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Camille.

Good Goddamn but I wanted to do sinful things with that woman! I'd do her six ways from Sunday. I'd do things that would make a lesser man faint. And soon too, no matter how much she was pissing me off.

I might not like her all that much, but I sure as shit wanted to kiss her.

Everywhere.

Actually, that might make it even more fun. My grannie always said that a little anger was the spice of life. Oh yeah, I'd be happy to hate screw her right into the wall.

Or the floor. Or a bed.
 

Hell, I'd be happy to take her on a kitchen counter.

I smiled blandly and nodded, itching to go over there and tell Miss Fancy Pants what I though of her fundraising schedule. First of all, it was grueling. Second of all, the charity was for children and there was only one damn event that actually involved kids! The rest of them were all about fat cats and fancy dinners.

"She's a prime piece isn't she?"

My head swiveled to the right. A guy was standing next to me, leaning in like we were friends. There was something about him that immediately put my teeth on edge. He looked rich, like everybody else in the room. But he also looked off somehow. A little
too
handsome. A little too slick.

And definitely a little too interested in staring at something across the room that I considered to be my personal property.

Camille.

"She was the best I ever had."

He grinned at me and I felt ice on the back of my neck. My blood literally ran cold, I was so mad. My lizard brain was ready to attack.

But the dumb piece of shit kept going, talking about Camille like she was nothing more than a piece of meat.

"The best tits. The best ass. And the best legs. Never mind the family money."

I grit my teeth. Who the fuck was this guy? He sipped his drink, his eyes travelling over Camille's body with frank appreciation. I wanted to smack him.

Hell, I wanted to pound his ass into the ground.

"Maybe I'll take another swing at it."

"It? Don't you mean 'her?'"

He smirked.

"I was using baseball talk. You know, trying to speak at your level."

I opened my mouth to tell him to go to hell. As if on cue, Camille inserted herself between us. She snaked her arm under mine and I looked at her in surprise.

She smiled at me flirtatiously.

"Are you enjoying yourself, Cade?"

She stared coolly at the douche standing there. The guy she'd kept me from smacking straight into next Tuesday. She flicked her eyes over him.

"Jason. I didn't know you were invited."

He stared at her chest, not even bothering to hide where he was looking.

"I wouldn't miss one of your events, Cami."

I was irritated by the familiar nickname until I realized that Camille looked extremely displeased to see him. Not just annoyed like the way she looked when she was bickering with me. Nope. She looked like she was actually disgusted by this Jason character.

Like someone had just tried to feed the girl a bowl of worms and called it spaghetti.

I relaxed instantly, surprised how relieved I was to know that. Whoever this guy was, she was not into him.

Good.

She turned to me again, running her hands up my lapel.
Hello darlin'.
I grinned at her stupidly as she adjusted my tie. Maybe this could work to my advantage. I sure liked it when she was sweet, even if it was all an act.

"Have you had enough?"

I nodded, smiling like a kid on Christmas morning.

"Let's sneak away for a little while… goodbye Jason."

I followed her like a lapdog down a long hallway, my eyes on that gorgeous ass of hers. Her body moved so gracefully, watching her walk was like watching a dancer. It was like watching a sunset, the first snowfall of the year, and the God damn Fourth of July all rolled up into one.

That ass was a galdamn
symphony.

I followed Camille into one of the smaller rooms away from the main hall. It was only small in comparison to the rest of the place though. It was an elegant room, decked out with a long conference table, a sofa and two wing chairs. Heavy wooden furniture lined the walls.

Like everything Camille touched, it stank of old money.

Funny thing was, I was pretty sure her money wasn't old. Her father had said something about her being good with numbers. Some sort of financial whiz. I didn't much understand all that, but it was impressive.

I leaned against the door and locked it behind me. Then I crossed my arms over my chest and gave her a stern look. Camille was standing by the window, her arms wrapped around herself. She looked vulnerable somehow. As if she were trying to make herself smaller.

I frowned.

That sonofabitch had really gotten to her.

I would have to take care of that.

After I dealt with Miss Priss here.

"Camille. Come here."

Her head snapped up and I saw that her sky blue eyes were unhappy, full of unease. I would deal with that too. After I kissed her senseless.

"I said
come here."

Camille

"Excuse me?"

I stared at the big oaf. He was trying to intimidate me with his big arms and big eyes and big- well, let's just say everything was big.

I lifted my chin and ignored him. He walked towards me slowly. I resisted the urge to run away from him like a little girl. He waited until he was looming over me to speak. His tone was accusatory.

"You're using me."

"What?"

"You want to make that guy jealous."

I laughed, trying to ignore the fact that I was alone with Cade. And that I was pretty sure he had locked the door. Or there were butterflies in my stomach at the thought of what might happen...
 

"No, I'm definitely not."

He was watching me carefully. He tilted his head to the side. I was reminded again that Cade might not be sophisticated, but he was not stupid.

Far from it.

He was much more perceptive than I might like. I just shook my head, hoping he would drop it. He didn't. The man was like a dog with a bone!

"You are using me as a shield then."

I nodded. That was true. He really wasn't as stupid as he looked. Not that he looked stupid precisely. But he didn't exactly look like he was doing any heavy mental lifting.

He was too busy lifting everything else.

"So you
are
using me."

He was standing close. Too close. I couldn't stop myself from coyly lifting my eyes to his and parting my lips.

"Do you mind?"

He growled and tried to yank me against him but I just laughed and danced away. I leaned against a sideboard and watched him over the edge of my glass. He was like a gorilla, angrily puffing his chest out to impress me.

"Camille…"

I wagged my finger at him.

"Behave yourself."

He cursed under his breath and ran his hand through his hair, messing it up. I had to admit, I liked him better that way. Tie loosened. Jacket open. Maybe undo a button or two of his clean, white shirt…

"That guy hurt you? You want me to rough him up?"

I opened my mouth in surprise. He was serious. He wanted to defend my honor.

That was… sweet. Chauvinisitic and ill mannered, but sweet.

A funny feeling settled in the pit of my belly. It was something almost tender. I didn't like it, so I pushed it away.

"No. But if you could discourage him with your presence that would be… very agreeable."

He grunted and nodded.

"Fine. What do I get out of it?"

I gave him a look of warning as he crossed the room to me. He pressed me up against the banquet I was leaning on. My voice was breathier than I would have liked when I answered him.

"A gentleman wouldn't ask that."

He nudged my thighs apart so I could feel his erection.

"I'm no gentleman."

I fought for breath. I could not explain the effect that Cade had over me. I wanted him, there was no denying it.

But I didn't
want
to want him.

I pushed him away with my hands.
 

"Fine, Cade. What do you want? And don't say sex because I'm not for sale."

He didn't budge. He stayed right where he was. His body was so hot where it touched me it nearly burned.

"I won't have to ask you for sex. I'll let
you
ask
me
."

He slid his finger over my bottom lip.

"In fact, I'm pretty sure you'll be begging for it."

My mouth opened. I was tempted to slap him. But I needed him with me tonight dammit!

"You arrogant bastard! You're lucky I'm not in the mood to slap you. You're so thick headed I'm afraid I might hurt my hand."

He grinned, leaning into me even more. His chest was against mine and his enormous erection… I had to resist rubbing myself all over his hardness. It was extremely disconcerting. I was having an inner battle with myself, struggling to resist his vulgar advances.

From the smug look on his handsome face, he could tell exactly what I was feeling.

"Go ahead and slap me dollface. I'm sure I'll deserve it before the night is over."

I choked back an infuriated laugh. I decided to try a different tactic. I would laugh it off, as if dozens of men had rubbed themselves all over me on a daily basis. Which was… definitely not the case.

"Cade, enough silliness. If you don't want to help me just say so."

He stepped back suddenly.

"Of course I will help you. If you agree to have dinner with me."

"Dinner? I thought we already tried that."

He growled at me, reaching for me again. I tilted my head back, certain he would kiss me. But he didn't. He just ran his thumb over my cheek and rested his hand on my shoulder.

"Dinner.
Without
your father."

"Just dinner? You won't make any other demands?"

I almost hoped he would, but I didn't tell him that. I knew I shouldn't tease the man but I was fascinated, constantly wondering what he would say or do next. I was playing with fire but for some reason I no longer seemed to care.

He seemed to relax and gave me a charming smile.

"Dinner and cards. Poker."

I narrowed my eyes at him. I had a feeling I knew what he was up to. He hadn't tried to hide what he was after. He just wanted a quick lay. As tempting as it was, that would not be conducive to a peaceable working arrangement. Plus, when the fling was over, I'd be forced to see his smug face for the next few years at the stadium. He'd look at me, knowing he'd had me. Knowing he could probably have me again.
 

And not just at the stadium either. As long as he was a famous ball player I'd be dealing with the fallout. Knowing how talented he was, that would likely be a very long time. I shook my head. This was getting out of hand.

It was time to reel it in.

"Don't expect me to play for the same stakes as last time."

He lifted my hand and kissed the back of it, sending shivers all over my body. Then he placed my hand on his arm and covered it with his big, meaty paw. He leaned over to whisper in my ear as he led me back to the party.

"I wouldn't dream of it."

Chapter Ten

Cade

I rolled my shoulder, lifting the bat into position. My eyes never moved from the ball. My focus was unshakable.

Well, mostly unshakeable. When I was out on the field, for sure. The rest of the time… not so much.

Camille had me distracted. But right now it was just me, the bat and the ball. I grinned, eager to break something. My bat, most likely.

A faint whistle hissed through the air as Juan threw his fastball. It was a perfect pitch. About ninety miles an hour and hard to get the bat around on. But oooeee, it was right in the sweet spot.

There was a satisfying crack as my bat connected with the ball. I heard the wood splinter as I hit the ball with all I had. All the pent up frustration. All the hunger. All the drive.

Damn straight, I hit that ball straight to next Tuesday.

I ran the bases, knowing I had little Miss Priss to thank for my wrecked bat. It wasn't just cracked. It was
destroyed.
The top half of it ended up several rows back in the beachers behind me.

I expected they'd start using my nickname here too now. I'd trashed three bats this week already.

I was fired up. And then some.

All because of one ornery little filly. I slapped hands with my teammates as I returned to the dugout. By this time tomorrow, I was going to be much more relaxed.

Tonight, I was finally going to scratch that itch.

Camille, to be exact.

Everyone slapped my hands as I came in. We did it for every homer, no matter who'd made the play. Only one guy didn't hold his hand out.

Fuckin'
K-Roll.

Chuck sat next to me, rubbing his hands over his bat.
 

"He hates you man."

"Yeah, I noticed. I'm real observant like that."

He grinned at me.

"I would say don't sweat it, but I know you don't give a rat's ass."

I laughed, pretending to wipe my brow.

"Hey, a bunch of us are going out later if you want to come."

"I got plans tonight. Thanks though."

"With a lady?"

I nodded slowly, not willing to say more than that. He rubbed his palms together and whistled.

"I got plans with about twenty ladies."

"Strip club?"

"Oh yeah. They treat you right down South. Even better than the hometown honeys, and that's saying something."

I shook my head.

"I don't pay for it."

Chuck wiggled his eyebrows at me.

"Neither do I man. Those ladies loovvvve ball players."

"I'll have to take your word for it. Thanks though."

"Your loss man."

I laughed and slapped his back. The next few hours passed in a slow motion blur. I usually relished every second of playing ball, but today I just wanted practice to be over.

I had big plans for Miss Camille tonight. And I wanted to make sure it went according to plan. I was in the showers soaping up before most of the guys had peeled off their uniforms.