The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton

a hurry if necessary.
    The day went by in a flurry of meetings about clients and events. Thank God for her job and her clients, and for Maggie and the other women, who kept her sane.
    By the time four o’clock rolled around, she was astounded the day was already gone. She sipped a cup of tea and went over paperwork and entered dates into the computer.
    “Have you been seeing that hot quarterback any?”
    Tara looked up to find Maggie making herself at home in her office.
    Actually, it had been a week since that night on top of the mountain with Mick. He hadn’t called her. He said he would. Then again, he was a man. They’d had sex. He was popular and went through a ton of women, none of whom had children. Tara knew once she’d dropped that bomb on him, it would be the end of Mick Riley pursuing her.
    It’s what she’d wanted. Still, it stung. Just a little.
    Fortunately, she’d been too damn busy all week for it to bother her too much.
    “No. Not seeing him at all. I told you we weren’t getting involved.”
    “Uh-huh. He’s in the front waiting area.”
    Tara shot forward in her chair and spilled drops of tea all over her paperwork. “Shit.”
    Maggie laughed.
    “Dammit, why didn’t you just tell me that?
    Maggie grinned and grabbed a few tissues to blot the tea stains. “More fun this way.”
    “Bitch.” Tara smoothed her hands down the front of her flowing black-and-white checkered skirt, adjusted the wide black belt, and was just vain enough to take a quick glance at her hair in the mirror over her desk.
    Her blouse was tucked in and looked fine. She looked fine.
    “What is he doing here?” she asked Maggie.
    Maggie shrugged. “I’m sure I don’t know, but he looks good enough to eat.”
    Tara rolled her eyes, moving around her desk toward her door. “You need a man of your own.”
    Maggie sighed and followed Tara out of her office. “Don’t I know it.”
    She was nervous as she walked to the front of the store. Mick stood there at the window, his dark hair highlighted by the sun streaming in. He was so tall, so imposing, so incredibly gorgeous. He turned when he heard her and smiled that dazzling smile that made her just a little bit weak in the knees.
    “Hi,” she said.
    “Hi, yourself.”
    Maggie came up next to her, and Tara had to turn and give her a look.
    “Oh. Yeah. Paperwork. Later, Mick.”
    Mick’s lips quirked. “Later, Maggie.”
    “What are you doing here?”
    “It’s been a week since I’ve seen you.”
    “I realize that. Figured you’d moved on.” She almost bit her tongue clean off. Why did she have to say that? It sounded ... mopey and girlie and needy and all those things she’d rather not sound like.
    “No, I just had some business things I had to take care of. I would have called you at night or come by your house, but you didn’t give me your cell number or your home address.”
    She crossed her arms. “When has that ever stopped you? Couldn’t your oh-so-stealthy agent scout them out for you?”
    “Actually, yes, she could have.” He cocked his head to the side. “I figured maybe you’d want to give them to me yourself this time. Maybe even invite me over to your house.”
    “Why would I want to do that?”
    “Because you like me.”
    Telling him no was on the tip of her tongue. She’d just gotten to the point where she thought she’d never see him again.
    And she’d spent the entire week missing him and feeling achy about not seeing him. How utterly pathetic, especially since she hadn’t wanted to start up a relationship with him in the first place.
    “I’d really like to meet your son. Does he like football?”
    She sighed. “He loves football.”
    He moved in closer, picked up a strand of her hair, twirling the curling end between his fingers. “Invite me over for dinner. We’ll have pizza.”
    “You don’t strike me as the pizza type.”
    “Then there’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
    No doubt. “That’s not a good