Patricia Kay - You've Got Game

“Want to come in?” Cherry said in her low, sexy drawl. There was subtext written into every word.

Nick shook his head. “Thanks, but I’m driving over to Lake Charles in the morning, and I need to get an early start.” That was true, but in the past it wouldn’t have stopped him from the spending the night with a sexy number like Cherry.

“Are you sure?” She moved closer, putting her arms around his neck.

“It’s tempting,” he said gallantly, “but I can’t.” For some reason, he just wasn’t in the mood tonight.

Cherry pouted. “You’re no fun.” She continued to wheedle, but he remained firm, and finally she stopped trying to get him to change his mind.

Later, as he drove home, he thought about how he hadn’t been in the mood for a long time now. He never would have confessed it to his mother or his sister, but Nick was tired of the dating scene. He was ready for a committed relationship, but some days he wondered if he’d ever find the right kind of woman.

What he wanted was the kind of woman who would not only fit in with his family, but who was smart and interesting and sexy. Someone who was a match for him, who would give as good as she got. Someone he could respect.

For some reason, his thoughts turned to Lorna Hathaway. Not that she was his kind of woman. Not even close. Still, he had to admit she’d surprised him tonight. He never would have imagined the ice queen could look so…hot. He’d noticed her long before she’d seen him. Watching her dance with that young guy, he’d been amazed. She’d shown a side of herself Nick hadn’t known existed.

Nick fell asleep wondering how he could use what he’d learned about Lorna Hathaway tonight to his advantage.

FROM: Coach1012@bayoucity.net

TO: SweetStuff@jamboree.net

DATE: 30 August

SUBJECT: Home Yet?

Hey, girl, it’s been a week since I’ve heard from you or seen you online. Thought you were only going to be gone a few days? Hate to admit it, but I’ve been a little worried. Hope nothing’s wrong. Everything here’s about the same, except the Little League season is finally over for our team. You know I love coaching, but I’m always glad when I get a break, especially when I have a season like this one has been. Those poor kids. They only won two games, came in last in their division. But I told them they’d be better next year and even better after that, so I don’t think they were too bummed.

Since the season ended, I’ve been working like a dog. We’ve had all kinds of problems here, but things seem to be okay for now. Anyway, if you’re back from your business trip and can make it online tonight, I’ll try to be there by eight. If not, I guess I’ll just have to wait until I hear from you.

Your buddy,

C.

Lorna felt a pang of guilt. She’d been so busy the past week, she hadn’t logged on to WordMaker since the night she’d told Coach she had to go away on business, nor had she e-mailed him. She decided to zap him a quick reply.

FROM: SweetStuff@jamboree.net

TO: Coach1012@bayoucity.net DATE: 30 August

SUBJECT: Re: Home Yet?

Hi, Coach. Sorry I’ve been gone so long. Things got hectic here and I’ve been so tired at night, I haven’t had the energy to read, let alone play WordMaker. This is the first time I’ve been on Jamboree in days. But I’ve got my life under control again—as under control as life can ever be! Anyway, I’ll log on at eight tonight. Send me an IM and let me know which room you’re in.

See you later!

SS

She smiled to think he’d been worrying about her. Once again, she felt bad about not telling him she had relocated to Houston. He seemed like such a nice guy. Maybe she should tell him.

But even as she considered it, she knew she’d made the right decision. At least for now. Maybe one of these days, she’d take the plunge. But she was afraid once he knew they were in the same city, he’d suggest getting together. Even the thought of meeting him gave her a case of butterflies. She knew it was cowardly, but she wanted to hang on to her fantasy of him as a certain kind of person, and once they met, she’d finally have to face reality.

What if she couldn’t stand him? That would be awful because right now she treasured their friendship, and she’d hate to lose it.

Talking to Coach was like having a shrink. He was a safe place to vent or discuss things that bothered her because he didn’t know who she was and the things she said couldn’t come back to haunt her.

But if they knew each other—really knew each other—that would all change. Their relationship might end up being better, but it could end up being much worse. In fact, she could lose him altogether.

And that was what scared Lorna.

Right now Coach was important to her. Meeting him at night to play WordMaker and talk was something she could look forward to, especially when she was having a bad day. She didn’t want to lose that.

You really are a coward.

She bit her lip. How could she ever expect to fulfill her dreams and desires if she was afraid to take a chance? The question disturbed her, because she had never thought of herself that way. In fact, until Keith had left her, she’d never been a coward. She’d been adventurous and brave. She remembered how she’d bucked her entire family and followed her first serious boyfriend to Florida State, where he had a football scholarship, instead of going to an Ivy League school, as her mother had wanted, or the University of Texas, as her grandmother had wanted.

Unfortunately, when Keith walked out on her, he had taken a big chunk of her self-confidence with him. Suddenly, she’d questioned her entire self-worth. But she was getting better. She’d taken a big chance by moving to Houston, and soon maybe she’d be ready to take a chance on Coach, too.

She hoped so, because she knew it was time.

Later, over brunch with Claudia and John, Claudia said, “You’re awfully quiet today.”

Lorna blinked. She’d been thinking about Coach again and wondering if she should tell Claudia and John about him, maybe get their opinion of the situation. “Sorry. Guess I was daydreaming.”

John smiled. “Claudia does that a lot. Must be a female thing.”

“Excuse me?” Claudia said, jabbing him in the arm with her finger. “That sounds like a sexist remark.”

“Sexist? Did that sound sexist to you?” John asked Lorna with an innocent look.

Lorna grinned. Their playful teasing always amused her. “Well, since you asked…”

“Don’t tell me you agree with her?” he said.

In answer, Lorna only laughed.

“What’d you think about last night?” Claudia said, ignoring John, who was shaking his head in feigned disbelief.

“Except for seeing Nick DeSanto, it was a pretty nice evening,” Lorna said.

Claudia made a face. “Did you see that babe he was with?”

“I noticed her,” John said.

Claudia rolled her eyes. “I’m sure you did. I’m sure every man in the place did. How could they help it?” Turning back to Lorna, she said, “Nick DeSanto sure wasn’t very friendly.”

“Well, we didn’t exactly act overjoyed to see him.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Lorna wondered why she’d defended him.

“No, I guess not.” Brightening, Claudia said, “Enough about him. What’d you think of Jonah?”

“He’s nice.”

“Just nice?”

“He liked you a lot,” John said, chiming in. He reached for a roll and broke it in two.

Lorna sighed. “Look. The thing is, he’s too young for me.”

“He’s only two years younger than you are,” John pointed out.

“And he’s really cute,” Claudia added.

Lorna shrugged.

“He told me he’d like to see you again,” John said.

“Please don’t encourage him to ask me out. I’m sorry, but he’s just not my type.”

Now it was Claudia’s turn to sigh. “Lorna…”

Lorna swung her gaze to her sister. “I mean it. If he does call me, I’m just going to make an excuse.”

“We’re only trying to help. Since you’re new in town and all.”

“I know you are, but I don’t need help.”

After an awkward moment of silence, John reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “You’re right. You don’t. We should butt out.”

Claudia fell silent after that, and Lorna felt bad. She knew her sister only wanted her to be happy. But Lorna had to find happiness in her own way. Besides, she wasn’t unhappy. She simply hoped for a future that would yield something more.

Once again, her thoughts turned to Coach. Maybe she was being too cautious. Who knew? He could turn out to be perfect for her. Go ahead. Take another chance.

“You’re daydreaming again,” Claudia chided.

Lorna determinedly cleared her mind and for the rest of their time together, concentrated on participating in the conversation.

After brunch, Lorna said goodbye to Claudia and John—who were going to a photography exhibit John wanted to see—and headed for the Galleria, where she spent a pleasant couple of hours shopping. She hit Nordstrom’s, Neiman Marcus, the new Foley’s and several of the smaller boutiques. She even managed to find a few Christmas presents, although the holiday wasn’t for months. She was particularly pleased with the gorgeous James Avery crosses she bought for her nieces. She was sure the girls would love them. In a spurt of inspiration, she bought two extra crosses—one for Emily when she was old enough to wear it, and one for Claudia’s baby, in case she had a girl. And if she didn’t have a girl this time, she might in the future.

Or I might, Lorna thought. Just the thought gave her goosebumps. A little girl of my own… Lorna already knew that if she was ever blessed with a daughter, she would name her Diana after her great-great-grandmother Diana Morgan, who had been married to Jeremiah Morgan. Sometimes Lorna dreamed about her baby, imagining she’d even look like her ancestor, who’d had dark hair and eyes and had been a great beauty in her day.

At Neiman Marcus, Lorna bought a wonderful deep purple brocade jacket that would look beautiful on her grandmother and also found a wispy gold chiffon scarf for her mother. All in all, a satisfying afternoon.

After leaving the Galleria, she stopped at the supermarket and stocked up on groceries, then headed home.

By the time she’d put her groceries away, nuked and eaten some frozen lasagna, and finished reading the newspaper, it was nearly eight o’clock and time to log on to Jamboree. She was really looking forward to playing against and talking to Coach again.

She logged on and entered the games area. She hadn’t been listed for more than a couple of seconds when Coach sent her an invitation to join him.

Glad you made it. Ready to lose? he wrote in the chat box.

She grinned. Them’s fightin’ words, mister.

Put on your gloves, then.

He had the first turn and, as luck would have it, made a seven-letter word—Sponges—which gained him not only the value of the letters times two but a thirty-five-point bonus.

See? he wrote. Told you I was going to skunk you.

Lorna laughed. You may have to eat those words, you know. She looked at her letters: X, R, I, I, M, A, H. Smiling, she played off his E, making the word Mixer. It seemed only fitting since sponge mixers played an important part in the commercial baking business.

His next word was Raisin, which he played off the R in Mixer. Lorna shook her head. It was almost as if he’d understood the significance of the first two words in her life and was responding with one of the types of breads Hathaway was famous for. If she’d had the right combination of letters, she would have made the word Bread, but she didn’t. Besides, it would only have been a private joke and would mean nothing to Coach.