Free NextMoves by Sabrina Garie

pizza delivery to the wrong address, she
ambled over, glad for the momentary distraction with another human.
    She should have guessed. All surprises led to Jared, who
stood on her porch, reeking male in a denim jacket, tight T, jeans and those
roper boots that snatched a place of honor in all her fantasies. A lock of
black hair fell across his forehead, daring her to brush it back, his scent
reeled her closer.
    “Evening, Jocelyn. Kylie left this at the game.” A red warm-up
jacket draped over his arm.
    Door wide open, she took the jacket and tilted her head in
invitation.
    His girth made the living room feel small, airless. Her head
spun and lungs struggled for breath. She stood at a precipice, the voice in her
head promised heaven if she jumped. Her legs locked in place, the fear and
distrust tattooed on her heart held her back from reaching toward his warmth
and wrapping it around herself. Needing to do something, good manners seemed a
reasonable place to start.
    “Can I get you something to drink?”
    “Red wine if you’ll drink with me?”
    Jocelyn pointed to a fully loaded wrought iron wine rack
nestled in the corner of the living room, next to the kitchen entrance. “Pick
your poison. I’ll grab glasses and the opener.”
    Wine poured, glass in hand, lifted, he edged toward her,
chest-to-breast. “What shall we toast to, Joci?”
    “Joci…no one around here calls me that anymore.”
    “Your family doesn’t call you anything else. I like it. Do
you mind?”
    “No, I like it too. I’d forgotten how much.” Joci rang of
joy and spontaneity. Jocelyn grated harsh on her ears, brittle and scratchy
like the woman she’d become. She needed more pleasure to lighten the loads she
carried. Here it was, in her living room on a silver platter if only she had
the courage to seize it.
    “To winning,” she said, her glass raised in salute.
    “To winning.” He clinked his glass against hers, intent in
his eyes so plain if she nodded, he’d hoist her over his shoulder, throw her on
the bed and make love to her until sunrise.
    Liquid heat churning through her veins had her body and her
heart clenching in need for the man in front of her. Overwhelmed by sensation,
she looked away, breaking physical and emotional contact. Even with the sexual
energy pulsing through the room, this wasn’t just about sex. Maybe Jared had
been right, it never had been. Was she ready for this? The scars Nick had cut
choked her, held her back, even as hope fought to reach out to the man in front
of her.
    “How did you fill the bleachers this morning? I knew you’d
raise the money, but a full house? That’s rare for an untested team.”
    “You mean a girls team,” she said, shoulders relaxing,
grabbing at the more comfortable banter he offered. An external distraction to
the emotional war raging within.
    “Yes.”
    “I put a whole Chamber department on the phone, called in a
few favors, and asked Don’s daughter to sing the national anthem. He’s so proud
of her, he arm-twisted friends and employees to support her and, by extension,
the team.”
    “You are one impressive lady, Jocelyn Wade.”
    “Thank you, sir,” she said with a curtsy, a grin and a warm
glow in her belly. “I aim to please.”
    “Joci, are you flirting with me?”
    “No, not flirting.” Yes she was.
    “Did you enjoy the game today?”
    “Absolutely. The girls did a great job. They should be
pulling fans to the bleachers on their own in no time.”
    “Yeah, they did. Kylie was brilliant.”
    A breath she’d been holding inched its way out of her lungs.
Her gaze drilled through the man in front of her, who’d helped her daughter,
showed her how to feel again, charmed the Chamber leaders and fucked like a
dream.
    “I don’t think I’ll ever find a way to thank you enough for
that. And I didn’t have to strong-arm you, bribe you or threaten you to do it.”
    “It’s not your gratitude I want.” His gaze blazed passion so
hot it had her sweating and