Faster (The University of Gatica #2) (10 page)

She had the feeling alone time with him was a very rare thing.

Aileen wiped her hands on the material of her skirt. She touched skin just above her knees and she repeated the action again; a nervous habit she had picked up before getting into the starting blocks at the start of a race. Her hands weren’t sweaty but if they were in the blocks, she didn’t want to risk slipping on her fingers.

“You look beautiful.” Jani headed toward the shower from her bedroom. “He’s not going to be able to stop staring at you.” She paused by the kitchen. “Where are you going?”

“I have no idea.” Aileen played with her hair. Jani had helped her straighten and style it. A piece kept trying to hang in her face instead of behind her ear.

Jani jabbed a finger at her. “Don’t you dare reach for that pony I see hiding underneath your watch! I see it. Don’t pretend it’s not there.” She grinned. “I cannot wait to hear where you guys go. I want every little detail.” She glanced at her watch. “After the party, of course. Remember, you have to come to the party.”

“I’ll try.” She had no idea what Tyler wanted to do.

“Pinky swear it. Or I’m going to call you every five minutes until you come.”

She laughed. “I can turn my phone off.”

Jani shot her a dirty look. “You wouldn’t!”

A low mumbling muffler rolled by the house and pulled into the driveway. “He’s here,” she whispered. Butterflies began instantly crashing around in her stomach. She wiped her hands one more time against her skirt. She waved at Jani as she opened the front door. “See yah later, alligator.” She quickly closed the door before Jani came running out to remind Tyler that they needed to go to the party.

Tyler’s vintage Mustang Cobra rumbled as it idled. He stood just outside the car, his arm resting on the opened door. “Hey.” The corners of his mouth spread upward as his eyes met hers.

Aileen was impressed how his eyes didn’t travel over her. Not that she expected it, but had kind of hoped he would like the effort she had put into dolling herself up. It wasn’t every day she dressed up. Most days life revolved around a pair of jogging pants, a sports bra, t-shirt and a pony. Not that he would know, she never saw him at practice or on campus. “Hi.” She smiled back at him, one hand resting on the black railing of the porch as they stood staring and smiling at each other.

“Get going, you bums!” Jani yelled from inside the house. She tapped on the window and waved at Tyler.

It startled Aileen and Tyler to life. She hurried down the steps, sticking her tongue out at Jani as she passed the window.

Tyler ran around the car and opened the passenger door for her. “Your chariot awaits.”

She knew how much he loved this car, but couldn’t resist teasing him when he got into his seat. “It’s really nice your grandma let you have her car.”

“It’s not...” He started to protest and shook his head. “You making fun?”

Aileen rubbed the dashboard. “Of
Lizzy
? No. Never.”

He grinned and pulled the car into reverse. “You remember.”

She nodded. “That this baby is not a grandma or a nanny or anything related? She’s a sleek, revved up, hot Lizzy.” She repeated his words from her recruiting trip near perfectly. “I had the honor of naming her.” She laughed. “Did it stick?”

“Her name? Yes.” He ran his fingers over the steering wheel.

Aileen imagined him doing that to her and she felt her pulse quicken.

“Lizzy was a little hesitant to come here.”

“She was?” Aileen wasn’t sure if Tyler was referring to the car or to himself and using Lizzy as a metaphor.

“You guys didn’t end off on a good note that last time you were together.”

She thought about the argument that had happened the other night. “I think we might have misunderstood each other. I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions.”

Tyler concentrated on turning but glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “She forgives you.”

Aileen pressed her lips together and then couldn’t hold back. “Don’t you think she should apologize as well?”

“For what? She didn’t hurt your feelings. A part of her died when you called her a grandma.”

Pardon?
She realized he actually was referring to the car, not the two of them. “You mean when she stalled?”

“Yes, a part of her died.”

Aileen started laughing.

“It’s not funny.” Tyler had a difficult time keeping a straight face.

“Does she like her name?” Aileen covered her mouth with her hand, trying to hide her giggles.

“It stuck.”

“That’s nice.” She giggled behind her hand and shifted in her seat so she could watch him. “I should have probably told you that ‘Lizzy’ is my grandmother’s name.”

Tyler slammed on the breaks. “What?” He pulled the Mustang into a near-empty parking lot. “You gave her your gran’s name?”

She shrugged. “It suited her. The car’s ancient. Like the nineteen seventies.”

“She’s from nineteen eighty!”

“Same thing!”

He shook his head and pretended to look devastated. “I can’t have the two of you fighting. It just won’t work.”

Aileen had an idea. “You could teach me how to drive stick.”

“Say, what?” He touched the stick shift like he was trying to cover a child’s ears.

“Jani was going to teach me, but we just haven’t got around to it.”

“You’ve never driven standard?”

She shook her head. “But I’m a very good driver.”

He leaned back against his seat. “That’s what bad drivers say.”

“No. I’m a good driver, and a quick learner.” She pointed to the parking lot. “It’s like destiny.”

Tyler sighed. “Fine.”

Aileen’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

“I trust you. What better way to prove it?”

She unclicked her seat belt and opened the car door. She danced as she ran around the front of the car. She spun around and stopped to lean into the window where Tyler still sat. “You are going to have to switch seats.”

“Give me a moment. I’ve never let anyone drive her, anyone.”

She laughed, enjoying the scent of his cologne as her head was inches away from his. Excited, she kissed him on the lips. Quick and hard. “I promise to give you one of those every time I stall or grind the gears.” She popped her head out of the car.

Tyler jumped out of the car before Aileen could react. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her tight against him.

A pleasure of something sensational sailed through her veins. She did not want it to leave.

“Do you always get what you want?” His nose brushed against her hair.

She pressed herself tighter against him, not sure it was even possible with the grip he had on her hips. “Not always.”

“I have a hard time believing that.”

“You’re one to talk.”

He inhaled and pressed his cheek against the side of her forehead. His warm breath teased her ear as he spoke, “I can’t get you out of my head. I’ve been trying and it’s just not working.” He stepped back and smiled sheepishly at her. “So I decided to stop trying.”

She didn’t like the space between them but wanting him to throw her on the hood of his car in public wasn’t an option. “I don’t understand.”

He clasped his hands behind his head. “You’re a freshman. You’ve got four, if not five years of university. You are just starting out. I’ve got another year of track eligibility, but I’m not taking it. I’m done after this year. There are NFL offers and scouts, draft picks, sponsors to choose, plus helping lead the team through this season to our playoffs! And we’re barely halfway through the season.” He began to pace. “I’ve got to keep Coach Phelps happy, Coach Anderson in the loop, be a presence in the school, a leader and mentor every second of every day!” He stopped pacing and faced her. “I can’t allow myself to disappoint anyone, and you’re the one person I don’t think I know how to avoid doing that. Every way I look at it, you are going to be hurt.”

She moved closer to him, hating the amount of weight on his shoulders. He needed an outlet, something he didn’t have to be responsible for. She could be that channel. She laid her hands on his chest and spread her fingers wide, basking in the strength that lay beneath them. “I don’t know why you got your panties all in a bunch.” She pushed him back so he stood trapped between his car and her. She winked at him and curled her fingers, letting her nails scrape against his shirt. “I’m not asking you for a promise ring. I’m just asking you to teach me how to drive stick.”

The tension that caused his forehead to crease disappeared. He grinned. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

“Nah,” she said as she leaned into him and slipped her hand into his jean pocket. “I’m going to be the one that brings you life.” She pulled his car keys out and shook them. “Now show me how to drive! We have a party to go to and I assume you are going to feed me dinner before we go.”

He stood and watched her, uncertainty written clearly on his face.

She could love him for his boyish charms and his need to avoid disappointment in others and, most of all, himself, but right now he needed someone who didn’t want anything in return – except maybe a lesson on how to drive stick.

A smile slowly spread across his face. He clapped his hands and then rubbed them together. “Epic is on! I’ll teach you how to drive.” He grabbed her and lifted her so their heads were level. “I just need some kind of security deposit before we start.” He brushed his lips lightly against hers and then hungrily did it again forcing her mouth open so he could slip his tongue inside.

He was going to break her heart.

She was sure of it.

But it wasn’t going to happen today, and she knew he was worth the risk. She only dreaded that she might break his in the process.

“You’re a natural.” Tyler stole one of the fries off her plate. “I honestly thought I was going to have to install a new clutch after we were finished.” He bit into the French fry. “I’m impressed.”

She grinned. “I told you I was a good driver.”

“But to step into Lizzy like you owned her, that’s a mighty big responsibility.”

She handed him another fry and popped one into her mouth as well. “If I can handle dealing with you, I figured Lizzy’d be a breeze.” She winked at him, loving the sense of empowerment she felt. It wasn’t over him but over herself. It was like she had grown up in an instant, and she didn’t mind at all.

“How is school going?”

“I like it. I have some boring classes, but that’s just like high school. I’m trying to get on the cadaver team for the anatomy physiology course next semester.”

Tyler pointed at her plate. “I’m eating!”

She rolled her eyes. “Your plate is empty, you’re eating my fries so I get to talk about gross things.”

“I took that course.”

“The anatomy one?” When he nodded, she slid him the rest of her plate of fries. “Were you on the cadaver team?”

“No. I’d have liked to but between football and then track, there wasn’t a semester I had enough free time.” He gave her a sympathetic look. “If the course is only offered during the spring term, you might have a hard time committing to it as well. You’ll be gone almost every weekend competing. Or competing here.”

“I could set my lab times for after practice.”

“There’s a team of six for each cadaver. I’m not sure it’ll work. You’d have to get all of them to work around your schedule.”

She hadn’t thought of that. She really wanted to be on the team, but Tyler had a good point. “Maybe I’ll see if it’s offered in the fall.  What’s your major, by the way?”

“I’ll graduate in June with a B S in kinesiology, with an emphasis in sports therapy.”

It sounded interesting. She pretended to give him a stern look and took on her father’s tone, “And what do you plan on doing with that, son?”

Tyler’s eyebrows rose. “Nothing… Sir. I’m going to be playing in the NFL with the big kids.” He frowned a second before erasing the look from his face. “What about you? What’s your field of expertise?”

She wanted to ask him about football but decided not to push it. “Probably Biology.”

“And what do you plan on doing with that, dear?” he said, mimicking her voice.

“Not sure. I have no idea what kinds of jobs are out there. Maybe I’ll get into pre-med.”

“Looks like I landed me a smart one!” he teased.

“I landed a famous, soon to be rich one,” she joked back. “Shall we give each other a shout in about ten years and see which one of us is richer?”

Tyler pulled his wallet out and dropped some cash onto the table. “I’ll cover for dinner tonight, in ten years you’re paying for it.”

Aileen stood and tucked the chair in. “I’m going to hold you to that.” She pulled her phone out of her purse. “I should probably have your cell phone number or email address or something so I can get in contact with you.”

Laughing, he gave her his information. “Feel free to use them anytime.”

She held her phone up and grinned. “I’d watch what you say. I might call you in the middle of a game just to say hi.”

He grabbed her phone and held it out of her reach. “Maybe I should delete my info. You might be some messed up stalker who is going turn into some crazy doc. Then in ten years we’re going to meet up and you’re going to drug me. I’ll wake up looking like Frankenstein.”

“Jekyll and Hyde? Nah. Too easy. I’ll plan something much more elaborate and complicated.”

He put his arm around her shoulder and handed her the phone back. They walked outside to his car. “I wish I had more free time like today. This is more of a one-off. I don’t know when I’m going to be able to hang with you again. It sucks. You’re beautiful, smart and funny. I’d like to get to know you more.”

He called her beautiful. The hottest guy on campus thought she was smart… and funny! “Don’t forget I know how to drive Lizzy.”

He smiled, but his eyes remained solemn. “That too. But I’m serious, after tonight it’s back to the grind for me. Tomorrow I’ve got to be at the training hall to go over tapes for next Saturday’s game. If I’m going to be playing two positions, I need to know both of them like the back of my hand.” He opened the car door for her. “I know I won’t be able to see you all week or weekend. Away game and we are traveling down to Virginia by bus so we won’t be back till Sunday afternoon.” He sighed and walked around the car to the driver’s side.

She watched him click his seatbelt together and start Lizzy. “You do know that sport shouldn’t be only about business, right? You do need to have some fun with it.”

“I know.”

“It doesn’t sound like you are having fun.”

He pulled out onto the road and headed toward campus. They had gone to eat at a burger joint that Tyler swore only the local people went to. It was a hidden gem that the college didn’t know. He hadn’t lied. The burgers were amazing.

Aileen faced forward, afraid she might have stuck her foot in her mouth.

Tyler sighed. “I do have fun. It just sometimes feels like a job instead of a college sport. But it is a job. We get a scholarship to pay for school and let us play the game we love. I do love it. I want to play in the NFL. Who wouldn’t?”

She didn’t know what to say, so she just sat quiet hoping he would talk. It seemed like that was what he needed.

“I’m just stressed. I want to win the Jim Thorpe again. Imagine winning that two years in a row? I want to win NCAAs in the hurdles too. Back to back. Nobody does that kind of shit! You won World Juniors, does it make you hungry to win NCAAs?”

She blinked. “I want to win races. I don’t know if I can win NCAAs. I’m a freshman.”

“Who won World Juniors! You know half the team is terrified of you?”

“Pardon?” She hadn’t heard that.

Tyler chuckled. “The sprinters are scared of you. At your party, they were talking about how pretty you are and how you were going to kick butt. I heard you were knocking back fast times on the hills and on the track. James won’t shut up about how you are stronger than some of the guys on the team.”

“I’m not. I can barely bench press the bar.”

He reached over and rested his hand on her knee. “I think he’s referring to your legs. How do you harness all that power inside of you?” He squeezed her knee, tickling her. “Or are you a descendant of Thor?”

“I believe you’re the one who’s the gift from the gods.”

“How about we agree to be amazing athletes? I’ll win the Jim Thorpe and you win indoor NCAAs. Then come outdoors, we can keep a tally of our races. See who the better hurdler is.”

She liked the feel of his hand on her thigh.
Focus, Aileen!
“Are you this competitive in everything?”

“Pretty much.”

She laughed. She liked the two of them flirting back and forth better than talking about the stresses of sport. “Okay, just so I can get this straight… We’re competing in degrees, in future careers, how much we make, dinner in ten years and now we are going to see who’s the better athlete.”

“Better hurdler. I’d kick your butt in every other sport.”

She scoffed. “Really? Every other sport? Maybe football, but that’s probably it.”

“Are you challenging me?” He pulled onto her street. “What sport do you want to do first?”

“Pardon? You want me to kick your butt tonight?”

“Next time we hang out. Choose the sport, or are you chicken?”

She hated being called chicken. “You let me know when you’re available. I’ll have a game planned.”

“So I’ll pick the time and you’ll pick the place.” He pulled into her driveway and held out his hand. “Deal?” He grinned wickedly at her.

She squeezed his hand tightly. “Deal!”

“What do you want to do now? It’s kind of early to head over to the party.”

“You coming?” she teased.

“With you? I’ll go just about anywhere.” He pulled her toward him with the hand he held inside of his. He pressed his lips softly against hers and then again.

“Jani texted me before to say she was heading over to Chrissy’s to get ready. We’ve got the whole house to ourselves. Do you want to come in?” The rate of her blood flow increased rapidly as ringing echoed in her ears. She couldn’t believe she was asking him inside. She brushed her lips against his and said breathlessly, “Maybe we can start one of those competitions in my room.”

Tyler inhaled sharply. Without a word, he stepped out of the car and came around to open her door. She slipped out and leaned against the side of Lizzy. Tyler put his hands on either side of her shoulders, resting them on the metal of the car. His body curved perfectly into hers and a hand found its way to her scalp as his fingers curled and entangled themselves in her hair. His lips found hers, giving her the most incredible, seductive, sensual kiss she had ever experienced.

When he reluctantly pulled back, he gave her a half grin. “Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.”

She stared at him, her shoulders rising and falling as she tried to catch the breath that escaped her. It took longer to recover from his touch than running a hundred meter hurdle race. She reached for his hand. “Let’s go inside.” She’d never been one for public displays of affection and what she wanted to do to him couldn’t be done on her front lawn.

He let her lead him inside. She flipped on a couple of lights as she led him toward the back of the house where her bedroom was. A million thoughts ran through her head. Why didn’t she feel nervous? She wasn’t the kind of person to just up and take someone to her bedroom. Then again, she had thought she wasn’t the type of person who would sleep with some athlete on a recruiting trip. According to Becky, her best friend, she was two steps away from joining a convent. If only Becky saw her now.

She couldn’t believe how Tyler changed her. He didn’t really change her, he brought things out of her that she tended to keep quiet. He made her want to be aggressive, like she was on the track, but with him. She enjoyed how it made her feel. It couldn’t be wrong, could it?

She pushed the questions aside as she opened the door to her room. She hesitated as a bunch more queries bubbled inside her head. Did she switch the light on? Leave it off? Was she supposed to say something? Or just start taking off her clothes? She had never been in this situation before and suddenly didn’t know what to do. At her hotel room last February, everything had just happened naturally.

Tyler leaned over her and flipped her light on. His hand still in hers, he pulled her toward the bed and sat her down on the edge, near the foot of the bed. He squatted down in front of her so their heads were level. He ran his finger over his lips as his eyes flitted back and forth at hers. “Before you start kissing me and I lose my ability to think…” He winked as he teased her. “I want to tell you that I’m sorry about the other night. I shouldn’t have come tapping on your window. That’s not something I would do. I was sitting at First Down with some buddies and the conversation turned to track. There’s a player on the team that sprints as well. He came to your party just before school started. He was telling the guys on the team about you. His girlfriend is a hurdler on the team.”

Uh oh. Mindy
. It had to be.

“I usually keep my head down and don’t say anything, but he started going off about how you were telling his girlfriend how you were going to kick her ass and be number one. How Coach Anderson only had eyes for me and you now.”

“I never said…” She pressed her lips together. “Mindy snapped at me, at that party and told me off.”

Tyler nodded. “I figured. It pissed me off that he was whining like a baby and spewing lies about you. I was this close,” he said making a small space between his fingers, “from punching his lights out. Not a very team thing to do, so instead of staying, I got up and left. I was just going to go for a walk to cool off and ended up in front of your place.”

“Thank you for almost defending my honor.” She wasn’t teasing, she meant it. “I’m sorry I got mad at you that night.”

“Don’t be. I deserved it. I was ticked you didn’t contact me.”

“And I was mad you didn’t get in touch with me.”

“I went to nationals just so I could see you.” He grinned sheepishly. “Lame isn’t it?”

“I was in Poland. World Juniors.”

“Yeah, I figured it out afterward. I forgot you were still a junior and I wasn’t paying attention to the scheduling. I was just excited to see you.” He rolled his eyes and then covered them with his hand. “I can’t believe I’m telling you this.”

She didn’t mind at all. All this hotness outside and this incredible sweetness inside. Like one of those massive tigers she watched on the Animal Planet TV show. “I didn’t think you liked me. Then I didn’t want you to think I’d signed with Gatica because of you. I mean, you being here isn’t a bad thing but…” How could she explain it so it made sense?

“I know what you mean.” He leaned forward so his waist pressed against the inside of her knees. “I have a crazy schedule. I don’t want to disappoint you.” His eyes rested on her lips. “I’d hate myself if I hurt you.”