Free Saving Maverick by Debra Elise Page B

mile away. It allowed his players to live close by, yet still feel like they were part of a neighborhood where they could put down some roots, especially the married players.
    Maverick spotted a woman in a miniskirt with a gold nametag on her chest holding a briefcase and standing at the main entrance to one of the clothing shops on the street level of his building.
    Interesting business attire, but he figured she must be the leasing agent since no one else was around. She hadn’t noticed him yet. He wasn’t able to get a good look at her face until he stepped up on the sidewalk and introduced himself. If he had, he would have gotten back in his car and driven away.
    When she glanced up from her phone he recognized her immediately and wished he’d paid more attention to the name on the e-mail he’d received during the leasing process.
    His rental agent turned out to be Luke’s latest ball girl, Syndi Jones. After exchanging greetings, she said in her annoying little girl voice, “Let’s go take a look at your new home sweet home, shall we?”
    He followed her up the staircase and waited patiently while she fumbled the keys in the lock. She giggled after she finally got the door open and gave him a wink and gestured toward the living room.
    â€œI can’t believe that I was assigned to your unit, Maverick. Isn’t this great? We already know each other, plus we now live in the same complex.”
    He ignored her statement and gave her a quick once-over as she led him to the kitchen where she leaned up against the counter. She thrust her hip out and giggled again. Damn. She was exactly what he used to go for and exactly what he didn’t need in his life right now.
    She was sending him “fuck me” vibes all over the place. He did not need this complication right now. Syndi flashed an inner thigh as she adjusted her short black skirt. If that was her idea of a power suit, Luke needed to rethink his choice in bedmates. It’s one thing to dress provocatively when you’re out partying, but a whole other problem when dressing that way at work. Shit, didn’t the woman own a pair of slacks?
    He glanced around the open living room and assessed his new living space. At least it had a deck off the main room. Walls painted in earth tones and dark stained hardwood floors he remembered from the website. An unobstructed view of Lake Coeur d’Alene where it met the Kokanee River greeted him through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
    He walked toward the windows to look his fill, but Syndi had other plans. She called him into the kitchen where she stood—posing for him. Shit. She’d placed her hand on one hip and was giving him a bright smile.
    â€œSo, what do you think?”
    The obvious innuendo was followed with a toss of her bleached hair and a thrust of her D size chest.
    She looked ridiculous. A couple of months ago he’d probably have taken her up on the invitation for quick and easy sex, but he couldn’t stop thinking about the woman who’d been starring in his dreams. There was no comparison.
    Kelsey’s long dark auburn hair had been a beacon in a sea of pale blondes even as her icy stare shouted “keep away” when he encountered her at the party. Little did she know, that made him want her all the more. She was a cool professional who begged to be shown how hot they could be together.
    He also needed more information on what made her tick and if his boss had ideas of his own where Kelsey was concerned. Right now he wasn’t above pumping Syndi for the details. It was a small town after all. Maybe they knew each other. Sure, it wasn’t the pumping she was looking for, but he could string her along for a bit without feeling too much guilt.
    Syndi stood there waiting for him to make his move. Strange, but he wasn’t feeling anything, not even a twitch from Mav Jr. Not like yesterday with Kelsey, which had been a first for Mav Jr.