Read Online It's in His Touch by Shelly Alexander - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Shelly Alexander
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thing he remembered was the rubber soles of his boots squeaking across the floor, the back door slamming with a thud, and the regret of never being able to feel her body against his.
C hapter F ive
By Friday afternoon, Angelique was ready to call Coop and Ella to beg off from the volleyball game, using her poison oak outbreak as an excuse. Unfortunately, before she made the call, they’d shown up on her doorstep to give her the team uniform and saw for themselves that the rash was nearly gone. So roughly three hours and twenty-two minutes later—not that Angelique was counting—she pulled on a pair of black athletic leggings along with the red team shirt that said “Red River Chiropractic” across the back, grabbed Ella’s handwritten directions to the Red River Community Center, and drove into town.
This time of year Red River was cold but not brutal. The kind of weather that made a person long to bundle up inside a warm blanket and sip wine in front of a fire while soft jazz played in the background. Snuggling deeper into her purple fleece jacket, she got out of the car, thumbed the remote lock, and plunged both hands deep into the insulated pockets. The Lexus beeped, and the parking lights flashed behind her as she walked into the community center.
She stopped short and stared at the bleachers full of spectators. Families, couples, kids, even the local fire department filled the stands, chattering and laughing. Like a family.
A lump started to form in her throat. This was entertainment in a small town that didn’t even have a movie theatre. Her hands still shoved into deep pockets, Angelique glanced over her shoulder, seriously contemplating a quick, inconspicuous exit before anyone noticed her. Before anyone could ask prying questions about why she was really in Red River.
A sharp, earsplitting whistle, the kind blown between two fingers, rang out, and Ella Wells waved both arms in the air like a person marshaling airplanes on a tarmac.
Great. So much for making a quick escape. She forced a smile and waved back. As Angelique approached Ella and Coop, most of the spectators stopped to look at her, a new face in this tight-knit community. She smiled at a few, and they smiled back. Friendly and neighborly.
“You ready?” Coop asked when she reached them.
“Heck yeah, she’s ready,” Ella answered. “And you guys are going to kick some butt out there.” Her voice turned to a competitive growl, and Angelique liked her instantly. Angelique was the same fierce competitor on the court, on the high school debate team, in law school, in the courtroom, and in life. That trait had scared off some friends in high school and college and deterred more than a few guys she’d wanted to date. Losing wasn’t in her makeup, and Ella seemed to be a kindred spirit.
Coop tried to introduce her to some of the townsfolk sitting around them, and several shouted a friendly hello, until Ella interrupted.
“She can meet everyone after the match, Cooper. Get ready to play.”
When Coop said, “Yes, ma’am,” and laid a sultry kiss on his pregnant wife, Angelique felt a pang of envy.
The ref blew a whistle.
“Let’s huddle up,” Coop said.
Angelique took off her jacket, and Ella snatched it from her. Ella started to chant their team initials—RRC. “RR C , RR C , RR C .” Half the stands chimed in.
But then another mantra started from the other side of the bleachers. “Doc Hollo way , Doc Hollo way , Doc Hollo way .” Angelique scanned Dr. Tall, Dark, and Hot-some’s cheering section, mostly a gaggle of women of all ages. She rolled her eyes. Blake and his teammate emerged from the stands and took the court, Blake giving an encouraging slap on the back to his partner.
“We have to watch out for Doc Holloway. He’s a good spiker, but he’s playing with his cousin, Perry. Nice guy, but not exactly an all-American athlete, you know what I’m sayin’?”
Angelique peeked over Coop’s shoulder at
C hapter F ive
By Friday afternoon, Angelique was ready to call Coop and Ella to beg off from the volleyball game, using her poison oak outbreak as an excuse. Unfortunately, before she made the call, they’d shown up on her doorstep to give her the team uniform and saw for themselves that the rash was nearly gone. So roughly three hours and twenty-two minutes later—not that Angelique was counting—she pulled on a pair of black athletic leggings along with the red team shirt that said “Red River Chiropractic” across the back, grabbed Ella’s handwritten directions to the Red River Community Center, and drove into town.
This time of year Red River was cold but not brutal. The kind of weather that made a person long to bundle up inside a warm blanket and sip wine in front of a fire while soft jazz played in the background. Snuggling deeper into her purple fleece jacket, she got out of the car, thumbed the remote lock, and plunged both hands deep into the insulated pockets. The Lexus beeped, and the parking lights flashed behind her as she walked into the community center.
She stopped short and stared at the bleachers full of spectators. Families, couples, kids, even the local fire department filled the stands, chattering and laughing. Like a family.
A lump started to form in her throat. This was entertainment in a small town that didn’t even have a movie theatre. Her hands still shoved into deep pockets, Angelique glanced over her shoulder, seriously contemplating a quick, inconspicuous exit before anyone noticed her. Before anyone could ask prying questions about why she was really in Red River.
A sharp, earsplitting whistle, the kind blown between two fingers, rang out, and Ella Wells waved both arms in the air like a person marshaling airplanes on a tarmac.
Great. So much for making a quick escape. She forced a smile and waved back. As Angelique approached Ella and Coop, most of the spectators stopped to look at her, a new face in this tight-knit community. She smiled at a few, and they smiled back. Friendly and neighborly.
“You ready?” Coop asked when she reached them.
“Heck yeah, she’s ready,” Ella answered. “And you guys are going to kick some butt out there.” Her voice turned to a competitive growl, and Angelique liked her instantly. Angelique was the same fierce competitor on the court, on the high school debate team, in law school, in the courtroom, and in life. That trait had scared off some friends in high school and college and deterred more than a few guys she’d wanted to date. Losing wasn’t in her makeup, and Ella seemed to be a kindred spirit.
Coop tried to introduce her to some of the townsfolk sitting around them, and several shouted a friendly hello, until Ella interrupted.
“She can meet everyone after the match, Cooper. Get ready to play.”
When Coop said, “Yes, ma’am,” and laid a sultry kiss on his pregnant wife, Angelique felt a pang of envy.
The ref blew a whistle.
“Let’s huddle up,” Coop said.
Angelique took off her jacket, and Ella snatched it from her. Ella started to chant their team initials—RRC. “RR C , RR C , RR C .” Half the stands chimed in.
But then another mantra started from the other side of the bleachers. “Doc Hollo way , Doc Hollo way , Doc Hollo way .” Angelique scanned Dr. Tall, Dark, and Hot-some’s cheering section, mostly a gaggle of women of all ages. She rolled her eyes. Blake and his teammate emerged from the stands and took the court, Blake giving an encouraging slap on the back to his partner.
“We have to watch out for Doc Holloway. He’s a good spiker, but he’s playing with his cousin, Perry. Nice guy, but not exactly an all-American athlete, you know what I’m sayin’?”
Angelique peeked over Coop’s shoulder at
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