she
wouldn’t have to fight this one out. Jared’s presence threw her reasoning off.
If it weren’t him making the offer, she’d have jumped at the opportunity, not
have Kylie goad her into it.
“Well, Len, I’m impressed. I came expecting a fight. Thank
you, I don’t think I could stomach another battle. Let me know how I can help.”
For the first time in a long time, hope bubbled in her heart and soothed her
jangled nerves. Maybe she wouldn’t have to carry this alone.
Gathering her things to leave, Jocelyn glanced at Jared. “I
can’t seem to get away from you, can I?”
His grin had victory written all over it.
In the hallway, Jocelyn faced her daughter. “Tell me,
sweetheart, where’d the sudden interest in soccer come from?”
“I like Coach Wyatt, Mom. He looks me straight in the eye
and treats me like I matter. Most teachers seem a little afraid of me.”
In a Grinch moment, that ray of hope in Jocelyn’s chest grew
ten times larger. Yes, this really might be a good thing. “Just don’t feel
obligated to continue if it doesn’t feel right.”
“Sure, Mom, but I really want to try this. I love track and
running, but they’re yours. I want something that’s mine.” Kylie kicked at a
crack in the yellowing tile floor.
She lifted her daughter’s chin and drew her face closer. “I
couldn’t be more proud of you, sweetheart.” Her heart burst with tenderness for
her daughter, growing up before her eyes, and for Jared. An expert on
special-needs kids and sports, a coach who gained the trust of her cowering
daughter in record time, and the only man in the whole damn state not quaking
in fear of her, who sent her libido into spasms with a glance. His web was
tightening around her and she didn’t seem to mind.
Chapter Seven
Kylie bounded into the house, shorts and jersey streaked
with mud, long wisps of hair escaping her ponytail. “Uncle Gid, Granddad.��� Her
voice bled joy as she jumped her uncle and squeezed him in a bear hug.
“The feeling’s mutual, squirt.” Lieutenant Colonel Gideon
Wade held his niece tight with one arm. The other held the knife he’d been
using to chop vegetables. His broad grin lit up a lean, handsome face, framed
by military-cropped gold-blond hair and heartbreaking brown eyes.
“Watch the knife, big brother. Kyles, go change and wash for
dinner. Your uncle’s visiting for two weeks so you will have plenty of time to
get your bear hugs in.” Gideon was the closest thing Kylie had to a father and
she adored him.
“Okay, Mom. Do I have time for a shower? I’m a muddy, dirty
mess.”
“We eat in thirty minutes. Choice is yours.”
“Shower it is.” Kylie headed upstairs and the rest of the
family finished making dinner.
When the dinner plates hit the table, Kylie slipped into the
seat next to Gideon, fresh in blue jeans and green T.
His fingers ruffled through her still-damp hair. “Those
auburn roots are showing.”
She shrugged in an attempt at nonchalance. “I’m letting my
real color come back.”
“Works for me, squirt. Tell me about high school. The
soccer’s new.” Gideon took salad and passed it on.
“Yeah. I play center forward on the soccer team and I’m
pretty good, I think, and my teammates are really nice.” Her face lit up like a
light bulb.
Jocelyn exchanged glances with her brother. Who replaced the
dour goth girl who moped around the dinner table with this smiling teen?
Jared’s name was written all over this. Hope for her daughter grew hand in hand
with her respect for him, which burned through the anger that shielded her
heart, and it terrified her. She did not do vulnerability. That suit didn’t fit
and she got rid of it years ago.
“That new athletic director’s your coach,” said Alan. “He’s
all the town’s talking about. The rumor is that Joci tried to tell him what’s
what and he gave it right back. It’s been a long time since anyone stood up to
our Joci and won.”
“He did not win,”
wouldn’t have to fight this one out. Jared’s presence threw her reasoning off.
If it weren’t him making the offer, she’d have jumped at the opportunity, not
have Kylie goad her into it.
“Well, Len, I’m impressed. I came expecting a fight. Thank
you, I don’t think I could stomach another battle. Let me know how I can help.”
For the first time in a long time, hope bubbled in her heart and soothed her
jangled nerves. Maybe she wouldn’t have to carry this alone.
Gathering her things to leave, Jocelyn glanced at Jared. “I
can’t seem to get away from you, can I?”
His grin had victory written all over it.
In the hallway, Jocelyn faced her daughter. “Tell me,
sweetheart, where’d the sudden interest in soccer come from?”
“I like Coach Wyatt, Mom. He looks me straight in the eye
and treats me like I matter. Most teachers seem a little afraid of me.”
In a Grinch moment, that ray of hope in Jocelyn’s chest grew
ten times larger. Yes, this really might be a good thing. “Just don’t feel
obligated to continue if it doesn’t feel right.”
“Sure, Mom, but I really want to try this. I love track and
running, but they’re yours. I want something that’s mine.” Kylie kicked at a
crack in the yellowing tile floor.
She lifted her daughter’s chin and drew her face closer. “I
couldn’t be more proud of you, sweetheart.” Her heart burst with tenderness for
her daughter, growing up before her eyes, and for Jared. An expert on
special-needs kids and sports, a coach who gained the trust of her cowering
daughter in record time, and the only man in the whole damn state not quaking
in fear of her, who sent her libido into spasms with a glance. His web was
tightening around her and she didn’t seem to mind.
Chapter Seven
Kylie bounded into the house, shorts and jersey streaked
with mud, long wisps of hair escaping her ponytail. “Uncle Gid, Granddad.��� Her
voice bled joy as she jumped her uncle and squeezed him in a bear hug.
“The feeling’s mutual, squirt.” Lieutenant Colonel Gideon
Wade held his niece tight with one arm. The other held the knife he’d been
using to chop vegetables. His broad grin lit up a lean, handsome face, framed
by military-cropped gold-blond hair and heartbreaking brown eyes.
“Watch the knife, big brother. Kyles, go change and wash for
dinner. Your uncle’s visiting for two weeks so you will have plenty of time to
get your bear hugs in.” Gideon was the closest thing Kylie had to a father and
she adored him.
“Okay, Mom. Do I have time for a shower? I’m a muddy, dirty
mess.”
“We eat in thirty minutes. Choice is yours.”
“Shower it is.” Kylie headed upstairs and the rest of the
family finished making dinner.
When the dinner plates hit the table, Kylie slipped into the
seat next to Gideon, fresh in blue jeans and green T.
His fingers ruffled through her still-damp hair. “Those
auburn roots are showing.”
She shrugged in an attempt at nonchalance. “I’m letting my
real color come back.”
“Works for me, squirt. Tell me about high school. The
soccer’s new.” Gideon took salad and passed it on.
“Yeah. I play center forward on the soccer team and I’m
pretty good, I think, and my teammates are really nice.” Her face lit up like a
light bulb.
Jocelyn exchanged glances with her brother. Who replaced the
dour goth girl who moped around the dinner table with this smiling teen?
Jared’s name was written all over this. Hope for her daughter grew hand in hand
with her respect for him, which burned through the anger that shielded her
heart, and it terrified her. She did not do vulnerability. That suit didn’t fit
and she got rid of it years ago.
“That new athletic director’s your coach,” said Alan. “He’s
all the town’s talking about. The rumor is that Joci tried to tell him what’s
what and he gave it right back. It’s been a long time since anyone stood up to
our Joci and won.”
“He did not win,”
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