I helped him adjust the straps, so it fit him. It was a little big, but it was better than nothing, and he’d quickly grow into it. “There. If you ever get into trouble again, you can always knock on my door. You can remember it because the door’s red. Okay?” Since the block had about twenty houses and all were identical brick and white trim, I used the colored door as an easy way to indicate to people which one was mine.
He gave me a big grin, a tooth missing on the bottom. “Thanks, Miss Emory!”
I watched him ride off and around the corner, wounds forgotten.
Chapter 5
EMORY
Simon and I showed up at the park a little before noon. I didn’t want to seem too eager, and I had to do some serious psyching up at home to actually go. I'd even chickened out twice. Committing Simon yesterday had been a smart move; I hadn’t been able to back out. There was no way he was going to miss seeing the guy who’d gotten me all flustered. When we’d met on the sidewalk out front, Simon had given me a once over as usual.
I looked down at myself. Because it was hot and we'd be out in the sun, I wore black shorts and a racer-back tank top that was black-and-white stripe on the front and solid red on the back. A pedicure had been my Saturday night excitement, but at least my toes looked good in my flip-flops. I’d pulled my hair back into a ponytail, the shorter curls framing my face. I wore sunglasses and a thick layer of sunscreen. “It’s a flag football game in a park. I can dress myself for that.”
My slight grumbling tone made Simon’s eyebrows go up, but he didn’t push. I could only assume he could tell how out of sorts I was and didn’t want to either make me run back inside and lock the door or start to cry. Not that I had plans for either, but he didn’t know that.
When we got to the park, guys were out on the field running around, the game already started. I didn’t follow football all that much but knew the basics of the game. There was no scoreboard or time clock though, and it looked like a complete free-for-all to me. There were about twenty other spectators along the sidelines, some in folding chairs, others on blankets. Kids ran around chasing each other on the sides of the field, and babies took naps in their strollers, worn out from the heat.
I spread out a blanket as Simon put down the small cooler I'd packed, then we settled in to watch. He handed me a soda as I sat cross-legged.
“Which one is he?” He popped the lid on his drink.
One team wore black-and-white striped T-shirts like a bunch of convicts, the other wore dark green ones with a yellow collar. As I scanned the men, I realized Faith would have enjoyed this. Watching sweaty, fit men run around and tackle each other, showing off their caveman qualities would spike any woman’s libido. It certainly worked on mine. But when I finally glimpsed Gray on the field, my heart stuttered. The other night wasn’t a fluke. He did something to me, not just the snap shirt. This guy, why this guy? Was I insane? There was one way to find out.
“There.” I pointed.
“The blond?”
I shook my head, took a sip of soda to cool myself down. Gray looked… God, amazing. Manly. He was wearing one of the ridiculous convict shirts, the neckline stretched out by someone’s rough grab. It didn’t have any snaps, but it looked damned good on him. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and he had a streak of dirt on his forearm that blended in with the tattoo. With his arm exposed, I could see it was large enough to creep up his forearm and over his biceps. Although he was tan, the tattoo stood out in stark contrast. I hadn’t been wild about tattoos in general before, but on Gray… it totally melted my butter. I had to wonder if he had any others, and if so, where?
“No, the tall one with the dark close-cropped hair.”
Simon looked where I pointed, his brows going up. “Holy shit, Em. That’s the guy?”
I nodded.
“I can see why he made you nervous. He’s fucking hot and nothing like a guy you’d normally be interested in.”
There was that word again. Normal.
“I know,” I admitted, taking another sip of my soda. “I don’t know what it is about him.” I turned to Simon, hoping he’d truly understand because I sure didn’t. “I mean, he’s got tattoos! And he’s a cowboy, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at him now, but his snap shirt the other night made me want to toss him my panties.” I didn’t dare look at Simon after admitting that. “And when I first saw him Friday night, my heart stopped, and my brain went to mush. I swear I had a hot flash.”
He looked at me over the top of his sunglasses, serious. “Maybe he’s the kind of guy you need and just never knew.”
We sat in silence, watching the game. Had I been interested in all the wrong guys? It wasn't like I’d had much chance to find out. Being pregnant at nineteen, married and with a baby at twenty didn’t offer much opportunity to play the field. Of course, Jack had decided he’d wanted more and ditched me for a newer model. Maybe a guy like Gray was exactly what I needed. He wasn't normal. He sure as hell would push my boundaries.
I watched his body as he played the game, and I tried not to drool. Muscles tightened and flexed in ways that had me taking another big swig of my soda just to cool off. What would it be like to kiss him, to run my hands over that body, to have his weight pin me up against a wall? Those thoughts made butterflies return to my stomach and scared the crap out of me at the same time.
I hadn’t even realized there was a ref until he blew the whistle. I obviously wasn't paying the slightest bit of attention to the game, only Gray, and he'd only had the football a few times. The men worked their way to the sidelines, exhausted and sweating, slapping each other on the back. I couldn’t tell by the looks on their faces who’d won or lost. The camaraderie was surprising, considering they’d just been tackling the crap out of each other.
Gray was drinking from a water bottle when he saw me. His eyes narrowed, and I felt once again frozen in place as if he had a freeze ray stare. He swallowed, wiped his chin with the back of his hand and smiled. With a little bob of his head as hello, he held up one finger. He didn’t look away until I nodded back.
“Jesus, Em,” Simon whispered. Yeah, he didn’t have to say anything more for me to know what he meant.
While Gray talked with other players, Simon leaned in and said, “You can bring me to watch anytime.” I glanced up, and he waggled his eyebrows. I grinned. Not having a boyfriend at the moment, Simon was no doubt checking out the possibilities, but I was only interested in Gray.
A minute later, Gray walked over to us, a teammate with him. Although he'd looked pretty darn fine the other night, wearing shorts and a T-shirt, sweaty and dirty, he looked downright sexy. Rugged and manly. This was his element. His chest and shoulders were clearly delineated, his biceps thick and bulging, his thighs and calves well defined. Everything about him was powerful, and the way he watched me now was seriously intense. I licked my lips and saw his eyes drop to follow the action.
Simon and I stood as they got closer.
“Hi,” he said, stopping directly before me. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“I just so happened to be in the park.” I swiped my hand through the air. “Big coincidence.”