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Authors: Linda Francis Lee

Tags: #Women television journalists, #Man-woman relationships, #Single women, #Contemporary, #General, #Romance, #Adult, #Fiction, #Athletes, #Texas, #Love stories

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BOOK: Suddenly Sexy
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* * *
An hour and
a half later, Jesse
rolled down the long drive to the back of the house. As soon as he
braked and put the Jeep in gear, Gwen Randolph leaned across the
console and kissed him.
"Mmmm," the blonde murmured. "I've missed you. I hope you're not angry
that I followed you to Texas."
"I haven't been here a week."
"A single day is a long time away from you. Besides, what was I to do
when you weren't answering your messages? I called your dad and he
didn't have a clue where you were. You haven't even returned Hal's
calls, you naughty boy. I can't believe you're avoiding me, your
father, and your golf coach when you have the PGA coming up. I have all
sorts of media scheduled for you. Everyone is dying to talk to you
about your heroics. I decided it was only good business to fly out here
and tell you myself."
Hell, who would have known that being a hero would be so hard?
The fact was, he wasn't a hero. He had done what he had to do. When the
woman collapsed in front
of him, he had revived her instead of standing there and watching her
die. Hard to think of that as heroic—just necessary. And the last thing
he wanted was to talk about it. Which was exactly why he
had driven halfway across the country and was avoiding his publicist's
calls.
"Gwen, I've already said I'm not interested in interviews right now."
He pressed back against the leather seat, and she must have sensed that
she had overstepped her boundaries. She cooed and stroked his jaw. "I'm
sorry, baby. Let Gwen make it better."
Leaning closer, she put one delicate finger on his chin and turned him
toward her. The long French-manicured nail trailed low as she kissed
him with an expertise that was matched only by her
ability to get his photograph in every major print publication in the
United States and Europe. Gwen Randolph had single-handedly turned
Jesse from an up-and-coming golfer in a sport that wasn't all that
popular, to a media star. And it was that status that had gotten the
top agents in the country interested
in representing him. This despite the fact that while he had won plenty
of tournaments, he had never brought home a single one of the majors'
trophies.
So he owed Gwen. He knew it. But more and more, the casual affair they
had started had become less and less casual, and he wasn't interested
in being serious with any woman.
He started to set Gwen back, but before he could, her hand slid down
his chest and then lower until
she cupped him. Instantly, he hardened, his breath sucked in.
"See, Gwen knows how to make her Jesse happy."
His body came to life, and the fact was he didn't want to think
tonight, not about golf or the mounting pressure for him to win the PGA
Championship.
Which is why he gave in when Gwen's hand slid expertly against him.
"Let's go inside," he stated gruffly.
Helping her out of the SUV, he led her into the cottage. At the door,
she kissed him again—hot and wet, intense— making it easy to lose
himself to the feel. But when they pushed inside, instantly the hairs
on the nape of his neck rose.
Gwen glanced around, taking in the small space. "How quaint," she said,
her voice filled with invitation.
He didn't respond. His eyes narrowed. But then Gwen kissed him one more
time, her hands going to
just the right places.
"Where can I change?"
He pointed to the bathroom door that stood adjacent to the bedroom. She
took her small overnight suitcase, blew him a kiss, then disappeared.
The light burned low in the tiny galley kitchen. The ruffled drapes
were pulled closed over the window. He didn't remember leaving the
light on or closing the curtains. And just when his mind assimilated
the small pot of tea and two cups sitting on the table, someone said,
"Surprise."
Jesse whirled around and found Katie standing in the bedroom doorway.
She wore a pair of shorts and
a T-shirt, her dark curls pulled up in a ponytail. Her pearl white
teeth sank nervously into her lower lip, and she held a photo album
close to her chest. She looked beautiful in an ethereal way.
Katie. Little Katie Bloom.
Time seemed to stand still, his thoughts momentarily frozen by the
sight of her.
"I brought you some tea," she said, a wry, nervous smile tugging at her
full lips. "And I pulled out some old pictures that I keep stored in
the chest by the bed in there. I haven't looked at them in ages. I
thought it might be fun."
The world faded away as he stared at her, his gaze traveling along her
body, taking her in. Even wearing shorts and a T-shirt she looked
amazing and wonderful— innocent and pure—everything that he wasn't.
Everything a woman like Gwen was not.
Gwen.
Hell.
Katie's lips parted and she walked toward him. She opened the album and
extended it. But just when
she started to point out a picture of him dressed as Superman when he
was nine, he snapped the book shut. "You've got to go."
"Go? But I thought we could talk and look at photos ... maybe even
dance one more dance."
"You and me?"
"Well." Embarrassment seared through her. "I just thought... at Bobby's
Place ..."
"Hell."
But then something clattered beyond the closed bathroom door. Kate
stood very still as she tried to
understand the expression on Jesse's face, not to mention the noise
coming from the bathroom.
"What was that?"
"Really, Katie," he said with determined command, "you need to leave."
She was barely aware of Jesse taking her arm. But before he could
escort her to the door, a woman appeared.
"Tada! What do you think?"
Kate's mind ground to a jarring, stomach-churning halt. She staggered
back a few steps and would have staggered farther if Jesse hadn't been
holding her arm. A woman she had never seen before stood in the
doorway, the light behind her making it clear that underneath the sheer
excuse for a nightgown she
wasn't wearing a thing.
The woman was all but naked!
Kate gasped.
"Who are you?" the women demanded in unison. Then they turned to the
only man in the room.
He dropped Kate's arm and gave a world-weary sigh. "Katie, this is
Gwen, my publicist. Gwen, this is Katie, my ... ah, host?"
"Jesse, how could you?" both women demanded.
"Me?" he asked, practically choking on the word. "I didn't invite
either one of you here. I was minding my own business, then you"—he
pointed at Kate—"show up and want to serve me tea."
Kate's mouth dropped open. Gwen smirked.
Jesse focused on the publicist. "While you fly into town without so
much as a word to me and want to serve me ... yourself."
This time it was Gwen's mouth that dropped open.
Kate was mortified, though mostly because she wondered how she could
have thought that a cup of
hot tea and a walk down memory lane would in any way compare to the
naked likes of women such
as this ... this ... other woman.
She had offered him tea!
Kate wondered dismally if she could be any more of an embarrassment to
the female race.
Turning on her flowered Keds, she started to leave.
"Ah, hell." Jesse plowed his hands through his hair. "I had no right to
say that to either one of you."
She kept going.
"Katie, wait. I'm sorry. Bringing tea was very . . . thoughtful. I
didn't mean—"
Thankfully, he cut himself off. She didn't need him adding anything
else to the already insultingly embarrassing situation. She was
thoughtful, not sexy. Sweet, not enticing.
She made it to the door without a word, since there was nothing to say
other than to ask him when he was leaving El Paso. Preferably sooner
rather than later, and if he needed assistance packing, she'd happily
help.
Clutching the photo album to her chest like a shield, she left the
cottage with as much dignity as she
could muster. Then she headed into the dark, crossed the yard, and had
to force herself past the swimming pool without throwing herself in.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

To: Katherine Bloom
      Chloe Sinclair
@
ktextv.com>
From: Julia Boudreaux @
ktextv.com>
Subject: Truth to tell
Good
Saturday morning, girls. So,
Kate, is it true that Jesse showed up at Bobby's Place after
I left?
Did you really dance with him?
xo, j
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

To: Julia Boudreaux
      Katherine Bloom

From: Chloe Sinclair
Subject: Urban cowgirl
She danced
with him. Twice.
Fortunately that's all she did. Chloe
p.s. Since I am at the office, and I can see neither of you are
here, I'm glad to know that
providing
home access to the office e-mail system isn't
going to waste.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

To: Chloe Sinclair
      Julia Boudreaux
From: Katherine Bloom
Subject: Technicality
Does trying
to seduce him count as
doing more?
Dismally yours,
Kate
Katherine C. Bloom
News Anchor, KTEX TV West Texas
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

To: Katherine Bloom
     Chloe Sinclair
From: Julia Boudreaux
Subject: Good Lord
What have
you done now? You
seduced him? How? Were you naked in his bed? Naked in the shower? Naked
with flowers? Regardless, any sort of seduction with that man is a
mistake.
xo, j
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

To: Katherine Bloom
      Julia Boudreaux
From: Chloe Sinclair
Subject: No!
Kate, tell
us you're joking.
Seducing Jesse will only get you hurt in the process.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

To: Julia Boudreaux @
ktextv.com>
     Chloe Sinclair
From: Katherine Bloom
Subject: Unfortunate incident
Let's just
say that I experienced
a moment of sheer insanity, brought on, I have to believe, by a
Sex and the City video marathon combined with too many cosmos. Okay, so
I had only one—not even a whole one. But still. I thought I would
surprise him with tea and photos. I wasn't thinking seduce in the
traditional sense. I was thinking seduce him with the past. I know, I
know, I really shouldn't think.
Kate

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

To: Katherine Bloom
      Chloe Sinclair
From: Julia Boudreaux
Subject: Sex 101
Clearly you
haven't a clue how to
seduce a man. Though if you are going to learn, promise me
that you will not practice on Jesse.
xo, j
p.s. Love
you anyway, sweetie.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Three
Jesse woke up on Sunday morning, and it took him a second to remember
where he was. At Katie's.
In El Paso.
It felt good to be home.
Gwen was gone, sent back to Florida on the first plane out yesterday
morning. After Katie left the cottage, Gwen had seemed determined to
make him forget everyone but her. Though each time she
had kissed him, he had thought of Katie with her tea and photos, and
Katie sitting in Bobby's Place looking sexy as hell. Both images
unsettled him.
No question that
Katie
and
sexy as hell
didn't belong
together—at least they didn't belong together in
his mind.
When he had walked into Bobby's, he had seen her instantly. He still
couldn't believe his reaction, hot
and intense. He had wanted to get closer. Wanted to inhale her
fragrance, run his fingers over the curve of her breast.
It had been the same during the television segment.
She had been such a surprise, a mix of sultry and innocent, those sexy
lips of hers parting on an exhaled breath when he had brushed his
ringer over the tomato. It had taken a second for him to regain his
control. He had been glad as hell when the producer had screamed loud
enough in her earpiece that he heard.
From his first memory of Katie, it was as if they were bound together.
When they were young, Katie would sneak into his bed when she was
afraid or when her mother was in a particularly bad spot—any
of those times she felt her world would crumble.
"
You're my hero
," she always
whispered as she fell asleep at his side.
He had grown up feeling the need to protect her, to keep her safe from
people who might hurt her. But when he was eighteen, the year she
turned fourteen, all of that had changed—
she
had changed, leaving her pudgy
little girl's body behind.
By then he already knew more about sex than he should have—a line of
older women had been eager
to teach him all they thought he should know. And when suddenly he saw
little Katie as sexy, he had wanted to touch her as those women had
touched him.
But old habits
of
needing to
protect Katie had deep roots. Staying away from her had truly been the
only heroic thing he had done in his life, because he knew, as well as
he knew his own name, that ultimately, eventually, if he gave in and
touched her, he would hurt her. He wasn't the sort of man to settle
down with a single woman. He lived on the edge, and he liked it that
way. But Katie deserved more than a casual affair.
Since then, he had made a point of keeping her at arm's length. He
stayed away, had stayed away for years, only coming back now because he
needed distance from the press.
As much as he didn't want to be around Katie, who was playing havoc
with his mind, he also didn't
want to stay in a hotel where people stared and wanted autographs.
Coming to his childhood home had seemed like a good idea. But he had
forgotten that
home
wasn't
his anymore now that Derek had married Suzanne. When Julia had
suggested the guest cottage, it had seemed the best solution. Besides,
he didn't intend to stay that long. A few more days, maybe a week, then
he was out of here—his head cleared
and ready to play.
Rolling out from underneath the flowery guesthouse comforter, so
different from the king-sized bed and tailored bedcoverings he had in
his Florida condo, he walked naked across the room. He pulled on a pair
of shorts, then went to the tiny kitchen and made the worst cup of
coffee he'd ever tasted. But at least it was hot.
The weather was beautiful when he walked outside into the early morning
painter's sky. It wasn't until
he stretched, his hand running down his bare chest, that he saw Katie
standing just beyond the cottage, her hair wild, dirt smudging her
face. She stood frozen, staring at him, her eyes wide, as she held a
bucket of gardening tools in her hand.
Kate tried to get her brain to function, with little success.
He was gorgeous.
Like a god.
Better
than Adonis.
Despite every good intention, despite the fact that she had learned
firsthand that he was a ladies' man of the worst kind—
more than once
!—her gaze drifted
low over his sculpted chest, following the thin path
of hair that disappeared beneath the waistband of his shorts. She
imagined where the path led.
Bad Kate.
A strange squeak sounded in her throat, and she nearly dropped her
bucket of tools.
He took another sip of his coffee before a smile cracked his face.
"Morning, sweetheart."
She raised a brow. "I believe
sweetheart
belongs to the woman from the other night. Your publicist. Gwen.
Glad to know you don't mind mixing business with pleasure."
Jesse chuckled, a rumbling sound of easy confidence.
"What's the point of working if you can't have fun while you're at it?"
He winked.
She reached down and grabbed a second bucket filled with potting soil.
"I've got to go," she said with
a shake of her head, then started for the workroom.
But Jesse stopped her. His hand on her arm startled her and her breath
caught. He stared at her, yet
again seeming confused by what he saw.
"What?" she asked self-consciously.
He studied her, and after a second he smiled, though all he said was,
"Let me help you with the buckets."
She raised her chin. "I don't need your help."
He laughed out loud as he set his cup on the window ledge. "I don't
doubt it." He took the buckets anyway.
She watched him as he headed for her back door, watched the way he
moved with the sleek grace of an athlete. She was staring so intently,
so mesmerized— damn it—that she was surprised when someone called out
from the back gate.
"There you are!"
She whirled to find Parker Hammond.
"Parker!" she yelped, guilt ticking through her at her errant thoughts.
"What are you doing here?"
The man answered with a confident smile as he pushed through the gate.
"Good morning to you, too."
He held a large bouquet of light pink peonies and white roses. Seeing
him standing in the sunshine, Kate couldn't deny how handsome he was,
though a complete contrast to Jesse. Parker was everything light, with
his sandy blond hair and green eyes, while Jesse was dark and brooding,
sensuality seeping through him. The boy next door versus the boy who
was every parent's nightmare.
When Parker saw Jesse, he blinked in surprise before his smile returned.
"I heard you were on Kate's show," Parker said with good humor as he
came forward to shake Jesse's hand. "I wish I hadn't missed it. But
it's great to see you now."
"It's great to see you, too, but you didn't need to bring flowers,"
Jesse joked with a grin.
Jesse and Parker had been good friends in junior high school, falling
out of touch during high school
when Jesse had started getting wild.
Parker laughed. "As a matter of fact, I didn't. I brought them for
Kate." Parker turned to her. "I'm sorry
I missed the first segment of
Getting
Real
. But I hope these will make up for it. I heard the show was
a hit."
"You are so sweet," she said faintly.
"I remembered that you love peonies. I've been calling all weekend, but
you haven't been home."
"You brought flowers for Katie?" Jesse asked, interrupting, glancing
back and forth between them.
"Yes, I did." Parker's sunny smile was wonderful and sexy at the same
time. No question he was a
catch. As tall as Jesse. As well defined. But where Jesse was the bad
boy of golf, Parker had continued
in his path of respectability and was now a responsible and successful
businessman. He was everything she wanted in a man.
"We've been going out," Parker explained, his fond expression twisting
something inside her. "Didn't
she tell you?"
Jesse skewered her with a hard gaze. "No, she failed to mention that
she was dating one of my friends."
They hadn't been dating steadily, but often enough that Parker would
think it perfectly fine to come
over this morning and bring her flowers. She knew he wanted a
commitment from her, and she knew
that she was insane not to give it to him, but something held her back.
Parker glanced at her. For the first time, he seemed to consider the
situation. Jesse Chapman, notorious ladies' man, standing in her
backyard without a shirt. Kate could see the realization dawning on his
face.
"Are you staying here?" he asked Jesse.
"I am."
Parker looked to Kate for verification.
"He is," she confirmed, doing her best not to look guilty.
"Well, of course," he said finally. "You're old friends, grew up next
door to each other. It makes sense."
Makes sense
might have been a
stretch, but she was grateful he didn't make an issue of it.
Quickly, before his mind could go any further, she said, "Would you
like to come in for some coffee?"
Parker focused, then looked at her soil-trimmed hands clutching the
flowers. "Actually, another reason
I came by was to see if you'd like to join my parents and me for
brunch."
She could feel Jesse staring at them.
"Jesse, if you'll set the tools in the workroom, that would be great."
Then she guided Parker back to the front drive.
"Jesse, let's get together for lunch while you're in town," he called
back.
Jesse didn't answer, though she could feel his hot, piercing gaze on
her back as she fled.
Once they got to Parker's car, she tried to think of something to say.
He looked at her oddly. "Are you okay?" he asked.
She thought of possible answers.
No.
Definitely not.
I wish.
But decided on an "I'm fine" instead. "I've been putting a lot of hours
in at work, so I've been busy."
His expression softened. "I've missed you these last few days. I really
would love for you to join us for brunch."
She held out her arms, exhibiting herself, and found a smile for him.
"I'm not sure this is the best brunch attire, but I appreciate the
offer. Maybe next week."
He looked at her a long time, just looking. Then he reached out and
took her hand. He didn't grimace over the dirt.
"I care for you a great deal, Kate." He glanced toward the house, then
back at her. "Don't shut me out." Leaning forward, he kissed her on the
forehead, so kind, so gentle, so perfectly right for her, then he
got in his car and drove away.
She watched him.until his four-door sedan disappeared around the bend
in the road. He was an incredible man. And she resolved to make time
for him next week.
Feeling good about her decision, she went inside to her workroom off
the kitchen and found the buckets. Thankfully, Jesse was nowhere in
sight. But she hadn't gotten more than the first tool cleaned when she
heard the screen door open, then bang shut.
"Anyone home?"
He entered the kitchen, and she could see him through the open workroom
doorway, the sun casting
him in morning light.
"I'll be there in a minute," she called out.
He had dressed in a pair of khaki shorts with a polo shirt hanging out
untucked, boat shoes without socks, and a Texas Rangers baseball cap
that he tossed onto the counter. Anyone else would have looked unruly.
Jesse Chapman looked wonderful and amazing and like more trouble than
she knew how to handle.
He pulled open the refrigerator and looked inside.
"There's orange juice if you want some," she said.
"Thanks."
By the time she scrubbed her hands free of dirt, he was on his second
glass.
"Can I get you something for breakfast?" she asked. "I have Cheerios,
powdered doughnuts, and Pop-Tarts."
"A regular health nut."
"
Strawberry
Pop-Tarts. Plus I
have granola bars."
Jesse grinned, then glanced back into the workroom. "You have plenty to
do. I'll make breakfast while you finish up."
"You?"
"Believe it or not, I can make a Pop-Tart as easily as the next guy."
He didn't wait for a response. He got busy going through her cabinets
and pantry. "Success. Strawberry
and
blueberry. The only other
thing I need is a real cup of coffee—"
She pointed to the coffeemaker and the tin next to it.
"—and I'm set."
She nodded and then went back to the gardening tools. When she finished
and returned to the kitchen,
he was just serving breakfast.
"I made enough for both of us," he said.
She really was hungry. "Thanks." She debated taking a quick shower.
"Clean up later," he said, reading her thoughts. He shoved her gently
into the seat, then set a premade pastry in front of her.
They ate in companionable silence, until Jesse finished. "Man, can I
use a toaster."
"So much for modesty," she teased.
He glanced over at her with a wicked smile. "Modesty is overrated."
Kate rolled her eyes, then finished her last bite. Reaching across the
table, she gathered their plates.
"I can't believe you're dating Parker," he said, leaning back, holding
his coffee against his broad chest.
"Why? He's a fine man, even if he is a friend of yours." This time she
grinned.
"Cute. But I don't like him."
"How can you say that! You were friends for ages."
"Yeah, well," he conceded grudgingly. "I guess I just don't like him
for you."
For some reason, this really got to her, or maybe it was just a lot of
things piling up. Him here. Looking great. Still wild. Whatever the
reason, she sat back in the chair and skewered him with a scowl. "Given
that you're a guest in my home, I don't want to be rude. However, I
feel compelled to point out that
my relationship with Parker Hammond is none of your business."
Jesse only grinned, unabashed, his corded forearms rippling as he set
his cup aside and tossed his napkin on the table. He whistled, then
shrugged. "You and Parker— who would have guessed?" He held his hands
up in surrender. "Certainly not me, though that could be because I
never really saw him as having much appeal."
"Glad you're such an expert on men. Have you switched over?"
His eyes went wide for half a second, then he gave a bark of
appreciative laughter. "There's my Katie."
"I am not
your
Katie."
He sat for a long second, just looking, before he pushed up from the
table and stepped beside her chair. Hot, intense emotion ticked through
him and he couldn't explain why her words bothered him. She
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