Darcy came out of the bedroom, all dolled up for the event. Jake wolf-whistled and Brian applauded when they saw her outfit, a sexy tuxedo that looked perfect for a night out on the town with the girls.

“One good thing came out of my stint as a house-sitter for Lydia Logan,” she demurred, her cheeks pink with embarrassment. “I learned how to dress. When you are around a rich socialite long enough, some of it rubs off.”

“Well, you are gorgeous.” Chase folded her in his arms and grinned down at her. For a moment, it seemed it was only the two of them in the room, and Gavin knew what they had was the real deal. “Better not fall in love with someone else tonight,” Chase growled, but his voice was teasing.

“No way.” She hooked her hands behind his back and returned his smile. “I know I’m the luckiest girl in the world.”

“Can you guys knock it off?” Brian did an eye roll while Cody gestured to his throat with his finger. “I’m about to barf.”

Before Chase could respond, there was a loud knock on the door. Brian opened it, leaning against it as Nikki entered, followed by Cara and Jessica.

Jake grabbed Nikki, earning a squeal, but everyone else’s eyes were on Jessica.

She was stunning. There was no other word for the transformation. Like a butterfly just emerging from her cocoon, she appeared a little awkward and uncertain, but her beauty was undeniable. Even Chase did a double take, and Brian actually drooled.

“What?” she asked defensively. She addressed the group, including Brian, who wiped his mouth with his sleeve, but her eyes were pinned on Gavin.

“You look…beautiful,” Gavin said, barely aware that her face softened in relief. Gone were the yoga pants and tank tops. Sporting an outfit even Kristin would admire, she looked gorgeous. Her eye makeup was expertly applied and kept to a minimum, which only enhanced her own natural beauty, and her lipstick was perfect.

But it was her hair that undid him. Long and loose, it flowed around her shoulders and down her back like a flickering flame. The coppery curls glistened in the dim light, framing her face, and made her eyes appear like twinkling emeralds.

Jake interrupted his thoughts as he spoke to Nikki. “So I hear you girls have quite a night planned,” he said, giving her a menacing look. “There’d better not be any strippers on the itinerary.”

“Now, would I do that?” Nikki sent Chase a wink. “We just have your typical, run-of-the-mill Jersey bridal shower going on. Not like you guys. I know you will be hitting up the gentlemen’s club.” She returned the threatening look. “I have friends in the business, you know. I’d better not have to come after you.”

“Not on your life.” Jake grinned, crossing his heart like a Boy Scout.

“Can we get going?” Cara complained. “My shoes are starting to hurt. Besides, watching all you young lovers is making me jealous.”

Chase let Darcy go, and she was joined by the other women. Jessica was the last to leave, and when the door closed behind her, Gavin found himself fighting the urge to go after her, to claim her as his own.

When he looked up, he saw that Jake was watching him sympathetically. “I know how that feels, pal. And there is only one cure.”

When Gavin lifted his brows, Jake grinned in response. “Beer. And lots of it. Let’s get going.”

—

The car took them to Atlantic City, where Jake had arranged for a private party at Stiletto. It was a great place, and a perfect night. The music was loud, the dancers were gorgeous, and the beer was flowing. The Sonics didn’t hesitate to dive right in, availing themselves of the free-flowing liquor, the cigars, and the girls.

But for Gavin, something was off. A beautiful blond stripper gyrated on the bar, wearing only pasties and a G-string along with a red feather boa. The ballplayers all applauded as she teased Chase mercilessly, while their ace pitcher simply sat back with a grin, enjoying the attention.

“Ooooh, honey, you are a cutie! I think I’m going to take you home with me.” She draped the boa seductively around Chase’s neck, tickling him with the feathers as she inched closer, straddling his lap. Leaning forward, she squeezed her breasts together, forming a valley beneath his chin to the roaring approval of the team.

When one of the girls approached him, Gavin obliged her by stuffing a couple of dollars into her garter belt, but when she tried to interest him in a lap dance, he quickly declined and ordered another beer. He just couldn’t get into the spirit of the thing, not with his thoughts all twisted up with a beautiful redhead.

“Hey, what’s up with you?” Roger asked. Two girls hung all over him as he decorated them with money, and he peered at Gavin beneath entwined limbs. “Not into brunettes?” He indicated the stripper, who, disappointed, was now working another player.

“He’s still mooning over Jessica,” Brian said knowingly. He grinned at the dancer on his lap, who was cooing and rubbing her bottom on his knees. “She’s out with the girls tonight. She showed up at Chase’s place in this leather jacket and looked really hot.”

“Ah. Jessica Heartless. Dream on, pal,” Roger said knowingly, smirking at Gavin. “You don’t have a prayer of hitting that. You know,” he said, aware that the other ballplayer had been sweet on her for quite a while, “I bet her pussy is as red as her hair…”

The anger building inside Gavin exploded and without thought of the consequences, he smashed his fist into his tormentor’s chin.

The two girls tumbled to the floor, and beer spilled everywhere. Immediately, a bouncer appeared and grabbed Gavin, while Chase yanked Roger away from him. The outfielder shook his fist threateningly as Gavin struggled to break free to finish him off.

“Sorry, but you’re out of here,” the bouncer said, escorting him to the door while the team restrained Roger, who was protesting that he’d been cold-cocked.

Outside, there was a definite chill in the air, and Gavin took a seat on the bench near the curb. His heart was pounding, and the urge to take it out on Roger was overwhelming. If he had to be honest, he could admit to himself that the outfielder was simply the straw that broke his back.

Jake appeared a moment later and came to sit beside him.

“You okay?”

“Yeah,” Gavin responded, rubbing his hand. “It was my fault. I overreacted. It’s just sometimes he can be such an…”

“Asshole,” Jake completed the sentence for him.

“That’s the word.” But he smiled at the shortstop.

“I’m sorry, but your buddy there has to leave.” The manager appeared and spoke to Jake, indicating Gavin. “We can’t have guys starting fights in here.”

“Wait a minute, now.” Jake fingered a couple of twenties. “There must be some mistake. Gav isn’t the kind of guy to do something like that over nothing. I’m sure he was provoked.”

The man appeared to be reconsidering, but Gavin interrupted. “It’s probably better I go. Roger made a comment about Jessica that got under my skin. Now that he knows that, I’m sure he won’t keep his mouth shut. And I’m not in the mood to deal. Tell Chase congrats, and I’ll catch up with you guys tomorrow.”

“You sure?” Jake asked, not seeming at all surprised to learn the cause of the altercation.

“Yes. And thanks,” Gavin said, as he stepped into the cab that had pulled up to the curb. “See you later.”

—

He went home alone, the cab dropping him off for a cool three hundred bucks. But he didn’t really care about the money; he was glad to be in his own place, away from the noise, the music, and the joviality that he just didn’t feel.

After tossing his jacket aside, he climbed into the shower, grateful for something to do. As he lathered the soap, he found himself wishing that Jessica could be with him, that it was her back he was soaping. And then when she turned around…

His body had responded immediately and he was already hard envisioning how incredible she would look, water splashing around her, rivulets tracing down her ivory skin to the tip of a rosy breast. His fingers would follow the same path, teasing her, arousing her until she begged him to take her. He would turn her around and position her with her hands against the wall, his body shielding her from the spray of the shower. Entering her from behind, he would pound her until she cried out his name in exquisite pleasure…