“Fine. You’ll need to win the break to win the game though.” Betsy crossed her arms as she slid from the stool, cocking her hip ever so slightly. “Not. Likely.”
Now there was the girl from Friday nights back in high school, when win or lose didn’t matter. Hell, winning was just a state of mind anyhow. Slow and easy, he slid into his leather jacket, zipped it part way and raised the collar for a retro James Dean look. Then in a what-have-I-got-to-lose moment, he winked at her.
She winked back in a split-second reaction before her expression turned to disbelief at what she’d done.
“Guess I’ll just have to try harder.” He winked again and stepped outside. Before the door had completely closed behind him, she’d shoved it open and followed him as he walked across the parking lot.
Her heels popped against the pavement behind him. “Mark my words, Cain Connery. You won’t win.”
“Are you following me, Betsy?” He stopped and leaned back against the back side panel of his truck.
A few feet away she finished shuffling into her coat, then mirrored his stance, only against the tailgate. Her hair fluttered in the wind, tangling in the air before framing her face again. “Nope. I just needed a breath of fresh air. It got kind of close in there. Kind of stuffy.”
She stared up at the clear winter sky as if she’d never seen so much beauty in one place at one time. He leaned toward her and pointed out the Big Dipper, then Venus. Betsy smiled as she turned and rested her forearms on the top of the taillight, inching closer to him as he drew an outline within the stars. Her brows pinched, forehead slightly wrinkled in question.
He stood away from the truck. Held his left arm shoulder high and straight out to his side. As if zeroing in on the bullseye during an archery competition, he slowly turned his head to face the same direction and touched the fingers of his right hand against his cheekbone.
“The Archer,” she said, smiling.
“Absolutely correct.” He nodded, turning to stare into her eyes. They were separated by the back edge of the truck bed, but somehow, he felt closer to her than ever before. He sighed. “You know, I’ve always wanted to kiss you…”
Moments passed. Seconds. A minute. Neither Cain nor Betsy moved.
“You’ve never tried.” Tilting her head, she raised her eyebrows as she straightened. “Why?”
CHAPTER FOUR
How could Cain tell Betsy that he was afraid of what he’d discover? Afraid of what he’d feel? Afraid his whole life might change in an instant? And he wasn’t good with change. He had plans. He had dreams. He had past assignments that still lurked with danger.
Tonight, though, there was only Betsy and him. Without thinking, he stepped around the edge of the truck and wrapped her in his arms as she relaxed in his hold.
He lowered his head toward hers as he gently cupped his palm against her cheek. “Why doesn’t matter anymore. Now does.”
Her lips parted with the touch of his own. Suddenly, instead of acting their thirty-something age, they were more like teenagers necking in the parking lot. Their embrace tightened, their arms and hands awkwardly groping to find the path to what they felt in the moment. The brush of her fingers against the back of his neck trapped him. Made him afraid. Made him want more.
Then as gently as it had started, she eased away and stepped back as their hands slid down each other’s arms. Their fingers tangled for a moment before pulling apart.
“Yep, that’s what I thought.” He forced himself to walk to the driver’s side door before looking back.
She hadn’t moved, just stood there looking lost. Perplexed. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“You.” Hands braced on his waist, he blew out a cheek-puffing sigh and shook his head. Grinned. Then without breaking eye contact, he walked back to her. Slowly, as if he’d done it a million times before, he brushed her hair behind her ear and lowered his mouth to hers.
He kissed her long and slow and smooth before pulling back from her lips. That brief taste was all it took to calm his doubts. “It’s always been you.”
“No!” She pulled away. “Please stop. Stop before?—”
He rapidly moved backwards putting distance between them as he slowly raised his hands, palms outward toward her. “I’m sorry, Betsy. Guess I read the moment wrong. That would be my mistake.”
She blew out a soft sigh. Slightly smiled. “I’m sorry, too.”
“For what?”
“I didn’t mean to lead you on. But there was something…” She paused. Motioned her fingers back and forth between the two of them. “Anyhow, just know it’s not you. I just can’t do this right now. Maybe never.”
“Anything you want to tell me?”
She shook her head and glanced at the front door to Joanie’s. “Think I’ll just go back inside for a while.”
