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  “The Chamber Board wants the new athletic director to speak at the fall Chamber dinner.” Don never minced words.

  “Of course. The man starts on Monday. I’ll let him settle in and then personally deliver the invitation myself. Okay?”

  “You don’t need to wait. I invited him here tonight to meet some folks. Let me introduce you.” Hand on the small of her back, Don guided Jocelyn to a crowd gathered around the mystery man who had the town in a twitter. Clearing his throat, Don broke through the buzz and the pack opened up to let them through.

  She stared straight into Jared’s baby blues. Oh. My. God. He looked as luscious as she remembered in formfitting khakis, a pressed white shirt, and those sexy leather roper boots. Shit.

  “Jared Wyatt, this is Jocelyn Wade, the president of the Madison Chamber of Commerce and the lady who just saved our town.”

  “You’re the new athletic director,” she mumbled, a lump forming in her throat. Knees shaking, she grabbed a nearby chair for support and watched him wrestle for some degree of control. He found it first.

  “I’m glad to see you again, Jocelyn.” His voice smooth, smile broad, his gaze lazily caressed her body.

  “You two know each other?” Don asked, one eyebrow raised so high it tickled his hairline.

  “We were caught at the same airport during that storm two weeks ago. Our luggage got mixed up. We have the same blue suitcases and the same initials,” Jocelyn babbled, and she never babbled. “You coached the Johnson High Jaguars. I never made the connection when I saw your jacket,” she said, unable to tear herself from those ice-blue eyes, biting through her tongue to prevent herself from devouring him whole.

  Against her will, her body warmed to his unique aroma of musk and sandalwood, electric charges pulsed through every pore. She needed to get as far away from him as she could.

  In an answer to her prayer, Debbie Hester, a local business leader, wandered over to the group, stiletto heels clicking loudly on the marble floor. After thanking Jocelyn effusively for her work, she wedged her body next to Jared, stuck her overly made-up face into his and offered him a good look at her overflowing cleavage. Jocelyn grabbed the opening, muttered something about the ladies’ room, and left Jared to Madison’s black widow.

  Finding comfort in the crowd, she fought the panic scratching acid tracks across her chest. That man was the last thing she needed in her too busy, overcrowded life. I can handle this. It’s under control. If only her pulse would slow down.

  Jocelyn felt Jared by her side even before he wrapped his fingers around her elbow, enough to draw her close. “Can we talk?” he asked, his breath warm on her neck, his musky scent tantalizing her nose, sending white heat down her spine. Her lower body clenched in need. Bad kitty. Down kitty. Damn, this is so not under control. She should’ve run, but ducking a problem was not the Wade way.

  Unable to say a word, she nodded and led him to an out-of-the-way conference room. His hand still resting on her arm seared a brand into tissue, muscle, bone and marrow. Inside, he pulled her to him, crushing mouth against mouth, tongues stroking fiercely. Raw, carnal need burned right through any protest. Instead of pushing him away, she molded herself against him like a second skin and drank in his kiss in desperate, gasping gulps. His mouth blazed down her throat, sucking deeply, his fingers searched out her breast under her jacket and massaged the nipple to an erect peak.

  “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you,” he whispered against her neck before kissing her again. Locked together, he angled her back against the conference table, his steel-hard cock jammed into the curve of her hip. Warm, suckling kisses rained down the mounds of her breasts. Jocelyn leaned one arm back to brace herself, the other hand balled in his hair to guide his mouth over her body. Wet heat flooded her channel.

  God help her, she wanted to fuck him right there on the table.

  The sudden flood of applause jumpstarted her sanity. A speech finished, she’d be called to the podium soon. Suppressing a moan, she found the strength to push him away. “I can’t do this.”

  He ran the backs of his knuckles down her cheek in a slow caress. The contact warmed her skin, reassured her somehow that everything was okay, even though her knees shook and rattled. She leaned into the touch for one brief moment then jerked back.

  Jared dropped his hand and stuffed it in his pocket. “Why not? Something happened between us that night. We owe it to ourselves to explore it.”

  She tucked in her blouse and tugged her jacket back in place before responding with as much ice as she could muster, even though her body still burned from his touch. “Nothing happened. We had sex. It was just one of those things.” From the way his face blanched, she knew he felt her cold air but he kept coming anyway. Tingles she didn’t want played at the edge of her heart. Unwavering persistence she understood and respected.

  “Given how you just kissed me, babe, I don’t believe a word of the BS you’re spouting right now.” As if to show her who was boss, he moved deep into her space, his breath hot against her neck, his scent so strong she tasted his male spice on her tongue.

  She stood her ground and reclaimed control. “I don’t do relationships, Jared.” Her arms hugged around her chest to form a shield between him and her heart. Was she trying to keep him away or her feelings from spilling out?

  “Too busy working?” His eyes narrowed in what looked like wariness but they remained fastened on hers, pure focus, demanding she accept him.

  “Don’t filter my choices through your past, Jared. You know nothing of my life here.” Her arms tightened as if to strengthen her shields.

  “I want to learn. Stop denying the attraction between us. ” His gaze lasered into her, willing her to agree.

  “I won’t deny we had great sex. You’re a hell of a fuck, Jared, but that’s it. There’s no more, stop trying to pretend there is.” She knew she was lying but she didn’t want this, couldn’t accept it. “We played a game that night. This is real life, my life. Nothing about me or it is easy.”

  “I’ve never been one for easy.” He brushed his finger along her lower lip. “Play with me.”

  The man could wear down a saint. She chomped down on the skin of her cheek to suppress a grin from forming, not at all ready for this door to open. “You don’t give up, do you?”

  “No. I don’t. Have dinner with me next week. That’s a simple enough place to start.” His smile sent her into seizures.

  Her body screamed yes, her mind voted no, and her heart toyed with maybe. “We both need to process this. Seeing each other’s been a shock. It’d be foolish to rush into something. This town revolves around business and sports so we’ll be tripping over each other. I need some time.”

  “Okay, but I don’t give up and I know what I want.”

  “I need to get back to the party.” Unable to process any more, Jocelyn led him to the main reception area. Debbie swooped down on Jared and dragged him off. Jocelyn stormed over to the bar but Brenda caught her first. “There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you. It’s your dad. I put him in the entrance waiting room.”

  “Is he…”

  Brenda nodded.

  Jocelyn rushed to her father. His high blood pressure created periodic bouts of confusion, which could spiral into full-blown panic attacks.

  Alan Wade sat on the bench in the building reception area, his hand propping up his head, elbows resting on his thighs. She sat beside him, putting a hand on his knee, the other on his shoulder. “Dad, it’s me, Jocelyn. Take a few deep breaths. It’s going to be okay. You probably just forgot to take your meds this morning.”

  After she got her dad calmed down, the meds into him from the extra bottle she always carried, she talked one of his friends into taking him home. Jocelyn’s body collapsed, drained of all its energy. A relationship with Jared Wyatt? Out of the question. She couldn’t handle more emotional demands in her life and had to end his pursuit here and now.

  Chapter Five

  Don
Corcoran finished his speech with an invitation. “Jared Wyatt, there you are. Why don’t you say a few words before we end the evening with Jocelyn’s remarks?”

  Surprised by the invitation, but never one to turn down an opportunity, Jared glided onto the stage and made the podium his own. The hunt to capture Jocelyn Wade started here. As this was her terrain, he needed to hang back and learn the lay of the land before the real games began. “Thank you for the trust you’ve all placed in me and I intend to see the Lions victorious in the national championship. I also have additional plans you’ll hear about once I settle in.” His sight zoomed onto his prey and he locked his gaze to hers. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you better and now cede the stage to our host, Chamber of Commerce president Jocelyn Wade.”

  Passing her as he descended the stairs, his fingers brushed her hip and ass. Her eyes flashed annoyance and something else. Yeah, she might be fighting him but she was feeling him too. There were weapons to work with in this game. He needed to dig.

  At the podium, Jocelyn owned the stage and the audience as easily as Jared had. The crowd hung on to her every word and she knew how to play to them. Hunger pooled at the base of his spine.Memories of the sweet taste of her lips and her light citrus scent had his dick standing at attention. No, he was not going to let this go.

  Don came up alongside him, just as Jocelyn scanned the crowd, a wicked smile on her face. That look had his balls throbbing mercilessly. It was the same tease after she mounted him, when she sucked the caviar off her finger. She was planning something.

  A hand slapped Jared on the back. “Watch for the curve ball,” said Don.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Meet Madison’s ice queen. She sets the agenda for the town. That expression means a surprise new agenda item’s coming our way. Since you’re the new kid in the sandbox…”

  “Ice queen?”

  “Before she took command at the Chamber too many businesses were failing, our young people moved to bigger cities to find jobs. We were fast becoming a ghost town. Jocelyn turned it all around. That iron-lined backbone of hers salvaged the business base and improved our schools. That frozen stare has every man in the state scared to death of her and she seems to like it that way.”

  Jocelyn’s voice rose above their chatter. “I’m glad we kept Health Corp open but that’s yesterday’s news. It’s time to plan for tomorrow and we’re being too easy on our new athletic director.”

  Don elbowed Jared in the ribs. “Warned you.”

  Jared’s arms crossed his chest, his eyes narrowed, shoulders stiffened as he waited to see what she would do.

  “The Lions have always made us proud,” she said. “Last year they lost to the Jaguars in a sudden-death match.” That grin of hers deepened, her body stood taller and her teeth headed for the jugular. “Asking our new athletic director to win the nationals is the least we can expect from him. I ask him instead to bring home the girls’ high school soccer national championship trophy as well.”

  The crowd, stunned into silence for only a moment, broke into thunderous applause.

  “She set you up good. Go up there and answer her.” Don didn’t have to say it twice. No one handed him an agenda in his territory. She overstepped and he was going to enjoy the payback.

  At the podium he flashed his anger at Jocelyn but he was all smiles when he faced the audience. “Looks like I’ve been invited back.” He pushed his hair off his face, giving himself a minute to pull his thoughts together. ”Y’all should know that I never back away from a challenge and I play to win. Developing additional champion teams has always been my plan and I’ve already rehired Ted Farber to coach the Lions. Before I agree to manage the new girls’ team, Ms. Wade, I have my own conditions.”

  Her glare shot ice bullets and her body stiffened in what he could only interpret as repressed rage. She didn’t like his comeback. Good.

  “Oh, and what would that be?” Her voice was frigidly polite.

  “You commit to supporting it. The Chamber will raise as much money for the girls’ team as the boys’ and pack the home bleachers with as many fans.” Check.

  “Fair enough. I’m happy to commit to that.” Her shoulders relaxed.

  “And I expect you, Ms. Wade, to be seated in the front row, cheering the loudest at every game. You’re going to be my full partner in this endeavor.” Checkmate.

  Her chest contracted so hard he thought he’d have to remind her to exhale.

  “Upset, Jocelyn?” His voice pitched so only she could hear.

  “This isn’t over,” she whispered back, the scowl in her tone clear enough to send a weaker man scurrying into the corner.

  “You’ve got that right. I’m only getting started. The town’s waiting. What’s your answer?”

  ”Okay, you’ve got a deal, Mr. Wyatt, and we’ll expect you to present your plan for the double victory at the fall Chamber Dinner. Welcome to Madison.”

  After a ceremonial shaking of hands to play to the crowd, Jared guided her off the podium. “There’s never a dull moment with you, Jocelyn Wade. We’re going to talk. Now.” His demeanor made it clear he would brook no dissent.

  “My office. This way.”

  They rode the elevator to her office in complete silence. Once inside, they settled into opposing camps, weapons loaded.

  ”Never. Hand. Me. An. Agenda. Next time, I’ll toss you over my lap and spank you in front of the crowd.” Even consumed by rage, that image alone had his cock tightening in raw hunger.

  “A threat? In my town? We play by my rules here. Get used it.” Her shoulders squared, chin firm, she blasted power at him. He ignored it.

  “Unlike everyone else in this town, I’m not afraid of you, babe.” He moved over her, purposely looking down at her, channeling all his control through his eyes—a stance that usually had opponents quaking in their boots. Not her.

  “Intimidation? It’s not working…darlin’.”

  Grasping her upper arms, he pulled her against him so the hardness of his erection stroked across her mons until she shuddered against him. “It’s working just fine, darlin’. Stop pushing me away. You want this every damn bit as much as I do.”

  “That was a fluke, a momentary weakness. I don’t do relationships.” Her face, smooth and hard as marble, denied any emotions.

  Oh she’s good, but not good enough. “That ice-queen act may scare off the men around here but I know the hellion underneath. And I like her, claws and all.” One hand lifted her face toward him. The red wine on her breath mingled with her rose-lime scent as he licked her lower lip. “I know how to touch you, babe, to make you beg for it and you know I can make you scream. Play power games with me, you’ll lose. I don’t let up, ever.”

  “Neither do I,” Jocelyn spat, a glint of darkness clouding her eyes the only hint that she was struggling to keep her will in check.

  Tightening his hold, fingers furrowed into the soft flesh of her biceps to keep her close. “I’ve already outmaneuvered you tonight.”

  “Overconfident so early in the game? Bad move. I lost a round, not the match.” She glared at him, those brown-black eyes had liquid silver shooting through his veins. He wanted to be pounding the hell out of her on the desk in the corner.

  “God, you make me so hot.” He nibbled her chin and cupped her ass to him to let her feel the strength of his hunger.

  “Changing battle tactics? Not working.” Her hands on his chest, she pushed back.

  “Sure it is. You’re as ramped up as I am.” His hand snaked up under her jacket, his thumb flicked at the bullet-hard nipple. “Right now you’re imagining how you want me to take you. I like the desk, but maybe you’d prefer it against the wall? Hard and wild, just like you like it.” Desire widened her eyes.

  “I don’t do relationships,” she whispered, pain crackled in her voice as she struggled to suppress a moan from escaping.

  “So you keep selling, but I’m not buying.” He found his advantage and he pushed it.
“Mark my words. I’m going to fuck you again, here in this office. It’ll be so damn good my name will be echoing through these hallways, you’ll be screaming it so loud. And then I’ll make love to you, kiss and stroke until you’re purring in my arms and begging for more.”

  Distance, she needed distance. Liquid heat drenched her silk panties, she flamed so hot. Jared in full alpha was a sight to behold. The sandalwood scent tickled her nose, drumming up memories of that mouth licking her to bliss, those talented fingers… Damn.

  “No, Jared. It’s not going to happen.”

  “Yes, it is.” The steel in his voice was unmistakable. “I’m going to win, Jocelyn, because you want me to. I can smell the lust in your pores.” Warm breath on her neck fanned the flame engulfing her spine, traveling at breakneck speed to her womb.

  Somehow she ripped free of his touch, those fingers still stroking her breast. It took every ounce of her control to not pull him in the corner and strip him bare. She had to get away. Instead of pissing him off and sending him packing with her gambit, she got more Jared. Time to regroup and figure out next steps, this was not over yet. Not by a long shot.

  “Don’t bet on it. We’re done here.” Her voice cracked, but she pulled it together to strut out of the office to the elevator and didn’t look back. Jared could find his own way out.

  She’s going to drive me insane, Jared thought even as he admired her long-legged stride, the curve of her tight ass bunching against her skirt as she walked away. What the hell happened here tonight? He’d been thrilled to learn Jocelyn lived here. Instead of welcoming him, she’d ducked behind a brick wall of an attitude and wasn’t coming out without a fight.

  At least she was a worthy competitor. Although he’d won tonight, she’d revealed her strengths. Sharp, quick-witted, she thought beyond the obvious, to what came next. The boys’ team was in peak condition. The town needed to take sports to the next level—additional championship teams. No one else had realized that. His adrenaline spiked at the thought of a good fight. His battle with Jocelyn Wade was going to be a doozy.