Big Baller: Bad Boy Sports Romance Read online

  “We were trying to keep it under wraps. Tonight was supposed to be a team building exercise.”

  “Uh huh,” I said, smiling. “That’s what you call it, huh?”

  He glanced over at me and grinned.

  “I’ve been known to visit a strip club or two in my days, but they’re not my thing anymore.”

  “Oh? You have a problem with them? It’s going to get me into college.”

  “Where am I going?” he asked.

  “Keep going down this road. There’s an all-night diner. Hopefully none of the regulars will be in there tonight. It’s midweek, so we should be fine. Not that I’m embarrassed to be seen with you.”

  “You embarrassed to be seen with me?”

  He laughed as if he had all the answers to life wrapped up.

  “We’ll both be saved the embarrassment. That work better for you?”

  I looked over at him, still unable to believe we were alone in his car together.

  “There it is,” I said a minute later, pointing to the left.

  “Karin’s Diner, huh? Sounds like a winner.”

  “They have the best all-night breakfast around.”

  “You’ve not had a great breakfast until you try my omelettes.”

  “Is that an invitation?” I teased.

  “Maybe.”

  He pulled into the parking lot and stopped. We got out of the car then headed toward the restaurant. At the front door, he stopped and opened it for me.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  Once inside, I headed straight for my favorite booth in the corner. Tony followed behind. I could feel his eyes on me while we walked. My baggy jeans and grey sweatshirt were not sexy in the least.

  I sat on one side of the booth with my back to the wall. A painting of a rodeo clown hung on the wall above the table, part of the theme throughout the restaurant.

  “You come here often?” he asked as he sat down opposite of me.

  “Every night I work. Well, usually. It depends.”

  As he picked up a menu, our waitress, walked up, her white apron stained with red sauce.

  “Hey, Dolly,” I said, smiling up at her.

  “You’ve got a friend tonight,” she said, holding her order pad and pen at the ready.

  “I’m not sure if he’s a friend yet or not,” I said.

  Dolly looked at Tony.

  “Uh oh. Doesn’t sound like a good start.”

  “She’s going to like being my friend,” Tony said then looked across the table and into my eyes.

  “Yeah?” I asked.

  He nodded.

  “I can give you two a minute if you need it,” Dolly said, glancing over her shoulder.

  “No, I’m ready,” I said. “I’ll take the banana pancakes with extra crispy bacon on the side.”

  Dolly looked at Tony.

  “And you?”

  “I’ll have the same,” he said without bothering to look at a menu.

  “And coffee too, please,” I added.

  Dolly walked away with our order. I stared across the table, still not believing I was about to eat with the quarterback of the Cleveland Rebels.

  “Thanks for saving me from that creep.”

  “No problem. We should’ve called the cops probably, but…”

  “It’s okay,” I said. “He’s not going to bother me anymore, and it wouldn’t be good for your name to be in the news connected to a place like Ugly Stan’s.”

  He tilted his head to the side.

  “Ugly Stan?”

  “Yeah, you met him tonight. We all call him that behind his back. He’s a crazy character.”

  “Have you been dancing long?” he asked, not skirting around the issue, which I appreciated.

  “Not too long. I’m going to be quitting as soon as I reach my money goal.”

  “Yeah?”

  I nodded.

  “Yeah, I’m planning on going to college. Dancing is just a way to pay for it. I don’t want to be drowning in student loan debts after I graduate.”

  “Smart move. I got lucky and had a football scholarship.”

  “Nah, it’s not luck. You’ve got skills.”

  “You watch football?” he asked.

  “Yeah. Not every game. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you guys kinda suck.”

  He chuckled, a smile spreading across his face.

  “Fair enough. We’re working on doing better next season.”

  “Now, if we’re talking about American Greed, I don’t miss a single episode.”

  “American Greed?”

  “It’s a television show. You’ve never seen it?”

  He shook his head.

  “No. Is it good?”

  “I think so. It’s a documentary show about people who steal money from others because their greed takes hold of them.”

  “Like Bernie Madoff?”

  “Exactly. They had one show about him, but there’s a lot of other small-time players and conmen.”

  “I’ll have to check it out some time.”

  “Most of my time is spent studying.”

  “Oh, you’re already enrolled?”

  “Well, no, not yet, but I bought some basic textbooks to get a head start.”

  “I’m impressed. You’re a smart woman.”

  Dolly returned with a pot of coffee.

  “I’ll just have water, please,” Tony said then turned to me. “I have to watch my caffeine intake.”

  “We have decaff,” she said.

  “No, water is fine.”

  She walked away after filling my white mug with the dark brown go-juice I craved, especially after a long and stressful night at the club.

  “Do you enjoy dancing?” he asked.

  “Well, let’s put it this way. It’s making me money until I win the lottery.”

  He smiled.

  “I feel like I won the life lottery sometimes.”

  A football player who is deep? Who is this man?

  I nodded then took a sip of the black coffee.

  “Do you enjoy playing football?” I asked.

  His face lit up.

  “It’s my life. Part of me wishes I was playing for another team, but I grew up in Cleveland and decided to stay here after college.”

  “I grew up here too. At least my teen years.”

  “Oh?”

  “My parents died when I was thirteen, and I moved here to live with my aunt.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said sincerely.

  “My aunt is gone now too, but I feel at home in Cleveland.”

  “Do you have any family here?”

  “No family at all that I know about.”

  “Wow. I can’t imagine life without my family, especially my sister.”

  “Aw. You’re close with her? That’s nice.”

  “She’s a pain in the ass most of the time, but she’s always been there for me.”

  “What’s her name?”

  “Jamie. Maybe you’ll meet her someday.”

  “Let’s see how breakfast goes first,” I teased.

  Dolly returned with our food, which smelled incredible.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever had banana pancakes before,” he said, digging in right away.

  “You’re in for a treat.”

  He drove me back to my car after we ate, insisting on following me home to my apartment to make sure I was safe. Part of me hoped he got out of the car and walked me to the door, but he drove off after I opened the door and waved.

  Inside the one-room studio, I fell into bed, exhausted and full of thoughts good and bad. Bringing up my dead parents wasn’t something I did with everyone. Tony was special in some way. I wasn’t able to put my finger on it exactly, but he was brought into my life for a reason.

  FIVE

  Tony

  After following Heidi to her house the night before, I had been unable to stop thinking about her. I needed to see her again. Not one to beat around the bush, I drove down to the club a hundred mil
es south of Cleveland the very next night.

  Will she even be working? I wondered as I drove down the interstate. Why didn’t I get her number the night before? Everything had moved so quickly. I blinked, and my breakfast with her had been over. So damn fast. What was the actual deal with her?

  By the time I reached the club, I’d become determined to get to know the woman better. Heidi. Even saying her name in my mind sent tingles through my entire body. It was fucking ridiculous because I knew so little about her. No woman had ever had that kind of effect on me.

  I saw her silver Honda Civic in the parking lot and smiled. After talking with her one more time, maybe getting a lap dance, I’d be able to get her out of my mind and concentrate on the upcoming season. Football over all else had been my mantra since high school. Why change it?

  Two men stumbled out of the club and into the night air as I approached. Wearing jeans and a grey tee-shirt, I hoped the didn’t recognize me. They were too drunk or involved in their thoughts to care as I walked by and opened the glass door.

  A bouncer greeted me on the other side. He stood as tall as me. At six-foot-four, that was saying something. I nodded my head at him as I passed through the foyer and moved deeper into the club. The bass hit me as soon as I walked into the darkness.

  I glanced around, hoping to see her right away. No such luck. As I walked over to the bar, lit by multi-colored neon lights running the entire length, I saw two other men sitting on stools at either end. Taking a seat in middle, I spun around and looked around.

  “Can I help you?” a friendly female voice asked.

  “Yeah, I’ll take an Old Fashioned,” I said, turning to look at her.

  She smiled.

  “Coming right up.”

  I watched as she expertly prepared my drink.

  “Do you know if Heidi is working tonight?” I asked after she slid it across the wooden bar in front of me.

  “Baby Cakes?” she asked then leaned forward and dropped her voice to a whisper. “We frown on real names out in the open here.”

  “Yeah, I think that’s her. She working?”

  The bartender nodded, her blond curls bouncing.

  “You don’t look like one of her stalkers,” she said.

  “She has stalkers? As in more than one?”

  “Honey, anyone who works here has a stalker or two. Even the DJ. It comes with the territory.”

  “You talking about me?” a guy with slicked back black hair said as he sat down next to me.

  I ignored him and took a drink. He didn’t take the hint.

  “I’m DJ Thrush,” he said, sticking out his hand.

  I glanced at it then took another drink.

  “Anyway,” the skinny DJ said. “What do you want with Baby Cakes?”

  “That’s between me and her,” I said. “You got a problem with that?”

  “Whoa, hold on cowboy,” DJ Thrush said, holding up his hands. “I can go get her if you want.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Heidi said from behind me.

  I set my drink down then turned and stood, flashing her a game-winning smile. She had on a plaid mini-skirt and a red bikini top. Glitter covered her chest.

  “Hey, you,” I said. “Got a minute to talk?”

  “Not really,” she said. “Unless you want a private dance?”

  “Sure,” I said. “How much?”

  “As much as you want to give me,” she replied without hesitation.

  I smiled, loving her fire and spirit as well as her tight body with curves in all the right places.

  “We’ll see how good you dance,” I said with a smirk.

  She turned and walked toward the back. I followed, eyes on her ass as it swayed back and forth perfectly. Not being able to see it all made me want her that much more.

  “I’m not a whore,” she said when we reached one of the curtained rooms in the back. “Don’t think that about me, okay?”

  “Did I say anything?”

  “Well, no, but…”

  “But nothing. You can blame me for things I say and do, but please don’t try to do it for stuff I’d never say.”

  I stepped through the doorway as she held the black curtain open. Inside the cramped room, the walls were covered with mirrors. A leather bench ran around the room.

  “Have a seat,” she said.

  Music from outside poured in through the curtain.

  “We can just talk. You don’t have to…”

  “I don’t have to do anything,” she said, cutting me off.

  As I sat down with my back against the far wall, her body began to sway in time with the music. With each beat, she moved forward.

  When she reached me, she turned, her hands reaching around to untie the bikini top in the back. I sat, eyes transfixed on her as she spun around.

  She had her hands crossed over her chest, hiding those beautiful breasts, but they were closer. I relaxed, enjoying the scene as she continued swaying.

  The way she moved her lithe body reminded me of a good wide receiver dancing after the caught the ball. She was just out of reach which made me want her more.

  While I didn’t consider her a whore, she was unlike most of the women I’d met in my life. From cheerleaders to adoring football groupies, I’d had my fair share of women.

  Heidi outclassed them all in every respect.

  Our eyes met as she moved between my legs. As her arms dropped, I took in the beauty of her naked tits. They were so damn perfect.

  I reached for one.

  “Bad boy,” she purred, pushing my hand away. “No touching.”

  “Don’t fucking stop,” I hissed, turned on by her naked body being so close.

  She obeyed, putting her hands on my thighs as she leaned forward. Those glorious breasts were so damn close. I fought the urge to lean forward and take a nipple into my mouth.

  “Sit on my lap,” I said, breathing heavy. “Let’s talk a bit.”

  “It’s the same price whether we talk or not.”

  As I patted my thigh, she stepped back.

  “I don’t care about the money,” I said. “Have a seat. I find you fascinating.”

  “Don’t you mean you find my body hot?” she asked coyly.

  “That too, but I want to talk to you. It’s why I drove all the way down here tonight.”

  “How long of a drive?”

  “Almost too long. Come on.”

  She sat on my left leg, facing me. I put my hand on her back to help steady her.

  “Is that okay?”

  “That’s more than okay,” she whispered.

  “How are you tonight?” I asked, looking into her eyes.

  She stared back, not looking away.

  “I’m better now that you’re here.”

  “You say that to all the men, don’t you?”

  “I told you, I’m not a whore.”

  “Don’t you dance for a lot of men?” Her body moved backward an inch. “Forget it. Let’s talk about something good. You said you’re going to school soon? Have you decided where?”

  She put her hand on my shoulder.

  “I’m not sure yet, to be honest. With no family, I can pretty much go anywhere.”

  “Don’t you have friends here in Cleveland?”

  “Well, yeah, but…”

  Her voice trailed off.

  “But what?”

  “I don’t know. Going somewhere else might do me good, especially after being a dancer so long.”

  The song outside ended.

  “We should go,” she said.

  “Hold on. I’ll pay for another dance. Like I said, money is easy. Finding a beautiful and intelligent woman like you is not.”

  “I bet you say that to all the dancers, huh?”

  She smiled. I loved the way her eyes lit up when she did.

  “What do you want to talk about, Mr. Football Star?”

  “How about a proper date?”

  “You mean a date-date?”

  I nod
ded.

  “Yeah. Why not?”

  “I don’t know. Do you usually date women like me?”

  “You mean smart, beautiful, sexy and funny? Only when I’m lucky.”

  “I’m being serious.”

  “So am I.”

  As we stared at each other, our heads inched forward, closer together. Before our lips touched, my phone, inside my pants pocket, rang. It was Jamie’s ring tone.

  “I need to get this,” I said, reaching for it.

  Heidi stood up, so not ashamed of her half-naked body.

  “Girlfriend?” she asked.

  I laughed.

  “Already getting jealous, huh?”

  “No, but…”

  “It’s my sister Jamie,” I interrupted. “Let’s do dinner tomorrow night.”

  She frowned.

  “I’m working tomorrow night.”

  “Well, it’s off-season. I’ll stay up and take you to breakfast again after you get off. Sound good?”

  “Sure, but…”

  “Great.” I stood and answered my phone. “Jamie? Everything okay?”

  “Can you come pick me up?” she asked, sounding stressed.

  “It’s not the best time, but yeah. Text me where you’re at.”

  “Please hurry, Tony.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, for now, but please hurry.”

  “Fine. I’m on my way.” I ended the call and put my phone away. “You two are going to get along so well when you meet.”

  “When we meet, huh? You’re moving a bit fast aren’t you?”

  “Considering we’re standing in a room and you have no top on, I don’t think it’s too early for you to meet my family. Am I wrong?”

  She smiled.

  “No.” Her smile faded. “I wish we could be together now.”

  Damn. She wants me bad.

  “How about we get our second date out of the way tomorrow afternoon. There’s a new exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame I’ve been wanting to check out. What time do you get up usually?”

  “I should be awake by noon. Do you want me to text you my address too?”

  “You would need my number for that.”

  I grinned.

  “My phone is in the back. Let me give you my number. You can call me later tonight. Will you be up that late?”

  “Not usually, but for you, I’ll make an exception.”

  She took my phone and punched in her number before handing it back.