Breakaway

“Okay.”

He slowly walked back to his Jeep. It was the middle of the night. He didn’t want to leave her.

What was happening here? All he could think about was Remi, all he cared about was her and how she was feeling. He hated it that the paparazzi had scared her. It had never bothered him before, but suddenly it mattered to someone else and she mattered to him and…

He climbed into his vehicle and sat there for a moment. Christ. He had to stop thinking thoughts like that. He’d just broken up with one girl because she was getting too serious. He was in no way ready for a serious long-term relationship. Hence the breakup.

He was going to let loose and have fun in Boston like the single guy he was. Road trips were always good for some action.

This place was killing him.

They’d won their Sunday afternoon game against the Bruins. They’d been out for di

Jason had politely extricated himself from the clutches of a gorgeous redhead and then a hot blonde, finding himself bored and distracted. He’d had a few beers and didn’t want any more. The throbbing music was giving him a headache.

The peace and quiet of his hotel room was calling to him. He wanted out. So he left, to the surprise of his teammates.

Back at the hotel, he sat on the bed with the remote for the television and cha

Remi. He’d said he’d call her to tell her how the game went. He’d wanted to call her the minute he got off the ice, jubilant and triumphant, but had to deal with the television and newspaper reporters asking a million questions about heading into the playoffs with such a dismal record lately and the much-needed win and his hat trick. He was always polite and patient with the press. It was important for the team and for the league, so he always tried to give them his best, most thoughtful answers and take the time to chat with them.

He grabbed his cell phone and punched the button that was now Remi on speed dial. She answered right away.

“We won,” he said.

She laughed. “I know. I watched it on TV.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” He gri

“I guess so. See, I told you you’d do it.”

“You did.”

Again they talked for nearly an hour.

“I wish you were here,” he said and then he couldn’t believe the words had popped out of his mouth.

“I wish you were here,” she replied in a sexy voice. Hell. They were about eight hundred miles too far apart.

“Wa

A pause. “I’ve never done that.”

“Get outta here. Really?”

Another pause, slightly frosty-feeling. “And you do it all the time?”

He laughed. “Of course not, I was just kidding.” Sort of. “Okay, get ready.”

“You’re not serious.”

“Serious as a missed penalty shot.”

She giggled.

“Come on, Miss I Just Wa

She laughed again at the cheesy question.

“Um …fla

“Mmm. Sexy. Take them off.”

“Jase.”

“Right here.”

“I can’t do this.”

“Why not?” Ah, hell. “Don’t tell me your sister is back again.”

“No! No, I’m alone. I just…”

“Just do it.” He put a hand over his fly, testing his erection. Yup, hard as a goal post. “I’m go

He heard her breathless noise as he did what he was telling her.

“Okay,” she said in a throaty voice. “I’m taking my top off.”

Jason groaned.

Remi sat in her living room Monday night, papers spread out around her as she marked social studies projects. But her mind kept wandering back to Jason.

Earlier, she’d done a little additional research. About Jason. Google brought up a treasure trove of information—personal information with oodles of photos of him, including sexy photos of him shirtless, advertising for a brand of hockey equipment and aftershave, and many, many photos of Jason and Bria

That was a long time. What had happened?

There were articles about his family—the new “first family” of hockey with three brothers in the NHL and the fourth brother a top draft pick although he now played for a farm team. He’d be in the NHL too, one day.

She also found lots of stats on goals and penalty minutes and things she didn’t understand and salary information and—holy crap! Jason made nearly six million dollars last year! She actually felt nauseous when she read that.

No wonder he thought women were after his money.

With a sick feeling in her stomach, she dropped her pen and leaned back into the couch. She wished she hadn’t found that out. She did not want to know how much money he made. If she didn’t know, he couldn’t think she was after his money like every other woman. Because she wasn’t. Hell, she wasn’t even after him. They were just playing around. Having fun.

She felt unreasonably a

Except the last two days she’d actually missed him. Missed him with an aching intensity deep inside that scared the crap out of her. Because she wasn’t supposed to be getting emotionally involved. Especially with someone like Jason.

Her a

God, if Darryl had thought she was boring, what on earth was Jason doing with her?

Besides having phone sex.

Oh, lord. She pressed a hand to her tummy. She’d done a few things lately with Jason that she never would have thought of doing before. What was happening to her?

Her doorbell startled her into a straight up position and she blinked, then got to her feet.

Jason stood on her doorstep.

Her heart expanded, softened, accelerated. She opened the door to him.

“Hi.” His smile crinkled his eyes and made her melt.

“Hi.”

And then they were in each other’s arms, kissing frantically. Her arms slid under his leather jacket, finding warm, male muscles beneath his cotton shirt. He hoisted her up against him, feet dangling, and kissed her until the room spun around her.

He lowered her to her feet and she clutched his arms to keep herself from falling. “Wow.”

“Yeah.” His eyes sparkled. “What are you doing?”

“Marking projects.” She led the way into her living room and grimaced at the sight of all the papers everywhere. “Uh…sorry about the mess.”

He shrugged. “No biggie. You saw my apartment.”

“Oh, yeah.” She gri

Jason sat on the couch and she sat beside him, but he immediately picked her up and set her on his lap and kissed her again, long, deep, kisses.

Her skin tingled and her breasts swelled. She ached between her legs and pressed into him, until sanity intruded into her lust-fogged brain and she drew back.

“Jase.” She put a hand on his chest, feeling his heart thudding beneath her palm. “What are we doing here?”

“Making out.” He nuzzled her neck.

She pushed on his chest. He was like a frickin’ wall.