Free His Seduction Game Plan by Katherine Garbera Page B

football. She didn’t bother to analyze the warmth that started in her stomach and spread throughout her body. She knew it was affection.
    She’d just never guessed it would feel so good.
    She cupped her hands the way that Hunter had showed her and Kingsley handed the ball to Conner, who drew his arm back and let the ball fly with more power than she’d expected. She immediately understood he’d been training with his father for a while.
    It was all she could do to keep one eye open as the ball headed toward her. But she did it. She took a step forward to catch the ball and it landed in her hands with a solid thump. She hesitated for a moment and then closed her hands around it.
    â€œI caught the ball!”
    Hunter let out a whoop and Kingsley and Conner applauded as she opened her hands and let the ball fall to the ground. Hunter scooped her up in his arms and twirled her around.
    â€œI couldn’t have done it any better,” he said, bringing his mouth down on hers.
    * * *
    Watching Ferrin catch the ball that Conner had thrown was fun. Fun.
    It wasn’t a word that he routinely applied to his life. How could he?
    Before he retired from playing he’d been busy working out and taking hits. He’d stayed out of the locker room after games to avoid the press, and aside from showing up on TMZ and in gossip magazines very occasionally, he’d done a good job of keeping his private life private.
    â€œHunter?” Kingsley called his name.
    â€œHmm?”
    â€œI asked if you were going to San Francisco tomorrow for the opening of the latest Seconds nightclub,” Kingsley said.
    â€œSounds very exciting,” Ferrin said. “I don’t think I’ve been to a nightclub since I graduated college.”
    â€œIt should be a lot of fun. Conner is going to stay with a nanny from Gabi’s agency while we go out,” Kingsley said.
    â€œNormally my parents would watch him,” Gabi said. “But they are going, too.”
    â€œTo a nightclub?” Ferrin asked.
    Hunter smiled. “Gabi’s cousin is a co-owner. Guillermo de la Cruz.”
    â€œI didn’t make the connection,” Ferrin said. “So you are related to the Spanish aristocracy?”
    â€œVery distant. I’m in the branch that left that all behind,” Gabi said with a smile.
    â€œGonna see my new cousins,” Conner said.
    â€œNow that we are engaged, Conner is calling Gui’s girls his cousins. In fact, you should be heading to bed, young man,” Kingsley said. “We are leaving early.”
    â€œOkay. But I need a bath and bedtime story,” Conner said.
    â€œYou two should take a walk in the gardens. We will be back soon,” Gabi said.
    Gabi and Kingsley got up and took Conner with them as they left the dining room. Hunter looked over at Ferrin; she was toying with the stem of her wineglass, spinning it between her fingers.
    â€œSo, do you like my friends?”
    â€œI do. They’re very nice. I am definitely seeing a different man here than I did at the beach and at Coach’s house.”
    â€œGood. I want you to know me better,” he said.
    â€œWell, this is very nice. Not like the other night at dinner when it was like being in a fishbowl. I guess you are used to your celebrity,” she said.
    â€œNot really,” he admitted. But it wasn’t celebrity drawing their attention but notoriety that had been the cause of the stares. “Want to walk in the garden?”
    â€œYes,” she said, pushing her chair back and getting to her feet. He led the way out of the house to the manicured gardens. There was landscape lighting to lead their way through the shrubs and plants. In the center of the garden was a stone patio with a fire pit that someone had laid earlier. The night was comfortable so he led the way to one of the benches and gestured for Ferrin to sit down.
    He should ask her again about the files. Try to get what he