Out at Home (11 page)

Cursing with fury, Taylor hit the backspace key several times. She’d arrived early to get a jump start on her ongoing mall story without interruption from her fell ow reporters but it seemed as though everyone had had the same idea. She’d attempted to work all day Sunday; especially when the game was on, but the television set lured her away from her laptop. Brady had never called to ask her how many tickets she'd needed and even though she hadn't expected him to, it still hurt.

“So your boy only got two games, huh,” Josh asked, shaking her out of her miserable thoughts.

“What?” she asked, looking up at him.

He dropped the thick Indianapolis paper on her desk. “Suspensions came out early this morning. Nolan received two games while Pitner and Johnson received five.”

Taylor snatched the paper, rifling through it until she found the sports section. Her eyes quickly scanned the story. The reporter recapped the whole incident and included quotes from Mark and Ian while mentioning that Brady had been taken to the hospital for stitches.

Josh sat on the corner of her desk, watching while she read. “What, he didn’t call you first thing this morning and cry on your shoulder?” Taylor rolled her eyes, dropped the paper to her desk, and rested her head in her hands. “I haven’t talked to him since Saturday night.”

“Really? Why?”

Taylor sighed. “He thinks I don’t trust him.”

“Well you shouldn’t.”

She snapped her head up, brow crinkled. “You honestly think I shouldn’t?”

“Yes,” Josh said, his voice succinct. His long sigh eased the tension out of his stiff posture. “Look, I just wanted you to talk to him and get a little closure. I didn’t expect you to start dating him again.”

Anger swirled in her stomach as she rose to his level. “Do you think he’s got another bet going with his teammates?”

“No, I don’t. But,” he told her, ticking points off his fingers. “He’s a pro now. He’s got the looks. He’ll have the money. He’s on the road a lot.

He’s a player. All that adds up to you getting hurt again.”

Groaning, she plopped back down in her chair. “I don’t know, Josh. He doesn’t seem like that anymore. I mean, he was actually hurt because he thinks I don’t trust him.”

He put his hand on her shoulder. “Think about it for a second. Remember how he was in high school? He’d pursue a girl and once he got her, he’d date her for awhile before he’d grow bored and drop her. He did it to Gretchen Steel several times. He likes the chase, Taylor.”

“Brady Nolan never had to pursue any females. They usually dropped at his feet,” she snorted. “Besides, you didn’t even go to high school with him.”

“No, but I hung out with his brother from time to time and he always bragged about Brady’s love life.” She shook her head. “He’s matured since then.”

Josh stood up. “Maybe.” He squeezed her shoulder and walked away.

She bit her bottom lip while she processed Josh’s words. She shook her head and forced all thoughts of Brady out of her mind so she could return to her story. Her fingers finally found the right keys and she settled in comfortably, words racing across her monitor.

Suddenly, a figured loomed over her, blocking the fluorescent lights and casting a shadow across her screen. She pivoted her chair, groaning as Henry Lake folded his arms across his chest, a sneer on his lips.

“That’s how you get all these good stories, huh?” he leered.

She raised a brow at him. “What do you mean?”

“You’re sleeping with Brady Nolan. No wonder Luther assigned you the interview. Did he give Luther season tickets or something so you could get the big stories?”

He eased closer to her, uncomfortably invading her space.

Her eyes narrowed, dark, ugly words danced on the tip of her tongue while anger pounded a nail in her brain. “You jerk. You have no clue what you’re talking about.”

“I don’t? You weren’t at the hospital with Nolan Saturday?” He pushed her notes aside and perched on the corner of her desk.

“I don’t think that’s any of your concern,” she answered as the blood drained from her face. She yanked her notes away from him, bouncing the pages on the desk to straighten them.

He leaned closer. “And you claim to get what you want by hard work. I never thought one would consider sleeping with local celebrities to be that difficult.”

Slipping off the corner, he stormed off to his own desk.

***

Taylor’s head pounded with each step as she walked down the sidewalk to the diner on the corner. After her ‘conversation’ with Henry, she began to notice people in the office giving her curious looks. She’d tried to tell herself she was just being paranoid, but as the morning wore on, she knew it wasn’t all in her mind.

Sliding into a booth, she smiled as a young girl with a blonde pony tail approached her with pen and pad.

“Hi. Do you need a menu?” the perky waitress asked setting a glass of ice water in front of her.

“No. I’ll just have the BLT, please,” Taylor answered.

“Sure.” She wrote Taylor’s order on her pad. She started to walk away when realization dawned on her face. “Hey, aren’t you the reporter that’s dating Brady Nolan?”

Taylor groaned inwardly as her heat flooded her cheeks. “No, I’m not.”

“Are you sure? Because I know you’re a reporter, you come in here all the time and my friend said that Teresa Lake told her that you were at the hospital with Brady Nolan.” She smiled as though she’d solved world hunger.

Taylor forced a weak smile in return as she tried unsuccessfully to process the younger girl’s words. “You must have me confused with someone else. Now could you please put my order in? I’m in a hurry.” She nodded toward the kitchen. “And make it to go, huh?” The waitress turned away in a huff to place Taylor’s order.

The diner wasn’t very crowded yet as it wasn’t quite noon, the appointed lunch time in Somersvil e, but the people nearby kept casting curious glances her way. By the time her lunch arrived, she still hadn’t decided who she was going to kill first, Brady or that stupid nurse.

She paid for her lunch and took it to a cute park a few blocks from the diner. Sitting alone under a huge oak tree, she munched slowly on her sandwich, not tasting a thing.

Brady had left that morning. The team was due in Denver tomorrow for a three game series and then off to Seattle for an interleague series.

Sighing, she dropped her half eaten sandwich on her lap. He hadn’t even called her.

She watched a couple kids playing in the sandbox, filling their buckets to the brim only to dump them out and repeat the entire process.

Of course, she hadn’t called him either. She was so confused. She just didn’t do well with relationships. Dating Brady in high school had been her longest one and look how that had turned out.

She’d dated men since, but her first priorities had been getting Teddy through high school and her father proper health care.

Digging out her cell phone, she dialed Tia’s number. It went straight to voice mail so she left her a brief message instructing her to come over later that evening.

***

“Yeah, you’re really screwed up,” Tia agreed that night as she plopped down on the sofa, diet soda in hand.

“Gee, thanks,” Taylor muttered.

Tia set her drink on the coffee table. “Listen to me, honey. Maybe Josh has a point about Brady liking the chase but have you ever thought maybe you
like
being chased?”

Taylor’s eyes grew. “No! Not at all!”

“C’mon, Taylor. What woman doesn’t like being pursued by a hot, sexy man?”

“I…,” she mumbled. Groaning, she fell back against the sofa. “Oh, hell. Am I really like that?” Tia took her hands. “Not usually, no. But I think Brady’s interest in you has boosted your confidence a bit. Your writing, while always very good, has matured and become even better. You walk a little straighter, not so hunched over. People notice you. I think you like the attention.”

“Is that so bad?”

Tia pulled her into a hug. “No, honey. But sooner or later, you either need to let him catch you or let him go.” Taylor sighed as she moved away from her friend. “I had him. I let him catch me. I just didn’t know what to do with him after that.” A sad smile touched Tia’s lips. “Relax. Let things happen naturally. Brady hurt you once and I honestly don’t think he’ll do it again.”

***

She trudged into the office Thursday morning. Sleep had been as nonexistent as Brady’s phone calls and both were causing her serious anxiety. She'd spent most evenings pitting Josh’s words against Tia’s and sadly, had not come up with a solution.

She avoided town as much as possible. Trips to the grocery store and the pharmacy were a joke. People she’d known since she’d moved to Somersvil e, as well as those she barely knew at all, would approach her to ask all about Brady. She tried very hard to answer politely that she didn’t know and leave it at that but some people were persistent. She ended up spending more time that necessary in Indianapolis working on her story.

And if she happened to need a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk, well, Indy wasn’t
that
far.

She flung her messenger bag on her desk and flipped on her computer. Disappointed weighed on her heart as she listened to countless, meaningless voice mails, and slammed her phone down.

“That good, huh?” Josh asked as he leaned on the corner of her desk.

“Mmmm,” she mumbled as she perused her email. “It’s just wonderful.”

He chuckled. “Talk to your boy lately?”

She glanced up at him briefly before returning her eyes to the monitor. “No.”

“So I guess you’ve decided to let it all go, huh?”

She twisted away from her monitor to face him fully. “Why the sudden interest, Josh? Didn’t you just tell me a few days ago that I couldn’t trust him?”

Josh held his hands up in mock surrender. “Just wondering where things are. I’m your friend, Taylor. Remember?” She snorted. “Well, friend, you and my other friend have me so totally confused right now, I can’t sleep at night.” His shoulders slumped as concern etched his sweet face. “Taylor, that’s not why I said all that stuff. I didn’t mean for you to lose sleep over it.”

“I know,” Taylor sighed, waving him away. She spotted Henry Lake laughing with a sports writer across the office, both concentrating their gaze her way. Taylor stood, turned her computer off, and grabbed her bag. “Tell Lou Grant I’m working from home, okay? I can’t sit here today.” Josh nodded and watched her leave.

***

“Brady, damn it! I know you don’t have a game until tonight so you can’t be at batting practice already. Pick up the damn phone and call me back,” she barked into her cell phone as she headed home.

Ending the call, she threw the cell phone to the passenger seat in frustration. She’d called him as soon as she’d pulled out of the parking lot hoping he’d have the answers she didn’t. What she hadn’t counted on, however, was Brady not answering his phone. She thought for sure that once he saw it was her, he’d pick up immediately.

“Am I that arrogant?” she asked in disgust as she pulled into her drive. “I’m as bad as he is!” She unlocked her door, dropped her bag, and immediately plopped on the couch. She thumbed through the address book on her phone, searching for a particular number. She reached Tabby’s and held her finger above it, wondering if she should bother the other woman with her problems. Tabby was nice and they’d become fairly good friends, but would she want to get in the middle of any problems Taylor and Brady were having?

She set her phone down on her coffee table in confusion. Standing, she paced the length of the living room restlessly. How the hell had her meticulously organized life turned so topsy turvy? And how had she become so emotionally wrapped up with a man?

She jumped when her phone rang. She snatched it off the table, checked the screen, and flipped it open with nervous hands.

“hello.”

“What’s the matter, love? Is everything okay?” Brady asked, voice still heavy with sleep.

She smiled into the phone. “I…um….missed you.”

He was quiet for a moment. “You got all spastic on the phone because you missed me?”

“Yeah,” she said, feeling a little shy.

“Damn, Taylor. I thought something was wrong with you,” he chastised.

“Sorry,” she mumbled quietly, sinking to the sofa. “I had a bad day.”

“It’s only 9:30 in the morning there.”

“Yeah well, it’s been a bad week, okay?” she snapped.

He yawned into the phone. “Calm down, love. What’s going on?”

She sighed. “Brady, when do you come home?”

“Sunday night. Why?”

“Can you just come straight to my house when you get back in town?”

“Are you sure you want me too?” he asked in a stiff tone.

“Yes. I’m sorry about the trust thing, okay? I….oh hell! I don’t want to do this over the phone.” She sucked back the mounting tears. “I just want to talk. Figure stuff out.”

His soft chuckles were music to her ears. “Not a problem, love. I’ll call you when I get back into town.”

“Thanks, Brady.”

“It’s okay.” He issued another yawn, making her do the same. “Hey, did you see me hit for the cycle last night?” She furrowed her brow. “You did not hit for the cycle. You call going one for three with a strike out and a walk hitting for the cycle?” His deep laugh echoed in her ear and sent tingles racing down her spine. “Nope, not at all. Just checking to make sure you’re still watching.” She smiled. “Bye, Brady.”

“I’ll call you later, love.”

Taylor sat on the sofa, leg bouncing up and down in nervous anticipation. Brady had called half an hour ago and said he was on his way over.

She didn’t know what she was going to say or how she was going to say it but she did know one thing; she wanted him. Yes, he could very well smash her heart to bits as he had once before and yes, he was a handful but she knew in the end it would be worth it. She smiled as she remembered the way he’d handled her after her father’s funeral.

Unable to sit any longer, she stood and crossed the room to the window. Peering through the curtains, she watched the road, waiting for his black car to ease down the street. She needed to have him there in person - to face him. She needed to explain her nervousness and apologize for her behavior.

They were a new thing. They needed to adjust. They needed to take a little time to get to know each other again. High school had been ages and ages ago and certainly both of them had changed.

As patient as she expected him to be with her - she was going to have to be that patient with him. They were going to have to do this together.

But did he still want her? That’s the question that had haunted her every waking second. Josh did have a couple of valid points about Brady; with his looks and playing ability, women everywhere, who were far more beautiful and elegant than she, would gladly keep him company during those lonely nights on the road.

She didn’t want to travel down that particular path. For as long as she’d known Brady, all throughout high school, anyway, he hadn’t been the sort to fool around on girls. At least, from what she could remember. He hadn’t been known as a womanizer - just a … frequent dater.

Did he still want her? She couldn’t be one hundred percent positive but she thought that he still did. He’d seemed happy to hear from her when she’d broken down and called him. He’d agreed to come over as soon as he returned to town. And, he’d called her every night since then - not talking a whole lot but long enough to make sure she was doing okay. That seemed to signal that maybe he did still want her.

“We’ll find out soon enough,” she mumbled as she watched him pull into her drive.

Opening the door, she waited as he made his way toward her. He didn’t hesitate once he reached her; he leaned over and kissed her forehead before taking her hand and dragging her in the house.

“You look like hell, love. I hope you’re not losing sleep over our….situation,” he told her as he stood back to study her.

Turning away, she snorted. “Please. There’s more to my life than just you, Brady.” Yanking her hand, he caused her to tumble into his chest. He gently took her face in his hands, his face a mask of anxiety. Her heart thumped as her body crashed into his hard chest. His concerned eyes searched her face. “What’s wrong? Something else happening?” Her heart lifted and she smiled at him. She reached a hand up to gingerly touch the fading bruise under his eye. “You’re healing I see. When do the stitches come out?”

“Probably tomorrow. I have to go see the doc in the morning.” His signature smirk appeared. “You’re avoiding my question. Are you okay?” She wrapped her arms around his waist and flattened her cheek to his chest. “I’m just glad you’re back.” Confused, he returned her embrace, squeezing her gently. He held her for a moment before kissing the top of her head, clutching her shoulders, and gently forcing her back. “Let’s sit, love. We really need to talk.” Nodding, she reluctantly left his embrace. She sat on the sofa and motioned for him to sit next to her.

“Brady,” she started. “You were right. I didn’t trust you and it wasn’t fair.” He laced his fingers with hers. “I don’t blame you, Taylor. I really don’t. But I’m not the same person I was back then.”

“I know,” she mumbled, ducking her head. “I guess I was just afraid you’d hurt me again.” He lifted her chin and forced her to match his gaze. “Was or still are?”

“Both, I guess.”

He pressed his lips to her forehead. “I can’t promise you that I won’t hurt you but I can promise that I’ll do everything in my power to prevent that from happening. I care a lot about you, Taylor and I really want you to be a part of my life. I don’t know how else to tell you or show you.” She nodded, fighting back pesky tears. “Can we just start over?”

He chuckled and squeezed her fingers. “We have far too much history for that, love. How about if we just take things one day at a time, huh?”

“I’d like that.”

He smiled at her before leaning in and brushing his lips over hers. Flinching, he cursed. Laughing, she kissed his stitched lip softly, ignoring the bristly feeling.

Getting to his feet, he reached for her hand, tugging her off the sofa. His eyes were lit up brighter than she’d seen them in awhile. “Since we can’t make out, let’s go grab something to eat at that little diner near the newspaper office. I’m starved.” She released a moan as she rolled her eyes. She held tightly to his hand, giving it a little shake. “Let me tell you about that little diner near the newspaper office.”

***

“We have an off day tomorrow you know,” he said after the waitress blushingly took their order. “Can you skip work and hang out with me all day?”

Slouching in her seat across the table from him, she lifted a shoulder. She’d been extremely careful not to meet the eyes of any of the patrons.

She didn’t want their outright staring to ruin her evening with Brady.

“Maybe in the afternoon after I meet with Luther. And I have a meeting with the mayor in the morning.” His lips turned down in a thoughtful frown. “Is George Hearten still the mayor?” She wrinkled her brow, curious. “Yeah, why?”

His cheeks actually pinked a little bit. “Don’t mention my name.”

Her jaw dropped as she leaned across the table to grab his hand. “Brady what did you do?” He squeezed her figners and leaned back in the booth, familiar smirk smugly planted on his face. He gave her a nonchalant shrug. “I dated his niece. No big deal.”

She rolled her eyes and sat back. “You broke her heart and she went to Uncle George and asked him to do something?” He laughed at her. “No, nothing like that. Although I did break up with her.” His cheeks colored slightly again. “I don’t think you really want to know, Taylor.”

She folded her arms across her chest. “Oh, I definitely want to know now, buddy.” He leaned across the table and looked back and forth, making sure no one was listening. Of course everyone in the diner kept gawking at them, but Brady pretended not to notice. He crooked his finger at her to come closer. She obliged and found herself mesmerized once again by the bright green of his eyes. “We kind of got caught in town hall.”

She furrowed her brow. “Got caught? Got caught how? And at what?”

“Shh,” he said, shushing her, glancing around once more. Nearly everyone was watching them now that their heads were so close together.

“You know,
got caught.”

He waited until her mouth formed a perfect
O
and her cheeks pinked before he continued with his story.

“We snuck in and, well, you know, and the janitor caught us. He called George and made us wait in his office until George got there. Pretty embarrassing.”

She stared at him a full minute before busting out with laughter. “Geez, Brady! I bet George nearly had a heart attack.” Brady leaned back, face fully red now. “Stop laughing. It wasn’t that funny.” She reined in her laughter and reached across the table for his hand. “Sorry. I’ll stop.” She actually tried, but a couple more giggles spilled out of her mouth. Amusement danced in his eyes while his lips fought a smirk. He shook his head at her as she cleared her throat and wiped the tears from her eyes.

“Seriously though - was it on that ungodly paisley couch in his office? Because I’m really going to want to avoid that thing tomorrow.” He held back a smile, laughter sparkling in his eyes. “See, I should know not to tell you anything.” She settled down as the waitress brought their food. As they ate their dinner, the conversation drifted toward safer topics. Taylor couldn’t believe the weight that seemed to have lifted from her shoulders. And she couldn’t stop herself from glancing at him through her lashes, her heart jerking at the beauty of him.

Yes, this was going to work - somehow. She was going to make it work.

He took her home but sat in the car as she made to get out. She paused, hand on door handle, and considered him carefully.

“Brady, you can come in. We can watch a movie or something,” she suggested.

He drew her head closer so he could kiss her temple. “Not tonight, love. You’ve got a meeting in the morning.” She bowed her head. “I’m sorry about before, Brady. I don’t want you to think I’m afraid of you.” He took her face in his hands. “I know. One day at a time, remember?”

She smiled and nodded.

He placed a soft, chaste kiss on her lips. “Besides, I’ll see you tomorrow and I don’t think you can handle too much of me.” She rolled her eyes. “Please. I got you right where I want you.”

He kissed her quickly again and gently pushed her to the door. “Yeah, you do. Don’t rub it in.” Her heart lifted as she got out of his car and waved goodnight.

***

Taylor handled her meeting with the mayor with absolute professionalism. She never laughed outright and held in her giggles amazingly well; especially when he invited her to sit on the paisley couch. She refused, explaining she’d rather they sit across from each other so they could maintain better eye contact. He relented, though his eyes revealed a touch of confusion.

The whole thing went smoothly and Taylor was feeling pretty good until he escorted her to the office door once they finished.

“So, Miss Lockwood.” He grinned, something shining in his eyes. “The whole town is buzzing about you dating Brady Nolan.” Although he tried to sound casual, curiosity burned in his voice.

“Funny, the whole town wasn’t buzzing when I dated him in high school,” she muttered, fake smile plastered on her face.

His expression faltered but he recovered quickly. “Well, he wasn’t a celebrity back then. He dated my niece for awhile, you know.”

“Really?” Taylor asked in mock surprise. “You know, I think I heard that somewhere.” She tapped a finger on the side of her nose. “I think I heard a rumor about the two of them getting into some kind of trouble, but I don’t quite remember what it was.” His face paled, a frown pulling on his lips. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about. But speaking of rumors, word is that you and Brady are quite the item. Things are getting serious.”

“Yes, I’ve heard that rumor myself,” Taylor responded, inching closer to the door. “One shouldn’t put too much faith in rumors.”

“Oh, I don’t know. Sometimes one can get some pretty useful information from them,” the older man smiled.

“Maybe. But most of the time, all one gets is crap,” she smiled back. She shook his hand once more. “Thanks for the interview Mayor Hearten.” She strolled out of his office.

***

“Rough day already?” Josh asked as Taylor rested her forehead on the smooth surface of her desk.

“Mmph,” she grunted.

“What’s that? I can’t hear you?”

She raised her head an inch or two. “I just met with Luther about the latest on the mall story and he wants me to try a different angle. I’ve been covering this story for weeks now and everyone seems to be pleased. Why the change? Does he think the readers won’t notice?”

“Slow down,” Josh ordered, raising a brow at her. “Did he not like your interview with the mayor?”

“I haven’t even written that yet. We were going over the legal piece I wrote.” She released a long breath, blowing the stray strands of hair out of her eyes.

“Is that all you do is complain?”

Taylor moaned in displeasure as Henry Lake parked on the corner of her desk.

“Every time I come near you, you’re complaining. Seems to me that you’re making a habit out of it.”

“Then don’t come near me,” she muttered, folding her arms over her chest. She resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at him. “And you seem to be making a habit out of planting your ass on my desk.”

He narrowed his eyes and huffed. “That’s the problem; you’re always around.”

“Yeah, and I’m staying so get used to it.”

“Henry, just move along, huh?” Josh asked, trying to keep peace.

“Shove off, Parker. This isn’t your business.”

“Well my story is none of your business so do as Josh says and run along,” Taylor said, struggling to control her rising temper.

He leaned over her desk, invading her personal space. “Sleeping with Parker also? Becoming the town tramp?”

“Back off, Lake,” Josh warned, getting to his feet. A curious group started to gather around her desk.

“You’re going to defend her?” Henry growled at Josh. “She waltzes in here and gets whatever job she wants and once she starts screwing the hometown hero, she gets all the great stories. Doesn’t that tick you off?”

“Not at all,” Josh said, gritting his teeth as his face turned a lovely shade of purple. “I know she works hard.” Henry grunted. “Yeah, I bet she works hard. The little tramp works hard between the sheets.” Popping out of her seat, she rounded on him, her hand bouncing off his freshly shaved cheek before she was even aware of it happening. She hit him hard enough that a red hand print slowly formed on his face. “You bastard!” She nearly jumped out of her skin when hands came down on her shoulders.

“Is there a problem here, love?”