Out at Home (6 page)

Tabby sighed. “I just thought we’d talk.”

Curiosity got the better of her and even though her instincts balked at the idea of returning to the ball park - and possibly running into Brady - she relented.

“Okay,” Taylor said. “Where should we meet?”

***

They settled back in their seats, sipping from icy cold water bottles and munching on deliciously salty popcorn. Excitement radiated from the eager fans scurrying to their seats, anxious to not miss a single pitch.

“So, what did you need to talk to me about?” Taylor asked between mouthfuls of popcorn.

Tabby grinned. “Boy, you cut straight to the chase, huh?”

Taylor shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound rude.”

“It’s all right,” Tabby reassured. She pulled her sunglasses off the top of her head and covered her bright green eyes. “I just wanted to talk to you about Brady.”

Taylor groaned. “Did he put you up to this?”

Tabby snapped her head to look at Taylor. “No. Oh, no. I didn’t mean talk to you like that.”

“Oh, good,” Taylor smiled. “Sorry.”

Tabby rested a hand on Taylor’s arm. “It’s okay, really.” Pulling back, she watched some of the players stretch out on the field. “Taylor, I wanted to ask you about your relationship with Brady. I know it’s none of my business but, well, you seem so angry at him and I wondered if maybe I could help.”

A puzzled look flashed across Taylor’s face. “Help? Help how?”

Tabby moved her sunglasses back to the top of her head and turned in her seat to face Taylor. “Did he force you to have sex?” Taylor’s eyes grew wide as her stomach curled. “No. No. Not at all. He is a jackass but I don’t think he’s a monster.” Relief flooded Tabby’s face. “Good.”

Taylor patted Tabby’s hand. “I read your article about the man that did that to those other girls, and to…um…you. It broke my heart. I'm sorry.” Taylor had once read an expose Tabby had written about a reporter who had used his occupation - and date rape drugs - to take advantage of women - Tabby included. Tabby had met one of the other young women through a mutual friend and had gained her trust. She had listened to her side of the story and coupled it with her own. Tabby’s piece had been powerful and strong and full of emotion. Not only had it helped to bring the man down, and ultimately bring him a conviction, it had also made other publications notice her. She’d received many offers but her love of sports influenced her decision to remain at her job following her beloved Racers around the country and report not only statistics, but also the human interest side of the game.

Tabby pulled her sunglasses back down. “Yeah well, that’s how I thought I could help. I thought if Brady did something like that to you, maybe talking to someone would help. That girl that I did the piece on, she stayed silent for years.” Sitting back in her seat, Taylor watched the players jog to their respective dugouts. “He didn’t do anything that terrible.”

“What
did
he do?”

Taylor’s eyes followed Brady as he sprinted to his spot between first and second, tossing a ball to Ian Pitner. “He broke my heart.”
Chapter Six

After the game, Taylor thanked Tabby for inviting her before hurrying through the crowd to her car. She didn’t want to take the chance of running into Brady. She knew he’d been very much aware of her sitting in the stands with Tabby as his eyes had drifted to her each time he came off the field, heading to the dugout.

She rubbed her forehead as she weaved through the Indianapolis traffic. She was touched that Tabby had been concerned enough about her to invite her today. She genuinely liked Tabby and had enjoyed talking shop with her once they’d finished the Brady topic.

A rueful smirk invaded her face. Imagine someone thinking Brady Nolan had to force a girl to have sex. She snorted. Nah, he hadn’t forced her.

He hadn’t forced her at all.

She admired her reflection in the full length mirror on the back of Mrs. Parker’s bedroom door. The pale, peach color of her dress set off her
early summer tan. Memorial Day weekend had been sizzling and she’d spent most of it at Brady’s house, cooking out with his family and
soaking up the sun by his pool.

Her hair had been drawn up in an elegant bun with a couple tendrils hanging down to frame her face. The stylist, who happened to be a
friend of Mrs. Parker, also applied a light layer of makeup, enhancing her hazel eyes and highlighting her cheek bones.

Mrs. Parker knocked on the door as she entered the room. “Taylor, honey, you look beautiful!”
Taylor beamed and twirled around once more. “Thanks, Mrs. Parker.”

Taylor had originally intended to wear the dress she’d worn for the winter dance to her Prom but Mrs. Parker would have none of it. Taylor’s
father had slipped further and further into a black hole, often drinking excessively or just sitting quietly in a dark room. Taylor refused to bother
him with an issue as trivial as a new dress; that’s what she told Josh anyway. He, in turn, told his mother who took Taylor, kicking and screaming,
to the mall and bought her a new one. She then arranged to have her hair and nails done.

“
I think Brady’s here,” Mrs. Parker announced when the doorbell rang. Taylor hugged the older woman once more before hurrying down to
greet her date.

Brady and Taylor doubled with Jason Smith, Brady’s best friend, and his date, Amanda Allen. They endured the embarrassing photo shoot
Mr. Parker put them through while Josh stood in the corner, laughter taunting his eyes.

The Prom had a Venetian City theme and before long, Taylor was caught up in all the romance. The walls of the gym were plastered with
paintings of Venice, done entirely by the art club, and strands of twinkling white lights once again hovered above them. Someone had procured
an actual gondola and couples were posing before it for a professional photographer eager to make a buck on the sentimentality of high school
girls.

Brady kept a firm hand on her all night, dancing closely with her and not letting her out of his sight. None of the usual arrogance he
displayed in front of the school was present as he plied her with compliments and chaste kisses.

They shared a table with some of his friends and Taylor winced each time one of the girls insulted another girl’s, who was unfortunate
enough to be below them in the high school caste system, dress or hair. When Monica Temple snorted in disgust and commented on the
cheap, department store dress a pretty junior Taylor didn’t know was wearing, she couldn’t refrain any longer.

“
Well, it’s obvious that she doesn’t need an expensive, designer dress to look good. She could have worn a burlap sack and she’d probably
still outshine every girl here,” she said with a sweet, sarcastic smile.

Choking on his punch, Brady took her hand, leading her quickly away from the table and out on the dance floor.

“
You really know how to put people in their place, huh,” he asked, smirk playing around his lips.

She lifted a defiant chin. “It shouldn’t matter how much money a person has. I can’t stand that your friends are so judgmental. If it weren’t for
you, they’d have nothing to do with me.”

He kissed her cheek softly, his lips trailing to her ear. “It would be their loss, then.”
Blushing, she rested her cheek on his chest as he held her tightly and moved slowly to the music.

When the dance ended, Brady took her to a post Prom party at a football player’s house in a new, private subdivision complete with a
manmade lake. It was loud and rowdy with plenty of alcohol. Brady, sensing her unease, took her hand and led her out of the house. Slipping off
his tux jacket, he draped it over her shoulders as they walked past the shimmering lake. He smirked as he guided her to an incomplete house
and pulled her inside.

“
Brady, I don’t think we should go in here,” she worried.

He drew her to his chest and kissed her firmly, melting her whole resolve. He had kissed her plenty of times in the past few months and
each one left her gasping.

“
It’s okay, love,” he said, his soft voice reassuring. “I have a surprise for you.”
He led her up the unfinished stairs to what was soon going to be a bedroom, complete with a balcony overlooking the lake. There he had a
blanket spread out and a picnic basket nearby. He motioned for her to sit as he produced candles from the basket and lit them. Next he
extracted two wine glasses and a bottle of champagne. Her eyes grew.

“
How did you get that?”

He pecked her lips again. “I have older brothers, remember?”

She rolled her eyes. “I should have known.” She glanced around as she took the glass he offered. “This is pretty amazing. I would have
never expected this of you.” Her eyes sparkled in amusement as she lifted her glass.

“
I’m hurt, Taylor. I do know how to be romantic.”

She snorted. “Have you been reading your mother’s romance books again?”

He laughed and took the glass from her hand. “You really know how to put me in my place, too, don’t you?” he asked, rubbing his thumb
across her bottom lip. He didn’t wait for a reply. “That’s why I love you.”
Her eyes widened as he pulled her mouth to his and tangled his hand in her hair, loosening the tight bun. She broke from her shock and
responded eagerly. He moved his hands down her back and eased her body into his. Yanking his shirt out of his pants, she ran her hands
underneath. He moaned lightly in her mouth and slowly lowered her to the blanket. He broke the kiss and moved to her neck. She found the
buttons on his shirt and quickly undid them, nearly ripping it off his body. He lifted up to grin at her.

“
Little anxious, aren’t we?”

She blushed but refused to hide her head. “I think you have a nice chest. I can admire it can’t I?”
He shrugged. “By all means.” His eyes sparkled mischievously. “You have a nice chest also. I can admire it, can’t I?”
She narrowed her eyes at him as she sat up to undo the clasp holding her dress in place. He watched her hungrily and when she lowered
herself back to the blanket he reached out to tug the dress down. He hesitated and looked her in the eyes.

“
Sure you want to do this, love?”

Her eyes never left his face as she nodded.

They undressed each other in record time, kissing and exploring the other’s body. Crawling over her, he kissed her sweetly. He broke away
to gaze into her eyes. “Are you sure, love?”

She nodded and smiled. Uncertainty lit his eyes briefly before he kissed her again and took her innocence once and for all.

She hadn’t realized she was crying until she walked into the house and caught her reflection in the hall mirror. She entered the bathroom, turned the sink taps on, and splashed her face. She couldn’t believe what she was becoming. And all because of a guy.

She groaned and dried her face on the hand towel hanging by the sink. It was still early, she reasoned. She’d call Josh and they’d go have dinner.

When her cell phone rang, she rushed to the living room to dig it out of her bag. It was another number she didn’t recognize but she answered it anyway.

“hello?”

“Hey! Have dinner with me tonight, love,” Brady purred into the phone.

She clenched her fist with fury. “How did you get this number?”

“From Tabby. I charmed it out of her. I can charm anything out of anyone, as you know, love.”

“Well charm your way out of my life,” she nearly screamed.

“Hey now, don’t burst a blood vessel. Come on. Have dinner with me. We need to talk,” he asked in a silky voice.

“Can’t. I have plans,” she retorted. She was determined to keep him from burrowing under her skin once more.

He grunted with doubt. “With who?”

“A friend.”

“Hot date?”

She rolled her eyes. “Please.”

“Tell me who you have plans with tonight,” he ordered. “Or are you putting me off again?” She sighed dramatically, longing to end the call. “Josh, okay? I have plans with Josh tonight.”

“Josh Parker? Really?”

“Yes really. Goodbye!”

“Wait, Taylor!”

“What do you want?” she asked, her patience quickly draining.

“Have dinner with me tomorrow night then.”

“No, Brady. I won’t. Please,” she took a deep breath. “Please stop calling me.”

“This is the first time I’ve called you,” he protested.

Groaning, she rubbed her temple furiously. “You know what I mean.”

“Just have dinner with me. Come on. We’re leaving Monday for a two week road trip. What are you going to do then?”

“Celebrate?” She released a short giggle. “Look, if I promise to think about having dinner with you tomorrow, will you leave me alone for the rest of the evening?”

“Nu uh. I want to hear you say yes.”

“Good night, Brady.” She hung up before he could respond and then promptly turned off her phone. She smirked at it in victory as she picked up her cordless and dialed Josh’s number.

***

“Just go out with him and get it over with,” Josh insisted as he handed her a glass of ice tea. He settled in a cushiony chaise that he’d just purchased, a satisfied grin on his face. “You know you want to go.”

She groaned as she sipped the drink. “You’re starting to sound like him.”

“Never. And please, don’t insult me that way,” Josh declared, hand over heart.

She tucked her legs under her body and peered at him over her glass. “Then why are you so insistent that I go out with him?” He set his drink on a small table next to his chair. Cocking his head, he stared at her as if she had something growing on her face.

“It’s been what, about six years since you graduated?” She nodded. “You’ve been hurting that long. Don’t deny it.” Wrestling her conflicting feelings, she dropped her eyes to the cubes floating at the top of her glass. “I’ve had a lot to deal with besides Brady Nolan. You know that.”