by Taylor Hart
Glaring at him, she shook her head. “I love how you turn everything into football speak. Not.”
He hesitated, then glared back at her. “Hey, whatever. You can discount what I’m saying or turn it into something it’s not meant to be, but I have worked hard to get where I’m at.”
She didn’t argue with him. As seen earlier when skydiving, the guy had grit. She’d been studying him the past couple of days and knew his training was grueling. He was right. He competed at a high level, and he knew how to give his all.
He exhaled. “I always think at the beginning of any season, if we don’t have the way, we find the way. If we don’t think we can fill a need, we work with a different player and fill that need. When you start asking yourself ‘how’ to do something instead of giving a bunch of excuses, the way opens up.”
It ticked her off that he couldn’t see outside of his own experience. She wondered if he’d ever dealt with a heart condition. She rolled her eyes. “This might surprise you, Mr. Kincaid, but not everything’s a stupid football game. Not everyone gets the advantage of seeing the field or seeing the obstacles or the potential obstacles before they come at you.”
He frowned. “I wasn’t saying—”
She put up her finger, remembering again why she didn’t get close to people. “You have no idea who I am or what I’ve been through, so please, don’t placate me with platitudes about how ‘it’s not around the obstacle, it’s through the obstacle’ or ‘your attitude determines your altitude.’”
Holding her gaze for a moment, he scoffed. “Guess you’ve already decided who I am.” His eyes hardened and he looked away.
She scoffed back. “Yeah, the guy who walks on a cruise ship and automatically gets upgraded from the buffet.”
Kade pointed to himself, a crazy look in his eyes. “Oh, I can eat a buffet, Ms. Song.”
“Can you?” she asked back, sounding every bit as wild as he was. She felt ludicrous.
“Oh, we’re totally eating the regular buffet now.”
“Fine,” she said, wishing she wasn’t pushing it because she really didn’t enjoy buffets.
“I can be every bit as normal as every other guy.”
“I guess we’ll see,” she said snarkily.
Neither of them spoke for a few moments. It was funny—she felt more awkward now than she had all day with the cameras on them.
“Real is scary,” he said quietly.
Swiveling to face him, she noticed the laser-like way he was looking at her again. The same way he’d been looking at her while she’d played the piano. The same way, it appeared, Kade Kincaid approached anything he was interested in. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Letting out a light laugh, he stood and took her hand. “I like it when you’re not pretending for the camera. Actually, I just think I like you period, but obviously it’s hard for you to let others see the real you.”
Her heart kicked up a notch, something it had done more and more around Kade. She didn’t know what to say.
Smiling, he started moving down to sit where the normal people sat. “C’mon, Song. Let’s eat the horrible buffet you had planned.”
Chapter 12
Kade sat at dinner, eating a few of the shrimp from the buffet and trying not to think it was an actual buffet. Mostly, he’d just pushed his food around the plate, except the meat. He thought he could be safer with the meat.
The MC for the dinner cruise was funny, until he’d pointed out that Kade and Felicity were on the ship for their date. Of course, people had turned and waved, and then another line of people casually sauntered over during the music to get a selfie.
Felicity kept up a good front. At the moment, she was talking with another of the wives of the guys who had stopped at the table. As he watched, she leaned back her head and laughed.
Again, he wondered about this woman. He thought he’d be awful at managing people’s images. Especially the guys on his team, who were pretty much unmanageable. Doing stupid things all the time.
The MC turned the show over to a country western music band, and they led with one of Texas Water’s songs—“Fire and Ice.”
Surprising him, she leaned her head back into the booth and tapped her fingers to the rhythm. He wouldn’t have pegged her for a country kind of girl, especially after watching that little concert she gave earlier in his music room and knowing everything that morning had been a show for the cameras. She sang beneath her breath to the chorus.
Taking a chance, even though he was sure after his track record tonight he’d get shot down again, he put his hand out. “Want to dance?” He turned to the line of people. “Sorry, guys, gotta make the pretty lady happy.”
Her eyebrows shot up, and she gave him a look of astonishment. “You want to dance?”
The crowd dispersed.
Knowing her scheme, Kade couldn’t stop himself from laughing. “You really don’t think I dance.”
“I know you dance; I just know you don’t like dancing. You avoid it at all costs. The past three years you’ve bought a ticket to all the major balls. And you never show. I’ve seen footage of your face when you attended one benefit, and you looked insanely miserable on camera. Yes, Kade Kincaid couldn’t hide how much he detested dancing from the camera.”
The fact that she’d studied him so much left him feeling unprepared. How had he been so naive? Actually, he knew—he hadn’t thought he would care that much. Hadn’t thought this date would matter. My, oh my, this girl had caught an interception and none of his linemen could stop her. He tried again, sticking out his hand once more. “May I have this dance?”
There was another moment of vulnerability between them, and he wondered if she would turn him down. To his relief, she stood and escorted him out to the dance floor, despite the pinched look on her face. “Let’s do this.”
Kade heard and saw people taking pictures of them. It was nice not to have the “official” cameras making a spectacle of everything.
Taking her into a gentle two-step, he was pleasantly alarmed when she seemed to meld into him. The words of the music fell around them as he focused and danced with her.
“You know this song?” she asked, seeming a bit bewildered.
“You know I like country music.”
“Right.”
“But you don’t know everything about me, Ms. Song. I think you might want to quit thinking you do.” The song finished, but he kept her in his arms, feeling the chemistry and tension between them building. “Can I have the next one?”
A fast swing came on, and people around them started doing fancy moves. Her smile widened, and he knew she thought he’d been ensnared into a trap. “If you want.”
He pulled her in quick, then let her go, and within a couple of steps he discovered she was good at dancing too. Elation filled him as he swung her and felt the pull of momentum between them, and their eyes locked. There it was. Skydiving girl. Free. That’s how she looked at this moment.
He couldn’t help but laugh. He pulled her up into a lift, and she laughed too.
When she came down, they stayed with the steps until the end of the song. To his surprise, he saw the other couples around them had stopped dancing and were clapping and laughing with them.
Felicity, caught up in the moment, took off her hat and waved it in the air, moving into him, putting her arm around his middle.
He pulled her into his side and mimicked her by taking off his hat and waving it.
People clapped and hollered out.
Another song came on, and she gestured to the table. “I need to sit.” She put her hand over her chest for a moment, grabbing his arm to support herself.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Fine.” She pulled her hand back and sucked in a breath. “Just maybe overdid a bit. Can we sit?”
He led her back to their table, not stopping when people tried to chat with them. She looked a bit pale, he thought. Or was he just making that up? Dang, he felt way too keyed into
this woman.
Slinking into the booth, she picked up her water and took a long sip, leaning back with a smile on her lips. “You’re good.” She playfully slammed her glass down onto the table. “How’s that? I thought I would best you, but you’re good. And you know it.”
He shrugged. “Takes a lot to best me. Maybe you got close today.”
She laughed and swatted him in the shoulder. “I thought for sure you’d back out of the skydiving, but you didn’t.”
He liked the casual manner she had with him. Yes, that’s what he really liked about her. She didn’t treat him like a billionaire.
Leaning over to her, getting a whiff of the fruity scent she wore, he said, “You want to know why you never had footage of me liking to dance?” Not understanding it, he felt his palms go sweaty. He wasn’t a sweaty palms guy. He never had to wipe his palms down his pants. Most girls pretty much threw themselves at him or he knew they would if he gave the word.
“Why?” she asked, looking genuinely curious and still a bit pale.
“I’ve never found a partner I liked dancing with as much as you. I had a good time tonight.”
Her cheeks flushed. Rolling her eyes, she tsked her tongue at him. “I told you, Mr. Kincaid. Don’t fall in love with me.”
He could see playfulness in her at the moment, and he grinned back. “I thought you were being so uppity when you told me that, but I don’t know if I can abide by that contract and not see you again.”
Chapter 13
This was not how Felicity had seen this day going at all. Was Kade Kincaid really hitting on her? Really telling her he could like her for more than a publicity stunt?
Letting out a long breath, she said, “Wowee, cowboy.” It sounded ridiculous, and she didn’t know why she said it. She just felt so awkward. Unable to sit there any longer, she stood. “Gotta go to the bathroom.” She pretty much rushed off, looking and feeling like a complete fool.
Getting to the bathroom, she knew she’d overdone it. She could feel it in the way her heart was feeling a bit tight and constricted inside her chest. No, no, no. She didn’t need her heart problems to flare up at the moment. All she knew was she needed to get home and get to bed and forget the way Kade looked at her and how it made her feel.
When she got back to the table, she slid into her seat. She was grateful he was distracted talking to someone else. They were taking a selfie.
When the people left, Kade turned to her. “Are you feeling okay?”
Shocked by his question, and more so by the fact he’d even noticed, she had a flash of a worry. What if he found out about her condition? “Fine.” Waving down the server, she asked for more water.
A few minutes went by, and neither of them spoke. There were still people dancing, but most were mingling with other tables or making out by themselves. She didn’t want it to be awkward, but she was feeling more and more tired as every minute passed.
“Are you okay?” he asked again, this time taking her shoulder and forcing her to look at him.
“I don’t know. I’m feeling sick. I think I overdid it today.”
Searching her face, he frowned, stood, and was gone before she could see where he went. Five minutes later, she felt the boat jerk, and Kade was back.
“What did you do?” Even as she asked, she already knew what he’d done.
“I spoke to the captain, and he’s getting us right in. I also called my driver. He’ll be waiting with your things when we get there.”
The faintness and lightheadedness was getting worse, and she felt herself lean back into the booth.
Kade’s arm was around her, and he pulled her close. “You really are sick.” He smoothed her hair.
“I’m fine.” But she closed her eyes, fighting to just hang on to some control. She could get through this, get home, and get to bed.
Kade didn’t say anything, only gently rubbed down the side of her arm. “You’re okay, for real? We can land the helicopter on this boat and get you to the hospital.”
“No!” she said a bit too loudly. She opened her eyes, and she could feel her body fighting. Her breathing was becoming increasingly shallow, but she kept telling herself it was okay. “Like I said, I just need to get home.”
“You’re not kidding,” he said lightly, but she could feel his worry.
When they finally docked, he helped her up, and she had to lean on him while they rushed off the boat. She was thankful she was able to walk. Sometimes when this hit her, it was like hitting a wall and she would collapse. Don’t collapse. Don’t collapse. Don’t collapse. She kept muttering it to herself.
They got to the car, and she expected him to send her on her way, but he got in after her. “You don’t have to,” she said.
“I’m seeing you home.”
His voice had an edge to it, and she didn’t argue. She leaned her head back and took in slow breaths.
The driver took off, knowing how to get to her house.
Kade’s hand rested on hers. “I’m worried about you, Felicity.”
“No,” she said, trying to sound stronger than she felt. “This happens to me sometimes. I go, go, go and hit a wall.” She let out a nervous laugh. “Probably from pulling all those overnighters in college.” Sweat trickled down her back between her shoulder blades. All she could think about was getting to her bed.
Time flew by, and his hand stayed on hers.
Feeling a bit out of it, she thought about how he really was different than the press had made him out to be. She let out a light laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
Opening her eyes, she saw he was closer to her than she thought. His hand gently rubbed her forehead. “You’re a better kisser than I would have ever thought.” Catching herself, she tried to sit up and open her eyes, but couldn’t. She wasn’t getting enough oxygen to her brain. “No, I didn’t mean to say that.”
A low laugh escaped him. “The confession is out, piano girl. You can’t take it back.”
She must have dozed off, because the next thing she remembered was waking up as she was falling, but it was just Kade putting her into her bed. Her momma was standing next to him, a look of concern on her face.
“I’m fine, Momma.” It was all she could manage before she blacked out.
Chapter 14
Adrenaline fueled Kade as he left the Song home. He couldn’t believe what he had just learned. According to her mother, Felicity had a heart condition.
Her mother had been so gracious and quiet and unassuming. He could tell she was a bit overwhelmed when he showed up with Felicity in his arms. She’d directed him to the room nervously, fluttering around them. He’d asked for her cell number so he could check on Felicity later, and she freely gave it to him.
“This dang heart condition. This girl just doesn’t know her limits,” she’d said as she wrote it on a piece of paper. “She shouldn’t be out doing this stuff, but she won’t listen to me. She needs to get that other surgery.”
Now it was all starting to come together. As his driver swerved through the streets of Dallas, back to the freeway, Kade put so many things together. Felicity didn’t date because of her heart condition.
He wanted to throw something at this moment. One would think he’d be exhausted after a day like today, but he felt more keyed up than he had after they’d won the championship game. A championship ring was good news. This … he clenched his hand into a fist and slammed it into the back of the seat in front of him.
His driver glanced back, but didn’t say a word.
Crap, why hadn’t she told him? Was this why she had forced him to sign that stupid contract? Regret surged through him. And she’d jumped out of a plane and danced like that. That couldn’t be good for her. He cursed and slammed the seat again. No, no, no.
He was unable to stop thinking about what he knew about her. Her father was an alcoholic. Her mother was a nurse who had almost lost the house. They had a lot of bills. She had lots of bills, and that’s why the house had bee
n delinquent. Understanding and compassion rose inside of him, and he felt moisture pooling in his eyes. Her mother had paid her medical bills.
What in the crap? This wasn’t his problem. The things this woman did to him …
He thought of kissing her. Idiot. What had he been thinking? He hadn’t thought. If he could have slugged himself, he would have. He cursed again. Why hadn’t he taken Felicity seriously? He thought of insisting they do the faster dance on the boat. She should have told him she couldn’t.
Of course, after meeting and knowing her for even such a short length of time, he knew she wouldn’t. She was stubborn. Determined. Prideful.
Yes, that pride. Maybe that’s what spoke to him the most. The fierce pride in her eyes. Dang it. He thought of how hard she’d worked on this date to fulfill the agreement, how she’d purposely tried to plan things he’d hated.
A million questions went through his mind. What surgery did she need? Why wouldn’t she get it? Was it the money? Well, that wouldn’t be a problem anymore. He had plenty of money.
Unexpectedly, this night had gone from one of the best to making him feel equal parts angst, anger, and terror, like he was on the precipice of going to war. He settled down a bit and sat back in the seat, practicing controlled breathing. It calmed him.
Once again, he saw her playing a concerto in that white dress. Thoughts of her with the kids at McDonald’s made him feel soft and gooey inside. He hated it. He felt like an idiot for giving her the “you can change your life” speech on the dinner cruise. She had been doing everything she could to help her mother, and how do you change a heart condition? He swore and thought of his mother lying in her bed, the cancer eating her from the inside out.
By the time he got home, he’d barely simmered down. He went right to the back of the house and his pool to peel off his clothes. Tonight, he needed some serious laps.
Jumping in, he pushed out a couple of freestyle laps before moving on to the butterfly. He loved to swim. His father had always joked he could have been the next Michael Phelps if he hadn’t loved football so much.
