Kate Hoffmann - The Sexy Devil

“Then stop dating actresses and models,” she said.

“They’re going to be just as interested in you. I’m giving you fair warning. It hasn’t been that bad here in Chicago. The press has kept a respectable distance. And since I told them I was thinking about retiring, I’m not such a hot story.”

“Are you retiring?”

“I haven’t decided,” he said. “Depends upon the rehab.” He paused. “Hopefully, they won’t bother us. But if they do, expect that there will be some pretty silly stories.”

“Like what?”

“That we’re engaged, fighting, expecting a baby, hooked on drugs, dependant on booze, having plastic surgery, planning our wedding, moving to Europe, buying a mansion in Beverly Hills, looking at a condo in Manhattan, getting a dog. I don’t know. It could be anything.”

Angela giggled. “Wow. All that after just one date.”

“It’s not so funny when you’re in the middle of it,” Max warned.

“But we’ll know what’s true,” she said. “It shouldn’t make any difference what they say.”

She was wonderfully naive about it all. And maybe she wouldn’t have to endure the scrutiny of the media. He could only hope they’d be able to get to know each other without having to deal with it.

“So, if I wanted to watch the Fourth of July fireworks from the deck of a yacht on Lake Michigan, you could arrange that?”

“Is that what you’d like to do?” he asked.

“I’ve heard it’s really cool to watch them from out on the lake.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Max replied.

“I was just kidding,” she said.

The fourth of July was a month away. If they were still together after a month, then it would be one of the longest relationships he’d ever had with a woman. And if Angela wanted to see fireworks from a yacht, he’d make it happen. “But today, we’re going to the game.” Max stood and held out his hand to her. “Now, I have to run home and change. But I’ll come back in about an hour to get you and your friends.”

“Where is your car?”

“At home. I ran here. I needed the exercise. Can you make it back to the office on your own?”

“No, I might get lost,” Angela said, shaking her head. “I walk here all the time by myself.”

“Oh, sarcasm,” he said. “I like you even more now. I have a great appreciation for sarcasm.” He leaned close and kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you in a little while.” With that, he pulled his sunglasses off the brim of his cap and slid them on. “Look both ways before crossing the street. And don’t talk to strangers.” He jogged backward down the sidewalk, waving to her as he went. “And prepare yourself for a great afternoon.” Then he turned and headed toward home.

As he ran, he felt a wonderful energy pulsing through him. For the first time in a very long time, he was…happy. Over the past three or four years, he hadn’t found much pure joy in his life. Everything he achieved seemed to come with strings attached. But this feeling he had when he was around Angela was simple to understand.

There were so many different things they could do together. The fact that she ran her own business was a big plus. They both had the freedom to come and go as they pleased. They could take off for a weekend in New York or fly down to Florida for a few days. He could steal her away to San Francisco for a romantic getaway.

As he jogged at a stoplight, waiting for the traffic to pass, Max realized he was getting ahead of himself. He needed to take this slowly. “Woo her,” he said. “Court her.”

But how easy would that be? The more time he spent with Angela, the more he wanted to learn everything about her-including what made her pulse beat fast and her body ache with desire. He had no doubt he could pleasure her in bed. In truth, he was much better at that than he was at dating.

“Hey, Max Morgan! Rock on!”

Max glanced up to see a truck driving by with a kid hanging out of the passenger window. He waved and smiled. “Rock on!” he called.

The driver beeped his horn and before long, there were other drivers staring at him and waving. As soon as the light turned, Max jogged across the intersection. Though Max wanted to be a different person here in Chicago, there were always reminders that he had a different life in Florida, and a career that paid very well.

This would be a stolen summer, a time when he could experience life the way it was meant to be lived. His time wouldn’t be wasted. He’d figure out the man he planned to be once baseball was over. And Angela was going to be a part of his summer. He could learn a lot from her. And maybe, if things went well, they’d have more than just this summer.

“WILL IS IN HEAVEN,” Ceci said.

They sat together in the back row of seats in the luxury box. Will and Max were sitting outside, their arms braced on the railing as Max pointed to the scoreboard.

“Look at him,” Ceci continued. “He’s like a little kid.” She tipped her head and fanned her face with her program. “I think I’m having a moment.”

“Really?”

“How can I not love that man? He’s got a pennant in one hand, a foam finger on the other and a big old mustard stain on his shirt. Who else is going to love him?”

Angela giggled. “Will is a pretty nice guy. In all the time you two have been going together, he’s never done anything to make me doubt his feelings for you. There’s something to be said for that.”

“Max is a nice guy, too,” Ceci said. “I didn’t expect that. I mean, after reading his profile, I thought he’d be full of himself. But he’s really sweet. And it was so nice of him to invite us here. Will is going to be talking about this for months.”

“You told Will to keep quiet about our business, right?”

Ceci nodded. “Yes. And he understands completely. Besides, he’s not about to do anything to mess up his chances for future fun with Max Morgan.”

“Good,” Angela said. “I was thinking that…well, maybe we should take Max’s profile off the site. Just until…you know, we’re over.”

“Really? We’ve never done that, Angie. Don’t you think we have a responsibility to be completely objective?”

“Of course,” she said. “But I know how he’d feel about this. He wouldn’t be happy. He’d feel like it was a betrayal.”

“Well then, he shouldn’t have treated those women so badly,” Ceci said.

“Maybe he didn’t,” Angela said. “It’s their word against his. And you said it yourself, he’s a nice guy.”

“To you. That doesn’t mean he was nice to those other women.” Ceci sighed. “Secrets aren’t a good thing, Angie. They have a tendency to blow up in your face. Maybe you should just tell him. If he really likes you, it shouldn’t make a difference.”

“I’m not going to tell him,” she said. “If he finds out, I’ll disarm that bomb when the time comes.”

They watched as Max and Will stood and walked back into the box. They were in a heated discussion about something called a sacrifice bunt. But when they got inside, Max’s attention turned toward her. He sent her a warm smile. “You having fun?”

“I am,” she said.

“Me, too,” Ceci replied.

Will pulled off his Sox cap, the foam finger still stuck on his hand. “Max is going to take me down to the clubhouse to meet some of the players. Is that all right? I mean, you don’t want to leave right away, do you?”

“The game is over?” Angela asked.

“Yeah,” Max said. “The Sox won, 4-3.”

Ceci shook her head. “Nope, we’re free all day.”

He grinned. “Okay, then. Let’s go, Max.”

“Honey, you might want to clean up that mustard stain before you go,” Ceci suggested.