“Me? Still sleepin’? ’Course not. This is my newest fashion statement. You like?” Candy approached the kitchen counter with a runway turn and poured a cup of coffee, setting it in the microwave to warm. “Speakin’ of fashion statements, you get in a tussle with the pink panther today?”
“You like?” Trudie mimicked Candy’s words then fluffed her coifed head of very big hair.
“I do. It’s very… you.” Candy laughed and retrieved her cup, sipping the now-hot brew.
“Billy loves it. Says it makes him feel like he’s got a new woman in his bed every time I change it.” Trudie wagged her brows.
“Hello? TMI! I do not want to think about you and Billy Masters in bed together. I’m fresh outta brain bleach.”
“Never mind that now.” Trudie held up the bottle of tequila and a bag of tortilla chips. “The tourney is on in a coupla hours, I reckon we can have a girls’ evenin’ and watch together.”
“Do I have a choice?” Candy peered at her friend over the rim of her mug.
“Your favorite cowboy is competin’. Don’t tell me you don’t want to watch.”
Candy rolled her eyes and sipped her coffee as she watched Trudie load bean dip, shredded cheese, and everything else needed to construct a pile of nachos big enough to make all of Texas jealous. “Favorite cowboy, huh?”
Trudie looked over at her, one brow raised and a “that’s a dumb question” look on her face.
“Never mind.” She rolled her eyes. Trudie was like a dog gnawing on a bone, and she wasn’t gonna let it go until she got every detail about the time Candy had spent with Sterling. “I’m gonna grab a shower.” She gave Trudie a peck on the cheek and left the room.
She didn’t want to say much about the whole experience, let alone how she felt about him leaving. Trudie hadn’t asked, but Candy knew better. It would come up somewhere between the heaping nachos and salted margaritas.
Candy unplugged her cell phone from the outlet above the counter and went into the bathroom. No other messages had come from Sterling. Maybe he hadn’t made it into the finals.
Sitting on the edge of the tub, she debated about what to send him. Praying she wouldn’t be distracting in a bad way, she ran out and grabbed her purse. When she was back in the bathroom, she stripped off her top.
Candy glossed her lips and unwrapped one of his lollipops. Arranging herself to get the angle right, she snapped the picture and sent it along with a message.
Didn’t want to distract you while you bowled, but I wanted you to know I was thinking of you all day and wishing you good luck! I’m gonna assume you made the finals. Good luck tonight and know that you’re on my mind.
Candy giggled, imagining his expression when he saw the shot of her. Setting the phone by the sink, she took off the rest of her clothes, and stepped into the shower.
* * *
A million tiny pins and needles were tingling all over Sterling’s right shoulder. He’d only meant to lie down and ice his shoulder for a bit. Rubbing circles into his shoulder muscles, he tried to regain some blood flow. I hope I didn’t overdo it. He glanced at the clock and was grateful there was still time to grab a bite to eat before checking in for the finals.
A quiet notification beep went off from his cell phone, and he pushed with his good arm to get into a sitting position at the edge of the bed. Rolling his stiff shoulder, he reached for his phone. He unlocked the screen and saw Candy had texted him back. Holy hell! Blinking his eyes quickly to clear his vision, he couldn’t believe what she’d sent him. A pic of his Candy, her sexy eyes, pouty lips with one of his suckers in her mouth. And topless.
Well, it damn sure looked like she was topless. Just enough not showing to let his imagination run wild, and that it did. His heart raced and blood flowed in a rush to all the right places as he memorized every tiny detail of the picture in the message.
Forcing his mind from going everywhere his lips wanted to be at that moment was a battle hard to fight, but he had to get the alley, and soon.
He keyed in his reply.
Feisty filly! Good thing I’m not bowling right this minute, cuz that was damn distracting! I loved it. I did make the finals though. All the wishes you’re sending must be helping. I hope Ur gonna be watching.
Sterling walked into the bathroom to splash cold water on his face and had to adjust his swollen erection. He thought hard of something to pull the image of Candy from the front of his mind. A commercial he saw the other day came into focus, that one with all the puppies and the Sarah McLaughlin song. Think of the puppies. Think of the puppies. Think of the… Whew.
Taking a deep breath and letting it go as slow as he could, he stopped and stared deep into the reflection of his own blue eyes in the mirror. “This is it, cowboy. What you’ve been workin’ so hard for. Let’s git ’er done.” Sterling dried off, grabbed his gear, and headed for his destiny.
The parking lot overflowed with cars and people as he pulled in and found a space in the section reserved for the competitors. It had been too long since he’d been in the middle of the circus frenzy these tournaments brought. He had missed it and longed to be back within it, but for the first time, it just didn’t seem as exciting as it used to be. Something was missing this time, and he had a feeling he knew what it was.
Pulling his bowling bag from the trunk of the car, he settled the strap over his good shoulder, and adjusted his hat out of a nervous habit. He steeled his resolve and moved past the television network vans and on to the entrance.
Sterling swung open the glass door and froze, taking in the scene before him. The number of people milling around overwhelmed him more than he’d remembered. Well, I’ll be, guess it has been a while. He checked in and walked to the cordoned-off lanes dedicated for the final match competitors.
The onslaught of questions hollered to him from the media, coupled with the camera flashes, were harder to disregard this time, too.
“Sterling Dey! How are you feeling tonight?” a female reporter called out.
“Mr. Dey, did you ever think you would be competing in the finals again?” This time from a man.
“Sterling, can we get a quick interview with you?”
“How does it feel to be back?”
On and on it went. Trying not to let the attention rattle him, he ignored the machine gun full of questions being fired at him. Thankfully, they weren’t able to come down into the reserved area and get in any of the bowlers’ faces. He focused on his custom blue and silver shoes, snugging them to his feet and tightening the laces. He stood and wiggled his toes, taking comfort in the familiarity.
Unable to stop himself, his gaze wandered over the crowd wrapped around the lanes. The lights were down over the sardine-like spectators, which helped them disappear into more of a dark haze. Even the noise level had now become nothing but a dull roar in his ears. Damn, I need my candy. He fished a sucker out of his bowling bag, removed the wrapping, and popped it into his mouth. The memory from their last night together flashed through his mind and he grinned to no one in particular. Damn, I need my Candy.
“How are ya? I’m Luke Williams. You must be Sterling Dey.” A short balding man with a bad comb-over interrupted his thoughts and extended his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you, pleasure to be in the finals with you.”
Sterling focused his eyes on the man and clasped his hand in greeting. “Thanks, nice to meet ya. Should be a good game.”
“When they told me I was rolling against you, I thought ‘No way.’ I didn’t even know he was still bowling. I mean…” Luke rambled on as Sterling only half paid attention. “I was still just coming up when you had your injury. Everyone said it was a career ender, and yet here you are.”
Does this guy ever stop talking? He’s got enough tongue for ten rows of teeth.
“I can’t wait to tell everyone back home how I beat Sterling De—”
Sterling heard that last part loud and clear. “Wait just a damn minute. Game ain’t even started yet and you alre
ady won?” He sneered at the guy. “You best take a seat before you get the wrong end of this country boy.”
“Well, if that’s the way it’s going to be, may the best man win,” Luke replied with an arrogance Sterling could feel dripping off every word.
“That’s the way it is, Luke. And I didn’t come here to lose.” Sterling leveled his stare at his opponent and crossed his arms over his chest. Lil’ bastard. It’d be a pleasure to teach his cocksure opponent a lesson in not counting his chickens before they hatched.
Sterling set out his towel and placed his ball in the return before sitting back down and pulling his wrist brace out of his bag. He snugged it to his arm and took another look around. The crowd had started to settle down, and the spotlights intensified as the announcer’s voice came over the loud speakers welcoming everyone to the final round of the Fort Worth PBA Tournament.
Sterling raised his hand and waved as they announced his name during the introduction of the competitors. Past that, he couldn’t hear anything else. He willed all the noises around him to silence as he got into focus. He became the machine he needed to be. This is it, this is the real deal.
Chapter 24
Candy sat on the couch next to Trudie, each with a margarita in hand and a mountain of nachos on the coffee table in front of them. Commercial after commercial played, giving airtime to each and every dang sponsor who’d given money to support the event. A minor distraction as Sterling’s text message went round and round in her mind. He was hoping she was watching. Damn straight, she’d be watching. Nothing short of a coma would keep her from it.
“You’d think we were watchin’ the Superbowl with these commercials.” Candy crunched a mouthful of corn chips.
Trudie snorted. “At least those are entertainin’.”
“No kiddin’.”
“You need a refill?”
Candy sat forward, focusing all her attention on the screen. “Hush now, tryin’ to listen.”
The two tournament announcers listed off the finalists competing, displaying headshots of both.
“There he is. Told you he made it,” Trudie said.
“Luke Williams faces off with Sterling Dey in tonight’s event. It’s been quite some time since we’ve seen Sterling compete,” the announcer said to his partner.
Candy jumped up, clapping, and let out a big yee-haw as if she were there and Sterling could hear her.
“Yes, Bob. In fact, it’s been almost ten years since we last saw him in the circuit. Frankly I’m—”
Trudie muted the TV. “Whoa, darlin’, that’s a whole lotta excitement for someone you keep denying.” She narrowed her eyes. “What aren’t you telling me, Candy?”
“Wha—” Candy plopped back down in her seat. “Don’t know what you’re talkin’ about, Trudie. And turn the sound back on, will ya? I wanna hear what they’re sayin’.” She grabbed her drink and drained the last of it in one gulp. “Hey, I need a refill.”
“How much datin’ did you two do?”
“Okay, I’ll get the drinks.”
“Candy Jameson!” She trailed Candy into the kitchen. “You rode that boy like a wild bronco, didn’t you?”
“What? Good God, Trudie. We spent some time together, is all.” She tried like hell to compose her face, but couldn’t keep the grin from parting her lips. It was getting damn hard to hold it all in.
“It’s about time.” Trudie grabbed the mix from the fridge, looking quite pleased with herself.
“I said we spent some time, nothin’ more.” Candy frowned and measured out the tequila. “I don’t want the whole town knowin’ so you best zip them hot pink lips of yours.”
“Scout’s honor.” Trudie made the three-fingered sign. “Come on, give me every dirty detail.” She mixed their drinks in the shaker.
Candy scoffed at her friend then crossed her arms over her chest. “You didn’t do a very good job before.”
“I said I was sorry. You forgave me. Besides, look at you.” Trudie poured two fresh margaritas. “You’re ’bout ready to burst you wanna tell so bad.”
Candy let out a deep sigh, palmed her cell phone from the counter, and read his message again. She’d left it in the kitchen for this very reason, so she wouldn’t keep reading and rereading it.
She looked up at her friend. “The only thing I’m gonna tell you is we saw each other a lot… oh, and lane ten will never be the same again.” She chuckled, set the phone back down, grabbed her drink, and made her way to the couch to watch. Screw it. He was gone, and the whole town already knew they’d been dating. They’d never believe she actually had sex with him in Bowling Dreams. “Come on, they’re about to start.”
Trudie gaped after her, drink in hand, then joined her on the couch. “You’re pullin’ my leg. You really sexed the boy up on the actual lane? When?”
Candy bit into a chip, chewed, and swallowed. Drawing out the moment, she took a long sip of her drink. Making Trudie sweat was too fun. “Never you mind when.” She tilted her head to the side. “Set the foul buzzer off a time or two.”
“Well, I’ll be.” Trudie took a gulp of her drink. “You done me proud.”
“Only you would say that. Ooh, look, they’re about to start.”
“Was he good?”
“Trudie!”
“Spill! I gotta know.” Trudie shimmied her hips on the sofa.
Candy sat back and let out a resigned sigh. She looked at Trudie and back at the TV. “Best I ever had.”
“Yee-haw!” Trudie slapped Candy’s knee.
“Ouch!” Candy rubbed the spot Trudie’d struck. “Can we watch now?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Trudie sat back, smiling.
They watched in silence as Luke Williams started, then cheered when Sterling took his turn.
They were damn near neck and neck the whole game, and she cringed when she watched Sterling rub his shoulder as the game wore on. Damn, he’s gettin’ sore.
“Lookin’ like his shoulder’s givin’ him trouble,” Trudie said.
“I hope it holds for him. He’s been workin’ real hard to get back in this position.”
They were down to the last few rounds, and Candy found herself torn between knowing if he won, she’d probably never see him again, and if he lost, maybe she would.
A twinge of guilt rang through her at the latter. She wanted him to win. But she also didn’t want to let him go. Sterling held her heart in his hands, though she’d never intended on putting it there. It’d happened just the same, and now… now she had no idea what would happen.
“This is it. Final frame.” Trudie gripped Candy’s arm, dragging her from her thoughts.
Candy sat forward and they both fell silent. If Sterling rolled a strike, he’d take the win.
He lowered his head and began his approach. The ball flew and he held his position, arm high in the air, as the swirling ball hugged the edge and made its turn into the pocket—strike!
“Woo-hoo!” Trudie jumped up from the couch.
Candy jumped up, too, clapping her hands and cheering. Her cheeks dampened as she realized she’d started crying. He’d done it, and she was so dang proud of him. Question was, were these happy or sad tears? She couldn’t tell, but one thing was for sure—she’d probably just lost her cowboy. The realization settled heavily in her mind then heart. She didn’t want to lose him. He was everything she never knew she wanted. And now he was gone.
Chapter 25
The crowd roared to its feet as Sterling shattered his last frame, not a pin standing, and cinched his seat back with the pros. He let out a long sigh of relief he hadn’t known he’d been holding in and removed his wrist brace. Locking eyes with his arrogant opponent, he extended his hand as he walked toward him to thank him for a good game.
“Guess you were right,” Luke replied, barely audible over the crowd.
“Been a long time comin’.” Sterling refrained from gloating. Momma always told me to be a good sport.
“Congratulations, you definite
ly earned it.” Luke withdrew his hand and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll be back next year, count on it.”
“Wouldn’t expect anythin’ less.”
Sterling walked back to his bag and dropped his wrist brace in its pocket before grabbing his hat. TV reporters from the many stations covering the event jockeyed for position around him after the officials dropped the barriers keeping the crowd out. Blood pounded through his veins as he drank in all the excitement. The pride of accomplishment filled him, yet hollowness tugged hard within him as well.
One of the two main announcers for the event broke through the myriad of interviewers and rescued Sterling from the avalanche of interest in him.
He placed his hand on Sterling’s arm. “If you’ll come with me to the winner’s podium, Mr. Dey.” He gestured to their destination. “I think you’ll find it better suited to answer all these questions.”
Sterling let the man lead him away. As he stepped up to center stage, a pretty, young blonde met him holding a large trophy shining almost as bright as the flashes in the room. This could only be better if Candy were the one bringing him his prize.
He accepted the large golden cup and paused for the obligatory photos snapping all around him. He stepped forward and set it on a small table to the left of the podium strewn with microphones.
The crowd quieted as Sterling adjusted his hat to deflect some of the glare from the hot lights targeting him. “Bet y’all didn’t expect to see me again.” He chuckled and flashed his practiced prize-winning grin.
The crowd howled in unison and applauded before quieting again. A rumble of unintelligible questions started to build before one broke through the charge, loud and clear.
“Sterling Dey, no one expected to see you attempt a comeback. How does it feel to be here once more?” a handsome middle-aged man in a tailored suit asked.
“Well, I gotta admit it feels darn good.” Sterling paused. “But I made up my mind and trained hard for this. I knew what I wanted and wasn’t gonna accept any less.”
Spare Hearts Page 14
