“Uh-huh. You just wait. The thirties are coming for you too, and they won’t be gentle.”

  “Honestly, I’m excited,” she said, her gaze drifting off. “My twenties have been pretty brutal. I’d like a new decade for a fresh start.”

  Questions sprang to life inside him, but digging into a past she described as brutal didn’t seem like the most romantic move right now. “You’ll get your chance. We all do. I’m just trying to keep up my momentum.”

  “Well, I think you’re off to a good start,” she said, tilting her head to one side as her gaze washed over his face. Whenever she did this—scrutinized him, but in a kind way, like she was giving him a stamp of approval with her gaze—it made his skin go goosepimply. He wasn’t sure he’d ever been seen so intensely before. “Youth team sponsor. Record label owner. Baseball team owner extraordinaire. What else?”

  “Impossibly good swayer,” he added.

  “Ahh, yes. How could I forget that? And nightclub entrepreneur, as if that needed to be mentioned, while we’re actually in your latest nightclub,” she said. “So what else is on the horizon for your thirties?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe another team. Another label. More cars. I might pick up a hobby.”

  She laughed. “What hobby?”

  “Teach myself guitar, or calligraphy. Something random like that.”

  “And what do you have planned for this milestone next week?”

  “Nothing really. When I was a kid, my grandma would make me a pineapple upside down cake. It was my favorite. But she’s not around anymore, so I’ll probably order in and drink some scotch.”

  Michelle’s face fell as she absent-mindedly stroked his shoulder. “Really? No plans?”

  “I’m sure my friends and I will end up doing something.” He shrugged. “I’m not too worried.”

  Michelle searched his face, and he squeezed his arms tighter around her. Words fell to the wayside as the two of them dipped deeper into this sweet moment. There was something very profound here, very intimate, and yet somehow familiar. Like they’d been here a thousand times already.

  Truth was, he’d shared a lot more with Michelle than he ever had with anyone of the opposite sex. Normally he wouldn’t even go there, but with her, it felt okay.

  She made everything feel okay.

  He caught himself as he drifted closer to her, eager to press his lips to hers.

  He knew where he wanted things to go between them…but the choice had to be hers. He felt guilty enough over the secrets he was keeping from her—he wouldn’t do anything to pressure her into a decision she might regret.

  He just really hoped she’d make the choice that he so desperately craved.

  6

  Holy mother of sexual repression.

  Michelle couldn’t think of anything except sex with Blake after their charged yet ultimately chaste dinner out at his nightclub. She’d thought the evening would go there so many times. From the moment he’d put his hand on the small of her back to when he’d wrapped himself around her and teased the kiss…

  But no. And now, the following Tuesday, she was horny enough to drive herself up a wall. Worse than that? No amount of self-pleasure late at night in her bed helped.

  She just needed the real thing.

  Which she wasn’t sure she would ever get.

  Not when Blake apparently made it a habit of taking her out, showing his sweet and sexy sides, and then keeping things platonic. She shouldn’t complain, she supposed. Spending time with Blake was nice, even if it didn’t end in kissing, or sex, or his big, deft man hands wandering between her legs. No, she really valued their time together. No matter how it ended.

  But not knowing where it was headed was the other thing driving her crazy.

  So she made a decision. She wanted to surprise Blake, and return some of the sweetness he’d shown her. His birthday was Wednesday, so she sent a text Tuesday afternoon asking if he wanted to come to her house for a little dinner the following night. When he agreed, her plan kicked into action. She and Mollie went to the grocery store to pick up all the ingredients for their home-cooked specialty, lasagna, as well as the items to make pineapple upside down cake. Mollie was excited at the prospect of witnessing the baking since she assumed it involved an entire pineapple sprouting from the middle of the cake.

  The two of them spent time picking out some balloons and cards as well, and then when Wednesday came, Michelle had a hard time containing her excitement throughout the workday.

  She could already imagine his face. The slow-creeping smile that made that dimple flash, and the way he’d tug nervously at the longish hair at the front of his head. He was equal parts sweet boy and confident man. And she thoroughly enjoyed both sides. Hell, she enjoyed everything that she was learning about Blake.

  She just wished he felt even slightly inclined to push her up against the wall and have his way with her.

  Once the Wednesday work grind came to a thankful end, she raced to pick up Mollie, and the two began chattering excitedly about what they’d do for Blake. He was scheduled to come over at seven, which gave them plenty of time to get organized, prepare the cake, and then start dinner.

  Mollie was a dutiful helper in the kitchen. She gathered the onions and garlic for the lasagna, pulled out the lasagna noodles, and even told Michelle which bowl she needed. Every day was a new adventure in motherhood with this little one, and little moments like these reassured Michelle that even though she was doing it alone, Mollie would turn out all right in the end.

  The lasagna came out wonderfully, but Michelle was nervous about the pineapple upside down cake. She’d never made it before and had little experience with baking outside of the classic chocolate cake her family loved, so this was outside her wheelhouse. By the time Blake knocked on her front door, her nerves were hopping and she was fairly certain this attempt was a pineapple upside down fail.

  “Come on. Let’s go open the door and shout ‘happy birthday,’” Michelle said in a hushed voice, guiding her daughter by the hand toward the front door. “On the count of three…”

  Michelle counted down and then flung the door open. She and Mollie shouted, “Happy Birthday!” to a very shocked and pleased-looking Blake.

  “Wow! Thank you,” Blake said as Mollie launched herself into his arms. He carried her inside, sending Michelle a warm smile. “I wasn’t expecting all that.”

  “It’s your birthday, silly. What else would you expect?”

  He laughed dryly as he set Mollie down. “I have some stories to that effect, but I won’t share them now.”

  “Mr. Blake! Mr. Blake! Come see what we did!” Mollie tugged on his hands, guiding him toward the kitchen.

  “There’s more?” he asked.

  “So much more,” Michelle said, following the two of them into the warm and fragrant kitchen. The lasagna was cooling on the stovetop, while her near-fail was under a dishcloth on the counter. “I’ll warn you now—we did our best, but only half of it promises to blow your pants off.”

  He smirked. “Oh, please. With the way it smells in here, I’m sure I’ll be pants-less by the end.”

  She laughed, steering him toward the dining room table by the shoulders. “Now sit down. We’re going to serve you the best dinner of your life.”

  “With no pants by the end,” he added.

  “Exactly as God intended it for your birthday,” Michelle said with a laugh, breezing into the kitchen. Mollie followed her, and Michelle instructed her to carry in each plate once Michelle had served a heaping portion of lasagna. Mollie then carried in silverware and napkins, and Michelle topped off the meal with a dry red wine she’d picked up eons ago—and a glass of grape juice for Mollie.

  “You deserve a home-cooked meal for your birthday,” Michelle said, smiling over at him as the three of them settled into their seats and prepared to dig in. “If you have no plans, then it’s forbidden for you to spend the evening alone.”

  “I appreciate this,” Blake said, reaching out to squeeze her hand. His touch lingered there as Blake searched out her gaze. “I really do.”

  “Eat. You’ve probably had a long day, worrying over nightclub details and who knows what else.” Michelle watched him intently as he took his first bites, gauging his reaction. This was a family recipe, and it was very special to her. She didn’t make this for just anyone. Blake groaned through his first bite, and then barely anybody spoke as they ate.

  “I take it you liked it?” Michelle asked, swatting at his shoulder once he’d finished well before anyone else.

  “Not sure. You’ll have to serve me a little more so I can double check,” he teased.

  “I could serve you seconds, but I think you’re going to want to wait for what’s next on the menu.” She stood, beckoning for Mollie to follow her. In the kitchen, she whispered into her daughter’s ear to go grab the balloons and cards while Michelle stuck three candles on the cake and lit them. Once Mollie returned with the balloons, the two of them carried everything over while singing.

  “Happy birthday to yoooou,” Michelle and Mollie crooned. Blake watched them, grinning into his closed fist, as they set down the cake, the balloon bouquet, and the cards. Mollie hopped at his side while he blew out his candles, and then clapped wildly once they were out.

  “What was your secret wish?” she demanded.

  “I can’t say,” Blake said, his gaze dragging up to find Michelle’s. His brown eyes were a gut punch, sending heat and desire and tenderness flowing through her veins. Oh, she wanted this man, so much more now than she’d thought possible.

  And tonight, she wanted something to happen.

  In fact, she’d make sure of it.

  7

  Later that night, when Michelle came back downstairs after getting Mollie ready for bed, she’d changed into soft pants and an off-the-shoulder T-shirt. Her light brown tresses were pulled back into a low ponytail, and she’d traded the lipstick for lip gloss. She looked so casually sexy that he couldn’t rip his eyes off her as she padded barefoot up to the couch.

  “Okay. She’s down for the night. Adult time can now commence.”

  He propped his arm on the back of the couch as she sat down, tucking her legs beneath her. When she looked over at him, the picture of innocence yet with something very suggestive written all over her face, he couldn’t help but let his arm fall to her shoulders. He pulled her against him, warning bells ringing in his head as he did so.

  Yet he couldn’t help it. Now that it was just the two of them, he wanted to explore the desire that had been thumping through him since he showed up at her doorstep. Since all her thoughtful touches and gestures—from lasagna to cake to balloons—had served to make her sexier than he’d thought possible. With Michelle, he was finding that there was something irresistibly sensual in the sweetness.

  It was a balancing act that apparently only Michelle could undertake. And now, he wanted to see how far into the sensual side she wanted this to go.

  “So what’s on deck now? Or have I exhausted the full extent of birthday gifts?” he teased, dragging his fingertips back and forth over her shoulder.

  “Well, since it’s your birthday, you get to pick the movie we watch,” she said sweetly before pressing the remote control against his chest. “Unless you have other ideas?”

  Her comment was the equivalent of her kicking the door wide open. His fingers curled over her hand on his chest, pinning it there.

  “I have a few other ideas,” he said, getting lost in the sparkling abyss of her cerulean gaze once more. This close, she was magnetic. Sweet and soft and crackling with sensuality. He wasn’t used to taking things slow, and it took every ounce of him to pace himself, give this the attention it deserved. Making absolutely certain that this was what she wanted.

  Because if one thing was certain, it was that Michelle wasn’t like the women he normally fucked. She was so much more, which confused as much as it appealed to him.

  Blake tugged her closer, so that her body pressed up along the side of him. Her face was only inches away from his, and suddenly the tension in the room spiked.

  “What sort of ideas?” she asked. Of course she’d play coy. Play innocent. He ran his fingers up and down the side of her arm, watching the goose bumps erupt in his wake.

  “We could watch a movie…or maybe eat more cake. Or just sit here and see what happens.”

  She smirked, leaning closer to him. “I kinda like the idea of just sitting here.”

  His heart was thumping in his chest now, and he was suddenly so hungry for a kiss from her that he could barely restrain himself. Holding back was not his forte. Not with business, or sports cars, or women, or damn near anything in his life. But this had to be Michelle’s choice. Had to be.

  Though maybe he could help her along just a little…

  “Yeah? What about sitting here?” He shifted and then tugged her onto his lap. She gasped softly, her arm hooking around his neck. His cock went from half-staff to fully hard, and he wondered if she could feel it through his pants by now, pressing up into the fleshy part of her ass.

  “Seems like a pretty good spot to me,” Michelle breathed, and that’s when he caught the quiver in her voice. Oh, she wanted it. Maybe as much as he did. “Way better than my lumpy couch.”

  “Can’t promise this seat won’t be occasionally lumpy. Not when your gorgeous ass is on top of me,” he said and then immediately regretted it. No, that’s not how he was supposed to talk to Michelle. He was supposed to be a gentleman.

  But something flashed in her eyes. Michelle moved on top of him, deliberate but slow, and then the next second her mouth was against his.

  Shock trickled through his mind, but his body knew exactly how to respond. Michelle’s fragrant, minty mouth against his was the signal the rest of him needed to kick into gear. He grunted, receiving her kiss and returning it to her with abandon.

  He pressed his tongue into her mouth at the same time his hand found the back of her neck. Michelle melted into him, a breathy moan escaping her as her mouth parted, deepening the kiss. While they were lip-locked, Blake tugged her hair out of the low ponytail, then combed his fingers through her silky tresses. It was something he’d been craving to do without fully realizing it. Among so many other things.

  Every inch of his body craved her, in a way that extended way beyond the bet.

  In fact, he hadn’t even come over here tonight for the bet. This would have been his fifth and bet-winning date. But he wasn’t going to tell his friends about this one. This was off the record. This was just for Michelle and him.

  Blake dove in for another round of hot and needy kisses. He tugged her by the hips, urging her to straddle him, and she opened up her legs so that her knees pressed into the couch on either side of him. She gasped as she settled into place—directly on top of his cock—and they locked eyes for a moment, chests heaving.

  “Jesus, why didn’t you tell me you kissed like that?” she demanded.

  “A man likes to keep his secrets,” Blake responded, his gaze fastened on her lips. He wanted more of them. Way more. “Besides, I would have scared you off if I’d opened with something like that.”

  “Hmm. That’s what you think,” she murmured, before diving in for more.

  Her comment thrilled through him. He dug his fingertips into her waist, jerking her against him even tighter so that she wouldn’t even think about moving away.

  One kiss bled into so many more. Blake’s hands danced at the hem of her T-shirt, his fingertips dipping into that delicious warmth underneath. He pushed his hand up over her low belly, palming the soft curve. Michelle arched against him, moaning through a kiss.

  “Can I keep going?” he asked.

  She nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck, rocking her pelvis against him. Lust raced through him, hot and consuming. He could have her right here. Take it all the way. But even through the haze of desire, he wanted to do it differently with Michelle.

  Blake pushed his hands up underneath her shirt, finding the ridges of her ribs, and the tantalizing swell of her naked breasts. His breath shuddered out of him as he palmed each breast in turn, her breath hitting his chin as they locked eyes.

  “Jesus, Michelle,” Blake whispered, thumbs swiping over the tight points of her nipples. Her eyes fluttered shut and she rocked against him again. “I’ve wanted to touch you for so long.”

  “For how long?” she asked, her head tilting to the side as he gently tweaked and massaged her breasts.

  “Since the second I saw you.” And it wasn’t a lie. From the moment he’d stumbled into the training room and seen her, he’d wanted her. But he wouldn’t have acted on it if the bet hadn’t brought him here. So in a way, maybe he needed to be thankful for it.

  He pushed her shirt up, sucking in a breath when he saw her pebbled, rosy nipples. He dipped down and took one between his lips, laving his tongue over the hard tip. Michelle shivered in his grip, her legs tightening around him.

  “God, Michelle.” He mouthed the other nipple, scraping his teeth over it. “You are so fucking beautiful. Do you even realize?”

  She chuckled, low and throaty. “Oh, please. You just have me on top of you and you like the angle.”

  “Not true. I mean, very true, but not the entire truth.”

  Michelle’s eyes fluttered shut and she rocked against him again. “Just kiss me again.”

  Blake didn’t need to be told twice. Cupping her rib cage in his hands, he sought out her mouth for another kiss, relishing the weight and heat of her on top of him as their tongues danced, fervent and wild. They kissed so hard that his lips went numb. When they broke apart, Michelle looked at him with wild eyes.

  “I could kiss you forever,” she murmured, her gaze falling to his mouth. “You’re dangerous.”

  He grinned, running his thumb back and forth across her arm. “You say it like it’s a bad thing.”

  “Not bad. Just…” She sighed, eyes fluttering shut again. “Just fucking perfect.”

  Blake shifted beneath her, his cock aching for some attention. But Michelle, for however much she wanted him, clearly had her reservations. He could smell them from a mile away. And he was very sure that they had everything to do with her daughter upstairs.