First and Ten (7 page)

“That a general rule?” she asked, finally
releasing her finger from its confines.

“If you wanted me to have it you would have
given it to me.”

Jerome had hundreds of women’s numbers in his
phone. They threw them at him like trash out a car window. Although
not having Dani’s had been irritating over the last week, it did
help with him keeping the stalker thoughts of texting every few
minutes away.

“I feel underdressed,” she confessed as her
finger started to twirl again. He placed his hand over hers and
loosened the fabric so he could intertwine their fingers.

“I had a meeting in the city. It wasn’t until
I looked up online where the business school was that I realized I
needed to drive to Evanston. I didn’t have time to change.” He
lied. His plans were formal, but not necessarily so. They were the
only two involved so the dress code wasn’t set in stone.

“Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”

“It’s okay,” he laughed. “I didn’t get caught
by the staties when I tore up here.”

“You were early, why did you have to
speed?”

“Lombardi time,” he replied with a smirk.

“What exactly is Lombardi time?”

“When Vince Lombardi coached, his players
knew whatever time he told them you better get there fifteen
minutes before.” Jerome shifted in his seat as he approached the
exit he needed to get to Navy Pier.

“I said five fifteen.”

“So I got there at five, it was a good thing
too.”

“Why’s that?” she asked.

“You were trying to avoid the date.”

“Was not,” she said defensively.

“Right, that’s why I caught you and Esme
walking toward the parking lot.” Rome let his window down and
retrieved the parking ticket. “You said you’d be by the
building.”

“Esme’s my project partner,” Dani began then
stopped and turned to him. “I don’t have to explain myself…why am I
explaining myself to you?”

“How would I know?” he said as he put his
truck in park and retrieved his wallet and phone from the center
console. “But you’re here now. Any reason you’d not want me to
treat you this week?”

Dani’s top teeth nibbled on the corner of her
bottom lip. When her eyes flashed up at him, he saw the vixen
inside her. It resided in every woman and when they chose to
unleash it, Rome crumbled. This might not have been his best
decision. After a day of planning out a custody agreement for the
son he’s barely seen, he needed a night of relaxation as much as
Dani did.

“You think Navy Pier is the way to treat me?
I usually try new things on Tuesday.”

“Are you telling me you’ve eaten at every
restaurant, rode every ride, and played every game at the
pier?”

“Native Chi-towner,” she said pointing to her
chest.

“Alright,” he said leaning back in his seat
and stroking his chin. “What about a private cruise?”

Danika bowed her head. “You know,” she
breathed in deep as she intertwined her fingers and then twisted
them back and forth. “There’s something I should… See…”

Rome put his finger under her chin and turned
her head as if it were on a swivel so she was looking directly at
him. “Even if all native Chi-towners get a free private tour on
their birthday, you’ve never gone with me. That makes it new.”

“True.” A smirk crossed her lips, she
unbuckled her seatbelt and opened her door. “We better hurry. I
heard those cruises are on a strict schedule.”

Jerome chuckled as he got out and came to her
side of the vehicle. He ran his hand over her dark hair and cradled
her head in his hands. With his other hand, he slid it on her hip
and pulled her flush against his body.

“I’m Jerome Speed,” he said as a broad smile
crossed his face. “And I’m about to show you what it’s like to be
with a pro ball player. It’s a world that can be amazing and
overwhelming. You’ve been skating on the edges looking in, but I’m
going to show you something new. The only thing I’m worried about
is what you’ll have to do to top this Tuesday night.”

No, Danika had never gone on a private lake
cruise with Jerome Speed before. She had gone on more than a few
though with her father’s business. Private was a loose term.
Usually the so called private cruises still had at least a hundred
people. It wouldn’t be cost-effective if they didn’t, but as she
walked down the dock to the yacht there weren’t others milling
around on the upper decks. It was a cooler night, but that never
stopped anyone from taking the cruise with its fine indoor dining
area and breathtaking views. Although most enjoyed the summer night
cruises, Dani had always enjoyed the ones when there was just a bit
of bite to the air.

“Welcome, Mr. Speed,” the Maître d’ said with
a nod as they stepped onto the vessel. “Ms. Albright, nice to see
you again.”

“Hello, Jack, it’s been a while hasn’t it,”
she replied sheepishly as Rome spied her with a bit of chagrin.

“Native Chicagoan.”

“Told you,” she said with a bit of a shrug.
“But I’ve never seen it this empty.”

“It rarely is,” Jack confessed as he closed
off the gate. “Mr. Speed has requested a solo tour.”

“You do those?” Dani asked, shocked because
even her father wouldn’t make that request.

“Anything can be done for a cost,” Rome said
as his arm once again wrapped around her hips and his thumb found
the top of her waistband as he softly rubbed the bare skin under
her sweater. She inhaled sharply, but settled into the warmth of
his body.

“That’s a bit much for a Tuesday,” she
said.

“I got a Groupon.”

“Right,” she laughed, but appreciated the
reference. Why were such little things important to her? Because he
actually listened or better yet, remembered.

“We’ll be pulling away in a few minutes,”
Jack said as they made their way inside. It was cold out and as the
sun was setting over the city, the yacht would want to be out a bit
so they could take in the final rays that leaked through the tall
buildings. Already, stars were appearing on the horizon of Lake
Michigan.

Inside the glassed in deck, warmth filled the
room. It was larger than she remembered, but having only elegantly
dressed tables with their padded chairs tucked in nicely and Vince
tending bar at the far end, the space was sort of intimidating.

“Would you like a drink?” Rome asked as he
placed one hand on the small of her back and the other ushered her
toward the bar.

“It might be necessary.”

“Why’s that?”

“Calm the nerves and all.”

“Not into sailing?”

“Sure,” she said with a half smile. “Let’s
use that excuse.”

“What else could it be? I haven’t seen you
rattled once since I’ve met you.” He leaned his forearm on the bar
but kept his deep mocha eyes locked on hers. With his other hand
still in place on her back, she was locked in tight against him.
Even in the warm room, she felt chills trickling down her spine as
he managed to push her sweater up just enough to let his whole hand
this time scorch her bare skin. “I know it couldn’t possibly be me
that’s unsettling.”

“I never thought I’d be grateful for a
crowd,” she confessed. “Something about disappearing into it has a
nice sense of security.”

“With me it’s usually impossible.” He waved
two fingers at Vince, the bartender, who uncorked a bottle of wine
and poured two glasses. “You almost did it last week for me, but if
this cruise was full we wouldn’t have a moment to talk. I thought
this would be less intimidating than going to my house for a
catered meal.”

“That would have been pressure for sure.”

It wasn’t because Rome had almost a foot of
height on her, or arms so muscular they were the size of her thighs
that made Dani finally relax and feel safe. The thoughtfulness of
his actions. Motioning Vince away so they could be alone as soft
music played. On one side of the windows, pink and yellow streaks
spread wide after hitting the glass. The other side a sea of black
told of their future, unknown, but not foreboding. Cloudless, the
sky still had a beacon of light as the moon’s light was a sliver
tonight.

“Want to dance?” he asked as they both took a
sip of the cool white wine. “I think there might be room.”

Abandoning their glasses, he led her to the
center of the floor and took her hand in his. Being agile on the
field translated nicely on the dance floor. She found herself
standing on her tiptoes and wishing she had stolen Esme’s Manolos.
Flush against his body, Dani let her head fall to his chest and he
took over. The moment was perfect as her mind calmed and she found
herself clear of any distraction. He was her only thought as they
spent the next ten minutes dancing in each other’s arms.

A strange bell sounded through the Stravinsky
playing over the sound system. Dani pulled from his arms in a daze
as if the one sip of wine had been laced with Rohypnol. Her eyes
fluttered as Rome tried to balance her.

“Shit,” she groaned. “I forgot to turn off my
phone.”

“I thought your clients know not to call you
on Tuesdays.”

“Doesn’t mean they don’t still try,” she said
as her fingers trailed down his arms and their connection broke
fully. She’d left her bag at the bar and as she dug through it and
retrieved her phone, Jack approached Rome.

“Dinner will be out in a few minutes,” he
said. “If I would have known Ms. Albright was your dinner
companion, I would have had the chef make her favorite dish.”

“She’s been on here so many times she has a
favorite dish?”

“Not that many, but there are certain people
you know to remember.”

“And why is that?” Rome inquired. Danika was
a student and stylist, not really cutting edge unless Jack was
trying to smooze her for her client list. “I’m sure her clients
already know about your boat.”

“Her clients? She has clients now?” Jack’s
face showed the confusion Rome felt.

“Crisis averted,” Dani said as she approached
and he once again saw the confidence that first attracted him to
her. “And better yet, phone is off.”

“And dinner is served, Mr. Speed, Ms.
Albright, you have your pick of tables, but may I suggest table
thirty-seven.” He waved his hand and a waiter brought their meals
to a table right by the corner window where they’d be able to see
clearly in three directions.

“Thank you,” Rome said as he laid a
hundred-dollar bill in Jack’s hand while shaking it. “If we could
have our drinks brought over and the bottle left, we’ll be fine for
a while on our own.”

“Does that mean you’d like a delay on your
dinner service then?”

Rome looked at the table and saw two salads
that should be in the Chicago Museum of Art, not on a plate ready
to eat. Five courses. Shit. Alone time would be interrupted and the
two of them would be under constant surveillance to see where they
were with their food.

“Why don’t we time it,” Dani suggested as she
sat in the chair as Jack pulled it out. “Twenty minutes for the
first three courses, forty-five for dinner, then dessert is what it
is.”

“We could do that.” Jack snapped his finger
and pointed, which sent Vince from behind the bar. “Vince will be
on call then.”

“Sounds wonderful.” Dani smiled as Rome sat
next to her.

“Who are you?” he asked when the crew
left.

“Danika Albright, knower of all things
society related.” She laid her napkin across her lap and picked up
her salad fork. “A requirement of all stylists.”

“No.” Rome shook his head as he got his own
fork. “Jack said I didn’t know who you are. He also didn’t know you
had clients.”

“Strange,” she said averting her eyes from
his. “I’d say most of my clients have at one time or another
attended a function on his cruise line.”

“You know everything about me—”

“Stay off Sports Center and TMZ and I won’t,”
she interrupted him and he realized why. She was someone he should
have at least googled. Maybe there was another reason Randall sent
him to her.