Just Play

by Taylor Hart

  “I’m sure you’ll make a great lead, but we both know you’ll never be over me. We need each other. That’s why I came back.”

  This ticked her off. Stopping, she whirled back to him. She knew what would hurt Brett the most, but she didn’t want to use Sam that way. “Shut up, Brett.”

  By the look on his face, Tiffany could tell that getting her attention was exactly what he wanted.

  This was how he’d always been. This was the way he’d always gotten under her skin. He was an abuser of the lowest kind, always manipulating people’s emotions, but she hadn’t been able to see that when she’d been with him. He’d always played her, but she was done with that.

  Brett grinned and raised his eyebrows. “A pro ball player. Nice touch. Just like your best friend. I guess you can ride his coattails now.”

  Bam. He’d hit her where he knew she was vulnerable. Every part of her was alert, awake, and ready to pounce.

  “Please let me throttle him,” Sam whispered quietly.

  “No.” She shook her head and then pointed at Brett. “I want you to know I am over you.” Moving to Sam, she grabbed the front of his shirt.

  The look on Sam’s face was one of complete shock, but he let her pull him to her.

  Their lips met, and it was like everything else melted away. All she could do was feel him. She knew he felt the same by the way he pulled her closer and from the low moan that escaped his lips.

  She pushed her hands up his shoulders and into his hair, loving the way he responded to her.

  Tiffany knew she wasn’t kissing Sam Dumont to prove to Brett that she was over him. No, she was kissing Sam Dumont because…she wanted to.

  34

  Two hours later, Sam found himself sitting on Tiffany’s bed, watching her pack her suitcase to go on tour. He wondered if they would talk about what had happened in the yard, or if he would just have to go for a ten-mile freak out run later after she told him to go home.

  Right now he felt like he was a high schooler with his first girlfriend. He didn’t know if he should go or if he should stay. He even felt strange sitting in her room, like he was breaking some kind of rule.

  “Why do you look so weird?” Tiffany stood mid-fold, holding a pair of pants that she was prepping to put into the bag.

  After Tiffany had told Reese what had happened with Brett, minus the whole kiss thing, she’d gotten down to the business of packing. For the last few minutes she had been rambling about this and that as far as what she needed to think about for wardrobe.

  “What?” Sam asked, trying to put on a different face. Why couldn’t he just level with her?

  Narrowing her eyes, she put the pants in and turned back to her closet. “You’re probably wondering why I kissed you?” She moved deeper into her closet, reaching to grab something off the top shelf.

  Standing, he edged toward her. “Not really.” The inside of his chest fluttered with little spasms.

  She spun around. “You’re not?”

  Taking another step to her, he gently reached up and moved her hair off of her shoulder. After the hair was gone, he left his hand on her shoulder. “I mean, you just wanted Brett to leave, right?”

  Looking up at him with those chocolate eyes she smiled. “Well, I do have to tell you something.”

  “Okay?” How was it possible he felt more nervous in this moment than he had when he was waiting outside of the Destroyers owner’s office to see if he would be the starter for the championship game or not?

  Reaching up, she took his hand. “I didn’t kiss you to make a point to Brett.”

  “You didn’t?” All he could do was think about kissing her again. “I mean, I would…I wasn’t mad about it or anything.”

  She beat him to it, leaning up and gently brushing her lips to his. “Not making a point to Brett.”

  Encouraged, he kissed her back, taking it a little deeper this time. “Then why did you kiss me?” He kept their foreheads together.

  She let out a light laugh. “Maybe I wanted to make a point to you.”

  Pulling back for a second, he couldn’t hide his surprise. “You did?”

  She laughed again. “Well, I decided to quit being afraid, remember?”

  This, he liked. Warmth filled him. “Hey, I decided to quit being afraid today, too.”

  She smiled. “I’ve never met anyone like you, Sam.”

  “You mean with as great of abs?” He scrunched up his face.

  She laughed. “Yes, it’s all the abs.”

  Brushing his lips to hers, he ran his hand down her hair. “Well, Tiffany Chance, I’m putting you on notice.”

  “Oh?” She didn’t try to pull away, but reached up, tracing the scar above his lip. “And what are you notifying me about?”

  Searching her eyes, he couldn’t believe how much he needed her. “I’m putting you on notice that you’re going to have an official creepy, stalker professional football player coming to every concert he can get to.”

  “Really?”

  Gently, he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Uh-huh.” He kissed the other cheek.

  Smiling, she let out a sigh. “I guess I can handle that.”

  Peering down at her, complete certainty filled him. Everything became clear. He wanted to marry Tiffany Chance. He grinned, knowing he couldn’t tell her this yet. “Yeah, this way we’ll be able to take it slow.”

  She looked doubtful. “Sam Dumont wants to take it slow?”

  Letting out a breath, he pulled her into a hug, loving the person she was and the things she stood for. Definitely not wanting to take it slow, but he would for her. “Yep. So plan on me being at that concert in Boulder in four days.”

  Snuggling into him, she sighed. “Sounds good.”

  35

  Four days later, Sam stood in the airport at baggage claim with Roman and his kids, waiting for Katie and Mrs. K’s plane to arrive.

  Sam held Maddy, and she gently touched his face, holding his nose. His plane to Denver left in two hours, and he was glad he would get to officially meet Katie and Mrs. K before he left. He’d heard so much about them that he felt like he already knew both of them.

  Roman stood next to him, smiling at Maddy. “Hey, thanks man, for helping give the place an extra shine. Katie’s going to be so happy to have it look so good.”

  Sam wrinkled his face and tickled the back of Maddy. “No prob.”

  Roman sighed and checked the time on his phone, again. “I hate it when planes get delayed.”

  Josh bumped into Roman’s side. “Quit worrying, Dad, they’ll be here anytime.”

  After spending the past few days with Roman and the kids, Sam felt close to them. He admired what a good kid Josh was and how close he and Roman were.

  Josh moved toward the window to look out.

  “So, are you ready to see Tiffany tonight?”

  Ready didn’t even begin to cover it. “Yeah.” He let out a breath. “I’m nervous, man.”

  “Pfft, you should be.” He gave him a wide grin. “Did I mention the whole talk that if you hurt her I’ll have to mess you up and stuff?”

  Sam let out a sigh, thinking that his eye was finally starting to look normal again. “I take your threats seriously.”

  Narrowing his eyes, Roman nodded. “You should.” Picking up Maddy’s hand, Roman shook it lightly. “Sam should be very afraid of Wolfe Creek girls, huh Maddy? Yes, that’s right.”

  She cooed at her father, and he flashed Sam a smile. “Guess what tickets I just purchased today?”

  “What?” Sam had no idea what he was talking about.

  “Season opener tickets to the Miami Surf.”

  Warmth filled him. …It meant more to him than he even realized until that moment. He blinked.

  “Oh, don’t be a girl on me, Dumont,” Roman said, easily putting an arm over Sam’s shoulder.

  Sam let out a grunt and shook his head, pushing away the emotion.

  Roman let him go. “You’re pretty much going to be fa
mily anyway. I mean, I’m going to have to start seeing you at all the family functions and stuff.”

  Sam rolled his eyes. “Don’t be counting the chicks before they’re hatched.”

  Roman laughed. “Did I mention I bought Katie and the kids tickets plus one extra…just in case she can come?”

  Excitement pulsed through Sam. “Ya don’t say?”

  “That’s right.”

  Sam hesitated. “Let’s see how things go in Denver.”

  Minutes later, the plane landed.

  “Roman!” The red-haired beauty that Sam had seen several times on television rushed toward him them, dodging people picking up their luggage.

  Roman moved toward her, Maddy snug against him and Josh running next to him.

  They all seemed to scoop each other into their arms, holding each other for several seconds. Then Roman and Katie were kissing. It was almost an embarrassing full on make-out session.

  The lady he presumed to be Mrs. K wrapped her arms around them, and then Roman and Josh pulled back and everyone began giving individual hugs.

  When they all got to him, Katie hugged him without preamble, smelling like lemon. “Sam.”

  He didn’t know how she’d accepted him so completely, but he knew she had. He could feel it.

  Pulling back, she grinned up at him. “I hear you’re taking it slow with my best friend.”

  36

  The gig was at an outdoor theater in Boulder. Sam pulled into town, slowing down when he got to Main Street. He rolled down the window of the black Camaro he was driving and inhaled the nourishing mountain air. He wouldn’t mind living in a mountain community. He’d never had the chance to before, but he’d secretly liked playing in Denver when they’d travelled here for a game. Not to mention the fact he’d gotten used to Wolfe Creek.

  Tiffany had texted him directions, and in his estimation, he was only a few minutes away.

  Boulder was a total college town. He saw signs that directed people to the campus everywhere, and a couple of streets over, he saw towering buildings of education. He was glad that part of his life was behind him. He was grateful for his business degree. He’d been compulsive about getting it at the University of Miami in case he got hurt on the field and had to end up using it. He was even more grateful he was still playing football. He loved it. After being off official training the past couple of weeks, he realized how much he missed it. He was totally psyched to get to Miami and start training with the team.

  It felt like the life he’d had in Texas with the Destroyers and with all the crap with Sheena was finally done. He felt new. It was like Wolfe Creek had been the beginning of a transformation that he’d desperately needed.

  The thing that perplexed him the most about this thing with Tiffany was that he was insanely attracted to her, but that wasn’t the thing driving the relationship. Chills rushed over him as he realized that she made him want to be better. It wasn’t just for her either. She brought out the best in him.

  They’d spent the past few days texting and talking on the phone. She’d called him right after performing in Omaha, and she’d told him that he was the first person she’d wanted to talk to.

  That meant something.

  He meant something to her. He liked that. The more he talked and teased and found out about the things she liked, hated, and regretted, the more he wanted to find out more.

  Last night they’d spent from ten at night until two in the morning talking politics. It had taken him by surprise that she truly cared about the country and the things she thought were going wrong. There were things she wanted to be a part of and change. He found himself agreeing with her on some things and disagreeing about others. The thing he liked most was that they could talk about anything.

  Most women he’d dated had either been totally into him because of football or totally self-absorbed. It sounded ridiculous, but he’d never dated girls like Tiffany.

  He also had a sneaking suspicion there wasn’t anyone else like her. No. His heart sped up as he got to the outdoor theater next to the Flat Irons and saw that the place was packed. Happiness surged into him.

  He had to wait to park, but he didn’t mind at all. It was nice to be a normal person. He knew Tiffany wouldn’t want to make a big ado about dating him. She didn’t want the press clip.

  That just made him like her even more. He grinned and parked in the spot the attendant pointed to. Then he took the cowboy hat he’d bought in Nashville and got out of the car.

  37

  Tiffany stood back stage, standing around with the band and feeling incredibly nervous. The night before, Joe had come to her with the rest of the band and asked her if she could wear something showier for the crowd. They’d stopped at the outlets on the way to the theatre, and she’d picked out a sequined white top with white boots. She’d bought some dangly white earrings that matched the top, but she wasn’t a star yet, and this put a large dent in her pocket book. She’d already had some tight black pants, and she was using the hat Sam had bought her in Nashville. She was so nervous. This was the biggest crowd she’d ever seen, but if she were honest, she was even more nervous and excited to see Sam. To have him there, in the crowd. She’d tried to text him twice, and she knew they only had a few minutes before she went on. Looking at her phone, she willed him to text back.

  Arms wrapped around her from behind, and she smelled that familiar ‘cool breeze.’ “Nice hat.”

  The feel of his arms had her insides melting. Swiveling to face him, she found he was already leaning in for a kiss.

  She stopped him with a finger on his lips. “How did you get back here?” Security was pretty tight, and she knew there was no way he could have managed it without his name.

  Grinning, he pulled her even closer, and she felt any will power against him evaporating. He brushed his lips to hers, then pulled back. “You said you didn’t want me to use my star power to bolster the show. You never said anything about using it to get back stage and sneak a kiss with the star.” His lips touched hers, again.

  She let out a light laugh when her hat fell off as Sam pulled her closer and deepened the kiss.

  “Hey.” She pulled away, knowing that her face would be red.

  He stared at her with hooded eyes. “Tiffany Chance.” He looked her up and down. “I think you get prettier every time I see you.” He lifted his eyebrows. “Nice outfit.”

  Of course she liked that he liked it, but there was so much more with Sam. The attraction that crackled between them in the air so strongly, she thought someone could reach out and get electrocuted by it. “They told me I needed to have more flash.” She shrugged. “So I got it today.”

  Reaching out for her hand, he grinned down at her. “You’re going to do great and not because of the outfit, but because you’ve worked hard and you have talent.”

  Satisfaction, gratitude, and a feeling of safety all wove through her. She realized, when he was with her everything felt better. Leaning up to his cheek, she kissed him softly and whispered, “Thanks, Sam.”

  When she pulled back, his arm snaked around her hips and pulled her back in. “Oh, no, I need a better kiss than that.” He kept her close. “Don’t worry about anything—just play.”

  “That’s right.” She grinned and then kissed him one more time before running with her band out onto the stage.

  38

  Later after her set, he and Tiffany enjoyed the rest of the concert backstage with her band. Joe, Eric, and Luke were nice guys. A bit eccentric, but they were impressed when he picked up a guitar and started jamming with them. After talking with them, he found out Eric and Luke were both married, and Joe had a pretty serious girlfriend. It made him feel better about Tiffany touring with the group.

  After the show had ended, Sam had treated them all to dinner. He’d listened to them tell stories about the past few days on the road.

  It surprised him when Joe asked, “So, are you looking forward to Florida?”

  Sam held Tiffany’s han
d. “I’m actually thinking of joining the tour as a groupie.” He teased.

  Tiffany blushed, but flashed a grin at the guys. “He just wants to have a public forum for shirt throwing.”

  Joe laughed, but Eric looked thoughtful. “Wouldn’t hurt my feelings to have Sam Dumont hang with us.”

  Luke gave Sam a distasteful look. “I don’t know, man, hanging out with a football player might hurt my image.”

  Listening to the sound of Tiffany’s rich laughter as they sat and told stories and got to know each other, Sam felt himself fall for her a little more. It seemed he did that every day. Every time he was with her.

  Sam followed them to the hotel they were staying at in Boulder and got a room there. It wasn’t a fancy place, but Sam wasn’t there for fancy. He was there for her. They had to be in Denver in two days, so the band had agreed that Tiffany could meet them the next night at the hotel near Red Rocks, and they could rehearse the morning before they performed. Sam could tell they’d been working hard. The music had improved from the night he heard them all play together at MacCools.

  When they finally got settled in, it was nearly midnight. Tiffany had come to his room after she’d changed. She wore black yoga pants and a pink t-shirt. She’d scrubbed all the make-up off of her face and put her hair in a ponytail. He answered the door in shorts and a t-shirt, liking that they could be casual together.

  She hesitated at the door. “I can’t stay long.” She looked around his room, and he could tell that she was nervous.

  He was nervous too. He didn’t want to mess this up with her, but he tugged her into his arms, unable to do anything else. He’d found he needed her. To be with her. To hold her. “I’ll be a perfect gentleman. I promise.” Letting her go, he nodded to one of the double beds. “Why don’t we take different beds and talk…keep distance between us?”

  “Okay.” Carefully, she moved to the bed and sat, still looking around a bit skittishly.