Playing the Field (Hot-Lanta Series) (24 page)

Marc watched her as she talked and
he listened intently. Every word dripped out of her mouth followed by a smile. Her hair floated around her face and waved a scent of lavender toward his nose. She was intoxicating and he was slowly losing control.

She continued. “After the salon
, I met Jane at the mall and she took me around to all the nice shops helping me pick out some staples for my wardrobe so I could look more professional plus we got some going out clothes so I could get out there more. Jane said some of the dresses I got would be great for when I go out to the bars, apparently they are eye catchers.”

Marc stopped listening for a second because he was
stuck on Patty’s last sentence.

What the hell was Jane thinking? She knew Marc was in love with the girl for fucks sake
. Why was she helping her pick out clothes that were going to score her dates? That was so not the plan. Marc was going to have to have a talk with Brady’s woman.

“I can’t thank you enough Sully. I feel amazing, invigorated, special and beautiful.”

“Well I can tell you right now, you were already all those things before today but I’m glad you were able to realize that today and happy you had such a great day.”

“Thanks to you. Oh and Jane took me to this lingerie store that was so not my scene but she tol
d me I had to step out of my comfort zone, so I did. I got some things I never thought I would wear but actually they make me feel so sexy. It’s amazing.”

Marc gulped, alright Jane was getting a serious talking to. The only hope he had was Jane was secretly planning to help Patty get said sexy items because she knew Marc and Patty would hopefully be
hooking up and starting a relationship soon.

Marc could not help but picture Patty in sexy lingerie. It was time for her to go. This friend thing was too much
for him to handle at the current moment. He was starting to feel more like a girl-friend and that was not good.

“I don’t know what to say
about the lingerie besides you’re killing me with that topic therefore I think it is time to say good night.”

“O
h, sorry sometimes I forget you’re a guy.”

“Ouch Patty, man you really know how to bruise a man’s ego.”

Patty clasped her hand over her mouth, reached out for his hand and squeezed it. A smile was trying to escape her luscious mouth but she held back for the sake of his manhood.

“I didn’t
mean it like that. I meant you’re so easy to talk to. I could tell you anything. I never met a guy I could just talk to and not feel uncomfortable with. It’s nice and refreshing.”

“I try to be a good listener
, my mama taught me well.”

“She sure did.” Patt
y said looking him up and down. Marc felt a little confused. Was she flirting or was he imagining it?

He walked her to the door and before she opened the door she turned toward him and said, “By the way Sully, when I was getting my hair done I wrote down everything Gino ever did to me and took from me. I plan on burning the shit out of it and everything he gave me or remind
s me of him when I get home. I’m leaving him behind today with the old Patty. From now on its fresh thinking and leaving the past behind.”

“Good, I’m glad Patty. I’
m really proud of you.”

“I also joined a yoga class so I will be checking off three items tonight. Thank you again for all your help and encouragement
. I could not have done it without you.”

She stood on her tippy toes and planted a kiss on the corner of his mouth and cheek. He felt himself starting to stir in his pants and
he needed to get her the hell out of his house before he embarrassed himself.

“Let me know how you like the classes. We leave tomorrow for
Colorado and won’t be back until right before the wedding. You keep me in touch with how everything is going. I’ll be checking up on you.”

Patty had a sad look on her face. “Gosh
, I feel like you just got back.”

“Yea I know, it’s the life of a baseball player. Just when you get settled back at home you are off to another state. You get used to it.”

“I’ll miss you.” Patty said still holding on to him from their hug looking up at him with her big blue eyes.

Damn what was he supposed to say to that? He seriously thought she was playing some kind of
mind game with him. She never was that out spoken about their relationship. Was she changing her mind about him?”

He ch
ose to speak with honesty. “I’ll miss you too but when I get back it will be Jane and Brady’s wedding, maybe you’ll save a dance for me out on the dance floor? And don’t get into too much trouble this Saturday at Jane’s bachelorette party.”

Now with Patty’s new wardrobe and lingerie drawer Marc feared Saturday. He didn’t want other guys thinking they could hit on Patty, dance with her or try to ask her out. He wished he was not going to be out of town but
clearly he didn’t have a choice. Hopefully Jane would have his back and direct Patty away from any male attention.

Fat chance.

“I’ll try not to. I got a dress that would knock your socks off.”

Damn it!

“Oh yea? Send me a pic on Saturday and I’ll be the judge of that.”

“I will. Alright I should let you get to bed. Congrats on the win tonight by the way. Jane was so excited when Brady hit the ball o
ff the ground hit thingy.”

Marc laughed correcting her. “Ground rule double, but good try.”

“Oh whatever, it’s a weird term. Good job anyway and good luck this week. I will keep you updated on my progress.”

“You better.”

Patty leaned up again giving him one more peck on the cheek and said, “See you Sully. Have a safe trip to Colorado and thanks for everything again.”

Marc watched her get in her car and drive away. Her ass looked amazing in those jeans as if they were made specifically for her.

It was time for a nice cold shower. He couldn’t go to bed right now, no he needed to cool down first. She had him all hot and bothered in so many different ways. He was hoping all the little touches and kisses was her way of letting him know she was interested in him and not her practicing her seductive moves for this weekend. He wouldn’t know what to do with himself if she started dating someone else.

Chapter 9

              Tonight was Jane’s bachelorette party, something Lucy had been dreading but also looking forward to. She didn’t really want to see Molly but she wanted to celebrate with Jane. Lucy decided that she would be the bigger person and be polite to Molly but not really engage with her. She didn’t want to start any trouble with Molly and ruin Jane’s night.

             
Everything was going great with Connor. He always seemed too good to be true. She wondered why he was still single. It was kind of odd for a guy like him to still be single. He talked about how he wanted the storybook life; wife, house in the burbs, minivan, three kids and two dogs. Lucy sometimes pictured herself in that scenario but instead of the minivan she would have an SUV of some sort. She refused to drive anything with two sliding doors and seats that folded into the floor of the car, optimizing your space.

             
She was expecting Connor for lunch today, apparently he had a gift for her. He was always getting gifts for her, she swore he lived at the mall or had a personal assistant constantly shopping for him. He worked late a couple of nights this week so they were not able to go out but he did come over after wards.

             
Lucy thought things were happening fast with Connor, their conversations, how much time they spent together and how much they talked but they both were into the relationship just as much as the other. It wasn’t one of those relationships where the girl escalates the relationship with a guy from “barely seeing each other” to “writing happy almost one week anniversary all over the guys car” to “planning out their wedding by two weeks.” No they were both very much into each other.

             
Lucy was curling her hair when there was a knock at her door. She put down her curling iron, her hair was half curled and half up in clips when she opened the door. Connor stood in the doorway with a huge smile on his face and a box.

             
“Hello love, that’s a fantastic hair do.” He said.

             
Lucy touched her hair bobbing the ends with her hand saying, “It’s the new craze these days I think I can pull it off, don’t you?”

             
“You sure can.” He said leaning in, pulling her close to him for a kiss. He took her mouth in his and she lost herself in his touch. She knew their relationship was still new so she was going to have butterflies every time he was around but whenever he touched her or kissed her it felt like the first time all over again.

             
He broke off the kiss grabbing her hand, shutting the door and pulling her to the couch.

             
“Here.” He said handing her the box. “I know how tonight is important to you and you wished you had a new dress to wear so I might have gotten something for you. I hope it fits.”

             
She was shocked. “You got me a dress for tonight?”

             
He held up his finger. “Under one condition, after the party you come over to my house. You are going to be a knock out in this dress and I can’t afford for you to be drinking around guys and possibly be picked up.”

             
“Oh please…” she started to say until he interrupted her.

             
“Listen Lucy, I know we have only been seeing each other for a little while but I really like you and I have been thinking a lot about tonight and you going out, getting drunk, having guys flock toward you girls, buying you shots and what not, well I just wanted to ask you something before you head out.”

             
Lucy felt confused. He was rambling.

             
He cleared his throat. “I just wanted to state my intentions with you. I really like you and I would appreciate it if we were exclusive, if you were my girlfriend.”

             
Lucy giggled. It was so cute that he was worried about her going off with some other guy. She would be a complete idiot if she did that. She thought she would make him sweat a little just for the fun of it.

             
“Well I don’t know Connor if I’m ready for that kind of commitment. It’s still kind of early and I have three dates next week with different guys so I’m not sure if I want to give that up. Plus I have that orgy scheduled for Sunday which I’ve been looking forward to for a while now. It’s a themed orgy; Balls in Bali. I have been practicing my scarf dancing for the occasion.”

             
She grinned at him.

             
“Shit, you’re the scarf dancer on Sunday? Crap I didn’t think you ran in the same orgy circles as me.”

             
“Oh what little you know of me Connor Cartwright.” She said grabbing his face with her hands and pulling him in closer.

             
“So what do you say?” He said in a low husky voice.

             
“Depends on what’s in the box.” She joked.

             
He gestured toward the box. She ripped it open like a little kid on Christmas and pulled out a deep purple off the shoulder tight dress with three quarter length sleeves. It was a dress Molly could pull off but Lucy never could. She would look stupid in it.

             
Connor must have noticed the look on her face because he said, “Just try it on.”

             
“Connor I won’t…”

             
He placed his hand over her mouth and said, “Try it on.”

             
She rolled her eyes and stripped her shirt and shorts off giving him quite the show. He stood up with her and ran his hands over her half naked body. He made her look at him as he played with the waist line of her thong.

             
“You’re going to look amazing in it, believe me.”

             
She nodded as he grabbed the dress from her and ripped the tags off.

“Oops, can’t return it now.”
He said with a grin.

             
He did that on purpose. He reached behind her and took her bra off revealing her smaller but perky breasts. They were nothing like Molly’s that she had so blatantly displayed in the dressing room.