Fast Break (Texas Titans Holiday)

by Cheryl Douglas

  “No,” Kevin said, twirling a straw around his soft drink. “But I do have a kid and I know how I’d feel if he had to go to school hungry.”

  Ainsley touched his arm, a small smile teasing her lips as her eyes shone bright with affection. “I like you. You’re a nice man.”

  He put an arm around her, kissing the top of her head as he fought back emotion. “I like you too, princess.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Kevin’s meeting with his brother and sister-in-law went exactly as he knew it would. They were on board, ready to finance the breakfast program at Ainsley and Monica’s school. According to their rough calculations, it would cost sixty thousand dollars to fund the program each year, but they still needed volunteers to organize and implement the program, which is why he’d set up an appointment to meet with the principal.

  He was crossing the parking lot when he heard his name. Turning, he was pleased to see Bree jogging toward him.

  “Hey,” she said, giving him a hug and a quick peck on the cheek when she finally reached him. “What are you doing here?”

  “I have a meeting with the principal about that program we talked about last night.”

  “Wow, you really don’t waste any time, do you?” She laughed. “When you make up your mind about something, you’re all in.”

  He knew he couldn’t kiss her in the middle of the school playground with parents and teachers passing them, but he was sorely tempted. With her cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling, and hair wind tousled, she’d never looked more beautiful.

  “I’m all in.”

  His eyes searched her face and he wondered if she had any idea how much she’d come to mean to him. She was inspiring him to be a better man. Had Trena been the one to make him aware of this problem, he might not have given it a second thought, but he wanted to prove to Bree he was a better man than the one she’d left all those years ago.

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked, reaching for his hand. “You know, with the program?”

  “I know how busy you are this time of year, but I doubt we’ll be able to get this up and running until after the holidays anyhow. Could you devote about ten hours a week to it when school starts up in January?”

  “Count me in,” she said, taking a step closer. Tipping her head back, she looked up at him, smiling.

  “You’re way too beautiful,” he said when her hands slipped around his waist. “And way too tempting. You know it’s taking everything in me not to kiss you, right?”

  “I’m trying to tempt you,” she said, licking her lips.

  He chuckled, peeling her hands from around his waist. “We’re at your daughter’s school. Behave yourself, woman.”

  She pouted before grinning. “I had a great time last night. So did Ainsley. Thank you.”

  “You thanked me when I dropped you off.” He squeezed her hand before reluctantly releasing it. “And I told you then it was my pleasure. You do realize you’re my two favorite girls now, right? I plan to spend as much time with y’all as possible, assuming you have no objections?”

  Bree slipped her hand into his as she led him toward the front doors of the elementary school. “No objections.” She laughed. “Ainsley asked me if we could visit your castle this weekend.”

  “She’s going to be sorely disappointed when she realizes it’s just a house,” Kevin said, trying to hide his smile when Bree frowned at a pretty blonde who held the door for them while checking him out from head to toe. “No draw bridges or towers, just a backyard and a swimming pool.”

  “It would look like a castle to Ainsley.” Bree broke eye contact when he leveled her with a curious look. “Our house back in Austin was pretty tiny. The house we’re renting here is twice the size. She thought it was a mansion.”

  Kevin wanted to share his home with Bree and her daughter, to give them all of the things he’d always taken for granted, but he didn’t dare say that. He knew she didn’t want to be “taken care of” and for now, he was trying to respect her wishes. “I’d love to have you over this weekend, but I have Danny. Do you think it’s too soon?”

  “I think he’s still getting used to the idea of you and his mama being apart,” Bree said, keeping her voice low as they came to a stop in front of the principal’s office. “And Trena marrying someone else. Why don’t we give him some time? Let him get used to that before you spring us on him.”

  Kevin would never do anything to hurt his son, but he didn’t want to keep his relationship with Bree a secret any longer than he had to. Since he knew he wasn’t going to win this battle, he said, “I didn’t get a chance to ask how your meeting with David went. Any problems?”

  “He was great,” she said, crossing her arms. “Thank you for setting that up. Um, who can I speak to about setting up a payment plan, your receptionist?”

  “A payment plan? What are you talking about?”

  “I want to pay my own legal fees, Kev.” She touched his chest to silence him. “And before you think about arguing with me, you need to know that’s the only way I’ll consider allowing your firm to represent me.”

  Kevin didn’t know why he was surprised Bree was digging her heels in about this. She’d always been one of the most stubborn women he’d ever known. And he loved her tenacity, most of the time. “We’ll talk about this another time.” Inclining his head toward the office, he said, “I have to get in there. You want to come with me, sit in on the meeting?”

  “I’d love to, but I have to pick Ainsley up now or we’ll be late for her dance lesson. Call me later and let me know how it goes, okay?”

  “Sure.”

  She took a few steps down the hall before turning back to him. “When is Danny coming to stay with you?” she whispered.

  “His mama’s dropping him off after practice on Saturday morning, about 11:00, I think. Why?”

  “Rennie and Zach invited Ainsley to have a sleep-over with Monica on Friday night. If you’re not busy—”

  Kevin silenced her by holding up a finger and said only loud enough for her to hear, “Say no more. Dinner at my place Friday night, breakfast Saturday morning. And remind me to thank my brother.”

  * * *

  Bree was carrying a homemade pecan pie up the stairs to Kevin’s front door when she felt compelled to take a moment to bask in the beauty surrounding her. The air was crisp and fresh and the slight seasonal change in temperature reminded her yet again the holidays were right around the corner. The exterior lights she’d had installed were framing the large home while all of the trees leading up to the walk were glittering in the blanket of darkness slowly falling.

  She hadn’t looked forward to the holidays this much since her mama died and she knew having Kevin back in her life was the reason for her excitement. He made her days brighter. She woke up in the morning and looked forward to calling him when she dropped Ainsley off at school. He typically called her again mid-afternoon just to ask how her day was going and when they weren’t able to see each other, they always ended the night with a phone call before bed.

  Their relationship was evolving, and it spite of Bree’s plan to take things slow, she couldn’t deny her feelings for him were growing stronger every day, dwarfing what she felt for him years ago.

  “Are you gonna stand on my front porch all night?” Kevin asked, slipping his arms around her waist as he pressed his chest to her back. “Or are you gonna come in and put me out of my misery? I’ve missed you like crazy,” he said, kissing her neck. “Feels like weeks since I’ve been able to do this.”

  Bree closed her eyes, inhaling deeply as a smile spread across her face. Every minute without him seemed longer than the last, so she felt his pain. “Let’s continue this inside,” she murmured, handing him the dessert she’d baked after she got home from work. “I haven’t seen the outdoor lights at night. I love it.”

  “Me too,” he said, setting the pie down on the hall table so he could help her with her coat. “I can’t wait for Danny to see it. The house h
as never been decked out like this at Christmas.”

  “I hope you don’t think I went overboard,” Bree said, feeling a niggling of doubt. Kevin was a classy guy and she didn’t want him to think her over-the-top decorations were tasteless.

  “Are you kidding?” He pulled her into his arms. “I can’t remember the last time this place has felt more like home, which is weird, since I’m living here alone now.” Gesturing to the adorned banister, he said, “I’m gonna hate like hell to see this all come down.”

  “I’m glad you feel that way.” She stood on her toes, inviting his kiss. “I tried to decorate it the way I would have if it were my house.”

  “It could be… your house, that is,” he said, looking adorably uncertain as he dipped his head. “I know what you said, but—”

  “When the times comes…” She was careful not to say if because she was certain the day would come when they would decide to blend their families. “I’d like to start with a clean slate, somewhere neither one of us has any memories from the past. If you’re okay with that?”

  “It doesn’t matter where we live,” he said, slipping an arm around her waist and guiding her into the kitchen, “as long as we’re together.”

  She patted his flat stomach as she said, “I’m glad we’re on the same page.” Stopping short in the doorway, she asked, “Oh my God, what is that? It smells amazing.”

  “My housekeeper was here today,” he said, smiling. “She left a beef tenderloin with potatoes and carrots simmering in the slow cooker for us. Trust me, you haven’t lived until you’ve tasted Agnes’s beef tenderloin.”

  Bree watched him open a bottle of red wine before asking, “Is this the life you always imagined, Kev?” She couldn’t help but wonder if he was having second thoughts about the prestigious appointment he’d been offered. She didn’t want him to feel he had to sacrifice an incredible job opportunity to be with her. No matter how difficult it would be, if it was something he really wanted, they’d find a way to make it work because she loved him enough to make his happiness a priority.

  He poured the wine into two glasses while looking up at her. He didn’t answer right away, obviously sensing his response was important. “Nothing ever works out exactly as we imagined, does it?” Sliding a glass across the granite breakfast bar to her, he said, “I realize how lucky I am. I’ve enjoyed success and that brings with it certain privileges. I’ve put together a top-notch team and that means I could walk away to pursue other interests any time I choose to.”

  “What other interests?” she asked, feeling certain he was thinking about the move to Austin.

  “I don’t know,” he said, brooding as he twisted the stem of his wine glass between his thumb and forefinger.

  “I don’t believe you.” She hadn’t intended to call him out, but she couldn’t stand to think he may be hiding the truth from her to spare her feelings. “Tell me what you’re really thinking. Please. We need to be honest with each other if this is going to work.”

  He bit his lip while pushing away from the counter before thrusting his hands into the pockets of his gray dress pants. “I’ve been thinking about venturing into local politics. I know it’s a bit of a departure, but this thing with the food program at the kid’s school opened my eyes to a pressing need. There are too many issues like this falling through the cracks. Instead of just complaining about it, I’d like to try to do something about it. Does that sound crazy to you?”

  She slid off her stool and rounded the counter. Gripping his biceps, she looked up at him, hoping she could convey with words what was in her heart. “That’s what I’ve always loved about you. You don’t sit around waiting for things to happen, you make them happen. As soon as you heard about a need at the school, you acted on it. I think you’re exactly the kind of person we need in public office.”

  “Really?” Looking doubtful, he said, “I mentioned the idea to Trena once and she thought it was stupid.”

  “Who cares what she thinks?” Bree winced when she heard how harsh she sounded. Thankfully, Kevin simply smiled in response. “I’m sorry, but she’s getting on with her life. She didn’t ask your opinion about the choices she’s making, even though they clearly affect your son, so why should her opinions carry any weight?”

  “They don’t.” Wrapping his arms around her waist, he asked, “You really think I could do this?”

  “Baby, if there’s one thing I know for sure it’s that you can do anything you set your mind to.”

  “If that’s true, you’ll be my wife just as soon as your divorce is final.”

  Bree waited for his smile, but it never came. He was serious. Holding his face in her hands, she saw evidence of the years that had passed since the last time he told her he wanted to make her his wife. They both had a few fine lines, a few gray hairs, and decades of life experience behind them, yet she wanted him now more than she ever had.

  “I want to be your best friend,” she said, feeling the tears prickle her eyes. “I want to support you in everything you do, whether it’s practicing law, becoming a judge or a politician or a street vendor.” She smiled when he laughed. “I’m serious, Kev. I should have fought for us and didn’t. I was scared. Scared to stand up to your father, scared to tell my parents you were more important to me than school, scared to tell Lyle when he asked me to marry him that my heart would always belong to you. I’m done being scared. I’m ready to start taking risks… with you.”

  “I love you,” he whispered, closing the gap between them as his mouth descended on hers. “And not the way a college kid worships his first love. I love you the way a man who’s lost his soul mate feels when fate gives him a second chance.”

  Bree melted into his arms, allowing his heartfelt words to thaw the part of her heart that had been frozen, suspended in time since the day she walked out of his life.

  * * *

  They were curled up on the couch after dinner, admiring the twinkling lights on the tree, listening to Michael Bublé when Kevin said, “You haven’t told me your Christmas wish.”

  “This is it.” She settled deeper into his arms, curling her hands around his forearm. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

  Without question, he believed her. Bree had never been the type of woman to gush over big diamonds or designer clothes. She appreciated the simple things in life and he could tell she was working hard to raise her daughter to have the same values.

  “Come on,” he teased, brushing his lips across her cheek. “There must be something I can get you that will blow your mind.”

  “When I came back to town,” she said, quietly. “I was apprehensive. I missed my aunt and was looking forward to helping her in the store and I’d hoped to renew my friendship with Rennie, but I knew our paths would probably cross if Ren was back in my life and that scared me. I didn’t know how you’d react to seeing me again after all these years.”

  “I’m so glad you came back.” When Trena and Danny left, he felt lost and alone. Having Bree back in his life gave him hope and a new sense of purpose. “When I needed you most. Seriously, I don’t know how I would have gotten through these past few weeks without you.”

  “When I heard your wife left you, I’m ashamed to admit there was a part of me that was happy. How selfish is that?”

  Kevin chuckled. He didn’t think Bree had a selfish bone in her body. “Things worked out the way they were supposed to, baby.” He was reluctant to ask, but had to know. “Have you heard from Lyle recently?”

  “He calls every few days to speak to Ainsley. Naturally, I speak to him too.”

  Kevin knew as long as they shared a child, they would always be a part of each other’s lives, just as he and Trena would be, but he’d feel more comfortable when their divorce was final and Lyle had given up on the notion of putting his family back together. After what he did, he didn’t deserve Bree.

  “He seems to be doing better. I haven’t spoken to him since I learned about the other woman,” she said, shifting in hi
s arms. “He doesn’t know I’ve filed for divorce. I’m sure he won’t take it well, but he’s given me every reason to want to end this marriage and I know it’s time.”

  “No reservations then?” He had to ask. He knew how difficult it could be to end a marriage, especially when there were children involved.

  “None.” She reached for the cashmere throw at the end of the silk sofa, covering their legs with it. “I feel bad that Ainsley misses her daddy and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure they continue to have a relationship, but…”

  Kevin’s mind wandered back to Ainsley’s heart-breaking words at dinner. She was a confused, innocent little girl who missed her daddy. He only hoped she wouldn’t see him as the enemy when she realized he wanted to take her daddy’s place as her mama’s husband.

  “Hey, are you okay?” she asked, turning to face him. “You kind of zoned out there.”

  “I was just thinking about our kids,” he admitted. “How hard this is on them. I hate that they have to go through this. Zach and I were lucky, so were you, our parents stayed together and loved each other. We had a great example, so how’d we end up screwing things up so badly?”

  “We married the wrong people,” she said, laying her head on his shoulder. “We made a series of mistakes and I hate that our kids have to pay the price, but I have to believe we’ll all be happier in the end, for following our hearts.”

  He knew she was right, but it still killed him to think he may contributing to a little girl’s sadness. “If I hadn’t come back into your life, would you have tried to work things out with Lyle?” He had to know if he was the reason her marriage was ending now. Was he putting too much pressure on her? Should he back off and let her decide for herself when the time was right?

  “I always swore if a man ever put his hands on me in anger, I’d walk. There’d be no question in my mind. And I’m glad I did. I’m proud of myself for standing my ground.”

  “But…?”