Passionate Game (Kimani Hotties) (7 page)

She turned toward Grant and pulled on his arm for him to do something. It seemed that anything she did caused an eruption of cheers.

“It’ll be okay.” He placed his finger against her mouth. “Shh. We can give them what they want and be done with it.” He grinned as if he’d just won a prize.

Tamara blamed everything on shock. Otherwise, she would have seen the kiss coming. But nope, her brain shifted gears, sending her body out of whack.

She had been leaning for her escape to the bathroom, so Grant only had to lean in slightly. His lips connected to her mouth with a gentle touch. She felt his partly opened mouth tentatively make its acquaintance with hers. Her desire unwound as if from a slumber, slowly swirling upward toward the surface with lyrical ease, issuing its own demands. She moved in closer. However, Grant released her lips and pulled away. The warmth that had suddenly departed was replaced with the cool air of the stadium. The crowd’s roar blasted into her consciousness. She swore again. The heat of desire was long gone. Now her ears burned with embarrassment.

“We’ll continue this later,” Grant whispered. His gaze locked on to her eyes and then her lips.

Tamara raised a shaking hand to her mouth. She kept her eyes lowered, still refusing to witness her shame on the big screen. Now she just wished everyone would stop whistling and cheering. They needed to shift to a real couple, where the kiss wasn’t faked.

“There will be no part two,” Tamara said flatly.

“Do you want me to prove that you’re a liar?”

“Don’t you even think about it.”

She would stuff the chicken bones from her plate up his nose if he dared to come close again. Since apparently words had failed her, she was willing to take things up a notch and resort to physical assault, for her pride’s sake.

The rest of the basketball game didn’t matter. Tamara had gone to the bathroom and splashed cold water over her face. Even that hadn’t worked. Once she thought about the kiss, her body heated up again as if she had come too close to the sun. The sad part was that she wanted to reach out and feel that searing heat once more. She looked in the mirror, expecting the shame and embarrassment to be evident in her face. Nothing was further from the truth. She felt alive. Her eyes were bright. She looked as if she’d gotten off a treadmill after a workout still with energy to burn.

“Are you okay?” Grant asked when she returned to her seat for a second time.

“Yes.” She tried to smile at him but couldn’t quite meet his eyes. “Maybe I should go home.”

“Sure.” He sounded off. But she had also been off, upside down, inside out for the past half hour.

This man, who was supposed to be reclusive, had taken her down a hilly path into the land of uncontrollable desire. They walked out of the suite, side by side, subdued. Tamara wondered what was next. She’d go home. They’d pretend nothing happened. Did she even want something to happen next, anyway?

Yes,
her heart whispered.

No matter what she’d said, a part of her wanted to take this—whatever this was—as far as it could go. However, she really didn’t have the time or inclination to be tied to a man.

A few bad relationships had soured her on the idea. Ernie acted as if she was his sugar momma; Xavier said her net worth didn’t matter, but constantly brought it up as a reason they were incompatible; and Omar’s parents put an end to the relationship before it had begun because she didn’t match any of their ideals of race, culture or religion. And what she’d seen time over time was that once that commitment was made, nine times out of ten the woman had to compromise her career either for marriage or for motherhood. If she refused to compromise her career, then the woman was somehow considered an unsupportive partner. As if her desires and ambitions were less important. She wouldn’t hold her breath waiting for a man who could understand her conditions for a committed relationship.

“Grant?” A statuesque, well-dressed woman blocked their path. Tamara noted how winded she sounded and that her chest was heaving slightly.

“Vanessa?”

Tamara stayed silent, observing with keen interest not only the stilted exchange but also the subtle changes in Grant’s body language. His jaw worked as if he were grinding his teeth on glass.

The woman had eyes only for him, and it was as if the surrounding stadium and the thousands of fans had melted away from her sight. She still hadn’t looked Tamara’s way. Her shocked expression had turned into an ugly mask of quiet rage.

Meanwhile, Grant stood next to Tamara as if frozen into place. Although anger didn’t show in his face, he definitely wasn’t a happy camper.

“I—I didn’t expect to see you.” The woman finally turned in Tamara’s direction. “I almost fell out of my chair when I saw you on the screen. Actually, falling out of my chair wasn’t quite the first response.” Vanessa took a long, shuddering breath. “No, being embarrassed in front of my friends and mother was the reaction.” Her fists balled at her side.

“Not here,” Grant said in a quiet voice full of frost. He stepped closer to Tamara.

Oh, freakin’ snap
. She didn’t relish going toe-to-toe with any woman over a man. Especially not his supermodel ex-girlfriend.

She felt Grant slip his hand along her back.

“Not a good idea,” she muttered.

“Who is she?” Vanessa’s voice barked, a little too shrill.

“That doesn’t really matter. It’s over and has been over between you and me. Thought I made that clear.”

The woman bristled. Tears shimmered. “And is
that
why it’s over?” Her eyes cut across Tamara as if she was ready to slash her to ribbons.

“Not really. I’ve explained it to you. And I don’t plan to spend more time doing so.” He pulled Tamara closer to him. She could feel his heartbeat, steady in the face of a brewing storm. Her pulse, however, was erratic, ready for a retreat. “Please, step aside. You’re interrupting my evening.”

Tamara exited with Grant, suddenly grateful for his hand along her back. The adrenaline that now rushed through her system left her knees weak. They headed to the parking garage in silence. She didn’t feel any anger toward the spurned supermodel, although she also didn’t feel sorry for her. But questions swirled over Grant’s role in the breakup. And was she the rebound girl? Was he trying to make her just another notch on his bedpost? Would she be faced with the same cool, detached attitude when he was ready to call it quits?

And why was she thinking that there was
anything
between her and Grant?
Because I want there to be.

“I’m sorry about that,” Grant said. His voice sounded deep, tight and flat.

“Thank you for the apology.” She waved off any further explanation. “However, we’re not dating.”

He said nothing as he navigated his car out onto the streets. Then he touched her hand. “I want to explain.”

Tamara didn’t respond. She did want to hear the explanation. But once he explained, then that would be it.

He drove away from the stadium and into northern Virginia. Tysons Corner was quiet as they drove through the streets. Grant drove until they found a twenty-four-hour diner. He pulled into the semilit parking lot, parked and turned off the engine.

Tamara gave him his space and time. They took a table in the corner of the room and ordered coffee. She waited with her hands cupped around the mug. Although the night wasn’t chilly, her fingers were cold.

Grant cleared his throat and sighed. “Vanessa is my ex. A friend set me up on a blind date with her a long time ago.” He made circles on the table with his coffee mug. He hadn’t taken a sip since they’d had the beverages. “All the sordid details are in the news. I fancied myself in love. Thought it was mutual. She always had one hand in my pocket, and her mother’s hand was in my other pocket. My parents, lawyer and friends pushed for a prenup. I argued against it. Love doesn’t need a prenup.”

“You have something to protect. You’re creating your legacy. It’s not about holding back your love for someone. At least that’s my opinion.” She tried to kick her soapbox under the table.

“Sounds so straightforward until emotions get intertwined.”

“I think it’s more than emotions, I think it’s personal agendas and ambition. But I don’t know a thing about Vanessa. Those are my thoughts on the matter in general.”

“Won’t be doing that again.” Grant finally lifted the mug to take a drink.

Tamara shrugged. Whether Grant fell in love again didn’t matter to her.

“You don’t seem the type to take risks,” she said. She imagined that he deliberated on every subject before deciding whether to proceed ahead. Except with Vanessa.

“Not usually, and I mean to stick to that rule. But with you, I went on instinct. You’re like a breath of fresh air. I have no regrets.”

“That’s what happens when someone bulldozes their way into your world.” She laughed.

“Agreed. I was enthralled by the messenger, so I enjoyed listening to the message. And now that the message has been delivered, I’m not prepared to let go.”

“I will be around. Have to check in on my guys.”

“Not enough. I don’t want my time with you shared.”

“You always want things your way?” Tamara had to admit that she liked the shift in their conversation.

“Just about.”

She took a deep breath. Grant grabbed hold of her, not with his hands but with his powerful gaze. His lashes, thick and dark, framed his eyes, punctuating their mesmerizing depth. Blink, for heaven’s sake. She needed release.

Tamara blinked first. “I don’t have time for a relationship.”

“But this will be purely business.” He sipped the coffee and tossed a wink over the top of the rim.

She couldn’t help but chuckle.

They eventually headed back to the car. The tension had dissipated. As he opened the car door for her, he paused and looked down at her.

“Tamara, I want to kiss you.”

She reached for his shirt, balling the fabric into her fists. “Hurry up,” she prompted.

He lowered his mouth to hers for a second time that night and gently kissed her lips before coaxing open her mouth. His arms wrapped her in a warm embrace. Surrendering in his arms was like falling into cotton candy, full of sweetness and decadence.

Her hands slid to his waist, holding on to his shirt to anchor her. Kissing him carried the headiness of being drunk. Her craving for him exploded until she moaned for more.

He answered her moan with a sensual caress of his tongue. Masterful strokes spoke a language of carnal intent. Every delicious maneuver hummed its own meaning.

“Tamara,” Grant whispered against her cheek.

She allowed the cool night breeze to bring her internal thermometer down a degree or two. The logical side of her mind was desperately trying to intervene. But who needed or wanted common sense at a time like this?

She decided to take the deep plunge into insanity. Standing on tiptoes, she cupped the back of Grant’s head and pulled him toward her upturned face. “Kiss me again. Quick, before I change my mind.”

He complied with a speed that took her breath away. His body molded against hers. His hand slid down the side of her hip, fingers curling under her butt. His arousal pressed against her.

This time, she took a tour of his mouth, enjoying the curve of his lips, claiming them. Finally, they pulled away slowly.

“So, this is the purely business part?” She bit her lip to keep from smiling.

“It’s all in how you see it,” he responded, with a sheepish grin. “I think that I’d better take you home.”

“Yeah, for both our sakes.”

* * *

The next morning, Tamara barely got to work on time. Her sleepless night had been filled with images of Grant’s hot face and memories of their kisses. Her body didn’t relent until the sun began its ascent. Then she fell asleep only to be awakened by a phone call from her mother.

Now at work, she wanted to rest her head on her desk and allow her body the time it needed to recuperate.

“So, how did it go?” Becky entered her office with an extra coffee mug. “I missed when you came home. I tried to wait up.”

Tamara took the mug, raising it up with gratitude. “Here’s the short version, and you can’t ask any questions because I don’t want to get into it. This afternoon Grant is coming over to meet the kids.” She quickly ran through the highlights, mentioning only the one kiss—really, the quick peck—at the game. The other kiss didn’t need anyone’s scrutiny. That was hers to lock away in her heart.

“Cool. Okay if I stick around?”

“You don’t have a choice.” Tamara would love to have Becky’s presence to dilute any tension between her and Grant.

“I wasn’t sure that you wanted me in the middle of your reunion with Mr. Sexy.”

“Oh, stop.” Tamara sipped the hot drink. “The kids will be there.”

“Okay. We’ll see how well you both hide your thing. By the way, just a quick reminder that I’m heading to the airport afterward. Catching the eight o’clock flight out to Florida,” Becky said.

“I’m jealous. The weather is supposed to be fantastic.”

“Can’t wait to hit the beach. I wish you could come.”

Tamara hadn’t taken a vacation since she’d opened the academy. “I’ve got too much going on. Plus, you need to be with your mom. At her age, any fall is dangerous. Fingers crossed that it’s only a bruised hip.”

“Probably another false alarm,” Becky joked, but the worry was clear on her face.

“Maybe. But you can’t be sure.”

Becky nodded. “Plus, you know Denny is making a big deal that I’m not there.”

“You know he’s the baby of the family and he needs his big sister to take on some of the burden.”

Becky rolled her eyes. “Now he has a girlfriend and she’s a real pill. I think she’s calling the shots.”

“Uh-oh. I’m really out of the loop,” Tamara said.

They chatted for a while, catching up on Becky’s latest family dynamics. Tamara listened and offered advice, happy to return the favor of providing a ready ear.

“Well, whatever time you need to take care of your mom, don’t hesitate to take,” Tamara offered.

“Let’s not jump the gun. I’m not that much of a good daughter to look forward to a lengthy stay with my mother.” Becky pulled a newspaper from the crook of her arm and tossed it on the desk. “Did you read the business section? Mr. Sexy is in the news.”