Free Game On! (Seaside Heat) by Dani Jace

knight wanting to protect and defend. Similar thinking had gotten him in trouble with the wrong kind of women before. He loved the game with Jordan, but his heart suddenly wanted to play and he wasn’t on board with that yet. He tugged on a pair of athletic shorts.
    “Dugan’s calling your cell,” Jordan alerted him from the living room.
    “Be right there.” He stalked into the room and grabbed his phone from the bar.
    Dugan slurred through the line. “Bro, could I get a ride? I’m down at the strip and I’ve had quite a few.”
    At least he wasn’t taking a chance on driving, plus he’d driven his pick-up and not the Harley. Dugan already had points on his license and Heath didn’t want to get stuck driving him around for the rest of their time here.
    On the flip side, picking up Dugan gave him a good excuse to avoid the conversation with Jordan and figure out why he avoided their talk. “Have another round. I’ll be there in a few.”
    “What’s wrong?” Jordan touched his shoulder.
    “Dugan. He’s trashed and needs a ride home.” Nothing new for him.
    She smiled, set down her unfinished drink, and stood. “Thankfully, he called. I’ll get out of your hair so you can go get him.”
    Heath cupped her elbow. “He can wait a bit. You wanted to talk.” Might as well get it over. Damn, he sounded like an asshole. Like the guy who had sex then moved on. It wasn’t that at all.
    “It’s nothing.” She took his hand reassuringly. “Where is he? I can drive you there if you want.”
    By then the shot of tequila he’d had would have worn off. It made sense. “You don’t mind?”
    She drew her keys from her purse. “Come on.”
    He’d been in this situation before, and his date was always pissed, but not Jordan. “Thanks for understanding.”
    * * * *
    Heath’s mixed signals baffled Jordan. He’d clearly enjoyed their shower shenanigans and was still aroused when she’d caught him by the towel. Then he’d turned serious.
    She started the car. “Did Dugan say where he was?”
    Heath folded into the passenger seat of her compact.
    Reaching between his legs, she levered the seat back.
    Relief softened the lines in his face. “Somewhere along the strip at the oceanfront. I’ll call him back.”
    While she drove, he called Dugan.
    Halfway there, Jordan’s instincts got the best of her. Yes, they were playing a game. Yes, she’d gotten more than she bargained for, but she’d been through the gates of hell for a lesser man. A lying man. This one seemed different, but could his past be creeping in on him as well?
    “The Green Dolphin on Atlantic.” He shifted in his seat and pocketed his phone.
    “Sorry, big guy, it doesn’t go back any farther.”
    A dimple formed on his scruffy cheek.
    It pleased her. “So what’s got your balls in a vice? Dugan or our little thing in the shower?”
    He cleared his throat. “Damn, you can be abrupt.”
    “Sorry.” Jordan felt the burn of his stare. “But I’m not apologizing for taking advantage of you. It seems you’re second-guessing our game, even though your dick indicates otherwise. Tell me now, I’ll drop you off at the parking garage and you’ll never see me again.”
    “Christ.” A long exhale followed. “No. The shower sex knocked me for a loop, darlin’. Wasn’t planning on scoring a TD so soon.”
    Jordan braked at the stoplight and directed him a pensive glance.
    He claimed her mouth with ferocity.
    Time lapsed as his tongue battled hers. Then he gave a slight pull on her lower lip ending their kiss. The subtle gesture always left her wanting. A car horn snatched her from heaven. As she pressed the accelerator, the car lurched forward.
    “I guess I’m wondering about what happens beyond our little game, which is far from over where I’m concerned. And like you showed me tonight, there’s technically one part left.” He smirked.
    “On each of us, my friend.” She wiggled her index finger in a circle. “Against the wall and