End Zone: Texas Titans 2 (6 page)

“You didn’t,” she said, trying to wrestle
free. “It’s not your fault. Please, just take me home. Let’s forget this ever
happened.”

“Not a chance.” He released her with a sigh
when she continued struggling. “Listen, I’ve done a lot of things I’m not proud
of, but I would never intentionally hurt you. Do you believe me?”

How could she trust her own judgment? “I
don’t know.” She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees as she covered
her face with her hands. She couldn’t afford to make another mistake. The best
course of action was to return to her office and forget all about Matt, but she
feared her heart may have a hard time letting her do that.

He rubbed her back before brushing her long
hair aside so he could see her face. “I’m not big on trying to win over a woman
who isn’t interested in me. I don’t like games, and I don’t like women who play
games.” When she started to protest, he said, “Just hear me out. I’ve dated too
many women like that, and I know you’re different. You’re genuine and sincere
and…” He smirked. “I’m crazy about you.”

Kristen opened and closed her mouth. “You
don’t even know me.”

“The girl you were back then, the one who
kept me awake at night, and the woman you are now aren’t all that different.”

“You’re wrong.” She wished she could go
back to being the young and innocent high school student who didn’t know how
much it hurt to have her heart broken or watch her family being torn apart.
“I’m nothing like I was back then. Life’s had its way with me. I’ve grown up,
for better or worse.”

“Look, we all have bruises, battle scars. I
don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t trade mine for anything.” He grinned when
she looked at him as though he’d lost his mind. “Would it have been nice to be
the quarterback of the football team instead of the math geek?” He shrugged.
“Maybe, but the quarterback is a mechanic down at Macey’s garage now. He’s got
four kids, a rusted out pick-up truck, a big mortgage, and he’s never left the
state. Does that make me better than him? No. But was he better than me back in
high school just ‘cause he could toss a football? No.”

Kristen admired his intestinal fortitude,
something she often felt she was sorely lacking. If she spent more time with
him, she could learn a lot about letting go of the past. “I don’t know what you
want from me.” She could let him take her to bed, wipe her worry away with
sweet words and a gentle touch, but that would only leave her feeling emptier
than before.

“I just want a chance.” He reached for her
hand. “Have you ever met somebody and felt instant chemistry?”

She shrugged, unwilling to admit the first
time had been the day he stepped into her office.

“I have, the first time I met you in high
school. I know that probably sounds crazy. We were living on different planets
back then, but I felt something every time we were in the same room, hell, even
when you smiled at me in the hall. I swore that if I ever got a chance to test
the waters with you, I’d dive in without asking how deep.”

She couldn’t remember the last time a man
had ever made her feel so important, so cherished. “You’re a good man. I know
that, but…” She was afraid to tell him the truth: men like him didn’t stick
around. Just like Robert, he was good looking, successful, and a smooth talker
who made her believe she was the only woman in the world capable of turning his
head. According to her mother, her father had been the same way.

“But what? What are you afraid of?”

“I’m afraid of being wrong again. I’m
afraid of making another mistake. This time, I don’t know if I could rebound as
easily.”

“It was easy for you to get over Robert?
From where I’m sitting, you’re still not over him.”

She withdrew her hands and folded them in
her lap so he couldn’t reach for her again. “What are you talking about? I’m
long over him.”

“I’m not saying you’re still in love with
him, but you’re still letting what he did define your future.”

She knew he wasn’t trying to hurt her, but
forcing her to face the truth when she’d much rather bury her head in the sand
was gut-wrenching. “Aren’t we all guilty of letting our pasts define us? Are
you telling me your past has nothing to do with who you are today? Would you
have been so driven to succeed if you didn’t feel you had something to prove to
all of the people who made your life miserable in high school?”

“I don’t have anything to prove to anyone.”
He leaned against the soft leather seat as though he didn’t have a care in the
world. “I like who I am. My days of trying to impress people are over.”

She didn’t buy his claim for a minute. If
he was so determined to call her out, she would do the same. “Then why did you
go to the reunion?”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” She didn’t want their day
to deteriorate, but she wouldn’t run home with her tail between her legs
without letting him know that he was no better than she was. He was letting his
past define him, the same as she was.

“I went because…”

When his voice trailed off, she said, “You
wanted to rewrite history. You wanted them to be envious, to show them you were
everything they would never be.” She couldn’t blame him. In his place, she
probably would have felt the same way.

“I guess you’re right.”

Kristen didn’t want to make him feel bad.
She believed Matt was one of the good guys, but that didn’t mean they were
right for each other. The Matt she used to know might be a much better fit for
her. He appreciated the simpler things in life. She didn’t know if she would
ever have anything in common with a sexy, uber-rich, risk-taking jet-setter.

“So where does that leave us?” she asked,
almost afraid of his answer.

“Right back where we started, I guess.”

Matt finally convinced Kristen to
spend the day with him as planned instead of going back to her office and
wasting a perfect fall day in Hill Country. He was glad she’d relented because
he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had more fun. Once the pressure was off
and she believed he was only asking for one day, she relaxed and let him see
the woman he’d known was hiding underneath her protective layers.

They talked and laughed and held hands.
They visited little antique shops, stores proudly displaying handmade artisan’s
wares, and one or two local galleries, which were often part of a café or
vintage shop. When her back was turned, he bought her a handmade turquoise and
silver bracelet she’d admired. He just had to find the perfect time to give it
to her. He would tell her it was just a reminder of their day together, but he
wanted it to be so much more than that. He wanted her to look at that bracelet
years later and smile because it made her think of their first date.

He pulled into the parking lot behind his
mother’s art gallery and cut the engine. Kristen had fallen asleep almost an
hour ago. He watched her sleep, and the slight smile curving her luscious mouth
made him reluctant to wake her. The only other place he would rather see her
fast asleep was tucked under the down duvet in his big antique bed. He still
believed that day would come. He just had to be patient. Too bad patience
wasn’t his strong suit.

Kristen stirred, opening her blue eyes
hesitantly. “Hey.” She sat up and looked out the window. “Where are we?”

“My mother’s gallery.”

She checked her watch. “It’s after eight.
She won’t be here now, will she?”

“I texted her and asked her to meet us
here.”

“Oh, I wish you hadn’t done that.” She
removed her seatbelt. “I could have stopped by tomorrow or the next day.”

“She really won’t mind, trust me.” If there
was one thing his mother could talk about all day and night, it was art.

“I hope she doesn’t live too far from
here,” Kristen said, reaching for her door handle.

Before Matt responded, he rounded the car
to meet her. “They live on the outskirts of town. It’s an old farmhouse.” He
chuckled. “My father would have preferred something newer, right on a golf
course, but my mother walked through their old place and declared it the end of
their hunt. She had to have it.”

Kristen smiled at him when he slipped an
arm around her waist. “And your father indulged her?”

“He usually does.”

“My kind of man.”

Matt tugged on her hand to pull her against
his chest and wrapped his arms around her. “Are you saying you’d like a man who
would treat you like a princess, give you anything and everything you ever
wanted, always be there for you?” He couldn’t believe he was saying those
things, especially so soon and knowing how gun-shy she was. “’Cause I just
might be your guy.”

“Matt.” She flattened her palms on his
chest. “I thought I made myself clear.”

“You can’t blame a guy for trying,” he
whispered, nuzzling her neck. Her body responded as if she was steel and he was
a magnet. She latched on, curling into him as though she never wanted to let
go. Couldn’t she see that her body and heart were sending her a message, even
if her stubborn mind seemed determined to fight it?

“You’re used to getting what you want,” she
said, curling her arms around his waist. “You like the thrill of the
challenge.”

“I like the thrill of spending time with a
woman who’s perfect for me.” She was, in every way. Matt didn’t need a woman
who was a thrill seeker or loved sports. He needed a woman who shared his
values and his vision for the future. Given his experience with marriage, he
knew that was the only thing that mattered.

“I’m not perfect for you,” she said,
tipping her head back to look up at him. “You only think I am because of some
adolescent fantasy about your dream girl.”

He dropped his hands to her waist and
forced her to acknowledge the effect she had on him. “In case you haven’t
noticed, I’m not a kid anymore. I’ve been around the block a time or two since
high school, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to never give up when
I find something worth fighting for.”

She looped her thumbs through the belt
loops of his faded designer jeans. “And you think I’m worth fighting for?”

“I do.”

“I’m afraid you’re setting yourself up for
disappointment. I’m a terrible girlfriend. I work crazy hours, including nights
and weekends. I rarely cook. Hell, even my house plants die from neglect.”

“Hmm….” He slipped a hand into her hair,
loving the way it felt gliding through his fingers. “You’re right. Maybe it
would be best if we just forgot the whole thing.” Her face fell, making him
smile. “What’s wrong? You don’t agree?”

She tried to wrestle out of his arms, but
he wouldn’t let her go. “You think this is funny?”

“No, I think it’s kind of sad if you wanna
know the truth.” No way would he let her sabotage what might turn out to be the
best thing that had ever happened to either of them. “I get that you’re scared.
You have reason to be, but that’s no excuse for checking out on life, Kris.”

“That’s not what I’m doing.”

He felt her whole body tensing, but he
wasn’t about to back down. “Isn’t it? You hide out in your office, hide behind
your work, refuse to date—”

“Who said I refuse to date?” She glared at
him.

Apparently he’d hit a nerve, which only
confirmed his suspicions. She was running scared, and he wouldn’t let her.
“Okay, when was the last time you went out with someone who really intrigued
you, someone you thought you could see a future with?”

“None of your business.”

“I rest my case.” In a perfect world, she
would have said today, but he didn’t need her to affirm their connection.

“You get off on being right, don’t you?”

He knew it may seem that way, but he had so
much more at stake than his ego. “This has nothing to do with being right or
wrong. This is about convincing someone I care about to step out of her comfort
zone and take a stab at real and lasting happiness.”

“You’re getting way ahead of yourself,
Hudson.” She stepped back, holding up her hand.

“Maybe once or twice in a lifetime you meet
someone you can’t get out of your head. Am I right?” Matt was prepared to lay
it all on the line. That may be his one and only shot to convince her they
could have something special.

“I suppose,” she said, looking skeptical.

“I think you might be my once in a
lifetime, Kris.” He reached for her, and she let him take her hands. “I don’t
say that lightly. In fact, I’ve never said it before.” They should have that
conversation months from now, when they had more history behind them, but she
clearly wasn’t willing to give him that kind of time.

“How can you say that?”

He looked into her eyes and searched for
some hint that she wanted to believe him. “You have no idea how much time I
spent thinking about you. I imagined what it would be like if things were
different.”

“Different how?”

“If I was the kind of guy you dated. If I’d
had the courage to ask you out, or even tell you that I liked you.” He’d
rehearsed that conversation with Kristen a hundred times. In his daydream,
she’d smiled sweetly and told him she liked him too, but of course, that was
just a fantasy. He finally had a chance at the real deal.

“How do you know this isn’t about your need
to right some wrong?”

“What are you talking about?” He knew he
wouldn’t like where she was going.

“I know kids who were bullied in school
often bear emotional scars,” she said, running her hands over his biceps.
“Maybe you just want a shot with me because it’ll help you get over what
happened back then.”

Matt couldn’t help but throw his head back
and laugh. “Honey, you couldn’t be more wrong. I’m happy with the ways things
turned out. I wouldn’t change a thing about my life, not even those years.
Overcoming those challenges made me a better man.” It may be tough for someone
who hadn’t walked in his shoes to believe, but it was true. Had it not been for
the bullies, he may never have found the intestinal fortitude to get back up
when life tried to knock him down.

“So wanting to date me has nothing to do
with—”

“No.” Matt didn’t need to hear it again. He
knew what she was going to say. “I want to go out with you because you’re fun
and sweet and sexy and I love the way I feel when I’m with you.” Matt’s buddies
would rake him over the coals if they could hear him. Kristen’s opinion was the
only one that mattered though. “So what do you say? Will you have dinner with
me at High Rollers tomorrow night? It’ll give you a chance to check the place
out. Maybe you’ll decide to take that job after all.”

“Let me think about it.” She took his hand
and led him around the front of the small stone building.

“You’re not saying no. I’ll take it.”

***

Kristen wandered around the small gallery.
Matt had claimed his mother kept her favorite pieces at home, but to Kristen’s
untrained eye, every piece looked more beautiful than the last.

“Your name sounds so familiar to me,” Nancy
Hudson said, falling into step behind Kristen as she moved from one piece to
the next. “Are you sure we haven’t met before?”

“I don’t think so, Mrs. Hudson,” Kristen
said, smiling.

As soon as she’d met Matt’s mother, she was
struck by her warmth and friendliness. Nancy welcomed them into her “‘humble’
home away from home,” with a hug for each of them, treating Kristen as though
she was a long-lost friend instead of the woman who’d intruded on her quiet
night at home with her husband.

“You recognize the name because we went to
high school together,” Matt said, leaning against the antique reception desk.
“I used to tutor Kris in math.”

Kristen wrinkled her nose. “Math was never
my strong suit. In fact, it still isn’t.”

Nancy laughed and patted Kristen’s forearm.
“I could say the same, my dear. It’s that right brain/left brain thing. My
husband and son are the business gurus. My youngest and I are the
free-spirited, creative ones.”

Matt rolled his eyes. “That’s what Paul
keeps telling people so he won’t have to get a real job. I’m still waiting to
see some evidence of his creativity.”

Nancy waved her hand dismissively. “Your
brother’s still young. He’ll find his way. Look at me. I was thirty-seven
before I finally decided what I wanted to be when I grew up.” Nancy asked
Kristen, “What do you do, dear?”

“I’m an event planner.”

“She’s being modest, Ma. Her company is the
most sought after in town. That’s why I’m trying to talk her into planning High
Rollers’ anniversary party.”

“You know I’d love to, but with my
assistant out of town—”

“Would it help if you had an extra pair of
hands to lighten your load?” Nancy asked, spreading her arms.

Kristen gave Nancy a quick once-over,
trying to decide if she was serious. With her long flowing skirt, colorful
hand-painted jewelry, and chic silver bob, she looked like the quintessential
artist. Kristen didn’t know if she had any experience with event planning and
couldn’t ask without sounding ungrateful. She’d learned long ago an
inexperienced assistant was often worse than no assistant at all.

“Um, that’s very sweet of you to offer,
Mrs. Hudson, but I—”

“Please call me Nancy,” she said. Her
bright blue eyes shone with amusement. “I know you must be asking yourself
whether I’m up to the challenge.”

“No, I—”

“It’s okay.” Nancy laughed. “I’d feel the
same way if someone walked in off the street and asked to apprentice with me.”

“You won’t find a more capable wing woman
than my mother,” Matt said, tongue in cheek. “You wouldn’t know it to look at
her, but her family’s so firmly planted in high society, most of them have
grown roots.”

“Oh behave yourself.” Nancy waved a
dismissive hand in Matt’s direction. “My family has a bit of a reputation in
this town, but…” She ignored Matt’s cough, masking his amusement. “That doesn’t
mean I’ve taken pleasure in big society events the way they all have.”

Kristen felt as though she was being left
out of the loop. She had no idea who Nancy’s family was or whether she would
even recognize her maiden name. “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I’m a bit confused.”

“Lancaster,” Matt said. “My granddaddy was
the mayor before he started Lancaster Funeral Homes.”

“Oh my goodness,” Kristen said. Nancy’s
family was known across the country. They had dozens of funeral homes, and to
her knowledge, the business remained in the family still. “I had no idea.”

Nancy wrinkled her nose. “I can’t say the
business ever appealed to me.” She nodded to a colorful botanical piece on the
wall. “I’d much rather celebrate life than death.”