Page 20 of Playing for Keeps
She wanted to run a bakery. Justin dug his hands in his pockets and smiled thinking of her. She wouldbe perfect for that. But then she listened to everything he’d said too. She had him talking about the Major League, the fear that gripped him at each game that was secretly a tryout.
Meeting her brought out a boldness in him he’d never had before. If she asked a question, he answered. It was almost as if it were impossible to hold anything back. Even in the dark, she’d looked at him as if everything he said mattered. As if he mattered.
Justin leaned against the rail of the pole barn and pulled out his phone. The bright light stung his eyes as he checked the time. She was supposed to meet him in five minutes. He hadn’t even gotten her number the night before. If he had, he would have called the meeting off. He couldn’t stand the idea of her waiting out here alone—that’s the only reason he didn’t tuck tail and abandon this crazy plan right now. Caroline Taylor! Of all the people to sneak around and meet with in the dark.
If they were caught tonight, Justin might as well say goodbye to life as he knew it. Mr. Taylor was sure to call someone in a uniform to haul him away. He’d never let him see the light of day if he caught Justin with his daughter.
And with good reason. Secretly meeting after dark was the way most bad decisions started. Justin had taken the wrong road plenty of times, but this didn’t feel like one of them.
The low hum of a car engine rose over the hill just as the headlights lit a path on the grass. Strangely, instead of increasing his fear, there was only a release. She was almost here. He eased farther into the shadows, not wanting to get caught in the headlights. At least she’d been smart enough to drive instead of wandering around at night on foot. He’d known her for all of twenty-four hours, and he was already worrying about her.
That never happened. Justin kept to himself, and everyone left him alone. It was the way things had always been and the way he liked it. If no one looked too closely, they couldn’t see the bruises.
No one wanted to see that. In fact, they turned away when the evidence stared them in the face. He’d been a helpless kid at one time, but not anymore. Chuck had always wanted to fight, but now that Justin was twenty years old, it had only taken one knock out to make his dad back off.
Justin flexed his fingers, his knuckles still slightly swollen and bruised. It was a step up from a mark on his face though. Still, until he got out of his dad’s house, he was a walking billboard for dysfunctional families.
Asking Caroline to meet him was far too risky. She’d find out one little thing about what went on at the ranch next to hers and she’d run away like everyone else with half a brain. The McKinnonsweren’t known for being the best neighbors… or anything good.
The silver car stopped in front of the barn as lightning snaked through the clouds. A low rumble of thunder followed the flash.
The passenger door opened, and Caroline stepped out. Even covered in darkness, he knew her movements and mannerisms. He’d memorized how she ducked her head with a smile, used her middle finger to swipe a lock of hair behind her ears, and walked with one foot in front of the other in a straight line. It had taken one evening to brand everything about her into his memory.
And he wanted more. He wanted the scraps from her table and the passing glances. He wanted every single inch of her because, for the first time, he felt like he mattered—because she acted like he did.
Caroline closed the door, and the car started moving again, leaving them alone. She’d had someone bring her? Not good. Who had she told about them? Rumors would spread, and they’d be in trouble before they’ve even had a chance to figure this out.
Yep. This was a bad idea. It had disaster written all over it.
Caroline grabbed the lapels of her coat and wrapped it tighter around her as she jogged toward the barn. The clouds flashed again, lighting her upas she came to him. She was a vision. He stayed leaning against the pole, loving how she watched him with every step bringing her closer.
Intermittent pings of rain hit the rusted tin roof as she stood toe-to-toe with him. Even in the darkness, he could make out her infectious smile.
“Hey, stranger,” she whispered, practically glowing with joy.
Justin shook his head. “What are you doing here?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Well, this mysterious man kissed me last night, and he has this strong, silent-type vibe going on.” Her arms started waving as she told the story, fueling the drama of her tale. His cheeks pulled into a smile.
“Anyway, it turns out he’s my neighbor’s son, and our parents hate each other.”
Her delicate hands landed on his chest and slowly snaked their way to his shoulders. Then his neck.
Shoot, he was in trouble. He fisted his hands in his coat pocket.
She inched closer, lifting her chin until they were nose to nose. “That means any kind of relationship between us would be absolutelyforbidden.”
Justin swallowed hard as his hands took on a mind of their own and slid over her waist. The sweet smell of vanilla mixed with the pine and rain in theair tingled in his nose as he whispered, “That’s quite a story.”
“I know! It’s wild.” A girlish giggle bubbled out of her as she bounced on her toes. “What areyoudoing here?”
Justin’s arms wound tighter around her, pulling her to him as if she were the only source of water in an endless desert. “Breaking all the rules with a woman I met last night.”
Her cute little brows inched closer together. “You know, you only kissed me that one time.”
A chuckle broke free before he could stop it. “Are you complaining?”
“Kinda,” she answered honestly.
