Page 53 of Further To Fall

I shook my head but couldn’t help the small grin. Liam was a nut, but he was also the crazy person who had an inside track to Carter’s mind. I walked him through my plan for the afternoon. As I talked, his shit-eating grin got wider and wider. “She’s going to love this. I gotta admit, I’m impressed with you pulling out all the stops already.”

“I told you I was going after my girl. I’m not messing around.” And I wasn’t. It was killing me to take things as slowly as I had been, but Carter’s breakdown the night I had brought her home had shown me just how much I’d hurt her. How scared she was to fully let me back in. I needed to take things at a snail’s pace. And I could do that. I could do anything as long as it got me my Firecracker in the end.

What I didn’t want was to backtrack on any of the progress we’d made. “You sure it’s not too much? I don’t want to overdo it and send her running for the hills.”

“Are you kidding me? She’s going to love it.”

I blew out a long breath. “All right.” All I could do was trust that Liam wouldn’t steer me wrong, and send up a prayer that I wouldn’t screw this up. I glanced at my watch. “Shit, I gotta get to the gym. I have a meeting about the media day we’re doing for Eric’s fight.” I hated when we had to let the press vultures into the gym to open workouts, but they promoted the fights, so there was no way around it. The fans usually made it fun, though, keeping the energy levels up throughout the workout. This would be my first really massive media day as a coach, and I wanted to make sure all of the attention was focused on my fighter, Eric.

“Eric’s looking good. Think he’ll come out with a win?” Liam asked.

“I think there’s a real good chance. For a new fighter, he’s got some major skills. With a few more fights on the big stage, he’ll get used to the pressure and really be able to dominate his weight class.” I grabbed my wallet and keys. “Come on, all the stuff is in the garage. Just lock up when you’re done. Thanks again for helping me out, man.”

“Anytime. Good luck this afternoon. Just remember to pop a mint before you go in for the kiss!” Liam said with a chuckle.

I drilled him with a half-hearted hook to his side. “Yeah, yeah.” I slipped out my front door and into my SUV. I could do this, I was a grown-ass man, I would not bow to the pressures of a first date.

29

Carter

Ipopped the tab on my second Diet Coke of the day, and it was only noon. Monday was hitting me hard. After my terrifying Friday, the weekend had taken a turn for the better. The boys had all demanded that they spend the entire weekend with me since Taylor was out of town. Friday night, they were feeling so badly for me that I talked them into face masks and a chick flick. Saturday, I went with them to their flag football game, where Austin had proceeded to growl at any guy who spoke to me. Liam and Ford thought it was hilarious. Sunday, I cooked a massive brunch, and the boys watched sports while I graded papers. It was heaven, but I was exhausted and struggling today.

I pulled my lunch bag from the file drawer on my desk and unwrapped my sandwich. I had taken to eating in my classroom in an effort to avoid any potentially awkward run-ins with Kyle. Taylor usually joined me, but she had lunchroom duty today. A knock sounded on my door that had me sending a silent prayer heavenward that Kyle hadn’t come to search me out.

“Come in.” A dark, buzzed head appeared in the cracked door, his eyes sweeping the room. When he saw that I was alone, he opened the door fully. “What are you doing here?” I stood from my desk and crossed to Austin, wrapping my arms around his waist. His shirt was warm from the sun, and I burrowed my cheek deeper into his chest.

“I brought you some presents.”

I pulled back and saw that he was carrying a medium-sized gift bag. “I like presents.”

He shot me a devastating grin that had my lower belly clenching. “You get most of them now, but one has to wait until after our date.”

My cheeks rose as a smile spread across my own face. “Date?”

Austin gestured for me to sit back down at my desk. “Yes, I’m taking you on our first official date this afternoon. Hurry home after school, and I’ll pick you up around four. And wear something comfortable, like jeans.”

My smile got bigger. “Okay. Now, gimme.” I made grabby hands at the bag he was holding.

“Spoiled rotten, I tell you.” He reached into the bag and pulled out a Taser, pepper spray, and what looked like some sort of brass knuckles with two spikes—all of the items pink. “I thought if they looked a least a little girlie, you’d be more likely to use them.”

My jaw hung open. “What, no bazooka? Armed battalion?”

He tapped my nose. “Don’t tempt me. Just do me a favor and carry them. Put one of them in your hand when you’re walking to and from your car.”

I could see the concern in his eyes and the hard-set line of his shoulders. He was worried about me. That was about the only thing that could have gotten me to carry this ridiculous stuff. “Okay, but if I accidentally maim some poor old lady or poke my own eye out with one of those spikes, you’re paying the medical bills.”

A smile came back to Austin’s lips. “You’ve got yourself a deal. I’ve got to get back to the gym, but I’ll see you a little later.” He leaned across the desk and kissed my forehead. The contact carried with it a promise of much more to come. Tingles shot to my nipples, and I sucked in a breath.

When he pulled away, I could see heat in his eyes. As he made his way to the door, I saw Kyle peeking in through the window, but he quickly jumped back when our eyes met. I felt bad, but maybe this was for the best. If he saw me with someone else, perhaps he would finally realize that there was no chance for us. Austin turned as he reached for the doorknob, oblivious to Kyle’s spying. “Bye, beautiful.”

A blush filled my cheeks as I got out a hushed, “Bye, Austin.” He was gone, and I was a bumbling mess for the rest of the day: dropping erasers, knocking over the cup of pens on my desk. I think my students thought I was drunk.

When the last bell finally rang at 3:15 p.m., I gathered up my belongings as quickly as possible and made a beeline for home. As soon as I arrived, I tore through my room, pulling my favorite skinny jeans from my dresser and tossing shirts all around until I settled on a white eyelet blouse with ruffled sleeves that made my boobs look great. I dashed into the bathroom to freshen up my makeup and hair. The gate buzzer went off just as I finished gliding some pale pink gloss across my lips. Slipping my feet into a pair of gold sandals, I grabbed my purse.

Instead of buzzing Austin in, I simply headed out the door, being extra careful to lock it behind me. His broad frame peeked out from behind the slatted wood gate, and butterflies took flight in my belly. This was it, our first real date. Would he try to kiss me? I really hoped so. All of a sudden, all my fears came rushing back. What if I had changed, and Austin didn’t like the person I was now? What if he realized he wasn’t attracted to me after all? My hand paused on the gate’s doorknob. I didn’t know if I could go through with this.

Austin must have sensed my hesitancy because low and rumbly he said, “Open the door, Firecracker.” I gulped and did as he said. The door swung toward me, and Austin’s eyes travelled up and down my body, stalling on my breasts—thank you eyelet top—and then moved back to my face. “You look gorgeous.”

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