End Zone: Texas Titans 2 (5 page)

“Or you could spend the night with me.” His
hand froze on the corkscrew over the bottle of red wine as he waited for her
response.

“I…” She’d never had a one-night stand,
never even been tempted. Matt’s offer made her wonder what it would feel like
to wake up in his arms though.

“I have a couple of guest rooms. If you’d
rather stay here, you’re more than welcome to.”

Of course that’s what he meant.
Matt was a gentleman, and she chastised herself for thinking he may
have had an ulterior motive. “I really should get home. I have an early
morning.”

“But it’s Sunday.” He carried two glasses
of wine and the bottle into the family room. Setting the bottle on the mahogany
coffee table, he said, “Everyone needs a day of rest.”

Kristen thanked him as she took both of the
glasses. She watched him remove his jacket and toss it over a nearby chair
before taking off his tie and undoing the buttons at his wrists and neck. She
sucked in a sharp breath when she saw the tattoo she’d been curious about. It
was a woman’s portrait. A stunning woman.

His eyes followed hers, and he grimaced.
“Not the smartest decision I ever made.” He took his glass of wine before
sitting down.

She held his arm to look closer at the
colorful tattoo. It was a work of art. He must have believed they would be
together forever, otherwise he wouldn’t have marked his skin with her image. “She’s
beautiful. Your ex-wife?” As if she didn’t know.

“Yeah.” He tried to pull his arm away, but
she gripped his forearm.

“It must have been hard, letting her go.”

“You have no idea.”

Kristen felt the impact of his words, his
bitterness, anguish, and resentment. She could see he was a long way from being
over his divorce. “You still love her?”

“No.”

He said it too quickly for Kristen to
believe him. “How long have you been divorced?”

“A little over a year.”

“That’s not very long.”

“It’s long enough.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

He took a drink then another. “No, she’s
the last thing I want to think about tonight.”

“But you are thinking about her.”

“I’m thinking about her because you asked
about her.” He sighed. “Look, Kristen, she means nothing to me, okay? Can we
just forget about it, please?”

She had no right to pry, but it hurt that
he seemed so determined to shut her out. “I’m sorry, I just—”

“No, I’m sorry.” He reached for her free
hand. “It was a bad time in my life, not one that I enjoy thinking about.”

“It must be hard to forget with a constant
reminder.” Her eyes landed on the tattoo again.

“Tattoos are like chapters in a book. Robin
was one chapter; she wasn’t the whole book.”

“Then you have others? Tattoos, I mean?”

He grinned. “Yeah, quite a few.”

“Can I see them?” She knew that was a bold
question since she didn’t know where they were.

“Sure.” He slowly unbuttoned his shirt,
watching her as though he was waiting for her to stop him.

Kristen brought her wine glass to her lips
as she watched him strip his white dress shirt. Sure enough, several colorful,
well-placed tattoos marked his tanned skin. An eagle soared between his
shoulder blades. On the inside of his other forearm was another portrait. She
suspected the mature woman was his mother. The last tattoo was a large piece on
his chest. The scene was difficult to see in the dim light, but she knew it was
done by a true artist, as were all the others.

“They’re beautiful,” she said. She
appreciated all types of art, even body art, though she’d never have the
courage to endure that kind of pain in the name of vanity. Her eyes drifted
back to the piece of Robin.

“I wouldn’t erase it even if I could,” he
said, reaching for his shirt and slipping it back on.

She was afraid she’d offended him. “Of course
not. Why would you?” She sipped her wine, hoping he’d let the subject go.

“My buddies ask me all the time why I don’t
just get it lasered or covered up with another piece.”

“But you don’t want to?” That shouldn’t
bother her, but she had trouble imagining making love to a man who wore another
woman’s face on his skin as a reminder of their time together.

“No, I don’t.” He rested his arm on the
back of the couch. He let her long hair slide through his fingers as he fixated
on the silky strands instead of her face. “It reminds me of what I had and
lost. What I want to find again. Only next time, I want it to be real. What I
had with Robin was just an illusion.”

Kristen swallowed, trying to come to terms
with the fact that he’d obviously loved his wife deeply. She’d never known love
like that. Robert had been a good match for her on paper. He had all of the
qualities she believed she was looking for, but as it turned out, none of
substance.

“I want to find love again.” He looked in
her eyes. “The kind that makes me want to jump out of bed because I can’t wait
to see her. Lingering kisses that I never want to end. Long phone calls in the
middle of the night, talking about the future, kids, the life we dream of
building together.” He smiled. “Robin was on the road a lot. We didn’t spend
much time in the same city.”

She got a burning sensation in her stomach
when she realized that the first man she’d been interested in a long, long time
still harbored feelings for his former wife. She leaned forward to set her wine
glass on the table. “It was nice to see you again. But I really should get
going.”

Grabbing her wrist, he said, “You can’t
leave now, not like this.” His eyes landed on her lips, and he didn’t even try
to tear his gaze away. “You made me feel something a lifetime ago, Kristen. I
still feel that when we’re together.”

Kristen held her breath, praying he
couldn’t tell she was hanging on his every word and praying he’d say something
to dispel her doubts about him. “I don’t know if you’re ready for a relationship.
I don’t even know if I am. It hasn’t been that long since my engagement ended
and—”

“He didn’t deserve you.” Matt moved in
closer, wrapping his hand around the back of her neck. “I may not deserve you
either, but I’d spend every moment we’re together trying to be the man who can
give you what you need.”

She planted her hands firmly on his
shoulders, trying to keep him at a safe distance. “This is happening too fast.
I’m not ready.” She would never be ready to give herself to a man whose heart
may belong to someone else. How long before Robin realized her mistake and
called, begging him to take her back? And where would that leave Kristen? On
the cold side of an empty bed while her lover chased his dream.

“You know me, Kristen. You know I’m a
decent guy.”

She knew the boy he used to be, but she had
no idea about the man he’d become. He chased thrills with extreme sports, had
his heart broken by a beautiful model, made a fortune as a business mogul, and
rode in the back of limos wearing designer suits and diamond watches.

“I can’t stay,” she said, struggling to get
up.

“Look at me,” he whispered, touching her
face gently. “What are you running from?”

Matt felt like a man on the verge of
drowning, struggling for a life preserver he couldn’t quite reach. Even though
he hadn’t seen Kristen in years, her image had drifted in and out of his
fantasies. Then she was in his arms, and he didn’t want to let her go.

“I’m not running from anything.”

He saw the heartbreak in her eyes, and he
wanted to knock some sense into the man who’d put it there. Robert Channing
didn’t have the right to occupy the same space as Kristen, much less call her
his fiancée. He didn’t know what Robert had done to hurt her, but it must have
done a number on her if the thought of loving again filled her with such fear.

“I just want us to try.” Matt was pushing
too hard, but he wasn’t used to giving up without a fight. “One date, let’s
just see how it goes.”

“I’m not ready to date”—her eyes fell to
his open shirt—“someone like you, Matt.”

“‘Someone like me’? What does that mean?”

“I need safety and security. You don’t seem
like the kind of guy who thrives on those things.”

She was asking for a guarantee he couldn’t
give her. He had no idea where their relationship could go, but he knew he’d
spend the rest of his life wondering if he didn’t coax her into giving him a
chance.

“You were my fantasy girl in high school,”
he said, trying to draw a smile from her, to lighten the mood and make her
forget about leaving. Maybe if he reminded her of the guy he used to be, the
friend she’d enjoyed spending time with, she wouldn’t see him as a threat to
her fragile heart.

Instead of smiling, the anguished look in
her eyes intensified. “This isn’t high school. We’ve both suffered through our
share of battle scars. We’re too old to waste time on a relationship that could
never work.”

“How do you know we couldn’t work?” Matt
knew his frustration was evident in his voice. He wasn’t used to working so
hard to make his case. He wasn’t a bad guy, and most people sensed that without
having to be convinced.

“You live your life one way. I live my life
a completely different way.”

“What the hell does that mean?” He leaned
back, giving her some space. If she was still determined to leave, nothing he
could say or do would convince her to stay. “You haven’t even asked me about my
life. How do you know whether we have things in common?”

“Fine.” She looked prepared to indulge him.
“What do you do for fun?”

Matt winced inwardly, knowing his answer
wouldn’t help his case. “I go sky-diving. I love taking my boat out on the
water for deep sea fishing and water skiing. I ride my bike across the country
when…” He stopped speaking when her face lost color. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She shook her head. “You know
what I do for fun? Curl up with a cup of herbal tea and a good book. Watch
re-runs of seventies and eighties sitcoms. Go out for dinner or a movie with my
girlfriends. Shop or go to the spa. That’s it. When I’m not working, that’s my
life.”

She was trying to make him see that they
were all wrong for each other, but her case would have to be a lot more
convincing if she wanted him to lose interest in her. “I like to read, watch
TV, and go out for dinner or a beer with friends.” He grinned. “Okay, so I’m
not all that big on shopping, and I’ve never set foot inside a spa, but you
might be able to talk me into a couples massage.”

She laughed, obviously losing the battle to
hold it in. “Did you and your ex have anything in common?”

“Not really.”

“I suspected as much.” She shook her head.
“Don’t you want to find someone who shares your interests, who wants to do the
things you love to do?”

“You don’t think I’ve tried that?” He
rolled his eyes. “Believe me, I have. You know what I realized?”

“No, what?”

“It’s not about how compatible you are on
paper. It’s about how you feel when you’re together.”

“I suppose that’s true,” she said, rolling
her bottom lip between her teeth, looking uncertain.

“Besides, we have a lot of things in
common.”

“Such as?”

“We both appreciate art, and I’m guessing
antiques?”

“How did you know I like antiques?” She
tipped her head back and narrowed her eyes.

“I saw the way you were admiring my dining
room earlier.”

“Very perceptive.”

“So listen, why don’t you blow off work
tomorrow? We’ll take a drive to Fredericksburg, take in the fall colors, and
visit some antique shops. On the way back, we can pass by my mother’s gallery.
What do you say?” He could tell she was struggling to decide whether she could
afford to take a whole day off work. “Come on, it’ll be fun. I promise.”

“It does sound like fun, but that’s a
four-hour drive and—”

Matt knew there was only one way to win her
over. He framed her face with his hands, giving her half a second to tell him
to back off before he took her mouth. He was soft and gentle until her moan
stoked his hunger, and he had to take the kiss deeper. She gave as good as she
got. Without even realizing the effect she had on him, she made all of his
teenage fantasies a mind-blowing reality. Even in his dreams, kissing her had
never felt like that. Her tongue duelled with his, stroking and teasing,
warring and surrendering, making his body come alive with a desire that rivaled
anything he’d ever felt.

“Yes,” she said, heaving a sigh when she
pulled back. “Yes.”

That one simple word held a wealth of
promise that gave him hope he hadn’t had in a long, long time. “You wanna stay
tonight? We could get an early start in the morning.”

“I should go.”

He’d never been so close to begging, but
she’d already met him halfway. It wouldn’t be long before she spent the night
with him, and it wouldn’t be in his guest room. “Okay, let me text Lawrence. He
said he’d hang around in case you needed a ride home.”

“Thanks.”

“No, thank you.” He stole one last kiss.
“For making this a night I’ll never forget.”

***

Kristen rolled her window halfway down so
she could enjoy the autumn breeze whipping through her hair. The weather was
perfect for the day he had planned, mid-sixties, and she’d dressed accordingly.
Kristen already felt younger and freer than she had in a long time. When Matt
had shown up with large lattes and chocolate croissants, he told her calories
didn’t count that day, it was all about fun and indulgence. Since it had been
so long since she had much of either, she agreed.

“What are you thinking about?” He reached
across the console for her hand.

It felt so right, so natural, being with
him. She cautioned herself against getting too comfortable. Her subconscious
had fooled her into believing the same was true of Robert in the beginning, and
she would do well to remember that. “I’m just enjoying this. It’s not often I
get to play hooky from work.”

“You have to make time for yourself once in
a while.”

“Now you sound like my mother,” she said,
smiling.

“How is your family?” He returned his attention
to the road. “If memory serves, your mama was an elementary school librarian
and your daddy was an insurance agent, right? Wait, you have a younger brother
too. His name is…?”

“Lionel.” She was touched he remembered so
much about her. She’d mentioned those things in passing during study breaks,
never expecting him to remember every little detail. Clearly her impression of
Matt was accurate—he was a good listener. “He passed away quite a few years
ago.”

“Oh God,” he said, gripping her hand
tighter. “I’m sorry, Kris. I had no idea. I remember you telling me you two
were close. That must have been hard on you.”

“It was hard on all of us.” Especially her
mother, who felt she’d failed in her job to protect her babies from harm.

“Do you mind if I ask how it happened?”

“Motocross racing.” She looked out the
window, but the vivid leaves she’d been admiring moments ago seemed dull and
lifeless. “He died doing what he loved.”

“How old was he?”

“Eighteen.”

“Jesus,” he whispered, “he didn’t even have
a chance.”

“No, he didn’t.” That was what hurt her the
most, knowing he’d been cheated out of realizing all of his dreams. She sighed.
“My dad kind of checked out on us after that, not that he was home all that
often to begin with. It wasn’t easy spending time at home while running a
successful insurance agency and trying to keep his mistress a secret from his
family.”

“Your father was having an affair?” he
asked quietly.

“Yeah, my mom found out about it right
after my brother died. It was too much for her to cope with. She drank to numb
the pain until after she lost her job for showing up for work after a few
glasses of wine.” Kristen shuddered. “Finally she pulled herself together,
kicked my dad out, went to AA, and opened a little bookstore.”

“Did she ever remarry?”

“Yeah, she met a great guy a few years ago.
Phillip. They got married last summer at his place in Vermont. I’ve never seen
my mother so happy.”

“That’s nice.” A faint smiled crossed his
lips. “Do you see her often?”

“Not as often as she’d like. I’m busy with
work.” Kristen tipped her head back against the black leather seat of his A8,
enjoying the feel of his warm hand wrapped around hers. She hadn’t enjoyed
physical contact with a man in a while, and Matt was so comforting, so
reassuring. She felt she could tell him almost anything.

“How did she feel about you ending your
relationship with Robert?”

Kristen giggled. “She stopped just short of
throwing a party to celebrate.”

“So she wasn’t his biggest fan?”

“She liked him well enough in the
beginning, but over time, she said he struck her as insincere. He was trying
too hard to prove to me and everyone else that he was perfect for me.”

“So that’s why you ended it?”

She tipped her head toward Matt. Keeping
the truth from him felt wrong somehow. “No, I ended it because he cheated on
me. He swore it only happened one time, but as far as I’m concerned, once is
enough. Once a cheater, always a cheater.” Kristen expected Matt to condemn her
ex, or at least concur with her, but when he said nothing, she noticed the tension
in his hand. “Are you okay?”

Matt cleared his throat. “Yeah sure, fine.
Do you want to grab a bite to eat? I could go for a burger.”

Kristen was surprised by the rapid shift in
discussion, but she wasn’t eager to dwell on Robert’s infidelity. “Sounds
good.”

They drove a few miles with only a classic
rock CD to soften the silence. Kristen could tell Matt’s mood had changed,
though she couldn’t understand the reason. He didn’t seem like the kind of guy
who would judge her because her family was less than perfect or because she’d
been foolish enough to trust a man who betrayed her. So what was his problem?

His phone rang, reining her thoughts back
in. Matt’s frown deepened. He withdrew his hand from hers and punched the
disconnect button on the steering wheel as soon as the number flashed across
the screen on his dashboard.

“If you wanted to answer that—”

“I didn’t.”

“Okay.”

Matt sighed, gripping the steering wheel
with both hands. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

“It’s all right.” It wasn’t. Their perfect
day was on a downward spiral, and she felt helpless to stop it. She had no idea
what she’d said or done to change his mood, but she was tired of playing
cat-and-mouse with complicated men who expected her to be a mind reader. “Maybe
we should just bag this idea. If we turn around now, I can still get some work
done today.”

He looked at her as if she’d proposed he
drive into an oncoming truck in a suicide pact. “What are you talking about?”

“I don’t know what your problem is, but
frankly, I don’t have the energy to try to figure it out.”

“Is that what you do when things get tough,
run instead of fight? Have you ever been in a relationship worth fighting for?
Have you ever loved a man enough to make you want to stand your ground instead
of fleeing to the safety of your comfortable little world?”

“How dare you judge me!” She turned to face
him, shooting daggers with her eyes. “Have you heard a word I said? My track
record with men is lousy. My father was a selfish bastard who lied to his
family for years. My fiancé was a dirtbag who cheated on me.” She choked back a
sob. “I couldn’t even count on my baby brother to stick around.” Covering her
mouth with her hand, she cursed herself for letting her emotions spill out. She
was usually so good at keeping her anger and frustration in check.

Matt pulled over in the parking lot of a
family-style restaurant and pulled her into his arms as soon as he had the car
in park. “I’m sorry, baby.” He stroked her hair. “I didn’t mean to make you
cry.”