Catching the Pass (Football Fantasies) (8 page)

Chapter Twelve

Maggie tried not to let the butterflies damage too much of her stomach as they flew like mad. She’d been waiting for her meeting for over a half hour now, and the wait was only making her nervous energy grow wilder.  Fate had seemed to show its hand when she’d gotten the call to come to Houston, and now sitting here stewing was unfair.  If it was a job offer, she could stay near Jennings.  Anything less and she wasn’t sure how they’d spend much time together.  Reid Hamilton had better had a really great excuse when, or if, he ever showed up.

Late afternoon sunshine streamed in through the many windows of the office.  A couple of dust mites danced in the rays as they floated down to the floor.  The warmth of the room started to make her feel almost drowsy.  Maggie got up and started looking at some of the team pictures he had covering his walls.  Mr. Hamilton had apparently been with the team for some time from the looks of things.

A short, muscular man, who looked just like the one in many of the pictures, rushed through the door and up to her, offering his hand.  He had a close-cropped buzz-cut and a closely clipped moustache that made her get the ex-military vibe.  “I’m sorry, Ms. Anders.  One of our ladies in accounting took a tumble down the stairs and we were giving her ankle some TLC.  I was so focused on wrapping her up I didn’t realize the time.”

He looked pensive and sincerely upset he was late as she shook his hand. 

“Please call me Maggie.  And I think I can forgive you for offering medical help to a co-worker in need, Mr. Hamilton.”

A broad smile crossed his face and lit him from the inside.  The smile was infectious.  She breathed a little sigh of relief he wasn’t the dour man she’d seen as he’d first rushed in.

“Please call me Reid.  I am so excited to meet you.  I’ve heard about your rehab talent through the grapevine in the last couple of years, and when Taylor told me you were here working with her brother, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to schedule a meeting.”

“A meeting?  To discuss trade secrets?” she asked, fishing for the reason she was there. 

“Why heck no, Maggie.  To offer you a job.”

Maggie smiled widely, her day improved ten-fold.  “I’m listening.”
She sat down and tucked her feet under the chair, trying to look unaffected by the news.

Reid rounded his desk and sat down.  “After I saw the results you’d had with Les Paul in Minnesota, and how quickly you got him back on the field, I knew you were one to watch.  Then I saw Jennings at his try out, and I was impressed he was only a few months out of knee surgery and looked great.”

“Jennings’ hard work had a lot to do with how well he did, as did many of the athletes I’ve worked with in the past.”

“Isn’t that always the case, though?  You can only push them so far—they’ve got to want it to truly succeed.”  Reid smiled wanly.  “I do have to ask one question.  I hate to go there, but I really think we need to clear the elephant out of the room.”

Maggie frowned. 
The elephant?
  Was the ghost of Brian coming back to haunt her again?

“Taylor has intimated that there might be a relationship developing between you and her brother,” Reid said.

Oh.  That elephant.
What the hell was she supposed to say?  She didn’t want to lie, but she’d slipped with Jennings.  It had never happened before and she sure as hell didn’t plan on it ever happening again.  “I admit there’s something between us, but we made sure that the job was over before we acted on our feelings. We kept it professional while I was rehabbing him,” Maggie said, hoping lightning wouldn’t come down and strike her for the little white lie.  They’d only slipped the once.

And oh boy had they slipped.

“Well, I wasn’t really questioning your professionalism.  I’ve heard too many wonderful things about you from others in the industry.  I was more concerned with how you felt about working on a team where your boyfriend played.”

Where my boyfriend played?
  “Did Brian get traded?”

“Brian?” Reid asked, a frown wrinkling his brow.  “I was talking about Jennings.”

Jennings?  On the team?
  Maggie felt her eyes bug out and her mouth drop open.  “I wasn’t aware he’d been signed.”

“Well, he’s being offered a spot at camp.  If he proves himself, he could very well make it to the team.  I just wanted to make sure you were okay working on the same team.  I know some people prefer keeping their private and work lives separate.  But I’d hate to lose the chance of you bringing your talents here.”

“I’d have no problem working with him.  We’re both professionals and will act appropriately.”  Maggie’s heart beat wildly in her chest.  Jennings had said nothing when she’d left for Houston.  “I have to ask.  Does Jennings know this yet?”

Reid shrugged.  “I’ve been given the okay to talk to you about it from the GM, so I would assume they’ve made the call by now.”

Happy tears burned the backs of her eyes.  Jennings had made it.  He’d really made it!  She wanted to scream.  She wanted to cheer.  She wanted to call Jennings and scream and cheer over some more.  She struggled to remain seated.  Maggie wanted to dance around the room.

She wanted to be in Jennings arm.

Reid laughed.  “You didn’t know?”

A tear passed her tight control and she wiped it away.  “No.  I didn’t know.  He’s dreamed of being in the NFL almost his whole life.  And to know he made it—it feels real good.”

“He made it here with your help.  Why don’t we tour the facility and talk about the job offer,” Reid said as he stood up.  “And just in case I’ve put my foot in my mouth, don’t say anything to Jennings until he tells you.”

How in the world was she going to keep that inside?  Her phone buzzed at her side.  As she headed for the door behind Reid, she snuck a peek.  It was a text from Jennings.

Stay there.  On my way to Houston.  We’re celebrating.

He knew.  Hopefully that’s what the text meant.  She sent a quick
Ok
before heading through the door.

Reid looked up at her as they started down the hallway.  “Who’s Brian?”

“Trust me.  Nobody you want to know.”

* * * *

Jennings stood outside his truck as he waited for Maggie to come out of the building.  He was a ball of nerves and he needed to see her, hold her, and then tell her his good news.  After she screamed and talked his ear off, he’d kiss her into submission.  Then he’d hold her tight and slide into her welcoming heat.  He couldn’t think of a better celebration than to be with her.

When she finally walked out of the building, the urge to run up and grab her took hold, but he had to get control of himself.  He leaned against his truck and waited for her to come over.  She sidled up, a big smile on her face.

“They offer you a job?” he asked her.

She nodded, the smile tight on her lips.  Tears suddenly glistened in her eyes, and he drew her close.  “What’s wrong, baby?”

Maggie shook her head.  “Nothing.  Absolutely nothing’s wrong.  I was offered a job, and I’m going to take it if things work out.”

“Things?”

Maggie stared at him, her normal motor mouth silent.

“What’s up with you?” he asked.  Did she already know his news? 

She shook her head, still silent. 

He sensed she had a lot to say but was keeping it in.  Maggie looked ready to burst at the seams. 

She knew. 

A smile came to his lips.  They’d told her not to say anything until she was sure Jennings knew.  He’d bet his life on it.  She’d been sworn to secrecy and it was killing her.  The smile played on his lips as he decided to tease her a little.  “I got us a hotel room in town.  I thought we could go have dinner.  Maybe dance the two step somewhere, then go to the hotel and do some special one-on-one dancing in the sheets.”

“Your text said you wanted to celebrate.  What’re we celebrating?” she asked, a smirk twisting her lips.

Jennings grinned down at her.  “I knew they’d offer you the job, and I wanted to do something special.”

He started pulling her to the passenger side of his truck and could almost feel the words steaming inside her head.

“That’s all?” she demanded.

Jennings paused, a sly grin on his face.  “What else would it be?”

Maggie spun to look at him and narrowed her eyes.  “You know.  I know you know.”  She playfully punched him in the stomach.  “You should be ashamed of yourself.”

“What do I know?”

Maggie glared at him, and he couldn’t hold it in anymore. 

“Okay, okay.  You’re not the only one coming to Houston,” he said, unable to hold back the smile.

She let out a whoop and threw her arms around his neck.  Jennings kissed her before spinning her around in his arms.

He’d made it.  He’d actually made it.

“I’m so proud of you,” Maggie said when he’d finally stopped moving.

He lowered his forehead to hers.  “I couldn’t have made it without you.”

Maggie lifted up on her tiptoes and kissed him, her fingers grasping at the fabric of his shirt.  As soon as she drew back, she looked up at him, an evil smile crossing her lips.  “How about we forget about the dancing,” she whispered.  “And just get room service?  After that one on one part.”

Jennings worked hard to put his serious face on.  The need in her voice matched his.  He wanted to be next to her, skin to skin again, like they’d spent their weekend.  She was his drug and he needed his fix.  “But you love to dance.”

“We’ll have plenty of time for dancing.  Right now,” she pushed a kiss to his lips.  “Right now I need you.”

A growl came up Jennings throat as he kissed her again.  “Get in.”

Chapter Thirteen

After he swiped the electronic lock, Jennings pulled Maggie into the hotel suite.  Her legs felt like rubber and her body ached for his touch.  When she passed him and stepped into the room, she sucked in a breath once she saw the huge bouquet of red roses sitting on a table near the bed.  An ice bucket filled with a bottle of champagne rested near the roses, ready for them to celebrate.  A fire roared in the stately fireplace, the warmth filling the room. 

Maggie paused to take it all in.  She’d never expected that kind of romance from her straight-faced lover, and was touched he’d gone to the effort. 

“Do you like?” he asked as he stepped behind her.  Jennings placed a chaste kiss to the nape of her neck as he grasped her shoulders in his firm hands.

“I do.  It’s beautiful.  But all I really needed was you,” she said, closing her eyes as his lips trailed down one side of her neck to her shoulder.

Jennings grasped the clip she’d used to hold her hair up and let her long hair fall about her shoulders. He then slipped his fingers into the tresses, pulling them aside so his mouth could continue tempting her.  He’d found that the spot at the base of her neck was an erogenous zone for her the last time they’d made love, and he was now exploiting his knowledge and causing shivers of need to course through her.

After sliding his hands down to her waist, he slipped his hands under the edges of her blouse and tugged them from the band of her skirt.  The feel of his hands on her stomach was electric; a jolt ran through her at his touch.  She didn’t think she’d ever get enough of him and his fingers caressing her.

Jennings pulled her closer against him and she could feel the hot, hard part of him.  She was still shocked by the desire between them, amazed that his need for her seemed to equal hers.  He was as needful and hungry for her as she was for him.  The thought of leaving him had been painful.  Luckily, fate had stepped in and made things fall into place.

As the tips grew hard and tender, her nipples brushed against the soft lace of her bra, which abraded the skin.  His hands moved up her belly to hold her breasts and he gently squeezed them as his mouth trailed along her shoulder.

He spun her around to face him.  Without a word, he undid the buttons of her blouse and slowly drew it down her arms.  Maggie let it pile on the floor while he moved his hands to her waist and captured the zipper at her back.  As soon as he’d freed her, she stepped out of the column and slipped out of her heels.

Bare, except for her bra and the thin scrap of her panties, she felt a little vulnerable as she turned to him.  There were a lot of things left unsaid between them.  Jennings didn’t tell her everything in his head and she couldn’t rely on her instincts for everything.  She faced him and lifted her chin.  “What happens next?” she asked him.

One of Jennings’ eyebrows rose as he kicked off his boots.  “I think we both know what happens next, baby.”

“I think you know what I mean, Jennings,” she said. “We’re both doing a lot of assuming right now.  There are a lot of unanswered questions.”

“Like?” he asked after tugging his shirt over his head.

“For now, I’ve just got one.  Do you want me to take that job?  Especially now that you’ve been offered a spot at camp?  I don’t want to say yes only to find out you didn’t want me here.”

Jennings drew her into his embrace.  “Take the damned job.  Come home with me.  Where you belong.  And we see where this takes us.”

Maggie smiled as he leaned down to kiss her.

He drew away and stared at her, an off look on his face.

“What is it?” she asked.

One side of his mouth hitched up a little.  “I love you.”

Her stomach did a somersault as he rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip.  She opened her mouth to tell him the same, but he ducked down to kiss the words from her.  The kiss heated between them, and she was soon on her back in the middle of the bed, watching him pull off his jeans and boxers.

Jennings crawled between her legs and lowered his head to lick her slit, stopping at the tight nub at the top.  He looked up at her as he feasted on her flesh, his gaze demanding she watch what he was doing to her.

Her head dropped back and she was lost to the sensation.  Without warning, Jennings flipped her over, putting her on her hands and knees.  She looked over her shoulder at him as he continued to lick and nibble on her pussy.  Maggie closed her eyes again, loving his mouth on her.

A hand came down and spanked her ass hard, and she squealed.  She gazed at him, surprised by the swat.  He grinned at her and then leaned down to kiss the spot he’d just spanked before trailing back over to her pussy to taste her juices.

Another slap came, the sound echoing in the room.  Heat blossomed in the spot and she arched her back, the sensation gliding through her body.  Jennings gave her another, and she moaned, pushing her ass up higher in the air.  She wanted more of the punishment.  Her pussy was wet, the delicious strikes against her ass making her cream ease from her body.

Jennings licked her pussy then pressed two thick fingers inside her, thrusting them within her.  She rode his fingers, feeling her orgasm quickly approaching.  When he spanked her with his free hand, she was sure she’d come apart. 

He pulled his fingers out and moved forward, surging into her pussy in a single, thick stroke.  The stretching pull of his cock inside her made her cry out, he felt so good.  He kept up the punishing tempo, fucking her as his fingers found her clit.  Within seconds she was screaming, her pussy clenching around his thick cock.

When she came down, he slowed and withdrew.  Moments later she was on her back and he’d pushed himself between her thighs.  He slid into her and she wrapped her legs about his waist.  It felt incredible to be linked to him, like it was where
he
belonged.

Jennings kissed her and languidly rolled his hips, thrusting within her heat.  The gentle movements were so unlike the furious motions a few moments before, but felt good after the amazing orgasm he’d just rent from her.

“You liked the spanking?” he asked, a smile on his lips.

“I think you know I did,” she answered, blood pooling in her face.

“Someone has needed to take you in hand,” he said, mock seriousness on his face.

She opened her mouth and sucked in a shocked sigh.  “No, you didn’t?”

“I did,” he said, leaning in to kiss her.  “And I know that someone is me.”

Maggie gazed up at him, her heart tugging at his words.  “I love you, Jennings.  You know that, right?”

Jennings kissed her again, his tongue sweeping inside her mouth.  “I do now,” he answered against her lips.

They lay there like that for what felt like hours, entwined together, tasting every inch of one another.  Happiness swelled in Maggie’s chest as she realized she’d caught one of the good ones.