NextMoves (4 page)

Holding each other close, they struggled to breathe.

“I want to pack you in my suitcase and take you with me.” He
meant every word.

Jocelyn flinched as soon as he said it and rolled away,
breaking all contact. “None of that.”

“Why not?” Cold water washed through his veins.

“Last night was wonderful but it wasn’t real. We both needed
touch, to remember the good in our pasts. It’s time to go home where it’s messy
and complicated and this just doesn’t belong.” Her finger traced along his
lower lip. “Put your clothes on, good-looking. It’ll fade, you’ll see.”

She was going to walk away from this. Why did he think she’d
be different? Underneath the heat lurked a frozen core, just like Cara. Anger
had him dressed and ready to run. At the door, he glanced back and stopped in
his tracks. Pain had drawn dark circles under her eyes. Whatever demons lived
in her memory spoke those words. Last night had touched her too. Her face
revealed that truth even if her words denied it.

He walked back and sat on the edge of the bed. Pushing an
auburn curl behind her ear, he kissed her with all he had in a last-ditch
attempt to change her mind. “You sure, Jocelyn?”

“Yes,” she said quickly, too quickly. “No strings. Goodbye,
good-looking. I wish you only happiness.”

He nodded and walked through the door, a sense of loss
slicing through his chest. Despite Jocelyn’s words, something real passed
between them. He wanted to feel every day how he felt last night—alive and
whole.

The punch of the emotional swell gave him hope, something
he’d been living too long without. He was moving to a new town, which promised
new opportunities. Maybe there was a woman who might dare him to try again, who
could fill the empty spaces life drilled through his heart. Even if it wasn’t
Jocelyn Wade.

* * * * *

Jocelyn stared at the door for a long while. That was
supposed to be fun, no-strings-attached sex. A one-night sanctuary from the
demands of daily life. Why did she feel so empty? And why for one brief moment
did she toy with the idea of packing herself in his suitcase?

Her Blackberry rang. The office number blared at her and jumpstarted
ribbons of frustration tensing through her neck and shoulders. Too often lately
the tentacles of work reaching into her personal space triggered a sense of
despair in the pit of her stomach, like Pavlov’s dogs salivating to the
suggestion of food. Work used to be her escape, her lifeline. Now… She was
losing it.
Get it together, Joci, there’s too much on your plate at home.

Shaking her head to oust the unwanted thoughts, she headed
to the shower to pull herself together. A good life awaited her back
home—relationship-free, just the way she liked it. Right?

Jocelyn picked up her Ford hybrid from the airport parking
lot and drove to her father’s house, singing loudly, off-key, happy to be home
and eager to see her daughter after a week away. Kylie started high school in
two weeks and didn’t adapt well to new places nor were schools in Madison ready
for her. Diagnosed with ADHD, Kylie could be a handful. Her intensity and
energy often kept other kids and adults at a distance. Jocelyn researched the
condition vigorously and found ways to create a rich life for the two of them.
Running long distances together centered them both. What Jocelyn tired of was
browbeating each new school on how to handle kids with distinct learning needs.
At least this would be her last fight.

She walked up the stone walkway worn smooth from years of
use, passing the silvery-blue Russian sage in full autumn bloom lined up in
rows to salute all who came in. Its familiar scent always tugged at her heart.
They were her mother’s favorites. She used her key to enter the neat yellow
stucco house. “Dad, Kylie, I’m back,” she yelled.

Marching through the well-worn but well-kept living room,
through the French doors that opened to the deck, she found her father and
daughter eating lunch. A bowl of salad, sliced fruit and a plate of cold cuts
lay out neatly on the table. Kylie was dressed all in black as she usually was.
Silver studs glistened down her earlobes and an amethyst shimmered in her nose.
She hunched low in the white metal chair, long, muscled legs crossed one over
the other, stretched out under the matching white metallic table.
My
beautiful goth girl.
Her dad sat perfectly erect, his khaki shorts and golf
shirt freshly pressed, habits revealing his years in the military. His lean,
athletic build shaved decades off his age. Jocelyn kissed them both and grabbed
a seat at the table.

“Have some lunch, Joci.” Her dad went to the kitchen and
fetched a plate. “How’d the trip go?’”

She helped herself to some fruit and salad. “Except for the
storm, the rest of the trip was a smashing success. We not only convinced
Premier to keep Health Corp open, but they’re going to expand their operations
in Madison. We came away much better than I expected. It makes me uneasy but we
could sure use those new jobs. What’s been going on here in my absence?”

“The high school hired a new athletic director. They
recruited him away from the Texas school that beat our boys’ soccer team at
nationals last year. He came last week to find a place to live. That’s all
anyone’s talking about.”

“Looks like it’s been a great week for Madison.” As Chamber
President, Jocelyn knew that Madison cared about two things—having enough jobs
and the high school boys’ soccer team. The Lions had been state champion more
years than she could count and last year lost the national championship in a
sudden-death ending. The Chamber sponsored the team.

“Dad, next Friday night the Chamber’s holding a reception to
celebrate the retention of Health Corp. I’d love for you to attend.” Jocelyn
used every opportunity she could find to get her dad out socially. After her
mom died, he sold the boxing gym, burrowed himself in the house and neglected
his health. She asked him to watch Kylie to keep him engaged in life. The child
care was an added bonus. The situation crushed her between the two high-needs
individuals.

“It’ll be my pleasure, Joci. Oh, I almost forgot, Gideon’s
coming to visit next month.”

“Wonderful. It’ll be great to see him. If only we could get
Tommy home. It’s been years since we’ve all been together as a family.” Jocelyn
missed her big brothers, both in the military, who got home infrequently.
Gideon served at the Pentagon. Tommy in Afghanistan.

“Okay, baby girl. Thank your granddad for taking such good
care of you and then go pack your things. It’s time for us to go home.”

“Don’t call me baby girl. I’m fourteen.”

Jocelyn scowled her response to the attitude.

Kylie glowered back but thanked her grandfather before
heading upstairs to pack.

Her daughter out of the room, Jocelyn grilled her father.
“How’s Kylie doing, Dad? Does she seem nervous to be starting high school?
Notice any changes?”

Kicking back in his chair, he stared her down. She could
have sworn she heard him sigh before he answered. “Kylie’s just fine, Joci.”
The firm tenor of the military commander and boxing coach he had been was still
strong in his tone. “She talked my ear off, like she usually does. Don’t worry,
daughter mine, she’s made of stern stuff. She’s your child after all.”

“What about you, Dad?”

“I’m holding on, baby girl. When are you going to stop your
worrying about us both and live a little?” If only she could.

“Never, most likely.” With a snort, she kissed her dad on
the cheek. When Kylie arrived, they said their goodbyes and headed out.

Settled in at home, Jocelyn and Kylie went for a three mile,
a ritual they both missed when Jocelyn traveled. If all else went to hell, they
kept to this routine and this more than anything provided ritual and stability
to both their lives. Jocelyn started Kylie running early as a way to channel
the excessive energy and short attention span that marked her ADHD child. It
kept her sane and in shape to cope with the multiple responsibilities she
juggled in her life. Their morning run had become a sacred time for the two of
them.

When Jocelyn finally went to bed, sleep didn’t come. Unable
to shut down, her mind conjured images of a naked Jared Wyatt, the feel of his
mouth, the touch of his hand, the hardness of his chest
. I wonder if I could
find him with an internet search.
Her razor-sharp will slammed that thought
away. It had been one hell of a night, but that’s all it was. It would fade
with time.After giving herself some relief, she mouthed a silent prayer
that he was nowhere nearby before finally drifting to sleep.

* * * * *

The Chamber’s celebration was in full swing by the time
Jocelyn arrived at the modern structure of glass and steel that housed the
Madison Chamber of Commerce and the Madison Historical Museum. Once inside, she
did a sweep of the room, making sure to locate her father, Don Corcoran, the
Chairman of the Chamber Board, his wife Brenda, her oldest friend Myron
Atwater, Madison’s mayor, and Len Reynolds, the superintendent of the school
system—Madison’s political leadership along with her. The high school athletic
director would also join this elite power circle if the Madison Lions kept
winning.

She spotted Don and Brenda filling their plates at the
silver-clothed buffet table. Delicate lavender-tipped orchids serving as table
settings starkly contrasted the heavy platters of meat, cheeses and cakes. Don
Corcoran, at six foot three, towered over his petite wife. Grabbing a glass of
wine from the bar, she headed to greet them.

“Well if it isn’t the lady of the hour, making a late
entrance,” Don said, looking striking in a blue-striped business suit, tailored
to camouflage his thickening waistline. Stocky but well-muscled, he still
turned ladies’ heads.

“Now that you’re here, I imagine the speeches will get
started soon,” Brenda said, rolling her eyes at Jocelyn, who smiled back. They
both hated the posturing but understood the speeches afforded the local
leadership the opportunity to speak to their constituency, all of whom were at
this reception. Thanking Jocelyn and her team was just a convenient forum to
accomplish that. But that was the local power game and Jocelyn succeeded as
Chamber president by playing it well.

“The Chamber Board wants the new athletic director to speak
at the fall Chamber dinner.” Don never minced words.

“Of course. The man starts on Monday. I’ll let him settle in
and then personally deliver the invitation myself. Okay?”

“You don’t need to wait. I invited him here tonight to meet
some folks. Let me introduce you.” Hand on the small of her back, Don guided
Jocelyn to a crowd gathered around the mystery man who had the town in a
twitter. Clearing his throat, Don broke through the buzz and the pack opened up
to let them through.

She stared straight into Jared’s baby blues.
Oh. My. God.
He looked as luscious as she remembered in formfitting khakis, a pressed white
shirt, and those sexy leather roper boots.
Shit.

“Jared Wyatt, this is Jocelyn Wade, the president of the
Madison Chamber of Commerce and the lady who just saved our town.”

“You’re the new athletic director,” she mumbled, a lump
forming in her throat. Knees shaking, she grabbed a nearby chair for support
and watched him wrestle for some degree of control. He found it first.

“I’m glad to see you again, Jocelyn.” His voice smooth,
smile broad, his gaze lazily caressed her body.

“You two know each other?” Don asked, one eyebrow raised so
high it tickled his hairline.

“We were caught at the same airport during that storm two
weeks ago. Our luggage got mixed up. We have the same blue suitcases and the
same initials,” Jocelyn babbled, and she never babbled. “You coached the
Johnson High Jaguars. I never made the connection when I saw your jacket,” she
said, unable to tear herself from those ice-blue eyes, biting through her
tongue to prevent herself from devouring him whole.

Against her will, her body warmed to his unique aroma of
musk and sandalwood, electric charges pulsed through every pore. She needed to
get as far away from him as she could.

In an answer to her prayer, Debbie Hester, a local business
leader, wandered over to the group, stiletto heels clicking loudly on the
marble floor. After thanking Jocelyn effusively for her work, she wedged her
body next to Jared, stuck her overly made-up face into his and offered him a
good look at her overflowing cleavage. Jocelyn grabbed the opening, muttered
something about the ladies’ room, and left Jared to Madison’s black widow.

Finding comfort in the crowd, she fought the panic
scratching acid tracks across her chest. That man was the last thing she needed
in her too busy, overcrowded life.
I can handle this. It’s under control.
If only her pulse would slow down.

Jocelyn felt Jared by her side even before he wrapped his
fingers around her elbow, enough to draw her close. “Can we talk?” he asked,
his breath warm on her neck, his musky scent tantalizing her nose, sending
white heat down her spine. Her lower body clenched in need
. Bad kitty. Down
kitty. Damn, this is so not under control.
She should’ve run, but ducking a
problem was not the Wade way.

Unable to say a word, she nodded and led him to an
out-of-the-way conference room. His hand still resting on her arm seared a
brand into tissue, muscle, bone and marrow. Inside, he pulled her to him,
crushing mouth against mouth, tongues stroking fiercely. Raw, carnal need
burned right through any protest. Instead of pushing him away, she molded
herself against him like a second skin and drank in his kiss in desperate,
gasping gulps. His mouth blazed down her throat, sucking deeply, his fingers
searched out her breast under her jacket and massaged the nipple to an erect
peak.

“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you,” he
whispered against her neck before kissing her again. Locked together, he angled
her back against the conference table, his steel-hard cock jammed into the
curve of her hip. Warm, suckling kisses rained down the mounds of her breasts.
Jocelyn leaned one arm back to brace herself, the other hand balled in his hair
to guide his mouth over her body. Wet heat flooded her channel.

God help her, she wanted to fuck him right there on the
table.

The sudden flood of applause jumpstarted her sanity. A
speech finished, she’d be called to the podium soon. Suppressing a moan, she
found the strength to push him away. “I can’t do this.”

He ran the backs of his knuckles down her cheek in a slow
caress. The contact warmed her skin, reassured her somehow that everything was
okay, even though her knees shook and rattled. She leaned into the touch for
one brief moment then jerked back.

Jared dropped his hand and stuffed it in his pocket. “Why
not? Something happened between us that night. We owe it to ourselves to
explore it.”

She tucked in her blouse and tugged her jacket back in place
before responding with as much ice as she could muster, even though her body
still burned from his touch. “Nothing happened. We had sex. It was just one of
those things.” From the way his face blanched, she knew he felt her cold air
but he kept coming anyway. Tingles she didn’t want played at the edge of her
heart. Unwavering persistence she understood and respected.

“Given how you just kissed me, babe, I don’t believe a word
of the BS you’re spouting right now.” As if to show her who was boss, he moved
deep into her space, his breath hot against her neck, his scent so strong she
tasted his male spice on her tongue.

She stood her ground and reclaimed control. “I don’t do
relationships, Jared.” Her arms hugged around her chest to form a shield
between him and her heart. Was she trying to keep him away or her feelings from
spilling out
?

“Too busy working?” His eyes narrowed in what looked like
wariness but they remained fastened on hers, pure focus, demanding she accept
him.

“Don’t filter my choices through your past, Jared. You know
nothing of my life here.” Her arms tightened as if to strengthen her shields.

“I want to learn. Stop denying the attraction between us. ”
His gaze lasered into her, willing her to agree.

“I won’t deny we had great sex. You’re a hell of a fuck,
Jared, but that’s it. There’s no more, stop trying to pretend there is.” She
knew she was lying but she didn’t want this, couldn’t accept it. “We played a
game that night. This is real life, my life. Nothing about me or it is easy.”

“I’ve never been one for easy.” He brushed his finger along
her lower lip. “Play with me.”