The Girl Next Door (Crimson Romance) (15 page)
“Damn thing’s stuck.”
She pushed his hands aside. “It’s the zipper. Happens all the time. Metal zippers rust over time, especially when subjected to the moist, cold weather the clothing is intended for … big mistake. That’s why Reese Enterprise uses plastic or coated zippers in all outerwear clothing.”
“Huh?” His hands stilled and he glanced at her.
“It’s not important.” She pushed his hands away. “Here, I’ll help.”
“We need a pair of scissors.” He peered down at the front of him. “Or maybe you can rip it.”
She tugged, but it only drew the zipper tighter, making it catch more. Without anything to use, she leaned over and opened her mouth.
“Whoa … ” Juan sank his hands into the hair piled on the top of her head. “I’d like nothing more, but having your mouth on me when you’re upset probably isn’t the smartest decision.”
She paused with her opened mouth above the zipper and gazed up at him. “You don’t want me to try and bite the string in half?”
He chuckled and patted her head before removing his hand and leaning back. “Be careful with those teeth, babe.”
She lowered her head, caught the edge of the material, and ground her teeth back and forth. It was harder than she’d imagined. She grunted and worked the string over to her eyetooth.
The zipper grew taut and she reached up and tugged at the material. She stilled with her hand against his crotch. There was a reason for the lack of space between the fabric and the man. A very big reason.
Warmth flooded her face. Her skin tingled. The bulge underneath the pants fascinated, yet shocked her. A heady sensation, considering she could almost feel the heat radiating off him on her cheek.
The door opened and a flash went off in the room. She frowned at the same time the string gave way and she jerked away from Juan, spitting the remains of the thread off her lip. She stood and glanced behind her.
A robust, angry man in a coat with the USA Olympics emblem scrolled across the chest stood inside the doorway. Two photographers snapped pictures behind him, blinding Dana from inspecting them any further. Juan jumped off the table and stepped in front of her, blocking her from view.
“Oh, shit,” Juan muttered.
“What are they doing?” she whispered, zipping Juan’s coat to her neck. She wasn’t sure if that helped, because on the bottom half, she still wore her thong and garter. “Who are they?”
Juan straightened, keeping his hand on her hip to keep her hidden behind his body. “It’s not what it looked like, Coach Lindhurst.”
“It was exactly what it looked like, and it’ll be on the front cover of
Sports Illustrated
in the morning thanks to your carelessness. You were supposed to meet with the press a half-hour ago. Looks like that won’t be necessary. They’ve got their pictures, and I imagine more than an article or two to fill the damn magazine, thanks to you and your entourage.” Coach Lindhurst growled. “I’ve warned you. Your sponsor warned you. One more scandal and your benefactors would pull their money. I’m going to have to put you on reserve, dammit. You’ve really screwed up this time, Santiago.”
Juan stepped forward, stopped, and glanced back at Dana. He gave her a hint of a smile before turning around. “Yes, Coach. If I could request another meeting, I can explain what happened here. It’s a simple misunderstanding. One that shows that the lady behind me is innocent, and shouldn’t be involved with any gossip that comes my way. She’s had a bad day, sir.”
Coach Lindhurst shook his head in disgust. “You had one more month to return and win another gold, and you threw it away because of some woman who wants a piece of — ”
“Stop. Seriously, don’t go there, or we’re going to have problems between us. I’ll talk to Wyden. I’ll get my sponsor back,” Juan said. “Can you keep me on the roster until then?”
“It’s out of my hands. You had two warnings. Three marks and you’re out. Balden will go in your place. You’re immediately on reserve.” Coach stared Juan down, cursed, and headed toward the door.
She scrambled out from behind Juan. “Wait!”
“What are you doing?” Juan whispered.
She ignored him, stepped over, and picked up her wedding dress, holding it in front of her. “Juan’s right. There’s a simple explanation for what you saw. You see, we’re getting married. He was helping me into my dress, and I was helping him out of his suit. You can go to the lobby. There’s a minister waiting for us. We’re already late though, so if you’ll excuse us, we need to finish getting dressed.”
Juan walked over and ushered everyone out of the room, a look of bemusement on his face. Dana crossed her arms and cradled her elbows in her hand. It didn’t take a genius to figure out Juan was on the Olympic team, and he was in deep trouble. She owed him for being so kind to her.
The more she thought about actually marrying him, the better she felt. She’d stay on her schedule, and figure out what to do later when she had time to think over her rash decision. She’d prove to Jace and her father that she was not spoiled. She’d help Juan for the goodness of the United States.
“Thanks, babe, but I can take it from here. This is my fault and I only have myself to blame.” Juan ran his hands through his hair and groaned. “I’ll figure out some way to make it back on the team with a new sponsor. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to go in front of the board and prove myself to them.”
She took off his coat and pushed it into his chest. “Get dressed.”
“What?” He slipped his arms in the sleeves. “I said you could take the jacket. I’ve got plenty.”
“We’ll have to hurry or the minister will leave.” She stepped into her dress and turned around. “Zip me up.”
“You’re not serious?”
She patted her hair. “I take it you need an excuse for what that man saw in here today to get back on the Olympic team, and I have a deadline. We’re getting married.”
“We can’t.” He tilted his head and looked up at the ceiling. “This is not happening to me.”
“Yes, it is.” She grabbed his hand. “I’m Dana Reese. My daddy is Colton Reese of Reese Enterprise. You know, the owner of the most popular line of ski equipment. He’ll sponsor you, and be happy you took me off his hands. Trust me.”
“Are you serious?”
“More than you’ll ever know. I won’t let Daddy or Jace ruin my life schedule.” She laughed hysterically. “Let’s go get married.”
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This edition published by
Crimson Romance
an imprint of F+W Media, Inc.
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Copyright © 1968 by Peggy Gaddis
ISBN 10: 1-4405-7414-6
ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-7414-6
eISBN 10: 1-4405-7413-8
eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-7413-9
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, corporations, institutions, organizations, events, or locales in this novel are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. The resemblance of any character to actual persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental.
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