Love at the 20-Yard Line (5 page)

“Oh. My. Gosh,” Allie said, squeezing Haven’s arm in a death grip.

“Ow! What are you doing?” Haven jerked away from her cousin and rubbed her forearm. She was certain it would sport bruises tomorrow.

“You won’t believe who just walked in.” Allie’s gaze locked on someone behind Haven. After the game, the two girls, along with Rick and Seth, went to a diner near Haven’s apartment to enjoy dessert.

With her back to the door, Haven had no idea who could have possibly inspired such a reaction in Allie.

“I’m sure I won’t, so just tell me,” Haven said, taking a sip of water as Seth and Rick both glanced up to see who captured Allie’s attention.

“Oh, this is too good,” Rick said, grinning at Allie. “You couldn’t have planned this better yourself, Al.”

“I know, it’s like totally perfect,” Allie agreed, beaming with pleasure.

“I’m going to kick you, hard, under the table if you don’t tell me who came in,” Haven demanded, wondering what had gotten into Allie.

Seth rolled his eyes and took another bite of his pie.

“It’s the naughty hottie from the football game.” Allie stared over Haven’s left shoulder toward a booth. “He’s even cuter dressed in normal clothes. I would pay money to see him without his shirt on.”

“Hey, do you not see me sitting right here?” Rick asked, clearly offended as he frowned at Allie.

“Sorry, babe. Just trying to help out Haven.”

“Sure you were.” Rick frowned then glanced behind Haven. “I don’t see what the fuss is all about. I could totally arm wrestle the dude.”

Rick flexed his biceps and Allie squeezed them then kissed him soundly on the lips.

Disgusted by the public display of affection, Haven wondered how she could possibly be related to her cousin. They were nothing alike. At all.

“Could you please stop that before I lose my dinner?” Haven asked, shoving her half-eaten piece of chocolate cake away from her. “And before you embark on more theatrical demonstrations, Allie, just tell me who came in.”

“Brody Jackson. He’s sitting three booths behind you, looking mighty fine and terribly lonely.”

“How stupid do you think I am? Like he’d show up in a place like this when he has a party with adoring fans to attend. I don’t think so, Al, but nice try.” Haven shook her head then sipped her hot tea.

Seth caught her eye and tipped his head, letting her know that she should turn around and look for herself.

Pretending to drop her napkin, Haven bent down to pick it up and looked behind her. She sucked in a gulp of air as she discovered Allie told the truth.

“What do we do now?” Haven sat up so straight in her seat, it looked like someone shoved a board up the back of her shirt. “How can we leave with him sitting there? Does this place have a back entrance?”

“Are you insane?” Allie grabbed the bill the waitress brought to the table and motioned for Rick to finish eating his pie. “It’s obvious he’s interested in you and you practically ran out the door when he invited you to that party. I still don’t know why you wouldn’t just say yes. I know you hate that type of thing, but the rest of us wanted to go.”

“Fine. Next time, go without me. I suppose we’ll have to stop and say something to him on our way out. It’s the polite thing to do.” Haven stabbed her fork into her cake and took a distracted bite.

“That’s right. You wouldn’t want to be impolite, would you, dear cousin?” Allie subtly motioned for Seth to put on his coat.

“Of course not. I just don’t want to encourage him, is all.” Lost in her thoughts of how gorgeous Brody Jackson looked up close, she mused that he remembered her name and spoke to her after the game. Haven didn’t think he’d noticed she was even there.

Part of her hoped he would call about the modeling offer. She wouldn’t have minded seeing him somewhere other than the football game. She didn’t know why Brody had taken an interest in her, but guys like him just didn’t ask girls like her on dates.

She might be inexperienced where men were concerned, but she wasn’t stupid. With his good looks and the way his voice made delicious shivers run up and down her spine, she knew staying away from him was the intelligent choice.

Haven renewed her resolve to give him a wide berth. She’d smile on her way out the door and try to avoid running into him again.

Quickly excusing herself to the restroom, she returned to find an empty table. She glanced outside as Allie and Rick pulled into traffic with Seth following right behind them.

Shocked the three of them would sneak out and leave her at the diner, Haven knew it was Allie’s idea. Her cousin was in such deep trouble, she might never work her way back out of it.

With an aggravated sigh, she turned around to find Brody standing next to his booth watching her.

“Haven?” he asked, stepping toward her. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes. No. I’m not sure.” Haven let him take her arm in his hand and lead her back to his booth. He snagged her coat and purse from the booth she’d occupied with her friends and set them beside her.

He motioned for the waitress to come over. She brought Haven another cup of tea as she settled onto the plastic-covered bench and looked across the worn table at Brody.

“What was that all about?” Brody asked, scooting his plate toward her so she could take a fry if she wanted. She shook her head and he slid his plate back.

“My cousin Allie thinks she is much more clever and amusing than reality continues to prove.” Haven considered what sort of retribution Tom would demand if she called and asked for a ride home. She’d call Hale, but he had a big date with Abby and didn’t want to be bothered. Maybe she’d just call a cab.

She pulled out her phone and started searching for a cab company.

Brody leaned over and glanced at the screen. “Left you high and dry, did she?” Allie was now among his favorite people. He’d have to remember to thank her the next time he saw her. He hadn’t even noticed the group in the diner until Allie and the two guys ran by, smiling and waving on their way out the door.

He wondered what they were doing as they sprinted across the parking lot and sped off into the night, and then he noticed Haven. Obviously, she hadn’t expected to be left behind.

“Something like that. My brother would make my life pure misery if I call him to come get me, so I’ll just call a cab.” Haven had no idea which cab company was more reputable. Too tired to care, she decided to randomly choose one.

“Put down your phone. I’ll take you home.” Brody finished his burger and smothered a fry in a puddle of ketchup before eating it.

“No. That’s completely unnecessary. I wouldn’t want to put you out.” Haven stared at him with frightened eyes.

He wondered what exactly about him scared her. He supposed it could be his height or his career. Maybe she’d gotten wind of his supposed reputation with women. Whatever it was, he could see the fear on her face and wished he wasn’t the one who put it there.

“I insist.” Brody glanced across the table, drawn to Haven’s pink mouth and soft skin. She looked so utterly feminine. If someone needed a visual of the words sophisticated or lady, he thought she’d be the perfect picture. “Really, it’s no trouble.”

“Well, I…”

“Come on. I have to be better than some random cab driver. I promise to get you home safely or you can have your brother beat me up.”

Haven laughed and the dimples bloomed in her cheeks. Brody held his hands beneath the table to keep from reaching out and touching each indentation.

“I don’t think you have to worry about that. He was very impressed with you after the game last week,” Haven said, relaxing a little and taking a sip of her tea.

“Last week? How many brothers do you have?” Brody asked, wondering if the men with her were her brothers. If one was, they both had to be because they looked so much alike.

“Three, but Hale and Tom went with me to the game last week. I guess we didn’t get around to discussing that during introductions.”

“No, we didn’t.” Relief flooded through him. The two men who seemed quite familiar with Haven were her brothers. That knowledge improved his mood significantly. “What about the guy with you tonight? Seth? He your boyfriend?”

Haven laughed again and shook her head. “No. Seth and I are the lead consultants at the firm where we work. He’s engaged. His fiancée hates sports of any kind, but he is a huge football fan.”

Brody tried not to grin too broadly, oddly satisfied the guy was a coworker. “So does your boyfriend not like football?” he asked, fishing to find out if there was a boyfriend.

“I don’t know if he does or not.” Haven gave him an innocent smile.

Brody looked confused. “How can you not know? Didn’t you invite him to the game?”

“No. It would be hard to do that when I’ve yet to meet him.”

“You have a boyfriend you’ve never met? Wait. That’s just weird.” Her words left him puzzled. “He’s not one of those online stalkers, is he?”

Haven gave him a pointed look. “No, of course not. But I had you going, though.”

Brody chuckled and finished his glass of soda. “So you don’t have a boyfriend? Or a fiancé? Or a husband and three kids waiting at home for you?”

“Sadly, none of the above. It’s just me and Mad Dog,” Haven said, taking another sip of tea, glancing at Brody over the rim of her cup. The look on his face was priceless. His handsome brow wrinkled in confusion and he looked completely bewildered.

“Mad Dog?”

“I’m reading a book about a cop named Mad Dog and the bad guy she’s trying to catch. It has gruesome murders and a crazed killer. Oh, there’s some romance in there, too.”

“Sounds great, at least up to the romance part.”

“Don’t tell me you’re one of those guys who think romance is stupid.”

“Guilty as charged.” Brody accepted the bill from the waitress and thanked her. He pulled money out of his wallet and left a hefty tip on the table along with cash to cover the bill.

Haven slipped on her coat and looked at him, seeming hesitant to leave with a man she barely knew.

“If it will make you feel any better, you can call Allie and talk to her the whole time I’m driving you home. That way, you know I can’t abscond with you.” Brody offered Haven one of the sincere smiles he rarely shared. His mother and Marcus were among the privileged few who’d seen it.

“That won’t be necessary, I’m sure,” Haven said, surprised when Brody held the door for her as they walked outside.

“Where’s your coat?” she asked, glad to be wearing her warm wool coat in the frigid air. The night was cold but clear as he took her arm and guided her toward a shiny pickup.

“I left it at home this afternoon. It was warm then, you know, and I didn’t think about needing it later.” Brody held the pickup door open while Haven slid inside. She was just tall enough she didn’t require his assistance getting into the pickup. Disappointment trickled over him as he shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side.

He got in and started the truck, studying Haven. She sat against the door with her hands folded on her lap, appearing ready to bolt.

“Seriously?” he asked, giving her a once over when she looked at him. “I promise I won’t turn into a vampire, a serial killer, or whatever else is running through your head, between now and the time I drop you off. But you are going to have to tell me where you live.”

Haven let out her breath and worked up a smile. For some unknown reason, Brody made her extremely nervous. She seemed to have that problem around really cute guys, particularly ones that actually spoke to her.