He quickly put on a pair of jeans and pulled an old Warriors jersey over his head. He grabbed his car keys from the credenza in the hallway, shoved his wallet into his back pocket and left the house, breathing in the damp night air.
It was mid-May, which meant the nights were still cool and the chances of a thunderstorm or even a freak blizzard weren’t all that far-fetched, but Brody loved this time of year, when spring and summer battled for domination over Chicago’s climate. He’d lived in this city almost eight years now, and had grown to appreciate and enjoy everything about it, even the indecisive seasons.
When he pulled up in front of Hayden’s hotel, a light drizzle of rain was sliding across the windshield. He hopped out of the SUV and entered the lobby just as a bolt of lightning filled the sky. Thunder roared ominously in the distance, growing louder until the rain became a steady downpour.
He approached the check-in desk and asked the clerk behind it to ring Hayden’s suite. A moment later, the woman walked him over to the elevator and inserted a key into the panel that would allow Brody access to the penthouse, then left him alone in the car.
The elevator soared upward, its doors opening into the suite, where Hayden was waiting for him.
“I have some ground rules,” she said in lieu of a greeting.
He grinned. “Hello to you, too.”
“Hello. I have some ground rules.”
He tossed his keys on a glass table beside one of the couches and moved toward her.
Even in sweats, she looked amazing. He liked how she’d pulled her hair back in a messy ponytail, how a few haphazard strands framed her face, which was devoid of makeup. He especially liked how her thin tank top didn’t hide the fact that she wore no bra.
His mouth ran dry as he dragged his gaze across those gorgeous tits, the outline of her dusky nipples visible through the white shirt.
Her cheeks flushed at his perusal. “Don’t ogle. It’s unbecoming.”
“Ah, I was wondering where Miss Prim and Proper had gone. Hello, Professor, nice to see you again.”
“I am not prim and proper,” she protested.
“Not in bed anyway...”
“Ground rules,” she repeated firmly.
He released a sigh. “All right. Get it out of your system.”
She leaned against the arm of the couch, resting her hands on her thighs. “This is only going to be a fling,” she began, her throaty voice wavering in a way that brought a smile to his lips. “Continuing the fantasy, or whatever it was you said. Agreed?”
“I’m not agreeing to anything yet. Is there more?”
“My father can’t know anything about it.” She paused, looking uncomfortable. “And I’d prefer if we weren’t seen in public together.”
He lifted a brow. “Ashamed of being linked to a hockey player?”
“Ashamed? No. But you already know the franchise is taking some heat. I don’t want to make things worse for my dad by giving the media more fuel for the fire they’re determined to start.”
He had to admit her words made sense. After seeing Wyatt whispering with Sheila Houston at the arena, Brody had no interest in stoking the fire.
Best-case scenario, if he was spotted with Hayden, the press would sensationalize the relationship the way they were currently sensationalizing everything else associated with the Warriors.
Worst-case scenario, an asshole reporter would insinuate that the team owner’s daughter knew of her father’s guilt and was either trying to shut Brody up because he was involved, or sleeping with him to find out what he knew.
He didn’t particularly like either of those scenarios.
Still, he wasn’t about to let Hayden get her way entirely. He had a few demands himself.
“If I agree to your rules, you have to agree to mine,” he said roughly, crossing his arms over his chest.
She swallowed. “Like what?”
“If you’re in my bed, that’s the only bed you’ll be in.” He set his jaw. “I won’t share you, especially not with the guy waiting for you in California.”
“Of course.”
“And you have to promise to keep an open mind.”
Interest flickered in her gaze. “Sexually?”
“Sure. But emotionally, too. All I’m saying is, if things between us get deeper, turn into more than a fling, you can’t run away from it.”
After a beat of silence, she nodded. “I can do that. And you agree to keep whatever we do here to yourself?”
“I can do that,” he mimicked with a grin.
“Then what are you waiting for?” she asked. “Take off your clothes already.”
FOURTEEN
Hayden could barely contain her amusement as Brody pulled his jersey over his head and tossed it aside. He reminded her of a kid on Christmas morning. The eagerness practically radiated from his tall, powerful body, but when he pushed his jeans down his legs there was nothing comical about the situation anymore.
His cock sprang up against the material of his boxers, demanding attention and making her mouth grow dry.
