Chapter 14

"You know I would love to have you come with me." Max repeated the sentence for about the hundredth time.

He had a very uneasy feeling about going to the Warrens' party without her.

"It's fine. I'm fine." She grinned. "Besides, it will give me a chance to rest up for our big night tomorrow."

"That's right. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and I have a big surprise for you." He had a slight attack of nerves when he thought about the agenda. He was ready for it, though, and he hoped she was, too.

"Are you even going to give me a clue?"

"Nope." He kissed the tip of her nose. "Not one tiny hint. Just be sure to wear that outfit we bought last weekend."

He had insisted on taking her shopping, picking out a red dress of silky material that clung to her body in all the right places. Then, ignoring her blushing embarrassment, he'd hauled her into a lingerie shop and picked out the sexiest red bra and thong the salesgirl could find for them.

"Everyone knows what you have in mind now," she'd told him, her face almost matching the fabrics.

"Good. I want everyone to know you belong to me and every man to be jealous of what we've got going on."

"Are you positive that's what you want?" she asked.

"More than I've ever been of anything before. So. Cinnamon rolls in the morning? I'll go out and pick them up."

"You won't be too tired from partying all night?"

"Sugar, I'll be in and out of there so fast they'll hardly know I showed up."

She frowned. "I don't want you to get in trouble with the owners."

"I'm fine. I keep telling you that." He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small white bag.

"What have you got there?"

"Take a look. Go ahead."

"Oh, Max." She peered up at him. "Max, I—"

The bag brimmed with tiny hearts, the kind with printing on them. And they all said I love you. He was getting to the final play of the game, and this was the setup. He'd been very careful about not telling her any more until he thought the moment right. Tomorrow night he'd lay it all out for her, give her his real heart.

"Wait until tomorrow."

She widened her gaze. "More surprises?"

"Maybe. And now I've gotta go."

He only allowed himself a brief kiss. More than that and he'd never get out of there. But shit, he hated going off and leaving her. He never got very excited about the Warrens' party, and this time he didn't even want to go at all. Maybe if Stacy had agreed to go with him. But she'd made it clear she had no interest in going, and the time hadn't been right to force the issue. Not with all the other plans he'd made.

They sign my paycheck. I can go and make nice for a little while.

Tony Warren was the second generation of his family to own the team. His father had been awarded the franchise and built it into a winner before stepping down. At thirty-five, Tony was taking it to an even higher level and doing it well. He was considered one of the best owners in the business. Because he and his wife took very good care of the team, Max always made it his business to attend any obligatory events, of which this was one.

Coach lights on metal poles glowed outside the house in the darkness, and spotlights set in the earth highlighted very expensive landscaping. A young kid doing valet service took his car and another one opened the door of the house for him, letting the light and noise from inside spill out.

"Come in, come in." Tony Warren shook his hand. "Come get yourself a drink and relax." He grinned at Max. "Lots of pretty girls here tonight."

"Yes, thank you sir, but—"

"All the old married folks are socializing in the television room. The rest of you single people can let it all hang out wherever." He tugged Max into the foyer.

"Yes, sir, but I—"

"Oh, Max, there you are!" Rina Warren hurried up and gave him a hug. "I say it's never a party until Max gets here." She held a drink in one hand as she guided him toward the living room with the other.

"I appreciate you saying that, except I'm hardly the star here."

"I don't care," she teased. "You'll always be my star. I tell Tony that all the time. Come on, say hello to all these nice young ladies waiting for you."

Max used every bit of discipline to hold himself together for the next hour. He made polite conversation as he worked the room, chatting up the important guests the Warrens had invited. As politely as possible, he fended off the advances of the "pretty girls" looking to score with a football star and made it a point to say a few words to the sports reporters in the crowd.

As if I even qualify for a star.

He knew, however, to a lot of females, that didn't matter. Single women who were friends of the Warrens spent the entire year working to get an invite to the Valentine's Day event, hoping to get lucky. He was finally making his way to the front door, watching for one of the Warrens so he could say good-bye, when a blonde in a tight sweater and skirt grabbed his arm.

"I've been trying to catch your eye all night," she said, giving him a grin he could only call salacious. "You're very much in demand."

"Not really." Trouble, he told himself, and tried to extricate himself as politely as he could.

"I'm Alana Russell, a friend of Rina's. I live out of town, but I told her, this year, I was coming to visit especially so I could attend their party."

"I expect she's very happy about that."

"Oh, sure, sure, sure. Now, Max, I'd love it if I could have a souvenir. Can I bother you for a sec so a friend of mine can take a picture of us together?" Before he could answer, she hurried right along, "Oh, thank you so much," and waved in the general direction of someone."

Sliding her arm around his back, she plastered herself against him, her head against his shoulder. Max dug out his best company smile.

"Oh, and just one more," she begged. "It won't take but a sec."

Before he realized what was happening, she had gone up on tiptoe, cupped his cheeks with both hands, and planted a kiss on his lips.

Max was so shocked for a long moment he couldn't even move. Then he grabbed her arms as gently as possible and eased her away.

"I hope you don't plan to show them to anyone except yourself," he cautioned. "I'd hate for people to get the wrong idea."

"Oh, honey, I think where you Warriors are concerned, there's only one idea, and it's the right one."

"Actually, I'm seeing someone and—"

"And maybe you can see me, too." She nudged him suggestively with her shoulder. "I told Rina she absolutely has to give me your number."

It took another two or three minutes before Max could get away from the woman, and another five before he could say good-bye to the Warrens.

"My friend, Alana thinks you're the hottest guy on the team," Rina whispered to him at the door. "She's been dying to meet you. I'll bet you guys would have fun together."

Max shifted uncomfortably. "Yes, well—"

"Rina!" Tony hollered at her. "Come over here a minute."

"Gotta go. Happy Valentine's Day."

Finally back in his car, he headed toward home. He felt as if he'd been run over by a lawn mower. Tomorrow he'd have to call Tony Warren and, as delicately as possible, ask him to make sure those pictures never saw the light of day except in Alana's home.

He only wished he could get rid of the feeling they were somehow going to bite him in the ass.