Secret Storm (3 page)

"What about you?"

"Hm?" Sara's question shook him from his
thoughts. "Oh, I'm still looking for a guidance counselor position.
Doesn't matter where."
I could move anywhere.
"I need to
find a high school that wants a football coach too. I gotta get the
right job now so I can get on the path toward my dream."

"Your dream is to be a football coach?"

"Yeah, I just can't imagine my life without
football. I had an interview last week at Woodlawn High School,
which needs both. They called me this morning and scheduled a
second interview for next Monday."

"That's great. I hope you get it."

"Yeah, me too. This is the job I've been
searching for."

Sara parked next to his Mustang. She got out
of her car and ran her hand along the shiny hood. "What a beautiful
machine." The classic muscle car drew attention wherever Jack
went—fire engine red with perfectly polished chrome.

"Pretty on the outside but unpredictable
underneath."
Like you.
He leaned back against the Civic and
watched her long blonde hair spill over her shoulder as she leaned
down to get a closer look in the window.

She flipped her hair back with slender
fingers, her blue eyes sparkling prettier than the chrome. He could
tell she liked the car. Maybe she even wanted to ask for a ride,
but did she want more? Sara had as much skill hiding her emotions
about him as he did with reading them in other people. Jack could
read Austin like a peewee defense, but Sara threw him for a loop.
Her fingers skimmed over the roof, and he got so damn jealous of
the car he skimmed his fingers over her shoulder before he could
stop himself.

She jumped, jerking away from his touch.
"Oh!"

"Sorry." He snatched his hand back.
So she
doesn't want me to touch her.

"It's okay. I didn't realize you were so
close."

Neither had he. She didn't move away, though.
Does she want me to touch her?
"I was... ah... gonna ask if
you wanted a ride." He reached for the door handle, brushing closer
to her body, his arm caressing her waist.

"Oh." She stood between him and the open car
door, flipping her hair over her shoulder again. "I can't tonight.
I still have to unpack. Spring break is over and classes start
tomorrow."

"Yeah, okay."
It would be so easy to grab
her and kiss her senseless.

"I should get home."

She moved closer to her car, and he should
have stepped back to give her room, but he didn't. Squeezed close
in the tight space between cars, their bodies kissed. He opened the
door for her and they touched again.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Sara." Had he just shut the door
on their future? He watched her back away, his body aching to be
near her again. He needed to say something—anything—to make her
stop, but his brain refused to cooperate.

"Jack." Sara stepped on the brakes and rolled
down her window. "Ask me again sometime. Soon."

He maintained a cool smile, but his heart
hammered underneath. "I will."

She waved to him, fluttering her fingers as
the window slid closed.

***

Why the hell did I say no? Hell yes I wanted
a ride!

She'd said no because she did have to unpack.
Classes started early tomorrow and she still had a reading
assignment to finish. Most importantly, she had no desire to get
into another relationship when she'd just ended a bad one. So why
had she told him to ask her again? The time had never been right
for them, but maybe someday it would be.

Jack wasn't just another relationship, or
even a fling. He was a good friend who'd helped her get over her
past with Austin so she could be happy for Jane. She sometimes
caught herself looking at this achingly attractive man for no other
reason than to admire his chiseled face and his well-built body.
Sometimes she caught him staring back at her.

His hand had felt warm and gentle on her
shoulder. She hadn't meant to jump when he touched her; the car had
been occupying her full attention. She could've moved away from
him, but she liked the way his hard body felt touching hers.

Tonight, Jack's desire had felt more urgent
than their usual flirting. Was she imagining things again?

She didn't need a relationship and she didn't
want a fling, but it sure would be nice to be flung. She hadn't
slept with her ex since catching him with that red-headed slut.
Not a slut
...
that word's too good for her.

The problem with their long-distance
relationship was that she hadn't been getting laid. For how long?
She'd started seeing David at Christmas... no... Thanksgiving
break, and now graduation was almost here. Maybe that's why Jack
looked so appealing to her tonight. She needed to get some, and
damn if he didn't seem like the perfect choice.

An image popped into her mind—white sheets,
naked skin, hot sweat, Jack's black-coffee hair caressing her cheek
as he leaned down to kiss her. Mating mouths, tangled bodies, cars
honking—

What? Oh!
The light had turned green.
She stepped on the gas and decided to explore that fantasy further
when she got home.

No, she couldn't take Jack to bed and be done
with him. Could she? She wanted more from him than sex, but she
didn't have the time or the energy for much else.

She stopped at a red light, beating her head
against the steering wheel. What could she do about Jack? Why
couldn't she make up her mind? When would they—
hoooonk
! The
guy behind her laid on his horn.
What the...? Another green
light, idiot.

She stomped on the accelerator and sped
through the intersection, unanswered questions still spinning
through her brain.

"So what happened last night?" The nasty grin
on Austin's face told Jack exactly what his roommate expected to
hear.

"Nothing." He cracked an egg into the frying
pan and stirred, hoping it would scramble before it fried.

"Nothing? Are you kidding me? You haven't
seen Sara for two weeks and she comes back single... and you didn't
give her a nice welcome home?" Austin poured a cup of coffee and
sat down at the kitchen table.

Jack scraped the fried egg into the sink and
tried again. "She drove me home after you ditched me, and checked
out the Mustang, so I asked her if she wanted to go for a ride, but
she said no."

"Aw, man."

"But she did tell me to ask her again."

"So what are you waiting for?"

"I'll ask her when I see her in class." He
picked up the whisk.
Maybe this'll work.

Austin shook his head. "Jack, we've been best
friends since the third grade. Haven't I taught you anything?"

"Yeah." Jack chuckled. "You taught me the top
ten ways to piss off a woman. Number one – never remember her name.
Number two—"

"Whatever. You cannot let this opportunity
pass you by."

"I haven't—"

"Seriously? You've been in love with this
girl since freshman year and you've never asked her to do anything
but study."

"Will you let me finish? I haven't had the
opportunity for anything else until now."

"Which brings me back to my original
question. What happened last night? I got Janie out of McGinley's
as quick as possible so you could have Sara all to yourself—"

"Yeah, I'm sure that's the reason you
left."

"—and you blew it. What are you gonna do the
next time you get an opportunity?
If
you get another one? I
can't always be around to create them for you."

"I'll get another opportunity. I don't need
your help."
All right then, I'm going to have fried eggs for
breakfast.

"I hope so, 'cause if your flirting is as bad
as your cooking...."

"The eggs are done, aren't they?"

"If that's what you call it." Austin looked
at Jack's plate and shuddered.

"Want some?"

"Hell, no. Janie already made breakfast for
me."

Jack shook his head. "I'll bet she did." He
took one bite of his fried mess and tossed the rest in the
trash.

"She also taught me to scramble the eggs
before
putting them in the pan."

"You're kidding me."

Austin pushed his chair back and gathered his
books. "Gotta get to class."

"I do too." Still hungry, Jack gnawed on some
burnt toast while he cleaned up the kitchen.

His best friend was right. He couldn't let
this opportunity get away from him. Sara had made a point of
telling him to ask her out again. He wouldn't blow it this
time.

***

Jack looked at his watch.
When is Dr.
Burns ever gonna shut up?
He tuned out the rambling professor
and studied Sara.

Her gorgeous blue eyes were fixed on the
words he wrote on the board. She scribbled something in her
notebook and highlighted it, her face taking on a determined
expression Jack knew well. She disagreed with the poor babbling
professor and she was about to let him have it, but just as she
opened her mouth, he suddenly dismissed the class and everyone
bolted for the door.

Jack picked up his books and waited in the
hall while Sara debated Dr. Burns. A sexy scowl twisted her lips
when she darted out the classroom door and down the long empty
hallway. Jack moved quickly to catch up with her.

"Hey Sara!"

She jumped and spun around. "Oh, Jack." She
clapped her hand over her heart, drawing his eyes to her lovely
left breast. "You've got to quit sneaking up on me."

"Huh?" His eyes snapped to her face and she
smiled. "Sorry, I just wanted to talk."

"Walk with me. I need to get home and go over
my notes."

"I gotta get to the gym and pack up my
equipment. We have an away game tonight."

"When is your next home game?"

"I should know, but I gotta look at the
schedule."

"Bayfield's finest catcher can't keep track
of the schedule?" She winked.

"It's hard enough keeping track of the
pitchers. At least Austin has settled down."

"Jane's good for him, huh?"

"Yes she is. He's grown up a lot since he met
her."

"How can you tell?"

"Good question." Jack laughed and shook his
head. At the front entrance, he waited for the crowd to clear, then
moved close to her, lowering his voice. "But I don't want to talk
about Austin."

Late afternoon sunlight filtered through the
glass door, sparkling like gold on Sara's hair. His fingers
twitched, eager to touch her, but he remembered how she'd recoiled
last night.

Sara put her hand on the door, but didn't
push it open. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Um...."
Well shit, Jack, here
'
s
your opportunity. Don
'
t let her get away.
He looked at
her big blue eyes. "What happened to your glasses?"

"I got contacts when I went home on break.
I'd had enough of the geek look."

He smiled and stepped closer to her. "I kinda
liked it."
Was that disappointment in her eyes?
"But I like
this too. Your eyes sparkle even more now."

She smiled back and a faint pink blush
touched her cheeks. "Is that what you wanted to talk about? My
sparkling blue eyes?"

Wow. The girl doesn't waste time.
"That's not all. I could talk about your gorgeous blonde hair, your
pretty red lips, your soft...." his eyes slid down her body,
lingering where her chest curved.

"Ahem."

"Anyway." He grinned. "I wanted to ask if
you'd like a ride."
You might want to clarify that.
"In my
car."

"But not tonight."

"No, not tonight."
Damn baseball game.
"But soon."

"Soon." She pushed the door open with her
sexy backside, stopping to touch his chest. She tugged on his
t-shirt and pulled him close. "The sooner, the better," she
whispered.

"I'll see what I can do."

A jolt of electricity shot through him. Did
she feel it too? He braced a hand against the door, embracing her
without touching her. Should he kiss her? They weren't on a
date—had barely even made plans for a date. Jack didn't like to
jump headfirst into things, unless he had a football in his hands.
He preferred to wait for the perfect moment.

It probably won't get more perfect than
this.
He closed his eyes and leaned in so close he felt her
sigh on his lips.

Sara's hand flattened against his chest and
she pushed him away. "No. I'm sorry, Jack." Her gaze dropped. "Not
now. It's just not a good—"

"Not a good what?"

"It's so close to graduation. I don't want to
get involved right now. Who knows where we're going to end up?"

"Why should that stop us?"

"Why? How can we start a relationship when we
have no idea where it's going to lead?"

Jack couldn't help smiling. "I have a pretty
good idea."
Damn it, that sounded more suggestive than I
meant.

"Do you now?" Her beautiful blue eyes turned
hot, burning right through him. "That might be good enough for you,
but I want more."

"I do, too." He reached for her but stopped
short of touching her. "I'll give you whatever you want."

She stepped back and blinked. Did she even
know what she wanted? "I know."

"So what's holding us back?"

She avoided his eyes. "It's not the right
time."

Jack clenched his jaw so he wouldn't yell at
her.
When will be the right time, damn it?
"Do you want me
to ask you again?"

"Jack, don't...." The agony in her voice
reflected in her eyes.

"I see." But he didn't see at all. Nothing
blocked their way anymore. If not now, then when?

She looked up at him, her pretty blue eyes
suddenly sad. "Good luck at the game tonight."

"Yep."