Fielding Her SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 1) Read online

  “Get the fuck off of me. How many times do I have to say no before you get it. Don’t put your hands on me again.”

  I know I was loud, but I don’t care. I’m already dealing with Corrigan showing up with the woman I want. I don’t need a woman who I don’t want screwing things up even worse than they already are. I look back to the happy couple, and he lifts his chin at me while smirking. He knows. Asshole.

  I really have no room to talk. I’ve been the biggest ass in this whole mess. Why couldn’t I just get past my stupid insecurities and bring Ainsley here? Because I was worried about everyone’s reactions. My sister’s right. I need to get over my shit. Especially with Corrigan moving in on my girl. Who isn’t my girl because I got in my own way. I have to figure out how to fix this. There has to be a way.

  Dinner is another form of torture since they’re sitting at the same table as me. I got paired with the daughter of some CEO, and I have to keep moving her hand off my thigh. While I watch Corrigan make Ainsley laugh. But she isn’t eating off of his plate, so maybe I still have a shot.

  “Excuse me, but can I borrow Zack?” the lady from the charity asks as she walks up to our table.

  “Me?”

  “Yes, I have a surprise that I’d like to talk to you about.”

  “Okay. I guess so.”

  I get up and follow her to the dance floor. She has me lean down so she can whisper what she wants in my ear. I smile and whisper back. Sierra said I need a grand gesture; well, this seems pretty grand.

  * * *

  Ainsley

  This night has been fun, but hard. Matt has been making me laugh, but he’s not who I want. I want to sit next to Zack and eat off his plate while he makes me laugh. At least he pushed that woman off of him and told her not to touch him. He’s been polite with the woman they’ve seated next to him, but nothing more.

  Now he’s on the dance floor whispering with the woman who’s in charge of the party. He looks my way and smiles. That thrills me, yet also scares me a little.

  “Can I have everyone’s attention, please?” she says into the microphone. “Thank you all for coming and helping to raise money for the charity. I just asked Zack Taylor here if we could auction off a dance with him, but he just turned the tables on me. He tells me there’s only one woman he’d like to dance with and he’s willing to donate $100,000 for that honor. Go get your woman, Zack.”

  I close my eyes because I want it to be me, and if it isn’t I might die inside. Matt whispers in my ear to let me know that it is me. “Lover boy’s headed this way, Little Mouse.”

  I open my eyes and Zack’s in front of me, with his hand held out. I practically jump out of my chair as Matt chuckles next to me. The second I place my hand in his, Zack pulls me to him and kisses me sweetly on the mouth. He leans his forehead against mine and whispers, “Please dance with me, Ains. I should’ve been the one to walk in here with you. I’m sorry I wasn’t.”

  “I’ll dance with you if you promise that you’ll be walking out of here with me.”

  “What about Corrigan?”

  “He’s just a friend who offered to do me the favor of being my date.”

  “That’s a big favor for him.”

  “He’s a very good friend, and he said he owed you. Something about a set of twins a few months back.”

  “Shit. He more than got me back by having you on his arm. I promise you that.”

  “I’d love to keep talking, but I’m sure people are staring.”

  “Good. I want them to stare and realize how crazy I am about you. But I’ll dance with you now because that means I can keep you in my arms.”

  He walks us onto the dance floor and pulls me close as the music starts. We sway to the music and share little kisses throughout the song. I’m hoping that we can keep dancing because I love the feel of Zack’s hands on my waist and his mouth on mine. The world, or more accurately, Matt, has other plans.

  “Attention everyone, we’ve had another generous offer for this young lady’s time,” the charity woman announces. Zack’s hands tighten on my waist, and I see his jaw clench. “Matthew Corrigan has offered one million dollars for some dances for himself and nine players from the Legions football team. What do you say, my dear?”

  I look up at Zack. “It’s for charity. Besides, with them it’ll just be dancing.” He nods, and I turn to the woman. “Sure, why not?”

  “Wonderful,” she says as people clap.

  Matt walks up, and Zack kisses me hard. He lets go and then glares at Matt as he places my hand in his. “Bastard.”

  “Yep, I am. But so are you, Taylor. And if you hurt Ainsley again, there’s no place on this Earth that you can hide from me, or her other friends. Just remember that.”

  “That’s enough, Matt.”

  “You know it’s true. Your girls would hunt his ass down.”

  I eye Matt down. “I said that’s enough. Now are we going to dance?”

  “Yes, Little Mouse, we’re dancing.”

  He starts to pull me to him, but I turn and grab Zack. I kiss him as Matt sighs. “I’ll see you soon.”

  He nods and smirks at Matt as he walks away. “You’re making this too easy for him.”

  “He just told a whole room of people that I’m the only one he wants. He gave me my grand gesture.”

  “Yeah, he did. I’ll concede that. I’ll also take care of the woman they sat him with.”

  “Thanks, Matt.”

  “Anything for you and the girls. You know that.”

  “I do.”

  * * *

  Zack

  If I thought this party sucked earlier, it was nothing compared to watching Ains dance with my teammates. And Corrigan. I don’t know how they became friends, but I know I don’t like it. Especially after the stunt he pulled tonight.

  Thank God she’s on her last dance. I don’t know how much more I can take. Yes, she looked over at me and smiled as often as possible without being rude to her dance partners. So I know she’s not into any of them. I want her back with me, though. I even grabbed us some desserts from the buffet they set up. On one plate, of course.

  The song ends and she walks over to the table. I watch her, and that fucking slit in her dress, getting a lot of male attention. I stand up and pull her to me, claiming her with my mouth. She chuckles against my lips as I pull back.

  “Do you think they all figured out that we’re together, or should you throw me over your shoulder?” she asks while sitting down.

  “I thought you wanted people to know.” Now I’m confused.

  “I do. I just think it’s funny that it took me coming here with Matt for you to decide you wanted to tell people.”

  “I was being an ass, but I never meant to hurt you. I just wanted to keep what we had private. You know the press will be all over this.”

  “Because you never date?”

  “That, and because you work for the team. They’re always on the lookout for a scandal.”

  “Jack told me I should date you, so there’s no scandal.”

  “He did?”

  “Yes. He said that you’re more than you appear to be, and if you asked me out, I should consider it.”

  “He’s great. I already knew that, but now I need to send him some cigars.”

  “If you think he’s so great, why do you still want to be traded?”

  “I miss my sister, Ains. I want to be near her, but she won’t move here.”

  “So you’re serious about this then.”

  “Very.”

  “We should probably end this before it begins then. Because I’m staying in Vegas.”

  “What? You just got there. If this works out, you could move with me. You wouldn’t need to work, either.”

  “So I’d just be your kept woman? Never, Zack. Never. I work for what I have.” I realize that I may have just blown my cover, so I try to fix it. “I mean, yeah, my parents used to pay for everything, but I want to be independent now.”

  “Sh
it. I didn’t mean it like that. I love that you’re independent. I just meant that I could support you if you didn’t have a job. Not that you couldn’t have one.”

  “I’m still not moving. I may not have been here long, but I’ve made some good friends and I really like it here.”

  “Friends like Matt Corrigan?”

  “Yes. Matt is a good friend.”

  “I want to make this work.”

  “I won’t move, and you won’t stay, so it’s not going to work. No matter how much we both want it to.”

  “This can’t be the end for us.”

  “It has to be. I’d say that we could still be friends, but that would be too hard for me. I’ll still cheer for you, though. I promise.”

  I lean over to kiss him on the cheek before standing up and walking out of the ballroom. It takes a bunch of deep breaths, and a willpower I didn’t know I had, to do it, but I make it out of there without crying. I don’t stop walking until I get to valet. I have no choice but to stop there and sit on one of the benches to wait for my car. I just want to go home and sleep.

  Chapter 7

  Zack

  I just got off phone with my sister, and now I need to find Matt Corrigan. If he’s still here. I look around and finally spot him at one of the more secluded tables. He’s surrounded by several beautiful women, which isn’t surprising. What is surprising is that the vibe coming off of their table isn’t sexual at all. They’re laughing like old friends. Matt looks up as I walk over and scowls at me.

  “Where’s Ainsley?”

  “She left. I was hoping you had her address.”

  “You fucked up again? Seriously? I don’t know how someone with no game can get so many women.”

  “I’ve got plenty of game, but Ainsley’s not like that. I wouldn’t try to play her. I need to talk to her, though.”

  “I’m glad that you realize she’s not like other women so I don’t have to cut your balls off.” This is said to me by a stunning woman with long brown hair. She’s twirling a steak knife in her hand and glaring at me out of her almond shaped eyes.

  “Umm, yeah, okay. Are you going to tell me how to find her, or not?” I ask Matt.

  “Not. He’s not telling you shit,” the platinum blonde pin-up girl sitting next to him says.

  “Who are you people? And why do you care whether he tells me or not?”

  “We’re Ainsley’s friends and we know all about you, Zack. Give us one good reason why we should help you. You only get one, so make it the right one,” says the redhead on the other side of Corrigan. She crosses her legs, and I see cowboy boots peeking out from beneath her gown. Interesting.

  “She thinks we can’t be together because I wanted to move to where my sister lives. I just called my sister and told her that I want to be where Ainsley is, so I’m no longer going to try to get traded. She likes Ainsley, so she understands.”

  A beautiful Latin woman, who looks to be a little older than me, speaks up. “We’ll tell you, but you’re running out of your nine lives. When that happens, you have to deal with all nine of us.”

  “Plus me. Don’t forget me, Audrey,” Corrigan adds.

  “Like we ever could. Here’s the address. We all live there, so I’ll call the guard at the gate and tell him to let you in.”

  After thanking her I plug the address into my phone’s GPS. I rush out of the room and pick up my SUV from the valet. When I get to her gate twenty minutes later, the guard sends me through. I park and run into the building. What I see makes me smile.

  Ains is in the lobby, still wearing her gown. She’s added her glasses and is sitting behind the security desk tapping keys on one of the computers. It’s all kinds of hot. I know it shouldn’t be, and I’ve never thought of nerdy girls as particularly sexy before, but fuck if she’s not.

  “How may I help you, sir?’ one of the guards asks me.

  “I’m here for her.”

  Ainsley’s head shoots up. “Zack? What are you doing here? How did you find me?”

  “I have a solution to our problem. Your friends gave me your address and called the guard at the gate to let me in.”

  “What solution could you have possibly found?”

  “I called my sister and told her I was staying with you.”

  Her eyes go wide. “I can’t let you do that. You love Sierra.”

  “I do love her, but I also know I’m falling in love with you, Ains.”

  “You are?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m almost done here. Do you mind waiting a few minutes? We can go up to my apartment, and talk when I finish.”

  “I’ll wait as long as you need me to.”

  I look around and notice that there’s no waiting area, leasing office, or anything really. That’s kind of weird. I just lean on the security desk as I watch her work. She finishes up quickly and stands up.

  “Everything’s taken care of, Kenny.”

  “Thanks, Ainsley.”

  “Let me know if you have any problems, and I’ll take care of it.”

  “Of course. Now go spend some time with your young man.”

  Ainsley smiles at me as she takes off her glasses and puts them back in her little purse. “Thanks for waiting, Zack.”

  “Of course.”

  I reach out to take her hand as she comes around the side of the desk. She leads me to the elevators and uses her palm to activate them. It’s like something out of a spy novel, and I really want to ask about it, about this building, but I can tell she’s nervous, so I won’t. Who cares that she lives in some high security place?

  She doesn’t let go of my hand as we ride the elevator up to the fourteenth floor, but she’s quiet the entire time. I want to talk to her, but I see her anxiety getting worse as we get closer to her apartment. When we get off the elevator, she stops in front of her door and looks down.

  “It’s not girly, or sexy, or sophisticated.”

  “Your apartment?”

  “Yes. I have big screen TVs, gaming systems, and a bunch of computers. That’s it. If you want to leave now, I’ll understand.”

  Leave? Is she crazy? I don’t give a fuck what her apartment looks like. I turn her around, and back her against the door as I pepper her mouth with little kisses. “Do you have a bed? Or at least a couch?”

  “Y-yes. I have both.”

  “Then nothing else matters right now,” I tell her honestly. “Unless you aren’t ready for that. Then I’ll take the grand tour and love it all. Because it’s yours. Now let us in, babe.”

  * * *

  Ainsley

  I turn back to the door to open it, holding my breath as I walk into the apartment. Zack follows me, and lets out a low whistle. “This is fucking awesome, Ains. Wow.”

  I look around, and try to see my place as he sees it. Chloe Griffin gave me a modern loft vibe when she designed it. My ceilings have pipes and beams exposed, the walls are bricked, and everything is open. My bedroom is up the stairs, and like a real loft, it’s exposed to the rest of the apartment. The only rooms with doors are the bathrooms and my workroom. I love it, and I guess a guy would love it, too.

  “It’s a guy’s dream, I guess.”

  “No. I mean, yeah it is, but I also meant that it’s so ‘you.’ Which makes it even better—sexier. I love it.”

  “You think it’s sexy? Really?” I walk over to him and put my arms around his neck.

  “Not as sexy as you, but yeah. I can’t help but think of all the places in here I can have you on top of.” He puts his hands on my waist and pulls me closer.

  “You can, you know. Have me, I mean.”

  “Good, because this slit in your dress has been making me crazy all night,” he tells me as he slides one hand down and inside the slit to caress my thigh.

  “I wanted to rip this tux off of you the second I saw you in it.”

  “Let’s go upstairs and then you can rip away. I want our first time to be in a bed.”

  He picks me up, and I wrap m
y legs around him as he walks up the stairs. When we get to my bed, he stands me on my feet and turns me around. “If this wasn’t our first time, I’d leave the dress on and just spread it open as I fucked you hard against the wall. But you deserve better than that, so I’m going to take it off of you and make love to you slow and sweet.”

  “Then you’ll fuck me hard against the wall?”

  “Hell, yeah, if that’s what you want.”

  “Yes, please.”

  “You’re making it very hard for me to take things slow, but I’m going to.”

  He slowly lowers the zipper on my dress, following his fingers with his mouth. When the dress falls to the ground, he stops kissing me and doesn’t say anything for a minute. I start to feel self-conscious and pull away, but he stops me and turns me to face him. He still isn’t talking, though.

  “What’s wrong, Zack?”

  “Not a damn thing. You’re so beautiful. All of you. I want to explore every inch of your beauty.”

  “I want to explore you, too, but you have all your clothes on. I know what you look like in just your underwear, and it’s killing me right now.”

  He smiles at me then pulls off his jacket and bow tie while I attack his shirt. Buttons go flying as he laughs at me. “You’re so hot, Ains.”

  “You said I could rip it off.”

  “I did indeed.”

  I undo his belt and pants while he kicks off his shoes. Now we’re both standing here in our underwear. I see the bulge in his boxer briefs, and it makes my mouth go dry. I lick my lips, and then he’s on me.

  We both fall back onto my bed, as he kisses me frantically. I wrap my legs around him again and rub against him like some cat in heat. I can’t help it. I’ve been fantasizing about him for too long now.

  “Slow. Slow. Slow,” Zack says as he releases my lips. I think he’s trying to remind himself, more than me, of what he said earlier.

  “I won’t break, Zack.”

  “I know. But you deserve to be loved, not fucked, and kissed sweetly. I want to make you feel special. Because you are.”