Racing Hearts
Page 23
His gaze landed and refused to lift from the bright redhead beside Emery, skin as fair as milk except for the occasional freckle. Her eyes were so intensely blue Alex found it difficult to look at her without his mouth falling slack. She wore a simple blue and white cotton dress that hit mid thigh, her look so out of place on the farm many women might feel self conscious, but Alex would bet this woman had never felt self conscious a day in her life. Why would she? To date, he’d never met a woman who held a candle to her.
“Alex,” she said, her voice soft, a hint of modesty there that he’d never understood, but cut through him all the same.
“Kate.”
Kate Littleton stared at the man she’d had sex with not eighteen months before, wondering if he still looked the same underneath his perfectly fitted T-shirt and jeans.
She tried to remember why she’d ended their dating streak, and then the memory came to her like a spoonful of vinegar. Alex had freaked out when Trip and Emery became serious, which meant that he’d had no real feelings for her anyway. But the part that had always gnawed at her was that she hadn’t wanted anything from him beyond a chance to spend time with him. Despite the arrogant vibe he put out there, Alex was a nice guy. She enjoyed being around him, his laugh, the way the conversation never became stilted. He had a carefree spirit and a sharp mind. He just didn’t see himself clearly. Shadowed by his brothers, he’d spent his whole life climbing a hill that only rose taller with each step.
Kate knew she’d rather turn him loose than trust her heart to keep its word to her and stay good. So one day they sat on his couch watching the Falcons play, and the next, he was a stranger. Eighteen months went by without a word, which was fine. Kate had things to do. Students to teach. Plays to plan out. Little league games to attend. She didn’t need Alex Hamilton, but she did want someone. If only she could find the right man to fill the job.
“We were just heading out,” Kate said, suddenly uneasy standing before a man who so clearly didn’t want the job. “Em?”
Emery’s gaze shifted from Kate to Alex and then back, her eyebrows lifting. From the age of twelve, Kate had told Emery every detail of her life, except where it concerned Alex Hamilton. She could almost hear Emery’s brain churning, unspoken question after unspoken question in her mind.
“Caterer tomorrow morning at nine,” Emery said to Trip, before rising onto her toes to give him a soft peck on the lips. Only he was having no part of soft and held her to him, giving her the sort of kiss that Kate knew would embarrass Emery thoroughly. But instead of her friend reprimanding him as she pulled away, she smiled and said, “I love you.”
He kissed her again. “And I you.”
For a second, Kate couldn’t decide if she wanted to grin at her best friend’s antics or roll her eyes. It’d make it a lot easier if she had her own guy to kiss and smile at it, but instead all she had was memories.
The sounds of others arriving at the farm echoed all around them, reminding Kate just how out of place she was. Emery belonged here, not her. She focused on the small anthill in a patch of grass by the barn, refusing to look up, though she ached to see if Alex was watching her. If he remembered their time together fondly or if she’d been another notch on his belt, long since forgotten.
“Alex?” Emery called.
When he didn’t answer, Kate looked up, only to find him focused inside the barn, already tuning everything else out.
“Earth to Alex?” Emery repeated.
He turned then, but Kate could tell his thoughts had long since left the threesome and were focused on the mare in the barn scheduled to foal that day. “Yeah?”
“We wanted to have the wedding party over to Trip’s tomorrow for a barbeque. Will you come?”
His eyes drifted almost imperceptibly to Kate, but the impact on her was immediate. How that man could lock her in place with one gaze blew her mind. Trip might be the leader of the Hamilton family, but he didn’t have that thoughtful glint in his eyes like Alex. It was as if his mind worked out complex puzzles the rest of them couldn’t even see. It fascinated Kate, and also scared her. A mind like that would never feel content in one place. It was likely the reason he’d gone from college to college, job to job, unable to sit still, unable to settle down. Like a wild stallion, his heart would never beat easily unless it was running.
“The wedding party?”
Trip took a step toward his brother then, but Kate didn’t want them to be hard on Alex on her behalf. She was fine. They should be fine, too. This didn’t have to get uncomfortable. So she and Alex hung out a few times. They’d been friends more than anything else.
“Yes, come.” She bit her lip, forcing herself to focus on him.
Alex grinned back at her. “Is that an order, Ms. Littleton?”
She smiled back, enjoying the easiness that slipped into his eyes. “Bet your ass it is. Teacher’s orders. Besides, Trip promised to have one of Patty’s Bundt cakes there. I know you can’t resist cake.”
Their gazes locked.
“No, I can’t.”
Instantly, Kate thought of the last slice of cake they had shared. He’d asked for a bite, a wicked spark in his eyes, and she’d lifted her fork to his lips. That perfect mouth of his wrapped around her fork, his eyes on hers, and suddenly the plate clanged to the floor, and he had her in his lap, their hands everywhere, lips connecting, tongues intertwining. It had taken a surprisingly small amount of time to undress each other, and even less time to shove the nagging voice in her head to the corner, ordering her to shut her eyes if she didn’t want to watch. Because Kate needed that night. She needed it like she needed to breathe. And though a part of her wanted more, she knew that night would be the last night for them.
“So it’s settled. Seven good for everyone? And maybe we should have two cakes,” Emery said, her expression thoughtful. “That way we’ll have plenty.”
Alex turned back for the barn. “Nah, I’ll just share some of Kate’s.” He winked at her, then started for the barn again, when Kate called out.
“Actually, I share my cake with someone else now.” Ugh. Why did she say that?
Alex stopped and peered over his shoulder at her. “Is that right?”
No, not even close. But she refused to let him think he could just take a bite from her cake anytime he liked. She crossed her arms and held her head high. “Yes.”
He pinned her with that look of his again. The one that made her feel as though she was the only person standing around, the only person in the world. The only person who mattered. And for a moment, she thought he might be jealous, when instead he said, “Happy to hear it. See you around, Ms. Littleton.”
Kate stared after him, wishing she could think of something smart to say back, but all she managed was a slight nod before following Emery away from the barn.
When would she learn? If she tested Alex Hamilton, she was the one to get burned.
To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.
LYRICAL SHINE BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2015 by Melissa West
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
Lyrical Press logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
First Electronic Edition: October 2015
ISBN: 978-1-6165-0825-8
ISBN-13: 978-1-61650-826-5
ISBN-10: 1-61650-826-4
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