Love at the 20-Yard Line (29 page)

“What’s on the agenda for tonight?” Allie asked as she sat on the corner of Haven’s desk at her office.

“What agenda?” Haven typed the last line of a report she needed to finish before she left for the afternoon.

After mentioning to Mr. Young about Brody only being in town for another week, he told her to take off all the time she needed. She’d left work early every afternoon. Brody was busy with practice and finalizing arrangements for when he left town during the day, but the evenings they spent together, making memories.

“Oh, give it up.” Allie spun Haven’s chair around to face her. “I know you and Brody are trying to cram as much fun and excitement into the time you have left as humanly possible. Aunt Rachel told my mom that the two of you went on a picnic in the mountains, you took a boat ride on the river, and she mentioned something about paintball.”

“Yeah, that was Brody’s idea. Hale and Abby went, too. It was a lot of fun” Haven turned her chair back around and finished the report. She sent it to Mr. Young before she turned off her computer and cleared the top of her desk. Quickly picking up her purse, she nudged Allie off her desk and the two of them walked outside. “Brody’s never been fishing, so I’m taking him out to our fishing hole.”

Allie grinned. “Cool. Can Rick and I come?”

“Why do you want to come? You hate to fish.”

“I know, but Rick likes it and I think it would be nice to hang out with you both. We haven’t got to spend much time with Brody since you usually keep him all to yourself.”

“Fine.” Allie would show up whether she invited her or not. “But you two have to drive your own vehicle, leave when I tell you, and bring the bait for the fish.”

“Yes, boss.” Allie winked at Haven before she walked to her car and left.

Haven stopped at the grocery store on her way home. By the time Brody arrived, she had a cooler filled with sandwiches, chips, cookies, and fruit, along with bottles of soda pop and water.

He hefted the loaded cooler, pretending it was too heavy to carry. “Are you feeding an army?”

“No, but Allie and Rick are joining us.” Haven picked up the fishing poles and box of tackle Hale dropped off for her to use. She grabbed a stack of towels and an old quilt she took on picnics.

“Will Allie scare the fish away?” Brody set the cooler in the back of his pickup and took the fishing poles and tackle box from Haven, placing them in the back as well. He helped her in his truck and shut the door.

She set the towels and blanket on the seat between them as Brody backed out of the parking space and pulled out on the street.

“Just tell me where we’re going.” He followed Haven’s directions that took them out toward her parents’ home. Before they reached the house, he turned down a dirt road and drove toward a creek.

After parking beneath an old cottonwood tree, Haven spread the blanket on a flat grassy spot while Brody got out the cooler and set it on one corner of the blanket. Haven opened the lid and removed a bottle of soda, handing it to Brody before closing the lid.

“Don’t you want one? It’s hot out here,” he said. The air was sticky and humid as they sat close to the water. The area Haven chose was secluded from view by the trees, though. Despite the heat, a sea of green grass combined with blue sky, and an earthy smell for the perfect summer backdrop.

Haven grabbed the bottle from his hand and took a drink. “I’ll share yours for now.”

Brody grinned at her as she handed the bottle back. He screwed on the cap then set the bottle on top of the cooler before stretching out on the blanket and tugging Haven down beside him.

“I bet I can find more shapes in the clouds than you,” she said, pointing to the clear blue sky.

“If you can find any clouds, more power to you.” He turned his head so his lips brushed hers. “Personally, I can think of more entertaining things to do.”

“Like what?” Haven softly trailed her fingers along the inside of his arm, making a familiar tingle race all the way from his fingers to his toes.

“Like this.” He rolled onto his side and pulled her against his chest, kissing her deeply.

“Don’t let us interrupt,” Allie said, looking down at them.

“Oh!” Haven disentangled herself from Brody then they both got to their feet. “Couldn’t you honk or something?”

“I could, but where’s the fun in that?” Allie grinned at Brody. He smiled and stepped forward to shake Rick’s hand.

“We forgot the bait, so you’re either going to have to dig for worms or forget about fishing for tonight.”

“I don’t need to fish.” Brody’s main interest in going fishing with Haven was to get her somewhere secluded and have her to himself for a few hours. Now, he had to spend the evening with Allie and Rick. Not that he minded too much. Haven’s cousin was always entertaining.

“How about we eat?” Haven suggested, pointing to the cooler. After setting out the food, the four of them talked and ate, laughing at funny stories Allie and Haven told on each other.

“Are you planning on swimming, Haven?” Allie asked. They used to spend as much time swimming in the fishing hole as they ever did fishing.

Haven shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe,” she said.

“You swim in that?” Brody jerked his thumb over his shoulder at the water. “I figured it was only a foot or so deep.”

“It is close to the bank but out in the middle there’s a spot that’s several feet deep,” Haven said. “You wouldn’t want to dive in it, but you can definitely get wet out there.”

“I’m game if you guys are,” Rick said, helping put away the remnants of their meal and looking around.

“You’re always game, babe.” Allie patted his arm. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to the wonders of a redneck swimming pool.”

“Is that what you call this?” Brody grinned at Haven.

“Among other things,” she said, brushing crumbs off her shirt as she stood.

She unobtrusively studied Brody. He looked incredibly attractive in his T-shirt and cargo shorts. When he pulled the shirt over his head and stood like a bronzed statue with the sun backlighting him, Haven decided there were no words to describe how he looked.

Allie’s mouth dropped open. She dug in her pocket, pulling out a twenty-dollar bill and slipping it in Haven’s hand.

Haven looked at it and turned a curious glance to her cousin. “What’s this for?”

“I told you I’d pay money to see him without his shirt on and that really is worth twenty bucks,” Allie whispered so only Haven could hear.

Haven grinned and tucked the money in her pocket. Rick and Brody kicked off their shoes and walked to the edge of the water. The two girls discarded their shirts, shorts, and shoes before going to join the guys. Allie wore a revealing bikini while Haven was in a much more modest tankini.

“Dare you to go first, Al.” Haven gave her cousin a nudge toward the water.

“Dare accepted.” Allie grabbed Rick’s hand and tugged him into the creek. They took several steps then dropped into the hole.

Rick resurfaced still wearing a look of surprise, but Allie laughed.

“That’s priceless.” Brody grinned as he and Haven walked into the water. Prepared for the drop, they took the last step into the hole.

The four of them splashed and played in the water for a while until the air started to cool. Allie said Rick needed to get home because he had to get up early for work, so they grabbed two of the towels Haven left on the truck seat and took off.

Brody and Haven stayed in the water a few minutes longer, splashing each other. Brody disappeared beneath the surface and when he came back up, it was right in front of her. He pulled Haven against him and kissed her, holding her close.

His lips were cool against hers at first, and then warmed with the intensity of their passion.

Haven wrapped her arms and legs around Brody, holding tightly to him as their kiss deepened. The next thing she knew, Brody was laying her down on the blanket, never breaking the contact of their lips.

Cool and hot all at the same time, Haven knew she’d never felt like this before in her life and fleetingly wondered if she ever would again.

Brody’s lips worked their magic down her jaw, along her neck, trailing his searing touch across her shoulder and along the edge of her swimming suit.

Haven sighed and dug her fingers into his hair, guiding his head back up to her lips, kissing him with an urgency that couldn’t be denied.

She felt Brody’s long fingers tracing a tantalizing pattern across her side and shuddered when he lifted the hem of her top just enough to expose her stomach and press a kiss there.

“Brody,” she moaned, grasping his head between her hands, forcing him to look at her.

“I’m sorry, Haven. I didn’t mean to… I wasn’t planning on…” He rolled onto his back and breathed hard, tightening his hold on his self-control.

“I think we better call this a night.” Haven would never forget the look of wanting in Brody’s eyes, the feel of his skin against hers in the water, the untamed desire he stirred in her.

“I think you’re right.” He walked to the truck and retrieved two towels, handing one to Haven then used the other to dry off his hair and chest. There wasn’t much he could do about wet shorts and didn’t really care.

Haven dried and dressed, wrapping the towel around her head to squeeze some of the moisture from her hair before tossing it in the pickup.

After gathering the blanket and cooler, Brody helped her into the truck, mesmerized as her golden tresses curled in an uncontrollable mass around her head.

He’d seen Haven in many different ways, wearing a variety of outfits and hairstyles, but those wild, wet curls along with her damp T-shirt and cut-off shorts had to be at the top of his list of favorites.

Thoughts of never seeing her again made a sharp, severe pain wrench his heart so hard, he had no idea how he could leave town without her.