Read Online I Run to You by Eve Asbury - Free Book Online Page B

quickly as she had the
first time he had laid eyes on her.
    No—not true. The woman, the twenty-four year
old woman—with that classic face and sexy short russet and gold
hair— In simple jeans, in a lavender shirt, she should not have
looked classy, sleek. That graceful neck, that way she held
herself…. Those damned violet eyes.
    Coy ran his tongue over his lip, nostrils
flaring as he tried to relax his tense body. All the lies he had
told himself over the years came back to mock him…. That he hadn’t
lain for hours replaying every conversation, every touch and, kiss,
they had shared. That he had not paced the hotel balcony in some
nameless city, wondering if she had met the perfect man—make love
with him. That he hadn’t looked through Madeline’s stack of
pictures—or stood in the great room of Max’s house, staring up at
the blow up image of her—one Max had taken in California, and ached
so badly he’d felt queasy
    It was one taken outside an upscale
restaurant, after the journalism awards. She had been dressed in a
black gown that covered her slender curves, yet left shoulders and
arms exposed— some flowing thing that had pressed against her
thighs and hips from a balmy breeze. Her hair had been styled back,
side parted, her make up a little darker, smoky— glistening and
lips slick with cranberry lipstick. Details he recalled, a tiny
diamond ring, and bracelet, earrings. The pose revealed the natural
grace so innate to her, simply standing by a pillar and
palm—looking at Max, with a hint of smile.
    Coy cussed again and headed around back,
waving to those who asked him if he was okay. He commandeered a
pack of cigarettes and lighter he saw laying with his cousin Roy’s
ball cap and shirt, then walked around to the picnic table in the
shade.
    He could see her car perfectly. Be right
here, when she left.
    Lighting the cigarette, he sat on the bench,
leaned back against the table edge, legs out, ankles crossed, while
he inhaled. His mind was sifting, drifting, with no order to the
long ago memories of them kissing, his fingers on her soft stomach,
or his mouth on her virginal rose nipples.
    Four drags later, he shook that off because
he was getting aroused.
    He flashed to an image of himself; the first
time he had let one of the girl-groupies that followed the team
into his hotel room. The detached image of him fucking her, and
letting her back out the door— without even asking her name—or
caring too. He didn’t do that again. It just left him—empty.
    That had been his whole problem, his whole
post puberty life. He had fucked women since Jr High School, and
knew even before he had screwed everything up— it was like
yesterday’s snack, there, gone, easily forgotten.
    Coy was down to the last few drags when she
came into view.
    He tensed all over again, his eyes too
hungrily going over her. He expected, had waited, but what he did
not count on was seeing his son jog up to her side.
    Crushing out the smoke, he half sat up, able
to hear as Levi caught up and offered, “I’ll walk you to your
car.”
    Every protective instinct he had was going
haywire. Not breathing right, blood pounding in his head, Coy’s
senses were on high alert, ready to spring forward if there so much
of a hint of rejection from her. His earlier thoughts were replaced
by his love for Levi.
    “Thanks. I’d appreciate that.” Brook had
paused. He could see by her profile she smiled.
    Trembling worse than before, he fought to
uncoil the muscles and slow the pound of his heart. Shit, it wasn’t
even voice that came out with that curse, but air, tense air.
    Calm down. It’s all good.
    Coy watched them stroll to her car. Of
course, Levi was chattering away. She appeared to be answering
back. When she reached the car, putting some covered plates
Madeline likely pressed on her, in first. She straightened,
standing by the open door, more facing him, as Levi was obviously
still talking.
    He sensed the moment she pierced the