Chapter Eleven
Tara checked the time on her phone. Kace would be at the spa soon. He had sent a text about their date. She should have said no then and there, but she couldn’t find the courage. She didn’t want to find the courage. She wanted to spend time with him. When she was with him, her breath came easier. Even her shoulder blades sank down her back. Now she’d have to cancel in person, and he had arranged for Izzi to sit again. He had been so kind to get her Izzi, and she was going to thank him by canceling at the last second.
Trying to date someone while Drew was around would be impossible. He would ruin it for her. She didn’t want to believe for one second he had changed, but what if? What if Drew was making the kind of changes he had promised her years ago? Didn’t her son deserve the chance to have his parents together? Wasn’t Royce’s happiness more important than her own? She had loved Drew once. She could love him again. Maybe. Or would it be better for Royce to see her happy?
She cleaned the massage table and moved the linens from the washer to the dryer. She checked the inventory of lotions and oils the spa offered and made a list to order additional supplies. She needed to market her own products more. She had used the lemon balm lotion on three clients today, and they all loved it. She never had the chance to discuss using her own products with Jett. She needed to do that before she continued using her wares on his clients.
If Drew made things for her difficult here, as he had with her last job, she would have to run again, so using her products in the spa would be pointless. She needed her online store to produce enough sales that she and Royce could live off the profits. It could end up being her only income because the next time she ran, she would have to go so far and so deep Drew would never find them.
The chime in the back room went off, indicating someone had come in the door. The time had arrived for her to tell Kace no. She filled her lungs with air and headed into the waiting area.
She stopped short. Instead of Kace, two women wearing yoga clothes had their heads bent close in a whispered discussion.
“Can I help you?”
The woman with long brown hair almost to her waist looked up and smiled. Her brown eyes were unworried. Her shoulders had a straight line to them and tattoos on each. She wasn’t bent at the waist, hunching over. She even had a slight bend to her knees. She had the kind of posture people strived for but almost always forgot to practice.
“Hi, I’m Calista Hartman.” She stepped forward and stretched out her hand. “We haven’t met yet. I own the bed-and-breakfast in town with my dad.”
“You’re Gage’s fiancée.” She slipped her hand into Calista’s firm grip. “He spoke about you at dinner the other night.”
A rose blush crept along Calista’s cheeks. She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Oh right. I couldn’t make that. I hope he didn’t go on and on.”
“He was lovely, actually. It was obvious how much he loved you.” She had never had anything close to that. Drew seldom told her how special she was, and since she had grown up in a house short on compliments, she wasn’t accustomed to praise from others. She might not know what to do with it if and when she heard it.
“He’s a big softy. Excuse my manners. This is Gretchen.”
Gretchen offered a little wave. Her smile burst wide, inviting conversation and making her blue eyes sparkle. A rich energy vibrated off her, as if she had more than enough to share. Tara leaned into that energy almost greedily. She felt like an old friend in the span of a moment. An old soul, her grandmother would have said. Someone who would have walked this earth before.
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you. This spa is beautiful. I would love to sit here with a cup of coffee and a good book.” Gretchen took in the surroundings. Her blonde hair moved in a fluid straight line as if it never tangled.
“You’re not from Montana.” It wasn’t a question.
“Not originally. I grew up in New Jersey. How could you tell?”
“You have a hint of an accent. I spent some time out that way several years ago. I became very familiar with the way the New York-New Jersey area spoke.” She and Drew had lived in northern New Jersey when Drew played for the New York team. “Did you two want to set up a couple of massages this week?”
“Actually, we were hoping to recruit your help,” Calista said.
“I can try.” She would be happy to help the Rykers in any way she could.
“Gretchen offers yoga classes with me at the B and B for the guests. We’re pulling together a fundraiser for mental health awareness and would like you to join us.”
“You mean offer massages or something?” Anything that increased mental health awareness was a good idea in her book. After living with her parents, who each had their own versions of mental illness, and then being married to an abusive man, she wanted the spotlight brought onto the problem without divulging her own story.
“Actually, I was thinking about your lotions. Maybe selling them and donating some of the profits?”
“You know about my lotions?”
“Sure. Jett told me. And I looked you up online. Your website is adorable. I bookmarked it.” Calista tapped at her phone, then held it out for her to see that she had pulled up the website.
“The lotions go well with the yoga classes we’re offering,” Gretchen said.
“Yeah. We’re doing twenty-four hours of nonstop yoga, but if someone needs to get off the mat, we don’t want them to go far. We’re planning on having several vendors, including the B and B and the ranch, there. So participants can eat, relax, whatever. A real family affair,” Calista said.
“I don’t know what to say.” This could help her store in ways she hadn’t dreamed of. The exposure to the local community and the endorsement from the ranch would raise her value in the eyes of the locals. She could post about the event on social media and offer a promotion of her products during the time of the fundraiser, giving a percentage of her profits to the cause. Her mind whirled with ideas.
“Say yes.” Calista creaked out a laugh.
“Yes. Of course. Thank you for including me. It means a lot.”
“I’ll email you all the details. It’s in three weeks. We’ll need as many lotions as possible in different sizes. We’ve been advertising the event since early August when Gretchen came on board. She brought quite a following with her for someone who isn’t originally from Backwater.” Calista winked.
“Do you have any samples?” Gretchen said.
“Sure. Give me a second.” She ran in the back, pulled her lemon balm lotion down, and scooped some into small jars. Maybe this was also a chance to make a couple of new friends. She stopped scooping. She shouldn’t get too far ahead of herself. Calista had to be nice to her. She was engaged to one of Tara’s bosses. Still, the idea of a friend was nice.
She returned with a jar for each. “I had the lemon balm already mixed.”
“Great. I’ll be in touch. Let’s grab that probiotic tea.” Calista placed a hand on Gretchen’s shoulder.
“See you soon,” Gretchen said.
The door closed on their exit, leaving Tara alone with thoughts of a future. She had expected Kace and got something surprising instead. But she would still need to say no to Kace’s date. That could affect her chance to help Calista if he was in one of his moods. She understood the side effects of a concussion and knew he couldn’t always control how he acted, but that wouldn’t change the fact his reaction might be bad. He would have the power to convince Calista to uninvite her.
Or was she worrying for nothing? Kace didn’t seem like the kind of man who took a woman’s rejection to heart. He could have any woman he wanted. She was sure of that. Unfairly, she compared him to Drew and his manipulations. She would tell him politely. He would be fine.
The door swung open again. The breath caught in her throat. Kace stood by the door with a smile on his face. He wore his hair down the way she liked it. The dark locks were pushed back from his face but dusted his shoulders clad in a flannel shirt. Her hands itched to tangle in the wisps of his hair. His scruffy jaw was bound to prickle the pads of her fingers with just one touch. She reprimanded her hands and their disobedience. She had just planned on telling him no date. She couldn’t exactly prowl across the floor and run her hands through his hair.
“You’re here.” Accusation instead of appreciation carried the words out of her mouth. That wasn’t what she meant to say.
“Did I get the time wrong?” He narrowed his intense eyes.
“No. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so harsh. Of course, you’re here.” She needed to remain calm and be honest about canceling. She could do this, and she could ignore the fluttering in her stomach.
“Then why are you still in your work clothes?” His smile rolled in and lit up his face. He showed no sign of anger or pain. His symptoms must be at bay for now.
She smoothed her hands over her waist. Should she tell him about Calista and Gretchen’s visit? If the family shared as much as she suspected, he’d learn about it soon enough. He didn’t need to hear it from her even though she wanted to share the good news because she enjoyed talking with him.
“I…uh…I can’t go.” The bell on the dryer announced the finished cycle. “I have to get those out of the dryer before they wrinkle.” She hurried to the laundry room, needing some space and some air. Her body’s response to his presence confused the logical part of her brain. He followed.
“Did something happen? If it’s work, I can call Jett and take care of it.” He stopped by the edge of the dryer and leaned against the machine. His clean scent mixed with the flowery smell of the linens.
He was willing to get between her and his brother and fix a problem as if he were defending her. A quiet warmth settled against some of her nerves, but she wasn’t ready to agree to the date. “I’m sorry. I should never have said yes. I’ll pay Izzi for her time today.”
“Did I do something wrong?” The smile fell from his face.
Her chest hurt. Not fifteen minutes ago, she felt a part of something. Now she pushed herself to a safer space where she didn’t have to reveal her secrets—the place of an outsider.
“I can’t go on a date with you. My life is too complicated.” Drew would never leave them alone. If he intended to stay in town, he’d be around every corner watching, stalking. He had made it clear if he couldn’t have her, neither could anyone else. She couldn’t risk harm on the Rykers. They were good people who cared about others—Calista with her fundraiser, Gage being the town sheriff, even Izzi willing to babysit a stranger.
“Are you quitting the ranch?”
She grabbed the basket of sheets and towels and folded them into neat rectangles. Keeping her gaze on her task instead of him was easier.
“Where would you get that idea?” She had considered the possibility for a minute after Drew’s arrival. But she couldn’t do that to Royce, and now maybe she could find a way to fit in by helping with the fundraiser.
“Your ex-husband told me this morning. I tried to talk about it to Jett and Lock first, but they were off the ranch today. Now I’m asking you. Are you resigning? Is that why you won’t go out with me?” He grabbed a towel from the basket and began folding.
She had been right about Drew wedging himself into her life. How dare he speak for her and to Kace of all people? She yanked the towel out of Kace’s hands and folded it her way. “When did Drew say that?”
Drew had suggested she quit just this morning when he came to see Royce before school, but she had refused to have the conversation with him. If she quit, it would be because it was her idea. Now she would have to remind him to stay out of her business, a conversation she could do without.
“I bumped into him at the diner earlier today. He gave your notice.” He grabbed another towel to fold. His corners didn’t meet. He wasn’t smoothing down the fibers. He did it all wrong.
“He did what?” Anger burned like hot oil under her skin. She dropped her towel.
He plopped his towel with its uneven folds and creases beside her neatly folded ones. “He said you were leaving, but I told him that wasn’t for him to discuss. Then it’s not true?” He pressed his lips into a thin smile.
“I should call Jett before he fires me, and no, it isn’t true.” Drew had no right to speak for her, worse, lie about her. He couldn’t rule their lives, and if she were being honest, this man in front of her had woken something she thought was asleep for good. She couldn’t allow Drew to take anything more from her.
“Well, I’m glad to hear you’re sticking around.” He bunched another towel into a ball shape.
“Who taught you to fold?”
“It’s a guy thing.”
“Did you seriously just say that?” She snatched his failed attempt and rubbed the soft cotton into place. “Stop folding my towels. You’re terrible at it.”
“Okay.” His smile might undo her. “Can we forget the laundry and go on our date now?”
One date would be nothing more than a trial run, like a fifteen-minute massage. It didn’t have to mean anything, and they didn’t have to do it again. “Give me a few minutes to change.”
“That is what we call a win.” He leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. The rough texture of his facial hair sent heat to all her trigger points.
If, after the first date, she didn’t like what she had tried out, then no one would get hurt.
But she was pretty sure she’d like it.
A lot.
****
Kace wanted to turn around and hike back to the path entrance, but it was too late. He had miscalculated their speed, and the dark clouds rolled in with the promise of a storm. His head pounded with each step, and the pain had slowed him down. Before the accident he would have finished this trail in half the time. Tara hadn’t said a word but kept pace beside him as if they’d hiked together for years. She either hadn’t noticed his discomfort or kept her thoughts to herself. He wanted to hug her for both.
“Did you feel that?” She looked up at the sky with her palms out.
“We need to find shelter.” The day had been unusually warm for October. He should have anticipated a thunderstorm or at least checked the weather app before they left.
“What? Did you just say ‘find shelter’? Are we in danger?” She checked the sky again, as if the answer lay in the gray clouds.
“I’m sorry. I can’t make it back before the storm hits.” Heat climbed up his neck. Before the accident he would have been able to carry her back before the storm could even get out of the gate. “If you stay on the path, you might make it to the truck, but I would rather you not take the risk since you don’t know the trail. This portion isn’t very well marked.” If anything happened to her because he couldn’t keep her safe, he’d never forgive himself, and if he allowed an employee to get injured, Jett would kill him.
“I’m not leaving you behind if you don’t feel well.”
“I can take care of myself. It’s you I’m worried about.” She would forever see his pride bruised. She would see him as a man too injured to care for himself. A Ryker would push through and make it back to the truck. A Ryker never quit, except he needed some ibuprofen and hadn’t brought any. If he could sit and put his head between his knees for a few minutes, he’d be fine and could hike back without any problem, but the storm was going to make that impossible, and he would never allow Tara to get hurt.
“You don’t need to worry about me. I’ve been on hikes before and don’t need a man to save me. I can save myself, thank you very much. I’m just not great with distance. How far did we hike?” She pulled her hair loose from the holder and shook her head. Her dark curls bounced on her shoulders.
Her feistiness made something tug low in his belly. Over the years, he had brought plenty of women hiking with him who complained the entire time. If he had fallen ill with one of them, they would have been the ones needing attention, and here Tara was, unfazed and in her element. “We hiked five miles.”
The wind picked up speed and moved the wisps of hair around her face. She swatted at them, her face pinched. She secured her hair again while the thunder rumbled in the distance, sounding off its own frustrations.
“We walked that far?” The surprise on her face made her look younger. Every facial expression enhanced her beauty. She wore every emotion right out in the open like a burst of fresh air.
“I was enjoying the company.” And not thinking about turning around or the pain building behind his eyes. “Are you sure you don’t want to head back? If you hurry, you should make it to my truck. I can give you the keys.”
“Absolutely not. We stay together.” She fisted her hands on her hips.
“Then let’s hole up. We shouldn’t be around so many trees when the lightning starts.” Large raindrops plopped down on them and left their circular marks on the dry ground.
“Where do we wait it out?” She followed on his heels, not that he was going very quickly.
“There’s a hunter’s cabin about a mile up.”
“We have to go farther before we can go back?”
“I’m afraid so.” As much as he wished that wasn’t the case, he continued up the path. The large evergreen branches hung low in places and offered some coverage from the rain, but the smell of cedar and balsam turned his stomach. Tree roots poked through the ground in random spots, threatening to toss him on his ass because he fought to keep his balance.
“How come I didn’t see it before?”
“We didn’t go that way.” Pinecones crunched under his boots.
“Let me guess—we don’t have cell-phone service out here, do we?” She stayed right behind him. Her breath came out in short spurts as the trail climbed higher and they scrambled over a fallen tree trunk, but still she never complained.
He wanted to complain about his injuries but didn’t because he didn’t want to sound like a whiner. He had no reason to feel sorry for himself, and Tara’s opinion of him mattered.
“Good guess.” The cold rain dropped on them, soaking through his clothes. He picked up his pace to a jog. Running faster wasn’t going to keep them any drier. It would only manage to jostle his brain.
“How do I tell Royce where I am?” Her voice carried past him on the wind.
“You can’t,” he said over his shoulder.
The small cabin came into view, and his sigh came out in a long hiss of relief. It wasn’t anything more than one room with a door and a couple of windows. Inside was a couch that sat two, a table with four chairs, and a fireplace. Jett usually stocked the open shelves on the far wall with snacks and bottled water. Lock hiked up here every other week to check the inventory.
A welcome sign greeted them by the front door, which wouldn’t be locked. He turned the knob and let them in.
The rain pounded the roof, and the wind shook the glass windows, but at least they were inside where it was dry. He dumped his small pack on the floor.
She took the place in, turning in a quick circle. “It’s adorable. I expected a dirt floor, cobwebs, and maybe an animal or two.”
A warm bubble of laughter hit him. “We’re a luxury ranch, not a cattle ranch. Guests who stay with us want comforts. This was an old hunter’s cabin before my dad died. He used to take Gage up here to hunt deer. Jett made it nicer so guests who weren’t really hikers could have a place to stop and rest when they needed to.”
“I don’t suppose it has a bathroom.”
“Sorry. But it does have a generator. I can power up a little electricity. I’ll be right back.”
He ran back into the rain and pulled the cord on the propane-powered generator. The generator would give them one light and the hot plate to make some coffee.
He pushed through the door to find her stacking logs into the fireplace. This woman wasn’t afraid to use her hands and didn’t know how to take a break. He suspected that might have to do with the fact she was a single mother. His mother had worked from sunup to sundown, taking care of the ranch along with him and his brothers. She was much the same way still.
“I thought we’d light a fire and dry off. I hope that was okay.” She faced him. A small streak of dirt dusted her cheek.
He resisted the urge to walk over and brush his thumb against it. “It’s great. I can finish that for you.”
“Nope. I think you need to have a seat and let that headache pass.” She wiped her hands on her pants.
“You don’t have to be in charge of everything.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She poked at the fire.
“Let’s start with the towels back at the spa.” He had purposefully crumpled that last towel into a ball just to see what she would do about it. He had guessed right when she swiped it from his hands and refolded it. He liked knowing things about her, what made her tick.
Her cheeks turned red, which only made her more attractive. “You weren’t doing it the right way for them to fit on the shelves. Otherwise, I wouldn’t care.” She waved her hand in the air and looked away, but a hint of a smile moved her lips.
“See what I mean?” He liked teasing her just to get her to smile like that. The look on her face was always serious, as if she were deep in thought and didn’t want to lose the direction.
“Never mind that. You need to sit down and rest.” She fluttered like a bird, bouncing from branch to branch as she moved around the small space.
“I’m fine.” He did not like how perceptive she was to his condition, however. He couldn’t hide his symptoms as well from her as other people.
“You’re not, but I appreciate the macho act. Now drop it.” She dragged a chair over by the fireplace, struck the long match she had found, and lit the kindling. “The fire will be going in a few minutes. Now sit. I wish we had a change of clothes.” She shrugged out of her sweatshirt. The tank she had on underneath clung to her breasts and torso.
He sucked in a breath. His head wasn’t the only thing pounding. Her arms were toned, probably from her job. Her skin was a peachy color, the opposite of his, and his mouth watered. What would she taste like if he could run his lips over her? Not that she would allow him to do that.
“Do you want some coffee?” He needed his mind on other things besides Tara’s creamy skin.
“You have coffee? This is luxury. Sit down. I’ll make it.”
“You don’t have to do that.” He reached over her head and grabbed the coffee off the top shelf. She stood inches from him, mixing her heat with the chilled rainwater on his skin.
“I know I don’t have to. I want to be useful. You took me on this great hike.” She backed up and left him cold and alone.
“I got us stranded in a storm.”
“Well, there is that. And I would really like to tell Royce I’m okay. Will Izzi stay with him?” Worry creased her brows.
“She will, and if she can’t, she’ll call Gage or my mother to help her. And there’s Calista, Gage’s fiancée. Have you met her yet?” He didn’t want her to worry because of his misjudgment and his ego. He would have to make this up to her if she’d allow him another chance.
“I did this morning, in fact. Please sit, Kace. I can tell just by looking at you that you’re in pain. It’s okay. I’m not judging you. I want you to feel well.”
He gave up the fight and slid onto the chair, wishing he didn’t have to. He wanted to make the coffee for her and be the one to build a fire. Those were his jobs. “Just for a minute.”
She moved behind him and made the coffee. He kept his eyes closed to ward off the waves of pain and listened as she moved cups, scooped grounds, and heated water from the bottles. Before a race he would get in the car and listen to the sounds around him. The guys in the garage getting ready. His crew chief barking orders. Machines whirling with last-minute adjustments. Those sounds would calm him and help him focus on his job. Listening to Tara moving with such ease in his cabin soothed the pressure in his head, helping him focus in much the same way.
“You mentioned earlier your dad used to take Gage hunting. The rest of you didn’t want to go?” She brought him coffee in a to-go cup. He inhaled the bitter smell, hoping the caffeine would take care of the headache.
“My dad had a rule, or maybe it was a tradition he hoped to start. He had planned on taking each of us hunting with him when we turned twelve. Said we should know how to live off the land. My dad died when Gage was twelve. He was the only one who was able to go.”
“I’m so sorry.” She pulled up the other chair and sat beside him.
“Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault.” He was never gladder that Jett had revamped this place than he was now. The hot coffee warmed him up and cleared his head a little. Caffeine worked wonders when ibuprofen wasn’t around. Not to mention the company of a beautiful woman beside him, who seemed to enjoy herself in this sparse place.
“I know, but there never seems to be the right words for a loss like that.”
She had that right. No one had known what to say to him at the age of eight when his dad died. Most of the people who came to the funeral had overlooked him. He wasn’t the oldest like Gage. He wasn’t the baby like Ajay. He was the middle boy who blended in with his brothers and disappeared. Gus had noticed he needed someone to pay attention to him. Racing had been the thing Gus used to bridge the gap between him and a young boy who had lost his father.
“When Lock turned twelve, Gage was eighteen. He took Jett, me, and Lock. Since Ajay was only eleven, Gage left him behind. Ajay was pissed at Gage for months. We teased him endlessly about being a baby. But the next year, all five of us went together. We slept right here in this cabin. We did it every year until Ajay died. Then we never went again.” He hadn’t thought about the first time Gage took him hunting in a long time. The memories pulled out in front of him, startling him. Those had been great days when the five of them spent time together. After Ajay died, the hunting trip had never made sense. Ajay’s death left a hole in all their hearts.
Maybe he and his brothers could try hunting again if Jett and Lock didn’t end up hating him for wanting to sell his share of the land. He’d have to make sure this cabin stayed with the family when he staked out the parcel of land to sell.
“May I ask what happened to Ajay? If it’s none of my business, you can say. I don’t mean to be nosey.”
He didn’t like to talk about Ajay. Some days anger still shook him that his little brother could have made such a bad choice. Other days he understood Ajay too well. Ajay had just wanted his place in the world and not to live in the shadow of four older brothers. He had been reckless from an early age and fought the rules Gage tried to put in place for him.
“I don’t talk about him much.”
“You don’t have to.” She moved to the little couch and tucked her feet under her. She had pulled her hair loose from the tie. The curls floated around her shoulders, and the tiny nose piercing twinkled in the firelight. She discarded her boots and socks. Her toenails were painted candy-apple red. He loved a sexy red paint job.
“I think I would like to tell you a little about him.” Maybe the warmth of the fire made him want to talk, or maybe it was how well Tara fit in his space. Either way she would handle what he said with care. She wouldn’t judge him. He moved from the chair and sat beside her.
“I would like to hear about him.” She relaxed against the worn-out cushions. A sweet smile played with the corners of her lips.
“He was shot during a gang initiation. Backwater has a Fourth of July celebration every year. He was supposed to shoot someone from another gang there, but he hadn’t wanted to. He just didn’t know how to get out of it. Calista’s sister died that night too. It was a long time ago, but some days it feels like yesterday.” Sometimes his chest ached with missing his little brother. He wanted to go back in time and shake some sense into him. Rykers didn’t take the coward’s way out. Ajay should have found another way to get the attention he needed. Hell, he would have been more than happy to spend time with Ajay, but Ajay had never come looking for him. Ajay had wanted Gage to take notice.
“I know you said I shouldn’t say it, but I’m sorry for your family.” She placed a hand on his thigh. The heat from the fire and the scorch of her touch stole the air from his lungs. He wasn’t used to a woman having so much effect on him. He could blame it on the headache, or he could take the feeling out for a ride and see where it ended up.
The rain continued to bang on the roof with no signs of letting up. They could be there a while, and selfishly, he was glad the rest of the world couldn’t find them.
“Thank you. Are you warming up?” He leaned closer. Her hair smelled like flowers and rain.
“It’s very cozy in here now. More importantly, how are you feeling?”
“The coffee helped.” He held up the cup and tapped hers. The truth was the company had helped more.
“I just wish I could talk to Royce. I almost never miss picking him up from school, and now who knows when we’ll be back?” The impassive look on her face had returned.
“He’s safe. I promise.”
“It’s not your family I’m worried about. It’s Drew. I don’t want him to show up when only Izzi is there and try to take Royce.”
“Would Drew do something to hurt him?”
“I don’t think he’d hurt Royce. I’m just being paranoid.” She waved her words away in that dismissive gesture, as if they couldn’t be the truth.
“Can I ask a question now? Why did you get divorced?” He tapped her knee with his finger. He wanted to touch her more, but he didn’t want to push her. Her subtle hesitations around him spoke volumes, and he would respect that. Her ex might have hurt her more than she had let on.
“His career always came ahead of us. During football season, we never saw him. After a while we hardly saw him during the off-season either. Everyone from sports reporters to his agent to sponsors wanted a piece of him, and he was more than happy to be in the spotlight. I was tired of coming in third or fourth on his list.”
He swallowed hard. The racing season was much longer than football with more demands from sponsors and agents. Without sponsors, racing couldn’t exist. “Sports careers can be very demanding.”
“I’m aware. It wasn’t the life I wanted.” She turned her gaze toward the fire and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Does that mean you wouldn’t want to get involved with another athlete?” He was attracted to her, wanted to get to know her better, but he had to know if how she felt about Drew’s career would be the same for any athletic career, or would she be able to measure each man by his own stick?
“That depends.”
“On what? On whether or not you try again with Drew?”
She choked out a laugh. “I would never want him back. Never. I wish he would leave town.”
The declaration made all that heat in his body run south. He should stay away from a woman who didn’t want to be a part of the life of a professional athlete, but he wasn’t Drew Paxton. If he had a chance with Tara, he’d treat her the way she deserved to be treated. He wouldn’t let her miss him while he was on the track.
“Are you seeing anyone?” He couldn’t assume that she wasn’t because she was here with him. She hadn’t mentioned anyone since she arrived, but someone in another town could be waiting for her. Odds were she wasn’t involved, especially if her ex thought he had a chance. But he wanted to be a gentleman and not assume she was available.
She put her cup on the floor and drew nearer. His heart switched from second to third gear, as she placed her hands on either side of his face and kissed him.