Page 27 of Game On

“I’m fine.” Her battle cry for the past hour. She gave him another one of those fake grins she’d given to her sister and Coach. The darkness of the car’s interior obscured her eyes. He desperately wanted to know if she was really okay.

“Let’s just go home,” she said. With a sigh, he started the car. He slid in a jazz CD and Carly once again rested her head against the seatback. She seemed content to just be in the car with him. He was astounded at how well she was taking the events of the past hour. Most women he knew would be hysterical by now, but not Carly. Growing up in a media fishbowl had obviously toughened her up. It was almost as if she were resigned to her fate. The thought made Shane’s gut clench.

Braking for a red light, he looked over at her again. She was still leaning against the headrest, but her eyes were open and she was staring at him.

“Thank you,” she said.

“We’re not there yet. Don’t thank me until you’ve arrived at your door in one piece.”

Her lips curved into a soft smile as she gently shook her head from side to side.

“No. Thank you for earlier. For, you know, dealing with Joel.”

Shane swallowed. God, she made it sound so simple. As if guys tried to force themselves on her and she needed rescuing all the time. His fists clenched more tightly on the steering wheel until his knuckles were white.

“Don’t mention it. I have a reputation as a brawler, remember?” he quipped.

Gnawing on her bottom lip, she reached over to lightly caress his right hand where it rested on the steering wheel. He flinched as she grazed a bruised knuckle.

“Does it hurt?” she asked, quickly pulling her hand away. He hadn’t flinched from pain, but he didn’t bother telling her that. This was getting complicated. The sooner he got her home and got the hell away, the better. He needed his familiar safety net of isolation.

“No,” he said as he lifted the bruised hand and flexed it.

“Hank won’t sleep a wink until a trainer looks at it on Monday.”

“It’ll be fine by then. Don’t worry.”

The light turned green and Shane focused his attention back on the road. The only sounds in the car were the purr of the engine and John Legend’s piano. His plans for a quick getaway evaporated as they reached her town house. She hadn’t bothered to leave a light on. Silently, she sat staring at her front door. Shane would be a heel to let her go in alone after the night she’d had. Not to mention the coach would have his balls if he did. Getting out of the car, he walked around to help her out of the passenger side. She didn’t say a word as he reached in the back to take out a foam container. Gently, he guided her up the steps and stood as she unlocked the door. Her hand didn’t shake, which he supposed was a good sign. Turning on lights as he went, he guided her into the house. When he walked into the kitchen, he carefully placed the container on the counter. He turned to find Carly standing directly behind him, one hand still clutching the lapels of his jacket around her neck. She looked calmer, more like herself, here in the light of her kitchen. Definitely a good sign.

“What’s in there?” she asked, gesturing to the container.

“Ahh,” he said, pleased with himself. “Dessert to go.”

He opened the container to reveal a perfect slice of chocolate mousse cheesecake, complete with whipped cream and a raspberry on top. Carly’s face lit up. A man can never go wrong giving a woman chocolate.

“Where did you get that?”

“I had the waiter box up your piece while I was getting the car. You seemed so excited about the dessert when you were talking with your nieces; I didn’t want you to miss it.” Shane also wanted to erase the look of vulnerability he’d seen on her face when he’d come upon Joel mauling her in the hallway. He was still coming to terms with the scene himself, and he could only imagine how Carly felt. No woman should ever have to go through what she’d endured earlier. Shane didn’t regret punching the little prick. He’d have done it for any woman. The fact that it was Carly getting attacked didn’t make his reaction any more intense. At least that was what he was telling himself.

“You didn’t bring yourself a piece?” she asked. “I suppose I could be persuaded to share. After all, you did beat up a guy for me earlier.” He absently rubbed at his chest in reaction to the pleasure flickering in her eyes. Despite everything that had happened this evening, the attraction between them still hummed. Common sense dictated that he leave her safely tucked away in her home with her dessert and get the hell out of Dodge.

“In that case, bring on the forks.” Apparently, he’d left his common sense out in the car. Taking a seat on the bar stool at the end of the counter, he watched as she bustled around the kitchen, transferring the cake to a plate and grabbing two forks. She pulled two mugs from a cabinet.

“Would you like some coffee? It’s decaf.”

Hell no! He needed a stiff drink after the night he’d had. “Sure,” he said instead.

She filled the carafe and turned on the brewer, then reached into the freezer and pulled out an ice pack.

“Here, put this on your hand. I’m just going to clean up a little while the coffee brews.” She slipped out of his jacket and laid it carefully on the other bar stool. Shane’s breath hissed as he saw the mark Thompkins had left on her neck. She followed his gaze and reached up to rub the spot.

“It doesn’t hurt,” she said. “Lisa must have put a whole tube of antibiotic cream on it.” She disappeared upstairs somewhere as Shane unclipped his cuff links and rolled up his sleeves. As he looked around for a TV remote, he put the ice pack on his battered hand. Although given the way his body was reacting to Carly, he’d be smart to put it somewhere else. Of course, if Shane were really smart, he wouldn’t be sitting in her kitchen.

Carly brushed her teeth for a full five minutes. Lisa had cleaned and disinfected the bruise Joel left on her neck while they were waiting for the police. But now Carly needed to get the taste of him out of her mouth. She really should take a shower and crawl into bed, but Lisa had been right, Carly didn’t want to be alone. Shane Devlin was the last person she should be alone with, but her family was still at the gala. Certainly she could have a cup of coffee with the man without losing her head. Unclipping her hair, she brushed it out, removing the heavy sapphire dangle earrings as she went. She decided to leave the dress on. Shane was still in his tux, after all.

It looked like Shane had no trouble locating the remote to her TV because he was watching SportsCenter when she came downstairs. When he saw her, he changed the channel to the cable company’s jazz station. Pouring them each a cup of coffee, she took a seat on the opposite bar stool.

“Well, at least he didn’t tear your dress,” Shane said out of nowhere.

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