Steve said smoothly, then extended his hand.
Mark had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. “Cassie Goodwin, meet my coworker, Steve Hamlin.”
“Hi,” she said, meeting his hand.
Mark noticed that she didn’t seem to mind that Steve held on longer than necessary. The XXL shirt and the cufflinks popped into his mind. The fact that Cassie had had at least one overnight guest since their breakup meant she was open to male companionship. Steve and Cassie fell into step, heading toward the first tee where other golfers had gathered. Mark followed behind, watching their interplay with growing ire.
What was it about him that Cassie had retreated from? Had he been insensitive? Pushy? Unromantic?
All of the above?
Adding to his foul mood, of their threesome, only Cassie seemed to be able to focus on the game. He and Steve both were so distracted by her, Cassie had the best shot on the first two holes.
“Nice swing,” Steve said under his breath, but he was staring at her ass, not her club.
“Knock it off,” Mark said irritably.
“What are you, her boyfriend?” Steve said under his breath, then raised his voice when Cassie approached them. “So, Cassie—I hear that you and Mark used to date.”
She smiled at Mark. “That’s right.”
“So tell me something about my friend here that I don’t know.”
Mark shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. That I’m a jerk for breaking things off the way I did. That I was thinking with the wrong head. That I didn’t give us a chance.
“He gives great back rubs,” Cassie said, her blue eyes full of mirth.
“You don’t say?” Steve turned raised eyebrows in Mark’s direction.
Mark gave a tight smile, but inside he was perplexed. He’d never given Cassie a backrub—she obviously had him confused with some other guy who had his hands all over her.
And why did the thought of some other guy having his hands all over Cassie arouse such strong feelings of jealousy?
During the rest of the nine-hole scramble, Mark was torn between wanting the event to end, yet enjoying the chance to study Cassie unobserved. Her concentration was intense. She wrinkled her nose adorably just before she swung the club. And her neck…how had he never noticed the elegant line of her neck?
“Man, we’re almost done and I haven’t heard you mention Belzer,” Steve whispered.
“I told you, I’ll handle it,” Mark returned.
Steve elbowed him. “Back rub, huh? You sly dog. I thought you said you didn’t sleep with her.”
Anger rose in his chest. “Drop it, Steve.”
His coworker lifted his hands. “Whatever you say.”
By the time they finished playing and picked up the third-place trophy—thanks to Cassie’s great game—Mark was eager to be alone with her. He followed her to the parking lot, as nervous as a teenager, trying to make small talk. Desperate, he fell back on the only subject that came to mind. “How’s the bid for the Belzer project going?”
She gave him a suspicious glance. “Fine. Why?”
He attempted a casual shrug, but guilt stabbed at him. “Just making conversation. Hey, I didn’t realize you were such a good golfer.”
“Maybe you don’t know everything about me,” she returned lightly.
At her subtle reference to a sensual side of her he hadn’t bothered to get to know, his cock twitched.
“Oh, no,” Cassie said, stopping in front of her small SUV. “I left my lights on. I hope my battery isn’t dead.” She opened the door and slid behind the wheel. When she turned the key, a clicking noise sounded. “It’s dead, alright.”
“I’ll give you a jump,” Mark offered quickly.
She glanced up at him, a sexy smile curving her mouth.
Mark felt like an idiot. “I mean…I’ll give your battery a jump…with my car…of course.”
Cassie laughed. “I’d appreciate it.”
Mark carried his golf clubs to his vehicle, and gave himself a mental shake. Women didn’t normally throw him off balance, and certainly not women that he’d—as Steve had so eloquently put it—dumped. But being around Cassie made him think maybe he’d made a mistake ending their relationship. He’d always thought she was a great person and a talented architect. He enjoyed her company. He’d only been disappointed in her apparent disinterest in sex. But apparently he hadn’t been very observant.
Lost in thought, he pulled his vehicle across the lot to her SUV. Cassie had already lifted the hood and was leaning in to connect jumper cables to her dead battery. The navy sport skirt rode high on the backs of her tanned, toned thighs, eliciting thoughts of her bent over, naked, opening herself to receive him.
Mark groaned as a powerful lust surged through his body. He had to have her, to see what he’d missed. But the question was, would Cassie give him another chance?
CASSIE STEPPED BACK FROM her car and nearly bumped into Mark, who had walked up behind her. His nearness sent her pulse rocketing. Desire stabbed her deep in her womb. Her sex was already primed and sensitive from watching him all day…and knowing that he was watching her.
He held up a golf towel. “Thought you might want to wipe your hands.”
“Thank you,” she said, taking it.
She watched as he lifted the hood of his vehicle and connected the other end of the jumper cables to his battery. The muscles in his bronze arms bunched, giving her a little thrill. What would it be like to lie in his strong arms, skin to skin?
“I’ll start my engine,” he said, then they exchanged a look before he climbed into his vehicle.
Suddenly everything they said seemed laden with innuendo. Cassie felt silly and young and flush with the hope that they could explore this burgeoning chemistry between them. A few minutes later, he signaled her to turn over her engine. She did, and thankfully, it engaged.
Mark got out and disconnected the cables, then lowered the car hoods and came around to her window. “Let your engine idle for a few minutes to charge the battery. I’ll follow you home to make sure everything is okay.”
“That’s not necessary,” she protested.
“I want to.” His eyes flashed with the heat of a protector. “Since you showed me up on the golf course, at least let me save face by doing something manly.”
She laughed. “Okay. Thanks.”
Seeing Mark in her rearview mirror all the way home made her feel warm and feminine. She pulled into the garage and parked, then to calm her pounding heart, she pulled up the list she’d made on her phone. Invent reasons to cross paths…make yourself available…be secretive…be naughty…surprise him.
After a few deep breaths, she jumped out and walked back to his SUV. “Everything’s fine. Thanks again.” Surprise him.
“No prob—”
Cassie cut him off with a searing kiss. She opened her mouth and thrust her tongue against his in a slow, sensual match, tasting him and sighing into his mouth. When she pulled back, she was gratified to see the kiss had had the intended effect.
“—lem,” he finished, then his Adam’s apple bobbed. “Wow. I don’t remember…”
She angled her head. “Don’t remember what?”
“Never mind. But I’m curious—why did you tell Steve I gave good back rubs?”
She grinned. “Because