Before Hadley

by J. Nathan

  I sat up, concentrating on the silence. Except for some bugs humming deep in the woods, I couldn’t hear a thing.

  “Listen.” Hadley’s eyes sparkled with excitement. I’d never seen her so animated before.

  Sure enough, a soft whooshing carried through the woods as a slight vibration moved the earth beneath us. “I hear it.”

  Her smile grew. “Just wait.”

  I couldn’t help but stare at her. This girl who had everything in the world going for her. This girl who couldn’t accept the fact that she had talent. This girl who couldn’t wait to see a bunch of rusted metal box cars pass by in the night. She was so different than every other girl I’d met. And I liked that idea way too much.

  Her face turned toward mine, her enthusiasm morphing to concern. “What?”

  I shook my head, dispelling whatever crazy thought she had running through her mind. “You. You’re pretty incredible.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I know. I hear it all the time.”

  This girl. “Well, once more can’t hurt.”

  We shared a laugh as the train crept upon us, quickly stealing our attention. The locomotive led the way, passing by slower than expected. A rumbling accompanied the enormity of it. I sat enthralled as each car moved by. Box cars transporting goods. Cattle cars filled with live cattle. Tanker cars of all sizes and shapes. I tried keeping count, losing track somewhere after one hundred, probably because I couldn’t keep my eyes off Hadley.

  I loved the way the gust from the train whipped her blond hair all around her head and the fact that she didn’t move or try to push it out of her face. Just like in my Jeep. And forget about her completely awed expression as the cars moved by us. It just made me want more moments like that with her. And I knew better than to ever think like that. To ever think of the future.

  I squeezed her hand as the cars continued passing by. She squeezed mine back. A silent agreement that the whole scene was cool as shit. It was her thing. And I wasn’t too proud to admit, I’d been wrong. The train was so much more than just some rusty box cars.

  I understood the grandeur. The peacefulness. The subtle way it appeared out of nowhere and disappeared just the same—like it had never been there at all.

  Hadley

  Caynan didn’t speak. I couldn’t fathom what he was thinking. Why he wasn’t interested. Why his attention had been on me instead of the train.

  “So?” I asked when the train disappeared into the woods after an amazing four minute show.

  He nodded. “Pretty damn cool.”

  I laughed. “You barely watched.”

  His eyes dropped to my lips. “Oh, I watched.”

  If I were standing, my knees might’ve buckled. He had the ability to unhinge me with a single look. With a comment that took on several meanings. With his mere presence. The guy was good. “So how many cars did it have?”

  “One hundred and sixty.”

  Bastard. “One hundred and sixty five.”

  He laughed. “I did need to blink.”

  I laughed as I fell onto my back, turning onto my side and propping myself up on my elbow. I found it difficult not to admire the way Caynan fit into the whole scene. Fit into my life.

  “So?” he asked, a devious twinkle in his eyes.

  “What?”

  “Am I invited back?”

  I shrugged. “Maybe.”

  “That’s not really an answer.”

  “Well…you haven’t really given me a reason to invite you back.”

  His lips pulled up on one side leaving one hell of a cocky grin in their place. Then he lunged forward, rolling me onto my back and following me down, hovering over me, our lips inches apart. “Let me give you a reason.”

  I barely blinked before his lips were on mine, powerful and urgent. He had something to prove. Something I’d challenged him to prove. And in that moment, in the middle of the woods with the bugs and bats our only audience, I wanted him to prove he wanted to be there. Wanted to be invited back. Wanted me.

  Gahhh. The guy could freaking kiss. His tongue dove inside my mouth, lapping and tangling with mine like it was meant to be there. God. I wanted it there. I arched into him, slipping my arms around his back, my hands sliding slowly up the dip above his ass to the curve of his spine. I knew he was built, but I had no idea just how much until my fingers dug into the cords of his muscles.

  He broke our kiss, pulling back from me. Our heavy breaths mingling in the space between us. “How am I doing so far?”

  I laughed, breathlessly. “Seriously?”

  He nodded, humor dancing in his eyes.

  “Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you—”

  His lips crashed down on mine, stealing my breath away. This time he climbed on top of me, his knees digging into the grass on both sides of my hips. God. The feel of his body aligned with mine and the bulge in his jeans pressing right where I ached for it, made me yearn to take it further. To feel every inch of him. To touch his bare skin. For him to touch mine. There was something about Caynan. Something about his hands digging into my hair and his amazing ability with his tongue that made me a complete and utter goner. “I want you out of this shirt,” he growled against my lips.

  Ummm.

  I didn’t stop kissing him. I wasn’t sure if that was my attempt to stop him from stripping me down in the middle of the woods because A, it was too soon. Or B, I didn’t want to be like girls who slept with any guy who showed them attention. I was in no way a prude, but I’d only slept with one guy—a guy I’d known for a year. I’d only known Caynan for less than a month.

  He pulled back, sensing my trepidation. “I didn’t say I was going to. I just said I wanted to.”

  I exhaled a mix of relief and disappointment. “I guess player habits die hard.”

  “Nope. I have eyes. And I’d be a fool not to want to see all of you.” His charm was so unnerving at times I couldn’t help but wonder if he was too good to be true. “But when the time is right…” He flashed a hotter-than-hot smirk. “I plan to do it. Very slowly. Piece by piece. And you’re going to love every second of it.”

  Gulp.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Hadley

  “So, Caynan, tell us about London,” Cass implored from across the lunch table the next day.

  Caynan’s leg, which had been pressed against mine under the table, tensed. “It’s just like you’d imagine.”

  “That’s the biggest non-answer I’ve ever heard.”

  “Come on, Cass. Leave him alone,” I interjected. “He’s trying to eat.”

  “Yeah, but we barely know anything about him except he’s from London and a good baseball player—”

  “A great baseball player,” Eric interrupted from beside Cass.

  Caynan held out his knuckles and Eric tapped them. “Thanks, man.”

  My eyes ventured across the cafeteria. Eyes were on us. Jealous eyes. Accusatory eyes. Gossip-spreading eyes. It made me uncomfortable. It made me wonder how many of them had been up close and personal with Caynan, even if he hadn’t slept with them like he claimed. I wasn’t used to being the center of attention. I wasn’t used to having my every move dissected. But given their jealous stares, that’s exactly what they were doing.

  “So, is the palace as amazing as it looks on TV?” Cass continued.

  Caynan popped a couple French fries into his mouth. “Looks exactly the same.”

  Cass was relentless with her interrogation. “How about that Ferris wheel where you can eat dinner?”

  “I’ve never eaten there.” He lifted his burger and bit into it.

  “Have you ever run into the Royals?”

  I wanted to kick her under the table. But at the same time, I hadn’t missed his vague answers and the absence of his usual wit.

  Caynan shook his head. “We didn’t exactly run in the same circles.”

  I laughed, so did Cass and Eric. I hoped that would be enough to shut her up. He clearly didn’t enjoy talking about home. I w
ondered if it made him homesick or reminded him of his mom. “So when’s your next game?”

  His eyes cut to mine, appreciating the subject change. “Why? You planning to cheer me on again?”

  “Unless you think it’ll distract you.”

  “Oh, it’ll definitely distract me.” He leaned over and dropped a quick kiss on my lips. “But no worries. I’ll still mash it for you.” He lowered his voice so only I could hear. “Meet me after practice today. I have something I want to do with you.”

  My stomach dipped, my mind instantly jumping back to the previous night and what he’d said.

  I was in so much trouble.

  I waited for Caynan to finish practice after school. When he walked out of the gym with his hair all wet from a shower, I stood frozen to my spot, admiring his breathtaking good looks and relishing in the fact that this guy seemed to want me. He walked toward me with a knowing grin. “Like what you see?”

  I blinked several times. “What?”

  “Oh, come on. You think it’s the first time I got that glazed look from a chick?”

  I couldn’t decide if I was insulted he categorized me with other girls or amused by his overconfidence. “You’re delusional. I had something in my eye.”

  He grinned as he stopped in front of me. “Got something for you.” He reached into his baseball bag and dug around, pulling out a package of licorice.

  I smiled as I grabbed it, tearing into the wrapper without a second thought. “Thanks.” I drew a couple out, handing one to Caynan and sticking the other in my mouth. “So, what are we doing?”

  “You’ll see.” He linked his fingers with mine and tugged me toward the baseball field.

  “I already know how good you are.”

  “I get that a lot.”

  I bumped him with my hip and he playfully stumbled to the side as if I’d been strong enough to move him. “Your confidence never ceases to amaze me.”

  He laughed as he dropped his bag onto the metal bleachers and pulled out two gloves and a ball. “For you.” He handed me one of the floppy old gloves.

  “We’re playing?”

  He nodded. “Thought you should know the game if you’re gonna be cheering me on.”

  I crossed my arms. “Who said I’ll be cheering you on?”

  “Must you fight me at every turn, woman?”

  I paused, wondering if I really did that.

  “You said you would at lunch,” he reminded me.

  “Fine. I’ll probably show up to a couple more games.”

  He smiled smugly.

  That! That right there is why I fight him.

  “And what planet do you think I’m from anyway? I know baseball.”

  “Not my rules, you don’t.” His raspy tone and the mischievous glint in his eyes flushed my cheeks. “Come on.”

  I followed him onto the field. “What position do you normally play?”

  “I can play anywhere. But Coach just has me DH since I came so late in the season.”

  I nodded. “You planning to play in college?”

  He shrugged, his eyes jetting away as he punched his hand into the palm of his glove.

  “Have any scouts seen you play?”

  “No”, he said quickly.

  “Think you’ve got what it takes to make it to the pros?”

  His eyes lifted to mine. “Absolutely.”

  There was something about his cockiness. Sometimes I hated him for it, and other times it carried all the way down to my bones. This was one of those times. “So, is playing in the pros your plan?”

  He shrugged. “Maybe in different lifetime.”

  I left his final comment alone, seeing how his entire demeanor changed when he said it. “So, tell me about these rules.”

  His eyebrows bounced. “I was hoping you’d ask.” He pointed to second base. “Go stand over there.”

  “Why don’t you?”

  “Because I want to check out your ass as you walk over there.”

  I cocked my head. “Do girls really fall for lines like that?”

  He did one of those shrug nods. “If it helps, I’m completely serious.”

  I ignored the shiver scrambling up my spine and strutted across the infield, totally giving him a show.

  His laughter traveled from behind me. “Yup. Totally worth it.”

  I spun around with a smile on my face. Everything he said made me feel so wanted. So beautiful. So overwhelmed. I wasn’t blind. I’d seen him look at other girls. But the way his dark eyes danced with playfulness when he looked at me, I knew he saved that look only for me. “All right.” I held up my glove. “Let’s get this game started.”

  He lifted his chin toward me, his lips twitching. “Glove’s on the wrong hand, Slugger.”

  My eyes shifted to the glove on my right hand. “I knew that.” I tugged it off and buried my left hand in it.

  He grinned as he explained his rules. “You miss, you lose a piece of clothing. I miss, I do the same.”

  I looked around the surrounding grounds. Some of his teammates’ cars remained in the parking lot and the gym was a mere hundred feet away. “You took me to the school baseball field because you wanted to get me naked?”

  He lifted his eyes to the sky as he pondered the question. “Yeah. Hadn’t really thought that one through—wait.” His eyes shot to mine. “You would’ve been in if we were somewhere else?”

  I lifted my shoulders, letting him believe he actually had a shot. “You’ll never know.”

  He groaned, cursing his missed opportunity. “Okay, fine. Let me tone it back. You miss, I get to kiss you. I miss, you get to kiss me.”

  My eyes narrowed, squinting in the afternoon sun. “What’s the point of the game? Either way, we end up making out.”

  He laughed. “Exactly.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Okay. Throw me the ball.”

  He lobbed me the ball and I caught it easily.

  “Seriously? That’s all you’ve got?”

  He laughed. “I wanted to be sure I didn’t hurt you.”

  “Hurt me? My grandmother throws harder than that.”

  “But I’m not trying to make out with your grandmother.”

  I laughed as I threw the ball back to him. It veered off to his left, but he reached out and snagged it effortlessly. “So remind me why we’re catching the ball?” I said. “I thought the object was to miss it.”

  “Who said I wanted to kiss you?”

  I dug the glove into my side, jutting out my hip. “I have it on pretty good authority that you want to kiss me.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  I nodded as I held my glove up again. This time when he threw me the ball, I pulled my glove away, missing purposely.

  He stared me down, his face giving nothing away. It took no more than a couple seconds, but he broke into a sprint, charging at me at full speed. For no other reason than to make him chase me, I dropped my glove, turned, and ran in the opposite direction laughing hysterically.

  “You can run, but you can’t hide, Hadley.”

  Caynan moved fast, but I moved faster. I might not have been super athletic, but I could run. Maybe not as quickly in my cute ankle wrap sandals, but fast enough. I set my sights on the outfield fence and then broke left once I reached it. Unfortunately, Caynan broke left first, blocking my way. I stopped, feigning right. He hopped to my right, but I took off left. He’d clearly played this game before because he caught me easily, wrapping his arm around my waist and lifting me right off my feet. I squealed.

  “Nice try.” He slipped his arms under my knees and arms and cradled me.

  “Just trying to prove a point.”

  His dimple dug in. “How’d that work for you?”

  “I’m still waiting to find out.”

  He gazed down at me. Never had I wanted to read someone’s mind so badly. He lowered me to the ground, his lips descending on mine as his body pressed me into the grassy outfield. His lips were soft with just the right amount of pressure. He too
k his time, making me want for more. A lot more. His hands dug into my hair, moving my head to fit with his. He eventually pulled back, his eyes remaining on mine. “I like that you challenge me.”

  “But you just said I fight you on everything.”

  He smirked. “I didn’t say I didn’t like it.”

  “Is that all you like?”

  His head moved from side to side, his eyes still locked on mine.

  I lifted my brows. “Care to share?”

  “Right now, I need to get what’s owed to me.” This time his lips captured mine and there was nothing soft or gentle about it. Which was fine by me.

  * * *

  “We had two more break-ins,” my father explained.

  My eyes shot up from my scrambled eggs. Thursday breakfast on the patio was a family ritual since it was the only time all three of us were home together in the morning. “Where?”

  “Joe Richards’ house, the VP of Chronotech.”

  My eyes latched on to the birds soaring high above us. I expected them to be ravens to mirror my father’s somber tone, but they were only seagulls.

  “And that hockey player, Mike Roberts’ house.”

  “I’ve been there. It’s gorgeous.”

  He nodded, his eyes assessing my mother to be sure he could talk about work at the table.

  “What’d they take?” she asked.

  “Cash. Over a hundred grand combined.”

  My mother sipped her coffee as if the news hadn’t been unsettling. “Are you any closer to finding who’s behind them?”

  He pushed a link of sausage around his dish with his fork. “I wish we were. It’s like they already have the combinations. The safes are undamaged. There aren’t any fingerprints on them and they’re not tripping the alarm systems. We’re dealing with professionals.”

  “Did they take anything other than money?” my mother asked.

  He shook his head. “There were other valuables, but they left them. Either they got spooked and needed a fast getaway, or it was just about the money.”

  “I heard they took jewelry from Katie’s dad’s safe,” I added.

  He popped his sausage into his mouth. “Where’d you hear that?”