Catching Her Heart Read online

  Who in their right mind would ever guess that Dean’s Ashley is my Ashley?

  “Did you love him?” I ask, and she starts. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “It’s okay. You caught me off-guard,” she says, flashing a rueful smile. “Yes, I did love him. We met our sophomore year of college, when I was tutoring student athletes. He tried to tutor me about football, but I never really got into it. That should have been our first clue. My second clue was when we broke up after he started playing for the Renegades—he said he couldn’t focus on our relationship and the game. He also insisted there wasn’t another woman and I believed him—still do. Football is his mistress. I guess things could have been worse and because he’d been so sweet and seemingly torn up about it... when he started coming back around, admitting he made a mistake, I let him back in.”

  I can see it perfectly—a guy like Dean meeting a pretty, smart coed like Ashley and snatching her up before anyone else has the chance. Hell, I would have, too. Then later breaking things off with her because he doesn’t have time and is all upfront about it, like a fucking gentleman or something.

  “Was he your first serious boyfriend?”

  “Yes. I have two older brothers. Growing up, boys tended to stay away from me.” She laughs. “For some reason, they liked breathing out of their noses and mouths.”

  The tension that had built up around us slowly starts to recede, like the tide going out to sea. “Yeah, I like breathing like that, too. I’m the youngest of five. Only boy.”

  I pull into her driveway and park my truck, then turn to her.

  “I bet you were so spoiled,” she says.

  “If by spoiled you mean experimented on with makeup and nail-polish, then yes. Although, I did learn I’m more of a summer instead of a fall, which helped me decide who I would play for, solely based on how good the color of the uniforms complimented my skin tone,” I deadpan.

  She snorts, then lets out a full-body laugh. “Stop it. Right now. You can’t end our date this funny.”

  “Should I end it sadly? I can tell you about the time I was fourteen and all four of my sisters pinned me to the floor and waxed one of my legs to see how bad it would hurt them.”

  Ashley laughs even harder, her arms wrapping around her middle as she bends over. “I mean it,” she wheezes. “I’m going to pee on myself if you don’t stop.”

  “Or I can tell you about the time they blackmailed me with pictures of playing dolls with them, so they could use my room to sneak out at night. Except somehow, one of those pictures,” I make air quotes, “accidentally got published in the high school yearbook on my senior ad page, with the message, ‘Congrats to our baby sister, Ryana.’”

  Tears stream down her face, her sexy dimples on full display. She can barely speak. “No. More. Please.”

  Taking pity on her, I keep the rest of my family memories to myself. “Thanks for going out with me tonight.”

  As her laughter subsides, the expression on her face turns serious. “It was fun. I had a really wonderful time.” She reaches to open the passenger side door.

  “Don’t move,” I order, throwing my own door open and jumping out.

  I stride to the other side of my truck and open her door, holding out my hand for her to take. Once her small hand slips into mine, heat arcs between us. I feel it all the way to my groin as we walk to her front porch.

  But lust and heat aren’t all I feel. I feel a surge of... guilt for making her go out with me. Especially after I discovered why she avoids men like me.

  “Thank you,” she says, once we stop. She cocks her head to one side, auburn strands falling over one shoulder. “So...”

  This is extremely awkward. I have to do something before things get worse. “I think we should take Gunner and Bluebelle to Beauregard’s next Friday, around eight in the morning, before it gets too hot. Are you free?” That isn’t what I meant to say. I was supposed to say something along the lines of ‘This was nice, but I was an idiot to blackmail you.’

  “Absolutely.” She beams at me, her smile so bright I don’t need a porch light to see it. “Bluebelle would love to see Gunner on Friday.”

  I feel her hand move, but not away; in fact, she takes my other hand in hers, making her purse slip to her elbow.

  “Ashley, I’m not sure what this is supposed to mean,” I say roughly.

  She rises on her tiptoes, then lightly kisses me on the mouth. It rocks my entire body. “What do you think it means?

  Chapter 10

  Ashley

  Body vibrating in anticipation, I wait for his response. I know what I want him to say, but I can’t tell him, not really. When it comes to sex, I have never been one to be vocal about what I want and my experience is severely limited, but I don’t want to keep being that woman who waits for life to happen to her. I want to be the woman who makes life happen for her.

  His forehead drops to mine. “You are a beautiful, sexy-as-hell woman, but—”

  I physically recoil from him. “You just want to be friends. Or you just want our dogs to be friends. I get it. No problem, really.”

  He grabs my chin. “Let me finish.”

  “Okay,” I whisper.

  “You are a beautiful, sexy-as-hell woman, but I don’t want you to sleep with me just because you think I’m expecting it. I already made the donation in your brother’s name. After tonight, you don’t have to see me again, not even for Bluebelle and Gunner’s sakes.”

  “You did? I don’t?”

  This time, he looks away from me and lets go of my chin and hand. “Yeah, while you were in the ladies’ room during dinner; I called my accountant and gave him the details.”

  Something inside of me shifts. I want to spend more time with Ryan, more than just a dog park or another date. I want to spend more time with him tonight. It doesn’t matter that he plays football for a living. He isn’t Dean.

  “Why don’t you come inside for a little while? I say as I hurry to unlock the door. “I have snacks, beer, and every sports channel known to man.”

  “I thought you weren’t into sports,” he says, and I glance over my shoulder.

  “I’m not. I have brothers who are single, and my television is bigger than theirs,” I say with a little smile. “During football season, they spend every Sunday here.”

  He grunts. “I guess that’s reasonable.”

  After punching in the code to turn off my alarm, I step inside and Ryan follows me, closing the door behind him. “You’re still thinking about me stalking football players, aren’t you?”

  “Not until you reminded me.” He grimaces.

  Now he sounds like a jock, with his grunts and grimaces. I sigh. “Make yourself at home while I grab us some drinks.”

  Hurrying to the kitchen, I sling my purse over a dining room chair and check my reflection in the mirror. My hair looks good, but my makeup could use a little work.

  “Beer, water, iced tea, or soda?” I call.

  “Tea would be great.”

  Bluebelle bounds over to me, tail wagging like crazy. “Did you see who was here?” I ask the dog. “Or do you want to go outside first?”

  Bluebelle goes to the door, then turns around twice.

  “Outside it is,” I murmur, opening the door.

  Bluebelle runs out, spots something in one of my flower beds, and starts stalking it. With a smile, I close the door. As quickly as I can with trembling hands, I fix two glasses of tea and then move to the living room.

  Ryan sits on the sofa, ankle on his opposite knee and remote in his hand. Despite his size, he looks like he belongs here.

  Then again, I purposefully bought oversized furniture.

  My brothers and dad are all tall men with wide shoulders and long legs. I love having everyone over. My family talks and eats and laughs while we share our weeks. When it’s time for the guys to watch the game, my momma and I sit on the back porch and put on a movie.

  Maybe Ryan will like it out there?
/>   “Hey,” I say, and he glances up. “Would you like to go out on my back porch, instead of sitting in here?”

  “Sure.” He gets to his feet, then moves close enough to take his drink from me.

  “It’s my favorite part of the house,” I say as we make our way to the back of my house. “It’s practically another room, just outside. There’s a fire pit and everything.”

  I’m babbling while he says nothing. Maybe I should have said good night instead of inviting him. Opening the door, I step outside.

  “Nice view,” he says.

  Over the tops of the trees, the Raleigh skyline rises. “I like being so close to the city, but far enough away that it feels like I’m in the country.”

  “Your yard is huge. Big enough to play a pickup game,” he says. “Maybe I should buy a place out here.”

  My heart beats out a funny rhythm at the thought of Ryan becoming my neighbor. “I plan on putting a pool in, but I can’t decide where exactly, because I’d have to remove a few trees,” I say, sinking down on the outdoor loveseat.

  Ryan stands there for a moment before joining me. “If you put in a pool, you’ll lose most of your yard.”

  “That’s the other reason I’m taking so long. I’m still weighing the pros and cons,” I say, laughing.

  His thigh brushes mine, and I hear him suck in a breath. Leaning forward, I set my glass down. Turning toward him, I tuck my legs beside me. The movement brings us closer together.

  I bring one arm up along the back of the couch, then prop my head in my hand. “You’re not drinking your tea,” I point out.

  He glances from his drink to me. “I’m still weighing the pros and cons.”

  “Of drinking tea?”

  Carefully he sets his glass beside mine, then scoots closer. “No, not that.” He runs his fingers along the side of my neck, and then slides them behind my head. “This.”

  He kisses me. Unlike before, Ryan doesn’t give me time to get used to the thought of kissing him.

  Oh, no.

  This time, he takes possession of my mouth by slanting his over mine. He nibbles on my bottom lip, sucks on it until I gasp, and then teases the corners of my mouth. There’s nothing hurried in his movements, just firm insistence.

  Devastating.

  He tastes so good. Decadent, like my favorite chocolate dessert. His lips are soft, full, and firm. My entire body tingles from only the press of our flesh. I’m on fire for him. Desire burning bright and hot as he pushes me past the point of insane for more.

  Breaking our kiss, he whispers, “Open for me, sweetness.”

  Only, he doesn’t just mean my mouth, because his hand is on my thigh and starting to glide up and up, to where I am hot and needy.

  Aching.

  And only he can end it.

  He pushes up the material of my dress until it bunches around my waist. I feel myself falling before realizing I’m not falling at all. Ryan’s pulling me under him, settling his erection right against my core and rocking.

  Grinding.

  “Oh God,” I moan, stars sparking behind my eyelids.

  “Stay with me,” he murmurs into my ear, then nibbles on it.

  I nearly come off the love seat. “Holy crap.”

  He smiles against my skin. “Let’s see what else you like, firecracker?”

  “All right,” I say, my heart pounding.

  One of his big hands comes up behind my knee and then coasts up my thigh, traveling a route that has his fingers at the edge of my lace panties before I know it.

  I tilt my hips up to get closer, and he laughs low in his throat. Slowly, torturously, he works his fingers under the material of my panties.

  A harsh groan leaves him as soon as he touches the most intimate part of me. “Ah, hell, sweetness. I didn’t know you’d be so damn wet.”

  My hips start to move against him without my permission, but there’s no way I’ll stop. “I can’t help it. You made me like this.”

  “That’s what a man likes to hear.” The tip of his finger enters me before he pushes all the way down to the knuckle. I can feel the rest of his fingers as they brush against me. Involuntarily, my inner muscles clench. “And that’s what a man likes to feel. Damn, baby.”

  I seek his mouth again, all at once shy and bold. Another finger enters me and my head falls back. He licks his way up my throat, then nuzzles my shoulder.

  “That’s it. Show me what you look like when you come,” he says, thrusting his fingers harder and faster. His thumb brushes my clit.

  “Ryan,” I cry out, and he does it again.

  His fingers seem to curl and uncurl inside of me, and I nearly come undone. “Found your sweet spot,” he says triumphantly, like making me wild is his ultimate goal. His number-one play.

  I dig my fingers into his wide shoulders, wishing his shirt were off and my bare breasts were pressed against his chest. With that in mind, I began to shove up his shirt, but he grabs my wrist.

  “Not happening, sweetness. I have to keep something between us, because I’m not prepared,” he says. “I can’t be inside of you tonight.”

  “But you’re already inside of me,” I point out.

  “Yeah, and it feels fucking amazing.” He pins my wrist against the cushions. “Ready for more?”

  All I can do is nod in agreement and surrender my body to him.

  His dark eyes glitter, and his face is all harsh planes. Then he begins to move again, his fingers curling and twisting inside of me while his thumb continues to lightly brush my clit.

  He pushes and pushes, not giving me time to recover from each thrust and brush. Suddenly, my body shatters and I bite down on my lip to keep from screaming.

  “Beautiful. So damn beautiful,” he says softly. His fingers continue to stroke me, his thumb circling my clit.

  A new wave of pleasure rocks my body. “Ryan,” I choke out, my eyes closing tight.

  “I know... let it come to you. I’m here for you.” His voice is dark and promises more pleasure than I can imagine. “You tell me when to stop, gorgeous.”

  “Please stop,” I say moments later after coming for the third or fourth time. “I can’t...”

  His fingers leave her, and he makes a humming sound. “Tastes good, baby.” Did he lick his fingers? The thought makes me even hotter, and I whimper. “Next time, I’m going to put my mouth on you and drink down every drop.”

  Oh yeah, he licked them. Dazed, I can only lay helpless in his arms as he kisses me and holds me close. I can feel his erection, hot and huge against me.

  “I can take care of you, too,” I whisper, struggling to open my eyes.

  He kisses my eyes close. “All about you, sweetness. All about you.”

  Chapter 11

  Ryan

  I repeatedly do burnouts, like a man on a mission. My mission—to work off the amped-up sexual frustration I am currently experiencing until my arms and legs can’t support my weight.

  Last night with Ashley was totally worth putting my needs and wants second to hers. She felt so damn good lying in my arms, and it felt so right while we talked about our families.

  When I finally made myself leave, she gave me the sweetest good night kiss I’ve ever had, almost as if she couldn’t believe what happened between us, or the fact I didn’t expect anything in return.

  I have a feeling she isn’t used to that. She can’t be used to that with Dean Clark as her ex.

  The selfish bastard.

  Then again, I’m not used to a woman like Ashley. Hell, I don’t know exactly what I’m doing with her. Sure, I’m attracted to her. And I enjoy spending time with her. I know she could be the one for me... but beyond that, I haven’t allowed myself to think that far ahead.

  Ashley, even without her asshole of an ex, strikes me as the type of woman who wants more than just a couple of dates. Well, more than a couple of dates with a football player.

  My arms give out, and the weights crash to the floor.

  “What did the
weights do to you, man?” Dallas asks.

  “Nothing. Just got a lot on my mind.”

  “I heard you were thinking about leaving.”

  Damn locker room gossips. “You did? Huh. Maybe you can tell me what I’m thinking right now.”

  “That it’s a pretty sweet deal to be a free agent.”

  As a free agent, I can keep playing for the Renegades while considering other contracts. The Patriots have been courting me. Hard. “There are pros and cons to it. You thinking about joining the dark side?”

  “Maybe.”

  That’s Dallas. Always poking his nose into everything while keeping his cards close to the vest.

  “Let me know if you want to talk sometime.”

  Dallas nods before resuming doing crunches. “Later, Turner.”

  “Later.” I make my way to the shower room, passing a few reporters on the way.

  “Heard there’s a new woman you’ve been seeing,” one calls out to me.

  “Considering women make up fifty-one percent of the population, the odds are in both our favors that happened.”

  The reporters laugh, and I flash them my signature smile so they can get a photo or two.

  Usually, my humor keeps them happy. I give just enough so they can spin it, but not enough to have substance. Despite the popularity of the franchise in the city, the Carolina Panthers get more coverage, but nothing gets local papers going like a political scandal.

  Nothing gets me going like thinking about that firecracker of a redhead I had in my arms last night. I have to hear her voice. I have to see her again and convince her that we need more than two dates.

  After I shower and change, I head out to my truck and wait until I’m on 540 before I call her.

  “Hey, what’s up?” Her sweet voice sounds a little out of breath.

  “Is this a good time?”

  “Not really.”

  “You sound winded.”

  “I’m just out of breath from chasing Bluebelle all over the yard,” she says.

  I smile. “What did she do?”