Taming the VIP Playboy / Promoted To Wife?: Taming the VIP Playboy

“I think water would be better,” she said. She was already buzzing a little from the drinks and the dancing. And from Nate, she thought. He went to her head faster than any other man she’d ever been with. Maybe that was because in the past, a man would have had to compete with her dancing career, but now she was simply a woman. And this man … well, he was addictive.

“Water first,” he said. “Then mojitos … I don’t like to drink alone.”

“I’m sure that’s not an issue. You always have someone on your arm.” “Not always,” he said.

And as he walked away, she realized there was more to the playboy that she’d first suspected.

When he returned to her side, he led her out of the crowded part of the club and behind the stage where there was a roped-off area. There were not a lot of people back here—in fact, it took her a few moments to notice it was just the two of them.

He handed her the water and she drank it down, grateful for it after all the dancing they’d done.

“I love this view,” he said, pulling her closer to the railing that ran around the edge of the roof.

She glanced out over Little Havana and toward the Miami skyline. She could make out the bright lights on the Four Seasons Hotel, which was the largest building in Florida. It was a breathtaking view.

“I can see why,” she said. “Tell me about this club and how you ended up here.”

He arched one eyebrow at her. “I would have thought that was all common knowledge.”

She shook her head. “Not really. I mean I know the headlines and the speculation, but I want to know the real story. Why did Nate Stern leave baseball to help run a club in South Florida with his brothers instead of pursuing a career in front of the camera?”

She finished her glass of water and set it down on the wrought-iron table. Nate took her arm and led her farther away from the club sounds as the deejay played Santana. There was a padded bench set amongst some tall trees. The night breeze surrounded them and she felt more comfortable in her own skin than she had in years.

“If I tell you my secrets will you tell me yours?” he asked.

She nodded. “I’m not nearly as interesting as you, but if you want to know about me, I will tell you if you get me a mojito.”

“Good.”

After a brief trip to the bar, he came back and he handed her the mojito, then gestured for her to sit down. He sat next to her, stretching his long arm behind her on the bench and drawing her closer to him.

Nate didn’t like to talk too much about the old days. He did it with guys like T.J. because they expected him to and frankly that was the only thing he and T.J. had in common. The old days.

But reminiscing about what was instead of focusing on what is had never seemed wise to him.

“I think you asked about why I’m here,” he said.

“I did. I’ve always thought … well, since I started working at the club you seem the least likely to actually be happy here in Miami. Why didn’t you stay in New York or head to L.A.?”

He shrugged. He’d thought about it. But to be honest, he had been injured and unsure and he’d needed the support of his brothers around him. And frankly, they weren’t going to give up their homes to move across the country.

“It just felt right,” he said.

She laughed as she turned to look up at him. “I can’t believe you made a decision based on your gut. I mean one that would change your life.”

“Why not? When I played baseball I made gut decisions all the time.” It was one of the things he thought had made him stand out.

“I never thought about it like that.”

“Most people don’t. So that’s it. My brothers were here. I’d invested in the club so I technically had a job, at least on paper, and my sports career was over so I came home.”

“You sum it up like you are stating facts,” she said, her voice soft and pensive. “Was it really that easy or did you struggle to give up your dream?”

“My dream?”

“Baseball,” she said.

He had had a rough patch but had worked through it. “The sad thing about me, Jen, is that I realized I didn’t want to be just a baseball player.”

“What did you want to be?” she asked, moving closer to him.

He knew he could talk about himself all night with her as an audience. Most people didn’t listen well and were just waiting for a chance to talk about themselves but Jen was engaged in what he was saying. He wasn’t sure why. Did she really want to know the man he was?

“Famous,” he said. “I know, shallow, right?”

“I wanted that, too,” she admitted.

He thought she was being kind and trying to make him feel better about his rather shallow goals. Cam always said that Nate was too pretty and that had made him believe he could skate through life. But Nate ignored what his brother said. He’d worked hard to be good at baseball and he’d done it because he thought it would pay off.

In a way, it had.

“Really?” he asked.

“You think I’m joking around?”

“Of course not. But I don’t know anything about you.

I know you weren’t a baseball player. Our paths would have crossed before tonight.”

“Indeed, they would have,” she said.

“So?”

She took a deep breath and then a sip of her drink. The mojito was smooth and minty and he saw her savor it as it went down. Since she hadn’t lingered over her drink like that before, he suspected she didn’t want to talk about herself now.

“Tell me, honey. Your secret is safe with me.”

“Honey? You don’t know me well enough to call me that.”

“Jen, I will before the night is over.” “Isn’t that a little presumptuous of you?” she asked.

“No. You are just as interested in me as I am in you.”

She nodded. “I am. I hate to say it but I really do want to know the man behind the flash.”

“Good. I hope you find him to your liking,” he said.

“You’re impressing me so far,” she said.