Page 77 of Putting Out
“You’re not going to just show up. You’re not going to be the human-interest story. You’re going to compete!”
“I’m going to compete,” she repeated. “I’m going to compete.”
“Compete hell!” Kenny shouted. “Go win.”
Win. The word resonated in her head and settled in her heart. It was a word she knew so well for so long, but somewhere along the way it had lost its meaning.
Win.
She picked up her driver and took another ball and tee from Kenny. More crackle sounded from the walkie-talkie.
“If you two child-dren are done playing around could we pul-leeze get back to work?”
Reilly had no problem complying with orders. She reared back and let the club go, secure in her swing. She watched the ball reach for the sky and fall just beyond the three-hundred-yard marker.
Just like the next one did. And the next one. And the one after that.
* * *
She was so beautiful.So beautiful it almost hurt to watch her. The way she swung the club with such synchronicity of motion. A pure athlete. He’d always had a thing for pure athletes.
Her brother turned his way and so he took a step back into the woods. He wasn’t alone out here. There were others watching her work.
So perfect. So beautiful. It made sense she belonged to him. It would be easier if she didn’t play, but he didn’t feel she was taking his signs seriously. It wouldn’t stop him. It was just another obstacle. He’d already succeeded in manipulating another obstacle to his advantage. What was one more?
Still, it would be so much easier if she didn’t play. If she left behind her entourage, he could talk to her one on one. Convince her what they had was special.
Maybe one more try to scare her off. One more signal to let her know he would love her forever.
He lowered the binoculars he’d used to get closer to her, took a deep breath and let it out slowly, her name floating away on the breeze.
“Reilly.”
