“That didn’t take too long,” he said as he got into the truck and shut the door. “Thank you for being so patient.”
“No problem. I’m just glad you were able to help.”
“It was one of those ‘do I or don’t I’ dilemmas. On the one hand, I didn’t want to leave her stranded. On the other hand, I didn’t want to upset you.”
“Why would I be upset? It would have been unkind not to stop.”
He looked surprised by her response. “Most women in your position wouldn’t see things that way.”
* * * * *
Since Auburn was leading by double digits in the second quarter and Clemson didn’t play for another hour, Matt suggested they walk over to meet Eric and Julie.
“I’m a little nervous,” Darcy admitted as they stepped outside. “I’ve never met a professional baseball player before.”
“Don’t be nervous. Eric is down-to-earth, somewhat reserved, and surprisingly modest. Think of him as the opposite of me.”
“I was actually thinking that he sounds a lot like you.”
He captured her hand in his. “You obviously haven’t been around me enough.”
“We can argue about it later when I’m less agitated.”
“You’re worrying over nothing.”
When they emerged from the woods, Darcy got her first view of the house. “I was expecting something larger and more…more opulent.”
“It’s twice the size of mine. Isn’t that big enough for you?”
“I mean it isn’t a pretentious mansion. It’s warm and welcoming like your house.”
“Speaking of welcoming, Eric just came out the front door.”
Her attention went to the figure coming down the steps. The two brothers didn’t look alike, but they were built on similar lines and shared the same smile.
“This is a nice surprise. I was just telling Julie that we probably wouldn’t see you until after the game.”
“I didn’t want to leave it too late. Eric, this is Darcy Withers. Not only does she make pickles and strawberry-rhubarb pie, but she knows as much about football as I do. Darcy, this is my brother Eric, whose only fault is that he prefers baseball over football.”
Eric held out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Darcy. My wife will be out in a minute. She just got finished feeding Nerina.”
Darcy took the outstretched hand. “My dad is one of your biggest fans. He’ll be so envious when I tell him I met you.”
“You’re welcome to bring him by some time.”
“He’d love that, but I wouldn’t want to impose.”
“I don’t mind. I love talking about baseball, something Julie and Matt only tolerate because they’re too nice to tell me to be quiet.”
The door opened and closed. “Have we missed anything?” a voice asked from behind them.
Eric looked over his shoulder, his smile widening. “Just the introductions.”
A petite woman a few years older than Darcy came to stand next to him, a sleeping baby in her arms. Her curly, blonde hair was cut short around her pretty face. “You must be Matt’s friend. In case you haven’t figured it out, I’m Julie Gibson, and this is Nerina.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Julie. Your daughter is beautiful.”
Julie straightened the tiny pink bow visible in the wispy blonde curls of Nerina’s head. “Thank you. We think so, too. Right now she sleeps most of the time, but yesterday, she actually smiled at Eric when he picked her up. I have a feeling she’s going to be a daddy’s girl.”
“I was one of those,” Darcy replied.
“Would you like to see the nursery? I can show you where everything is so that when you come next Friday, you won’t have to waste time looking for something.”
“That would be great.” Darcy glanced at Matt. “Do you want to come, too?”
“That’s okay. I’ve already had my tour.”
* * * * *
After the door closed behind them, Eric turned to Matt. “We might as well sit down. This could take a while.”
Matt followed Eric to a set of chairs at one end of the porch. “Dad’s arrival still on schedule?”
“I assume so, but you know how that goes. If he gets a better offer, all bets are off.”
“What do you think of Darcy?”
Eric grinned. “Fishing for compliments about your girlfriend? You don’t need me to tell you the obvious.”
“She’s not my girlfriend yet. We’re engaged in a battle of wills. She’s determined to ignore what’s happening between us, and I’m equally determined to make sure she doesn’t.”
“You said it yourself; she’s afraid of being hurt. She may even believe that epilepsy is too much of a burden to ask someone to share.”
“If that’s so, I’ll have to change her mind.”
“Well, she couldn’t have a better example of someone who’s risen above adversity. You can understand where she’s coming from because you’ve already been there.”
The door opened, and Darcy stepped outside. Both men stood up and walked over to where she stood waiting.
“Finished already?” Matt asked.
“Yes. Julie sent me to tell Eric that he’s wanted on the phone.”
“Then I better go see who it is. You guys are welcome to hang around for a while.”
“That’s okay. We’re too loud to watch football in mixed company.”
Eric reached for the door handle. “I refuse to believe Darcy comes anywhere close to your level of craziness.”
Matt’s eyes twinkled. “You’ll just have to see for yourself some time. I don’t want to spoil the surprise.”
As they walked away, Darcy said, “I like your brother and Julie. She was telling me how they met. It’s funny that she didn’t know who he was.”
“And even funnier that she wasn’t impressed when she did find out.”
“It’s interesting to hear how people meet and fall in love. My friend Alison met her fiancé when he pulled her over for speeding.”
“Did he give her a ticket?”
“Yes. She says that’s when she knew he was the one. You have to know Alison to understand the logic of that. She’s a born flirt. When she wasn’t able to talk her way out of a ticket, she knew Rob was different.”
Matt threw back his head and laughed. “That’s a great story.”
By this time they’d reached the lake. “Do you have a favorite fishing spot?”
“Every angler has a favorite spot. Would you like to see mine?”
“Yes, unless you’re in a hurry to get back to the game.”
“This won’t take long. It’s just on the other side of the gazebo.” Reaching for her hand, he led the way along a well-worn path to a small clearing. “The catfish like to hide in the reeds along the edge of the water. There’s one really big guy, but I’ve never been able to catch him.”
“Does Eric fish?”
“Not as much now that he’s married. I wouldn’t fish as much either if I had someone waiting at home for me every night.”
Her head dipped, hiding her expression from him. “Was it hard running into Sarah today?”
“Not in the sense that you mean.” He paused, his eyes watching the late afternoon sun dance off her hair. “She came to see me last Sunday about getting back together. I couldn’t do it.”
Darcy’s head shot up, all the color draining from her face. “Why couldn’t you?”
“Because I met someone else.”
She stared at him in silence, and then her hand slowly rose to her mouth. “You mean me?”
Did she really not know? “Yes, I mean you.”
By this time, her lips were trembling. “But that doesn’t make sense. We’re just friends.”
He slid his fingers along the scar running down her neck. “So you keep saying, but I think we could be more than that if you’d stop playing scared and trust me.”
* * * * *
Darcy’s heart was hammering so hard against the wall o
f her chest that she could hardly breathe. Matt’s touch warmed her skin, but it was his words that set her insides tumbling. Had he passed on an opportunity to get back with Sarah because of her? “I don’t know what to say. I never thought this would happen.”
“That’s how it does happen.” His hand cupped her chin, bringing her mouth close to his. “Will you take the road less traveled with me?”
She nodded because she couldn’t do anything else. Speech was beyond her.
He leaned down and brushed his mouth against hers. His lips were gently insistent, stirring her to the depths while depriving her lungs of breath and her head of any rational thought. It was everything a first kiss should be; long enough to get her senses reeling and short enough to ensure she would wait impatiently for the next one. He shifted slightly, and she felt his breath on her neck, close to her ear.
“That was a promising start,” Matt whispered.
His words added to her confusion. She buried her face in his shoulder, embarrassed and shaken by the intensity of the feelings his kiss had awakened. His hands slid around her waist, drawing her close enough to know that his heart was beating as erratically as hers. Never had she felt so cherished…so safe from the ugliness of the world.
“Are all kisses like that?” she asked, her words barely audible.
“If not, they should be.” He pulled back a few inches, forcing her to look at him. “Was that your first?”
“Yes. Couldn’t you tell?”
“How could I? I was dealing with my own issues. Kissing a woman for the first time is terrifying.”
Her hand crept up to touch the slender chain around his neck. “Why is that?”
“Well, your heart is urging you to get on with it at the same time that your head is telling you it’s too soon or it’s not the right moment. And then when you do decide to go for it, there’s this fear that she won’t like it.”
She smiled faintly. “You don’t have to worry; I liked it.”
He ran his fingers lightly through her hair. “I’m glad because it will be difficult to stop myself from doing it again. If I have my way, I’ll be your second kiss, third, fourth, and so on.”
Darcy was comfortably floating on air, and for the moment, she didn’t want to come back down to earth. Reality would rear its ugly head soon enough. Right now, she didn’t want to think about what was going to happen tomorrow or the day after that. “Does that mean you liked it, too?”
“Probably a little too much,” he admitted as he traced the curve of her mouth. “I hope you realize that your chances of being left alone to watch the rest of the game aren’t good.”
“I’m willing to risk it.”
He laughed softly as he bent to kiss her again, more slowly this time…
Chapter Seven
Matt’s first thought upon waking wasn’t the imminent arrival of his father. It was something more pleasant: kissing Darcy. A reminiscent smile crossed his face. Before the sweetness of her mouth had taken his thoughts in another direction, he’d glimpsed the uncertainty in her eyes and felt the tension in her body. She reminded him of a tightly closed rose bud waiting for the right moment to unfurl its petals to the warm rays of the sun.
Even as he’d registered the softness of her skin and the way her lips clung to his, he was aware of a feeling of humility. This wasn’t an easy step for Darcy. He knew the treatment she’d received in the past made it difficult for her to open up to someone. In letting their relationship move beyond friendship, she was taking an enormous risk. He vowed that she would never have cause to regret it.
His phone rang while he was debating between a protein bar or leftover pizza for breakfast.
“Kinda early to be calling me on my day off,” Matt accused Eric. “Have you forgotten what it’s like to sleep in?”
“You weren’t sleeping. I can hear the dripping of the coffee pot.”
“You didn’t know that when you called.”
“Moving on. There’s been a change of plans. Dad’s stuck in St. Louis. Don’t ask me why he’s there. All you need to know is that he won’t be here until tomorrow night. That being so, Julie, Nerina and I are going to the beach. You’re welcome to come along.”
“Thanks, but I’ll pass. Darcy mentioned going to the park with her niece today. I think I’ll show up and surprise her.”
“You don’t think she might need a break from you? When I walked Delilah just after midnight, your truck was still parked outside the garage.”
“Were you keeping tabs on me? I don’t know whether to be insulted or flattered.”
“I just followed Delilah. I had no idea you were keeping such late hours.”
“After the football game ended, we watched a movie.”
“I hope you didn’t force her to watch one of those sci-fi apocalypse films.”
“It was something with Hugh Grant. I can’t remember the name of it.”
“You fell asleep, didn’t you?”
He hadn’t, but Darcy had. No need to tell Eric that he’d spent the last hour of the movie watching her sleep, and wishing he didn’t have to wake her up. Or that with every breath, she stole another piece of his heart. “Sleep was the farthest thing from my mind.”
“Wait until you have a baby. All you’ll be thinking about is sleep.”
“Let me enjoy my illusions. I’m not even married yet. Have fun at the beach.”
“We will. If I don’t see you later, I’ll catch up with you in the morning.”
As Matt heated a few slices of pizza in the microwave, he planned his day. Do laundry, wash the truck, and then head over to the park.
Several hours later, he was sitting on one of the benches in the playground area assuring a little boy about six or seven years old that he wasn’t a robot from another planet. His companion had been dropped off along with two older children, who’d been only too happy to let Matt take over entertaining their younger brother. He couldn’t understand any parent doing anything so risky.
Much to his disappointment, there was no sign of Darcy. Had he misunderstood her? Or had her plans changed?
Something was tugging on his hand. “Wanna go down the slide with me?” the boy asked hopefully.
Matt tore his gaze from the entrance to the park and focused on the red-cheeked face in front of him. “I’m too big to go down the slide, but I’ll watch you.”
“Okay. Sometimes I need help.”
“No problem. What’s your name?”
“Jace.”
Matt smiled as he followed the pudgy figure. After Jace tired of the slide, they walked over to the swings. They were joined by another little boy and a woman he recognized as one of his customers.
“Hey, Mrs. Walters.”
“Hey, Matt.” Her eyes went from Jace back to him. “I didn’t know you had children.”
“I don’t. I met this little guy today, and he sort of adopted me. I actually came here to meet someone, but she’s either running late or changed her mind.”
Mrs. Walters helped her son into the swing. “Have you called her?”
“My plan was to surprise her. In hindsight, that might not have been such a good idea.”
“It depends on the person. Some people like surprises; others don’t.”
“Well, it doesn’t look as if I’m going to find out – at least not today.”
* * * * *
As soon as she stepped through the gate of the park, Darcy remembered what happened the last time she and Stella were there. They had run into Matt. She hadn’t known then that several weeks later he would kiss her and that she wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about it.
“Aunt Darcy, Mr. Matt is over by the swings with some lady.”
Darcy’s startled glance swept over the playground until it landed on the swings. Her breath came out in a rush when she realized the woman wasn’t Sarah. “We weren’t expecting that, were we?”
“Why is he here with her? He told me he liked you.”
“That doesn’t me
an he can’t have other friends, too.”
Stella didn’t look convinced. “But Mommy said…”
Darcy didn’t want to hear what Cason said. “Hey, there’s no one on the roundabout. I’ll race you over there.”
This diversion worked; Stella took off running. As Darcy followed her at a less vigorous pace, she told herself there was probably a perfectly logical explanation for why less than twenty-four hours after kissing her breathless, Matt was chatting up another woman. She just couldn’t think what it could be.
“Aunt Darcy! Push me!”
Obeying the urgency in her niece’s voice, Darcy grabbed the hand rail and set the roundabout in motion. Why was she thinking such ridiculous thoughts? Matt wasn’t chatting up anyone. He was being himself. It was his nature to be friendly. She’d always said she wouldn’t be the type of girl who constantly jumped to the wrong conclusions. So, why was she avoiding him like he’d done something wrong?
With Stella’s squeal of delight in her ears, she glanced over her shoulder in his direction. Matt was bent down talking to a little boy. Before she could look away, he raised his head and stared right at her. His smile told her that yesterday hadn’t been a dream. His glance left her long enough to speak to the boy again and then the two of them were walking over.
“Hi,” he said with a teasing smile. “Surprised to see me?”
“Yes, I am.”
“So far so good. Happy to see me?”
“Yes, to that, too.” Her eyes drifted to his companion who was clinging with a death grip to Matt’s leg. “Who’s your friend?”
“This is Jace. He’s been keeping me company while I waited for you.”
He’d come there to see her. A ripple of pleasure ran through her. Darcy crouched down in front of the boy. “Hello, Jace. I’m Darcy. Would you like to get on the roundabout?”
“Yeah, but I don’t like to go fast,” he replied shyly.
“Me, either,” she assured him as she stood up and glanced at Matt. “What about you?”
His lips twitched. “I sort of adapt to the situation.”
“Yeah, I noticed that.”
He made a movement toward her and then stopped as if he remembered where they were and who they were with. “I’d like to hear more about that later.”
Stealing His Heart: A Sweet Contemporary Romance (Finding Love Book 2) Page 14