Love at the 20-Yard Line (15 page)

Unable to wait any longer, he tried to walk slowly down the steps to his truck, but he was anxious to see Haven in that dress again and couldn’t keep himself to a sedate pace.

He arrived fifteen minutes early for their date and forced himself to sit in his truck for a few minutes before knocking on Haven’s door.

When the door opened, he wasn’t convinced he had the right apartment.

Instead of his curly-haired sweetheart, a blonde bombshell offered him a warm greeting. Haven’s shiny hair hung sleek and straight down her back. She wore more makeup than usual. He could see Allie’s hand in it, from the dark eyeliner to the smoky eyes that didn’t look like Haven’s innocent, fresh face. Deep red colored her lips instead of the natural soft pink shade he adored.

Haven wore the figure enhancing blue dress with a pair of heels even sexier than the shoes she tried on at the store.

“I’m sorry. I think I got the wrong place. I was looking for my girlfriend.” He made the tone of his voice teasing, although intense desire crashed over him as he stared at her.

“Well, that’s too bad. I thought maybe my dreams were finally coming true.” Although she didn’t know how it was possible, Haven decided Brody got more handsome every time she saw him. She stepped back so he could enter her apartment and closed the door.

After taking her arms in his hands, he gave her a slow, thorough once-over that made her feel exposed and wanted all at the same time.

“Haven, you take my breath away.” Lightly, he kissed her cheek, not wanting to smudge her makeup. He’d gone out with enough high-maintenance girls to know messing up their lipstick on the way out the door was considered a cardinal sin.

“You look very nice, too.” She wished he’d pull her close and kiss her, like he usually did when they were together.

“I’ve got a little something to go with your new dress.” Brody removed a small box from his jacket pocket and held it out to her.

“Another present? Really, Brody, you’ve done more than enough already.” She accepted the box and opened the lid. A necklace she’d admired earlier that afternoon nestled against a bed of burgundy velvet. “I can’t believe you bought this for me. Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.” He picked up the necklace and draped it around her neck.

Haven lifted her hair so he could fasten the necklace. He planted a warm kiss to the back of her neck before she dropped her thick, golden mane.

“I’ve never seen your hair straight before,” he said, running a hand over the back of her head. Although it looked very nice, he liked her untamed curls better. They looked more natural, more like Haven.

“Once in a great while Allie talks me into straightening it,” she said, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “Shall we get going?”

Haven slid on her glasses, picked up an evening bag, grabbed her keys, and walked out the door Brody held open for her.

“Do you need a jacket?” Brody asked as he shut the door behind him. “It still gets cool in the evenings.”

“We’re not going to be sitting outside anywhere, are we?” She took Brody’s hand as they walked over to his pickup.

“Not that I know of, but with your cousin involved, anything could happen.”

Haven laughed and smiled at him. “I’ll throw a fit if she tries anything.”

“Right. Because you’re given to bouts of hysteria, especially in public.” Brody opened his truck door and smiled at Haven before picking her up and setting her on the seat. The tight skirt of her dress along with the high heels made it impossible for her to get in the truck without his help, which was exactly why he didn’t suggest taking her car.

“You never know. There’s a first time for everything.” Haven offered him a sassy smile as he shut the door and hurried around the truck.

A few minutes later, they pulled up at a popular Italian restaurant where Allie and Rick waited outside the door. As usual, Allie looked like she belonged on a magazine cover with a short skirt, spiked heels, perfect makeup, and flowing hair.

For once, though, Haven didn’t feel like the ugly stepsister standing beside her. With Brody’s hand warm against her back, she felt beautiful and desirable.

The four of them were just leaving the restaurant when a group of Brody’s teammates stopped him on their way inside.

“Dude!” One of them knuckle bumped him as they stood outside the restaurant door. Brody’s arm around Haven made him grin broadly. “So, is this
the
doll? You didn’t mention she was super-sexy Barbie.”

Brody never considered himself a barbaric, jealous type of guy, but having his friends check out Haven like they’d all looked at any number of girls made him want to beat them into the ground.

Protectively stepping in front of her, he gave the men a long, dark glare, before telling them to enjoy their evening and escorting Haven down the walk.

“Told you you’d rock that outfit, cuz,” Allie said, as she and Rick walked behind Brody and Haven.

Brody sent her a warning glance over his shoulder. It was one thing for him to think Haven looked like a mouth-watering confection he was dying to taste. He didn’t want anyone else ogling her that way. No one.

“Don’t you think she looks amazing, Brody?” Allie prodded.

Before Brody could answer, Rick asked what movie everyone wanted to go see and steered the conversation to a much safer topic.

“We’ll meet you at the theater,” Rick said, smiling at Haven while hurrying Allie toward his car before she could say anything further to upset Brody.

While Brody slid behind the wheel, Haven tilted her head with an impish grin and fastened her seatbelt. “You didn’t answer Allie’s question.”

“I didn’t think I needed to.” Brody started the truck and drove in the direction of the movie theater. “If you can’t tell by the way I keep touching you or the fact that I can’t keep my eyes off you, you don’t deserve an answer.”

Brody’s honesty caught Haven off guard. “I just… I wasn’t…”

“I know, doll.” Brody picked up her hand then brought it to his lips, kissing her fingers. “For the record, you do look amazing. And hot. And exactly like the Barbie my buddy described.”

“Brody…” Haven’s cheeks heated with embarrassment.

“It’s true, Haven. Every word of it.”

Their arrival at the movie theater kept Haven from saying anything else. Brody helped her out of the truck and they walked toward the door with Rick and Allie.

After paying their admission, they ordered beverages before going in to watch an action movie. It wasn’t what the girls would have chosen to see, but the guys wanted to and it started in a few minutes, rather than waiting almost half an hour for another movie to begin.

Throughout the movie, Brody either held Haven’s hand or managed to touch her in some way like putting his arm around her shoulders or resting his hand on her leg. Pleased by his apparent need to be close, she breathed deeply of his scent and absorbed his warmth at her side.

Although he placed them on her neck and cheek, Brody snuck in a few kisses. She experienced a little disappointment that he didn’t try a little harder to press one to her lips. He seemed like the kind of guy who would enjoy kissing a girl in a dark theater.

Determined to enjoy the rest of their date, Haven turned her attention back to the movie.

When it ended, the four of them were discussing where else they could go when Haven excused herself to the restroom. On her way back to rejoin the group, two men walking behind her whistled loudly and one of them reached out like he was about to grab her rear.

Before Haven could say or do anything, Brody was there with a look on his face that frightened her. He gently pushed her behind him before stepping forward with a clenched fist.

“Don’t even think about it,” Brody threatened, looking at the men.

It took only a second for the two men to decide they didn’t want to take on someone who looked like he could flatten them both with one hand. They turned around and went back the way they came, mumbling an apology.

Brody considered going after them and knocking their heads together, but the coach frowned on that kind of publicity, so he instead took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

“Brody?” Haven asked, placing a hand on his arm. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m good.” He inhaled a deep breath before turning around and taking her hand in his. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. They didn’t actually do anything.” At least one of the men would have grabbed her if Brody hadn’t suddenly appeared. For the most part, she was disgusted and annoyed by their lack of manners. Nevertheless, some little part of her was thrilled the two men found her attractive.

“They almost did. Have you ever taken a self-defense class? Do you know how to take care of yourself?” If Haven was going to go out in public looking like she did at that particular moment, she might need to know how to defend herself. He wouldn’t always be there to take care of her.

Intentionally ignoring the pang of regret shooting through him at the thought of not being around for more than a few months, they rejoined Rick and Allie.

“My late night is catching up with me. If you all don’t mind, I think I’ll take Haven home and get to bed at a decent hour tonight,” Brody said. He was tired, but it wasn’t fatigue that made him want to take Haven home. It was the thought of other men staring at her with lust in their eyes. He didn’t know if he could control his anger or jealousy much longer without somebody getting punched in the face.

“I’m sorry, Brody.” Apologetic, Haven looking up at him. “I should have realized you’d be exhausted. I can catch a ride home with Allie if you want to go now.”

“No, I’ll take you home.” Brody smiled at Rick and Allie, even if it was a little forced. This whole fiasco was Allie’s fault.

If she hadn’t been trying to turn Haven into a shorter, light-haired version of herself, none of this would have happened. Haven would be dressed in one of her soft sweater things with her curls pulled back and her lips all sweet and pink, looking like the innocent girl she was instead of some temptress.

He waved to the other couple as he helped Haven in his truck. They both were quiet on the drive to her apartment. When he pulled into a parking space, Haven opened the door and started to get out.

“Wait, Haven, I’ll help you. You might break a leg getting out in those shoes.” The thought of her trying to slide off the seat with the tight skirt of her dress hampering her efforts made him grin. He hurried around the truck, lifted her down, then walked her to the door.

“Thank you for a lovely evening, Brody, and the necklace. I love it.” Haven rested her hand against his chest. Other than a few kisses to her neck and cheek at the movie theater, Brody hadn’t tried to kiss her all evening. She’d thought of little else but having his lips pressed to hers since he spent the day with her last Sunday.

Fully aware she’d never get any rest unless she had at least one, she started to pull his head down to hers. A throat clearing nearby made her raise her head and smile half-heartedly at one of her elderly neighbors. The woman glared disapprovingly from her open door.

“Good evening, Mrs. Humphrey.”

“Don’t do anything I’d have to tell your mother about,” the woman said, shutting her door.

“Friend of yours?” Brody asked, as Haven opened her door and pulled him inside. She tossed her keys and evening bag on a side table then turned to look at Brody.

“Not exactly. My mom is friends with her daughter so if I do anything Mrs. Humphrey deems unacceptable or inappropriate, Mom gets to hear about it.”

“Does she ever tattle on Allie?” If the woman needed someone to snitch on, Allie was the girl to watch.