Bring The Heat: A Bad Boy Sports Romance (Bad Boys of Summer Book 1) Read Free Page B

get some Saki!”
    Forty minutes later and we were parked on posh stools around the bar of our favorite upscale sushi spot. We each had a drink and I was finally starting to relax. The car would be taken care of, and I’d escaped a day at the ballpark without getting a sunburn.
    Small victories.
    “There they are!” Paris announced, as though addressing the entire establishment.
    They? Aww, shit.
    In the chaos over my smashed up car I’d forgotten all about my impending set-up. I should have insisted on going to the car shop. Surely the outdated magazines littering their waiting room would prove to be more interesting than whatever meathead Robby scrounged up for me to double-date with.
    I turned to face the front doors and the air evaporated from my lungs as Robby entered and I saw that the meathead in question was none other than Cody Wright. The pitcher that actually wielded the power to make me want to watch a baseball game for more than thirty seconds.
    And also, the reason why I was carting around a busted up baseball in the bottom of my vintage bag.
    Cody was even hotter than the image blasted on the giant billboard. He was right at Robby’s height, so somewhere between 6 and 6’1. Solidly built with killer arms that filled out the sleeves of his t-shirt with panty-dropping results. His dark hair was just long enough to make my fingers ache to weave through it. Full lips led to a charming smile, and as he approached, I noticed a cleft in his chin that I hadn’t noticed before.
    And then there were his arresting eyes that were a mix between forest and army green.
    Heart. Fucking. Stopping.
    “Hello ladies,” Robby said, sweeping over to the bar. He and Paris got tangled up immediately and Cody and I both found other places to look as they exchanged several audible kisses. When they broke apart for oxygen, Robby made the introductions. “Chelsea, this is Cody Wright. Cody, this is Paris, my fiancée and her best friend Chelsea Brooks.”
    “Nice to meet you both,” Cody drawled.
    Well shit. His voice was just as sexy as the rest of him. Thick and commanding with honey smoothness.
    Stop staring, Chelsea.
    “Thanks for letting me crash your party,” he added after shaking Paris’ hand.
    He reached for mine and I took it firmly. I refuse to be one of those girls with the weak-ass handshake. But as soon as our palms met, my heart raced and my arm went limp. Cody’s hand was smooth, strong, and had a hint of calloused skin that reminded me he was a strong athlete, and I went a little weak in the knees. Or was that because of the way his green eyes locked with mine and lit up? Or was it the way his full, kissable lips spread into a quirked grin?
    “You’re welcome any time, Cody,” Paris replied. She patted at the bar stool she’d just abandoned and scooted herself up into Robby’s lap on the seat beside it, nearly giving the bar a pretty decent show before fixing her skirt. She giggled in Robby’s ear and his finger disappeared under the hem.
    Good grief. Thank goodness the swanky restaurant was dimly light.
    Then again, as I glanced over at Cody, who slid into place beside me, I thought maybe a little more light might be a good thing.

Chapter Four
    Cody
    What started out as one of the shittiest nights of my life was taking a quick turn in the other direction. Chelsea Brooks’ sweet smile, wide doe-eyed stare, and fidgeting fingers were all pointing to my night having a happy ending after all. I just needed a few minutes to size her up, locate the objections, and close the deal.
    I’d taken some marketing classes in college. It was amazing how many of the lessons applied in the pursuit of the fairer sex.
    Bedroom, boardroom, or front office contract negotiations, it was all the same to me.
    I had something Chelsea wanted. Something she looked like she needed.
    The bartender approached me and I ordered a Guinness. Normally, after a bomb game like that, I’d need something stronger but I wanted to keep