Slamdunked By Love (One on One #2) Read Online Free Page A

he outweighed her by Lord-only-knew-how-much, she was wearing shoes that weren’t known for their traction, and she was, you know, nosy, she chose not to pull away.
    They escaped through a side door into a brightly lit corridor devoid of people. Down the hall, dishes rattled. They’d come through a service entrance. He let go of her hand. Ignoring the way it still tingled, she crossed her arms across her chest and tapped her foot. “Would you care to explain what that was about, sweetheart ?”
    “Remember how you said you owed me?” His lips had the nerve to stretch into a wide, self-satisfied grin. “I’m calling it in.”
    Her mouth dropped open. “You do realize you can’t just call it in , right?”
    “Oh, I believe I can, and I am.” His tone dared her to turn him down. Dared her to argue that going out with him wasn’t her most-desired wish.
    Now this was the arrogant Brady Hudson who dominated the headlines. She could either order his cocky ass out of her way and leave him hanging or try to figure out what was going on. Her inherent curiosity led her to stop imagining kicking him in the shin and to choose door number two. She directed a no-nonsense look at him. “I need you to back up. What’s going on?”
    He cleared his throat. “Elise has made her interest in me known. Getting involved with the owner’s daughter is not a good idea. I needed a reason to turn her down, and you were there.”
    Caitlin covered her mouth with her hand to hide a snicker. “Poor Brady. So irresistible. But why would she come on to you?”
    He shot her a narrowed-eyed glance. “You are so good for my ego.”
    She shrugged, still struggling to hold back her laughter. “I have a feeling women have been good for your ego since before you were born. You have to admit it’s strange. It can’t be good for her professional reputation to date a player.”
    “I don’t think she gives a damn.” He scrubbed his face with a hand. “I can’t have this happen again.”
    Again? Caitlin sobered in an instant. “What’s going on?”
    Brady let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders drooping. “Look, my last girlfriend danced for my old team, and I didn’t realize what a big deal it was until the shit hit the fan. People thought I was getting special treatment and resented me for it. Breaking team rules was the excuse the team used to trade me. Dating or even looking like I’m thinking about dating someone who works for the team is the last thing I need. I need things to go right here.” He lifted his head and wiggled his shoulders like he was shaking off the moment of vulnerability. “So will you do it?”
    She cocked her head to the side. “Do what exactly?”
    “Pretend to be my girlfriend for a week or two.”
    Shock reverberated through her, causing her to stumble back a step. “Are you serious?”
    “Yes.” A self-satisfied grin broke across his too-handsome face like he’d just solved all the world’s problems.
    “No.” Not in a million years. She wanted to get involved with an athlete like she wanted Hans to never get well again.
    “Come to a game or two,” he continued like she hadn’t spoken. “You like basketball. It won’t be a hardship.”
    She threw her hands up. “Which part of ‘no’ do you not understand?”
    “All of it. You don’t get anywhere in life by believing you can’t succeed.”
    “Well, it’s time to start learning. Besides, you barely know me.”
    “I know you’re not a stage-five clinger. If you were, you’d be jumping at this opportunity.”
    She would not laugh. “How do I know you’re not a clinger? If we look at the current situation…”
    He went all huffy, arrogant male. “I’m Brady Hudson. I don’t cling.”
    “Except when you’re trying to escape a woman’s evil clutches.”
    “It’ll be fun,” he said, ignoring the fact that she’d delivered a grade-A comeback.
    Again, she jerked back in surprise. “How do you figure that?”
    “You get to hang out with