For a split second her smile died. He doubted her knowledge? Of course he did. But Abbi squared her shoulders and lifted her chin another notch higher. She wasn’t going to crumble in front of him again in some hot mess of mortification. Couldn’t she answer back with some kind of wit? What would Sasha Fox say?
In a flash it came to her.
She felt the smile of smug success spread over her face even as she slowly cooed her “Foxy” reply. “I know firsthand.”
Innuendo? Not too much—it was all in the inflection, the smile… And for once in her life she’d nailed it.
His eyes narrowed on her. “You do?”
She didn’t like the grin quirking his lips—it looked a little too amused. “Sure.”
“Because that’s yours?” He glanced at the vibrator. “That’s your ‘firsthand’?”
Ugh. Abbi turned on her seat and quickly covered the big pink superstar with yet another article. Too late, she noticed the headline read “Bondage: A Beginner’s Guide.”
She cleared her throat and spun her chair back to face him. “I have lots of products to test.”
“You always were big on research, backing up your facts, using lots of strategies to work things out,” he said softly. “People sometimes don’t realize how creative a math genius can be.”
Oh God, she was blushing even more. Creative? She so wasn’t creative. Scott had insisted she was duller than an inflatable doll as he walked out the door.
“So you’re confident in the advice you’re giving them?” Joe asked.
“Absolutely,” she lied, her last remnants of pride helping her.
“Absolutely,” he echoed. Then he flashed his so-sexy broad smile full-beam at her. “I’d love to see that in action.” He turned and rested his hip on the edge of her desk. “You know there’s a game tonight. Why don’t you come along?”
She frowned. Come along to what game? Then it dawned on her. “The baseball game?” Baseball freak she wasn’t, but even she knew the San Francisco Giants were playing for the pennant. There wasn’t a ticket left in town.
“That’s the one.” He grinned. “I’ve got tickets to a corporate box—you know, drinks, snacks, and a great view.” He winked.
She had the great view in front of her already, and given that wink, he knew it. She tried to process his words: ticket, drinks…more view? Did he mean he wanted her to go with him? Like on a date or something?
No way. Surely not. Hell no…
But how was a girl supposed to think when Joe Fuller was looking that hotly at her?
“It would be the perfect venue to test your data, don’t you think?” He studied her. “You’re going to need quite some moves to distract a man from his ball game.”
Abbi blinked at his words, the way his voice had lowered. And the penny finally dropped.
This was a dare. This was Joe “Always Gotta Win” Fuller daring her. And she was melting quicker than a snowflake in the sun.
“I can pick you up,” Joe invited in an easy tone. “Or you can meet me at the corporate entrance, an hour before the game.”
She might have managed five seconds of flirt, but a whole evening? And somehow prove her “man-eating” abilities to this ultimate playboy?
Never gonna happen.
“Unless you’re afraid,” he taunted.
How did his words have such an effect on her? She was searing like a steak on a grill and she couldn’t turn down the strength.
“Abbi.” Joe bent down so his eyes were level with hers and spoke slowly, each word branded onto her sizzling skin. “I want you to come.”
Chapter Four
“Body language, and most of all eye contact, makes all the difference.”
He wanted. Her. To come.
And she? She wanted to obey. She wanted exactly that. Yeah, she really wanted. But all she could do was stare up at him—like she was some mindless puppet.
“I’ll meet you at the gate an hour before. Don’t be late.”
It was a full thirty seconds after he’d disappeared down the stairs before Abbi swiveled her chair 180 degrees and found Nadia peeking over her partition, her expression rapt.
“Vixen Abbi,” Nadia murmured in a temptress whisper. “He couldn’t take his eyes off you. He wants you. To come.”
At this rate, that wasn’t going to be a problem. She only had to think of his face to almost get off. Hell—could the fates finally be on her side? Give her a night to remember?
“I didn’t even answer him.” She was that useless.
“Words weren’t necessary.” Nadia fanned her cheeks with a wink.
Abbi giggled and then clapped her hand over her mouth as her fantasy bubble burst. Now she had a bigger problem to solve. “What do I wear to a baseball game?”
“I don’t think it matters,” Nadia said bluntly. “I think that’s a done deal.”
Oh no, it wasn’t. This was Joe Fuller; the guy would have expectations. And she had no idea. “Please, I’m serious. I need help. What to wear, what to do…”
“Don’t overthink it already.” Nadia reached over and mock-cuffed her ear. “That guy is hot for you.”
“I’ve never been to a baseball game before. Trust me, I have no idea what to wear, or do, or say…”
“Never been to a baseball game? Ever?”
Abbi shook her head.
Nadia laughed. “You are such a nerd.”
Yeah, more nerd than vixen. She needed to rebalance. If she was going after Joe Fuller—and she was—then it had to be vixen all the way. Not boring. This was her one chance and she wasn’t going to blow it. “You have to help me.”
Nadia thought about it. “You’re going to owe me.” She glanced down at Abbi’s desk and a calculating look entered her eyes. “I want user reviews on at least three of those personal lifestyle products by next Friday.”
Abbi would sell her soul to get the help she needed.
“Absolutely. I’ll do the lot.” She paused. “Except the clit clamp.”
…
Six hours later, Abbi nervously exited the taxi she’d taken to the park, Nadia’s condom collection burning a hole in the back pocket of the skinny black pants she had talked her into. Wet-look, butt-lifting, but with the bulk of her curves covered by a loose shirt that had the first couple of buttons undone, for that hint of what lay beneath, Nadia had reckoned the effect was casual but sexy. Most importantly, Abbi felt comfortable.
Or as comfortable as she was ever going to get in a mission this crazy. But she wasn’t crazy enough to run from it, as much as part of her wanted to. This was Joe Fuller. Her high school crush, all-out hottie.
And he was waiting for her.
So freaking fantastic, she had to roll with it.
She spotted him before she even opened the taxi door. It wasn’t just his height that made him stand out. It was his everything.
He stepped forward and took her hand as she straightened from the car, drawing her closer. Abbi’s lungs froze as she read his intent expression. Was he going to kiss her?
Heat unfurled as his lips lightly brushed her upper cheek. She inhaled in surprise and got a tantalizing whiff of citrus and soap. Too stunned, she didn’t think to turn her head, to meet his mouth with hers.
Damn. She wanted to.
“I’m so pleased you came,” he said.
Uh. If those lips had landed somewhere farther south, she really would have. That carnal ache that had been slowly building inside became indecent.
As he released her hand, he smiled—wiping Abbi’s mind cleaner than a brand-new whiteboard.
“I’ll admit you had me wondering…” he drawled.
Really? She bet he’d never been stood up in his life.
But just the mere fact that Joe Fuller wanted her here gave her a boost. He could have any woman he wanted. And right now it seemed he wanted her. Sure, he probably wasn’t going to want her for long…but she was going to play the advantage and learn something while he did.
“Come on, let’s go inside and grab a bite before the game.” He winked.