Read Online End Zone: Texas Titans 2 by Cheryl Douglas - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Cheryl Douglas
Ads: Link
underneath her protective layers.
They talked and laughed and held hands.
They visited little antique shops, stores proudly displaying handmade artisan’s
wares, and one or two local galleries, which were often part of a café or
vintage shop. When her back was turned, he bought her a handmade turquoise and
silver bracelet she’d admired. He just had to find the perfect time to give it
to her. He would tell her it was just a reminder of their day together, but he
wanted it to be so much more than that. He wanted her to look at that bracelet
years later and smile because it made her think of their first date.
He pulled into the parking lot behind his
mother’s art gallery and cut the engine. Kristen had fallen asleep almost an
hour ago. He watched her sleep, and the slight smile curving her luscious mouth
made him reluctant to wake her. The only other place he would rather see her
fast asleep was tucked under the down duvet in his big antique bed. He still
believed that day would come. He just had to be patient. Too bad patience
wasn’t his strong suit.
Kristen stirred, opening her blue eyes
hesitantly. “Hey.” She sat up and looked out the window. “Where are we?”
“My mother’s gallery.”
She checked her watch. “It’s after eight.
She won’t be here now, will she?”
“I texted her and asked her to meet us
here.”
“Oh, I wish you hadn’t done that.” She
removed her seatbelt. “I could have stopped by tomorrow or the next day.”
“She really won’t mind, trust me.” If there
was one thing his mother could talk about all day and night, it was art.
“I hope she doesn’t live too far from
here,” Kristen said, reaching for her door handle.
Before Matt responded, he rounded the car
to meet her. “They live on the outskirts of town. It’s an old farmhouse.” He
chuckled. “My father would have preferred something newer, right on a golf
course, but my mother walked through their old place and declared it the end of
their hunt. She had to have it.”
Kristen smiled at him when he slipped an
arm around her waist. “And your father indulged her?”
“He usually does.”
“My kind of man.”
Matt tugged on her hand to pull her against
his chest and wrapped his arms around her. “Are you saying you’d like a man who
would treat you like a princess, give you anything and everything you ever
wanted, always be there for you?” He couldn’t believe he was saying those
things, especially so soon and knowing how gun-shy she was. “’Cause I just
might be your guy.”
“Matt.” She flattened her palms on his
chest. “I thought I made myself clear.”
“You can’t blame a guy for trying,” he
whispered, nuzzling her neck. Her body responded as if she was steel and he was
a magnet. She latched on, curling into him as though she never wanted to let
go. Couldn’t she see that her body and heart were sending her a message, even
if her stubborn mind seemed determined to fight it?
“You’re used to getting what you want,” she
said, curling her arms around his waist. “You like the thrill of the
challenge.”
“I like the thrill of spending time with a
woman who’s perfect for me.” She was, in every way. Matt didn’t need a woman
who was a thrill seeker or loved sports. He needed a woman who shared his
values and his vision for the future. Given his experience with marriage, he
knew that was the only thing that mattered.
“I’m not perfect for you,” she said,
tipping her head back to look up at him. “You only think I am because of some
adolescent fantasy about your dream girl.”
He dropped his hands to her waist and
forced her to acknowledge the effect she had on him. “In case you haven’t
noticed, I’m not a kid anymore. I’ve been around the block a time or two since
high school, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to never give up when
I find something worth fighting for.”
She looped her thumbs through the belt
loops of his faded designer
They talked and laughed and held hands.
They visited little antique shops, stores proudly displaying handmade artisan’s
wares, and one or two local galleries, which were often part of a café or
vintage shop. When her back was turned, he bought her a handmade turquoise and
silver bracelet she’d admired. He just had to find the perfect time to give it
to her. He would tell her it was just a reminder of their day together, but he
wanted it to be so much more than that. He wanted her to look at that bracelet
years later and smile because it made her think of their first date.
He pulled into the parking lot behind his
mother’s art gallery and cut the engine. Kristen had fallen asleep almost an
hour ago. He watched her sleep, and the slight smile curving her luscious mouth
made him reluctant to wake her. The only other place he would rather see her
fast asleep was tucked under the down duvet in his big antique bed. He still
believed that day would come. He just had to be patient. Too bad patience
wasn’t his strong suit.
Kristen stirred, opening her blue eyes
hesitantly. “Hey.” She sat up and looked out the window. “Where are we?”
“My mother’s gallery.”
She checked her watch. “It’s after eight.
She won’t be here now, will she?”
“I texted her and asked her to meet us
here.”
“Oh, I wish you hadn’t done that.” She
removed her seatbelt. “I could have stopped by tomorrow or the next day.”
“She really won’t mind, trust me.” If there
was one thing his mother could talk about all day and night, it was art.
“I hope she doesn’t live too far from
here,” Kristen said, reaching for her door handle.
Before Matt responded, he rounded the car
to meet her. “They live on the outskirts of town. It’s an old farmhouse.” He
chuckled. “My father would have preferred something newer, right on a golf
course, but my mother walked through their old place and declared it the end of
their hunt. She had to have it.”
Kristen smiled at him when he slipped an
arm around her waist. “And your father indulged her?”
“He usually does.”
“My kind of man.”
Matt tugged on her hand to pull her against
his chest and wrapped his arms around her. “Are you saying you’d like a man who
would treat you like a princess, give you anything and everything you ever
wanted, always be there for you?” He couldn’t believe he was saying those
things, especially so soon and knowing how gun-shy she was. “’Cause I just
might be your guy.”
“Matt.” She flattened her palms on his
chest. “I thought I made myself clear.”
“You can’t blame a guy for trying,” he
whispered, nuzzling her neck. Her body responded as if she was steel and he was
a magnet. She latched on, curling into him as though she never wanted to let
go. Couldn’t she see that her body and heart were sending her a message, even
if her stubborn mind seemed determined to fight it?
“You’re used to getting what you want,” she
said, curling her arms around his waist. “You like the thrill of the
challenge.”
“I like the thrill of spending time with a
woman who’s perfect for me.” She was, in every way. Matt didn’t need a woman
who was a thrill seeker or loved sports. He needed a woman who shared his
values and his vision for the future. Given his experience with marriage, he
knew that was the only thing that mattered.
“I’m not perfect for you,” she said,
tipping her head back to look up at him. “You only think I am because of some
adolescent fantasy about your dream girl.”
He dropped his hands to her waist and
forced her to acknowledge the effect she had on him. “In case you haven’t
noticed, I’m not a kid anymore. I’ve been around the block a time or two since
high school, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to never give up when
I find something worth fighting for.”
She looped her thumbs through the belt
loops of his faded designer
Similar Books
