by Taylor Hart
“No.” He scowled at her, his eyes roving across her blonde hair. He thought of his mother. “She likes to dance. She likes to laugh. She sees the good in life, even when curveballs get thrown at her.”
The moment went slow and sticky and her eyes misted again. “Your mom was an amazing woman.”
Emotion surged inside of his chest. “Yeah, she was.” He cleared his throat. “But that’s not who I’m talking about.”
Once again, she blushed.
He continued. “She helps others. She …” He thought of her. “She’s wicked smart and even kind of annoying sometimes because she thinks she knows everything.”
“Know-it-all. Check.” She looked at the phone. “Five minutes, Kincaid, keep going.”
“Umm …”
“You don’t care if she has three eyes.”
“Nope.”
“Just as long as she’s a good person.”
“Yep.”
“Five hundred pounds works?”
He glared at her. “You know this is a loaded question. I will get raked over the coals.”
“C’mon, pansy. What do you want physically in a woman?” she pressed.
Before he could stop himself, he said, “Angelic soft, unguarded eyes when she is curious. A dimple in her left cheek. Straight, long honey-blonde hair and a yoga body.” He winked at her.
Their eyes held and she shook her head, smiling. He liked it. More than he should. More than he knew she wanted him to.
She looked at the phone. “Three, two, one.” She handed it back.
He grabbed it and closed his hand on hers. “That was a good session.” All he wanted to do was tug her closer and kiss her. The air was thick with chemistry.
Pulling her hand back, she turned and took off toward the house. “Race ya back!”
Chapter 13
The next afternoon, Cassidy stared at Anthony’s face on her computer. Never had Cassidy done an exclusive with an athlete and felt like she wanted him to kiss her or hold her hand during the whole thing. Granted, sure, she had interviewed her fair share of gorgeous men. Luckily most of them were so cocky and arrogant that she didn’t care much for them. Anthony was cocky and arrogant, too, but, well, it was different.
Kyle, he’d been part of an article, but they hadn’t started dating until after, so it hadn’t been messy.
Staring at Anthony Kincaid’s face on the computer, his arm linked with Sheena Turner only last year in Dallas, spotted at a restaurant before his accident, she felt … jealous. Much to her displeasure. She had been engaged and she’d loved Kyle. She had. Hadn’t she? How come, since the day she’d seen Anthony Kincaid at the sports camp, it was like she was that teenager from long ago? The teenager who couldn’t make any decisions. The one in the books she read. The one that made her throw the book across the room.
It annoyed her. Characters without a purpose always bothered her.
Tapping on a different screen, she pulled up the manuscript of the book she’d been working on for forever. Not the one with Harry that Anthony had made her quote. No, this was a simple romance. Or what should have been a simple romance. The premise of the story she’d started when she’d been dating Kyle. It was simple: a Navy SEAL and a single woman, who happened to be his neighbor, had gotten off on the wrong foot, but the SEAL ended up saving her from a stalker and they start dating.
Last night, when she couldn’t stop her mind from swimming with Anthony, she’d gotten up and began writing on the story again. The story was coming freely and suddenly, the SEAL was Anthony and the neighbor was a version of her. Of course she would never put up with her stalker, but … the story had been flowing. Now, she re-read what she’d written, laughing at some of the witty banter and loving it.
Clicking the screen shut, she thought about going to the Kincaids tonight. It didn’t feel like a regular interview. She knew it would be dressy, and she had one red dress and some gold heels. She’d worn the outfit when Kyle had been alive and they’d gone to a military ball together. She didn’t have time to go shopping now, so it would have to do.
Her phone buzzed and she saw it was Anthony. ‘R u ready for tonight?’
How did he seem to know she was thinking of him? Maybe he wasn’t that connected, but she could swear he knew what she was thinking the other night on the horse ride. During their “drill.” That felt personal.
She texted him back. ‘No.’
He texted back a salsa dancing girl, which made her laugh. ‘I’ll be there at six-thirty to get you. Dad wants Kade and I there on time. You know the old man.’
Even though she hadn’t seen John Kincaid in years, his face flashed to her mind. Yes, she’d always liked the man. His most endearing asset when she’d known him was his devotion to Anthony’s mother.
Sure, he was shrewd, and she’d sensed that even as a kid. It was clear he wanted nothing, including a girlfriend, to get in the way of his sons’ success as football players.
Thinking of John Kincaid, she thought of how a spreadsheet from Davinci PR had shown up in her inbox and the PR girl assigned to her had explained John Kincaid wanted her to have the information for the article. The spreadsheet was thorough, outlining the details of his surgery and different articles that had been done on Anthony in the beginning by Felicity, Kade’s wife. Felicity had been in charge of Kade and she’d done a good job putting out some favorable PR on her husband, who had not been her husband at the time.
Cassidy went to a clip that had Kade pushing Anthony in a wheelchair, his leg elevated, around the halls at the hospital, both of them laughing hysterically by the end. It made her almost cry, seeing the way Kade had rallied around Anthony.
As she went through all the dates, something felt off. She went through her timeline month by month. When exactly had he recovered enough to start doing drills with Kade? She would have to ask him.
Honestly, she didn’t know what to include in the article. The Kincaids were fiercely private, except to those closest to them, so not a lot had been released to the press after the initial accident.
Rapidly, the image of her and Anthony kissing for the first time after his mother had passed popped into her head. They had been so young, and so in love.
Hating that she didn’t know what to do with this nervous energy, she got up and grabbed the keys off of her desk. The old outfit wouldn’t do; she needed to find a new one.
Chapter 14
When Anthony pulled up to Cassidy’s place, he had to smile seeing her father sitting on the porch, but not holding the shotgun. He figured it might be a good sign. Not that he would put it past the old man to shoot him if he hurt his daughter, he’d be disappointed if he didn’t. Getting out of the truck, he walked to the porch.
Her father let out a low whistle. “Party at the Kincaid place tonight. Someone’s lookin’ fancy.”
Sporting a suit coat hadn’t been his style, but his father had insisted. Anthony did a mock fashion pose, making her father laugh. Anthony wondered if he should have invited Mr. Stone, though he knew her father cared nothing for fancy parties.
“She’s coming. You can hear everyone drive up. Take a seat and talk to an old man for a second.”
Anthony put a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Cass told me next week you get a scan to check the tumors?”
Her father wore a tired smile. “Yep. But I want to talk about this party you’re going to, to celebrate the Wildcat win.”
“It’ll be a lot of big egos bolstering each other up.”
“Sounds about right. One of them being your father of course.” Her father nodded.
Anthony laughed. “Of course.”
Her father grinned. “The team looked good last Sunday. What do you think’s going to happen this week with Boston?”
Anthony fell into easy football talk. “Shoot, we’re gonna win.”
Her father let out a light laugh. “I wish I could be there.”
The screen door opened. When Cassidy walked out of the house, Anthony felt
like he had felt the first time he’d seen her in a pretty dress, when she’d come to a party after living next door a couple of months. Tonight she wore a turquoise dress that matched her eyes perfectly. It was slightly off the shoulder, tight at the waist, and flared out to her knees. Her hair was piled on her head with wisps of it hanging down. Her Cleopatra eyes caught the light just the right way, and her three-inch silver heels that matched the dangling silver jewelry made her taller. She looked like a million bucks—no, Anthony had a million bucks, and it didn’t compare to Cassidy.
Her father let out a low whistle and pulled her into a hug. “You’re beautiful, sweetheart.”
“Thank you, Daddy,” she said.
“He’s right. You’re breathtaking, Cassidy.” Anthony pasted on what he knew would be a rubbery smile. He was smitten, so smitten. Time stood still, and with effort he reached out towards her. “I better hold your hand. I wouldn’t want you slipping on the way to the truck.”
A slow smile filled her face and she took his hand. “Night, Daddy. Call me if you need me.”
They walked to the truck, and he tucked her hand into the corner of his arm as he escorted her.
“You clean up nice too,” she said as he opened the door for her.
It made him feel good to hear the words. Obviously, they weren’t lavish, but he would take them. “It’s going to be a good night.”
Half an hour later, they walked into his father’s house and were greeted by his father, Kade, and Felicity. Anthony went to his sister-in-law and kissed her cheek. “You look great,” he said, before turning to introduce Cassidy.
Felicity gave her a hard look, then shook her hand. “So you’re the lost love that’s writing crap about my brother-in-law here.”
Cassidy’s eyes narrowed and she pulled back, matching Felicity’s expression. “I just write the truth, Mrs. Kincaid.”
Felicity nodded, a slow smile filling her face, but Anthony could tell the women were squaring off. “I hope the exclusive is good.” She turned and walked away.
Kade gave Anthony a shrug and then leaned in to both of them and said, “Sorry, you know how pregnant women are.” He took off after her.
His father stood there, eyeing her up and down, and Anthony wanted to remind his father to be nice because he never knew what the old man might do. “Cassidy Stone, back in Dallas.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Mr. Kincaid.”
His father moved to her, giving her a perfunctory kiss on the cheek. “Good to have you, darling. Heard your father is doing better.” He winked at her. “Tell Harrison the next party I want him comin’ and kickin’ up his heels.”
Anthony didn’t understand. Hadn’t her father said they chatted every week? Wouldn’t he have seen Cassidy?
At this Cass seemed to relax and let out a light laugh. “Yeah, you know Daddy, always kickin’ those heels up.”
Another guest arrived, and his father winked at her. “I want a dance with you later, young lady, and we can do the interview.”
Anthony ushered her away from his father, hating the fact he felt like he was in the danger zone. It was stupid. He was twenty-six years old and he was nervous around his father. Ridiculous.
They worked their way across the room and he waved at Brady Giles, Rennen Bradley, and Teo Parata, who were all huddled in a group and discussing something.
Anthony relaxed. Everything between him and Cassidy felt so not about the exclusive. The strain on his heart was getting to him. Last night he’d woken thinking of the feeling of her against him on the dance floor and kissing him. The only way to shake it was a five-mile run way too early in the morning.
“Hey, Cassidy.” Scar popped up at her side.
Anthony tensed. Which was stupid. Scar was just an intense personality. Not to mention he’d just gotten Bachelor of the Year in Dallas, so the regular trash-talking had gone up a notch.
“Hey, Scar.” She warmed to him. “How are you?”
“Good.” He winked at her and turned to Anthony. “Could we chat with your dad about the vet project at some point?”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll come get you in a bit.” Anthony veered away from Scar. He wanted Cassidy to himself.
“See ya, Scar.” Cassidy gave him a wave.
Anthony locked eyes with Scar and saw him giving Cassidy the once-over. He gave him a brief shake of his head, in guy speak saying, “She’s off limits.”
Cassidy turned to face him, nearly running into his chest. It was the first time that evening their eyes met. She was three inches taller with her heels, so she was in kissing range at the moment. “Anthony.”
“Yeah.” He put on a seductive smile. “You look like you might kiss me.”
Their breath mingled, and he couldn’t tell if she wanted him to or not.
A bit scattered, he took her by the hand and led her to the patio. “Pfft, whatever. I just think you can’t get me out of your mind, Ms. Stone.”
She let out a soft laugh, but he could tell she was a bit tense. “I don’t … I’m not great at these parties.”
He stopped next to a guy with a tray of water and took two, handing one to Cassidy. “You look beautiful, Poe.”
She took the water with a chuckle. “Too bad the sister-in-law I need an interview with seems to hate me.”
Anthony scanned the crowd and saw Kade and Felicity next to the bar at the kitchen, staring back at him. “Naw, she’s just … Felicity and I have a close relationship, so she’s protective of me.” He smiled at Felicity.
Now Cassidy looked intrigued. She put her hand out. “Phone, please.”
“You want my phone?” He pulled it out and gave it to her.
She went to the timer. “Ten minutes. Please explain your relationship with Felicity.”
He had to laugh, and dang if it didn’t feel good to have the woman’s full attention. He decided not to be careful. “As you know, a bunch of stuff happened over the years between Kade and I after you left.” He sighed. “You kissed him. I got a high ankle sprain and he took my spot as first-string quarterback. I hated him for lots of reasons.” He sighed. It sounded stupid and petty.
“First World problems.” She cocked an eyebrow.
He laughed. “Yes, I know.”
“But they are still problems.” She nodded. “Continue.”
“Well—and please don’t put this in your exclusive—it wasn’t until my accident last year that Kade and I got close again.” He thought about the accident and sitting in that hospital room with his brother. “He had started dating Felicity and she encouraged him to come when I got hurt. He stayed with me.”
“I’ve seen that coverage,” she said in true reporter fashion.
“Yes, but you didn’t see the part where my dad freaked out on me in the hospital and Kade had to forcibly remove him from the room.”
“Wow.”
He smiled. “Yeah.”
“Okay, but explain more on Felicity.”
“Right. She was instrumental in us becoming closer again. I had the accident, then Felicity had a heart transplant.”
She did a double take. “What?”
“Another thing not for the media. She needed a new heart and my father found her one, saved her life.”
“That’s incredible.”
“It was,” he agreed.
“Second chances,” she said quietly.
“What?”
“Nothing. I’m just thinking second chances for the Kincaids are kind of a theme.” She pushed him in the shoulder. “And you’ll get yours, on the field.”
He shook his head. “I told you, I want this year for Kade on the field.”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t, like, play a game and be awesome to prove you’re back.”
He thought about that. “Nah, I’m good.”
“Second chance, Boss.”
With a wink, he said, “If you believe in second chances in relationships, then I’ll believe in them on the field, too.”
The m
oment intensified, and there was so much in her eyes he wanted to know.
All he wanted to do was kiss her, but he resisted. He let her go and cleared his throat. “So, because I’d been injured and Felicity had heart surgery, we both had a lot of time on our hands. So we played the piano together.”
“Ah.”
“I really feel like she’s a sister to me. It’s … it’s cool.”
“So she was personally offended at what I wrote,” Cassidy said.
He grinned. “Yeah.”
She nodded. “Three, two, one.” The timer sounded.
Anthony took it back and turned it off. Movement caught his eye, and he turned. His father was at a microphone on the makeshift stage with the band on it in the center of the room. “I want to welcome the Titans! The first big win! James, come up here!”
James Knight went up as everyone cheered, and accepted the microphone. “Okay, have fun tonight, guys. But not too much fun. We’re taking down the Minutemen this weekend!” The team hollered enthusiastically, and James Knight looked around. “Kade, get up here and rally the troops!”
“Zeus! Zeus! Zeus!” the team started yelling, Anthony included.
Kade got up and didn’t disappoint, pep-talking them. He capped it off by shouting, “Titans!” The rest of them rallied right on cue.
His father took the microphone back. “What are you waiting for? It’s a party. Get dancing!” He pointed to the band and they erupted into a country song.
Several people rushed to the dance floor. Anthony grinned, loving the energy of being part of the team.
Cassidy watched Kade and James Knight and his father. “They are quite the act, aren’t they?”
“Yep.”
Her eyes turned back on him, and it was like her walls came down. “I think you’re pretty amazing, Anthony Kincaid. All you’ve gone through to make it back. It’s cool, you get legend status too.”
This hadn’t been what he’d expected. “I don’t think so.”
“You even grew up surrounded by egomaniacs and you’re still a good person.”
Annoyance rippled through him at the truth he wouldn’t tell her, that he’d messed up enough. “Don’t give me too much credit.”
