Chapter One
“Hi, Belle.”
Belle finished typing the last word in the IM and hit send. Tilting her head back, she smiled up at the wide receiver for the Seattle Pioneers who stood on the other side of the reception desk at the Howler Sports Talent Agency. “Hey, Erik.”
Tattooed with the Pioneers logo, a muscled forearm rested on the tall receptionist desk. Flashing ice-blue eyes rimmed by absurdly long lashes, gazed down at her. The navy long sleeved t-shirt was pushed up to his elbows. The material was molded to his powerful chest emphasizing the color of his irises. At six-foot-five, Erik Erickson was taller than most men in the normal world. In her world as the receptionist at the agency, he was more like average height.
“You’re early. If you have a seat, I’ll tell Howler that you’re here. Would you like a cup of coffee?” She offered out of habit. After years of manning the reception desk and catering to the many athletes, the end to this job was in sight. At least she prayed it was.
“Only if you join me,” he said with a quiet, southern drawl, his voice smooth like a rich brandy.
Same offer, different day. The man was nothing if not persistent. Belle shook her head, a flutter in her stomach despite her desire to remain unaffected. Given her job responsibilities, Erik wasn’t the first athlete to flirt with her and he wouldn’t be the last. Straightening her shoulders, she fiddled with the heart pendant of the necklace she wore. A gift from her mother, that she never took it off. “No thank you.”
“Then lunch?” The smile in his eyes reflected his easygoing personality. Since he signed with the team, he’d flirted with her whenever he’d come in, which seemed to be a lot more of late after Walter, the agent who had represented him, died.
Charming and charismatic, he was the current MVP and one of the team’s flashier players. The position he played was high profile that combined with his goofball personality, made him the Pioneers fan favorite two years running.
He was also one of her favorites, but she’d never tell him that. She enjoyed their light banter and was flattered by the attention he paid her. It boosted her ego. Sad but true.
Suppressing a grin, she tapped a finger against the computer mouse, her nail creating a hollow sound on the hard plastic. While tempting after months of no sex, no social life, and her head stuck in a text book, he was the antithesis of the kind of man she dated. But damn he was sexy with his shorn hair and well-trimmed blond beard, a modern-day Viking. “No, Erik.”
She could see his mind working. This was an ongoing battle of wits between them disguised as a light flirtation.
He shifted his stance and propped his chin on his large fist. While he was a good two feet from her, his nearness was disconcerting. And tempting. Too tempting for a man she had no interest in. “How about dinner?”
Leaning forward in her chair, she feigned a cool smile and linked her fingers. He stared down at her, dark blond eyebrow cocked, expectant.
To the outside world, it might seem like he was coming on a bit strong but it was all hyperbolic, not meant to be taken literally. Time for her to make her next move. “No, Erik.”
He licked his full bottom lip, lashes lowering before he raised them once more. “How about we don’t go to dinner.”
“N—" she cut the word off, narrowing her eyes at his dirty trick. He’d almost caught her. He was sharp and she had to be on her guard. “Nice try, but yes.”
Erik flattened his hand on the counter, blunt-tipped fingers gripping the marble lip. He was a big man, his hands broad and powerful. According to his stats, he was also fast on his feet. Would he bring any skills to the bedroom or be a dud? Belle had dated her fair share of duds, not that she wanted to date Erik. Perhaps a brief affair or a one-night stand, or a lobotomy for even thinking of getting physical with this man. Or any man at this critical juncture in her life.
“Yes, you’ll have dinner with me?” he asked, a playful tone in his voice.
She cleared her throat and tried to tamp down her amusement. What would he say if she actually said yes? I guess you’ll never find out. “Yes, I will not have dinner with you.”
He straightened to his full height, the corners of his mouth lowering. She could practically read his thoughts. With his reputation as the team’s most eligible bachelor, he wasn’t used to being rejected. “You don’t know what you’re missing out on.”
If she had a dime for every time she heard that line. Granted, she wasn’t God’s gift to man but she’d had her fair share of men hit on her. “That’s what they all say.”
“But they all can’t back it up. Say yes and I promise you a night you’ll never forget.” While his words were over the top, the laughter lacing his promise lessened the impact. He was simply flirting with her and it felt good to exchange some chitchat, especially because she’d been a nervous wreck since walking through the door that morning. In a few short hours, she’d find out if she’d gotten the agent position she’d applied for. The IM bubble on her computer popped up and she answered it. She raised her eyes to find him watching her. “You know this is harassment?”
He flashed a sexy grin, the lines around his eyes showing. “I’d like to think it was persistence.”
“Howler’s ready for you.” She pushed her chair back and got to her feet. Her heel caught in the carpet, and she pushed her head forward to regain her balance, her hand flailing in the air. He reached out and caught her wrist in one fist, easily stopping her momentum.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his concerned stare held hers. She felt his regard to her very core, her heart thumping a frantic beat, whether from her near fall or from his touch was yet to be determined.
“I’m fine, thank you. My shoe caught on the carpet.” Shoes with worn heels, ones she couldn’t afford to replace. Hopefully, that wouldn’t be the case in a few weeks.
“That sucks,” he said, his thumb skimming the sensitive skin, a sensual caress.
Belle stared from his fingers still encircling her wrist to a place past his shoulder. His impossibly wide shoulders. She couldn’t look at him and prayed he couldn’t see the flush rising to her cheeks. “You can let me go now.”
“Oh, yeah, right.” After one last stroke, he dropped his hand and sauntered around the desk.
