Page 17

Jack

I t’s a warm night, with the first hints of fall slipping in around us on the breeze. It’s a promise of change in the air, like the feel of Allie’s hand in mine as I lead her down the sandy path to where the briny water laps softly against the shore.

The moon isn’t as full as the night I walked to her house. Every night it gets a little smaller, but it’s still big enough to highlight the path in front of us and to tip the waves in silver.

When we reach the edge of the surf, Allie slips her hand out of mine to take off her shoes. She tosses them to the side and stands facing the dark bay.

“I’ll never get tired of this.” She softly sighs, wrapping her arms around her waist.

I stand a little behind her, watching her love this place as much as I do. I think about growing up here, running along this stretch of beach with my brothers. Throwing the football and splashing in the water as we laughed and played.

It’s my home.

“You’ll have to come back and visit us.” My voice is level, even as I hate the thought of her going away .

When she turns to look at me, her brow is furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“Austin wants to go to the University of Tennessee. He said you have family there.”

“Oh.” Her shoulders drop, and she shakes her head. “I have cousins in Cookeville, which isn’t too far from Knoxville.”

“He’ll have his pick of schools.” I look out at the water. “I figured you’d go with him.”

She takes a step closer to where I’m standing, and my skin tingles at her proximity. “Why would I do that?”

Shrugging, I slide my hand into my pocket. “To be safer, to be closer to your family.”

Looking down, she huffs a laugh. “Going to Tennessee might be exactly what Rip would expect me to do.”

My jaw tightens, and I can’t express how much I hate this guy I’ve never even met. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“It’s okay.” Her pretty eyes blink up to mine, slightly hesitant. “I’m not planning to move to Tennessee.”

“Are you planning to go back to New Orleans?”

She exhales a little laugh. “You sure are eager to get rid of me.”

“I’m not.” I say it too fast, and I’m concerned I’ve shown my hand. Clearing my throat, I step away from her, closer to the water. “There’s nothing keeping you here with Austin gone.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” She follows me down to the water’s edge. “I’ve made a lot of good friends here. I like my job at the school, and maybe… I don’t know.”

Her voice trails off, and I look over at her. She’s so close, right at my back, her head at my shoulder. “What?”

“Maybe I was hoping someone might give me a reason to stay.” She blinks up at me, and I know she’s holding the door wide open for me.

I should step right through it. Hell, I want to step right through it. The only problem is she doesn’t really know me. No one does .

I cross my arms, looking out at the water. “I’ve decided to make Austin starting quarterback.”

A few seconds pass, and she exhales softly, returning her attention to the rolling waves. “He’ll be so happy.”

“I’m also making Levi a starting quarterback.” Lowering my arms, I put my hands on my hips. “It’s not ideal, but we’ll see how it goes for a few games. We’re playing the Broncos next week followed by the Lions. They’re both 7-A teams, so it’ll be a good test.”

“I trust you.” Her voice is quiet, still open, and I hate this war inside me.

If I can’t be the right man for her, I can at least be sure she’s safe. I can at least make her son happy.

Allie’s had enough disappointment, and Danielle’s words still sting in my memory as she walked out the door. Twisted pervert …

Shoving the past into its box in my memory, I lighten my tone. “I’ve heard my daughter wants to be on the drill team now.”

That makes her smile. “She’s a very enthusiastic dancer.”

I think of Kimmie almost kicking me in the nuts on the field, and I huff a laugh.

Her eyes hold mine again, warm and wanting. “Is that a laugh from serious Coach Bradford?”

“I’m not so serious.” It’s a lie. I’m seriously guarded as fuck.

She turns and faces me. “It must be hard to be alone all the time.”

“Are you kidding?” I deflect. “I’m never, ever alone.”

“You know what I mean. What about at night, after Kimmie goes to sleep?”

My stomach twists, and we should go back inside the restaurant now. “I’m usually pretty tired at night.”

“And when you’re not tired? What do you do then?”

“I watch highlight reels… I think about my parents.” My honest answer slips out unbidden .

“Really?” A warm smile crosses her lips, and she steps closer to my side. “What about them?”

My shoulders tense, but somehow I can’t stop answering her. “They did all this together. This restaurant, this family… but the only thing Dad cared about was her. When our mother died, it was over for him. I don’t know what that’s like.”

But I want to know…

She touches my arm gently, her voice softer. “To love someone that much?”

A churn is in my stomach, but I can’t stop myself. “To be loved by someone that much.” My defenses start to rise, and I take a step away. “Sorry, I’m just… It’s late, and I’m tired. I’m not trying to bring down the mood.”

“Don’t do that.” Her fingers curl on my arm, holding me. “I want to know the things you think about. It doesn’t bring me down.”

My brow lowers, and I need to stop this. I’ve never talked to anyone this way. I’m always in control.

Except…

“My parents were like a fairytale, but they didn’t have a happy ending.”

Her slim brows pull together. “I wouldn’t say that. Your parents made this big family they loved so much, and they left a legacy of good people who help each other and so many others. That’s a beautiful ending. Everyone dies, but not everyone leaves so much love behind.”

A gust of wind hits my face, and I turn my cap around. “I guess I’m too close to see it that way.”

“You could have it.” Another step closer. “You’re too good a man to be alone.”

The ache in my throat persists. “You don’t know that.”

“I know you deserve to be with someone who loves you that much, who dreams of you at night… who wants to take care of your needs.”

It’s that door again, wide open .

I should turn and walk away. I shouldn’t go through it, but when she reaches up, my control slips.

It’s a mistake, but I let her touch me. I don’t pull away when her thumb lightly traces the line of my jaw. “Why not me?”

Reaching down, I do what I’ve wanted to do for so long. I put my hands on her soft cheeks, sliding her hair back from her face.

Her eyes are round and deep, and her full lips part. Desire races below my belt, and I lean down to seal my lips to hers.

A whimper slips from her throat, and her hands grip my wrists. Her mouth opens, and our tongues slide together, and oh, fuck. I tilt her head to the side, so I can kiss her deeper. She tastes like sweet vanilla ice cream, and I want to devour her.

Another little noise comes from her, and I’m so hard. If we were inside, I’d press her against a wall and lift her off her feet. Instead I move one hand to her back, drawing her soft body flush against mine.

“Oh, God,” she gasps, and I know she feels my erection.

Sliding my hand lower, I cup her ass, moving my fingers between her thighs and lifting her to me.

“Jack…” Both her hands are on my chest, and her fingers curl in my shirt.

She pulls the thin cotton higher on my stomach, and her hands move lower. They pass over my stomach, and my muscles tense.

“I want this.” She looks down to where she’s touching me. It feels so good. “I’ve done this so many times in my mind.”

She looks up at me again, but we can’t do what I want to do here. “If anyone sees us, it’ll make all the rumors true.”

“They won’t see us.” Rising higher, she presses her lips to my throat.

My hands move to cup her breasts over her T-shirt. I feel her nipples hard through the fabric of her bra. Lifting and squeezing, I want to take them out and pull them into my mouth, between my teeth .

“It’s only a few months until the season ends.” My voice is hoarse. “We should wait.”

“Can you do that?” It’s a broken plea.

“It’s the right thing to do.” My mouth is on her cheek, moving to her ear, which I pull between my lips. “For Austin.”

Her hand moves down, and she slides it up and down the front of my jeans, taunting my erection. I exhale a low groan. I want to lift her off her feet and fuck her right here.

“You’re right.” Her other hand rises higher under my shirt, spanning my bare back. “I have to think about my son. He always comes first.”

My lips find hers again, and we’re saying the right words. Only our actions aren’t following.

“Allie…” By sheer force of will, I take a step away from her. “I won’t let you be hurt again.”

Blinking up at me, she’s fucking gorgeous in the moonlight. Her lips are swollen from my kisses, and her eyes are dark with desire. Her breasts rise and fall with her rapid pants, and when she speaks, her voice is pure sex.

“I know.” She stretches out her arm to me, and I take her hand, lifting it to kiss the back of her fingers before walking away fast.