Catching Summer (15 page)

“Are you not sick of coming here?” I asked.

Philip chuckled and shook his head. “It’s not like I’m eating the same thing each time. Besides, eating dinner with you is much better than being alone.”

It’d been four consecutive days that he’d walked through the front doors of my restaurant and eaten dinner. “I can’t argue with that. However, it might be good for you to go out on a date every once in a while. You’re a good-looking man.”

He smirked. “Thanks. My ex-wife might not agree with you, though. She gives new meaning to the word ‘cougar.’ I think her new boyfriend’s twenty-three.”

“So she left you for a younger man? I can’t believe you never told me this.”

“It’s not exactly something I want a lot of people knowing.”

“You don’t have to be ashamed about it. It’s not like you’re an old man. What are you, late thirties?”

“You’re good. I’m thirty-eight,” he said with a smile.

“See, you’re still young. I only see a couple of gray strands in that hair of yours.”

“I’m sure you’ll get them, too,” he said, laughing. I watched him finish up his steak and push the plate aside. “How’s everything else going for you?”

“Good. I visited Kate the other morning and watched Zachary for a couple of hours while she took a nap. The joys of sleepless nights.”

“I’m sure you’ll be going through the same thing one day.”

“You will, too,” I said happily.

His smile faded. “I doubt it. I’d have to find someone younger who wants kids. Most women my age already have their own.”

“Then find someone in their late twenties. I’m sure that wouldn’t be hard for you.”

“It’s harder than you think. There
is
a woman I’m interested in. She has no clue, though.”

I perked up. “Really? Why haven’t you told me this? You need to bring her here. What’s she like?”

“Let’s see,” he said with a smile, “she’s beautiful, smart, independent, and overall the most genuine woman I’ve met in a long time.”

“She sounds amazing. What’s her name?”

“Sum?” Lara called.

I glanced over my shoulder at her. “Yeah?”

“You have a phone call.”

“A phone call?” I repeated, reaching into my back pocket. My cellphone wasn’t there. “I guess I left my phone in the car.” Turning to Philip, I said, “Give me a few minutes and I’ll be back. I’m going to take this call and find my cell.”

Lara smiled at me as I walked past her to my office. “Hello,” I said, answering the phone.

“Hey, sunshine. You ignoring me?”

I sat down and laughed. “Of course not. I think I left my cell in the car. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, I texted you and you never responded. I was starting to think you didn’t like my ideas.”

“What ideas?”

“Why don’t you get your phone and read my texts? Surely you won’t disagree with a little chocolate and foreplay, right?”

“Mmm, sounds kinky. I think I’d enjoy that.”

“I sure hope so. My dick’s getting hard just thinking about it.”

“Aren’t you still at practice? You don’t want the guys seeing you all hard up.”

He chuckled. “Can’t help it. You’re all I’ve been thinking about today.”

“I need to swing by my house after work and get some more clothes. That is, if you want me to keep staying with you.”

“Why don’t you just move in with me? We both know it’s inevitable. I mean, we’re basically living together now.”

“True, but I guess moving in officially makes it all real. I know how some guys are. You get scared of commitment and run.”

“Well, I’m not like those guys, sunshine. I’m not afraid to admit when I want something. Now pack your shit up and tell Lara you’re moving out. You’re officially mine now.”

Excitement bubbled inside me. “You got it. I’m all yours.”

After hanging up the phone, I rushed straight out of my office and ran right into Lara. “Trying to run me over?” she laughed, rubbing the shoulder I hit.

“Sorry,” I apologized. “I guess I was just a little excited.”

“So what did lover boy want?” The thought of his texts made me blush. I couldn’t wait to read them.

“He asked me something, and I want your take on it.”

Narrowing her eyes, she crossed her arms over her chest. “O--kay. Did he ask you to marry him?”

“No, but he asked me to officially move in with him. I kind of said yes.”

Her eyes lit up. “Sis, that’s awesome. Were you afraid I’d be against it?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I just hate leaving you all alone.”

She rolled her eyes. “Sum, we’re twenty-eight years old. I think I can manage living on my own. Besides, I’ve been doing it for a while now.”

“True, but I wanted to make sure.”

Lara grabbed my shoulders and smiled. “I’ll be fine. You deserve to be happy.”

“So do you,” I countered.

Her smile faded. “Yes, well, my life is a little more complicated at the moment.”

“It’ll get better, I promise.”

“I sure as hell hope so. I mean, it can’t get worse, right?” She waltzed off down the hall, and all I could think about was Luke. He was about to make her life really difficult. Back in my office, I grabbed the keys to my car and ventured outside. The afternoon air was chillier now that it was late fall, and the sky grew darker earlier. My phone was in the center console, and it vibrated in my hand when I leaned over and picked it up. There were six text messages.

Before I could look at them, I had a feeling I wasn’t alone. I turned around quickly and realized I was right. “What the hell? What are you doing here?”

Jaxon’s jaw clenched. “I came here to talk to you. Apparently I’m a suspect in Evan’s case. My house just got ransacked.”

“What did you expect? It’s obvious you don’t like Evan. Why don’t you go and talk to him? You have no business harassing me.”

“I’m not harassing you, Summer. If Evan would talk to me I’d go to him, but I can’t. You’re the only one I thought would be reasonable.”

“Then I think you made a mistake.”

He stepped closer and I backed into my car. “The mistake is that I’m suspended until my name is cleared. I can’t play, Summer. And it’s all because of you and Collins ratting me out.”

I stood up straighter, refusing to back down. “You should have thought about that before starting trouble. If anyone’s to blame, it’s you.
You
are the one who planted the seed of doubt in our minds.”

Philip appeared over Jax’s shoulder, tense and ready to fight. “Summer, what’s going on?”

“It’s okay,” I assured him. “Jax was just leaving.”

Jax looked down at me and huffed, his gaze angry yet weary. “Evan and I might have some bad blood, but I would
never
try to run him off the road. Believe it or not, that’s the truth.”

He backed away and glared at Philip before storming toward his car. Philip grabbed my arms and turned me to face him. “What the hell was that about?”

I watched Jaxon speed out of the parking lot and sighed. “Jaxon’s mad because I gave his name to the police. He and Evan don’t get along, so I thought it would be good for them to check him out. You know, just to be sure.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that. You did what you had to do.”

I looked up at him. “Then why do I feel wretched? He can’t play football now because of me, until the case is solved. I don’t want to ruin his career.”

Philip shook his head. “Whatever happens to him, you have nothing to do with it. It’ll all be on his shoulders.”

“I hope you’re right.”

He pulled me into his arms. “I know I am.”

When he let me go, I smiled. “Thanks for helping me with Jax.”

“You’re welcome. Although I have to say, I didn’t like what I saw. I know you think Evan is the best thing for you, but I’m starting to think otherwise.”

“What?” I said, taken aback. “Why would you say that?”

He waved his hand angrily toward the spot Jaxon had just left. “He has enemies, Summer. One of whom tried to run him off the road, killing an innocent girl. This is the life I tried so hard to get you to forget, and now you’re going right back to it. What’s so wrong about being with someone normal? Someone who could love you and keep you safe?”

“I’m starting to think that kind of life doesn’t exist.”

He grabbed my hand and held it to his chest. “It does exist. With me.”

Eyes wide, I stepped back. “With you? Philip, what are—?” Then it hit me, and I felt as if the breath had been knocked out of my lungs. “Oh my God. Am I the woman you were talking about earlier?”

Sighing, he stepped back and lowered his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to find out this way. I was hoping to talk to you about it before I left town. I thought maybe I could just let you go, but then all of this shit with Evan’s been happening and I just can’t. You’re going to get caught in the crossfire. Being with him is dangerous, Summer.”

“That may be true, but I love him.”

His head snapped up. “But you could love me, too.
I
can keep you safe, especially your heart. You’ve confided in me and told me your darkest fears and regrets. Our bond runs deep, whether you want to believe it or not.”

“I do care about you, but not in that way. You’ve helped me overcome my fears, and I will always be grateful. But I don’t love you like that.”

“Are you not even willing to try? All I want is a chance. I love
you,
Summer. I have from the very beginning.”

“I’m sorry, Philip. If I made you believe it was possible, it was never my intention.”

He nodded and averted his gaze. I didn’t know what else to say, so I started back toward the door. Sadly, I couldn’t get there before he grabbed my hand and whirled me around. One arm snaked around my waist and the other grabbed the back of my neck as he kissed me. Before I could fight him off, he backed away, his eyes boring into mine.

“I’m sorry, I had to do it. I’m leaving to go out of town and I wanted you to know how I felt before I did.”

I rubbed my hand over my lips and glared at him. His words were one thing, but kissing me was another. “Forcing me to kiss you wasn’t the way to do it, Philip.”

“I know, but I can’t take it back. I knew you wouldn’t do it otherwise.”

“No, I wouldn’t. And now I think it’s best you leave.”

Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair and started to step toward me but then thought better of it. Turning, he walked straight to his car, looking back at me one last time before getting in.

“Summer, you okay?” a voice called out.

Sighing, I turned to face Grayson and shrugged. “Hell if I know.”

With a skeptical look on his face, he watched Philip pull out of the parking lot. “Did something happen between you two? He’s been here a lot this week.”

I glanced over my shoulder at Philip’s taillights as he drove farther away. “Yes, something happened that I didn’t anticipate. I had no clue he had feelings for me.”

He snorted. “You didn’t? How could you not have seen it?”

“I don’t know. I guess because I love Evan.”

“Does he know that Philip’s been here every day this week?”

“No, I never thought there was a reason to tell him. Now I don’t know what to do.”

“The answer’s simple—you tell Evan what happened and cut ties with Philip. If you don’t, there’ll only be more problems.”

“Like telling Evan that Philip kissed me,” I groaned.

Grayson’s eyes went wide. “Are you fucking kidding me? And you let him?”

“No,” I shouted. “I didn’t want him to, he just did. That’s when I told him to leave.”

“Ah, hell, this isn’t good.”

“No shit.”

Grayson glanced down at his watch and sighed. “Why don’t you go to Evan’s and talk to him? The last thing you need to do is keep it from him. He’d most likely find out one way or another.”

Pulling out my phone, I read through the dirty text messages he’d sent me. I was about to ruin our night. “All right, I’ll tell him.” He was going to be pissed.

By the time I got to Evan’s house, my stomach was in knots. The thought of telling him about Philip scared me. I didn’t want him to think I had feelings for Philip. When I opened the door, the house was dark, but I knew Evan was home; his vehicle was in the garage.

“Evan,” I called.

I started down the darkened hallway, but stopped when Evan put his arms around me from behind. I could feel the warmth of his bare chest and the roughness of his jeans against my legs. However, there was something else digging into my back that made me tremble. “It’s about time you got home,” he murmured huskily. He kissed my neck and lifted his hands to my breasts, squeezing them in his large hands.

“Evan, wait. There’s something we need to talk about.”

“Shh, not yet. I’ve been waiting for this all day.” Next he slid his hands under my skirt and slipped his fingers inside my underwear. I moaned and leaned into him, knowing I needed to tell him about what happened, but also wanting to enjoy this time with him. “I see somebody’s ready for me,” he groaned. Turning me around, he lifted me in his arms and I straddled his waist. He carried me to the bedroom and slammed me down on the bed.

The next thing I knew, my blouse was unbuttoned and his mouth was on my nipples. “Please, Evan, I need to talk to you.”

Growling, he pushed his cock into my leg and sucked harder. Knowing I wouldn’t be able to get him to stop, I gave in and enjoyed his touch. He was good at making me forget my troubles. My enjoyment came to a close when the doorbell rang. Evan stopped and looked toward the bedroom door. “I really don’t want to get that.”

“It might be important,” I said.

He kissed me quickly and slid off the bed. Grabbing a shirt from his dresser, he pulled it on and rushed down the hall. I heard him talking to someone at the door and then it slammed shut. When he appeared, there was a box of flowers in his arms. “What is that?” I asked.

He dropped the box on the bed, his expression dark. “I was hoping you could explain.”

I looked down at them and grabbed the card. “They aren’t from you?”

Crossing his arms across his chest, he glared down at me. “Nope. But I’d like to find out from whom.”

Dread settled into the pit of my stomach. There was only one other person it could be. I opened the card and felt the bile rise up my throat.