Her Valentine Hero

by Gail Gaymer Martin

  Neely stepped inside, appreciating the warmth. The sun had slipped behind a cloudy sky, and she hoped if it were going to rain it would be today and not tomorrow. Bad weather would ruin the homecoming activities.

  “Good to see you.” Ashley kept her voice quiet as she closed the front door, and leaned against it. She looked weary.

  “Joey’s asleep?”

  “Yes, thank goodness. I fear the terrible twos will be mild compared to the torturous threes.” She chuckled. “He thinks of more things to get into. The child is too inquisitive.”

  “But you love him anyway.” She wrapped her arm around her sister’s back.

  “I do. I cherish him.” She motioned toward the kitchen. “Want something to drink? Eat?”

  “Not now, thanks. I just left the district’s administration office to put in a job application for a position at the high school.”

  Her sister’s eyes widened. “Teaching?”

  “No.” She grinned, and shook her head, then explained the job possibility that Jonny had told her about.

  “That’s a good start.” Her sister stepped away from the door. “It’s not what you were doing, but it’s a job. They’re not easy to find.”

  “I know, and I don’t have much hope in this one. I’m guessing they’ll hire from within.”

  Ashley shook her head and waved her words away. “Where’s that confidence of yours?” She motioned her toward an easy chair. “Have a seat. I’m glad you came.”

  Neely sank into the chair while Ashley plopped on the sofa. “Jon is really nice, Neely. He reminds me a little of Adam.”

  The look in Ashley’s eyes caused her chest to constrict. “Why’s that?”

  “He was so sweet with Joey. I never had the joy of watching Adam’s face light up when he saw his son for the first time, but he loved kids, and I can only imagine. Jon was so good with him. I smile just thinking of how they walked side by side in conversation no less.”

  She attacked the emotions welling inside her. “I think Joey was doing most of the talking.”

  Ashley grinned. “But Jon listened. That was really sweet.”

  She hadn’t expected the conversation to dwell on Jonny. Erik had thrown himself at her, and that’s what she’d expected to hear about. She didn’t know if she should be relieved or upset. Her emotions wavered from one minute to the next, and her mixed feelings about Jonny made no sense at all.

  Silence hovered over them while she tried to get her thoughts in order. Mentioning Erik first was not what she planned and definitely not what she wanted.

  “Is something wrong?” Ashley’s grin faded.

  Now what? She grasped her only possible topic. “I’m still butting heads with Dad, and that’s so unnatural. Sometimes I wonder if I’ve made a mistake coming home.”

  “Pooh.” Ashley waved her words away again. “You’re the first person to live with him in the house since Mom died. He’d lived in silence and loneliness for all this time. Now you show up, and he doesn’t know what to make of it.”

  Neely shrugged not sure if that made sense or not. “Do you think he misses Mom? That’s what Jonny suggested.”

  “She was a force to be reckoned with, but he loved her just the same so I’m sure he does.” She leaned back, her face contemplative. “Maybe you’re too much like Mom.”

  “Not that again.”

  “It’s different, though. Mom was company. He heard her puttering around the house, talking on the phone, cooking meals. Now you’re doing that.”

  “I guess.” She leaned back and closed her eyes. Maybe she’d made too much of her father’s reaction to her. Ashley was right in a way.

  “Speaking of dinner, Erik surprised me.”

  Neely’s eyes flew open. “In what way?”

  “He’s really nice. I loved his attentiveness to Joey. He said he’d like to meet him, and I thought about that.”

  “And what did you come up with.” The tension in her back pulsed as she waited for her sister’s response.

  “I would never call him, but if he called me, I’d probably let him come over. I thought he was very attentive.”

  “Really?”

  Ashley’s expression darkened. “You told me you wanted nothing to do with Erik. I didn’t think you’d care.”

  “I don’t want anything to do with him romantically.” Nor do I want him to have anything to do with my sister. Her heart pounded.

  “Then why the look?” Ashley leaned closer, searching Neely’s face. Question sparked in her eyes.

  All the reasons filtered through her thoughts, but she ignored most of them, knowing that unless she told her sister about their involvement, she would never understand. “He’s a drinker, Ash. That’s not the kind of man you want to get involved with.”

  “Who said I’d get involved? I said I’d let him drop by to meet Joey.”

  “Erik doesn’t like kids.” The words blurted from her mouth. She cringed at the expression on Ashley’s face.

  “People change, Neely. People mature and their values change. If I didn’t know better, and maybe I don’t, I’d think you still have feelings for Erik. I think you’re jealous.”

  Heat seared her cheeks. “Jealous of you and Erik? The guy’s a fake. You don’t know him. Jealous. I’m so far from it. You’re so wrong, Ashley. So wrong.”

  “I don’t think so. You’re too vehement about this for it to be nothing more than he drinks or—as you say—he doesn’t like kids. I heard him. I think he does.” She drew in a long breath as if she were reloading her gun. “Anyway you’re the one who bugged me about getting out socially. You even volunteered to sit with Joey. You certainly changed your mind.”

  Her sister’s wrath sizzled through her body, and she swallowed the words that sprang in her thoughts. Best to end the discussion now and let it go. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Ash.” She glanced at her watch without purpose other than effect. “I have to go.” She shot up, lifted her hand in parting and darted out the door.

  When the cool air hit her, she shriveled with the image of Ashley’s attack. Her ally. Her sister. How had she let this happen?

  Chapter Seven

  Neely snuggled deeper into her jacket, her eyes on the field as Ferndale’s football team played the homecoming game on their turf. Though she tried to focus on the game, more often her interest clung to Jonny, his brown, yellow and white jacket emblazoned with an eagle emphasizing his broad back. Only once she caught Jonny gazing up at the stands. She sent him a smile and wave, but she wasn’t sure he saw her.

  The Eagles were ahead in the first half, but now in the last quarter, they’d dropped behind by four points when the opposing team kicked a field goal. Though she knew about touchdowns and field goals, her knowledge of the rules proved minimal, but that didn’t matter. Ty answered her questions—probably dumb questions in his mind—but after the game, she wanted to let Jonny know she had watched the game and was proud of him and his team. Win or lose, the excitement of the game roused cheers and boos from the bleachers, including her.

  A whistle blew and Rainie and Ty rose to their feet with a shout. She pulled her eyes from Jonny to the game. “What does the whistle mean, Ty?”

  He didn’t look at her, his focus glued to the field, but his answer reached her. “A penalty. Ten yards for holding.”

  She looked back at the game, not knowing who held whom, but apparently it wasn’t good news for the Eagles. Following the huddle, the opposing team snapped the ball, and somewhere in the mass of players blocking and tackling, the Eagles had intercepted it. Cheers pierced her ears, and she joined them.

  The play began again, and number thirty-nine advanced the ball to the twenty-yard line. She knew that was good because it was closer to the Eagles goal line. She eyed the clock and saw the final minute ticking awa
y. Before she turned her eyes back to the field, screams deafened her ears, and when she looked, the Eagles had made a touchdown. The kick sailed through the goal posts, and the whistle blew to end the game. Eagles won thirty-eight to thirty-five.

  Jonny ran onto the field, surrounded by his team. Number eighteen who’d made the touchdown was hoisted onto someone’s back and their yell boomed into the night sky. The band played their victory song while the crowd rose and headed from the bleachers.

  Ty caught her attention. “Might as well hold back. We have to wait for Jon anyway.”

  She nodded, watching the milling crowd hop down the bleacher seats and stairs to reach the new brick gate with the overhead metal arch announcing the Ferndale Eagles that should have glowed that night with triumph.

  In the buzz of noise, she watched Jonny high-five his team members and shake hands with the fans, and she longed to be with him.

  “Hey, Ty. I didn’t see you earlier.”

  Without turning around, Neely’s pulse skipped hearing Erik’s call, and in moments, without turning around, she smelled his aftershave, dampening the joy she’d felt.

  “Neely, nice to see you again.”

  His too-close whisper caused her stomach to knot. She gave a slow turn. “I’m sure you enjoyed the game.”

  “I did.” He faced Ty and squeezed his shoulder. “We could have sat together.” He eyed the three of them. “And balanced the threesome.” He gave Neely a coy grin.

  She opened her mouth to tell him she was with Jonny, but that wasn’t exactly the truth since it wasn’t a date. She slammed her mouth shut and swallowed a rebuttal, and hoped he’d revert to his conversation with Ty, but Ty had been sidetracked by another person he knew along with Rainie, and so he stuck to her side. “It’s really good to see you again. Are you doing anything tonight?”

  She snatched the opportunity with relish. “Jonny and I have plans.”

  He studied her a moment. “That’s good. I wanted to talk with you about Ashley. I really enjoyed seeing her after all these years. I hope you don’t mind if I give her a call.”

  Her stomach flipped while bile burned in her throat. “That’s your business, Erik. But I’m not sure why you’d want to. You’re not a fan of children, and she’s saddled with one. I think that’s how you’d put it.”

  He rested his hand on her shoulder. “But I’ve changed. Can’t you tell? I get a kick out of kids and look forward to having my own.”

  With how many women? The evil thought crossed her mind. He saw Ashley as an easy mark for his amorous interests. The picture grated on her, but she could say little. It was up to Ashley to see the truth. “Good for you, Erik. That would be an improvement.”

  “Hmm? Do I hear a bit of bitterness.”

  The comment disgusted her. “Have your hearing checked.”

  She turned, and walked away, joining the thinning crowd toward the exit. Not wanting Erik’s presence to ruin the evening, she focused on Jonny’s winning team and for homecoming, which made it special.

  Her pride swelled as she reached the ground, relieved that she would be in Jonny’s company and away from Erik’s manipulative pandering. Why hadn’t she seen it when they were dating? Apparently she’d been snowed by his line. He knew how to flatter a woman and make her feel special. He could do that with more than one at a time, she’d learned.

  Relief filled her when she strode onto the field. Jonny saw her coming, and headed toward her, a smile lighted his face. She ran to him and tiptoed, planting a kiss on his lips. Her action surprised her, and she fell backward on her heels.

  His gaze penetrated hers, and he drew her closer and embraced her as if he never wanted to let go. Her head spun with their unexpected interaction. Uneasy, she stepped aside as Ty arrived, and reached between to shake his hand. “Great game.”

  Rainie gave him a hug. “I got nervous there for a minute, but the team pulled through.”

  “Thanks. I’m really proud of them, and I need to head in and tell them so.” He shifted his attention to Neely. “Do you want to wait, or ride to the house with Ty and Rainie?”

  Her mind reeled with the option. If she stayed, they would be alone, and she didn’t know what to say about the kiss. Since she’d moved back, they’d spent so many great times together the kiss seemed natural, but pressed against his chest, his response sizzled through her. She weighed his question. If she left with Rainie, she feared one of them might make reference to the kiss. She needed time to think it through. “I’ll wait.”

  His look made her lose her breath. “Great. I won’t be long.” He stepped away, and then turned back. “Walk with me.”

  She glanced at Rainie who waved her on. “We’ll see you back at the house.”

  She strode beside Jonny to the school and waited on a bench in the hall while he talked to the team in the locker room. She relived the surprise kiss, her mind lingering on his warm lips, soft but firm, tender but urgent. Hoping to understand her action, she tried to recall her thoughts at that moment. She had none. All she saw was Jonny’s eyes drawing her in as they glowed with joy of the win. Sometimes things happened, and tonight something did.

  Wrapped in thought, she jumped when Jonny appeared at her side. He extended his hand. She took it and rose from the bench. “This is a special day for me.”

  Jon’s tender look swept over her, and from his expression, she had no idea if he referred to the team’s win or the kiss. “I’m happy for you. I know everyone wants to win their homecoming game.”

  His brows twitched as if he found her remark perplexing. “True, but I also had something else in mind.”

  Heat flowed to her neck, and her cheeks burned. “I didn’t mean to mislead you, Jonny. I guess the excitement of the game made me—”

  Jon held up his hand. “Don’t explain, Neely. Sometimes emotion is unexplainable. Try enjoying the moment, okay? I did.”

  Her heart tap danced against her ribs while the impetus of his words lashed her to reality. She couldn’t play with Jonny’s feelings. He’d admitted he’d cared for her as a boy, and as much as she wanted to let herself go, that image—the boy image—stuck in her mind like a thorn. Yet the reality she’d referred to screamed in her mind. She had enjoyed the brief kiss. Too much. “It was nice, Jonny. I think it sealed our new friendship.” She barely had breath to get the words out.

  He took her hand and steered her toward the exit. Once they were with his parents and his sister and Ty, the experience would be forgotten. Or would it?

  * * *

  Sitting in the teacher’s lounge, Jon dug into the cafeteria’s lunch special, mac and cheese. He took a bite, and then set his fork on the tray. He’d been confused since Friday night. Neely had kissed him. Really kissed him—and on the lips. But the outcome left him wandering a maze of confusing emotions.

  He’d wanted to pull Rainie aside when they were at his parents’ house after the game, but he feared that would be a mistake. Rainie hadn’t kept much from Neely when they were teenagers, and he guessed she didn’t keep much from her now. They were truly what his parents called bosom buddies. He couldn’t trust her to tell Neely how he felt, and she would only laugh at his longtime feelings for her.

  “What’s up?”

  Dale Nixon’s voice cut through his pondering. He lifted his head, and grinned at his assistant football coach. “Just tossing around a few game plays.”

  “Which plays?”

  Football wasn’t the game he had in mind, and now he’d either have to lie or come up with a game play fast. He went for the truth. “A woman. Not football.”

  His friend grinned and swiveled some watery spaghetti around his fork and jabbed a piece of a meatball. “Tell me about it.” He slipped the food into his mouth, and chewed.

  Jon wondered why he’d gotten into it but he needed to talk with someone, and Dale
seemed as good as anyone. “You’re a good-looking guy, and you were single once.”

  “The part of about being single once is true.”

  Jon grinned at the guy’s modesty. “What would you think if a woman kissed you? A totally surprise kiss, and you’d never kissed her before except on the cheek.”

  “On the cheek?” Dale nearly lost his spaghetti.

  “She’s a friend.” The definition was weak. “To be honest, I fell in love with her years ago when she was a teen, and she’s back in my life.”

  “That sounds promising.”

  “I’m not sure about that.” Not at all. “But what do you think?”

  “About the kiss?” A questioning look grew on his face.

  “Right.”

  “I’d think what a kiss usually means. She’s got the hots for you.”

  His pulse did pushups. “No. I don’t think so.”

  “Why not?” He shook his head. “She kissed you on the lips you said. Long or short?”

  He relived the moment. “Short, but not too short.”

  “If a woman kissed me, and it was one that I cared about all these years, I wouldn’t ignore it. It means something. She’s either toying with you, or she feels like you do.”

  “She said it sealed our friendship.” He tossed the words around in his head, trying to decide if that had a hidden meaning. He didn’t think so.

  “Love starts with friendship. You add a little romance. The kiss. Now think of the kiss as the kick off. You snatch the ball and advance it for a first down. You gain another ten yards, then twenty. You’re at the forty-yard line. Maybe the thirty. If you think time’s running out, go for a field goal, or take a chance—that’s what I would do—and go for the real thing. A touchdown.”

  The football analogy sunk in. Strategy. Move slowly. A few yards at a time. He needed a game plan, and if things didn’t look good, he could always punt.