If You Were Mine (15 page)

continualy kissed his pretty wife, if she secretly longed at al for a

man to look at her with such complete adoration, al she had to

do was remember the vow she’d made to herself when she was

seventeen and had found out the truth about the extent of her

father’s lies.

Never.
She would never put herself in a position to be

treated like that. Because she would never make the mistake of

letting herself fal in love.

* * *

Zach tugged Atlas away from the lamp post he was

admiring and directed him toward a bush. “Pretty? Are you

blind? She’s gorgeous.”

Jake nodded his agreement just as Cuddles got into a

position that had Zach groaning. The blue bags were burning a

hole in his pocket and he realy wanted to keep it that way. It

was one thing to clean up after the puppy in his backyard...

He muttered a curse that perfectly described not only what

the puppy was doing, but Heather’s huge dog as wel. Jake

hadn’t stopped laughing at him since they’d left their seats and he

only laughed harder now.

“So Heather’s just training the puppy?”

Zach wasn’t going to admit to his closest friend that he’d

struck out with Heather a half-dozen times already and that the

only way he’d gotten her here today was by tricking her into it.

“She’s one hel of a dog trainer.” And one hel of a woman,

too.

Lord knew she had him wrapped so tightly around her little

finger that he barely knew which way was up anymore. He only

knew he wanted her more with every passing second...even as

she tried to push him farther away.

Jake nodded in the direction of the dogs, both of whom

were frisky now that they’d taken care of their important

business. “Looks like you’ve got some cleanup to take care of.”

Zach stil wasn’t completely okay with the fact that Jake

had gotten his little sister pregnant on the sly. Which was why he

shoved a blue bag in his friend’s hand and headed for Cuddles’s

pile. Jake could deal with Atlas’s mess in the name of payback.

The second Zach sat between Lori, Sophie, and Heather,

he could tel something was different. It was like they’d gone

from being strangers to becoming friends.

Who knew what his little sisters had told her? Al he

needed was for some of his crazier exploits to get back to

Heather and she’d grab her dog and start running.

“Everything go okay with Huge and Tiny?” she leaned close

to ask him when Atlas plopped down across their feet and

closed his eyes. Cuddles had already curled up against his chest,

which was quite clearly the pup’s favorite place on earth,

considering how much time she spent there.

“Those blue bags came in handy.”

He loved her smile and soft laughter. “Good,” she said, stil

chuckling. “Thanks for taking Atlas with you.” She looked at him

almost shyly. “And thanks for changing my seat, too. I’ve realy

loved getting to know your sisters.”

Her sweet words landed straight in the center of his chest.

He leaned closer, close enough that he could have easily taken

her mouth with his.

“Whatever they’ve told you, it’s al lies.”

He expected more laughter, but her eyes were dark instead

of filed with humor, and her breath was coming faster, her gaze

trained on his lips.

“I hope not,” fel from her lips, and he would have kissed

“I hope not,” fel from her lips, and he would have kissed

her right then and there, his lookeeloo family be damned, if she

hadn’t jerked back sharply.

She focused her entire attention on the game after that, and

the second it finished, she stood up. “That was fun. So nice to

meet you al, but I should realy be going—”

Lori cut her off. “Wait, you have to meet Ryan.” Before she

could protest, his sister shoved past Zach, picked up Atlas’s

leash, and slipped an arm through Heather’s. “You’re going to

love him.” She winked over her shoulder at him before saying,

“He isn’t anything like Zach.”

Okay, so Zach had been irritated with his sister earlier, but

now he recognized Lori for the jewel she realy was for not

letting Heather run from him so fast.

Heather was frowning and he overheard her say, “Actualy,

I’m not sure it’s such a great idea if I go back where the rest of

the team is.”

Lori brushed off her concern without asking for a reason.

“Are you kidding? Al those hot, sweaty guys make it a
fabulous

idea.”

As if Ryan would ever let Lori date one of the guys on his

team in this lifetime. Fortunately, the players on the Hawks had

always understood just how off-limits the Sulivan twins were.

Unlike, he thought with a scowl in Jake’s direction, his own

friend. Of course, given the way Sophie and Jake were always

giving each other gooey looks the way they were right then, he

supposed it had al worked out in the end.

Walking behind Heather, he couldn’t take his eyes off her

Walking behind Heather, he couldn’t take his eyes off her

gorgeous legs in her shorts, the sweet curve of her hips, the way

her dark, shiny hair swung over her back in its usual braid.

Frankly, the last thing he was worried about right now was his

little sister. Because if Ryan—or any of his teammates—looked

at Heather the wrong way, he was going to have to kil them.

* * *

though she’d been invited more than once. If she’d taken the guy

she dated occasionaly up on his invitation, it would have made

their casual relationship seem like more than it was.

Which was why she shouldn’t be freaking out right now.

Just because she and—

“Heather?”

Brant Johnston, the first baseman for the Hawks, grinned

when she walked in with Lori.

She felt herself flush, but it wasn’t because of Brant. It was

the knowledge that Zach had moved beside her in a flash, every

muscle in his body tensed as though he were about to spring.

She was just flustered enough that, before she could stop

him, Brant puled her against him for a hug. “You look gorgeous,

as always.”

For a professional athlete, Brant was actualy quite sweet.

And there was no question that he was good-looking, with his

golden hair, blue eyes, and athletic build. But she had never even

been tempted to take things beyond dinner and sex. It had a

been tempted to take things beyond dinner and sex. It had a

been a few months since she’d last seen him, even though he’d

caled a couple of times to see if she wanted to get together. She

just hadn’t been al that interested.

Quickly stepping out of his arms, she planted a smile on her

face that she hoped looked genuine. “Great game.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see that Zach’s face

looked like thunder. Lori, Sophie and Jake were watching the

scene play out with something akin to glee on their faces.

“If I’d known you were coming today, I would have made

sure you had a great seat.” He finaly noticed her dog. “Hey,

how’s it going, Antler?”

She thought she heard Zach growl just as his brother found

them. Atlas wasn’t particularly comfortable with so many big

men around, but she could tel Zach’s presence made him feel

much more secure than usual.

“Ryan,” Zach said, putting a rather possessive hand on the

smal of her back, “this is Heather and her dog
Atlas.
”

She knew the special emphasis on her dog’s name and his

hand on her were both for Brant’s benefit, but even while

something warmed up inside of her at the crazy thought of

actualy belonging to Zach, she couldn’t stand being the bone

that two men were tugging between them to see who would win.

Stepping out of Zach’s reach, she shook Ryan’s hand. “It’s

so nice to meet you.”

She could feel Ryan working to size up the situation

between her and Brant and Zach. Atlas had never much cared

between her and Brant and Zach. Atlas had never much cared

for Brant the couple of times he’d met him, but just as he’d been

with Zach, he practicaly turned into a squirming puppy when

Ryan scratched his head. Yes indeed, there was no doubt that

Sulivan men had quite a potent effect on living, breathing things.

Somewhere in there Brant had moved closer to her. “It’s

been too long, Heather. Why don’t we celebrate the game

together tonight?”

A month ago, she might have gone. After al, she was a

sensual woman and sex with a good-looking guy wasn’t a

terrible way to end a Friday night.

But even though she didn’t have any other plans, and

certainly wasn’t in a relationship with anyone else, the idea of

casualy seeing Brant didn’t seem like a very good one anymore.

Actualy, it seemed like a
terrible
idea.

She opened her mouth to say no thank you, when Zach

reached out and slid a lock of hair that had escaped her braid

behind her ear.

“You didn’t mention you knew Brant this morning when

you were making breakfast for us.”

At his gentle touch, she simultaneously wanted him more

than she’d ever wanted another man...and could have punched

him for behaving like such a caveman with the false insinuations

of why she’d been making breakfast at his house.

Purposefuly turning her back on Zach, she told Brant, “It’s

been a pretty big day already and it wil be an even bigger one

tomorrow.” She looked down at her dog, who looked like he’d

run a marathon instead of gobbling up stray pieces of popcorn

run a marathon instead of gobbling up stray pieces of popcorn

and playing with his best puppy friend al afternoon. “I’ve got to

get home.”

She was turning to Zach’s family to say her goodbyes,

when Brant surprised her by puling her against him for another

hug. An even longer one this time. “I’l cal you soon.”

She barely stopped herself from roling her eyes as she

stepped out of his arms and turned to tel Lori, Sophie, Ryan,

and Jake, “It was so nice meeting al of you.”

“It was
totally
our pleasure.” Lori hugged Heather. “I hope

we’l see you again realy soon.”

Heather didn’t know what to say to that. She was Zach’s

dog trainer, not his girlfriend. What reason would she have to run

into his family ever again unless they al got dogs?

She puled up the slack on Atlas’s leash and headed for the

door. When she realized Zach was right beside her every step,

she said, “I know the way out.”

Of course, he didn’t back off, just stayed right beside her

as she walked out of the park.

“How many times have you been with him?”

She picked up her pace. “That’s none of your business.”

“Why didn’t you go with him tonight?”

That wasn’t any of his business either, but she said, “I’m

tired. My dog is tired. I’m ready to go home.”

She pushed out a side exit into an aley that led to the

parking lot. The truth was, even the thought of kissing Brant

again had her entire body recoiling. Not because he hadn’t been

an okay lover, but because, suddenly, there was only one man

an okay lover, but because, suddenly, there was only one man

she could imagine kissing.

“What if he cals you when you’re not so damned tired?”

Furious at herself for her continued lack of control where

Zach was concerned had her spitting out, “Right now I’m not

feeling it, but maybe on a different day, if I’m in the mood, why

not?”

Zach grabbed her arm and puled her into him. “Here’s why

not.”

His mouth came down on hers in a kiss that had everything

simmering between them finaly exploding.

Heather had fought this kiss for nearly a week. She’d lied

to both of them about not wanting it, even as fantasies about

what it would be like kept her distracted during the day and

tossing and turning at night.

But none of her fantasies had done their first kiss justice.

There was no way she could have ever imagined it taking place

in a deserted aley, with Zach’s strong muscles pressing her into

a cement wal, his hips against hers, his large hands sliding into

her hair.

And, oh God, the feel of his lips on hers, the way his tongue

slipped and slid against hers...she was lost to sensation, to the

insatiable greed to take more of the forbidden fruit she’d been

craving body and soul.

craving body and soul.

“Heather.”
He groaned her name against her lips, then

began to alternately nip at her lower lip, then lave over the smal