Guarding His Heart

by Synithia Williams

  Then, as if he knew she was a second away from latching onto him the way she had the coffee and the bag of kettle-cooked salt and vinegar chips her sister brought to convince her to give up the madness, he eased back. Her eyelids were like weights as she slowly lifted them to meet his eyes.

  The corner of his mouth was lifted cockily. His eyes held the intense focus of a hunter closing in on prey. Excitement and possession swirled in their depths. If she let herself, she’d agree to the affair he offered with just a look.

  Except she had goals. Professional and personal ones. Her own exhibit. No relationship drama. No more getting caught up in the lies of a promised forever.

  “What are you thinking about?” His voice was silky and mellow. Her thighs clenched with need.

  Your exhibit. Remember your exhibit.

  “Cabins,” she said.

  He blinked several times. “Cabins?” He ran a hand over his lower lip. “Why are you thinking about cabins?”

  Probably not the best lead-in after a fantastic kiss, but he needed to be brought down a notch or two. Kevin had thrown out the bait with that sexy-as-hell-but-not-quite-enough kiss, and she’d bitten. She could tell he was ready to lure her in, and oh, she wanted to be lured. Really, really wanted to be, but her life was about goals, not getting off.

  “My next project. I want to document cabins.”

  Kevin’s brow cocked. He still smiled but there was a definite dimming of the spark in his eye.

  “I’m trying to focus on my next project,” she said. “You would distract me from that.”

  “Ahh, now I get it.” He took half a step back. Just out of her reach. She ran her hands over her pant legs to stop herself from reaching out.

  He leaned an elbow on the balcony. Nailed her with his full attention. “Tell me about your project.”

  He couldn’t be serious? Could he? She hadn’t said that to make him run, but she hadn’t expected him to ask for more information. “Why?”

  “Obviously, your project is important enough to distract you from what I thought was a damn good kiss.” He raised a brow in question.

  She nodded, willing to concede to the truth. “The kiss was very good.”

  “Yet you thought of cabins. I want to know about the project.”

  “Seriously?” She’d expected some sly comment about him not being a distraction, or that they could just have a little fun before she moved on. Instead he’d asked for more information. Kevin was making it hard for her to not leave New York with a bang.

  He waved a hand for her to continue. “Seriously. I’d like to get to know you.”

  Jasmine eyed him and tried to tell if he was full of crap. He watched her expectantly. Eyes focused. The seductive up-tilt of his mouth was still there. Still tempting.

  Fine. If he wanted to know, she’d tell him. If he thought her idea was dumb, then she’d save a lot of time trying to figure out if he was worth her serious consideration and move on quickly. If he liked the idea...maybe leaving New York with a bang, literally, wasn’t such a bad idea.

  She took a deep breath. When she’d announced her plans to a few people in the fashion industry, they’d looked at her as if she’d announced she was packing up and moving to Alaska to become a pioneer woman. Maybe she was taking a drastic step, but she wanted to do something worthwhile. She didn’t care what they thought, but the idea of Kevin looking at her like that? Well, that made her stomach churn a little.

  “Okay, so I was visiting relatives in Georgia last year,” she said in a rush before changing her mind. “When I was there, my uncle had a bonfire out in the field next to the house. They used to grow corn there I think, but anyway, there was this old cabin along the edge of the field. When I asked, he said it was the first house his great-great-grandfather built during the Reconstruction. He’d purchased the small bit of land, farmed it, fought the Klan on it and ultimately survived.”

  “Damn. That’s cool as hell.” Excitement and interest infused Kevin’s voice.

  “I know, right?” Her own excitement was piqued by his. She’d been thrilled to learn more about her mother’s family. She’d lost her mom when she was so young. Her dad remarried and she’d rarely spent time with her mother’s family. After her father later divorced and her stepmother completely disappeared out of her life, Jasmine had reached out to her mother’s family.

  “So I took pictures of the place. Started a scrapbook with the family history I got from my uncle. I sent a copy to him. Then the rest of my family asked for copies. It gave me an idea to capture more old cabins and homes owned by black people. Capture where they lived and highlight their history with what I can track down. Kinda chronicling the everyday life of the regular people trying to make their way in a world that didn’t want them to find a way.”

  “That’s what’s up.” Kevin nodded and sounded impressed. “Where are you starting?”

  His response fueled her excitement even more. She’d gotten such a lackluster response from some of her colleagues. Kevin got what she was trying to do. That meant others had to get it, too.

  “I’m going back to Georgia. I’ve been in contact with a historian who’s working to save slave cabins. I’m setting up a meeting with him to get an idea of where to go next.”

  “What will you do after you finish?” All of the flirtation was gone, replaced by a genuine interest in her project.

  “I have an agreement with Jordan and Jones to publish my findings.” That was the first time she’d said that out loud. Her disbelief at the leeway the publishing house was giving her seeped into her voice. “Angelero Gallery gave me the okay to exhibit my pictures once I’m done to build up interest before the book’s release date.”

  “Wow. You’ve got everything lined up.”

  She did, yet nerves still turned her stomach into a jumbled mess. She had the book deal because of her borrowed status photographing celebrities. The agreement from the gallery was for the same reasons—that and she was friends with the owner. That didn’t mean people would like the photos or get what she was trying to convey.

  She kept having a recurring nightmare of people only seeing old, dilapidated houses instead of the stories of the people who lived there. What those families overcame. She’d be laughed out of the gallery and her book would flop harder than a deflated basketball.

  “I’m excited about the project,” she said brightly, instead of letting him hear her insecurities.

  “It’s cool you have a plan and know what you want. Seriously, not everyone has that.”

  Something in his voice made her think he didn’t refer to people in general, but instead to himself. “What are you doing during the off-season? Do you relax or are you itching for the new season to start?”

  He looked down at his hands and stretched them out. A frown pulled on his lips. “Actually, I’m trying to figure out my next steps.”

  Next steps? From the little she knew of basketball, he was still considered an elite player in the league. “What do you mean?”

  “Retirement or not.” He looked up at her.

  “Retirement? You can’t be serious. You just won a championship. You’re the cover model for the Sports Fitness ‘Bodies in Motion’ issue. That only goes to top athletes. Why would you retire?” Okay, so maybe she’d researched him a little after today’s shoot.

  “I’m thirty-six. Might as well go out while I’m still on top.” He shrugged as if the answer was an obvious one.

  Except the look in his eye didn’t match his voice. His tone reminded her of someone forcing themselves to make a decision they were still unsure about. “What will you do if you retire?”

  He shrugged. “That’s the thing. I’ve got a few business interests. I could explore more of those options. It’s just...”

  “They’re not basketball.”

  He studied his hands again. “Basketball has been
my life since I was eighteen. I was drafted right in the middle of my first year of college and I haven’t thought about doing anything else since. Could I really be happy in a suit, sitting behind a desk at a corporation?”

  She couldn’t see him in corporate America. Not because of the tattoos or pierced ears; the art could be hidden beneath business suits and the earrings could come out. She couldn’t see it because Kevin had this layer of wildness and excitement about him. No matter the environment, that dangerous air and flair to live outside the boundaries expected of him would always show.

  But stranger things had happened. She didn’t really know him and was basing her decision on his outgoing personality and the few reports of his off-court antics she’d read. The guy took his teammates skydiving to celebrate their first playoff win.

  But he was thirty-six and successful. Her quick internet search hadn’t brought up rumors of him spending money frivolously or filing for bankruptcy, a situation that plagued some celebrities who achieved superstardom as young as he had. He could get excited about one of his businesses and really thrive.

  “You won’t know until you try,” she encouraged. “If you’re ready to retire, don’t let the idea that you’re only good at basketball stop you. I’m sure you’re good at other things.”

  “How do you know?” he asked with a sexy tilt of his full lips that made her ease closer.

  “Your eyes are intelligent.” She met that dark gaze. His eyes were brown, bold and very cocky, but he wasn’t a dumb jock. He watched, listened and observed. All signs of intelligence.

  His gaze became guarded. His brows drew together. She must have surprised him. “No one’s ever told me that.”

  “I’m glad to be the first.”

  Kevin closed the distance between them. His large hand clasped her waist. The possessiveness came back to his gaze. Jasmine’s pulse accelerated and she swallowed hard. He pulled her close until the tips of her breasts brushed his hard chest. A shiver went down her spine. Not from fear but anticipation. Heat roared through her like wildfire.

  “I want to kiss you again.”

  She wanted to kiss him again. When she didn’t protest, his head lowered. Jasmine’s lashes lowered, too. Expectation wound up and tightened her nerves like a coiled spring. Thoughts of cabins and next steps in life blew away with the soft breeze.

  Ringing filled the air. Something at Kevin’s hip vibrated.

  He pulled back. “My bad. That’s my cell.” He pulled out his phone and checked the screen. “My daughter. Let me take this.”

  Jasmine nodded and stepped back. She tried to steady her breathing as he leaned against the concrete balcony railing and answered the call.

  “Hey, babe, what’s up?” Kevin frowned and cocked his head. “What? Well, I’m sure your mom has a good reason for saying that.” Pause. “Let me talk to her.”

  Kevin held up a finger toward Jasmine and gave an apologetic shrug. “Sabrina, what’s going on?” He listened for a few seconds. His lips tipped up, followed by a low chuckle. A flirty sound filled with history and memories.

  She watched Kevin talk to his daughter’s mother and her passion slowly cooled. Her internet search had brought up personal information on him, as well. Married young to his high school sweetheart, right when he entered the league. Divorced four years later. After that, he’d been in a long-term relationship with another woman and she’d had twins right before they’d split. Since then, he hadn’t been connected with anyone on a lengthy basis.

  Baggage, drama, warning! Back away from this man ASAP.

  “Okay, kitten, calm down,” he said laughing. “I agree on punishment. She shouldn’t have come in late. I’ll swing through Atlanta and check out this guy she likes.”

  He paused to listen. Jasmine’s mind whirled. Kitten? That was definitely a pet name and had definitely been spoken with affection.

  The call ended. He shook his head and slipped the phone in his pocket. “Sorry, that was my ex-wife. My daughter has a new boyfriend and it’s driving Sabrina crazy.” He turned back and reached for her. “But that’s not important right now.”

  So kitten was the ex-wife. Oh no! She wasn’t about to sign up for this again.

  Jasmine stepped far out of his reach. She looked at her watch. “You know, I’ve really got a lot to do tomorrow and I need to go.”

  “Now?”

  “Yeah, like, right now.” She was having a serious case of déjà vu and that crap wasn’t cool. Memories of getting swept up in a guy she knew could get under her skin, ignoring his overly friendly relationship with his ex-wife, the crushing blow when he left her to go back to the familiar. Sure, she didn’t have plans to do anything long-term with Kevin, but that didn’t mean she wanted to be halftime in whatever game he played with kitten.

  “But I thought—”

  “Kevin, it was really nice to meet you. Good luck in the off-season, okay?” She turned and hurried off the balcony before his smooth lines, sexy smile and sweet kisses made her forget that men always went back to their first loves. She wasn’t going to be the rebound chick ever again.

  Chapter 4

  Two weeks later and Kevin still couldn’t get Jasmine out of his mind. He’d swung through Atlanta and checked in on his ex-wife, Sabrina, and their girls. Sabrina always worried their daughters would fall too hard and too fast for a boy and end up brokenhearted.

  Kevin couldn’t blame her for her fears. He’d broken her heart when they were young. That’s why he worked hard to keep his relationships superficial. No more broken hearts in his future if he could help it.

  “Why are you frowning?” his grandmother asked.

  Kevin looked up at her from his spot on the back porch step. He hadn’t heard her exit the house to join him. Every off-season, he spent at least a week or two back home with his mother and grandmother in Silver Springs, South Carolina. Not just because his grandmother made the best red velvet cake in the state.

  Charlotte moved a little slower than she used to due to arthritis. Kevin could sympathize with her on that. Her mind was still sharp, and at eighty-three, she was the person most likely to give him good advice when he needed it.

  “Was I frowning?” He stood and took his grandmother’s arm.

  She tried to shoo him away, but he wasn’t to be deterred. She liked to ignore her walker and cane when she was at home. Kevin helped her to one of the rocking chairs on the porch and helped her sit.

  “I can walk by myself.”

  “Yeah, and I can still palm a basketball easily,” he replied.

  He eased back down onto the top step of the porch. The humidity was at a decent level for a change, making the high temperatures bearable. His grandmother and mother lived together in a house he’d purchased for them in one of the newer subdivisions on a golf course that popped up as part of the town’s resurgence. His family lived on a private corner lot that backed up to a natural undisturbed area.

  Charlotte huffed and rocked back in the chair. “Is that why you’re frowning? You still thinking about that play?”

  The play that had almost cost the Gators the championship. The play when the pain and stiffness residing in his hands had gotten so bad he’d dropped the ball and the opposing team scored, tying the game and potentially costing them the win. The play that would have ruined the season if his teammate, Will Hampton, hadn’t scored a winning three-point shot right before the buzzer.

  “I’m over that, Grandma C,” he replied. His grandmother grunted again but didn’t dispute him. “I was thinking about Asia. Sabrina’s worried about her boyfriend.”

  “You checked in on them though, right?”

  “Yep. He seems like a good kid. I put a little fear in him if he hurts my baby, and I’ll drop in more.”

  “Sabrina’s always worried about something,” Charlotte mumbled. “Maybe if she stopped worrying, she’d be able to pu
ll that stick out of her ass.”

  Kevin gave his grandmother a mildly disapproving look. He wouldn’t dare to give her an outright glare. Not if he hoped to keep his eyes inside his head. “Grandma, come on. You know she wasn’t always like that.”

  “Well, it’s been twelve years since you two divorced. Y’all were too young when you got married anyway. Barely out of high school and right when you were offered a multimillion-dollar contract. I could have told you that was a mistake.”

  “If I remember correctly, you did.”

  Charlotte snapped her fingers and pointed at him. “Damn, right. She was the only girl you’d dated. Then you became a star. Don’t blame yourself for wanting to see what else was out there. At least you didn’t dog her out the way some men might have.”

  “I know, Grandma C.” That still didn’t make him feel better.

  He’d filed for divorce after four years of marriage. He’d never cheated on Sabrina, but the temptation had been there. His grandmother was right. He’d been young with a lot of money and little experience with women wanting him. So he’d left the marriage instead of cheating, but Sabrina never believed he’d resisted temptation. The years of enjoying the company of beautiful women after their divorce hadn’t helped.

  They’d managed to salvage their friendship due to both of them wanting to make things easier on their daughters. He would always be there for their two girls.

  Five years ago, when Hanna, his girlfriend at the time, gave birth to twins, Sabrina hadn’t batted an eye at considering the twins part of her family, even though Hanna’s pregnancy had been unexpected, and Sabrina and Hanna hadn’t gotten along. He’d been on the verge of ending things with Hanna when she’d gotten pregnant. He may be terrible when it came to relationships, but he’d be damned if he’d be a terrible father.