, I’ve tried to keep my hands off you. But I can’t do it any longer.”

“Is this now?” she asked quietly.

“Did I say now?”

“No.”

“Then it’s not now. It’s just what I said.”

“Oh.” She moistened her dry lips.

“First I’d like you to take off my sweatshirt. I’ve got a good fire going, and it’s plenty warm.”

“I’d rather leave it on.”

“Are you saying you don’t want to make love?”

“No.” She wished she hadn’t protested so quickly, and she tried to speak more reasonably. “The minute you see this dress, you’ll start yelling again.”

“Phoebe, any woman with half a brain could figure out that yelling’s about the last thing on my mind right now.”

“That’s what you say now, but your temper is unpredictable. It hasn’t occurred to you that I did exactly what you expect the team to do.”

“You want to come at that one again?”

“I put my body on the line for the good of the game. Isn’t that what football’s all about?”

“You’re starting to make me crazy. You know that, don’t you?”

She couldn’t resist him when those little green lights of amusement were dancing in his eyes. “There’s a small hook at the back of the collar.”

“Slide over here and show me.”

She did as he asked, and he gently pressed on her shoulders, indicating that he wanted her to lie facedown across his lap. She rested her cheek against his knee, her breast against his thigh.

He stroked her hair, freeing the strands that were tucked under the sweatshirt. “See, what I’m thinking is this. We’ll start out here on the couch and sort of work our way from room to room.”

“It sounds like spring housecleaning.”

He gently drew the bulky garment off her shoulders, slid it out from beneath her, and dropped it on the floor. His fingertips stroked her back through the net fabric. “I suppose there might be a few parallels. I can think of some interesting things we could do with soap and water.”

“Considering your past history, you probably know interesting things to do with just about everything.” She caught her breath as he touched a particularly sensitive spot on the back of her neck.

He chuckled and cupped her rear with his palm. “You sure you’re not into spankings?”

She smiled against his thigh. “I’m sure.”

“That’s another thing I like about you.”

He stroked her bottom through the thin silky material of the dress, caressing the round slopes and then running his fingertip down the valley until she didn’t think she could bear it any longer. She turned her head and pressed her lips against his zipper to find him fully aroused.

He groaned. “You’re gonna do me in before we even get started.”

He lifted her by the shoulders until he’d pulled her into his arms. For a moment their eyes met, and she was afraid he’d draw away from her as he had done before, but instead, his big, athlete’s hands gathered her closer into his lap. Their lips met, open and seeking. She curled her arms around his neck, and they sank farther down on the couch.