Play By Play: Taking a Shot Part 11

Until she caught sight of the clock.

Six thirty.

s.h.i.+t. She was due at her parents by eight to have breakfast with Mick and Tara before they left for their honeymoon.

She slid out of bed and jumped into the shower, scrubbing last night's makeup-and the remnants of sweet s.e.x-off her body. When she got out, she dried off, did her hair and makeup again, then tiptoed out to the bedroom.

Ty hadn't budged. Heavy sleeper, obviously. She shook her head and went into the closet for a pair of jeans and a sweater, then grabbed underwear, socks, and boots, and dressed in the kitchen while she brewed a pot of coffee.

She got a cup of coffee down-thank you, caffeine-before she had to go back into the bedroom.

Still asleep. Lucky man. She'd like nothing more than to climb in with him and get a few more hours' sleep. And maybe a little more s.e.x.

Too bad she was going to get neither.

She sat on the bed next to him and grasped his shoulder. "Hey."

"Hmmm."

"Ty. Tyler."

His lids partially opened. "Yeah. Hey, you're dressed."

"I need to be at my parents this morning. A family thing."

He pushed the covers halfway down and sat up. "Yeah, sure. I'll get out of here."

"No hurry. The front door locks on its own when you shut it. I've gotta go."

He dragged his fingers through his hair and looked at the clock. "Yeah, me, too. I've got a game tonight."

"Okay. I had a good time."

"Me, too."

She started to get up, but he hauled her against him and kissed her deeply.

His body was warm, his kiss reminding her of what they'd shared last night. When he broke the kiss, she really wished she didn't have somewhere to go this morning, especially seeing the thick erection he sported under the covers. She wanted to touch him, to taste him, to play with him some more.

But she wasn't going to play with Tyler Anderson again.

"Have a good day, Jenna."

Regret made her sigh. "You, too."

She got up and made a hasty exit before she did something stupid, like ask to see him again.

TY SAW THE LOOK OF REGRET AND HESITATION IN Jenna's eyes.

He knew the score. One game only.

But he also saw the heat flare in her eyes after that kiss.

She might be determined, but so was he. And he never gave up.

He threw the covers off and went into the bathroom, then grabbed his clothes. No sense in showering in Jenna's bathroom when he'd just have to throw the same clothes on again. He'd wait until he got home. He dressed and followed the scent of coffee.

Jenna had laid a cup out for him so he filled it and drank, grateful for the caffeine perk that would get him home.

It had been a long night. A good night. He smiled remembering it. He wanted another night with her.

He was on his way out when he spotted the guitar sitting in the open extra bedroom. He paused, glanced in the room, and saw the sheet music.

It was private, he knew, and he shouldn't snoop, but she'd left him alone in here.

He walked into the room and squatted down on the floor.

There was some copyrighted sheet music, but also blank pages where she was writing her own.

Huh. He had no idea she was a songwriter.

He didn't know a d.a.m.n thing about music, but obviously Jenna did. There were pages and pages of handwritten music in here.

Interesting.

JENNA THREW OFF HER COAT AND HURRIED INTO THE kitchen while she rubbed her cold hands together.

Everyone was already here and the smell of food made her stomach growl. Bacon and some kind of baked goods. She was starving.

"Morning. Am I late?"

"Right on time," her mother said. "Everyone's already in the dining room. You can take this plate of m.u.f.fins in."

She kissed her mother on the cheek and grabbed the m.u.f.fins.

"About time you showed up," Gavin said. "We're all about to waste away waiting for you."

She rolled her eyes as she took a seat. "It's five after eight. I don't think you're going to die."

She hugged Tara, who absolutely glowed with happiness. "Good morning, Mrs. Riley."

Tara grinned. "It's going to take me some time to get used to that. Tara Riley. I can't believe it actually happened. He's mine."

Mick came up and put his arm around Tara. "It did happen. You're my wife. No backing out now."

Tara tilted her head back and cast adoring eyes at Mick. "Not a chance. I'm never letting you go."

"You two are making my stomach hurt. Or maybe that's just hunger."

Mick and her mom sat down and they all dug into the wonderful meal Mom had made. Obviously everyone was hungry, and talk turned to rehas.h.i.+ng the wedding.

Jenna enjoyed the conversation and listening to everyone's stories about the night before. Mick had been nervous, afraid he'd forget his vows. Tara had been ecstatic, and Nathan had been glad to get through it without tripping over his fancy shoes. Gavin and Liz were starry-eyed with thoughts of their own upcoming wedding, and her parents looked on all them with such joy it made tears spring to Jenna's eyes.

This was her family, and she loved them so much.

She poured another cup of coffee from the carafe on the table, then added cream and lifted the cup to her lips, closing her eyes and breathing it in as she sipped.

"Rough night?"

She opened her eyes and looked at Liz. "Late night, same as the rest of you."

"I don't know," Tara said, giving Jenna a thorough once over. "You've got dark circles under your eyes, yet your cheeks are pink."

The guys had all moved into the living room to watch something on television, and Mom was in the kitchen, leaving Jenna alone in the dining room with Liz and Tara.

Liz tilted her head. "Dark circles and flushed cheeks? That can only mean one thing. You had s.e.x."

Jenna's eyes widened. "I did not."

"You did, too," Tara said. "You think we've never had s.e.x before? We know the look."

Jenna looked around to be sure no one heard. The TV was blaring and obviously if her mother heard anything she wasn't going to come running into the room for details. Thankfully.

"So who was the guy?" Tara asked.

"I don't want to talk about this."

Liz looked at Tara. "She doesn't want to talk about it. She isn't denying it, which means she definitely had s.e.x last night."

She raised her chin. "I plead the fifth."

Tara nodded at Liz. "I was obviously busy the entire night. Who was she with?"

Liz tapped a perfectly manicured fingernail on the table. "Let's see. She didn't bring a date, and as far as I know she isn't seeing anyone."

"No one that I know of. I could ask Mick."

"I could ask Gavin."

"Stop it, both of you. There's no one. Just a random hookup."

"Random hookup my-oohh," Liz said. "It was Ty."

s.h.i.+t.

"Ty Anderson? The hockey player?" Tara asked. She turned to Jenna. "Oh, he's gorgeous. And so hot, Jenna."

"And a hockey player, and you know how I feel about sports and the men who play them."

"That shouldn't matter, if you like him," Tara said. "And if you had s.e.x with him I a.s.sume you like him."

Liz looked from Tara to Jenna. "What does sports have to do with you staying up all night s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g his brains out?"

"She won't date anyone involved in sports," Tara explained.

Liz frowned. "Why not?"

Jenna shrugged, realizing it sounded stupid. "Because I live it in my job and I'm surrounded by it with my family. I'd just like a freakin' break when I date a guy, you know?"

"But sports are in your blood, Jenna."

"No, sports are in their blood." She motioned toward Gavin and Mick. "Not mine."

Tara leaned back and sipped her juice. "Okay, well I get that, really. And as someone who was the queen of denial herself, I understand about your reason for not wanting to be with Ty-"

"As stupid as that is," Liz interjected.

Tara pinned Liz with a look. "But it's her reason, nonetheless."

Liz waved a hand. "Whatever."

"So anyway," Tara continued. "Was it good?"

That got Liz's attention. "Yes. Tell us. Was it?"

Jenna shook her head. "You're as bad as men."

"Men don't gossip about s.e.x details," Tara said.

"They don't?"

Tara shook her head. "No. Mick told me all they say to their friends is, 'I gave it to her so good last night, she couldn't walk today,' or some such nonsense. But no details. We want details."

"Huh. Well, I gave it to him so good last night he couldn't walk today."

Liz snorted. Tara tilted her head back and laughed out loud.

"What are you all laughing about in there?" Mick asked.

"Girl talk," Tara hollered to him before turning back to Jenna. "And?"

"And what?"

"Come on, Jen, we need more than that," Liz said. "Just how good was it? That man is s.e.x on a hockey stick. I've seen him play. h.e.l.l, he's my client. His stamina on the ice is epic."

Jenna leaned back in her chair. "And you want to know if that stamina translates to the bedroom."

"h.e.l.l, yes."