Page 63 of Game On

“Now you sound just like Dad.”

Carly held her breath, unsure of how Shane would react to the comment. She watched as the muscles in his back tightened briefly before he relaxed, turning his attention back to his fishing pole and the pond.

“Maybe because your dad had a point.”

“Yeah, but both of you are really great at sports and I totally suck at every one I try. I’m an epic failure.”

Shane coughed, or chuckled, she wasn’t sure. “Look, your dad, he was a freak of nature. As far as I know, most of the Devlins sucked at sports. Your dad had a gift and he used it to get as far away from the life that was his only option. Sometimes that little bit extra—like a need to escape—can make a person’s drive that much greater. I’m pretty sure it was that way for your dad.”

“If it was a fluke, then how come you can play?”

Shane didn’t bother hiding his laugh this time. “I was too stubborn to let anyone tell me I wasn’t good enough. I had something to prove.”

They were silent for a few moments, serenaded by the cicadas and the gurgle of the stream where it met the pond. Before Carly took a step, Shane spoke again. “Look, just because you aren’t an all-star in Little League or soccer or whatever, it doesn’t mean you suck at sports or anything else. You’re a good kid. Real smart and okay to have around. You can do whatever you want in life. And as long as you’re a good person and do your best, you’ll succeed.” Reaching over, he grabbed the cap off Troy’s head, ruffling his hair. Troy beamed at him as Shane replaced the cap. “Now, shut up or the fish won’t bite.”

Carly brushed away a tear and tried to control her breathing. With shaking hands, she realized the scene she’d just witnessed solidified the gnawing feeling hovering in her belly for the past few days. She was in love with Shane Devlin. Try as she might to prevent it, it had happened. Once again, she’d fallen in love with the wrong man. A man everyone—including himself—thought was incapable of love. As overjoyed as she was at Shane’s evolving relationship with Troy, she was frightened to death of her feelings for Shane. How had this happened? Was it possible he could change? Would she even want to stay and find out?

Later that night, wrapped in the cocoon of his slumbering body, Carly wanted to blurt out her feelings for him. She desperately wanted to know what his reaction would be. Lisa had been right; Shane just needed a little time to get to know Troy before realizing he could let the boy into his life. The budding relationship between the two brothers gave Carly hope of a future for her and Shane.

The only thing keeping her from telling Shane she loved him were thoughts of Maxim. The feelings she felt for Shane were different from those she’d believed she’d once felt for Max. Still, she’d poured everything she had into her relationship with him, only to have him leave her for another woman. The question keeping her awake tonight was, did she have the guts to risk being rejected again?

TWENTY

Beckett carried a three-foot stick up the slope of the hill, the kid shrieking with laughter in chase. Shane smiled as dog teased boy. He’d meant what he’d said yesterday. He was a good kid and Shane had gotten used to having him around. Sure he was a little chatty, but he was smart and some of what he said actually made sense. The red-rimmed eyes and the quivering lip had all but disappeared. Not that Shane could blame him. He’d just lost both parents, for crying out loud. But he wasn’t as much of a pain as Shane thought he would be. In fact, this week had been much more relaxed than any he could remember.

Glancing ahead, he saw the other reason this trip had been so enjoyable. Scrambling up the hillside in tight white jean shorts, Carly’s wiggling body never failed to arouse him. She laughed as Troy chased Beckett out of sight. Shane stopped beside a tree, taking in her long legs and wavy hair that felt like silk on his skin at night. As if sensing his wayward thoughts, Carly paused, peering over her shoulder to look at him questioningly.

“Come here,” he said, leaning his back against an ancient walnut tree.

She hesitated, looking ahead to where dog and boy had disappeared. With a sly grin she turned and jogged back down the hill, careening into him at the last minute. He wrapped her in his arms as her body came in contact with his.

Shane took her mouth in a hungry kiss. She responded immediately, pulling her body in closer, allowing him greater access to her mouth. Christ, did she realize how much he needed her? How often thoughts of being with her consumed his day? It was a feeling that should have burned out by now or at least cooled. Instead, his desire for Carly seemed to grow stronger each time he touched her.

He was well aware she’d stayed to make sure the kid was okay, but he also knew the other reason she’d stayed. Her body came alive beneath his hands and it seemed to trigger a corresponding urgency within him. When he was inside her, he felt something he’d never felt before. Something undefined, but . . . good. Damn good. He loved being inside of her. In fact, he loved everything about her.

Holy crap, where had that come from?

Shane pulled out of the kiss, staring down at Carly’s face. Her breathing was labored and her eyes took a minute to focus, but when she finally looked up at him, his gut clenched.

“Shane, I . . .” she said, still breathless.

“Hey, you guys! Someone’s here!” Troy’s voice carried down the hill.

Carly bit her lip, pulling out of the embrace. Shane stared at her a moment longer, trying to harness feelings that seemed to be pulling him in a direction he’d never been before. This was getting complicated. He needed to think.

“You guys!” Troy called again, Beckett barking happily in the background.

“We’re coming,” Shane answered. He looked again at Carly, but the look he thought he’d seen was gone. “You’d better lead the way. It’s probably a Girl Scout selling cookies and I’m likely to scare the hell out of her in my current state.” Laughing, she grabbed his hand, tugging him up the hill. The position gave him an excellent view of her shorts. “On second thought, you’d better walk next to me,” he said with a groan as he pulled up beside her.

If the sounds of toddlers squealing didn’t calm his aroused state, the sight of a black Jeep Cherokee parked in the circular driveway did.

“Shit,” Shane mumbled, spying Roscoe sitting on the long wooden front steps of the cabin. Carly had obviously seen him first, quickly slipping her hand from his in response to Roscoe’s angry glare.

Beckett barked while the kid chased one of the twins across the lawn as Roscoe’s wife, Tiffany, chased the other. “Beckett won’t hurt you,” the kid said, not realizing that to the twins, having someone chase them was their favorite game. Carly stopped well short of the front steps, pretending to take in the chaos.

“I thought that at least she’d have more sense.” Roscoe didn’t wait for them to get inside before voicing his disapproval.

“Leave her out of it,” Shane said, stomping up to the porch steps.

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