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  Did he realize how every muscle in her body was quaking in that moment? When he placed both of her hands over his heart, and she felt how his was racing, every part of her being softened for him. Made her think that what she was doing wasn’t entirely crazy, after all.

  “Luc…” She closed her eyes and stretched up on her toes to kiss him. He must have understood what she was needing—he went all aggressive, scooping her up and tumbling them both to the monster-sized bed behind her. He fell on top of her, and then they were skin to skin, chest to chest. He was dressed in silk boxers—which probably cost more than she made in an entire day at the forensics lab—and socks.

  And his hands were intent on the jeans keeping him from her. Payton arched her hips when he slipped the denim down her legs. He took her underwear with the jeans.

  Within milliseconds she was naked and pressed against him in all the ways that mattered.

  Then she didn’t know what happened; his hands were on her everywhere and she was having a difficult time touching him everywhere she wanted. Her hands were just as frantic and insistent as his.

  He kissed her hard, once, twice, a million times. She lost track. She lost track of anything other than how right she felt in that moment.

  Finally, she wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped her legs around his waist. Then he was inside and they were dancing as sure as they had at the mayor’s dinner the night before. Faster, faster they moved until she was crying and shaking and pretty well incapable of coherent thought.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  She shouldn’t have cared so much. She knew that. Payton understood theoretically how men like Luc operated. And she’d known deep inside—even when it was happening—that it was going to be a one night kind of thing. And in that moment when her decision was made, she’d been okay with it. Mostly.

  It also shouldn’t have surprised her that Luc didn’t call. More than a week had passed, and Payton hadn’t heard even a whisper from Luc. She’d seen the panic in his eyes when they’d woken that next morning. Had he thought she was after something, mercenary, or something like that? Or had he just freaked out because of the intensity she knew he’d felt, too?

  He was a coward, that’s what he was. And she would be better off just putting Davis Lucas—Lucian Daviess, whatever he wanted to call himself—out of her mind and life forever.

  And she had plenty to do to keep her busy. She didn’t need a man like him in her life. What could she actually see happening between them? They fall in love and live happily ever after? Not likely.

  He was a billionaire and she was just ordinary. And she wouldn’t want to live like he lived, constantly being watched, by both security teams and the media. It wouldn’t be something she would want to do long term. And even though that night had been impulsive, Payton knew she wasn’t wired for casual relationships.

  And that was all he could offer, and she knew that. She knew it.

  So why was the first thought in her head when she woke that morning about him and not about what she had to do today?

  Cody and Paige would be there at noon, and she needed their support for this. None of her brothers had been able to make it to St. Louis for opening day of the Cards, so Payton had been asked by her brother’s former teammates to toss out the opening pitch in honor of Patrick. He’d played left field and center field for the Cards at the time of his death. His teammates wanted to honor his memory.

  Today would be for Patrick. Thoughts of Luc would not interfere with that.

  She dressed in her brother’s jersey and a nice pair of jeans. She wore a Cards sweatshirt over the top. The sweatshirt had been one of Patrick’s favorites, and she wore it often. It was still way too cold for baseball, but she tried not to think of that. Today was for Patrick.

  She looked at the picture next to her bed. There they were, her, Patrick, the rest of her brothers, celebrating the day Patrick had been called up to the Cards. He had been so happy that day. She missed him so much.

  But today she wouldn’t cry. He wouldn’t want her to cry.

  Cody showed up, Paige in tow, around eleven-thirty. She hugged Payton. “You ready?”

  “I’m not really sure.” She studied her two friends. They’d been caught in a car bomb blast last week when visiting Al in the hospital. Paige still had bruises on her face, and Cody’s arm was bandaged. She’d sustained a few second degree burns. “I’m going to do this, though.”

  “Patrick would be thrilled.” Her brother and Cody had been friends—how could they not? Patrick had shared an apartment with Payton when he wasn’t off with the Cards. “What time does the game start?”

  “Two. I want to be there by twelve-thirty.” To psych herself up. Thousands of people, looking at her.

  “Let’s go,” Paige flitted around the apartment. “I’ve never been to a baseball game.”

  “You’ll need an extra sweatshirt, Paige. It’ll be cold out there.”

  “I’m fine. I don’t mind the cold. Come on, let’s get going.”

  Payton laughed. Paige always made her laugh. Today would be a good day, a day to honor her brother, and spend with friends she cared about. They’d eat ballpark food, laugh at the mascots, and try to catch foul balls. And watch Cody flirt with probably half the men surrounding them.

  Payton would just have to remind herself not to think about Luc, no matter how Paige’s eyes reminded her of him.

  She was done with Luc. Over and done. Period.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Baseball was one of the few real pleasures of Luc’s life, and he’d toyed with the idea of buying himself a team. But he always resisted. He had billions, yes, but something as frivolous as a baseball team seemed too excessive, even for him.

  He did have himself a luxury suite at the stadium, though. And he always made a point of making opening game. He enjoyed the people and the festivities and the chaos—all over a game that really didn’t matter much in the grand scheme of things.

  And he enjoyed not having to be a part of it, to be a part of it. He stood at the window of his box and studied the crowds below him. So many of them.

  His phone beeped, signaling a text to his personal number. Only a few people had that number. He read the text quickly.

  You up there in your private little castle?

  Cody.

  He texted back quickly. Of course. Where else would a Beast be? Why?

  Payton’s throwing the first pitch in honor of her brother. Why don’t you come down and join us—Paige and me—in giving her emotional support. I think she may need it today.

  His breath caught when what she meant sank in. Payton. Here. Within reach.

  Luc studied the crowd below him, now with far more intent. He wanted to see her, needed to. He flexed his hands, the feel of her skin imprinted on his flesh like a damned memory.

  He’d forced himself to avoid her for the last week. He’d convinced himself she was busy with work and her friends and her band. She hadn’t needed him interfering in her life. Her normal, ordinary, perfect life. The things he’d wanted to do to her that night, the way he’d felt having her right there with him had terrified him in every way possible.

  So he’d acted like a damned fool. And now…

  Damn it, he missed her. He dreamed of her in his bed every damned night since she’d slept there. And he’d almost refused to let the cleaning staff wash his sheets because he’d been half-convinced he could still smell her on the silk.

  He hit reply on his phone. Better not. I’d just upset her. She doesn’t need me today.

  Whatever. I think you’re wrong about that. Dead wrong.

  Even if he was, there wasn’t any denying the fact that he had nothing to really offer a woman like Payton. Staying away from her would be the best thing he could do for her.

  Someday he was sure she would understand that. Someday when she found a guy who could give her the kind of life she needed and deserved.

  He had billions of dollars, but that kind of l
ife was the one thing he couldn’t give her.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Luc watched her from the window of his suite, and wondered if anyone else could see the nerves that filled her. She looked beautiful down there, and up on the huge screen. And she threw the ball well; attesting to the years she’d played softball. He knew all of that about her, every bit of information gleaned from that damned dossier.

  She stepped off the field and into the stands where he couldn’t see her, and he felt that loss far more sharply than he expected.

  It was so damned tempting to slip down to the stands and pull her up to the box with him.

  He was alone up there, with the exception of his ever present security team. Always alone. And he liked it that way. Usually.

  He studied the crowd beneath him again—so many families. Kids were everywhere, most wearing the Cards’ colors. Husbands and wives snuggled together under blankets, younger couples that he suspected were just dating were cuddled even closer. Everyone down there had someone, it seemed.

  Even Payton had Paige and Cody. His sister and closest friend. While he stayed up there isolated from all of them.

  If it hadn’t been best for Payton, in that moment, he would have sent one of his men down to get them. Bring them up there with him, where all three of them belonged. They were his family, and Cody was the only one to realize that.

  He didn’t watch much of the game, not really. His attention was stuck a week in the past.

  How she’d looked when he’d told her it had been great, but they probably shouldn’t repeat the event.

  A shutter had fallen over the expression that had once always been so open and direct with him. He’d hurt her, and for that he’d never forgive himself. But wasn’t it better to have a little hurt for her now, than him hurting her far worse later on?

  ***

  It took a few minutes for her nerves to settle and for her body to stop shaking. But she’d done it, and had the roar of a crowd to honor her brother. Patrick’s photo and stats were listed on the board and she studied his grinning face for a moment. He’d been so handsome, and so full of humor. Everyone had loved him.

  She took her seat between Cody and Paige. Cody rubbed her shoulder. “You ok?”

  “I’m getting there.” The pang of loss was still there, but it wasn’t as debilitating as it had been.

  “So…let me ask a question,” Paige rested her head against Payton’s shoulder for a moment, the gesture obviously meant as comfort. Paige didn’t touch other people often—kind of like her brother. Payton pushed that thought away. She wouldn’t think of him today. “You know these baseball guys pretty well, right?”

  “I’ve met a few of them.” Mostly at Patrick’s funeral, but she wouldn’t think about that today, either. Today was to celebrate his life, not dwell on his death. “Why?”

  “Are they all so big and tall and hot?”

  Cody laughed. “And young, Paige. Many of them are in their early, early twenties.”

  Paige grinned. “So? I’m only in my mid-twenties. Like Payton, here. You are a bit old, though.”

  Cody was about five years older than Payton and Paige. “And what do you plan on doing with these guys?”

  “Chatting. Seeing if one or two will teach me to play…baseball. Like that one over there. Look how tall he is!”

  Payton laughed and impulsively hugged her friend. She knew what Paige was doing, and she appreciated the distraction. “I’ve been invited to a post-game celebration. I suppose we can swing in and say hello. And thank them for what they’ve done for my family today. I might—might—introduce you to some of the players that I know.”

  “That’s all I can ask. And who knows, maybe we can find one of the old guys for Cody.”

  “Speaking of guys—” Cody pointed toward the line of suites topping the stadium. “Luc is up there in his private box.”

  Payton dropped her soda, then grabbed it before more of it could spill. “Is he? That’s nice.”

  Cody looked at her in that particular way that had Payton squirming. Nobody knew her better than Cody did. “Is that all you can say?”

  Paige licked nacho sauce off her finger as she looked at Payton. “So, I’ve been meaning to ask you…what is up with you and the devil of St. Louis?”

  “Nothing. Absolutely nothing is up with us. And I will not be seeing him again.”

  “He put the moves on you?” Paige asked.

  Payton choked on her rescued soda. “Excuse me?”

  “I don’t know…fancy party, beautiful dress, hot guy who happens to be richer than sin, and an adrenaline filled evening. Which…why were you there in the first place? Was it the first time you’d been out with him? Tell us. Tell us. So we can live vicariously.”

  Not questions she wanted to answer, especially with Luc’s sister. “It was a one-time thing. All of it. And it won’t happen again. And no, he didn’t really put the moves on me.”

  “You put them on him? Come on, I saw the way the guy looked at you.”

  “Paige…” Cody said, shaking her head. “I don’t think Payton wants to talk about it.”

  She didn’t. Not really, but Payton tried to be honest with the people she cared about, and who cared about her. “Something happened between us, and I apparently thought it was more than he did. So we agreed to part ways. The end. Now I am going to forget all about him; no matter what I have to do to accomplish that. So…let’s go meet baseball players after the game. There are other guys out there, besides him.”

  “Alright!”

  ***

  She enjoyed the post-game celebration. It was held at the ballpark and more than half of the team attended. The rest of the event room was packed with the team’s family and agents and other close associates.

  Patrick’s closest friend on the team was the one who gave Payton the initial invitation, and he showed them around and made more introductions. She’d met him multiple times—and had even gone out to dinner with him half a dozen times before Patrick had died. Had the accident not happened, they might have taken things to the next level. But Payton had retreated in the days following the funeral, and had made the decision to move to St. Louis shortly after. She hadn’t given the third baseman any more thought after that. Now she regretted just cutting him off.

  He seemed very taken with Cody, and that relieved her a bit. In fact, many of the unattached members of the team had found their way to Cody and Paige—and Payton’s—sides.

  It was fun; there was no talk of the darker side of life, no criminal elements sneaking into the conversation, just harmless flirting and talk of baseball.

  It would have been the perfect afternoon, if he hadn’t walked in an hour after Payton.

  The air charged the instant she realized who it was. Everyone stopped talking for just a millisecond and looked at him. Just long enough to hint that something had changed in the room. Or it might have just been Payton’s imagination in overdrive where he was concerned.

  Her gaze met his and held for what had to be an eternity. Payton forced herself to look away. She wouldn’t let him reel her in again. No matter what she had to do.

  The man beside her, a sports physician, pressed for her phone number, and she impulsively gave in.

  Luc wasn’t the only man out there who’d found her attractive—or who she found attractive, either. She’d go out with the physician if he called, and have a nice evening out. Who knew what could happen?

  ***

  Luc knew what was in that guy’s mind when he was looking at Payton; how could he not? He was a man, and Payton was a beautiful woman. For some guys, that was all it took. Couldn’t she see what the guy was after?

  He was practically panting down the front of the jersey she wore.

  Luc wanted to grab him and pull his arms and legs off—one at a time—until the guy got the hint to stay far, far away from his Payton.

  But she wasn’t his, was she? He’d pushed her away to prevent that very thing from happening.
She wasn’t his; he wasn’t allowed to protect his interest like a damned caveman. She definitely wouldn’t appreciate that.

  A warm, feminine hand wrapped around his arm and he turned toward the offender, irritated. He didn’t like it when women touched him without invitation. And he’d have no difficulty making that known right then.

  Laughing blue eyes—darker than Payton’s—met his. “Well, look who came out of his cave.”

  “Cody, can’t you go anywhere without causing a stir?” He relaxed. Cody had an open invitation to touch him whenever she wanted.

  “Could ask you the same thing. All the little girls are staring at the billionaire devil in their midst.”

  “Whatever.”

  “Payton looks good today, doesn’t she?”

  “Don’t go there.”

  “Just know that you have upset her a great deal.”

  “I know. But it’s better this way.”

  “Sure it is. So…”

  He spent a few minutes with Cody, who eventually returned to Payton and Paige. His sister had made quite a few conquests in the room, as well, and he’d enjoyed hearing her laugh float above the crowd occasionally.

  He tried not to stay too close to Payton. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable on what was supposed to be a special day for her.

  But he was aware of her every moment until she left a few hours later. Then felt so damned bereft when she was gone.

  It was going to take him a long time to forget Payton Asher. If he ever did. In the meantime, he had some young girls to find.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Patience. She had to have patience. It had served her well as a thirty-year-old whore; and it had served her well in the years since.