Sweet Talkin' Lover

by Tracey Livesay

  “And have you heard ‘The measure of man lies in the content of his mind, not in the clothes on his back’?”

  She frowned. “No.”

  “That’s because I just made it up,” he said, grinning.

  The next pair she tried on were a standard straight leg cut with fraying on the right thigh and left knee. They were actually pretty comfortable. She stepped out of the changing room and pushed her hands into the front pockets.

  Wyatt smiled. “Those look good.”

  She hated the pleasure his words gave her. His opinion on whether the jeans suited her shouldn’t matter. It was up to her if she liked them or not.

  “I know.”

  “Are there more?”

  “A couple, but I’m definitely getting these.”

  “Nice choice,” he said, returning his attention to his cell phone.

  She stared at his bent head. “You know, I appreciate you bringing me here, but I’m fine now. So if there’s somewhere else you need to be or someone else you need to focus on, I’ll be okay.”

  His head shot up and she shivered from the heat in his gaze, before he blinked. Had she imagined the look? “There’s no place else I want to be. Now quit stalling and go back in.”

  She shimmied into the super skinny third pair and studied herself in the mirror. The dark fabric looked like it had been poured on her body. The jeans showcased her hips and legs and made her ass look amazing. They ended in a snug fit at her ankle. She couldn’t wear these in public. They were practically indecent.

  “If you don’t come out, I’m coming in.” There was amusement in his tone, but his intent was clear.

  She hurried out.

  “I thought that would get you mov—” Wyatt broke off and stared at her, like she was a prime piece of steak and he hadn’t eaten in a very long time.

  She licked her lips. “What do you think?”

  As if he couldn’t help himself, he stood and walked over to her. Her feet were rooted to the floor. She couldn’t move, couldn’t look away from his burning hazel gaze. What was that sound? Was that her heartbeat? Was it really that loud? Could he hear it?

  Without her heels, he towered over her. “I think you look amazing.”

  “Will these make me fit in?” she whispered, attempting to get things back on safer ground.

  “No.”

  She started, surprised by his answer. “Why not?”

  He cupped her cheek and trailed his thumb along her jawline. “Because I was wrong. You could never blend in, Caila. A woman like you will always stand out.”

  His lips tentatively brushed hers, and the touch sparked a delicious heaviness in her core. He didn’t attempt to deepen the kiss, and she curled her fingers into fists to refrain from hauling him closer. Instead, she gave herself up to the erotic thrill in the slight pressure of his lips against hers.

  When he pulled away, her eyes flickered open. He stared down at her, a flush on his cheekbones, a muscle ticking in his jaw. He resembled a dark, hot, avenging angel.

  She swallowed thickly. “So these are good?”

  “Absolutely.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll wait for you out front.”

  Only after he left, did she press a hand to her chest and sink down onto the bench as if her knees could no longer support her.

  Holy hell!

  That kiss had been as innocent as her first one in middle school, but her pulse was racing and her nipples were as tight as if he’d tongued her down. If she was this shook over such a brief peck, how would she react when their real kiss happened?

  And was she still sure she could keep her emotions out of it?

  Chapter Ten

  Crisp cool air.

  Clear, cloudless night sky.

  Bright lights shining on the well-tended and manicured field.

  It was the perfect night for the homecoming football game.

  And for once Wyatt, and the closing of the plant, weren’t the focus of everyone’s attention. All day the citizens of Bradleton brimmed with excitement as conversations took place in every barbershop, diner, and convenience store about the team, the coach, and their chances against Highland Point’s Fighting Eagles. Every hour on the hour, the local radio station spent ten minutes allowing people to call in and give their predictions and/or advice for the game.

  “This is Chris, longtime listener and caller. Look, this is our homecoming game. We gotta win. I don’t care what this new coach does. Our boys know what to do. So let’s get it done!”

  “Defense wins games. Everyone wants to see the long ball, but we gotta keep our eyes on the prize. Defense. That’s where it’s at!”

  “This football team is important to us. As long as we win, I don’t care where the coach is from. He could be from Mars, we just better get that W!”

  Coach Alvin had a tremendous amount of pressure on him, something Wyatt didn’t envy at all. He was happy to share the limelight.

  And speaking of happiness . . .

  Caila.

  He’d craved seeing her since their kiss at the store that afternoon. It had been one of his most chaste in recent memory and yet it was also the one he couldn’t stop thinking about. Images of her—her laugh, her eyes, the incredible way her ass looked in those jeans—ran on a constant loop in his mind. He knew he needed to keep her close for the sake of the plant and banish any ideas of a personal relationship. But when his brain recalled the feel of her full lips pressed against his, all rational thought flew right out the window.

  And as he made his way to the front of the stadium, stopping every few minutes to shake hands and share a few words with his neighbors, he continued to lie to himself, to pretend the pounding of his heart and the anticipation that rolled in his gut was due to his interest in the game and not his hunger to see her.

  Her back was to him when he finally spotted her, but even after only a few days, he’d be able to pick her silhouette out in a crowd. He was glad to see she’d taken his advice and dressed in jeans. He’d half expected her to show up in trousers and a blazer. Just to spite him.

  He was also grateful she’d worn the second pair of jeans she’d tried on and not the last ones. His heart wasn’t strong enough to handle the sight.

  He snuck up behind her. “I’m sorry, ma’am. This entrance is for diehard Cougar fans only.”

  She gasped and spun around and he was struck anew at how beautiful she was. Her large eyes shone brightly and a smile curved her mouth.

  “I may be in my early thirties but I have a ways to go before I need to worry about being called a cougar.”

  “You look stunning,” he said, taking her hand and holding it aloft as he took in her blue and white striped top, green jacket, and tan ankle boots, her hair in a high ponytail.

  “Thank you.” Her lashes swept down momentarily. “I was going to buy some of the spirit merch, but I thought that might be a little much.”

  “You’d be surprised. You could’ve come in costume as Coop and you’d only be praised for your commitment to the team.”

  “Coop?”

  “Cooper. The cougar. The school’s mascot.”

  “Wow. You guys are hardcore.”

  “You’re about to learn that truer words have never been spoken. Let’s go in.”

  He placed a hand on the small of her back and headed toward the home side ticket gate where members from the boosters volunteered.

  “Hey, Emma. This is Ms. Harris and she’s my guest.”

  “Sure thing, Mayor.” Emma handed Caila a wristband and a ticket stub.

  “Congratulations,” he told Emma. “I heard your daughter made homecoming court.”

  Emma beamed. “She did. We’re so proud of her.”

  “You should be,” he said, leading Caila inside the stadium and ignoring the curiosity in the older woman’s eyes.

  The stands were packed with people sporting their purple and gold gear. Fans held up homemade signs proclaiming, “Go, Cougars, Go!,” “Can’t Hide That Cougar Pride,” and
his personal favorite, “Your Mom Called, You Left Your Game at Home!” The cheerleaders were warming up the home crowd with rousing chants and spectacular flips, and the smell of popcorn and hot chocolate filled the air.

  God, he loved this. Not only the game of football, which he’d played in high school, but the way the town came together to celebrate their team and support one another. Despite the responsibilities on his shoulders and the sacrifices he’d had to make, it was nights like these when it was all worth it. When he marveled at the sense of family and community Bradleton was lucky enough to possess.

  And the woman standing next to him had the power to destroy it all with the stroke of her pen.

  “Where did you park?”

  “I grabbed a ride with Gwen and Kevin. I was surprised either of them planned to come, since Kevin isn’t in high school anymore, but Gwen said most of the town attends.” She gestured around them. “I see she was right.”

  “This crowd is larger than usual because it’s homecoming.”

  Caila looked around her. “I never thought I’d attend another high school football game.”

  He smiled, picturing her in high school. With her looks and obvious intelligence, she’d probably been popular. “Let me guess, head cheerleader.”

  She tilted her head. “Head cheerleader?”

  “Of course. You’re too bossy to take orders from someone else.”

  She laughed. “I hate to burst your perverted bubble, but I was not a cheerleader.”

  “Color guard in the marching band?” he asked, mentally replacing his picture of her in a cheerleading uniform with her twirling a flag or a baton.

  Still in a short skirt.

  “Hardly.” Caila pointed to a blond boy on the football field wearing sweatpants and a purple windbreaker, setting up an orange cooler and paper cups. “That was me. I was a student equipment manager.”

  “Really?” He hadn’t been expecting that.

  She exhaled loudly. “This all reminds me of where I grew up. The football team was a big deal and they got all the funding. I knew that participating with them would look good on my college transcript.”

  “It wasn’t because you had your eye on the wide receiver?”

  “Nope. I had plans that went beyond the borders of my town.”

  Town. Not city. So she hadn’t told him the truth last night. The last time he’d checked, no one would call Baltimore a town. What was she holding back? And why?

  “It’s my turn to play ‘guess your life.’ I gather you like football?” she asked.

  “I never miss a game,” he said.

  “High school, college, or pro?”

  “Yes,” he said, his heart skipping a beat at her laughter.

  “You played in high school, didn’t you?”

  “I did.”

  “Quarterback.”

  It wasn’t a question. He could feel a smile breaking across his lips. He found her confidence so sexy.

  “Starting. My sophomore through senior years.”

  “Impressive,” she said, though her tone seemed a bit subdued.

  “Hey, Mayor,” someone called out, “it’s going to be one helluva game. I can feel it!”

  He lifted a hand to acknowledge the statement, which seemed to initiate an avalanche of comments.

  “Wyatt! Good to see you. When you get a chance, stop by the shop next week.”

  “How’s your mother? Is she ill? She hasn’t attended the last two service league meetings.”

  “Give your grandfather my regards. I head out to Charleston in the morning, but I’ll stop over to see him when I get back.”

  Caila’s expression remained pleasant, but he could feel her withdraw from him with each interaction and he didn’t understand why.

  When he saw a familiar profile, he grabbed Caila’s hand. “I want to introduce you to someone.”

  Dan and his wife stood near the concession stand, practically disproving the concept of personal space and boundaries.

  “All right you two, get a room. There are impressionable young people around.”

  “Jealousy isn’t attractive on you,” Dan said, turning with a smile on his face that stiffened when his gaze dropped to where Wyatt was holding Caila’s hand.

  She must’ve noticed Dan’s expression because she let go of him and shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket.

  “Dan, you remember Caila Harris?”

  “I do. Good to see you again.”

  She nodded, but her posture was tense and she looked more like the woman he’d first met in the diner and less like the one he’d just been flirting with minutes ago.

  “And this lovely lady is Dan’s wonderful wife, Laura, who owns the yoga studio in town. Wait, sorry, the new Bradleton Wellness Center. As smart as she is, I will always question her taste in choosing this one.” He elbowed Dan in the belly.

  “You’re mad she saw through your bullshit and chose quality instead.”

  “Boys. Despite your current behavior, you are grown men with important positions in this community. Act like it,” Laura said.

  Her words were severe but they were offered with a loving smile and warm eyes. She leaned over and kissed Wyatt’s cheek before turning her gaze to Caila. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Likewise.”

  Dan rubbed his hands together. “I’m looking forward to this game. Bradleton should win. We have a solid offensive backfield and our defense is getting better. But more importantly, Highland Point sucks!”

  “Ugh!” Laura rolled her eyes and looked at Caila. “I may have vowed to love and cherish him forever, but that never included football.”

  “I hear you.” Caila laughed.

  “If I don’t attend the games with him, I lose him for a quarter of the year. I’m not sure I would’ve married him if I’d understood the full picture.” Laura pouted, but shot Caila a wink.

  “That’s why I always believe in getting as much information as you can beforehand,” Caila said.

  Although everyone laughed, Caila’s comment was another reminder that this wasn’t two couples hanging out at the football game. He and Caila weren’t together. She was here to do a job. And his job required that he prevent that from happening.

  Dan subtly jerked his head to the right and Wyatt almost sighed aloud. He might as well get this over with.

  Wyatt turned to Caila. “Would you like some hot chocolate?”

  Caila shrugged. “Sure. Thanks.”

  Dan looked at Laura. “Your usual?”

  “You know it.”

  As Dan pressed a parting kiss to his wife’s lips, Wyatt stared at Caila and wasn’t surprised to see his own longing reflected back at him. But then she looked away and the moment was lost. He gave her forearm a brief squeeze before following Dan across the grass toward the line at the concession stand.

  “What are you doing?” Dan asked.

  He played dumb. “Waiting for our turn to order.”

  “You know that’s not what I meant. What are you doing here with her?”

  Wyatt bristled at the tone of Dan’s voice when he referred to Caila, but he let it go. Addressing it would only lend credence to his friend’s suspicions.

  But Dan wasn’t done. “You’re playing with fire.”

  “You’re making a big deal out of nothing. She needs to see how great Bradleton is, and what event showcases that better than homecoming?”

  “This is all part of your plan?”

  “Yes!”

  “And everything you’re doing is for the town? It’s business, not personal?”

  Wyatt clenched his jaw, quickly becoming annoyed with Dan’s questions. “That’s what I said.”

  “Then why are you both acting like you’re on a first date and not like two people doing a business deal?”

  “This isn’t a date.”

  “Really? You always hold hands with your colleagues? I’ve never noticed you placing your hand on Jason Frye’s lower back.”

 
“I’m a Southern gentleman. It’s what I do.”

  “No, it’s not. You don’t even hold hands with the women you usually date!”

  Wyatt opened his mouth to respond, only to close it when he realized Dan was right. He’d never been a holding hands kind of guy.

  Because the only hand you want to hold is hers.

  “Just remember what you’re supposed to be doing,” Dan said, as they made their way back to the women, steaming cups of hot chocolate and bags of popcorn in their hands. “She’s not your girlfriend. She’s the enemy.”

  Easier said than done, he thought as Caila accepted the cup from him with a smile that arrowed straight to his chest.

  A voice blared over the loudspeaker that the game was about to begin.

  “If you’ll excuse us, we’re going to go take our seats,” Wyatt said.

  “It was good talking to you, Caila. Please stop by the center any time. Maybe we can grab lunch?” Laura said.

  “I’d like that,” Caila said, and Wyatt was grateful to see he wasn’t the only one who’d taken a liking to the Endurance rep. Placing his hand on the small of her back, he started to guide her away until he caught Dan’s eye.

  Oh hell.

  He moved his hand away and smiled to cover when Caila looked at him quizzically.

  Dan was right. As much fun as it was to be here with her, to feel more comfortable with her than he had with anyone in a long time, that wasn’t the purpose of this outing. He wished they’d met under different circumstances; when they could indulge whatever it was they were both feeling. But they couldn’t. Caila seemed to know it. He needed to act like he knew it, too.

  Leading Caila over to the stands, he saw an old man hunched over the chain-link fence that bordered the field, watching the teams running pregame drills. It seemed the perfect opportunity to bolster his plans had just presented itself.

  “Smitty.”

  Smitty adjusted the cap on his wizened head and removed his ever-present toothpick from his lips. “Evenin’, Mayor. Ma’am.”

  “You’ve known me since I was a baby. You don’t have to call me mayor.”

  “That’s your title, ain’t it? I ain’t calling you something you ain’t. I’m showing you the respect your position deserves. Same as I did your grandfather. Same as I did your father.”