A/N: Don't expect updates on all my stories (the two main ones anyway) every day, but I am set on having Cover Star as well as Grounded finished by the end of August- and that is a very generous timeline since I feel like Grounded might be on the finish line with maybe two chapters left, and Cover Star another three. I put up a survey on my profile in regards to the progressing of this story. It would be nice if a few of you participated-if you have an opinion on the question. Much appreciated


They say if you play with fire you might get burned. And I seem to remember something similar being uttered by Carlos at one point during date one or even before that. While I certainly had no desire to get burned, a little heat never hurt.

Getting a cue handed by Carlos, I wasn't certain what to do with it at first. I had never played and was a little aware of the general idea. I mean, there was a stick and some balls, so the concept was not completely foreign. When Carlos handed me a small cube that looked blue, I was already out of my depth.

"You rub the blue stuff over the tip, so the cue has more grip when you hit the ball," he explained without me even having to ask.

After a quick explanation of rules that sounded like they might have been simplified for my sake, we started our first round. Would I say I was doing marvelous? Probably not. I was barely able to hit any of my targeted balls. But it was a lot of fun, anyway.

"You know, as much as I appreciate your kindness, you don't have to let me win a round or two just because you feel sorry for me," I stated after I had managed to actually beat him for two turns. A fact that was very unlikely, seeing how skilled he seemed to be and how unskilled I was.

"I don't feel sorry for you, but maybe I'd like to keep you motivated," he admitted with a laugh and I was determined to show him my motivation.

We had been playing for another ten minutes maybe and I was as bad as before at hitting any of my targets or pocketing them, but it wasn't like I didn't enjoy myself.

After a while I noticed how Carlos seemed distracted and like his mind was anywhere but here, at this bar, on this game. And after another few minutes, I came to realize where exactly his attention was. It took me a while to see it, but whenever I prepared for another shot, I leaned slightly over the table, making my technically decent dress move towards indecent territory when the cloth moved upwards. Not by a lot and definitely not showing body parts there were definitely more third date territory, but definitely enough to make an impression and have him distracted.

So, what do woman like me do, when presented with an opportunity and maybe getting an upper hand? Use it to the fullest, of course. And it wasn't like we were doing this for money or like I was actually getting anything out of it, other than fun obviously.

Was the stretching necessary to really get to my ball? No. But neither was getting up on my toes, presenting my backside closer to his eyes, but it was definitely entertaining when I realized some of his reactions.

"Are you being like this on purpose?" I heard him ask and in deep and rather strained voice. Oh yeah, I was definitely getting results and it was working. What exactly I tried to achieve? Who knew, but it was fun to pull his tail and feeling a certain power. The dark and fixed gazes I did catch made me feel heady and empowered and sexy as hell. It also made me feel like he was about a second away from pushing me up against the closest available flat surface and have his way with me. Not that I would really mind.

"Like what?" I asked, playing innocent at his question.

The smile he threw me was mind shattering and a distraction all by itself. He kept smiling my way for a long while, looking like he was thinking about what to reply, before his smile widen even more and he stepped closer to me until he stood right in front of me and could lean in, placing his head right next to mine.

"Keep in mind, two can play that game."

"I have no idea what you are talking about," I stated, amused but also unable to ignore the shiver that was making its way down my entire body.

About ten minutes later I might have gotten a very good idea what he was talking about. We had just started another round when Carlos all of a sudden seemed to decide I needed a few lessons in playing pool. Very hands-on lessons. It happened faster than I even realized when Carlos all of a sudden positioned himself behind me, leaned with me over the table and corrected a few things.

At least, that's what he claimed he did. Was I agreeing I might need corrections? No. But did I actually care? Hell no. All I could think about was 200 pounds of lean muscular hunk pressed against me, whispering words in my ear I wasn't hearing anyway because my mind was thousands of miles away and the heavenly scent my nostrils picked up. My hormones went wild, my mind went blank and my entire body decided to start a party all by itself with buzzing, shivering and a feeling of headiness once more.

"If you angle your cue this way and straighten your arm a little more, you'll find that you have a lot more control of what you'll hit and where you'll send your own balls."

The fact that he was pressing himself tightly against me until there was probably no more room between us and I could feel certain interest on his side pressing prominently against my backside was distracting me once more. So, when I placed my shot, I didn't just hit my cue ball spectacularly but also drove me cue right against on of his playing balls.

"You were saying?" I asked, amused. "I feel like I might be doing better without your lesson." I straighten myself after he had already removed himself from me and turned around, facing him.

He just grinned and looked like he hadn't expected that outcome. To some degree I figured he really had thought he might improve my play, but probably didn't factor in the effect he had of me. I wasn't even sure if he was aware of the effect he had on me.

"I did not see this coming," he admitted. I laughed at his admission, figuring neither of us had seen that one coming.

"I guess I'll stick to my own method from now on," I laughed. "At least I haven't managed a foul with my own playing technique."

Carlos smiled at me, stepped the one step we were apart towards me and placed both his hands on either side of me on the pool table I was leaning against. Moving slowly towards me, he placed his head once again next to my head.

"It's only a foul if we both count it as one. I could be persuaded to let it slip."

"Could you?" I asked, faking surprise. "Was this your plan all along? To make your own rules and claim I can change your mind about certain decisions?"

He laughed softly into my ear at my suggestion, before moving his head away from my ear and towards my lips. "Maybe," he admitted. I knew he was only playing, since the game had been pretty straight forward and despite the fact that I never really played it before, the rules were not rocket science. But if he wanted to play games, I was definitely up for it. Or as he stated so correctly before, two could play this game.

Was it my imagination or did Carlos move at a snail's pace, inching forward only a tenth of an inch for each second which passed. So, I moved towards him, moving things along.

"Well, well, who do we have here?" I heard an unfamiliar voice in the background. Startled, I moved back, looking surprised around me. Turing towards the voice I looked at a cute looking guy who grinned like the cat who ate the canary.

I heard Carlos groan at first and the mutter "I'm going to kill Tank."

"Um… do you know him?" I asked, when the stranger came closer and Carlos looked like he really wanted to hurt someone.

"Unfortunately, I do." The guy was finally standing next to us, seeming unbothered by the fact that he was obviously intruding a private moment. "That's my cousin," Carlos clarified further.

Looking a little closer at the guy who had just walked towards us, he didn't resemble Carlos in the slightest. Like at all. Everything about him was different. While Carlos was clearly Hispanic-origin, with his darker skin, black hair and deep, dark eyes that was full of promise, his cousin was… the complete opposite. Light skin, blonde hair, green eyes-at least from what I could gather in the short time. Though, they did share a similar built and preference for workouts it seemed, since the guy looked as stacked and muscular as my date. Also, the stranger somehow felt familiar, like I had seen him before.

"I'm Lester," the stranger introduced himself, offering me his hand and throwing a blinding smile my way. "And it is definitely so good to finally meet you. I have heard so much about you. All good, obviously."

"Obviously," I stated uncertain. I wasn't sure what he had heard so far and it wasn't like there had been a whole lot of instances someone could have talked about. I mean, I had met Carlos three times-if you included today, which hadn't produced many stories so far. So, Lester could have only heard about the photoshoot and our first date. Looking at Carlos, who still looked like he wanted to stab someone, I had my doubts that he was dishing plenty of details about our first date to begin with. So, Lester was probably fishing for… something. The way he smiled at me also made me believe I was spot on. "I'm Stephanie," I finally introduced myself, though I was certain he was aware of that fact already. "And I haven't heard a single thing about you so far."

Lester laughed at my addition and so did Carlos. "Does that then mean nothing good can be said?"

That had Lester impersonating a fish for a second and Carlos laughing loudly.

"You definitely deserve that for showing up uninvited," Carlos defended me and Lester seemed unaffected.

"It is a public space, so anyone can come and go as they wish. And Tank mentioned I want to stop by."

"Tank is such a gossip," Carlos remarked, seeming like he wanted to roll his eyes. It wasn't like I minded, though needed to admit meeting friends of the guy you were maybe dating was a little unnerving and also… unusual. This was our second date and I can't remember ever having been introduced to friends before it wasn't steady and serious. "I'm sorry, I know this is definitely not normal."

"It's fine, no worries," I replied, honestly, really not minding. Was it unorthodox? Probably. But he had met Mary Lou on our first date as well as my ex-husband. So, was this really weird at the pace we were going and how we seemed to skip steps in this whole process?

"How's the date so far?" Lester asked and Carlos just growled, which made me laugh.

"Fine until you showed up," I replied amused and saw Lester look at me fake-hurt. When he started pouting, I just laughed. He seemed to have a liking for being theatrical.

"This might sound weird," I exclaimed after not being able to shake the feeling of knowing him. I had rummaged my brain for name or connection, but came up empty. "Where do I know you from?"

"From your dreams, beautiful," the guy smirked before he winked at me. I felt like rolling my eyes but needed to grin at his stupid line.

"Does that ever work on anyone?"

"More than you'd expect," Carlos and Lester answered simultaneously, though with very different subtones in their voices. While Carlos' was a mix of surprise and annoyance, Lester's voice sounded like it was obvious and expected.

"O-kay," I just said, wondering what kind of sane woman would actually for that. "But seriously, were do I know you from?"

"I wrote a book on pick-up lines and techniques."

"Are you kidding me?" I asked, looking at Carlos for confirmation who just shrugged and seemed like he wanted to shake his head.

"I wish it was a joke, but he is actually serious. It turned into a bestseller. Desperate men all over the country seemed to have found their bible," Carlos clarified, making it obvious that he wasn't one of these guys. "Also, and I am almost certain that is where you might recognize him from, he writes a column for GQ Magazine."

"Oh my god, yes. You write Unsolicited Advice," I all of a sudden recognized him. There wasn't a guy in my circle of friends and acquaintances who didn't read or subscribe to his column. I had actually read one or two of his pieces and was divided about them. One had been actually quite good, while the other one I had read seemed to be a typical guy's view and came across as slightly misogynistic

"Ah, a fan," he stated and I wanted to roll my eyes.

"Not really. I skimmed over one or two of your pieces when I was at my best friend's place. Her husband subscribes to GQ. Can't really say you left me impressed. Has your girlfriend opinions on your…advice?" I asked and saw him grin at me.

"You tell me, because that sounds like you are auditioning for the job."

"I…what?" I asked, confused, having figured he was taken seeing that he wasn't unattractive. A lot of women had sadly enough no issues overlooking major flaws if the guy was just hot enough. Lester ticked a lot of boxes most women looked for.

"Stop hitting on my date," Carlos next to me growled, which seemed to amuse Lester even more.

"It's not my fault I'm hotter than you, primo," Lester more or less sing-sang and I figured we might be only moments away from Carlos becoming violent.

I was about to reply with something funny and snarky and hopefully defusing the situation a little when I heard another voice from behind Lester.

"You live a dangerous life. One day he's going to beat you up and I won't be there to safe you."

Looking behind Lester my jaw might have hit the floor. While Lester had seemed familiar but I was unable to place him, I had no issues placing the guy who just entered our conversation.

Bobby Brown, star quarterback for the Trenton Snow Leopards, one of the most successful teams this season.