If she thought she could go along with it—give her body the pleasure of what she could only imagine would be beyond amazing and have her heart not get involved—she would. God, would she ever. Again and again. But she knew she couldn’t, especially not with AJ.
“I’m glad she asked you to also, AJ,” she said, smiling sweetly. “If you’re going to be my daughter’s best buddy, then I guess it only makes sense that you and I be friends too.”
“It’s a start,” he said with a smirk as he eyed her over her mug. Before her heart could recover, he downed what was left of his beer and stood up. “C’mon. Let’s go help these kids out with that basketball. At least get one in for them.”
She stood up, feeling as weak-kneed as she knew she’d be, and walked over to him. The booth they’d been in was somewhat in a private corner. Obviously, some of the patrons had recognized him but had given them their space; though she’d seen many of them rubbernecking the whole time they’d sat there chatting.
Over by the games, the kids were not as discreet as the adults around them. AJ was immediately hit up for his autograph. He happily obliged then proceeded to do what he said he wanted to and helped Clair and Harrison with the basketballs. Of course, he was as good at shooting the baskets as he was at baseball. Before long, they were surrounded by cheering kids and adults taking photos with their phones and then posing with him.
Being the daughter of a famous player, even if by the time she was Clair’s age he wasn’t playing anymore, Addison was used to this. Her dad had been a big enough name in the game that even now he was still recognized everywhere he went. She remembered watching him the way Clair and Harrison watched AJ now: with wide-eyed smiles and chests puffed with pride.
For Addison, what she felt watching AJ posing and chatting with his adoring fans was different from what she used to feel with her dad. The guy was hands down one of the sexiest guys she’d ever been around. And Addison was no stranger to being around sexy baseball players. He was making it obvious he was gunning for more with her. As flattered as she was, it scared the hell out her. She wished she could be like one of those many groupies that guys like AJ had. She just couldn’t. Even now, as she watched the bimbo fluttering her lashes and asking to pose for a photo with him, Addison’s smile flattened. Clearly, these girls would jump at the chance for a fling with him.
Addison’s heart literally ached at the thought of doing so and knowing she wasn’t his one and only. It was almost maddening that she wouldn’t be able to just shake it off for the sake of indulging herself in what could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be with the man she’d been drooling over for years.
Then their eyes met again. Even over the crowd of people, he gazed at her in such a way that she knew he could easily own her heart after so much as one kiss. It’d be brutal to have to see or hear about him with anyone else like Miranda after any indulging she might give into. Nope. She wouldn’t allow it. She’d be strong, no matter how tempting it ever got. Period.
The small mob around them grew fast. Addison knew from experience, especially in this day and age of social media, how much bigger this would get if they didn’t get out of there soon. She leaned over to Clair’s ear. “It’s getting late, mamas. We need to get Harrison home soon.”
Clair was noticeably disappointed but complied, tugging at AJ’s shirt. As soon as he bent over and she said something in his ear, he began saying good-bye to everyone. It was still just a little after nine, but Addison had had a feeling it would take them a while to get out of there, and she’d been right. By the time they were in the car, it was twenty until ten.
Luckily, Harrison didn’t live too far from the pizza place, and they made it there in time. He thanked them all, saying he’d see Clair online tomorrow. Clair reminded him she wouldn’t be online until after tomorrow’s game when she got home.
“They play chess against each other online,” Addison explained when AJ’s brows pinched at Clair’s reminder.
The pizza place was a little further from her parents’ home, and as expected, Clair’s seven-year-old body gave in to the day’s excitement. She was knocked out cold by the time they reached Addison’s parents’ home.
“Don’t wake her,” AJ whispered when he turned to look at Clair in the backseat. “I’ll carry her in.”
Without thinking, Addison placed her hand on his thigh. It felt as she’d always imagined it would.
Delectably hard.
AJ looked down at her hand as she withdrew it. The instant change in his demeanor was a living thing. The power behind those sultry eyes was terrifying, but not because she felt threatened by him in any way. It was just a brutal slap of reality. The man was an absolute dream. Addison wasn’t so sure she’d be able to stand her ground if he ever did try anything.
“I was just gonna say,” she said, ignoring her pounding heart. “If you pull up further, you’ll be closer to the back door. It’s a little closer to her room.”
His eyes fell to her lips, and right then she knew she was in trouble. Not only would she not stop him if he tried to kiss her, but certain body parts were already tingling in anticipation of him doing more.
Chapter 8
AJ
AJ had two rules when it came to women. He didn’t play games, and he didn’t beat around the bush. If he was in it for nothing more than sex, he made it clear up front. There was no sense in making promises he didn’t intend to keep for the sake of getting in their pants. Too many were able and willing to give it up for nothing more than the fun of it or even bragging rights to have to lie his way into anyone’s panties.
He’d always known that, if he ever wanted more than just a good time, he’d be up front about that too. There was nothing stupider than when he heard guys get all bent out of shape when they found out the girl they’d been bagging, no strings attached, was screwing someone else too. In most cases, the guys were just selfish pricks. They didn’t want to stop bagging other chicks, but they wanted one in particular for themselves exclusively.
In other cases, some guys had fallen for their part-time girl for real but were afraid of losing what they did have with her if they pushed for more. That was just insane. AJ had always known it. If he ever fell for anyone he was screwing, he’d be damned if he wouldn’t just tell her, and she’d either agree to exclusivity or he was out. No way would he stay in a relationship with anyone he felt more for, knowing it was an open one.
No fucking way.
He’d known for weeks if he ever took the risk of trying for anything with Addison it wouldn’t be a casual fling or even a one-time deal. If he were going to risk it, it was all or nothing. With Addison, he wouldn’t even be willing to sleep with her the onetime just to get it out of his system, not with what he felt for her now.
If they did agree to something more and it didn’t work out, at least he could say he tried. It’d probably be even more brutal to have to see or hear of her with someone later, but that was a risk he was willing to take if it meant the chance of so much more. He still didn’t know enough about her, but he knew himself. What he’d been feeling ever since the day he met Addison was like nothing he’d ever felt.
After thoughts of Addison had distracted him throughout the entire game today, he decided to take Clair up on her offer for tonight. He needed to confirm if what he thought he’d picked up from Addison in Toronto and Niagara Falls was just a fluke or if she might actually be feeling the same thing he was.