Changing Lanes (The Lone Stars Book 3) (5 page)

Devon’s heart hammered in his chest. “What happened?”

“My father picked me up early from camp, and I never saw him again.” She shrugged. “I gave him my address and my email, but he never wrote.”

He sat up.

She most certainly had not given him her address or he’d have come to visit.

“Maybe he lost your address?” Devon scanned his memory for anything she’d given him with her address on it.

“I wrote it on the back of his favorite book. I don’t remember the title but he always had it on him during meals.” One corner of her mouth turned up in a wistful smile.

What book? He didn’t remember a book. Wait a minute. He’d borrowed a book from his bunkmate so that he could pretend to read it while staring at her during lunch. At the end of the session, he’d given the book back to the boy who’d slept in the bottom bunk below him. Holy crap! Had some stupid book cost him years he could have had with Laney? He felt nauseated.

“How about you?” She waited for him to tell some camp stories.

Even talking about him, to him, hadn’t sparked any recognition. Clearly she remembered their time together, but she hadn’t put two and two together. Did he tell her that he was DJ? Was it too soon? A large part of him wanted so badly for her to come to that conclusion on her own. Whether it was pride or just the reassurance that they had a connection to one another, he wanted her to realize it on her own time. Plus, it was fun getting to know her all over again.

She checked her watch. “At the Lakeway Park, they show movies on Thursday nights. Tonight it’s
Serenity
. If we leave now we can make it. Obviously, it’s too late to get a good seat in the park, but we could roll down the windows and watch from the parking lot. Maybe order a pizza.”

Her stomach rumbled, and she clamped a hand over it. “Sorry.”

If he weren’t half in love with her already, he would have fallen right then. She still wanted to spend time with him. She was giving him another chance. He wouldn’t screw it up. Next time there would be flowers and dinner and a poetry reading.

Her smile was bright and lovely. “Just think, we don’t need to order extra Parmesan cheese.” She pointed to her head. “I’ve got it.”

Spending time with her was such a gift.

“Sounds good to me.” But he could do better than a pizza. What if he called Jeffrey’s and had them deliver something wonderful or better yet, he could call The Emerald and have them set up a table in the parking lot. They did personal catering that included a waiter. He glanced at Laney. Then again, a pizza, EJ, and his favorite movie sounded a whole lot better. He started the engine. Just this once, they’d go low–rent. After tonight, she was only getting the best money could buy. “Buckle up. The Lakeway Park it is.”

They pulled into the parking lot just as opening credits started on the huge blow–up movie screen at the back of the park. Devon scanned the parking lot for the best vantage point, backed into the parking space, turned off the engine, and opened the back. Was it too forward to propose they snuggle in the back while watching the movie? It was early October in Austin. It might be too cold to sit with the back open. He was just about to turn the car back on when she opened her door. He threw open his door, jumped out, and was helping her out of the car before he realized what he was doing.

He pulled out his phone. “What kind of pizza do you like?”

“Meat lovers with extra cheese? Or whatever you like.” She limped to the back of the Escalade and then eased back on the tailgate.

He called Dominos and explained that they were in the parking lot of the Lakeway Park. After some negotiating and Devon explain who he was, they agreed to deliver the pizza to him.

He joined her on the tailgate. “Those are some shoes.”

Laney leaned back so her feet dangled in front of her. “Cute, right? They’re new … and painful.”

Devon knelt down in front of her, slipped off one shoe and then the other. “Scoot back a little.”

Laney inched back so only her feet hung out the back. Devon climbed onto the tailgate, gently picked up her right foot and massaged it. Touching her was wonderful.

Her whole body melted. “Mmmmmmm. That feels so good. Mmmmm.”

He could stand to hear that sound a few billion more times.

“The best movie ever, meat lovers pizza, and a foot rub. You’re fast becoming my most favorite person.” Her eyes closed, and she leaned back on her elbows. “Mmmmm.”

He felt the smile all the way to his soul. He was touching her and the simple pleasure in that was reward enough … but that purring sound was icing on the cake.

“Each foot has one hundred muscles and each one thanks you very much. And the twenty–six joints and thirty three bones are pretty happy also.” She sat up and jerked her foot away. “Oops. I promised my teammates that I wouldn’t bore you with trivia medical facts.” She blew out a long breath. “Wait, I already talked about cat allergies and scrotum injuries.”

“Can we agree to not use that word anymore?” He shrugged out of his jacket and winced as his right shoulder protested. He’d taken a hard hit in practice today and it ached.

“Sorry.” Her gaze locked onto his shoulder. “Does it hurt? You’re been favoring it all evening.” She scooted over to him. “Take off your shirt.”

The last four words replayed in his head over and over, but he didn’t move. When he’d imagined getting her naked, it hadn’t been in the back of his car, and it hadn’t started with him.

“Take off your shirt.” Lightly, she placed her hands on his shoulder. “I noticed the surgical scar today. Rotator cuff?”

“Yes. The surgery was a while ago, but I keep reinjuring it.” Slowly, he unbuttoned his shirt. Normally, he liked showing off his body, he worked hard for it and was proud. But this was Laney. She was special. He wanted something real and permanent with her. This time, superficial wasn’t enough. And while he wanted to sleep with her, he wanted to get to know her first. Not that taking his shirt off meant they were going to have sex, but well his mind had put two and two together. And being shirtless in practice was fine, but here and now it made him feel vulnerable.

Did she remember undressing him before? He looked nothing like that scrawny kid with a bad attitude she’d undressed years ago.

He unbuttoned the last button, and she peeled his shirt down his arms.

Gently, her fingers probed the wound. He closed his eyes and savored the feel of her hands on him. While there was nothing sexual on her part, the heat from her fingers ignited his body. He longed to run his hands along her skin and reacquaint himself with every square inch of her.

“You’ve dislocated it recently.” She massaged around the shoulder joint to his upper arm.

“Last week.” He could feel her breath on his neck and her touch instead of soothing was making him edgy. It seemed that she was all around him. Her perfume scented the air and the dark cocoon of the Escalade was intimate. She was trying to relieve his pain, and all he wanted to do was roll her beneath him and kiss her until she remembered him.

“I’m a licensed massage therapist. That’s how I paid for medical school … well some of medical school. Let me work on this for you.” Her hands glided over his shoulder, and he bit his bottom lip hard trying to stay focused.

Massage therapist? That didn’t make sense. When did she paint? She’d been a very talented artist back in the day.

She’d had to pay for her own medical school? But both her parents are doctors. Then again, he wouldn’t put it past her ass of a father to never help her.

“You need to relax. You’re muscles are so tight.” Her hands kneaded, and his need for her grew.

It was too soon. Laney wasn’t a one–night stand. The purse full of condoms notwithstanding. She was his future. Every girlfriend and every sexual partner faded into a nameless, faceless crowd. They had all been practice for her. Part of him wanted to skip over all the romance and get to their life together, but another part of him wanted to savor every new experience with her.

“Thanks.” Devon covered her hand with his.

She batted his hand away. “I’m not finished. You need to relax. Lie face down, and let’s see if I can get some of these knots out.”

“No. I’m good.” He turned around so they were face to face. “Thanks for laughing when you should have punched me. You’re amazing.”

He stared into her eyes and wanted nothing more than to crawl into them and stay forever. He willed her to remember him and to feel the connection they had they once had.

“You’re not so bad yourself. Thanks for pretending not to notice the condoms. My teammates gave them to me. They think … I’m too uptight.” She leaned ever so slightly and kissed him. Her lips were warm and soft. Fireworks didn’t go off, and love songs didn’t pound through his brain, instead, he felt like he’d come home. The restless part of him that was always wanting more, always searching for something was quiet and happy. It was exactly how he’d remembered it.

He cupped her face and deepened the kiss. His tongue darted into her mouth lightly exploring. He wanted more of her … all of her, but he’d have to settle for this perfect little taste. He pulled back and smiled into her dazed eyes.

“Wow. You sure can kiss.” She sat back and her brow scrunched up. “Did I say that out loud?”

She was perfect for him … just a little awkward, but he loved that about her.

“You sure did.” He nodded.

“Are you going to kiss me again?” She clamped a hand over her mouth and looked absolutely horrified. “I said that out loud too, didn’t I?”

The fact that he’d gotten to her meant more to him than any Super Bowl win. She’d felt the connection too.

“Dominos.” Someone knocked on the back window. “Pizza’s here.”

A Dominos deliveryman wearing the trademark blue shirt and red ball cap poked his head in the back. “Crap, you really are Devon Harding.”

Devon worked his wallet out of his back pocket, extracted a hundred and handed it to the kid. “Keep the change.”

His eyes turned the size of baseballs. “Thanks, man. Can I get a picture with you?”

The kid pulled out a smart phone and handed it to Laney. It didn’t seem to bother her.

She took the phone, and snapped the picture. “Wait, let me take another one just to make sure.”

She touched the button again and then handed it to the kid. “I hope they turn out.”

“Do y’all need any red pepper or parmesan cheese?” He held up some little packets.

Laney shoulders shook with laughter. “We’re good on Parmesan, but we’ll take some red pepper.”

The kid gave her a handful of red pepper. He held up his phone. “Thanks man. You’re so cool.”

And then he turned back toward his car, his thumbs moving wildly across the keyboard, probably posting the pic to every social media site on earth.

Devon shrugged his shirt back on and buttoned it up halfway. Her gaze stayed on his chest. He’d caught her staring.

Pride had his cheeks flushing.

She shrugged. “You have nice pectoralis major … and external and internal obliques and transverse abdominus too.” She waved to signal his entire chest. “That whole area is nice.”

“You have fantastic legs. Well actually, all of you is pretty impressive.” Devon allowed himself to look his fill. She was beautiful and lean with curves in all the right places. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

Just because he meant it, didn’t mean that it sounded any less hokey.

She flipped open the pizza box. “Thanks, but I’m average. It’s okay, I’m good with it.” She stretched her legs out. “I do have pretty good legs though. According to the body proportion calculator, they are a little too long for my body.”

She tore open a packet of red pepper, sprinkled it on a piece of pizza, snagged a napkin, and picked up her slice. She gulped it down in three bites. It was impressive. He’d forgotten that she could eat more than he could back in the day.

She picked up another slice. “Grace said you were slick. She was right. How about we promise to only to tell each other the truth from now on.”

He wanted to tell her the truth, but more than anything he wanted her to find out on her own.

She bit into the pizza and sauce slopped down the front of her dress. With the corner of his shirt, he wiped it up.

After putting her slice on the cover of the box, she picked up his shirttail. “Why did you do that? Now you’re shirt is ruined.”

“Your dress is ruined. I was hoping I could catch it before it stained.” The red globs running down her dress meant he was too late. If only he had some Shout wipes. Should he take her to get some? Next time he’d have them in the glove compartment.

“It’s okay.” She hunched her shoulders. “I don’t have anywhere else to wear this dress.”

That didn’t make sense. That dress was just the thing she’d wear to the ballet. He grimaced. She was trying to make him feel better. No more pizza. From now on they would only eat in places with cloth napkins.

“Don’t you want some pizza?” She pointed to the open box. “Do you like red pepper?”

She waited for him to answer.

Eating? Christ he was so nervous that keeping food down seemed impossible. What if he told her that he wasn’t hungry or ate earlier? His treacherous stomach growled.

Confusion crinkled in her eyes and then a dawning awareness took over. “Oh, why didn’t you say something? You don’t like meat lovers.”

“No, I do. It’s just that …” he swallowed the tidal wave of spit in his mouth, “I have a little bit of a nervous stomach.”

That was the understatement of the century. He tended to vomit when he got super nervous. If he ate that pizza, he was sure to get sick. And wouldn’t that be a fitting end to the evening? Him puking all over her.

“A nervous stomach, while it isn’t a medical diagnosis, is usually caused by anxiety and stress.” She moved the open pizza box to the side and faced him. “Do I make you nervous?”

“A little.” It’s not like he could deny it.

“Why?” Line creased her brow.

“You know … I like you …” he swallowed again. His mouth was making saliva by the gallon now. “A lot.”

Always had … always would.

“I like you too.” She inched closer. “You weren’t nervous when you were kissing me.”