“It’s still up to her,” Andy added, finishing off his beer and setting it down on the ground.
“Like she’d ever make a decision based on someone else’s opinion,” Blake said dryly. He ran a hand through his hair. “You need to know, I don’t want to hurt her, but this thing between us…and Kim…it’s going to hurt. It’ll be like putting a shoulder back in the socket.” Having dislocated his shoulder before, he knew just how acute that pain could be.
“I know it,” Andy said. “Good thing you have people around who know how to bandage things up.”
“Just don’t be too hard on her,” Matt added with a small smile. “She needs to know she’s tough. It’s who she is.”
Her attachment to that identity—her belief that being tough meant standing firm against normal human emotions—was what was hurting her, but then he couldn’t say too much to her brother about that. In many ways, Matty Ice and Natalie were cut from the same cloth.
“I’ll be as gentle as I can be,” he promised.
“Good. Now, why don’t you grab me a beer? Seems I’m behind you guys.”
He rose with a smile on his face. “Have it in a jiffy.”
As soon as he was in the house and out of their sight, he did a victory dance. He felt like a champion right now.
After all, every football player knew a Super Bowl was won one victory at a time.
Chapter 6
Natalie decided the kitchen sink needed a good scrubbing, hoping it would keep her cold hands occupied and keep her mind from betraying her with thoughts of Blake. Touchdown sat on the floor, grinning at her like a goofus, and darn it all if she didn’t find herself smiling too—when she wasn’t frowning, of course.
She hadn’t heard from her mother yet, but she’d heard from the rest of her Hale lunch crew, who had offered their support. Moira and Caroline had spilled the beans. Not that Blake’s presence in town would stay secret for long anyway. Once Mr. Football Fancy Pants strutted his fine butt down Dare Valley’s Main Street, everyone in town would know he was here…heck, everyone in the country.
The very thought of the press descending on the small town and bothering her again gave her a headache. After Blake went “missing,” various reporters had contacted her, hoping for the story behind the story. She’d taken the Fifth. The calls had stopped after the news about Adam’s passing was published. But now everyone would suspect that Blake hadn’t left football only because of Adam. He’d left it because of her. Why the heck else would he be living next door?
The town gossip was going to drive her crazy. It was one part of small town life she hadn’t missed. She’d have to shut it down as soon as possible.
Someone rapped on her back door, and she let out a loud grumble. Only Blake would use that door. Touchdown was already letting loose a volley of happy barks by the time she opened it. Blake’s hands were full of Touchdown’s stuff. He stepped inside so quickly she had to take a step back. After setting Touchdown’s things down on the nearby kitchen table, he reached a hand out to her face.
“You have hair in your eyes.”
Her belly quivered with lust as his fingers caressed her cheek, pushing the lock behind her ear. In that one simple touch, she could feel all the pent-up longing inside him.
His brown eyes held steady on her face. “I know what you’re thinking. I’m thinking the same thing.” Then his nose scrunched up like he’d detected an unpleasant smell, and he flinched. “Were you cleaning?” he asked, his eyes darting around the kitchen.
It was impossible to mistake the fear lacing his voice. She flashed to the time she’d cleaned the shower after Kim’s funeral. Something popped inside her heart, and oh, how it hurt.
“You only clean when you’re upset, babe. I’m sorry for that.”
How could she hope to fight with someone who knew her so well? After being married for three years, he knew every intimate detail about her.
“Do you have any idea how complicated you’re going to make my life once the press hears you’ve moved in next door? Blake, I just moved back to my hometown and started a respectable job. I don’t need or want that kind of attention.”
“Your new boss doesn’t give a flying F what anyone thinks or says.”
“Still jealous of Terrance?” she quipped. Blake and her celebrity chef boss had sized each other up like mad dogs at the Raiders’ dinner. Even though Terrance was over the moon about someone else, he’d helped out Natalie by intimating he was her new love interest.
“No, but I was sure as hell jealous at the Raiders’ dinner. It would have been nice if you’d told me he was interviewing you.”
She crossed her arms. “I wasn’t feeling particularly nice that day.” And she now felt more guilt than she could run up a flag pole. At the time, she’d had no idea about Adam’s declining health.