Breaking His Rules (Feeling the Heat #4) (2 page)

For a moment Jake was transfixed by her mouth—something that had been happening a bit too often for his liking. He shook off the effect it had on his body and sat back in his chair.

“You’re not hard to read. And it’s not often you’re in a bad mood,” he said, and then despite his best effort not to give into his baser male instincts, he found himself zeroing in on the tempting glimpse of cleavage her workout top afforded him. Despite her weight loss, her breasts were still full and perfectly shaped. Since they’d begun their training sessions he’d taken her measurements every month. The last time, a month ago, when he’d held the measuring tape to her bust, he’d felt their softness against his fingers and was surprised by the spike of heat that kicked low in his gut.

“I went to my cousin’s bridal shower earlier today.” Jake looked up, relieved to find that she hadn’t appeared to notice him staring at her breasts. Good. Now he just had to remind himself not to do it again. He shouldn’t be thinking anything other than professional thoughts about her. Friend or not, Melissa was his client and therefore strictly off-limits. “She’s getting married next month at Pebble Beach.”

He let out a low whistle. “Beautiful, but from what I know of that area, pricey.”

“My aunt and uncle are very well off.” Melissa pushed her cup to the side and folded her arms on the table. “You know how I told you she always made fun of my weight when we were kids?”

Jake nodded, remembering their conversation of a few months ago. “She sounds like a witch.”

“She is.” Melissa sighed. “I overheard her and her friend talking about me in the ladies’ room.” She gave him a wan smile. “And you know what they say about eavesdroppers never hearing good of themselves. Well, it’s true.”

“What did she say?”

“That I was too fat to be a bridesmaid and that even if I’m able to get a date to her wedding, it’ll probably be with some loser.”

Jake tamped down his anger. He’d struggled with his weight when he was younger and knew only too well how cruel some people could be. Leaning forward, he reached across the table and put his hand on Melissa’s arm. He tried not to notice the satiny smoothness of her skin but failed and quickly withdrew before the warmth of her skin could tempt him to linger. “Don’t let her get to you, Melissa. She’s not worth it.”

“That’s what I told Paige when she suggested we sabotage the wedding ceremony.”

Jake couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ve only met your sister twice, but that’s exactly what I’d expect her to suggest.”

Melissa smiled, then quickly sobered and gave him a determined look. “I’m going to that wedding even though it’s the last thing on earth I want to do.”

“Do you have a date?” he asked, more interested in Melissa’s private life than he should be. She’d never mentioned a boyfriend, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t seeing someone. Even at her heaviest—as she’d been when he’d met her—she was an attractive woman.

“No. But I have this off the wall—” She stopped mid-sentence, stared at him for several seconds, then she shook her head and laughed. She had a good laugh—melodic and sexy at the same time. “Never mind.”

“Never mind what?” he asked as he leaned back.

“It wasn’t important.” She tucked a loose tendril of hair behind her ear. Her cheeks turned pink under his scrutiny. “Okay. Okay. I was thinking about hiring an escort for the wedding. Someone super-hot. That would shut my cousin up for good.”

“Hire an escort?” Jake asked, surprised she’d go to such lengths—especially when she didn’t need to. He grinned as the perfect solution to her problem materialized in his head. It was the least he could do for a friend. “I have a much better idea and it won’t cost you any money.”

One delicately arched brow rose. “What’s your idea?” she asked, with a hint of trepidation.

“Not what. Who.” He pointed to his chest. “Me. I’ll be your date for the wedding.”

Chapter Two

Melissa’s mouth gaped open. “
You’ll
be my date?” she asked as the initial shock wore off. She searched Jake’s handsome face looking for any indication he was joking and found none.

He tilted his head and flashed an irresistible grin. “It’s the perfect solution to your problem. And the upside is you don’t have to hire some sleazy escort.” Still stunned, Melissa couldn’t speak. Jake’s grin relaxed. “Am I not hot enough?” he asked, with complete seriousness.

Not hot enough?
Please. The man was hotter than a five-alarm fire and a habanero chili pepper combined. Did he not know that?

“Oh, you’re hot,” she assured him quickly. “That’s not the problem.” As her cheeks burned, she let her gaze wander over his broad shoulders. He’d showered and changed after the kickboxing class and now wore a white polo shirt with Jake’s Joint embroidered over his left pectoral muscle. He smelled of soap and shampoo; his clean male scent had blitzed her senses and prickled her skin the moment he sat down across from her.

Jake’s brows knitted. “Then what
is
the problem?”

“It’s not just a one-day thing. Family is expected to be there the whole weekend.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem. What weekend is it?”

“The second weekend in June,” Melissa said. “That’s only two weeks away. You probably have plans.”

“I can get my assistant manager to cover the gym.”

The driving beat of the music that filled the gym matched the pounding of her heart.
Is this happening?
Jake Sawyer, the man she’d been having some incredibly steamy fantasies about for the past few months, was offering to escort her to her cousin’s wedding?

“Melissa?”

Melissa blinked. “Sorry. I just can’t believe you’d sacrifice an entire weekend to go to the wedding of someone you’ve never met. Why would you want to do that?”

“Because I don’t like your cousin’s attitude. She sounds like a bully, and bullies need to be taught a lesson.”

The sudden fierceness in Jake’s hazel eyes made her think there was more to the story. “It sounds like you’ve had some experience with bullies.”

Jake shrugged. “Yeah. Some.”

“If I take you up on your offer, I’ll pay for all your expenses. My aunt and uncle have reserved a block of rooms at the Hyatt Regency in Monterey. There may be some rooms left. I’ll have to check.”

“This was my idea. You’re not paying for anything.” Jake pushed up from the table and stared down at her. “Think about it and get back to me.” He winked. “You know how to reach me.”

Melissa watched him walk away and admired the way his khaki pants fit his long legs and firm backside. Although he wasn’t as muscular as his brother, J.T. Sawyer, who played for the San Francisco Blaze Major League Baseball team, his chest tapered nicely down to a tight waist and slim hips.

Lately she’d been fantasizing about Jake more and more frequently. Contrary to Shauna and Denise’s assumption, she
had
been in a relationship. Although Brad hadn’t set her world on fire, she’d dated him for a year until they both realized they were better off as friends. Sex with Brad had been mediocre, at best. Her fantasies about Jake were anything but.

A half hour later, she let herself into the Sacramento townhouse she and Paige shared and found Paige ensconced on the overstuffed floral chair across from the sofa with her nose in a textbook. She looked up and smiled. “How was your workout?”

Melissa dropped her gym bag by the door and bent over to pick up her cat who’d wandered in her direction. “I kicked the shit out of Shauna. Or so I imagined.”

“I’ve imagined that same scenario many times myself.” Paige closed her book with a grin. “I hope
your
imaginary beat down was as satisfying as mine have been.”

“Since yours probably involved a swirly in the toilet bowl, I doubt it.” As Paige snorted with laughter, Melissa continued, “How’s the studying going?”

“I’ve been at it since we got back from the shower.” Paige tossed the textbook on the coffee table and stretched her arms. She’d changed into a pair of white shorts, a lemon-yellow tank top, and she’d fashioned her dark hair into a loose braid that hung halfway down her back. It still amazed Melissa that she and Paige had shared the same womb but were so different in looks and temperament. A lot of people didn’t grasp the concept of fraternal twins and asked why they weren’t identical. But while vastly different in appearance, she and Paige shared a connection that could never be broken.

“Have you had anything to eat? I can make us something.” Melissa stroked Chester’s head and smiled as he began to purr.

“Can’t. I’m heading over to Rob’s house.” She pushed up from the chair. “I may stay the night.”

“Why do you keep seeing him when you’ve told me it’s not going anywhere?”

Paige put her hands to her hips and shot her a saucy grin. “Why do you think?”

“So it’s one of those friends with benefits kind of things?”

“Exactly. I don’t have time for a relationship and frankly, I don’t want one.” Paige skirted the chair and headed toward the stairs that led up to their bedrooms. “Now that I’ve made up my mind about my career, I want to concentrate solely on that.”

“Wait,” Melissa called out as Paige reached the bottom of the staircase. Her sister put one hand on the wood banister and turned. “Jake offered to be my date at the wedding.”

“Are you kidding?” Paige’s surprised expression morphed into one of glee. “Holy shit. I can’t wait to see the look on Shauna’s face when she sees him.” A slight frown marred her forehead. “How did that come about?”

“I told him I was thinking of hiring an escort to take me to the wedding and he—”

“
Shut-up!
You were going to hire a male hooker?” Paige exclaimed with wide, disbelieving eyes.

Melissa straightened her shoulders. “Who said anything about a hooker? There are legitimate escort services out there.”

“Name one,” Paige challenged.

“How should I know?” she retorted. “I’ve never hired an escort before.” Tired of being held, Chester squirmed in her arms. Melissa bent over and released him. With feline grace, he darted to the sofa and pounced on his favorite throw pillow. “Anyway, Jake offered and I’m thinking of accepting.”

“You need to be all over that.” Paige grinned. “That man is
fine
. And who knows, maybe you’ll get lucky.”

Melissa frowned. “What does that mean?”

“Are you telling me you would turn him down if he wanted to do more than train you?”

“No...yes,” Melissa said, and pulled the elastic band from her hair. The ends, damp from her workout, brushed her shoulders and caused her to shiver. “Yes. Definitely yes. He’s my trainer. I don’t want to compromise that relationship. He’s been instrumental in helping me change the way I think about eating and exercise.”

Paige shot her a sly smile. “I’m sure he could be instrumental in helping you reach orgasms too.”

Melissa burst out laughing. “You’re so bad.”

“Speaking of orgasms, I need to see Rob about mine. I think I’ll slip on something sexy before I head over to his house.” With a mock salute, Paige turned and dashed up the stairs.

* * *

At seven-thirty that evening, Jake let himself into his kitchen via the door from the garage. As he closed the door behind him Max loped in from the living room to greet him. Jake had adopted the mixed-breed Labrador two years ago. At the time, the Lab rescue group estimated Max to be about seven years old—well past the preferred adoption age for dogs. But he’d taken one look into Max’s hopeful brown eyes and couldn’t bear to leave his adoption up to chance. So yes, maybe he wouldn’t have Max with him for very long, but at least Max would be well taken care of and loved the rest of his life.

“Hey, boy.” Jake crouched to pet Max, whose tail was going a mile a minute as he lapped up his master’s affection. “I’ll bet you’re hungry.” As if understanding his words, Max let out a soft woof.

After he’d fed Max and reheated the steak burrito he’d picked up on the way home from the gym, Jake turned on the television mounted on the wall near the kitchen table and ate his burrito as he watched his brother’s team, the San Francisco Blaze, play the Arizona Diamondbacks. Tonight the game was in Arizona and J.T. had snagged a start. J.T.’s goal was to be a permanent starter and after this season the odds were in his favor to get his wish. His contract would expire in October, and with the marked improvement in J.T.’s stats, Jake was certain another team would be quick to sign him to a contract. It would suck big time if his favorite brother left California, but there was still the off-season. J.T. would never leave Sacramento permanently, especially now that he had a wife and a baby girl. Family was important to J.T., just as it was to Jake.

It was too bad Melissa’s cousin didn’t value family. The woman sounded like a piece of work. The second he’d found out what she’d said behind Melissa’s back he wanted to make her choke on the hurtful words.

Are you sure that’s the only reason?
The voice in his head sounded so much like J.T.’s, Jake could have sworn his brother was in the room.

Okay, so escorting Melissa to her cousin’s wedding went well beyond the normal services he provided for his clients, but Melissa wasn’t just any client. They’d become friends. And as her friend, he couldn’t let her attend the wedding alone. There was absolutely nothing romantic about it.

Still, he couldn’t forget the becoming blush that had stained her cheeks when she’d inadvertently admitted she thought he was hot. To this day, it still surprised him when someone commented favorably on his appearance—it had been years since he’d been teased about his weight, yet there was a small part of him that would never forget the bullies in elementary school and junior high who had tried to make his life miserable.

A few of those same bullies belonged to his gym and they hadn’t changed one iota. The day Melissa had come in and asked for a tour of the facility, the assholes had made derogatory comments about her weight. Melissa overheard them but didn’t say anything. But he’d seen the flicker of pain in her eyes and after he’d left her in his office to fill out a membership application he found those members and tore each of them a new one. He wanted his gym to be a place where people of all sizes and fitness levels felt comfortable working out. Especially women, who for some asinine reason, were held to a higher standard of physical beauty than men.

Jake grinned as J.T. fired off a rocket to second base and caught the runner stealing for the final out of the game. For a few seconds, he watched the Blaze players perform the customary congratulatory handshakes on the infield and then turned off the TV. After washing a few dishes and leaving them on the dish rack to dry, he grabbed the leash hanging from a peg by the front door and clipped it to Max’s collar. As he was every evening, Max was enthusiastic about his evening walk to nearby William Land Park. His whole body wriggled with excitement—which just proved that despite his age, he was still a puppy at heart.

A half hour later, as he and Max came upon the duck pond, Jake’s cell phone vibrated. Halting at water’s edge, he fished it from the front pocket of his khakis and glanced at the screen.

Melissa.

“What’s up?” he asked as he put the phone to his ear.

“I’ve been thinking about your idea.”

“And?”

“I’m not sure having you pose as my date is such a good idea.”

“I’m a better candidate than some random guy from an escort service.”

“Oh my God, when you say it like that, it sounds so cheap. And desperate.”

Jake tightened his grip on Max’s leash as a large flock of ducks paddled furiously toward shore. A few feet away, a couple and their young daughter were poised near the edge of the pond with a bag of bread. Feeding the ducks was a popular pastime in the park and the ducks had no fear of approaching humans. Although Max wanted to investigate, he nonetheless obediently sank to his haunches and silently watched the ducks as they enthusiastically squawked and fought for the best position near the shore.

“You’re neither cheap nor desperate.”

“Well, thanks. But I’ve decided to go to the wedding by myself.”

“Are you sure?” Jake asked.

After several silent seconds, Melissa finally spoke. “Yes.” Her tentative tone didn’t convince him but he wasn’t going to twist her arm. The weird thing was he was a bit disappointed—he’d actually been looking forward to spending the weekend in Monterey. With Melissa.

“If you change your mind, let me know.”

“I will,” she said. “So I’ll see you Wednesday night?”

“Yep.” Jake tugged at Max’s leash and together, they moved away from the ducks and their loud quacks of hungry excitement. He retraced his steps to the walking path and headed toward the park exit with Max by his side. “I’ve decided to change things up a bit. We’re going to have some fun with kettlebells.”

“Kettlebells?” she asked, her tone dubious. “What are those? And how can they possibly be any fun?”

“You’ll see.”

Melissa’s groan made him smile. “I hate it when you say that. It usually means I’m going to be sore the next day.”

Jake laughed. “You’ll thank me later.”

“I’m not sure if I’ll be thanking you or cursing you,” Melissa said, with amusement. “I’ll see you Wednesday.”

“See you then,” he said, almost reluctant to end the call. “And remember what I said. If you need a date for the wedding, I’m your man.”

* * *

I’m your man.

Now wouldn’t
that
be something? Melissa set her phone on the arm of the sofa and turned her attention to the post-game media session on the sports channel. Questions were currently being fielded by Trey Gentry, the Blaze’s number two pitcher behind two-time Cy Young award-winner Dave Rizzo. Currently in his second season, Gentry was a hot property, on and off the field.

But instead of ogling Gentry’s obvious physical attributes, her thoughts were elsewhere. Was she crazy, or what? She’d just given up the perfect opportunity to spend time with Jake outside of the confines of their training sessions. Oh, they’d met a number of times at Starbucks, but that was to discuss her training schedule. Granted, once they’d taken care of business, they lingered over coffee and discussed a variety of topics. But that didn’t mean anything. Jake was friendly and personable with everyone. He probably met with all of his personal training clients outside of the gym from time to time. He cared about his clients’ health and took time outside of the training sessions to check in with them and encourage them.