by Jodi Vaughn
Whatever Grace was running from, he wanted to help.
He just needed to somehow make her understand that he wasn’t the enemy.
***
“Let’s do the routine one more time, girls.” Grace wiped her hand across her sweaty forehead as the girls let out a collective disgruntled moan.
“Our last instructor didn’t make us work this hard.” Sarah crossed her arms and stuck out her lips in a pout.
“Your last instructor didn’t get you girls to regionals, let alone state.” Grace propped her hands on her hips, waiting for the girls to argue. She’d been so nervous the first day of practice, unsure if the girls were willing to give her a shot and accept what she could offer. Oddly enough, they’d been excited and willing to learn different routines and moves. In the practices that followed, Grace had become more confident in her teaching and demanded that they do their best.
“Yeah, you’re right.” Sarah sighed. “Can you show us the whole routine again? I keep missing a move.”
Grace nodded. She walked out to the center of the field. The high school quarterback, Chris Meadowbrook, and a couple of other football players had lingered after practice to watch the girls.
“Looking good, Miss Witherspoon,” Chris called out and whistled.
Grace’s stomach clenched as she fought to keep her expression neutral. They were waiting for a reaction. She knew if she continued to ignore them, they’d eventually give up.
Grace got into position, looked at Melanie, and nodded for her to turn on the music. The music of the Black Eyed Peas blared across the field. She began her set of intricate moves and then a set of back springs before landing her flip.
The music ended and the girls applauded.
“Hey, Miss Witherspoon, I didn’t know you were that flexible.” Chris wandered over to her.
She ignored him and walked back to the girls. Melanie avoided her gaze and studied her feet, as her face grew red.
Melanie and Chris were the high school’s dream couple. They both had blonde hair and blue eyes, and everyone seemed to think Ken and Barbie were the perfect pair.
No one could be that perfect. Grace knew that from experience.
There was something not so innocent about Chris. Her gut was telling her something wasn’t right and underneath that veneer lay something dark.
Chris walked over with his linemen, ignored Melanie, and gave Grace a wink.
The football players chuckled.
Sloan stepped out from the shadows of the bleachers. “Chris, can I see you for a minute?”
“Is there a problem?” Chris gave him a charming smile.
“Actually there is. Surely you don’t talk to your teachers like you talk to Miss Witherspoon.”
Chris laughed. “Hell, no. My teachers aren’t hot like her either.”
Sloan clenched his hands into fists and stepped up to Chris, putting himself between Grace and the quarterback. By this time, all the girls had stopped talking among themselves and were watching the two men with rapt attention.
Grace’s face heated with humiliation. She wanted to kill Sloan for making such a scene.
“Let me be clear. As long as Miss Witherspoon is here teaching the dance team, you are to treat her with the respect she deserves. Understand?”
Chris’s eyes widened and he let out a shaky laugh. “Absolutely.”
“And you need to apologize to her for the remarks you made earlier.”
Holy shit. How long had Sloan been watching her? Her body heated and she wanted to run to her car and hide.
Chris forced a smile. “Of course.” He turned towards her. “Miss Witherspoon, I apologize for my earlier comments.”
“Apology accepted.” She wrapped her arms around her chest and watched as he left the field.
Chris stopped, turned and glared. “Melanie, I’m leaving. If you want a ride you better come on.”
Melanie swallowed and looked from her boyfriend to Grace.
“It’s fine. Practice is over for the day.” She looked at the group. “Everyone work on the routine over the weekend.”
The girls gathered their things and hurried off the field as Melanie hurried to catch up to Chris.
Grace turned to Sloan. “Can I speak to you privately?”
Chapter Six
Grace grabbed Sloan’s arm and pulled him under the bleachers. Soda cans and candy bar wrappers crunched under his boot. He made a mental note to tell the coach to have someone clean up the mess before football season started.
His eyebrows shot up in surprise when she rounded on him.
“What the hell was that?” She shot him a glare so intense it should have fried his ass.
“I was putting that asshole in his place.” He frowned. She should’ve been grateful. Instead, she just looked really pissed.
“I can take care of myself. I don’t need you butting in and handling things.” She poked her finger in his chest for emphasis.
Gritting his teeth, he stepped closer. “I think you do need me handling things. I saw the way Chris was looking at you while you were dancing.” He clenched his fists. “Not to mention the inappropriate things he was telling his buddies.”
“It’s none of your business.” Her blue eyes sparkled and her face was flushed, either from dancing or from arguing with him. He really didn’t care. She still looked beautiful.
His gaze dropped to her parted mouth. She stuck out her pink tongue and moistened her perfect lips.
That was all it took for the energy between them to shift into something entirely different.
He pulled her against him. He was a man possessed as his mouth slammed down across hers. She opened her mouth inviting him to take her, to taste her.
She moaned. He held her close, loving how her curves molded into his edges.
Her arms slid around his neck, tightening her hold on him. His body ached with need, wanting her with a desperation that shook him to his very soul. As she kissed him back, his hands slid down to her ass, cupping her.
She felt so fucking good plastered around him like a vine. Her pert breasts, pressed tightly into his hard chest, made him want to lift her shirt and taste her. His hand found her breast and squeezed as he rolled her nipple between his fingers. She arched against him, sighing with pleasure.
He buried his face in the crook of her neck and sucked the sensitive skin into his greedy mouth.
“I’m all sweaty,” she panted, her arms locked tightly around his neck. “I need a shower.”
“I love the way you taste, hot and sweet.” He nipped at her neck and she shivered in his arms. “I want to taste all of you.”
Her hands snaked under his T-shirt. She raked her nails across his chest.
He shivered. “You keep touching me like that and we’re going to act out a fantasy I’ve had about sex under the bleachers.” He pulled away and gazed into the depths of her sapphire eyes. Her lips were wet and swollen from his kisses and her heavy lidded gaze told him she was as turned on as him.
“We shouldn’t do this,” she said breathlessly.
“I know. Someone could see us.” He glanced around.
She pushed against his chest. “No. I meant we shouldn’t be doing this at all.”
“Why not?” He caressed her cheek with his thumb.
She licked her lips, as she seemed to contemplate an answer.
“Grace, we’re both adults. I’m single and as far as I know you’re single too, right?” He held his breath, praying to God she wasn’t going to tell him she was married.
“No, I’m not married.” She let out a shaky laugh.
He let out a breath.
“I’m not going to make you do anything you’re not ready for. Why don’t we just take it slow and see where this is going?”
“How do we do that? Every time we’re alone, we end up kissing.” She blushed.
“I’ve tried to forget that kiss at your house, but I can’t. I’m always thinking about you, whether I’m awake or dreaming.
”
“Me too.”
He forgot to breathe. She’d been thinking about him. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“I want to be with you tonight.”
Her eyes widened and he knew where her mind had gone.
He laughed. “I was trying to ask you out on a date.”
“Oh.” Her blush deepened.
“How long will it take you to get ready?”
“I’ve got to shower and change. It will probably take me an hour.”
“Then I’ll pick you up in an hour.”
***
Grace looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She ran her hand down the front of the soft blue maxi dress in an attempt to calm the butterflies that flittered in the pit of her stomach.
Her limited wardrobe consisted of jeans and T-shirts. The dress was the nicest outfit she owned. She hadn’t given much thought to buying new clothes since she’d moved to Cloverton. She had no need. She didn’t want to waste her money when it could be used tofix her home.
She shrugged as she eyed herself in the mirror. This was a small town and maybe people dressed casually when they went out. She should have asked Sloan where he was taking her.
If he hadn’t kissed her senseless, then maybe she would have had enough brain cells to ask.
A brisk knock at the door made her heart catch in her throat.
He’s here. No more changing clothes for her.
She walked to the door, trying to catch a glimpse of what he was wearing through the window, but couldn’t get a clear view.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.
Sloan stood there, dressed in dark jeans and a black button up shirt, looking sexy as hell. He smiled when their eyes met. The dark color of his shirt made his blue eyes more intense. Her stomach tugged with lust as her gaze traveled over his hard body. She knew from their kiss how much muscle lay underneath those clothes.
She curled her fingers at her side to keep from reaching out and pulling him inside and kissing him.
“You look beautiful.” His husky voice sent delicious tremors across her skin.
“Thanks.” She glanced down at her dress. “I wasn’t sure what to wear. You didn’t tell me where we were going.”
A slow grin spread across his beautiful mouth. “You distracted me.”
Her pulse sped up.
“Are you ready?”
“Sure.” She grabbed her purse off the small table in the foyer and prayed for strength to keep her hands to herself.
With his hand splayed across the small of her back he led her to his white truck. He opened the door for her. He grabbed her waist, just as she was about to climb inside, and spun her around.
She tried to slow her breathing as he bent his face closer to hers. “I’m not going to lie. It’s going to be very hard for me to keep my hands off you during dinner.”
“Is that so?” She wet her lips with her tongue.
“Yes. So I’m going to kiss you now so I’ll have something to think about while we eat.”
“And what happens after dinner?”
“I think I’ve made it very clear how much I want you, Grace.”’
She gasped as her stomach warmed. She wanted him just as much and that was what scared her.
“Tonight is all about what you want.”
She leaned into him, seeking out his warmth. “What if I don’t know what I want? What happens then?”
He ran his thumb across her lips. She opened her mouth under his touch.
“If you don’t know what you want then we’ll take things slow. No pressure. Tonight is in your hands. But right now, I need this.” He covered her mouth with his, kissing her slowly and deeply, stoking the fire that was already burning in her core. She wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him and not wanting the kiss to end. His tongue, hot and wet¸ dipped into her mouth, tangling with hers and branding her soul.
When he finally pulled away, they were both panting.
“We need to go, or else I’m going to carry you back in the house and make love to you all night.”
Her heart fluttered and for a brief second she considered his offer. Shoving down her hormones, she climbed into the truck.
***
Sloan pulled into the parking lot of Granny’s Little Italy restaurant. The options to eat in Cloverton were limited. It was too late to drive to the nearest city so Sloan had decided on the small Italian restaurant. He also chose the restaurant for purely selfish reasons. He wanted to make sure the rest of the male population of the town knew Grace was not available.
Just thinking about Grace with another man made his chest ache.
His body reacted the second she opened the door. Her sexy dress made her sapphire- colored eyes seem even bigger. He loved the fact it was sleeveless and showed off her toned arms and slender shoulders.
He opened her door and wrapped his hands around her slim waist and helped her down. Since he used his truck for work, he added the lift kit. In the past it had come in handy chasing down a criminal who thought he could escape on the rural back roads. Because of the height, it gave him another reason to touch Grace. It was money well spent.
“I hope you like Italian.” Maybe she didn’t eat carbs, or worse, was a vegetarian.
“I love Italian. I haven’t had it since I was at Allison’s that night.” She cut her eyes up at him.
He nodded. “Yes, the night I was a dickhead.”
“An accurate description.”
His shifted his weight.
“You seem to have improved since that night.”
He grinned.
They were seated near a corner window at a table for two. Sloan didn’t miss the looks the customers were shooting him when they walked in together. By tomorrow the whole town would be talking about him dating the new dance instructor.
Grace peeked over her menu at him and caught him staring. “Do you know what you are going to order?”
He cleared his throat. “The eggplant Parmesan.”
“Really?” She grinned.
“It’s what I always get.” He shrugged.
“I’ll have that too.” She shut her menu and placed it on the table just as the waitress walked up.
“Can I get you something to drink?” The waitress, Maggie, smiled and pulled out her pad.
“How about we start with a bottle of the house wine? And we are both going to have the eggplant Parmesan.”
“I’ll put the order in and have your wine right out to you, Sloan.” She hurried off to fill their orders.
“I take it everyone knows you in this town.”
He sighed. “It’s both a blessing and a curse.”
“So I will be getting a phone call from Allison asking about our relationship?”
He cringed. “I’m afraid so.”
She laughed. “It’s fine. I’m afraid she’s already been asking questions.”
“She has?” He narrowed his gaze. Allison hadn’t mentioned a word to him.
“Well, actually Tabitha was the one asking. Allison was busy covering her ears and humming.”
Sloan laughed. Sounded like his sister, all right.
***
An hour later, Grace held out her wine glass for Sloan to refill. The food was wonderful and the company was even better. She hadn’t felt this free in a long time.
“Shall I bring you two another bottle?” Maggie appeared just as Sloan emptied the last of the wine into Grace’s glass.
“No, thank you, Maggie, just the check.”
Grace watched the waitress hurry off and wondered if the woman had already been on the phone with half of Cloverton.
“What are you thinking?”
She smiled. “I was thinking how everyone is going to be giving you a hard time when you go to work tomorrow.”
“I don’t have to work. I have the whole weekend off.” He stared at her with those eyes. God, she wanted to lean over and kiss him.
Maybe it was her new
ly found freedom or maybe it was the wine, she didn’t know. She felt braver than she had in months.
She leaned in. “So what are you going to do with your time off?”
A slow grin spread across his face and he reached for her hand. His thumb made slow circles across her knuckles. “Do you really think you should be asking me that? The answer might make you blush.”
“I’m a big girl. I think I can take it.” She lifted the wine glass to her lips.
“Here’s the check. I hope you two will come back soon.” Maggie gave them a finger wave and retreated back into the kitchen.
Sloan dug out his wallet and laid some cash on the table. “Are you ready?”
Curious whispers followed them as they made their way outside into the night.
He opened her door and lifted her up into the truck. His hand lingered a second too long, causing her heart to miss a few beats.
He slid into the driver’s side and started the engine. “It’s only nine. I thought I’d take you out to Cloverton Lake.”
She’d recognized the name from the maps she studied of the town but had never driven out to see for herself.
“I’d like that.”
Sloan rolled down the windows as they made the fifteen-minute trek south of town. The scent of freshly cut grass and tilled earth lingered in the air. She tilted her head toward the window and inhaled.
“Not many women like to ride with the window down. They’re usually afraid of messing up their hair.”
“I’m not worried about my hair. Besides, I like the smell; it’s invigorating and calming at the same time.” She looked at him and arched her brow. “That doesn’t make sense, does it?”
“It does to me.” He got out and walked around the truck. The headlights shone against his square jawline and sexy lips. Desire tugged at her stomach. She shook her head. She needed to get a grip on her raging hormones.
He opened her door and lifted her out of the truck. When her feet were safely on the ground, she waited for him to let her go. He didn’t.
“It’s been an hour and thirteen minutes since I kissed you.”
Her heart caught in her chest. “You counted the time?”
“No, I counted the minutes.” He glanced at his watch and then back at her. “Make that fourteen minutes.”