The Teacher's Billionaire (13 page)

“You didn't even think I could get tickets,” he reminded her.

She nodded. “True. I still don't...” Her voice trailed off when Dylan's arm settled on the back of her seat and his hand settled on her shoulder, the heat from his skin seeping through her shirt. Her heart lurched, and for a moment she stopped breathing.

Get a hold of yourself
. He just needed a place to rest his arm. Once again her traitorous heart didn't want to accept the words her brain was sending it. She really needed to get those two organs on the same page. Otherwise she was headed for some serious trouble.

Racking her suddenly empty brain for something to say, Callie said the first thing she found. “I've only been here once before, with the the girl scouts.”

Dylan's lips curved into a smile. “So you were a cookie pusher?”

Callie gasped pretending to be outraged at his comment. “There's more to girl scouts than selling cookies I'll have you know.”

He nodded in agreement, a slight gleam in his eye. “True. You march in parades too.”

Without thinking she gently punched his rock hard thigh. “Shows how much you know, Mr. CEO! We learned and did all kinds of things.”

“If you say so,” Dylan conceded trapping her hand against his thigh and interlocking their fingers.

With that single touch the rest of the stadium disappeared. All she could see was their hands linked together resting on his jean clad leg. All she could feel was the warm skin of his hand and muscular thigh. The ease she'd felt when they'd been bantering back and forth evaporated.

Remember who he is.
The silent order brought Callie back to the stadium as the announcer asked everyone to stand for the National Anthem which was actually being sung tonight by a couple of girl scouts.

“Looks like you cookie pushers sing too.” Dylan laughed as the young girls on the field waited for the music to begin.

Shivering, she automatically rubbed her hands up and down her arms in an effort to warm up. Earlier in the day it had been warm, but now that the sun had gone down and a breeze had picked up it was chilly. Callie wished she'd thought to bring a sweatshirt along.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed Dylan remove the unbuttoned long-sleeved denim shirt he wore over his t-shirt. “Here put this on.”

Accepting the shirt she asked, “What about you?”

“I'm fine. Don't worry.”

Grateful Callie slipped the shirt on. The fabric was still warm from his body. The heat felt heavenly against her skin. She couldn't help but sigh in pleasure.

“Better?”

“Much. Thanks.” The shirt enveloped her. The slightest scent of some pricey cologne clung to the fabric, and she felt as if she was being embraced by him.

Now, that's a stupid thought. It's just a shirt.

Touching her arm, Dylan nodded in the direction of the scoreboard. “Told you the Sox couldn't win with Roberts pitching tonight.”

“It isn't over yet.” Callie narrowed her eyes at him. “They're only down by three runs, and there are still two and half innings to play.”

He shrugged and gave her a boyish lopsided smile. “Care to make a little wager?”

She wasn't usually a betting person. She didn't even buy lottery tickets, but what the heck. “Okay, you're on.”

“If your beloved Sox manage to pull off a win, you get to pick what we do tomorrow.” Dylan's doubt that the Sox could win was evident in his voice. “But if they don't I get to choose.”

What we do tomorrow?
As far as wages went this one was a win-win for her, Callie thought. Still she hesitated for the briefest of seconds. He'd never mentioned getting together on Sunday. Not that she had any plans.

“You're on,” she replied ignoring the questions swirling in her head. She could figure them out later. Right now she just wanted to have a little fun and enjoy what she was starting to think of as a date with the man next to her.

It hadn't been her intention. Ever since they made plans to attend the game, she'd been telling herself it was just a night out with a friend. She had a few guy friends that she hung out with from time to time. Right now though cocooned in his shirt with his arm draped over her shoulders the word date blazed in her mind like a neon sign.

A date with Dylan Talbot. Never in a million years would she have imagined it. And another day with him tomorrow, Callie thought somewhat oblivious to the game on the field.
What am I getting myself into? Trouble. Big. Time. Trouble.

On the field the Red Sox batter smashed a two run homer over the Green Monster sending the crowd to its feet. The deafening noise drew Callie back to the stadium.

“Told you it wasn't over yet. Now we're only down by one run.”

Dylan leaned closer to whisper in her ear, his breath caressing her skin. “It was a lucky shot. But it doesn't matter. Even if the Yankees don't win, I still do.”

Callie wasn't sure what to make of his statement. It was pretty much exactly what she'd been thinking when he proposed the wager. “I see you know when to jump off a sinking ship.” It was easier to joke and make light of the situation than over think every one of his words or actions. If she did that Callie knew she would drive herself crazy.

***

The drive back to her apartment was quiet, but not uncomfortably so. Dylan found he liked it. Most of the women he dated found it necessary to fill any silence with endless chatter. Then again he couldn't picture many of the women he took out wanting to spend the night at a baseball game. Sure some may have gone, but not because they enjoyed the sport. But rather because they wanted to be with him. Or maybe a better way of putting it was they wanted to be with rich CEO Dylan Talbot, not the man himself.

He'd known Callie was different from their very first meeting. The time he'd spent with her since only reinforced his opinion.

“Any interest in stopping for ice cream?” They'd pulled off the highway and he could see a brightly lit ice cream stand up ahead.

“I've got plenty at home we can eat. It's always been a weakness of mine. That and licorice. I'll take that over chocolate any day,” she admitted.

Anyone else and Dylan would assume she was inviting him back for more than just ice cream. But not her. Still that didn't stop the image of her lying naked in bed, mahogany colored hair spread out on a pillow from popping into his head.

Don't. Go. There.
Dylan gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white.

“That was one hell of a game,” he said hoping a conversation about baseball would get his mind and body back under control and out of the bedroom.

“Cosgrove's play in the eighth was incredible. I don't think the Sox would've pulled off the win without it.”

Her voice was so animated. Full of excitement. Dylan loved that she could be so excited about a play in a baseball game.

Loved? Where had that thought come from. He didn't associate the L word with anyone except family these days.

He liked that about her, he mentally amended his thought. Somehow though the word didn't feel right. It didn't do justice to what he felt right now. He liked that Bill, his running buddy, pushed him extra hard when they were training together. The emotions he felt now were nothing like that. Was there something between like and love? There had to be. He just didn't know what it was.

“The umps bad call in the ninth helped. Stiles was safe.” Dylan figured it was best to keep up a steady conversation about a safe topic.

***

“Have you thought about what you want to do tomorrow? You won the bet.” They were sitting in her living room eating huge bowls of ice cream and listening to classic rock music.

Slowly licking the ice cream from her spoon, Callie shrugged. Dylan couldn't help but wonder if she had any idea of what she was doing to him. Right then he needed a cold shower a lot more than he did ice cream.

“Don't know.” She paused searching his face for a moment. “Are you sure you have the time?”

Even a deaf person would have heard the uncertainty in her voice.

“I wouldn't have made the bet if I didn't want to spend time with you.” It was true. Even if Phillips hadn't requested that he keep an eye on Callie, he would have wanted to spend time with her. In fact his agreement with Phillips had been the farthest thing from his mind when he asked her to the game that night.

She shrugged again. “I guess...” Chewing her bottom lip she paused. “It's just that... well it's not...” Again her voice trailed off.

Putting down his bowl of ice cream, he moved closer to her. “Not what?”

“There's not anything between us,” she replied not looking him directly in the face. “We're... friends. And I promise to not break your legs if you don't honor your debt. I know you have a busy schedule.”

Had she already forgotten the kiss they shared the last time he was there? He sure as hell hadn't. He'd laid awake at night thinking about it. Picturing them doing that and a whole lot more.

Operating on emotion rather than common sense wasn't something he ever did. Yet it was exactly what was happening when he removed the partially eaten bowl of ice cream from her hands.

“Do you really believe that?” Without waiting for a response he tugged her onto his lap. “Is this how friends act?” He didn't give her a chance to answer. Instead he captured her mouth for a kiss she wouldn't forget anytime soon. He felt Callie's body nervously stiffen at first, and he thought she might pull away. But as he teased her lips apart, he felt her relax against him. Slowly she put her arms around his neck returning his kiss with equal intensity.

He continued his assault on her mouth for several seconds before pulling back and moving his lips to her neck. A small sigh escaped from her as she leaned her head to one side providing him with better access.

“Still think we're just friends?” he murmured against her skin. “If so I'll keep trying to change your mind till I finally convince you. I've got all night.”

“I'm not sure. Maybe that is how you Englishman say hello to your friends. I've never been to England,” Callie teased as she moved her hands to his shoulders. “I might need more convincing,” she said her voice all business.

If she wanted to play that game he was certainly up for the challenge. Without warning he tore his mouth away from her neck and once again settled his lips on hers. The minute their lips touched again a wave of desire like he'd never experienced before engulfed him. Merely kissing her was no longer enough. He wanted to feel her skin against his, know every inch of her body.

Sliding his hands under her t-shirt he ran his hands up her slender back. Her skin was just as smooth as he remembered from the day he'd spread the sunscreen on her. Dylan paused at her bra clasp silently giving her a chance to stop him. Instead she entwined her fingers in his hair. Taking that as an okay, he undid the tiny hooks and took her breasts in his hands. They fit his hands perfectly. As if they'd been made just for him to hold.

Soon just touching her wasn't enough though. He needed to see her.

Dylan forced himself to break their kiss and yanked her Red Sox shirt off. It and her sensible no frills cotton bra landed on the floor somewhere. For a minute he just looked at her.

Perfection.
Even better then he'd imagined.

“Not fair,” Callie whispered tugging at the shoulder of his shirt as he trailed kisses down her neck.

Not having to be told twice, Dylan tugged the shirt off over his head barely stopping what he was doing to her. The feel of Callie's skin against his was just more than he could take.

Bed.
He needed to get them to a bed. Without stopping his assault on her lips he scooped her up off his lap and headed down the short hall. With his shoulder he pushed open the bedroom door.

They fell onto her bed together sending purple and red throw pillows to the floor. Never once letting his lips leave Callie's he stripped off their remaining clothes making sure he tossed his wallet on her nightstand before throwing his jeans on top of her shorts.

Slow.
You've got all night, his mind screamed but somehow his body didn't get the message. Flames were already licking his body. And Callie's gentle caresses were only pushing him closer to being engulfed in a full out inferno.

When he could no longer take the sweet torture of just being next to her naked body but not inside, he reached for his wallet. Withdrawing the small foil packet inside he paused for half a heart beat.

For some untold reason, he regretted having to use the thing. He tore the packet open anyway. Dylan didn't know if Callie was on any type of birth control, and he didn't want her telling him he was a father nine months from now.

***

There was a furnace in her bed. There had to be. It was the only explanation. She was so hot. Opening her eyes her brain slowly began to register her surroundings, and who she was with.

Dylan.
He was asleep next to her. The early morning light streaming through the window casting shadows on his face. Memories of what happened overwhelmed her.