"I'll get some more coffee." Sarah started to rise from the couch. "No." He held up a hand. "I'm fine. No, not fine," he corrected himself, "but I don't think I should drink more coffee."She was silent for a long moment. "That must all have been so devastating for you, Beau," she said at last. " He relaxed an infinite amount when her voice sounded softer, warmer."And humiliating." he went on. "All the world could see how stupid I'd been." He clenched his fists then relaxed them. He hadn't let any grass grow under his feet that time. "But one thing money can buy you is a damn good lawyer." He started pacing again. "Mine was a shark. Before I could blink I was divorced, Lacey had a hefty property settlement and I had sole custody of Toby.""Lucky for him," she said.He could almost see a smile on her face. Still, he knew he was not out of the woods here yet. Far from it. "The divorce decree stipulated she have no contact with him," he went on, rubbing the back of his neck to
PART ONE: Quarterback Sneak"All men are assholes."Stacy Halligan slouched in a corner of her couch, feet propped up on the coffee table. A half-finished glass of wine—her third—rested on the side table by her hand. Somehow, the smooth flavor of the merlot hadn't eased the sharp edge of pain she rode. Instead, it tasted more like vinegar."I assume present company excepted?" Max Sullivan, stretched out in her big armchair, grinned at her, and took a swallow of beer."You're just a man in the generic meaning of the word," she grumped.His smile disappeared. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?""Don't get your shorts in a twist." Stacy levered herself up and took a sip of the wine, making a face. "I mean, you have all the right equipment." She ran her gaze over his tall, muscular body. "At least, I assume you do, since I haven't seen it firsthand. But I never think of you as a man. Exactly."He frowned. "And exactly how do you think of me?""You're my best friend. My bud. M
"Stacy?" Max prompted her again, his voice gentle. "Aren't you the same woman who's been telling me for three years romance is nothing but a myth made up by greeting card companies and florists? The one who keeps saying it's a line that men hand out to women? That you didn't have time for more than meaningless sex and a lot of laughs?""It was easier that way," she mumbled."Excuse me? I can't hear you." He cupped his ear. "Could you repeat that, please?""You heard me. I said, it's easier. You guys are all alike. All you want is a lot of laughs and a lot of sex and then a handshake when it's over. Or maybe not even the handshake. So if I don't take things seriously, I don't get hurt.""Let's be clear. When you say 'you guys,' I assume you're lumping me in with the general male population?""If the shoe fits."He stared. "I think I'm insulted. How the hell would you know if I'm like that? Do you follow me around?"Her cheeks heated again. "No, of course not. But I see the parade
I have to be out of my fucking mind.Max studied the woman across from him and wondered what level of insanity prompted him to speak so freely. Putting his hand in a vat of boiling water might cause less distress, yet he couldn't seem to stop himself.His very well-kept secret was he'd wanted Stacy Halligan from the day she moved in next door to him. His first glimpse of her—trim figure clad in cutoffs hugging a very sweet ass, a ragged University of Michigan T-shirt, thick auburn hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, kissable lips in a face free of makeup that he sure didn't think it needed.Even then, she'd had attitude. The movers carried in the heavy pieces for her, but she seemed determined to haul the stuff from her car herself, refusing help when the movers offered. The day was hot and within an hour she'd sweated through that T-shirt, her nipples like sweet cherries nudging the soft fabric. And every time she bent over to get another armful from the trunk or the back seat, t
"Um, no." Finally, she snapped out of her trance. "No, I don't hate it.""Then what's with the funny expression on your face?"She gave an unsteady chuckle. "I'm stunned you would make such an offer. For me. Like this.""Hey." He tried to smooth his features. "That's what friends are for, right?""Don't you have your own women to romance? Do all the romance crap with? I'd hate for some jealous female to show up and scratch my eyes out.""No." He shrugged. "No one special.""And what about all the stuff the Warriors always do over holidays? For instance, I happen to know the owner and his wife have a huge party every year. Remember, we did a story about it last year?""One night. Big deal. When's your shindig?""On Valentine's Day itself. A week from Saturday.""Well, there you are." He leaned back and took a calming sip of his beer. "The Warriors party is on Friday night. No conflict. Anyway, all I have to do is put in an appearance there then split." His eyes lit up. "Hey! Why don't y
Stacy frowned at the disheveled pile of clothes on her bed. She had already chosen and discarded four different outfits. What did one wear to lunch, anyway, with a very sexy guy who pretended to be your guy to raise your hot babe quotient? All the outfits were somehow wrong: too fussy, too plain, too businesslike—What the hell? I am in business—or too casual.Why couldn't she simply pull some kind of ensemble together today without all the dithering?Because Max, the devil, had said, "Wear something sexy."Max. The man whose goodnight kiss had left her wanting to get naked with him and leap onto his cock. The thought startled her so she nearly dropped the clothes she held. Then another thought hit her.And wouldn't that just shock the hell out of him?Why on earth have erotic thoughts about Max, anyway? Good old Max. Doing her a favor.Staring at herself standing in her bra and thong before her mirror, she wondered what Max would think of her body. She pinched one of her nipples
"Well?" Deedee prodded. "Where did you come up with a guy like this?"Stacy frowned at the other woman. "You don't think I can attract one? Am I so unappealing?""That's not what I meant." Deedee fluffed her hair, a gesture Stacy always found annoying. "Except you never…"I know, I know. I never. "Never mind."The other women around her wore expressions of avid curiosity and pointed to the open box."Have a piece of chocolate, everyone. Have several. I'll never eat it all by myself. If I do, I won't fit behind my desk."The sweet confections were melt-in-your-mouth heavenly. Stacy let one roll around on her tongue, the rich flavor of the chocolate and peppermint exploding. Whoever ordered the delivery deserved a big kiss. She hoped it was Max because she sure had enjoyed that kiss the night before. Even if the unexpected sizzle had totally shocked her.She carried the candy back to her cubicle and booted up her computer, determined to get some work done. She had assignments alre
"Think that made an impression?" he asked with a grin."More like a sinkhole," she told him now that she could catch her breath. "Wow!""The guy in your office who glared as if he wanted to shoot me. I take it he's resident asshole?"She nodded. "That's Kurt.""Forgive me for saying so, Stacy. That guy even looks like an asshole. I need to talk to you about your taste in men.""Not today, okay?" How to tell him she really wanted to pretend what they were enjoying was a fun, romantic luncheon and she didn't want to talk about Kurt or anyone else? He'd think her nuts. The whole plan was all pretend and she had to keep that in mind. Even though her brain was still fogged from that kiss."I can already tell he's a loser." He hugged her against him and gave her a playful grin. "I'm so much handsomer. And much nicer."Was he only teasing her? More of his usual Max-type jokes? For an insane moment, she wanted this to be real.While she wondered, he kissed her on the cheek. Just a gent