Read Online Secret Catch by Cassie Mae, Jessica Salyer - Free Book Online

get something to go?”
    She gives me a funny look, and I don’t blame her. As far as first dates go, this one probably isn’t starting off real well.
    I suck in a breath and set my arm above the door frame to lean into her. She has to know I’m still into her— way into her—I’m just scared to think about what could happen if she gets stuck in the middle.
    “I… well, I want to be alone with you.” I focus on her eyes, because it’s true. I want to get to know her without the constant checking over our shoulders. I want her to get to know me, too.
    Her breathing changes, and I wonder if I’ve scared her, but she inches closer to me, gaze locked on mine. “I want that, too.”
    I weave my fingers through the strands of her red hair and wrap my hand around the back of her head. She holds her breath as I pull her toward me, and she smells like tootsie rolls and Pepsi. For the first time today, I feel good. Better than good. I feel bizarrely complete, which is weird to even think about because the only thing that makes me feel even close to this is football. It equally scares the shit out of me and excites the hell out of me.
    Our lips graze, and a flash of headlights jolts me back.
    “Koontz!”
    Without using my brain at all, I push Sam into the passenger seat and stand in front of the window, blocking her from sight.
    “Uh, hey.” I squint through the dark and make out Daniels’ head poking from his Civic.
    “Team meeting at the field tomorrow at nine.”
    “Yeah, okay.”
    He gives me one sharp nod, his eyes looking strangely bloodshot. He’d joked about how the Skyhawks were “so original” with what was splayed across his jersey, but I’m guessing it got to him more than he’s letting on.
    He drives off and the tension in my chest loosens, until I turn around to Sam who’s got her arms crossed and eyebrow raised at me, and it tightens right back up.
    I quickly swing the door open and crouch down to talk to her. “I’m sorry, I just—”
    “How about we do this?” she says, twisting to face me. Her bare knees hit my chest and I tentatively settle my fingers on them to keep me steady. Instead of pushing me off, she puts her hands on mine. “Get me food, drag me to someplace where we can be alone, and then you can tell me what the hell is going on.”
    It’s more than I deserve, so I nod like a mad man and hop around to the driver’s side before she changes her mind.
    I want to be with her. I’m so into this girl who seems so strong and tough, who completely surprises me every time she says something. I want to know about her life, her dad… I want to spend time with Captain Nolan, and I want to kiss her and be that guy in her life. But there’s only one way I can see it happening, and it’s a dick move to even think about it, let alone ask her. But what’s worse? Asking her to hide whatever relationship we get into? Or risk her getting hurt because of it being out in the open?
    I clutch onto her hand as I drive to Pizzeria, hoping I’ll get the chance to do it again after tonight.
     

 
     
     

     
    The strings of cheese drape from my lips to the slice of pizza I’m holding about a foot away from my face. I twirl it around my tongue and then pull the extra cheese into my mouth before it breaks apart. I turn to look at Tyler and find him watching me, his face red.
    “This is really good pizza.” I laugh.
    “Uh huh,” he mutters and then takes a big bite.
    When I finish chewing I say, “Do you normally hang out in restricted areas at airports?”
    We sit on the hood of his truck, resting up against the window, pizza box between us. There’s a chain link fence in front and beyond that a tarmac.
    “I like planes.” He gives me that sexy smile. “It’s the one place more cathartic than a football field. My dad used to take my brothers and me here, and it was probably the only time we weren’t beating the crap out of each other. We’d sit for hours guessing what planes were