Hope Burns

  She had to go home to Carter. And hope and pray that he'd take her back.

  Chapter 35

  THANK GOD EMMA knew where Molly was, and she was gracious enough to tell him. Otherwise, Carter would have had to start from scratch and travel city to city, because no way in hell was he willing to give her up.

  He'd have plenty of time on the drive there to figure out exactly what he was going to say to her, so he grabbed his bag and punched the button to lift his garage door.

  He stopped when he saw Molly's car pulling up in the driveway behind his truck.

  He walked toward George, still cringing at the sound of the vehicle's coughing and sputtering as it shuddered when she killed the engine.

  Molly got out of the car, and his pulse did a NASCAR last-lap race as he watched her. She had on black jeans and boots, her hair loose around her shoulders. She wore a red long-sleeved shirt with a black scarf. It took everything in him not to jerk her into his arms and kiss her until she admitted she felt the same way he did about her. She glanced down at his duffel bag.

  "Going somewhere?" she asked.

  "Yeah. To Oklahoma City to find you."

  "How? Oh . . . Emma."

  "Yeah."

  "Well, I'm not there anymore."

  "I can see that. Come on inside, it's freezing out here."

  He turned around and went to the door, opened it and held it for her, taking in that sweet vanilla scent of hers as she breezed past him.

  He shut the door and followed her into the living room.

  "So . . . you were coming to find me?"

  "Hell, yes I was coming to find you. To tell you that leaving was a mistake. And to talk you into coming back."

  Her lips curved. "That's . . . nice to hear."

  "Why did you come back?"

  She took a deep breath. "Because it wasn't home to me. I thought I needed to leave, that my new adventure waited for me in the next city. Turns out I was wrong, Carter. My next adventure is right here."

  Now it was his turn to hold his breath.

  "Provided you can forgive me. I've been wrong." She stepped closer to him. "All these years, I've been wrong, about everything. You were right. I did hold you accountable for what happened, and I didn't trust in our love. The problem was, I did still love you. Everywhere I tried to run, that love went with me and I couldn't get away from it.

  "Now I'm back to face it, to see where we can go with it. If you'll have me. Will you?"

  "Yeah. On one condition."

  She frowned. "What's that?"

  "You need a new goddamned car. Like yesterday."

  She let out a soft laugh. "Okay."

  "And I like you working with me. I still need you. But only as long as you want to."

  "That's more than one condition."

  "True. Okay, we'll negotiate that second point."

  "Okay." Molly drew in a deep breath. "I love you, Carter. I want that future you've been promising. In this house. With a dog and maybe a few kids."

  He arched a brow. "A few?"

  She got even closer. "Yeah. A few. Are you okay with that?"

  He swept his arm around her waist and pulled her against him, needing to feel that connection he always felt when their bodies touched. "Yeah, I'm okay with that. I love you, Molly. I always have. I always will. Forever."

  "Forever."

  Molly cupped her hand around Carter's neck, and as soon as their lips connected, she knew at once that she was home. Finally, forever home.

  She never intended to leave again.

  Dear Reader, Thank you for reading Hope Burns. There will be more romance coming to the town of Hope with the release of Love After All in April 2015.

  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the first chapter included here of Quarterback Draw, book nine of my Play-by-Play sports romance series. These are stories about sexy, highly successful, hardworking professional athletes and the smart women who are their match in every way.

  Happy reading, Jaci

  IF THERE WAS one thing Grant Cassidy hated more than anything, it was PR. Doing commercial shoots was a necessary evil, and some he disliked more than others.

  But right now he was in board shorts and bare feet, standing on a beach in Barbados, about to do a shoot for the annual swimsuit edition of a pretty damned famous sports magazine. There were about two dozen barely clad, tanned, gorgeous models who were going to take part in the shoot along with several athletes.

  All in all? Not a bad gig.

  "This I could get used to."

  Grant grinned as one of his best friends, Trevor Shay, stood next to him.

  "Don't get too used to it. Your girlfriend will kick your ass if you get too close to any of these models."

  Trevor crossed his arms. "Yeah. I really wish Haven could be here in Barbados with me. But she's in school right now and couldn't make it. She did tell me to behave myself. Trust me, none of these women is as beautiful as mine."

  Grant laughed. "You're blinded by love, my man."

  "It's true. I am. And perfectly happy to go back to my bungalow at night all by myself. How about you? You like dating models. Got one scoped out yet?"

  "I wasn't exactly looking. There are a lot of them here, though."

  Trevor slapped him on the back as the assistant director motioned for him. "Hey, I'm up. I'll catch you at the bar later."

  "Okay."

  He stayed close and watched as Trevor was put into a shot on a hammock with a beautiful dark-skinned model. The model straddled Trevor, who Grant had to admit handled the whole thing professionally. As soon as it was over, Trevor shook the woman's hand and wandered off in the direction of the pool.

  "You'll be up next, Grant," the assistant said. "We're pairing you up with Katrina Korsova."

  "Sure." He knew who she was. Korsova was a big deal in the modeling world, one of those supermodels whose face and body were all over billboards, in magazines, and on television. She was a beauty and he was lucky to be doing the shoot with her. It would increase his profile, and he was all about exposure.

  If he had to be here doing this shoot for the sports magazine, at least he was being paired up with one of the best in the business.

  Once they readied the shot on the beach, he was called over and set up on his marks. He stood in the water up to his ankles. They'd already primped his hair, his face, and his skin. It all felt weird to him, but he'd done photo shoots before. They told him it was to combat shine and to make sure his hair would be gelled appropriately enough so it would behave.

  Whatever. He was paid to do what he was told, just like in football. So he stood where they told him to stand.

  "We're ready for you, Katrina," he heard the assistant say.

  The models were clustered in shaded cabanas before the shoot, so he'd only caught glimpses of them.

  Katrina stepped out, a gorgeous woman with long hair the color of midnight, wearing a swimsuit bottom that barely clung to her hips. It was more like two tiny pieces of cloth tied together with scraps. There wasn't much to the top, either. Just a couple of triangles that hardly covered her generous breasts.

  She was curved in all the right places, and after she bent over so they could spray her hair wet, she straightened, flipped her hair back, and gave him a look.

  Wow. Those eyes. They were so deep blue they were almost violet. Maybe they were violet. He had no idea, because he'd been struck dumb as she approached him.

  He'd been around plenty of beautiful women before, but Katrina was . . . wow. Photos of her didn't do justice to what a knockout she really was.

  "Grant Cassidy, this is Katrina Korsova."

  She gave him a quick nod, then turned to the director, obviously all business and not as thunderstruck by him as he had been by her.

  He was going to try to not be offended by that. Then again, she likely worked around good-looking male models all the time. He was no big deal, at least not in the modeling world.

  "I want your arm around his, Katrina," the di
rector said. "Katrina, your right breast against his chest, with you facing him. Let's see some heat here."

  And just like that, she moved into him, her body warm and pliant as she slid her hand into his hair and tilted her head back. Their hips touched, their thighs made contact, and then she looked at him.

  He'd never felt that pow of instant connection before, but he sure as hell felt it now. It was as if lightning had struck the center of his universe, and every part of him felt it.

  Katrina blinked a few times, then frowned.

  "Something wrong?"

  "The angle. Give me a second," she said. He'd expected some type of Russian accent, but there was none, just the smoky hot darkness of her voice spilling from her lips. It was like drinking whiskey on a cold night. The sound of her voice heated him from the inside out. He'd never been slammed as hard as this before.

  Katrina adjusted, her fingers tangling in his hair, giving him just a bit of a tug.

  His lips curved. "So, you like that?" he asked.

  "Just a job," she responded, then gave him a smoldering look, tilted her head toward him, and jutted her hips out just enough to hit him right in the crotch.

  Goddammit. She'd done that on purpose.

  He could do it as well. He raised his hand and laid it just above her hip, knowing he couldn't obscure the swimwear. After all, that's what they were advertising. His fingers bit into her skin, just enough that he caught the flash of awareness in her eyes.

  "Yes, that's perfect," the director said. "Hold it there."

  Grant heard the camera click several times.

  "Now move. Get into each other. Lean in, touch. Be mindful of your angles, Katrina. And Grant, follow her lead."

  "Yes, Grant," Katrina said, shifting just a touch, then picking up his hand and placing it on her butt. "Follow my lead."

  It wasn't like he'd never posed for a photo session before. He wasn't a rookie here. He knew what he was doing, how to move and react to the camera, and when to be still.

  Katrina might be the pro here, but he could play the game, too. He cupped her butt, making sure he didn't squeeze, just slid his fingers lightly over her skin, tucking his fingertips just inside the edge of her suit.

  He heard every breath she took, saw the smoldering look in her eyes, and his body reacted.

  So did hers, as her nipples pebbled, brushing against his chest.

  His lips curved.

  "Just a job" his ass.

  And as he heard every few clicks of the camera, he turned his head, moved his body against hers, making sure their clothes remained the focus while keeping his gaze intently on hers. When he drew a strand of her hair between his fingers, letting his knuckles brush the swell of her breasts, he heard her sharp intake of breath.

  "Just a job, right?" he asked, turning her around so her back was to him, so he could skim his hand down her arm, letting his fingers rest at her hip.

  "This is perfect," the director said. "Keep doing what you're doing."

  He listened to the sound of Katrina's breaths, got comfortable with her ass nestled into his crotch.

  They fit damned perfect together. She was tall--taller than the average woman. He didn't have to crouch down to fit her to him. She had long legs. Really nice legs, too.

  "Okay, let's break for a few," the director said. "You both need an outfit change. Then we'll resume."

  Before he had a chance to say anything to her, she pushed off and walked away, heading into the cabana. An assistant handed her a bottle of water.

  And just like that, she disappeared.

  Friendly, wasn't she?

  He wandered off at the direction of the staff to change his board shorts and to have his hair and makeup adjusted. When he came back out, Katrina was in a short robe.

  He was called out toward a tree facing the sun.

  "Ready for you, Katrina," the director said.

  She dropped the robe, and Grant blinked. Katrina wore only a thong bottom. She stood while they arranged her hair to partially cover her breasts.

  And what fantastic breasts they were, too. He decided to look elsewhere, like out on the water, until she showed up in front of him. In this game they were playing, it was best for him not to show a physical reaction.

  "Katrina, you against the tree. Grant, you plant one hand above her head to start, lean into her body."

  Some of the assistants positioned them while Grant and Katrina made eye contact.

  She met his gaze with a cool one of her own, a challenge to him, as if she'd done this a million times, as if rubbing her breasts against his chest wasn't a big deal. To her, it probably wasn't. She wanted to know if he'd react.

  He had a gorgeous, half-naked woman pressed up against him, and his dick was trying very hard to respond to that, while he was trying equally as hard to convince his dick nothing was going to happen out here on the beach with thirty other people watching.

  "Ready?" the director asked.

  Katrina tilted her head back toward the sun. "Yes."

  Grant gave a quick nod, hoping like hell this wouldn't take long, especially since every time Katrina moved, she rubbed her breasts against his chest. And because she was topless, they had to take special care that no nipple was visible, so they took every shot carefully, stopping to rearrange her hair or strategically place his arm or hand.

  It was interminable, and seemed to go on for hours. Katrina was patient through every shot, but to Grant, it was like a goddamned eternity.

  "Is it always like this?" Grant asked Katrina during one of the many breaks.

  Clearly comfortable standing around having her hair and makeup retouched, Katrina cocked her head to the side. "Like what?"

  "Hours of this. Click and change positions. Click and redo the hair. Click and clothing changes."

  "Oh. Yes. Always like this. Why? Are you bored?"

  His lips curved and he glanced downward where her hair barely covered her generous breasts. "Hardly."

  She rolled her eyes. "I doubt these are the first set of breasts you've seen. Not from what I've read about you."

  "And here I thought you had no idea who I was."

  "Oh, I know who you are, Grant. You've dated a few of my friends."

  He wondered which ones. None of them were on location with him, and he'd always remained friends with the women he dated, so he doubted any of them had anything bad to say about him. "Is that right. And did you get a full report?"

  "Yes."

  "So that means you'll have dinner with me tonight."

  She laughed, and he liked the sound of it.

  "I don't think so."

  He wasn't insulted, and he liked her confidence. They finished the shoot for the day since, according to the director, the light was leaving them. Katrina grabbed her robe and wandered off, and Grant went back to his bungalow to shower off all the makeup and hair gunk. He checked his phone and answered a few emails and text messages.

  Trevor texted that he was going to set up a face-to-face call with Haven, so he was staying in his room.

  That meant Grant was on his own tonight, which was fine with him. He returned a few calls, one to his agent, Liz Riley. She talked to him about finalizing his contract since the season would be starting soon. He told her he'd come in and see her as soon as he got back to town.

  Football season was gearing up, and he was due to the practice facility in St. Louis in two weeks.

  He was ready. He'd been in training and was in shape, and was more than ready for the season to start. This was a nice mini vacation prior to getting back to work, though. Soon enough he'd have his head in the game, and it would be all he thought about.

  After getting dressed in a pair of shorts and a sleeveless shirt, he made his way to the main bar at the hotel and ordered a beer. He grabbed a seat at one of the tables outside, content to sip his beer and people watch, one of his favorite pastimes.

  He saw a few of the models come outside. They sat at a table not too far from where he was, all of the
m talking and laughing.

  They were all beautiful women. Tall and slender, with great hair, pretty smiles, and amazing bodies. But he found himself searching for only one woman.

  He had no idea why, when she'd clearly blown him off. She was probably out on a date tonight with some hot male model. He'd seen a few of those guys today as well.

  But then he caught sight of Katrina coming through the bar. She was by herself, carrying a tote bag. She stopped to talk to the bartender, who nodded. Then she walked past Grant without saying a word, and pulled up a chair at a table by herself.

  Not with the other models, who seemingly ignored her as much as she was ignoring them.

  She pulled out a book and a pair of glasses, and one of the waitresses brought her a tall glass of what looked like iced tea with lemon. She opened the book and started to read, oblivious to everything--and everyone--around her.

  Huh. Not at all what he'd expected.

  He watched her for a while, waiting to see if she was meeting someone. After about thirty minutes, he realized no one was going to show up. He stood, grabbed his beer and went over to her table and pulled out a chair to take a seat.

  She lifted her gaze from her book and settled it on him. She didn't offer a smile.

  "Did you get lost on your way to some other table?" she asked.

  "No. But you were alone."

  "Precisely. On purpose."

  She waited, as if she expected him to leave. He didn't take a brushoff all that easily. "I thought you might want some company."

  "You thought wrong."

  "Does that icy cold stare work on all men?"

  "Usually."

  "Why aren't you with your friends over there?"

  She took a quick glance at the other table, then back to him. "Do you think models travel in herds?"

  She had a sharp wit. He liked that about her. "What are you drinking?"

  "Iced tea."

  He signaled for the waitress, then held up two fingers and motioned to their drinks. She nodded and wandered back inside.

  "Really, Grant. I'm fine. And I'd like to be alone."

  "No one wants to be alone."

  "That's bullshit."

  "Okay, fine. I don't want to be alone. I figured we'd have dinner together."

  With a sigh, she set down her book and took off her glasses. "Just because we worked together today doesn't mean we have anything in common, or that we shared a moment or anything."

  "Didn't we?"

  She paused for a few seconds, and he held her gaze in his. Damn, there was something about her eyes. He liked women just fine, and always had a good time with them. He'd had a few relationships that had lasted awhile and had ended amicably. But not one woman had ever shocked him with the same spark he'd felt with Katrina today.