Catching the Pass (Football Fantasies) (3 page)

Chapter Four

Maggie bent over, hands on knees, as she stood gasping for breath.  They’d sprinted the last quarter mile and he’d won again, beating her by a good five seconds, at least.

The last month of runs and workouts had proven that Jennings might’ve had a bum knee, but he’d definitely kept himself in tip-top shape over the last decade.  He’d pushed her to extremes, and not just in the training department.  His quiet charisma was comfortable.  Running through the beautiful wooded countryside every morning had been relaxing even though they were working hard.  There was something about watching the new dawn each morning, the sun coming up through the trees, and the solitude of the land and the man at her side.

Jennings still didn’t talk much, but when he did say something, there was weight to it.  He measured his words carefully, sometimes thinking long moments before uttering a single one.  At first, she’d wondered if he was another dense-headed jock.  He was far from it.  The man was incredibly intelligent, just thoughtful.

And he was unlike any man she’d ever met.  As she watched him push his body to extremes she’d seen few go, she’d gotten to respect his work ethic and his stillness. 

Maggie was his polar opposite.  Her nervous energy was constantly on the go, her words coming out unfettered at times, before she had a chance to let her mind think about what it was she was saying.  Yet in his presence, she’d found a peace she’d never experienced.  She liked it.  Too much. 

She found a seat on his porch and let the air work back into her screaming lungs and cast a glance his way.  Jennings had pulled off his t-shirt as usual and was using it to mop his brow.  Maggie had sort of gotten used to the sight.  Oh, who was she fibbing to?  She looked forward to seeing him half naked as often as possible.  The man was like one big muscle, moving with a grace and speed she’d yet to see in a man so big.  Why anyone hadn’t seen the potential he had for receiving, she’d never know.

“What’s on the agenda today?” Jennings asked before taking a few gulps from his water bottle.

“Some weight training.  Then after lunch, we’ll do some Pilates.  Oh, and Rhett has agreed to meet us tomorrow afternoon at the high school field to throw to you.  He’s only here for two days before he and Taylor head out for some r&r before the big game.  We need to see how good you are at catching the pass, though, and who better than one of the best QBs in the NFL?”

Jennings nodded, taking another drink, his stare intent on her.  When he looked at her like that, her skin tingled.  The past few weeks of those looks had made her breathless in another way.  She wanted Jennings more than she’d never experienced. 

A month later and she still wasn’t quite sure how to read the man.

“So what do you do around this place for fun?” she asked.

“Dixon is close.  There’s a bowling alley, a small theater, and a sports bar that’s more honky tonk than anything.”

“Do they dance there?” she asked, excited.  After a month, it was time for her to get out and let her hair down a little.  It couldn’t hurt Jennings, either.

“Depends on the band,” Jennings answered.  “If they have one.”

“I think we need a field trip to blow off some steam.  As long as we only have a drink or two, we shouldn’t be too bad.  What do you think?”

Jennings just stared at her for a moment.  “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“Why not?  We’ve been cooped up in this house for weeks.”

Jennings shrugged.  “We go out on a run every morning.  And we hit the grocery store once a week.”

“Are you ashamed to be seen with me, Jennings Ashby?”

Jennings didn’t show an ounce of emotion, but his face did color a little.  “No.”

“Then let’s go have a beer, dance a two-step if they’ll let us, and have some fun,” Maggie said.  The thought of his hands on her while they danced almost made her shiver.

Jennings drained the last of his water.  “If we must.”

* * * *

Jennings stood by the front door, waiting for Maggie to come down.  He made sure to wear his new boots and his best shirt, though his jeans were pretty worn.  They were comfortable and since he wasn’t comfortable taking her out, then part of him needed to be.  He’d worked hard to keep the line in the sand drawn thickly.  Theirs was a professional relationship, but his patience was being tested at every moment.

Running beside her every morning and seeing her body in action was a tease.  Feeling her hands on him when she stretched his muscles was taunting him into madness.  When she helped him get into position during Pilates or yoga, he wanted to roll her over and pin her down under him. 

Jennings was a gentleman.  If his mother and father knew what was going on in his head, they’d kick his ass up and down the rural highway that separated their houses, because he was feeling anything but gentlemanly in Maggie’s presence.

The floorboards creaked in his old farmhouse as she approached the stairs.  He lost the ability to breathe as he watched Maggie descend. 

She was wearing a little black dress, her hair unbound for the first time in his presence.  Curling waves of chestnut hair spread around her shoulders.  Jennings wanted to draw his fingers through the strands as he kissed those full lips of hers senseless.  As she approached, he was fairly sure she wore little to no makeup.  She was beautiful enough without it, and he was glad to see her nearly natural. 

But that was the way she was. 

There was no artifice about her.  In his experience, women like her were high maintenance and fake.  Not Maggie.  What you saw was what you got—a beautiful ball of nervous energy who sometimes talked too much.  Luckily he loved the lyrical sound of her voice, and even if she talked too much, it all sounded good to him.

When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she smiled.  “Do I look okay for this little honky tonk?”

You look too good for that little honky tonk
.  “You look fine.”

“Fine?  I was hoping for a little better than fine,” she said, obviously fishing a little for a compliment. 

Jennings wasn’t sure if he should let her hook him.  If he opened up, the truth would come spilling out.  “You look … good.”

Maggie frowned and lifted a foot to adjust the black heels on her feet.  They added at least five inches to her nearly six-foot height and brought her closer to kissing distance.  Kissing distance?  He needed to get thoughts like that out of his head.

Her scent hit him then.  A perfume she’d never worn before mingled with her own fragrance and made him clench his fists to prevent him from grabbing her then and there.  Jennings wanted to nuzzle against her neck, just under her ear, and inhale the smell deep in his lungs, all while pulling her close against his hard body.

Instead he opened the door for her and let her pass, that perfume tickling his nose as she sauntered past.

And saunter she did.  Those heels made her body sway in an alluring way.  Her perfect, round ass tempted him as she walked to his truck ahead of him.  Jennings opened the door for her and helped her up, the touch of her fingers on his electrifying.

Inside his truck it was worse.  He was trapped inside with her so close, yet so far away, her smell taunting him.  Jennings began to count the county mile markers, trying to avoid thinking about her and how much he wanted to touch her. 

He’d seen her legs in running shorts, but somehow it was different with her in a dress, those fuck me heels doing incredible things to her calves.  Jennings wanted to trace the curves of her body, starting at those calves.

Maggie crossed her legs as he watched.  He lifted his gaze to the road and had to correct his path as he was nearing the edge of the road.

A month now she’d entranced him, pulling him into her web.  Tonight she was going for the kill.  She’d seduced him without ever trying, her feminine wiles calling to the male in him.

“So how far is this place we’re going?” she asked, the pitch to her voice a little higher than normal.  Did she sense how desperately he wanted her?

Jennings let his heartbeat calm a little before answering.  “Not far.”

“And you said they don’t dance at all there?”

“No.  It depends on the band,” he answered.

“Will there be a lot of people?” she asked, the beginning of another of her rounds of twenty questions.

“We’ll have to wait ‘til we get there and see.”

Maggie was quiet a moment.  “Getting information out of you is like pulling teeth, I swear.  It’s exhausting.”

Jennings grinned inwardly.  “You ask, I answer.”

“With as little detail as possible,” she responded.  “I had figured you would’ve opened up a little more by now.”

He shrugged, knowing he couldn’t open up to her, unless he was ready to see where it would land them.

The rest of the ride was quiet.  Too quiet, even for him.  He could almost hear the wheels moving in Maggie’s head and for some reason, that didn’t seem to bode well for the night to come.

Chapter Five

Maggie walked through the door Jennings held open for her, the loud music inside vibrating around the space.  A country-rock band was up on a stage, and the bluesy tune had people up and dancing.  Stage lights swirled around the darkened space, making her want to move along with them.  She loved to dance and had hoped they’d be able to before the night was over.  If she could get the big oaf to dance with her, that was.  She’d dance one way or another—there was bound to be some willing victim inside.

Looking around, Maggie felt overdressed.  Most of the women there were in jeans and cowboy boots, not dresses and heels.  She had packed light.  Everything was workout wear except her one little black dress and heels, in case something came up. 

A woman stood at one corner waving vigorously and Maggie turned to look.  Rhett Banes stood beside her, so Maggie was fairly certain the woman was Jennings’ sister, Taylor.  She and Taylor had talked often prior to her coming, as Taylor was the woman who’d hired her to train Jennings.  Maggie turned to look at Jennings, only to see his usual scowl deepen.  She ignored his look and headed over to the table.  Taylor gave her a big hug as soon as she approached.  Apparently the woman had gotten all the warmth in the family.

“Hi there!” Taylor yelled over the din.  “It’s so nice to finally meet you!”

“Likewise,” Maggie screamed.  After all their phone calls and chats, Maggie felt she already knew Taylor.  Now they’d finally met, Maggie knew she definitely liked the woman.  Rhett reached over and shook Maggie’s hand, a wide smile on his face.  The two of them looked really good together, that was for sure, and when Taylor turned to look up at her boyfriend, it was apparent the two of them were madly in love.

The song the band had been playing stopped and the singer started talking to the crowd.  With less noise, Taylor took her opportunity.  “I didn’t know you guys were coming out tonight,” she said, leering at her brother.

Jennings did his normal non-committal shrug.  “She forced me.”  He then glanced at Rhett.  “I need a beer.”

The two men took off and headed for the bar, leaving Maggie alone with Taylor.  “You’re prettier than I expected.”

Maggie laughed.  “Should I take that as a compliment?”

The band announced they were taking a break, so Taylor motioned for them to sit at the table they’d been standing beside.  “I didn’t mean it like that.  It’s just … you’re gorgeous.”

“Thank you,” Maggie said, uncomfortable with the praise.

“I wish Jennings had told me you guys were coming.  We all could’ve gone out to dinner together like I’d suggested last week.”

Maggie frowned.  She would’ve loved to have gone with them.  “That would’ve been nice.  After a month of not talking to anyone, some idle chitchat would’ve made my night.  Getting your brother to talk is almost impossible.”

“Jennings?  Not talk?” Taylor glanced in her brother’s direction at the bar.  “He talks up a storm to me.”

Maggie looked toward Jennings.  “Apparently he doesn’t like to talk to me, then.”

Taylor stared at Maggie, a weird look crossing her face.  Then she smiled and the look was gone.  “I’m curious.  What in the heck made you get into your line of work?”

Jennings and Rhett returned with drinks, Jennings handing her a longneck.  She gladly grabbed it and took a swig.  “I have three big brothers, all of them hardcore sports fiends. About twelve years ago, my brother Marc had a serious injury and seeing all the hell he went through to rehab, I knew there had to be a better way.  I researched physical therapies and strength training with my dad, and we worked to get him back on the field quickly and safely.  The training we did worked a minor miracle and I was hooked.  I went to college, got a degree in Sports Medicine, and the rest is history.”

“Wait—is your brother Marc Anders?” Rhett asked.

“Yep,” Maggie said.  “He’s working on his tenth year with Baltimore.  And I’ve got two brothers in the MLB, too.”

“That’s quite some pedigree,” Taylor said.  “A sports dynasty.”

Maggie laughed.  “I hadn’t thought about it that way.”

Taylor wagged her eyebrows.  “So, now you need to work on the next generation of that dynasty.”  Taylor glanced at her brother and then back to Maggie.

Embarrassment flooded Maggie’s chest.  She knew her face heated and hoped it was dark enough in there that Taylor didn’t notice.  Considering she’d apparently noticed Maggie’s interest in her brother, even though she was working hard to hold it down, she wasn’t sure how well she’d hide the rest.  “There’s no rush to work on kids.  Plus, I’ve decided that I won’t date another athlete.  Never again.”

“Something bad happen?” Taylor asked.

Rhett whispered something in Taylor’s ear, and Taylor’s face fell.  “I am so sorry.  I didn’t know.”

Maggie felt shame fill her.  Then anger.  She shouldn’t feel shame over what her ex-fiancé had done.  Yet she stood there shouldering it regardless.  She felt Jennings staring at her, but she wasn’t going there.  The less she told people about Brian, the better.  “Most of the athletes I’ve dated were self-absorbed assholes,” Maggie glanced at Rhett.  “Not saying all athletes are like that, of course.”  She almost turned to Jennings.  She could feel his stare boring holes in her back.  Instead she lifted the beer to her lips and drained half the bottle.

Taylor laughed uneasily.  “He has his moments, trust me.”

Rhett spanked Taylor on the ass and grinned.  “You like this self-absorbed asshole, so watch it, young lady.”

Jealousy flooded Maggie.  Seeing the two of them together made her wonder if there was a happy ever after in her future.  She envied how close the two of them were, the little touches, the longing glances.  Rhett hadn’t been able to keep his hands to himself since Maggie had walked in.  Would she ever have a man fall head over heels like that for her?

The band started tuning up behind them and Maggie turned to watch them instead of the lovefest at the table.  Jennings caught her gaze and held it for a few moments, a question in his gaze.  He seemed to sense she wasn’t interested in talking and turned to the stage as well, draining the last of his beer.  As soon as the music started up, he grabbed her hand and started tugging her to the dance floor.

Jennings’ urging shocked her.  She dug her heels in for a moment, and he paused to look at her.

“You wanna dance with me?” she asked, her voice elevated over the noise.

Jennings moved closer—too close.  She could feel the heat of his body soaking into her, along with his masculine scent she’d been trying to ignore for the past hour. 

“You wanted to dance.  So let’s dance,” he answered.

She did.  So there was no point in not going.  She let him lead her out, the rockabilly tune making her feet ready to move.  They entered the two-step circle and he twisted her around, pulling her close and moved in perfect time to the beat.  He was much better than anticipated, leading her around easily, even though she didn’t have much experience with the two-step.  He made it easy.

A smile sprung to her face as they moved around the circle.  She got caught up in the moment and forgot the misbegotten shame of a few moments before.  When she missed a step here or there, she just giggled and let him drag her along.  Soon enough, she got into the rhythm and was following along pretty well.  Maggie looked up at Jennings and saw a half smile playing at his lips. 
I’ll be … the iceman is enjoying himself.

They twirled around the dance floor for two songs straight before a slow song started.  Unsure what to do, Maggie paused, the circle going on without them.  She didn’t dare look up into Jennings’ face, or he’d see how much she wanted him to pull her into his arms and press his body against hers.

She felt his hand grip hers and he lead her off the dance floor.  Or at least that was what she thought.  Once he’d cleared the two-step circle, he spun on his heel and pulled her close.  With her nestled in his arms, he began swaying to the music.

Maggie tightened in his hold, hesitant.  Jennings was confusing her.  She glanced up and saw him staring down at her.  The heat in that look was enough to make her melt right there in the middle of a throng of people.  She relaxed in his hold and let him lead her in the dance, putty in his hands.

She inhaled deeply, letting his cologne do things to her insides, which she really shouldn’t have done.  Maggie was already drunk on him and his nearness; she didn’t need to make it worse.  Her nipples were tight, her skin on fire and demanding his touch.

When she felt him hard against her stomach, her insides flip-flopped.  Her body had already been on edge, but feeling his body’s response against hers was almost more than she could handle.  Maggie looked up at him only to find him staring down at her.  Heat flushed her face, sweat beading on her brow.

Maggie had never experienced this level of want.

His stare transfixed her as he led her around the dance floor.  They might as well be on another world, one with no people or music.  Jennings had pulled her into their own little bubble, where no one else could touch them.

He leaned down slightly, and her heart sped up.  Jennings was going to kiss her.  Her lips parted involuntarily, ready for him to taste her.

And then the music stopped.

Another faster song began to play as they stood there staring at one another.  The kiss never came, the spell broken.

Jennings took a step back and turned, his hand seeking hers before he pulled her back to the table they’d shared with his sister and Rhett.  He deposited her at the table and disappeared.  Taylor stared at her with an odd look on her face, and Maggie wondered if she looked as crazed as she felt.  Or was it pity over the whole Brian situation?

Maggie felt hot.  Too hot.  And her head was loopy, like the room was spinning and she needed something to hold on to in order for it to stop.  She wanted to hold on to Jennings, but she couldn’t.  Where had that man gone?

Instead, she grasped the table and swallowed tightly until the moment passed.  Her hands shook a few seconds later as she picked up the longneck bottle and lifted it to her lips.  She drained the last few drops as Jennings reappeared and sat another bottle before her, the condensation already beading up along the outside of the glass in the overheated bar.

Maggie lifted the bottle to her neck, trying to cool herself off.  Her heart was still galloping in her chest, but had slowed some.  She swallowed almost half the beer in one swig, hoping it would calm her frayed nerves.

“Slow down,” Jennings yelled, his face stern.

Anger rippled through her.  He’d gotten her hot and bothered, didn’t finish what he’d started, and then had the nerve to scold her for cooling herself off?

“I’ve only had one,” she shouted back.  “Back off.”

Jennings’ scowl returned, and she wished she could take the words back.  She wanted to turn back time and have him look at her like he had on the dance floor.  The heat was getting to her, as was that scowl of his.  “I need air,” she yelled, not waiting for his permission or notice before heading to the front door. 

If she didn’t cool down and soon, she was going to have a meltdown in the middle of the bar.