The phone was silent for a moment, and then Logan said, “Okay, he might be legit. But he could also be playing you, pretending to be the good guy. Just be careful.”

“Yeah, sure. I’m always careful.” Before he could object, she continued. “All right, except for once, but I’ve learned.”

“Good. Let’s get on to something important. I’m playing fantasy baseball. What do you think of Ryan Zimmerman this year? Rory thinks no.”

Jessica had to laugh. This was the Logan she knew and loved.

—

He was waiting for her when she returned to the office. But she felt better now, stronger. Talking with Nikki and planning the shower, plus chatting with her brother, had made her feel more grounded.

And Logan was right. For all that she liked Gavin and thought he was a decent guy, she would be doing both of them a favor to distance herself both physically and emotionally, and concentrate on his rehab.

“Jess.” He gave her that sexy smile that made her heart flutter. “Walk you to the parking lot?”

“Sure.” It was clear neither one of them wanted to remain at the scene of the crime, especially alone together.

She tidied the room, aware that Gavin helped her without being asked. And she was appreciative, as it took far less time with two people replacing dumbbells, hanging up straps, and putting back balls. Within a very short period it was all done, so she grabbed her personal belongings and headed for the door.

Gavin was right behind her as she locked up. The night was considerably cooler than the previous one, so she zipped her jacket all the way to her throat, feeling as if she had on a suit of armor.

“I noticed your knee isn’t bothering you as much now,” she said as they crossed through the back of the park. When he looked at her in surprise, she shrugged. “That’s my job. So I think we can up the ante, start adding back some of the stretches that we had taken off the plate. Are you game?”

“Sure.” He gazed at her, measuring, as if aware she was avoiding any intimate topics. “I want to talk to you about last night.”

She swallowed hard. “Gavin, let’s not make a big deal out of it. It’s all good.”

“It is a big deal.” His eyes narrowed and as she tried to walk away, he held her in place. “You can’t pretend it didn’t happen, and that it wasn’t pretty damned great.”

Logan’s words came back to haunt her as she looked into his eyes and saw confidence and male satisfaction lurking there. Of course. After all, she’d told him she would have no trouble resisting him, and at the first opportunity, she had jumped into his arms. Was he just another jock, looking for bragging rights? She didn’t think so, but she’d been fooled before…

Taking a deep breath, she responded coolly.

“Look, last night I was vulnerable, and you were…kind. I haven’t had sex in a while, and it seemed like a good idea at the time. But that’s all. It doesn’t mean anything other than…a physical release.”

What’s love got to do with it, indeed.

She missed the thunderous look on his face as she turned again, prepared to get in her car and head home. But this time he actually put his hand on her shoulder, turned her around, and glared at her.

“You’re trying to tell me that I mean nothing to you? And that I represent what, exactly? A six-foot-tall vibrator?”

She had never seen him angry before, and it fascinated her. Yet she wasn’t scared. Male outrage was something she’d grown up with, something she understood. His ego was bruised because she’d made it clear that she saw him as a boy toy, and that the chemistry between them was no big deal.

“I wouldn’t have put it that crudely, but in a sense, yes. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s all hormones, and mating urges, nothing to get spun up about. Now if you don’t mind, I’m meeting Nikki later for cocktails. I’m sure I can pick up some hot guy if I still feel the need to get it out of my system. Later.”

Before he could react, she jumped into her car and sped off, gratified to see him standing with his hands on his hips, glaring at her in the parking lot. If this was some kind of ego trip on his part, like Logan warned her, she was more than happy to burst his balloon.

Chapter 17

Gavin wanted to kill her. He was sorely tempted to go after her, and kiss her senseless until she was limp in his arms once more, fight with her, or put her over his knee. But he knew he had no right to do any of those things.

Yet.

The funny part was, he had been about to admit his feelings for her. But Jessica had made it plain she’d thought of him only in sexual terms, as a physical release.

Nothing more.

He got into his Jeep, utterly furious. Had he totally misread her? It wouldn’t be the first time a woman wanted to be with him because of who he was, his celebrity. Not for himself. He saw that in the notes he got on social media, the fans who did everything in their power to try to get his attention, including mailing him their panties. He realized they were projecting onto him, fantasizing, that it wasn’t anything real.

Even Kristin only wanted him as long as he was a star.

But he didn’t think of Jessica like that. Calming, a thousand contradictions came to him: the way she’d taken care of him, and everyone else, for that matter. The way the team all liked and respected her. And how she helped Joaquin, on her own nickel and her own time.

So why this sudden turnaround? Mentally he reviewed the moments they had shared and came up short. It was true that he hadn’t set out to seduce her: he had only intended to comfort her, but she had kissed him and things had spun out of control…

Maybe that was it. Maybe it wasn’t his behavior that concerned her, but her own. She had been completely aroused and uninhibited, letting him know in no uncertain terms how much she wanted sex, wanted him. And now, she didn’t know how to deal with it.

He shook his head. At least they would have some time alone together over the next few weeks, given that she had agreed to resume their walks. It would give him a chance to fix this, to prove to her he was a very different breed than Zachary.

And that he was looking forward to.

—

“So we all agree. Darcy’s shower will be at a bar or a hotel, and we can hire a male dancer.” Nikki whipped out her clipboard and gestured to the waitress. “I think we are going to need a round of margaritas. We have important decisions to make here.”

“Agreed,” Jessica said.

They were joined by several other women who worked with Darcy at the ballpark and were introduced as Ella, Emily, and Kelly, in addition to Cara, Darcy’s best friend. Jessica liked Cara immediately. She was the polar opposite of Darcy: dark-haired, vivacious, and outgoing, and it was clear that she had her friend’s best interests at heart.

It was fun to be with girlfriends again, without all the complications of emotions and sex, Jessica mused. Normally she enjoyed time with her brothers and her men pals, but right now a good dose of estrogen felt like just the right prescription.

“So, Jess, what do you think? We seemed to have lost you for a moment.”

She snapped back to the conversation at hand and gave Nikki an apologetic shrug. “Sorry. Was thinking of something else.”

“Something or someone?” Nikki asked teasingly.

“Secrets?” Cara was all over it. She looked curiously at Jessica, and she got the feeling the woman could almost read minds.

But Nikki was the one who ratted her out. “Jess is rehabbing Gavin King.”

“OMG!” Cara sat back in her chair and looked at the physical therapist with undisguised envy. “He is sooo hot.”