Free The Heat Is On by Katie Rose Page A

and Connor had subsisted on pizza and coffee, like most other kids. And her husband barely boiled water. So when she saw the elegant linen, the expertly prepared food, and his obvious ease in providing all this, she had to fight the sting of tears that threatened.
    “It looks amazing,” she said sincerely. “Thank you.”
    “You are very welcome.” He smiled as if this were nothing. Easy. And for a guy batting over .300, maybe it was. “Let’s eat.”
    The salad was amazing, and the main dish even more so. He grated pecorino on top of the pasta, then he refilled her glass and made easy conversation about the team, their lack of motivation, and pressure from Pete. She was interested in everything he talked about, knowing so much about the game from the very beginning, and she sympathized with his dilemma.
    “I think Pete sees you as someone who can influence the young guys, make them see the bigger picture. But I understand why you don’t want to take all that on, especially at this point in your career.”
    “That’s it. If I was in it for the long haul, I might think differently. But right now, I just want to have fun.”
    She wondered if he was talking about their relationship as well. Was Connor just looking for a fling? Could she do that? Could she just have a good time and not think of the future?
    When he tried to refill her wineglass, she stopped him. “I have to drive home,” she reminded him, sitting back in her chair, perfectly satisfied in every possible way.
    “Stay with me,” he said, his voice seductive. “Spend the night.”
    She gave him a regretful smile. “I can’t. But thank you.” She gestured to the meal, the wine, the flickering candles, and the white roses. “This was the nicest dinner I’ve had in ages.”
    He seemed disappointed with her response, but he didn’t grill her. “You don’t have to go right now, right? Let’s sit on the patio, enjoy the evening. I’ll make you some coffee, and I have some lemon cake for dessert.”
    “Lemon cake? Like the kind we used to get from Kelly’s bakery?” She gazed at him in wonder.
    Connor laughed. “Probably not as good, but it will do the trick.”
    Tracy nodded. She was staying. Lemon cake.

Chapter 10
    He could still smell her perfume after she’d gone.
    Connor picked up his bathrobe and inhaled the scent of Tracy. Sure, he could detect lavender bath salts, but he could also smell
her
, that freshness he remembered from years ago.
    Not much had changed between them. As he brushed his teeth, he could envision a pink toothbrush next to his own.
    Next time she would stay. He frowned as he rinsed his mouth, realizing that on both occasions, she’d left early. He wasn’t sure if there were some kind of “Girls’ Rules,” intended to leave him wanting more. If so, it was very effective, but it wasn’t like her to play games.
    Then what?
    The sex had been hot, red hot on both sides. He was confident that he had given her a night to remember; not only because she came more than once, but she wore that soft glow afterward that told him she was not only physically content but emotionally as well.
    She had to see how well they got along, how deep and rich the connection still was between them. He had hoped it would be this way, but the reality was even more incredible than he had imagined. It made him realize how superficial his other relationships had been. In the past, it had become standard dating: a few nights to get to know each other, then the sex, arguing, followed by the breakup.
    He couldn’t imagine traveling that path with Tracy, and he realized he didn’t want to. He hated the expression
soul mate
, and all that New Age jargon people liked to throw around. What he had with her was real, and just that simple.
    She was it
.
    So why was she so elusive? Why was she determined to only spend a few hours with him at a time? Was she just being cautious, pacing herself, protecting her heart?
    Was it because he had left her once