The Ex Project by Nia Arthurs

Chapter Eleven

“Talk about it?”She almost choked.

Duane Marden was standing next to her looking like danger in a black tux and he wanted to discuss putting his mouth on hers?

My goodness. Was he trying to drive her out of her mind?

He stared intently at her. As the silence stretched, his eyes shifted from liquid steel to a stormy silver. He looked entirely serious.

“We didn’t discuss that earlier.” Duane took a step forward and she was struck by the sincerity in both his face and his voice. It made her sway a little toward him, eager to be closer. His voice dropped to a heartfelt whisper, “Can I touch you?”

Was that what he said that night? Did he ask her permission before he took her clothes off and pressed her into the hotel bed? Did he speak in that low, near-reverent tone before he invaded her?

Heat spiraled from the center of her stomach to the tip of her head. Why did she not remember?

“I think—”

“Do my eyes deceive me? Is that Duane Marden?” a voice thundered. Winston King swaggered over to them, his glass half-full and his smile bigger than the diamond-encrusted watch on his wrist.

“That’s me,” Duane said. He turned to face Winston, his hand falling on her lower back and bringing her a little closer.

Yolanda didn’t know if he’d embraced her to send a message to Winston or if he needed her support. Perhaps it was the latter. She doubted Duane had any experience wading through the shark-infested waters of the Belizean upper-class.

She slid her arms around Duane’s waist and rested her head on his chest. Winston’s eyes bulged and she savored his surprise. It felt good to see the self-absorbed man stop in his tracks.

Duane’s thumb slid up the back of her elbow, tracing a sultry circle that made her knees turn to mush.

“How can I help you?” Duane asked Winston in a bored tone.

“I just wanted to come over. Say hi.” He nodded at Yolanda.

She dipped her chin back coldly.

“I watched all of your games, man. It felt so good to see a Belizean out there on the field with the best of them. I had so much pride, you know?” He tapped his chest as if all of Duane’s accomplishments were his. “It was a blow to us all when you got that injury.”

Yolanda stiffened and shot a quick glance at Duane. She knew, from gossip around the football league, that he didn’t like to bring up the incident that knocked him out of the game for good.

His expression remained composed and his voice was even when he said, “It ended my career unexpectedly, but I’ve made peace with it. In fact, I’m really excited about what we’re doing here in Belize.”

“Ah, right.” Winston scratched the back of his ear. “You’re—uh, you’re teaching kids now, right?”

“I am.”

“That must be a step down.” Winston laughed.

Duane did not.

Irritation made her jerk forward. Yolanda opened her mouth to tell Winston off, but Duane tapped the back of her wrist twice. She glanced up at him.

He dipped his head imperceptibly. I got this.

She narrowed her eyes. Let me tear him up for you.

He took her hand and squeezed. It was just a gentle touch, yet she understood immediately that he would handle it.

Her muscles relaxed though she couldn’t resist scowling at Winston’s smug little face. The bastard.

“If you’re talking about money and fame, then yes, you could call teaching a ‘step down’. But my vision is bigger than what you can see.”

“What exactly is your vision?”

“To form a strong football league here in Belize.”

Winston snorted.

“I’m going to revive the sports industry, starting with football. And then we’re going international with athletes who already have experience getting paid for doing what they love.”

“World domination? You think that’s possible?”

“Of course it is. Sending one kid to the pros isn’t enough. I want the world to know that good things, great things can come out of Belize. And I want my kids to know that they can accomplish their dreams without having to leave their home. The players I’m teaching and even the ones I haven’t met yet, they are the future of football, and I’m proud to be a part of that.”

Winston chuckled and took a sip of his drink. “That’s a nice soap box, Marden, but you can get off it now.”

Duane’s bottom lip went firm.

Screw it.Yolanda slipped away from Duane and stepped right up to Winston. “I don’t see your wife tonight, Winnie.” She blinked in an exaggerated fashion. “Where is she?”

“She’s at home. The pregnancy is hard on her, you know.”

“I can imagine it’s been hard on you too.” She tilted her head innocently. “Is that why you brought your secretary as your date? You two seemed awful cozy over in the corner where you thought no one was looking.”

Winston’s expression tightened. “Did we?”

“She’s beautiful. And young. And touches you a lot. I’m sure she’s helpful in all kinds of ways, isn’t she? Maybe you’d like to discuss how she’s performing at work? Or otherwise?”

Winston’s face went blotchy.

Duane chuckled but tried to cover it with a cough.

“You two have a good night.” Winston stalked off after throwing him a cold glare.

Yolanda threw a fist at his retreating back. “Pompous jerk.”

“I have other words but yours captures the spirit of what I’m thinking.”

“All he has is money. He’s never accomplished anything on his own. Who does he think he is to look down on you?”

Silence met her statement. She glanced over her shoulder and found Duane staring at her with a soft look.

Her stomach flopped. “What?”

“I had that.”

“I never said you didn’t.”

“You destroyed him.”

“I reminded him that he’s human.”

“You didn’t have to drag his pregnant wife into it.”

“I didn’t mean any disrespect to her. I just wanted him to know he’s not tall enough to even reach a soap box.”

“He’s rich though. And his dad’s a politician. Maybe you didn’t have to go so hard.”

“I don’t care who he is. Sure, when it comes to money, he might be a big deal. But when it comes to character,” she put her thumb and forefinger an inch apart, “he’s this big.”

Duane suddenly moved forward and wrapped his arms around her. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and, somehow, it was more intimate than if he pushed her against the wall and tore her clothes off.

He eased back and smiled. “I’d ask you how big you think I am, but I think it would ruin the moment.”

Heat flooded her body as she imagined him without that jacket or any of his clothes on. How big was Duane Marden? Now that was a question that made her mouth water.

“Do you want to dance?” Duane asked.

“I…”

He swept her toward the center of the room where the Belizean Youth Orchestra had taken up residence.

Janice was a patron of the junior college’s art program. The orchestra repaid her by providing live music at each of her events.

As they drew closer, the teenage girls all started twittering like a flock of colorful birds. Adolescent grins and longing glances got thrown in Duane’s direction. Yolanda saw the violin player’s jaw drop along with her bow.

Eyes narrowing, she stepped into Duane’s body. Back off you underage minions. He’s mine. Sort of.

Duane slid his fingers through her hand and pressed his other hand to her waist. She resisted. Guests were turning to watch them and the ripple of stares made her belly twist.

“No one dances at these things.”

“You scared?”

She scrunched her nose. “Of course not.”

“Come on.” He tucked her against his body and whispered in her ear, “It’ll be fun.”

No, it would be dangerous, but Yolanda couldn’t resist the challenge in his eyes. As the music shifted to a haunting melody, she wrapped her free hand around his neck and swayed with him. His scent embraced her, soap, sunshine and subtle cologne. She closed her eyes and snuggled against him, content to let him lead.

Duane’s chin rubbed against her hair. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“The defense. Most people just tell me I’m crazy and that Belize is too small of a country to support a football league.”

“If people keep thinking like that, then we’ll never move forward.”

He chuckled.

“I’m serious. We’re a developing country, but we still have a lot to offer.” She leaned back. “How are we ever going to grow as a nation if people can’t chase their dreams? That’s why we work hard as parents. And that’s why we push our kids to try different things. It’s not supposed to be so we can force them down a path. It’s to help them find what they were born to do so they can go and be the best at it.”

His lips tugged up. “You are incredible.”

“Don’t tease me, Mr. Two-time MVP.”

“You watch football?”

“Heck no. I’m not a sports fan.”

He spun her and then dragged her back to him. “That means… you looked me up?”

“You spend time around my son. Of course I did a background check.”

He swept her to the left. “And what else did you find?”

She chewed on her bottom lip.

He arched an eyebrow. “Go on. I’m not going to judge you. Too much.”

“Funny.” She laughed and relaxed. “Both your parents are still living and happily married.”

“True.”

“You have two younger brothers. Both of them are in a relationship, but one is about to break up.”

“How do you know that?”

“My PI said your brother’s girlfriend is moving out of Belize soon. It doesn’t seem like she’s told him.”

Duane stopped and blinked. “How much did you pay that PI?”

“You were going to spend several hours, unsupervised, with my son. I spared no expense.”

“Rich people are different,” he murmured.

“That doesn’t sound like a compliment.”

He shrugged and didn’t deny it.

The song ended and Duane dipped her. She held on to him, her body only a couple inches off the floor and her eyes locked on his.

He smiled and she felt her pulse jump. Those eyes of his were like melted steel and the impact made her blood sizzle in her veins. Her gaze locked on his lips and her heart felt heavy and full.

Duane lifted her up, his movements strong and sure. Her heart exploded with anticipation as he moved closer and closer.

“Yolanda,” he whispered. “I need an answer.”

“To what?”

“Whether I can do this.” He drew his finger down the column of her throat, driving her crazy. “I need to hear you say it.”

“Yes.” She pleaded. Begged. Just about pawed at his chest and pressed as close as humanly possible.

Duane tilted her chin up and leaned down.

She forgot about the crowd. The orchestra. The fact that they were only pretending to date.

His lips were so close.

Almost there.

Almost…

“Excuse me!” Janice crashed into her, breaking the spell of the moment. “Why didn’t you come and see me the moment you got here? I couldn’t believe it was my sister who—”

“Janice,” she hissed. Way to spoil a moment.

Duane chuckled and smoothed his tie down. “Nice to meet you. You must be Yolanda’s sister.”

“Do we look alike?” Janice pressed her face close to Yolanda.

“Like twins.”

Yolanda rolled her eyes and resisted the urge to shove her sister away. “What do you want?”

“Coach Marden, do you mind if I steal her away for a bit? I have a few people I need her to meet.”

“Why can’t he come with me?” Yolanda asked, her eyebrows tightening.

“Oh.” Janice looked shocked. “You have to excuse me, Coach Marden. My sister barely attends these things, so when she does I have to strike while the iron’s hot. Of course you’re free to join us. Do you—”

“You two go ahead.” Duane smiled and winked at her. “I’ll get you a drink. Water, okay?”

“Wine.”

He scrunched his nose.

She chuckled. “Fine. A soda.”

“Coming right up.”

“Let’s go.” Janice linked their arms together and rushed her away, but all Yolanda wanted to do was run back into Duane’s arms for one more dance.