Текст книги "A Taste of Summer"

Автор книги: Beverly Preston

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“We didn’t…”

“Have sex?” He interceded, saving her from her own discomfiture.

“Why am I sore all over?” She rolled her shoulder gingerly, loosening the tension.

“Whoop, whoop.” Summer raised his hands ceiling, giving them a quick pump. “As for the rest of your body…well…you gave it a workout.”

Scorching heat flooded her cheeks turning them scarlet. She blinked repeatedly wrestling with her sub-conscious. He maneuvered his way through the kitchen flipping burgers onto two readied plates and forking spears of asparagus beside it.

“What exactly does that mean? I have zero recollection.”

“I didn’t have sex last night.” His emphasis hung on the singularity of the word I as he poked his thumb against the center of his chest. And then he did it. He blasted her with a full fledge cocky-mother-fucking heart stopping grin.

Her eyes fell to the floor. Carrie Ann shifted awkwardly in her seat, squirming from one cheek to the other. She wasn’t even certain what day it was. Heat gathered beneath the thin layer of cotton clothing. Flames of embarrassment prickled the hollows of her cheeks. Finding her courage, she lifted her gaze only to find his face averted, hiding his smile.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

He refused to look up, fiddling with the burger toppings.

“Summer?” A thin thread of mania riddled her labored breath.

“It means…” Pushing a plate in front of her, he closed the gap between them. Summer’s grin was now abandoned. His gaze nailed to the rise and fall of her chest, indulging in a slow methodical assessment of her every movement. “You managed just fine all by yourself last night.”

She didn’t think things could get any worse, but they did. Anxiety worked its way into a full blown panic attack, breaking over her flesh in a thousand pricks of heat. Heart palpitations spurred wildly in her chest.

“I…I really don’t remember anything. I don’t even know where I am.” Words slipped from her mouth in an ache of whisper. Rationalization impeded apprehension. “So if you could please enlighten me a little, I would appreciate it.”

“Do you really want to know?”

His face remained over hers. A hint of pleasure clouded his whiskey eyes, chipping away at the years that had passed. Being near him still brought an internal comfort, she’d only been able to find in his presence. However, time still held the scars of the broken trust and painful heartache.

“I’m not sure.”

Keeping his easy gaze locked on her eyes, Summer clasped his hand around her wrist, lifting her fingers to his lush full lips. Her breath caught in a soft shaky gasp. A wave of unspeakable pleasure moved through her, rapt in the stunning vision of his mouth slowly taking her two fingers into his mouth. His searing hot tongue slipped between her fingers, sensually sucking and twisting.

Heat spread across her chest. The tender place between her thighs began to ache and tighten making her wet. Her lips parted, leaning closer as if being drawn by a magnet. He stood so close the heat of their breaths mingled. Summer’s eyes, heavily lidded and filled with lust, never faltered from hers. He released her fingers, touching them to his lips with a kiss.

“That was the extent of my participation last night. You insisted upon feeding me your sweet pussy during the flight here. In between begging, begging me, Red, to pull over so I could fuck you.”

She tried to swallow but had no saliva, her throat dry from panting. Carrie Ann collected her trembling fingers. Her hands wrung together into a ball. “I did not,” she whispered feebly.

Summer hooked an index finger beneath her chin, forcing her to face him. He let loose a small rogue smile. She could feel the lines of apprehension etching deep into her forehead, shaking her head in dismay. His left eyebrow twitching upward giving absolute confirmation.

“Oh, my God.”

“You said that too. Several times. Each time you crested your peak.” he added. “And when did you become such a dirty little talker? The Carrie Ann I remember never talked like that.”

“I’m not. I mean…I don’t.” Carrie Ann really didn’t want to know what she’d said, but before she could stop herself she questioned warily, “What did I say?”

Burying a brazen grin behind his burger, he said, “You should eat.”

A cold numbness rushed through her veins. Pinching a spear of asparagus between her fingers, she asked, “I’m so confused. Does anybody know where I am?”

“We spoke with your assistant before leaving the auction. You’re on vacation…or at least that’s what you told me a dozen times. I’m assuming that’s true because Sara rattled off a check list of her responsibilities for the next few days. I texted Shayla a few times to let her know we were together and going on a million dollar vacation.”

Mouth full of burger, her eyes broadened in a questioning manner.

“Hey, don’t even look at me like that. You were totally into me, Carrie Ann. You were like, ‘Oh, my God. We need to call Shayla. She’s gonna freak out.’” He shrugged innocently. “I figured you had a buzz from the champagne, but I didn’t realize you’d been drugged till after we got in the air.”

“Drugged?” she choked.

“Definitely. That guy, Jason, must’ve roofied your drink. I should’ve kicked his ass.”

“There’s no way. Jason wouldn’t do that. He’s friends with my father. Why would he risk doing that?”

“To get in your fucking pants, that’s why!” Dense muscles corded down his forearm, balling his hand into a fist. “By the way I guess now’s as good as time as any to tell you…you phoned your father from the airport to tell him you were going on vacation with me for a week.”

It took every muscle in her esophagus, and three tries, to swallow back the acid burning in her throat. “Shit. As if things couldn’t get any worse.”

“Yeah, that’s about how it went down. I guess you could say he wasn’t very happy.”

Summer’s face was hard and shadowed. She knew he was furious, but hid it. The magnitude of the last twenty hours weighed on her shoulders like a wet blanket. She felt drained and exhausted. They sat in silence, each taking a few bites.

“What did he say?”

He slid her a slow, very telling, sideways glance of repugnance. After a few moments of quiet, he snickered triumphantly, “You told him you felt like a million bucks.”

She couldn’t hold back a smile. When Summer’s football career fell apart, people on the outside only saw the final collapse. Her father stood at the front of the ‘I told you so’ line, joyfully watching him implode. A drunken photo, a fight outside a sports bar, the angry ESPN interview. No one saw the slow private decay of the man. No one except Carrie Ann. She felt helpless, left to watch as the man she loved and so badly tried to help, suffer through an excruciating inner turmoil that nearly ruined him.

The only future Summer had ever dreamed of was ripped from his grasp in one devastating moment on the twenty-five yard line. His entire career gone in the matter of seconds. Fame and fortune paled in comparison to the despondency he endured losing the one thing in his life that mattered most. Football. He loved the game. Growing up in rural Illinois, he excelled under the Friday night lights. Summer exceeded everyone’s expectations, receiving a full-ride scholarship to USC. It wasn’t merely his family cheering him on, it was an entire community. Losing the most prominent thing in Ryan Summer’s life, eroded away at his soul. It dug deep, erasing the man he thought he was destined to be.

An underlying energy hung between them. She remained quiet watching him clean up the kitchen, following him into the living room when he finished.

“Thank you for dinner.” She tucked a foot beneath her bum, snuggling into the rich leather sofa.

“Stomach feeling any better?” he asked, stacking three logs with precision and striking the lighter to what looked like a cupcake made from wood chips and sawdust. Summer raised to his full height, stretching an arm out, pressing his palm against the mantel. Colored shadows of the rising flame, danced against his masculine frame.

“Yeah. My throat’s still a little sore.” She scowled. “How did you know I had a sore throat?”

“You threw up.” He said matter-of-factly. “In my plane. On the runway. In the bathroom. I just assumed you’d be feeling pretty awful today.”

“Oh, man.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I keep thinking this can’t get any worse, but…I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay. That was the easiest part of the whole flight. Telling you no repeatedly was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.”

Examining her stunned expression, he mercifully remained quiet, lowering himself to the other end of the sofa. She wasn’t ready to even ask or know or absorb what occurred during the flight.

“Do you really think I was roofied?” Even as the question left her lips, Carrie Ann knew the answer was yes. She found it difficult to imagine Jason would drug her. It just didn’t add up. “It could’ve been anyone.”

“He’s the one who handed you the drink, Carrie Ann. There’s no doubt in my mind it was him.”

“I wonder how long it stays in my system. I should probably get blood work done when I get home.”

“By the time we get back next week, it’ll be out of your system.”

The haughty lop-sided grin hanging at the edge of his mouth evoked a visceral defiance. “I am not staying here with you for a week, Summer. I don’t know what I said earlier, but that doesn’t count. You can’t seriously expect me to stay here.”

Hearing Carrie Ann’s raised voice, Aspen came to her aid, plopping her front paws on the sofa cushion. Carrie Ann lifted her to her lap, receiving ten quick licks and twenty tail wiggles before setting her back on the floor. The pup stood on her hind legs stretching two paws on the leather again. Before Summer had time to scold her, Carrie Ann snapped her fingers, holding her palm out flat, inches from the puppy’s nose. Aspen responded instantly to her direction by sitting on command, drawing a mystified frown from her master.

“I hate to disappoint you, but you’re stuck here with me.” He didn’t look disappointed. “This storm has us stranded and it’s expected to be socked in for days. I’m on vacation. You wanted to come. Actually, you came multiple times.”

Cocky. Mother. Fucker.

“You insisted on vacationing together, claiming it was fate.” Easing closer, he stretched a beefy arm across the top of the sofa, twisting to tuck a bare foot under his other thigh. “And before you sit there and get all pissed off, you should know that whatever drug you were given might as well have been called truth serum, because last night you, Carrie Ann Lowell, were a very open book.”

The weighted air between them crackled with emotion. Wearing her heart on her sleeve to expose the softer-side was not in her temperament. She preferred to keep it locked away in a vault for safe keeping. A sense of panic swelled in her chest wondering how much she revealed. There was a piece of her past, buried deep inside, that she vowed never to share with him.

After having her heart filleted wide open by the only man she’d ever loved, Carrie Ann determinedly locked it away, keeping it safe from irrevocable damage. Trust was the one thing she expected from Summer. And he crushed any faith she had in him, robbing himself any chance he ever had with her. His reckless actions also ripped away her hopes and dreams, leaving her exposed and vulnerable. He wasn’t there when she needed him the most and the pain and loss she experienced was immeasurable. He left her no choice. She wrapped her shattered heart in armor and forced herself to move forward. Breathing, day after day. Month by month. Year after year. But even after all the time that had passed, she’d never truly healed.

Simply being near him was excruciatingly difficult. Summer cast a spell on her, an easy charm that worked its way into every fiber of her being. She’d been through several relationships, more short term than long, and not one had been capable of replacing that feeling of complete captivation. He possessed the kind of powerful fascination and sex appeal that literally stole the breath from her lungs at times. The attraction carried far more weight than just sex. Summer held all the cards for Carrie Ann. He’d been the one man in her life who’d checked all the boxes. Including the box marked heartbreak.

Being stuck in the middle of nowhere with Ryan Summer for days on end would be more than challenging for too many reasons to list. It would require much more than just good sense and practical reasoning to survive his presence. It would involve a severe case of unyielding stubbornness to survive.

Deplorably, the rich, pleasing tone of his voice, all tender and sweet, poked holes in her armor. Carrie Ann struggled to fill her lungs with air. The knowledge of such fierce pleasure, warm and inviting, sitting within reach of her fingertips proved too much to bear. She wasn’t nearly as well-armed as she’d like to think, so she did the next best thing. Escape.

“I’d tell you that I feel bad about bringing you here, but it would be a lie.” She heard him say rising to her feet. Feeling a bit lightheaded from hyperventilating, she stumbled over her feet. Summer’s long arm crossed in front of her, cradling the dip near her hip for support and to block her departure. “Where you going? You okay?”

“I’m going to bed, Summer,” she said, keeping her stare straight.

Without any effort whatsoever, he tugged her into the crook of his lap. Her bottom nestled into the pocket between his muscular thighs filling her with sizzling heat. Unable look at him, fearing she’d cave, Carrie Ann stared over his shoulder at the orange flames licking around the barked edges of the round logs.

“We need to talk, Red.” His strong fingers swept down the length of her arms, circling his thumbs over the soft flesh of her palms. She remained rigid, refusing to soften. “We shared a bed last night. You can sleep with me, if you’d like. I promise I’ll behave…if you’d like.”

The fire felt as if it was scorching her face from across the room. Her eyes beaded precariously, locking on his like daggers.

“I take it that’s a no.”

“That’s a hell no.”

Glimpsing the painful sting she’d just delivered, hidden in his eyes, her heart swiftly rocked from anger to remorse.

“Look, it’s been a long day or night or whatever the hell time it is. I’ve been drugged, flown to who knows where in the middle of I don’t know. I’ve thrown up in front of you…how special is that? Apparently, we slept together and I’m fairly certain at some point in the very near future you’re going to inform me of some very…embarrassing, horrifying decisions I’ve unconsciously made over the last twenty-four hours. I’m exhausted and mortified and confused and I just want to sleep.”

He continued to sweep his hands up and down her arms, pausing to lift her from his lap bringing both of them to their feet. “The only thing I would call horrifying about last night was the fact that someone drugged you, and it’s not the first time I’ve seen you puke. Everything else was…beautiful.” His eyes glazed over right before his lids dusted shut, reveling in the recollection.

Carrie Ann raised both hands in pleading fashion, pressing an index finger to her lips. Perspiration gathered beneath the cotton fabric of her shirt. Without saying a word, she ducked her head and ambled toward her room.

“Red,” he called out as she headed to her room. “You’re in Montana.”

Chapter Seven

‡

“Ugg,” she groaned, catching a whiff of Frito scented puppy paws shoved in her face. Aspen stretched with a shiver taking up half her pillow. “You’re gonna get me in trouble, girl. You’re not supposed to be up here.”

Carrie Ann climbed out of bed and Aspen turned a few circles before settling into the pre-heated comfy spot. Rain streaked across the window horizontally. The sound of water pouring off the roof and pummeling the ground beyond the glass, filled her quiet room. She gave a quick kiss to the top of Aspen’s nose, before leaving her to shower and get dressed.

Soft bluesy music lingered throughout the empty cabin as she made her way toward the kitchen. All remnants of her drug induced hangover were gone, replaced with famished hunger. Opening the mirror-finished fridge, she found a note taped to a mini blender.

Morning, Red

I made your favorite

It’s ready to drink just give it a quick blend

Help yourself to whatever you’d like

S

Flipping the single serving container atop the blender, Carrie Ann noted three ripe pineapples lined up along the counter next to a canister of vanilla protein powder. Heat flushed her cheeks. Her pulse picked up pace as her mind flew straight to the gutter.

“Pineapple? Arrogant little prick.” Her head bobbled back and forth sassily, recalling the look on his face when she’d told him of an article she’d read that identified the delicious golden fruit as the number one way to make a man’s cum taste sweeter. Peering down at Aspen, she scoffed through gritted teeth, “He’s out of his mind if he thinks I’m giving him a blowjob.”

A loud ruckus coming from the patio caught their attention. Aspen barked twice, making a beeline for the door. Slipping into her shiny black rain boots beside the door, she grabbed a jacket hanging on an antler rack and stepped outside. The smell of smoky cedar rising from the chimney mixed with earthy rain reminded her of a beach bonfire. Thick ominous clouds hung low over the valley, shrouding the mountains beyond the tall evergreen trees.

Carrie Ann paused, listening for direction. Following the whack, thud, thud she moseyed beneath the wraparound porch. Aspen’s lanky body still held onto its puppy plumpness, trotting alongside in a smooth well-coordinated gait.

Rounding the far side of the cabin, she spotted a t-shirt draped over the branch of a tree. Summer stood, shirtless and glistening, chopping wood beneath the bows of a huge evergreen. Dark denim molded perfectly to his hips and thighs, hanging low around his waist, exposing a sun-kissed tan line and obvious lack of boxers.

She turned away from the gorgeous sight. It hurt too much to look at him, but she found it impossible not to turn back. Elongated muscles flanking his spine, flexed and corded, as he swung the axe over his head in one smooth move, slicing through a log perched on a tree stump. The log split in the center, flying off the stump into two piles. The compelling scene of rugged masculinity made her toes curl.

Aspen grabbed hold of a deflated football lying on the wooden porch and darted toward him. Her bark filled with gusto, behind a mouthful of brown leather. A lazy smile slumbered across his face, reaching down giving her a head rub before tossing the ball.

Catching a glimpse of Carrie Ann, he stuck the blade of the axe into the stump with a loud whack. Summer wiped the remnants of loose bark and splinters of wood from his forearms and stomach, leaving a trail of smeared grime along his wet glistening skin.

The vision of his well-exercised body, wet and dirty, weakened her tenacity one cut ab at a time. Bending to gather an armful of firewood, his stomach contracted, showing off yet another row of defined muscle. She couldn’t stop the goofy grin from gathering at the edge of her lips as he approached.

“Morning,” she said breathily.

He ambled by her, adding the freshly split lumber to a large stack of firewood lined up against the cabin. “Morning, beautiful.”

The direct compliment caused a brief internal struggle between her conscience and temptation. The little guy with horns and a tail sitting on her left shoulder, encouraged her to say Thank you, tell me more. While the winged guardian on the right insisted Set him straight. However, the disgruntled hooha riding dead center between her thighs seemed to be honing in on the lead waving frantically saying, Hello, my old friend.

Feeling a bit timid, she tucked a dark strand of hair behind her ear. Tipping her head to the left, she slyly inspected his strong thighs and firm ass as he stacked the last log.

Fuck, he looked tantalizing.

And he damn well knew it.

Summer sauntered straight toward her. His low rise jeans accentuated his V, framing his package, as if artfully presenting an exquisite meal at a fine dining establishment.

His gaze fell upon her face, slowly taking her in. “Sleep good?”

“Yes,” she gulped a swig of the pale yellow drink. “Did you?”

“Nah. I was lonely.” His eyes smiled from his cheeks. “You’ve stolen my best buddy. She usually sleeps right beside my bed, but she hasn’t left your side since we got here. How’s your smoothie? I added powdered protein, hope that’s okay?”

Protein? Ha ha very funny. Jerk! There was a time in her life when nothing would’ve given her more pleasure than to go down on him, take him in, taste every inch of him. Carrie Ann had always been a fan of oral, but it bordered on an obsession when it came to Summer. She’d never quite understood why she loved it so much more with him, but something about him was insanely divine. They shared a deep sensual connection that penetrated her soul with contentment.

Until he screwed up.

Playing chess with Summer could prove to be far too risky, but the need to put him in check escalated. She countered boldly, mustering a snide, but wispy voice, “Umm, delicious.”

It was a dangerous maneuver, but it was worth a try. Or at least that’s what she told herself. Judging by the satisfaction darkening his eyes, it only encouraged him. His focus locked on her lips sending a pleasant shudder through her.

“Pineapple’s your favorite.” A hungriness flickered in his eyes. “You reminded me several times on the way here. You even grabbed an extra from your place when we stopped to get your things. Insisted we’d be needing it.”

Checkmate.

Fuck! Fuckity-fuck!

Testing the man was like playing with fire. It would only get her in trouble. Trouble she didn’t need. Trouble she didn’t want. Trouble she’d have a hard time turning down.

Backing off a bit, she waved aimlessly at the log cabin and surrounding property. “How long have you had this place?”

Understanding shone in his eyes. Damn him. Damn him for knowing me so well.

“Okay, then. We’ll table the discussion of the flight here. For now.” Aspen drug the football, which was nearly as big as her, to his feet. He gave it another toss. “I bought it last year. Do you remember Redford from college?”

She could scarcely breathe. “This was Redford’s place?”

“It was his grandfather’s place. His health isn’t good, so he had to give up flying a few years ago. Luckily for me, he finally decided to let go of this place.”

“Why do you want a place in the middle of nowhere? I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful. But being so far removed kinda limits the time you spend here, doesn’t it? How far is…”

Her words trailed off watching as he held his hands under the rain cascading off the roof, using it to remove the dirt from his arms.

“I love being in the middle of nowhere. The cabin is kinda small, but I think that’s part of its charm. Everything is top of the line. The barn’s more like a guesthouse. It’s got plenty of rooms for friends or family to stay.” A proud catch in his smile bared a thread of satisfaction. “Plus there’s a natural mineral pool. This place gets me away from all of the bullshit. I feel like I can breathe here. I need the balance in my life, everyday situations where people aren’t fucking catering to my every whim. Believe it or not, it’s nice to wash my own dishes, do my own laundry. Being normal is kind of a victory.”

Carrie Ann couldn’t manage one word. The vision of him cupping two hands beneath the waterfall, and splashing it on his face made her feel as if she were in the middle of a very vivid dream. He raked his fingers through his thick short hair, leaving it in glossy chunks. Chill bumps raised across his skin. Water streamed down his glistening torso in silky ribbons.

“When Tommy and I first started collaborating on the film he told me about this shack he’s got in Bora Bora. Let’s be honest…it’s Tommy, so I’m sure it’s no shack. It’s probably the most badass beach bungalow in French Polynesia. But, it’s a private island, totally off the grid. He swears it’s like stepping away from the world and leaving your worries with it.”

His eyes glazed over, drifting off to some faraway place in mind, exposing a vein of adversity that came with fame and fortune. A ping of empathy knocked at the door to her heart. Living in the public eye undoubtedly came with its own breed of difficulties.

“God, the way he describes it…total privacy, no media, no TV, no internet, no interruptions. Just nature at its finest…” Muscles near his eyes relaxed, softening the fine wrinkles. “And a woman he loves more than life by his side. Sounds like heaven. They love it.”

His words carved through her heart, striking with precision. Her head slowly twisted side-to-side, taking in a full rotation of the vast dreamy piece of real estate before landing on her feet.

Her feet planted on his porch in his private little piece of heaven.

Carrie Ann frowned warily. Suddenly, the dampness saturating the air clung to her skin like a wool blanket on a winter day. He can’t possibly think that…

“Then I ran into Redford one night at dinner. One thing led to another. A month later it was mine.” His tan muscular arms folded across his chest. “I tried to call you, but you didn’t pick up. Or call back.”

“I remember,” she admitted quietly, shifting from one foot to the other. Over the years she’d ignored several calls, expecting to find an intoxicated Summer on the other end of the line. The risk of not being able to turn him down left her far too vulnerable. She didn’t trust herself or him for that matter. “Why did you call me?”

“I was just thinking about you. Wanted to bring you here.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, you.” He seemed shocked by her surprised reaction. “Remember when we drove up to Big Sur for the weekend? We stayed at that great little cabin. The one with the hot springs?”

The skin between her brows pinched into a deep groove. She definitely remembered. Big Sur was only one of many amazing weekend getaways they took, but it was the first time he told her that he loved her. A small smile warmed his face. Summer’s steady relaxed gaze lingered, provoking her responsiveness.

“Maybe you should’ve considered bringing someone else instead of me.”

He moved closer, lowering his face to hers. “Who would you prefer me to bring? Hmm? Tell me, Red. Because that’s not the tune you were singing on the way here.”

Her common sense ignored the double question, yet her knees still wobbled. Tightening the safety net around her heart, she laid on a heavy dose of insinuation and sarcasm, bolstering a rejection. “Oh, I don’t know, Summer. Maybe a real girlfriend! Not one you had to kidnap.”

He recoiled at her harshness, but quickly recovered. “You wanted to be here. And other women all have the same fuckin’ problem, Red.”

“Let me guess. They’re all after your millions?”

“That’s not the problem I’m referring to.”

“Too beautiful? Too thin? Too crazy like that one voodoo chick you dated?” There was no need to go into detail. He knew exactly who she meant.

“None of them are you, Carrie Ann.” His voice was soft and soothing, slipping past her defenses, caressing old wounds hidden deep inside.

Every tiny muscle in her face softened. Heat rose from her heaving chest, striking fire to her cheeks. He inched closer, shifting restlessly, turning her heartbeat unruly. Energy spiked between them. She sensed his need to reach out and touch her, practically feeling his hands ghost over her flesh.

Backing away slowly, she barely twisted her head once, indicating no. Her throat constricted, sealing her words into silence.

“You don’t need to act all tough. It’s me you’re talking to, Carrie Ann. I see right through it. The only reason you’re being so stubborn is because you’re scared.”

“That was a long time ago. You don’t know anything about me anymore.”

“You’re wrong and you know it.” His tone gentled into a rasp. “I bet that if I slip my hand beneath your dress, there’d be clear evidence of your true feelings.”

Carrie Ann’s jaw jutted forward and she seethed through gritted teeth, “I guarantee that if you even try to slip your hand anywhere near my panties…you’ll be crying like baby. And in an immeasurable amount of pain.”

Her agitation only encouraged him. Easy charm clung lazily to his full lips. “Why don’t you try being a little more honest with your feelings, Carrie Ann?”

“Me?” Her screech echoed through the basin, skipping through the range of mountains. “Remind me again. Why did we break up?”

“If I remember correctly, you broke it off with me.”

“Of course that’s how you’d remember it! Typical Summer. Blame it all on me!”

Summer remained eerily calm. His piercing stare never left her face. He’d prepared for this, all of it, and suddenly she found herself at a complete disadvantage.

“You want to know why?” Casting aside all humor, he sobered. “Because I lost my mind after losing football. I drank too much. I was an all-around jerk, Carrie Ann. I’d invested everything into football for my future…our future, and I hated myself for failing. I had no idea how the fuck I was going to give you the life you deserved. I pushed you out. I drove you away when you were trying to be there for me.”

Stunned by his admission, wetness needled the corners of her eyes. “All I wanted was you. I never cared about anything else. The money, the fame, those were things you wanted.”

“Back then…that was easy for you to say. You came from money. I had something to prove.”

“I never asked…”

“You never asked, but your father made it perfectly clear.” His voice refused to waver. Summer’s stare locked on her face. The amber in his eyes turning the color of honey behind his perfectly tan skin. “I lost the most important thing in my life…and it wasn’t football.”

The urgency in his tone, the desperate need for her to understand, disarmed her. Fighting back the urge to immerse herself in his closeness, she pushed back tears. Channeling her defenses, she retorted tersely, “Funny how you seem to forget about me finding your dick shoved into some other chick’s navel.”