Her parents had never encouraged her to play sports, and while she certainly put in her time on the elliptical trainer at the gym, working out was just a way to keep her figure intact. Ty pushed his body with intense concentration and focus. Whether he was lifting weights, riding a stationary bike, or swimming laps, he didn't waste one second complaining or taking it easy. Being in peak physical condition was his job, and he took his responsibilities seriously. Lucky her.
Tony's wife went to get her another nonalcoholic beer and Julie stared into the fire pit, amazed at how quickly her life had done a complete about-face. She was sitting outside by a fire wearing an oversized Outlaws sweatshirt to ward off the slight chill, getting hot and tingly thinking about a football star's big muscles.
"Let me guess what you're thinking about," Ty whispered into her ear and her nipples immediately went hard.
"You like kids, don't you?"
He sat down next to her and took a swig from his Coke. "Not exactly what I was hoping you'd say." She grinned, lowered her voice. "Women think men who are great with kids are sexy." He grinned back. "Now that's more like it."
Tony's grandkids were chasing each other around the lawn with water guns, screaming and laughing. "Ty, come save me," the littlest girl pleaded and he put down his soda and jogged over. Even five-year-olds fell for Ty. He was utterly irresistible to every member of the female sex. And while he was all hers, she was going to enjoy every last bit of pleasure he offered.
"Want to see one of the most beautiful things in the world?" Ty asked as they left Tony's front porch.
"I'd love to," she said.
Ty reached for her hand and led her down Tony's long, redwood-lined driveway. On the way to the barbecue, she realized that Tony had built his house on property adjoining the camp.
"Lucky bastard, getting to live down the road from a football field." Julie pressed her lips together. She wasn't going to offer an unsolicited opinion. Everything was going so well between them, and it wasn't her place to tell him how to live his life. He had a fantastic mansion in one of San Francisco's most exclusive neighborhoods. He was already happy. Without her.
Ty turned his head and looked at her, his features lit by the moonlight.
"You want to say something, you should say it."
"Your house is beautiful," she began and he held up a hand.
"Stop right there. You don't need to massage my ego. Hell, you're one of the few people who hasn't told me exactly what 1 want to hear in years. If you've got an opinion, I'd like to hear it." Julie licked her lips, gripping his hand tighter. She took a deep breath. She never spoke out of turn, never said anything a client didn't want to hear, not unless she reworked it until it was totally palatable.
"Have you ever thought about moving? I mean, if you want to be somewhere more like this?"
He was quiet for a long moment, and her heart beat double-time. Less than a week ago she'd gone out of her way to publicly insult him. But now, she didn't want to hurt his feelings.
"When I was a kid, I used to dream about the house I was going to have. I'd ride over the Golden Gate Bridge and tool around Seacliff on my shitty bike, ranking the houses in order of which ones I'd buy." She smiled. "I'm really impressed. You got what you wanted."
"The first year I lived there was all one big party. It's a great house."
"Amazing," she echoed.
"But I'm thinking it might be time for some changes."
She turned to look at him, surprised that he agreed with her. And what did he mean by changes with an s? Was she one of those changes?
They were standing on the edge of a football field she hadn't yet seen with stadium lights and bleachers. Ty walked over to a metal lockbox and flipped several switches. The grass turned bright green beneath the powerful lights.
Julie felt like they were standing in a private wonderland.
"See what I mean?" Ty said and she shot a glance at him.
He was facing the empty field with a look on his face that spoke volumes. Usually, he kept his true emotions well hidden behind teasing, and joking. Only during their lovemaking had she caught glimpses of another Ty. He always had such an easiness about him, but now in addition to his usual relaxed, confident stance, she saw joy too.
"I never thought I'd say this about a football field," she said, "but it is pretty amazing."
"Come out here," he said, pulling her forward.
"I've only seen one football game before in my whole life," she admitted. "On TV. This January. When you won the Super Bowl."
Surprise registered on his features, along with a healthy dose of delight. Julie was pleased that she could make him happy by divulging that she'd seen his amazing moves.
"Seriously? That's the only one?"
She laughed at his incredulous expression, "Believe it or not, some people just don't watch football." He raised an eyebrow. "You never went in college with friends?" She'd always made an excuse not to go, not wanting to be reminded of Ty in any way. "Not even the tailgates."
He shook his head. "I'm surprised you even know the word for pregame parties in parking lots." Frustration welled up inside her. Didn't he know why she'd brought this whole subject up? Didn't he know how hard it was for her to risk thinking beyond the end of her assignment?
"What I'm trying to say is that I'd like to see a game," she spat out. "In a stadium. I'd like to see your talent in action."
"It's just what I do," he said, downplaying his natural ability yet again. He was given countless opportunities to toot his own horn as fans fawned all over him, yet he remained incredibly modest. They moved down the field toward the stands and climbed halfway up before sitting down. Julie's skirt fluttered around her knees in the light evening breeze.
"Did you ever doubt yourself?" she asked, figuring they both knew she was talking about the final seconds of the Super Bowl.
His long, dark eyelashes rose and she lost her breath looking into his beautiful dark eyes.
"You want something bad enough, I figure you should go get it." When he put it like that, everything sounded so simple. No doubts. No fears. Just pinpointing exactly what you wanted and going after it, knowing it could —and would—be yours. All day, desire had been building within her, along with a longing to seize her remaining time with Ty, to make all of her fantasies come true before they said good-bye.
So far he'd been in the driver's seat, deciding when and where they'd had sex, instigating it each time. She hadn't let herself be in a position to be turned down, to be hurt by him.
"You want something bad enough, 1 figure you should go get it." Ignoring how fast her heart was pounding, she said, "I had a really great time tonight. Only one thing could make it better."
Fire jumped in his eyes and she could have sworn he got an instant erection.
"What's that?" he asked, leaning back against the wood bleacher.
"I keep seeing this picture," she began slowly, "of you. Blindfolded." She stopped to let her words sink in.
"Go on."
"Naked."
He swallowed hard. Nodded. "Anything else?"
She shifted her hips on the hard bench, her skin already feeling tight and warm from the naughty little picture she was putting together.