Love at the 20-Yard Line

by Shanna Hatfield

  He bent down until his lips nearly touched her ear, his breath warm on her neck, making a wild shiver work its way through her body.

  “Hey, doll. Thanks for coming tonight. I know it’s loud and not your scene, but if you can sit tight for just a little while, we can escape.” Brody hoped she’d agree.

  Haven didn’t know when her brain and mouth disconnected. She meant to tell Brody he was insane if he thought she’d spend even five more minutes there, but she heard herself say, “Sure, that sounds great.”

  He patted her on the back then wandered off in the direction of the bar where several of his teammates talked to fans. She saw him sign an autograph then signal to the bartender for a drink. As women sidled up to him, she turned away and glared at Hale. He focused his attention on his hamburger, intentionally ignoring her.

  Allie and Rick returned to the table and Allie gulped down Haven’s soda before she could utter a protest.

  “It’s warm in here. Made me thirsty.” Allie fanned her hand in front of her face, stirring the air. “Rick, would you get us something to drink, and maybe a snack?”

  “Sure, babe. Be right back.” Rick headed in the direction of the bar.

  Hale finished his burger and soda, wiped his mouth and hands on his napkin, and got to his feet, following Rick toward the bar. He stopped next to Brody and said something then they both looked Haven’s direction.

  Brody appeared to be agreeing to something. Haven was sure her jaw dropped open when Hale waved at her and walked out the door.

  “Guess you’re either going home with me or maybe some tight-ended football player will take you,” Allie teased, scooting her chair close enough the two of them could talk without yelling to be heard.

  “Allie,” Haven warned, but her cousin sat back in her chair and crossed one long leg over the other. “Lighten up, cuz. You need to let your hair down and have fun once in a while.”

  Allie tugged on Haven’s ponytail and grinned.

  “I do have fun, but you know I hate this sort of thing. I’d much rather go to a concert or a gallery opening or something remotely civilized.” Pointedly, Haven looked over a few tables at a group of men who held a boisterous belching contest.

  “You of all people should know boys will be boys,” Allie said, wondering how Haven could be such a prude when she grew up with the three rough and tumble brothers. “Could you try, just for one night, to have some fun?”

  “I could try, but it’s going to be impossible here.” About to lose her patience with Allie, Haven needed to leave before she said something she’d regret. She didn’t force Allie to go with her to book club meetings or any of the places she would have been bored to tears. It seemed only fair Allie not force her into things that held no interest for her.

  “Seriously? You’ve got that handsome hottie over there making goo-goo eyes your direction every few minutes and all you want to do is leave?” Allie smiled as Rick returned to their table with a basket of chips and two drinks. “What’s with that outfit, anyway? You look like a librarian with your little sweater thing and those glasses. Why don’t you show a little skin?”

  Allie reached over to undo one of Haven’s shirt buttons and received a firm slap to her hand.

  “Don’t even think about,” Haven warned, starting to get up from the table. Allie grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down. “Chill, cuz. I’m just giving you a hard time.”

  “I think maybe you better dial it down, babe.” Rick noticed the angry flames shooting from Haven’s eyes. He knew Allie pushed Haven out of her comfort zone sometimes because she wanted her to have more fun. What Allie failed to grasp was the way she pushed Haven often had the opposite effect, like now.

  Allie realized Rick was right and took Haven’s hand in her own, patting it softly. “I’m sorry, honey. I did it again, didn’t I?”

  Angry beyond words, Haven fought back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. Why couldn’t Allie leave well enough alone? If she didn’t love her so much, Haven might never speak to her again.

  “You okay?” A deep voice near her ear startled Haven. She turned to find herself just inches away from Brody’s concerned face. His hand rested on her shoulder and he gave it a gentle squeeze, bending down beside her.

  She nodded her head, but didn’t trust herself to speak.

  “Here, take a drink. It’ll make you feel better,” he said, handing her his glass.

  She refused with a shake of her head, but he insisted, pressing it into her hand.

  Not knowing what else to do, she took a tiny sip. Sweet iced tea. Surprised, she looked at Brody over the glass and took a long drink before she handed it back to him. He finished the rest and set the glass on the table.

  “You ready to get out of here?” he asked, pulling her to her feet.

  She picked up her purse and gave Allie one last, disgusted look before taking Brody’s hand and following him out the door.

  The fresh air outside along with the quiet washed over her in a welcoming wave, helping release the tension from her neck.

  “Sorry about that, but it’s good for us to meet with the fans after the game,” Brody said, helping her into his truck. He smelled fresh and clean, mixed with something warm and inviting that was uniquely him. Haven took a deep breath as he slid behind the wheel and started the engine.

  Before he put the truck in first gear, he spent a moment studying her face. “You sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m fine.” She was fine, now that she was away from the crowded party and Allie’s unwelcome advice.

  “Do you want to go anywhere or just home?” he asked, heading toward her apartment.

  “Home, if you don’t mind, please.” Haven needed the comfort and rest of her home. She didn’t even want to venture to the little diner where Allie had left her at Brody’s mercy a few weeks ago.

  Although she was great at her job and could socialize whenever necessary, large groups of rowdy people made her want to crawl in a hole and hide.

  Small groups were fine, places like football games and concerts didn’t bother her, but cram a bunch of bodies into a small, dark place, and Haven was ready to run screaming out the door.

  Allie’s comments about the way she looked hadn’t helped her outlook or confidence. She knew her cousin meant well, but sometimes she went too far.

  They both remained silent on the drive to her apartment. Brody parked in a designated guest parking space and ran around the truck to help Haven down. She took his hand as he walked her to her door then let it go to find her keys.

  “Thank you for seeing me home, Brody. Hale could have dropped me off,” she said, unlocking her door and pushing it open then flicking on the living room light.

  “I know, but I wanted to bring you home. I… um… was really hoping to have a chance to talk to you,” he said, looking everywhere except at her face, acting oddly nervous.

  “Oh. Do you want to come in for a while?” Haven stepped inside and motioned for him to join her.

  Brody smiled as he walked into Haven’s apartment and closed the door behind him.

  Chapter Seven

  Haven set her purse on a small bench by the door and turned to look at Brody. He seemed larger than life as he stood next to the couch, filling up a large space of her living room.

  In an attempt to gather her wits, she took a step toward the kitchen.

  “Are you hungry? Can I get you anything?” she asked, wanting a cup of tea to calm her nerves. Something about Brody made her anxious and excited all at the same time.

  “I don’t want to put you to any trouble,” he said following her into the kitchen and leaning against the doorframe to stay out of her way.

  She filled a cup with boiling water from an instant hot water dispenser on her sink and dropped a tea bag inside.

  “How hungry are you? I can make a sandwich or fry a couple of eggs. I think I’ve got some leftover pasta and cake.” Haven studied the contents of her fridge. She had no idea what big foo
tball players liked to eat, although it was probably similar to the things her three brothers enjoyed.

  “A sandwich would be great, and maybe a piece of that cake.” Brody surrendered to the demands of his sweet tooth. “But I can make the sandwich. You don’t have to wait on me.”

  “No problem.” Haven motioned for him to take a seat at her kitchen table. He folded himself into one of the chairs and watched as she got out bread, meat, cheese, and condiments then set everything, along with a plate and knife, in front of him. “What would you like to drink?”

  “Got milk?” he asked, giving her a flirty grin.

  He made a sandwich and waited while she poured his milk then got her cup of tea and sat across from him.

  The first bite of his sandwich made him realize how hungry he’d been. As he ate his simple meal, he glanced over to find her staring at him.

  She quickly looked down at her tea, appearing to study the contents of her cup before taking a sip.

  When he finished his sandwich, she cut a generous slice of cake and set it on a plate in front of him then cut a small piece for herself.

  “Hope you like bananas,” she said, forking a bite.

  “I do, actually.” He took a bite of the deliciously moist cake. Unable to stop himself from wolfing it down, she grinned and cut him another piece. He ate it at a slower pace than the first piece. “Did you make this? I can tell it’s homemade.”

  “I did. I’m going out to visit my folks tomorrow and my dad loves banana cake,” Haven said, pleased that Brody enjoyed the treat.

  “Do you bake like this all the time?” Haven was one of the few women he’d met who could actually cook.

  “No. I work so many hours, I rarely have time to cook. I tend to do more on the weekends, especially if I’m going to see my family.”

  “Did you say your parents have a farm? Is it nearby?”

  “Yeah, it’s about twenty minutes out of town. They raise potatoes, mostly, but my dad also runs a few head of cattle and grows a little corn.” Haven finished her cake then set their dirty dishes in the sink. She put away the sandwich ingredients and returned to her chair. “Do you need anything else?”

  “No, I’m good. Thanks for that. The cake was one of the best things I’ve eaten in a really long time.”

  Although she blushed, she forced herself to look at him. His praise appeared to be genuine.

  Some unexplainable force drew her closer to him as she gazed into his rich brown eyes. She sat back in her chair, directing her thoughts away from his sensual mouth and enticing scent.

  “You said you wanted to talk. What about?” she asked.

  “You. Us. This…” Brody glanced around her kitchen before gently taking her hand in his. “I… um… well, you see…”

  Brody released a sigh and tipped his head back, staring at the ceiling.

  In the last few weeks, he’d thought of little else besides Haven. It took every ounce of effort and concentration he possessed to focus on the games he played and block out the sight of her face, the smell of her fragrance, the silky feel of her hair in his fingers.

  He hadn’t even given her a real kiss, yet the woman had completely invaded his life.

  Of course, she had no idea she had him so entangled he could barely think straight. That’s why he’d cut short their last conversation and why he barely acknowledged her at the game. He had to block out thoughts of her or he might as well have not even played.

  The idea of getting through the evening so he could see her and spend some time with her drove him to give his best to the game.

  After winning tonight, he felt on top of the world, especially when Haven agreed to come to the party. Correctly assuming she would hate it, he put in enough of an appearance to keep everyone appeased before slipping out. He was grateful Hale stopped to make sure he intended to spend some time with her, giving him permission to see her home.

  Now, sitting across from her, staring into her beautiful blue eyes, he didn’t know how to express his thoughts. He wasn’t even sure what he wanted, other than to keep seeing her.

  Convinced after one kiss she’d be out of his system, Brody had a strong hunch that one kiss would just lead to a desperate need for dozens more.

  He was willing to take the chance, though. Especially as the tip of Haven’s tongue moistened her lips.

  “What is it, Brody? Just spit it out.” Aware of his hesitancy to say what was on his mind, she had no idea what he caused him to look so troubled.

  “Look, Haven, I know you aren’t the kind of girl who dates a bunch of guys. You’re sweet and funny and a little naïve, so I want to be upfront about all this.” Brody did a lousy job of expressing himself. “I’ll be leaving when the season ends and don’t even know if I’ll be back next year. It all depends on if I get invited to a training camp. There’s also the chance I could end up with a different arena team.”

  “All right.” Haven sought to make sense of what Brody said. So far, he’d pegged her and her dating habits accurately, but she didn’t know why he brought up the fact he’d leave in a few months.

  Brody stood and paced around her kitchen then leaned against the counter and ran his hand through his dark hair. He stared at her for a long, intense moment before returning to the table. He regained his seat and captured her hand in his again.

  “What I’m trying to say, Haven, despite my obvious inability to get out the right words, is that I want to see you. I want to date you, but it would just be casual. For fun. No strings attached because we both know I won’t be here by the time July rolls around.” Brody rubbed his thumb across the inside of Haven’s wrist and watched her face soften in response. “Unless I’m completely mistaken, I think you’re attracted to me every bit as much as I am to you. But knowing you aren’t one of those girls who take this kind of thing lightly, I wanted to be clear on what you can expect from me.”

  Haven struggled to wrap her head around the notion that Brody Jackson was attracted to her and wanted to date her. From the first time he smiled at her, she knew he wouldn’t stick around, which is why she fought to stay away from him.

  She could push him away and destroy a growing friendship, or she could enjoy what time she had with him before he left town.

  For once in her life, she chose not to play it safe and ignored the whisper in her head telling her to shove him out the door and never see him again.

  “Okay.”

  “Okay, what?” Brody asked, confused by her response.

  “Okay, I’d like to date you, too, with the understanding that it’s just for fun and you’ll be leaving in June. No strings attached.” Haven smiled at him with such unguarded affection, Brody’s temperature started to climb.

  “That’s good, doll.” He ran his hands up and down the arms of her soft sweater. “That’s really good.”

  “Why do you call me doll?” Haven asked, anxious for a distraction from the look in Brody’s eyes. It seemed dangerous and thrilling, and she had no idea how to handle it.

  Brody sat back in his chair and studied her from the blond curls captured in a ponytail to her pink flowered blouse and light pink sweater. “You look like a beautiful doll with your curly hair, blue eyes, and perfect skin. You remind me of a doll my mom keeps in a box in her closet. I think it was something her grandmother gave her and told her to take care of, as a keepsake. It looks a lot like you.”

  Brody continued to stare at her. It left her completely disconcerted. Before he could say anything further, she got to her feet and walked into the living room. She heard him scoot out his chair and his footsteps sound behind her. “Let’s sit in the living room if you want to talk.”

  Her plan was to sit in the small chair by the couch and put some distance between her and Brody. Unfortunately, he had his own plans. As soon as she took a seat, he effortlessly scooped her up and settled her across his lap on the couch.

  “There, that’s better,” he said with a cocky smile.

  “For whom?” she squeaked.
Brody looked even better up close. Flecks of gold danced in his dark brown eyes and his scent flooded through her, obliterating her ability to think or move.

  “Definitely me.” Gently, he removed her glasses and set them on the coffee table. Her eyes looked even bigger and bluer without her glasses covering them. Brody felt drawn to her in a way he’d never imagined feeling for any one. “Do you have to wear your glasses all the time?”

  “Only if I want to see what I’m doing,” she said with a nervous smile. He smirked and she relaxed a little. “I have to wear them to see distances, driving, and to work on my computer, so yes, pretty much all the time.”

  “Can you see me okay with them off?”

  “Yes.” With her face just inches away from his, she could see him extremely well.

  “Now, how about these sweaters you wear? The only time I’ve seen you dressed in something else was the day we went to lunch. You had on a business suit that day.”

  “I like sweaters. They’re soft and warm and pretty.” Haven had no idea why Brody wanted to discuss her wardrobe selections. It certainly wasn’t what she wanted to do.

  Pressing her lips to his and seeing if they tingled like they did the first time he kissed her seemed like a much better idea.

  “Pretty,” Brody repeated, fascinated by the way her lips moved. Most of the girls he’d dated in the past wouldn’t have been caught dead dressed in the modest attire Haven favored. On her, though, the soft, feminine clothes were definitely appealing.

  He turned his gaze to her hair. His next objective was to remove the hair band binding the golden mane at the back of her head. He’d dreamed of what her hair would look like down, how it would feel with his hands buried in the curls, and he wasn’t leaving until he found out.

  “What about your hair? How come you’ve always got it pulled back?”

  She reached a hand up to her hair, uncertain how she’d styled it before leaving for the game. When she felt the hair band holding it in a ponytail, she tugged it out and stared at it lying on her palm.

  “Old habit from growing up on a farm. Hair tends to get in the way when you’re outside working. At work, I like to keep a professional image with it up, and I pull it into a ponytail at home most times without thinking.”