High Stakes Seduction (14 page)

That was the way to get through this thing, just have fun and not worry too much about what anyone thought. That attitude had served her well for most of her life. Heck, this was for charity after all.

Teddy showed her where to sign in. He wasn’t such a bad sort, once you got past the hair and the superwhite teeth and the fake tan and the sweater.

She got out her purse to pay the—
yikes
—two hundred dollar entry fee only to be told her fee had already been covered by Adam Mancuso. That embarrassed her. Why was everyone trying to pay her way? Did she come across as that broke? Sure, she wasn’t rolling in dough, but she could cough up two hundred dollars for a good cause.

On top of the new golfing outfit?

Okay, yes, she’d have to eat ramen noodles for the rest of the month, but she’d blown money on more frivolous things. Just because Adam had money didn’t mean she was going to let him pay her way. She’d tell him that as soon as he showed up.

Their foursome had been assigned a caddy, and Eva was surprised to discover it was a ruddy-face middle-aged woman.

“Hi,” she said, extending her hand to Eva. “I’m Patti Carson, your caddy.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Eva. How long have you been a caddy?”

“Oh, aren’t you the cutest thing. I’m not really a caddy. My husband manages Shady Palms, I’m just helping out with the event.”

Eva liked Patti immediately. She wasn’t at all pretentious as she’d imagined exclusive country club types would be.

“Where’s your clubs?” Patti asked.

“Um…” Clubs. Why hadn’t she thought about clubs?

“Here are our clubs,” Adam said. He was dressed in tan slacks and a sapphire-blue polo shirt, looking collegiate and moneyed, and carrying a pink golf bag in one hand with brand-new shiny clubs and a used set in a black bag.

“You bought me golf clubs?” Eva stared at him in disbelief.

“Did you have a set of your own?”

She swallowed as if she had a hunk of bread caught in her throat. Who was this man? “No, but—”

“Now you do.”

“Adam, I can’t accept these. They must have cost hundreds of dollars.”

“My gift to you.”

“It’s too extravagant.”

“You need something to play with.”

She leaned close to him. “You know I don’t know how to play.”

“I’m hoping that after tonight you’ll fall in love with the game.”

Why was that? She met his gaze. A small, vulnerable smile tipped his lips. Did this mean he wanted her to learn how to play golf so they could play together? Her heart did a backflip.

Do not get ahead of yourself.

“Please accept,” Adam said. “Let me do something nice for you.

“Thank you,” she said finally because she really didn’t have much of a choice. How was she going to play golf without clubs? She’d idiotically thought she would be able to rent some the way you rented shoes at the bowling alley. Yeah, boy, around this crowd she felt as sophisticated as homemade soap. “You’re welcome.”

“It’s a very generous gift, also considering you paid for my entry fee. Especially since it’s all my fault I got us into this.”

“Don’t sweat it.” Adam turned to load the bags in the caddy cart.

“Your boyfriend is very sweet,” Patti whispered to Eva. “And I do appreciate him loading those bags for me. You wouldn’t believe how many men would just leave it to me.”

“Oh, he’s not my boyfriend. We’re just friends.”

Patti arched an eyebrow, smiled. “Does he know that?”

“What do you mean?”

“The way he looks at you.” Patti shook her head. “That man has more than just friendship in mind.”

Was it that obvious? Eva peeked over at Adam, only to catch him studying her speculatively. She ducked her head, glanced away.

“Ready?” Adam asked, coming over to hold out his hand to her.

As if she needed help getting into a golf cart. She pretended she didn’t see his hand—the sexual tension was acute enough without touching him—and slid across the seat of the golf cart.

They followed Teddy and Kirsten, who’d already struck out for the first tee. Patti followed behind them in her cart laden with everyone’s clubs. The sun was hanging on the horizon and the high-powered lamps around the greens started to come on. Fireflies flicked through the trees and the air smelled of fresh mown grass.

“Relax,” Adam said. “You’re going to do fine.”

“Who says I’m not relaxed.”

“The way you’re gripping the seat. Your knuckles are white.”

“That’s a bit of a switch,” she said. “
You
telling
me
to relax.”

“You give good advice, I’m handing it back to you.”

“It’s hard not to be nervous when I’m around all these rich people and celebrities. I had no idea it was going to be like this. I had no idea
you
were rich. How come you didn’t tell me that you were rich?”

“My family is rich. I just make a regular salary.”

“A salary good enough to pay for my entry fee and a set of golf clubs.”

“You sound angry with me.”

“I feel blindsided. Why is a guy like you living in an apartment complex like mine?”

He shrugged. “
Our
apartment complex is nice.”

“Not that nice. And you led me to believe you didn’t know anyone in San Diego. You’ve played this scramble before with Kirsten. I’m assuming that means you know someone in town.”

“I just wanted you to take pity on me,” he admitted.

“I feel used.”

“But hopefully in a good way?” He grinned.

Yes, dammit, in a good way.

“I have a terrible feeling this isn’t going to go well.”

“Don’t worry about it. I promise you’ll do fine. It’s a scramble.”

“I don’t even know what that means. That’s how clueless I am. I keep picturing scrambled eggs.”

“It just means that on every hole, after everyone tees off, you choose the best drive and everyone plays from there. It speeds up the game and gives less experienced players a chance to keep up with more experienced players.”

“How can I not worry about it?” she continued to fret. “I barely know a five iron from a pitching wedge. What
is
the difference?”

He laughed. “Patti will help you with that. Do you think Kirsten is that great of a golfer?”

“She’s not?”

“She only plays in scrambles because she’s not good enough to play any other way.”

“Oh, well then, I do feel a little better.” Eva grinned. “Does that make me petty?”

“It makes you human.”

“Can’t argue with that.”

“Kirsten is here for the charity and to rub elbows with celebrities. Take a page from her playbook. Have a good time.”

“Sports metaphors. How come guys always have to talk in sports metaphors?”

“I think it’s genetic. Something in our Y chromo-some.”

“Apparently.”

“Your last boyfriend spoke in sports metaphors?”

“Why do you want to know so much about him? I told you, it’s over. Ancient history. Wasn’t really anything to begin with.”

“Just curious. I want to avoid the same mistakes he made.”

“Hang around and you’ll do fine. Keith’s biggest flaw was that he didn’t show up when he said he was going to.”

Why had she said that? It sounded desperate. Like she wanted Adam to hang around. Eva notched her chin up. She didn’t need anybody.

Adam followed the golf cart in front of them over a quaint little wooden bridge that stretched over a trickling creek. He reached over and took her hand. Held it.

She tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let go.

“It’s okay to admit he hurt you,” he whispered.

“He didn’t. I was just dumb to get involved with him in the first place.”

Adam stopped when they reached the green and she hopped from the cart, happy to have her hand back, and dashed for her golf bag before either Adam or Patti could retrieve it. But she couldn’t get it unbuckled from the strap on the cart.

Adam came over and pressed his hand against her spine, just above the waistband of her skirt. “Allow me.”

She stepped back and let him at it.

“Just friends, huh?” Patti Carson winked as she walked past them to caddy for Kirsten and Teddy.

Teddy teed off first, then Kirsten. Adam went next.

Eva watched him tee up his golf ball, and then take a couple of practice swings. Her gaze fixated on his erect posture, the way his shoulders moved like an orchestrated whole, each part doing its job to drive the little white ball down the long green fairway, his shot surpassing both Kirsten’s and Teddy’s. He looked so edible. Like homemade brownies or fudge or chocolate chip cookies—something delectable and completely decadent.

And then it was her turn. Up to the tee. Everyone watching.

Ack! She was afraid she was going to miss the ball and spin around in a circle. That’s what had happened to her the last time she’d played miniature golf.

She settled the ball on the tee. So far so good. Okay, all right, even if she stunk up the place it was fine. They’d all shoot from where Adam’s ball had landed.

“Golfing glove.” Patti handed her a pink glove.

“Oh, thank you.” She put it on.

“One wood.” Patti passed her a club.

“Thanks again,” Eva said gratefully, and centered herself over the ball. Now what? This club was really long.

“Step back a little,” Adam’s voice soothed, his head right beside her ear. “Interlace your fingers like this.” He was behind her, his arms, around her, his fingers over hers, guiding her, showing her. “That’s it.”

His breath was hot on her neck, his back against her spine. Every bone, every nerve, every cell in her body melted.

“Keep your eye on the ball. Never take your eye off the ball,” he instructed.

She stared at the ball as if her life depended on it, determined to do him proud.

“Now swing back.” With his arms around hers, he pulled back.

They swung in unison. Her gaze riveted to the ball.

“Follow through.” He pushed her arms forward in a smooth swinging motion.

Her club hit the ball with a solid
thwack!

“Keep your eyes on the ball,” he murmured.

She tracked it, her arms following her gaze and the ball sailed perfectly straight and true. It didn’t go as far as Teddy’s or Adam’s, but it went smack-dab down the middle of the fairway, rolling far past Kirsten’s ball.

“That was beautiful,” Adam enthused, wrapping his arms around her waist. He yanked her off her feet and swung her in a circle.

“Put me down,” she laughingly demanded. She still had hold of the one wood and she was afraid she was going to accidentally whack someone with it the way he was spinning her around.

Feeling giddy with her success, she giggled and when he settled her back down on the ground his face was so close to hers that she was almost certain he was going to kiss her.

He might have if Kirsten hadn’t cleared her throat and said, “Fine, we play Adam’s ball.”

She strode to her golf cart, Teddy scurrying behind her.

“Somebody’s miffed that you showed her up,” Adam chuckled softly.

“I was only able to do it because you helped me.” Eva grinned.

Another group of golfers was behind them, waiting to tee off, surrounded by cameras and spectators. Eva realized one was a well-known actor and she was struck again by how out of place she was here.

The sun had disappeared behind a bank of clouds smothering out the last remaining fingers of daylight. She’d heard warnings on the radio that morning that the heat was pushing potential thunderstorms up from Mexico. She hadn’t paid much attention to it at the time, but now the air felt sluggish and swollen with rain and the wind had picked up, sending little eddies of dirt swirling around the course.

They drove to their balls that sat glowing phosphorous-green on the fairway. They played a few more rounds, using Adam’s position to play from almost every time. Once or twice Teddy surpassed him, but never Kirsten or Eva.

And each time she was up to tee, Adam would come up behind her, put his arms around her and walk her through the shot. She loved golf, Eva decided. It was a very misunderstood game.

After the fourth hole, however, the weather that had been pouting and broody turned altogether mean. The wind snarled through the trees, snatching at the canopies of the golf carts and distant lightning lit up the sky. The air smelled of sulfur and thunder rumbled a warning.
Go home, fools.

In the end, the sponsors called off the game. She and Adam had come in separate cars. They loaded up both sets of golf clubs in his trunk and he insisted on following her home, especially since her Jeep didn’t have a top. It didn’t start raining until they turned into the covered parking area of the apartment complex. Then the sky let loose.