didn’t look at Luke. Didn’t have to. She could feel him gloating across the room. His attitude, even from a distance, was a prime example of why she didn’t like working with athletes. They were all jerks.
Already she knew Luke Winter had an exceptional knack for pushing her buttons. No, she most definitely did not like working with athletes.
And no way was she going to be attracted to Luke Winter. So her body reacting like this made no sense. No way was she getting involved with another athlete. She would do this job and then be gone. Luke Winter could not get to her. It was impossible. Squaring her shoulders, a look of determination in her eyes, she stepped forward.
She advanced toward the offered seat. “Good,” she said to Ron, and despite the fact that she was talking about Luke, she didn’t look at him. “Average athletes don’t know how to follow directions. I’ll need Mr. Winter to do as I say.”
Luke laughed. “Oh, now, darlin’, I’m sure we can work something out. If you ask me just right, I’ll do about anything.”
That stopped her in her tracks. Slowly, her gaze moved to his. “Mr. Winter…”
“Luke,” he corrected. “Call me Luke. I plan to call you Katie.”
Katie kept her expression impassive.
But just barely.
She wasn’t about to get sucked into whatever game this man was trying to play. She started forward again, even as she met Luke’s piercing gaze. There was something intimate about the way he looked at her, his eyes lingering on her features in a slow, thorough inspection.
His scrutiny was keen and far too probing, as if he were seeing well below the surface. It set her on edge, made her feel off center. Each step forward came slowly and took extra effort.
With irritation, she realized she was holding her breath. She immediately forced herself to exhale, slowly allowing the air to trickle through her lips.
Ron was talking, and she tried to focus on what he was saying. Not quite at the bar, she drew to a halt, still struggling to absorb Luke’s words.
“Katie and I go way back,” Ron commented. “I trust her as a person, and her company is considered top-notch. She’s provided security for some big names. People who tend to draw the type of problem you are having. This won’t be her first stalker.”
Katie’s eyes flickered from Ron back to Luke as she settled her hands on the back of the bar stool. Their eyes locked and held, almost squaring off in silent battle.
“No,” she said to Ron, but never took her gaze off Luke. “Is it your first, Mr. Winter?”
Thanks to Ron, Katie already knew Luke didn’t take seriously the recent threats he’d been receiving, and that he didn’t want her or anyone else’s help.
According to Ron, Luke was a very private person. Katie wasn’t sure she bought into that idea. Especially since Ron had also said Luke was a nice guy. Clearly he was mistaken on that point, which meant he could be wrong on others. Luke reeked of arrogance and trouble. Not a hint of niceness.
Luke’s full attention was on her. She could feel it with every ounce of her being. His lips twitched ever so slightly. “It depends on how you define stalker. I’ve had my share of obsessive fans.”
In an effort not to look into his eyes, her gaze slipped down…to his lips. Another strategic mistake. They were full, the bottom bigger than the top, and alluring. Addictive…yes. She could see why a fan or two had become obsessive. He had a vibrant sensuality that demanded a reaction, even by her, despite her resistance.
No way was he a nice guy. He had bad boy, hot nights and great orgasms written all over him. Tempting, spicy, delicious, never nice.
Not that she cared.
She didn’t need sex. Two years of going without had proven that. So why was she feeling all this damn awareness in every inch of her body, for a man she didn’t even like?
One who didn’t even want her here.
She forced her mind to business. “Obsessive enough to send death threats?”
Luke shrugged off the question. “The letters are harmless.”
“They’re getting more aggressive,” Katie told him sternly. “I saw them, and I don’t like the way the tone has changed.”
Luke’s lips thinned. “A letter never killed anyone.”
“But I might,” Ron muttered. “Luke, get on board. There is more to this than letters. What about the hang-up calls on your private line?”
Luke made a frustrated sound. “You’re making too much of this, Ron. I don’t need extra security, and I don’t have a stalker. I have a fan who is a bit over-the-top. That’s all.”
Katie didn’t think Ron was overreacting. How would a fan get his private line? “I think Ron has reason to be concerned.”
Luke narrowed his eyes on her. “And you’re going to keep me snug and safe?”
His words held a hint of challenge. “From the stalker,” she bit out, “but if you keep pushing me, I can’t promise I won’t hurt you.”
His head fell back as he laughed. It was a deep, resonating sound that reached out and warmed her insides in a way that was sexy as hell and impossible to ignore. Damn him.
“That might be fun,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes.
2
LUKE STARED at Katie Lyons from across the bar, and the corners of his mind flickered with a unique response. What it was, he wasn’t quite sure, but damn if it wasn’t impossible to ignore. His body felt alive with her presence. His heart was beating at a crazy fast pace, and ridiculously, Luke had to force away the urge to put a fist over it. Despite his resolve to dislike Katie, the distinct thunder of attraction jolted his nerve endings.
Somehow, getting her to hate him now seemed far from appealing. But it was too late to turn back. Besides, the last damn thing he needed was a woman to screw him over with her own private agenda. He had no intention of expanding his emotional stamina, though as she smiled, sexy, all pride and defiance, he thought his physical stamina might be worth testing. Damn, he wanted her, and he cursed the irony of finding no one tempting for months, until this woman—the one he was trying to shake loose. Katie was hands-off. Yeah, right. Tell that to his cock. He was rock hard, his zipper stretched, his balls drawn up tight in discomfort.
“Drink?” Luke asked, watching her climb up on a bar stool as he tried to decide what his next action should be. What was it about this woman that did funny things to his insides?
Turned him on.
Beyond that even…
Interested him. No, that still wasn’t a strong enough word. Intrigued him was more like it. When was the last time a woman had gotten his attention the way this one did? He couldn’t remember. At some point they had all become users to him. The thought was so cynical, and so out of character, he made a mental note to revisit exactly what was
