Spare Hearts Page 6

  Candy glanced at lane ten and the images of the night before flashed in her mind, sending a bolt of lust through her tummy and down between her thighs. The man had some moves, that was for damn sure. She rubbed her hand over her ass cheek, remembering the sting he’d left there. Maybe she should let him take her to dinner. She just had to make sure no one in town found out about it. Thanks to her ex, she’d had more than her fill of small-town gossip living in Strawn, and she sure as hell didn’t want to deal with it again.

  Chapter 9

  The whole vibe of Bowling Dreams was different as the entry door closed behind him. The overhead lights were off and replaced with something straight out of a dance club, colored flashing and spinning lights and a large complement of black lights. As he walked toward the front counter to request a lane, he noticed the lanes had phosphorescent arrows on the boards and rope lighting running the length of the gutters. Dayum! This doesn’t even look like the same place.

  After his encounter with Candy in the bar the Saturday prior, he had decided to give her some space before asking her out again. As much as she lit a fire inside him, he was here for a very important reason after all. By all rights, he should just walk away from the temptation completely. Roping in a small-town cowgirl hadn’t been on his to-do list when he got there. Everything up until now meant focusing on that brass ring. Stubborn as he was, though, that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try.

  Candy was behind the front counter checking in customers and doling out rental shoes with smooth efficiency.

  Sterling got in line behind the last patron and waited his turn. She was good at her job and it wasn’t long before he was stepping up to the counter. Just watching her greet the people at the alley started his heart to full gallop. She wasn’t just beautiful, she had a personality that drew him to her like a stranded man in the desert to an oasis.

  She had her back to him as he set his bag on the floor.

  “Howdy, beautiful. Got an open lane tonight?”

  Candy turned toward him with that same stunning smile he had plastered in his memory. She wore jeans that looked painted to her amazing curves and a white fitted vest for a top that showed off her tiny waist and ample cleavage with sequins that shined in all the spinning lights.

  Sterling caught his breath as he took in the vision before him.

  “Didn’t expect to see you here tonight.” Candy blinked and tossed her hair off one shoulder. “In fact, I was surprised I didn’t see you all week.”

  “Just been keeping my nose to the grindstone, honey.” He tipped his hat. “You look amazing.”

  “I’m sure you say that to all the girls, Sterling.” She looked over her clipboard. “But thank you. Not too bad yourself there, cowboy.”

  “So how ’bout it? Got a lane for me?”

  “You really want a lane? Or you here for some other reason?”

  “You wound me.” Sterling dramatically put his hand to his chest, covering his heart. “What’re you tryin’ to say?”

  She waved at him. “Knock it off. You’re gonna get everybody starin’ doin’ that. I’ll find you a lane.”

  “Let ’em stare.” He leaned against the front counter.

  “Well, I don’t want them starin’. I don’t need my business all out in public.” She flipped a page on her clipboard and scanned it with her eyes. “You can have lane eight.”

  Sterling stood puzzled by her sharp answer. He understood some people were more private than others, but that seemed a little excessive. He wondered what made her feel that way.

  “All right then. I didn’t mean to upset ya. You workin’ all night? Or can you get time off for good behavior?”

  “All night, cowboy.” She scribbled his name in her ledger and set it on the counter next to her computer.

  “Promise me you’ll at least stop by and chat later.”

  “I can’t promise you that. I’m workin’, ya know.”

  “Don’t make me have to do something crazy to get your attention. Not to mention everybody else in here.”

  “Oh! You’re gonna play that way, huh?” She rested one hand on her hip.

  Sterling snugged his hat down on his head, leaned farther forward over the counter, and locked his gaze with Candy. “I am not above resortin’ to actin’ a fool to get what I want.”

  Candy laughed, and Sterling’s heart raced at the melodic sound.

  “Is that so? Okay, okay. Suit yourself. I’ll stop by a bit later.”

  “I can’t ask for much more than that.” Sterling bent over to retrieve his bag. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

  “Go bowl, cowboy,” Candy replied with a giggle in her voice.

  As Sterling set to bowling, his thoughts rarely strayed from Candy. Those bright green eyes, that stunning smile. Oh, and good Lord above, that perfect ass. If he was going to be honest with himself, the major reason he didn’t practice at night was he knew concentration was out of the question with her around. Trying to be polite and not spook the woman were just convenient excuses.

  * * *

  Candy saw Sterling the minute he stepped into the line at the counter. She hadn’t seen him all week. And sweet Jesus, he looked good, too. The royal blue shirt he wore made his blue eyes sparkle even brighter than usual. She played like she hadn’t noticed him and was doing a pretty damn good job until he flashed her that gorgeous smile of his, raising her temperature about a thousand degrees and sending shivers up and down her spine.

  She fanned herself as she stared at his backside while he walked away. The man was hotter than a summer afternoon in July. It made her weak in the knees and giggle like a silly schoolgirl. The lane she’d assigned him was close enough for her to see, sure, but it didn’t give her the perfect view of his back and legs and ass and—Good Lord! Candy wiped her brow. Damn, maybe she could swap the folks on lane ten with Sterling. Like that won’t be obvious. Get a grip, girl. Candy grabbed her soda and took a sip from the straw.

  “Candy?”

  A hand waved in front of Candy’s face and she jumped before focusing her gaze on the man standing in front of her. Shit.

  She sighed. “Hey there, Andy. Sorry ’bout that. Caught me daydreamin’, I guess.” She smoothed her hands down her bare stomach.

  “That’s all right.” Andy raised both brows. “You’re lookin’ mighty pretty this Saturday night.”

  “Such a charmer.” Candy waved her hand at him. “You look quite nice, too.”

  Andy owned a ranch about twenty miles outside of town and was a widower. Tall, thickly muscled, and a head full of dark hair with a little gray threading through it. “Good pickin’s,” as Trudie would say. Andy was a nice-looking man, no doubt about it.

  He’d asked Candy out a few times, but finally gave up when she kept turning him down. As nice and good looking as he was, she just couldn’t bring herself to date someone local. She wanted to get out of Strawn, not settle down there.

  “I’ve got you all ready to go on lane seven.” Candy checked his name off the list on the clipboard.

  “Much obliged.” He bent and grabbed his bag. “I think Gilbert’ll be comin’ in to pair up with me tonight.”

  “I’ll send him over your way when he gets here.” She stuck her pen behind her ear. “Have a good game.”

  Andy walked away from the counter and Candy rubbed her forehead. She needed to concentrate, and Sterling was already proving to be a big distraction tonight. The realization that she’d just stuck Andy on the lane next to him was proof of that.

  Hell and creation, it was going to be a long night.

  Gilbert rolled in ten minutes later and Candy sent him on his way to lane seven. She crouched down on her knees to reorganize the shoe stock in preparation for any last-minute customers who might roll in.

  “Hey, Candy?”

  She looked up to see Sterling peering over the edge of the counter at her and about tumbled back onto her ass. Double shit!

  “Whoa, sweetheart. Careful now.” A look of concern
flashed over his face, and he came around the side of counter and stepped behind it.

  Sterling held out his hand for her to take, but feeling like a complete moron, she ignored it.

  “Hi.” She grimaced, grabbed the edge of the counter, and got to her feet. “You needin’ somethin’?”

  Sterling circled her elbow with his hand and a sharp zing of arousal ran from her arm through her body. “You okay, Candy?”

  “Lost my balance.” Her face flushed with heat and she pulled her arm away. “Go on now, I’m fine. Can’t have you back behind the counter.”

  “I’m sure Mason would understand. But if you’re sure you’re okay, then I’ll scoot.” He took a step back.

  “Did you need something, or were you just coming by to say hi?”

  Sterling walked back around to the customer side of the counter. “Yes, ma’am. Could you move me over to lane seven if that’s okay? I don’t have anyone to bowl with and those gentlemen offered to let me join their group.”

  Candy raised her brows. “You want to bowl with Andy and Gilbert?”

  “Sure. Is that okay? They seem like nice enough guys.”

  “No it’s just… Hell.” Candy blew out a breath. “Of course it’s okay. You can bowl with anyone you want. I’ll make the change on the sheet now.” Lord, the thought of Sterling hanging around with those boys sent her heart into a gallop. What if they told him how she’d refused to go out with Andy?

  “Thank you.” Sterling stared at her. “You sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m sure. G’on now, we’re about to start.” Candy twisted her hands in front of her then brushed her hair over her shoulders.

  He tilted his head to the side. “Still gonna stop by and see me later?” He stood gazing at her. Like he was studying her every move or something. She felt like a dang bug under a microscope.

  “I told you I would.” She put her hands on her hips and frowned. “Now scoot.”

  “You’re damn cute when you get all forceful like.” Sterling popped his thumbs in his front pockets and rocked on his heels.

  The look in his eyes was full of lust and sent a bolt of desire to her clit so fierce the room spun around her as a wave of dizziness rolled through her. Dammit. Why couldn’t she keep control over her lower parts? It wasn’t a problem when anyone else flirted with her. But with Sterling, she was fighting a losing battle and she knew it. Candy shook her head, and nervous giggles bubbled up and out.

  “Your laugh is a melody to my ears, sweetness.”

  “I’ll come visit you after I get everyone rollin’.”

  “Promise?”

  “You don’t quit, do you?”

  “No, ma’am. Stubborn, I guess.” He stepped back from the counter, still facing her, his gaze locked with hers.

  Candy rolled her eyes and placed her hand on her hip, but shut her mouth to keep from flirting more before she dragged his fine ass back behind the counter and into the office, intent on having her way with his lean body.

  How in the hell was she supposed to ignore him tonight?

  Chapter 10

  Sterling was enjoying bowling for a change. Lately everything in his world was consumed by the desire to get back on top of his game. He never would have guessed that a trip to an out-of-the-way, small Texas town would be what he needed to return happiness to a game he’d been playing forever.

  The small talk was as fast paced as the game proved to be. Andy and Gilbert could both throw a darn good ball, and they talked like this was the highlight of their week. Gilbert looked a bit older than Andy did, and both were in good shape from manual labor. Gilbert was a bit thicker around the middle and a bit thinner on top. Just a couple of good ol’ boys and a night on the town after a long workweek on the ranch.

  Sterling didn’t let on about the tournament, just briefly mentioned that he was in town for a short while before moving on to Fort Worth. Problem was, even with his newfound bowling buddies, his eyes kept tracking Candy every time she ran across the floor for one reason or another.

  “Ya know, your eyes are gonna pop right outta your head if you keep starin’ at her like that.” Andy motioned toward Candy with his beer bottle in hand.

  “Huh? I ain’t starin’. You’re up, Gilbert.” Sterling sat down in one of the plastic lane chairs.

  “Yeah, and the Alamo ain’t nuthin’ but a fancy name for a strip mall.” Gilbert stepped over to the ball return.

  “What? You, too?” Sterling looked around for where he’d set his soda. “ Okay, guilty as charged. But come on.”

  “I wouldn’t waste my time if I were you, buddy.” Andy sat across from Sterling as he glanced at the score on the screen above the lane. “Not that I blame you none.”

  “You tryin’ to tell me somethin’?” Sterling wiped the sweat from his forehead.

  Sterling watched as Gilbert attempted to pick up his spare, failed, and returned to pick up his beer instead.

  “You’re up, Andy.” Gilbert smacked his friend on the shoulder before taking the seat Andy vacated. “Andy went down that road once.” He took a short gulp off his beer bottle.

  “I gotta admit she’s got my attention.” Sterling focused on Gilbert. “What can you tell me ’bout her…” Gilbert had more than Sterling’s attention; he had every hair on the back of his neck standing up at the thought of somebody else pursuing Candy.

  “Okay, maybe it was more like attempted to go down that road. She shot him down every time.” Gilbert laughed.

  Sterling had to admit he was a little relieved at that revelation. Am I jealous? Did I really just think that? The idea of any man with Candy besides him got his stomach churning.

  All the hootin’ and hollerin’ coming from Andy told Sterling he finally rolled the strike he’d been chasing all night.

  “There ya go!” Sterling cheered and Gilbert clapped.

  “ ’Bout time! I knew I had at least one in me tonight.” Andy beamed with excitement. “You’re up, Sterling. Beat that.”

  Sterling stood up to take his turn. “Gonna be a tough ball to follow.”

  Sterling couldn’t tell if he was happy for Andy getting his strike or happier for the fact that Candy wouldn’t give the guy the time of day. He took his turn and came up one short of picking up his spare. Usually it would bother him, but tonight it didn’t seem important. For reasons he couldn’t sort out at that moment, Candy had more of his focus than the game he was attempting to play. Was Andy not her type? Or had she been playing hard to get? He shook his head to break any unwanted visions of her with another man.

  “Your turn.” Sterling motioned to the lane while he looked at Gilbert. “You guys want to order some food?”

  “Damn, that was close, Sterling. Tough spare to grab.” Gilbert ran his fingers through his thinning hair.

  “Nah, I’m good. Think I’ll just stick to my beer tonight.” Andy raised his bottle in confirmation.

  “You sure? I’m startin’ to think nachos might just hit the spot tonight.”

  “You boys doin’ all right over here?” Candy walked up to their area.

  Sterling didn’t bother hiding the smile that spread across his lips. His heart sped up every time he noticed her close to him and her surprising him just made it worse. “I was just askin’ if these guys were hungry. You got this place bugged or something?” Sterling teased Candy. “Or do you just have perfect timing?”

  “My mama always said timin’ was everything.” She clapped her hands together. “What’ll it be? Another round?”

  Timing was everything, good and bad. Sterling had come to town to fine-tune his game and put himself into the best possible position for reclaiming his pro status. With only three weeks to go until the big day, he found his head more consumed with thoughts of this little bombshell on a daily basis.

  Andy and Gilbert both agreed on more drinks while Sterling ordered nachos and a soda. Gilbert started toward the ball return for his turn, and Andy swallowed the last of the amber liquid in his bottle before setting
it back on the table.

  “All right, boys, I’ll get your order in for you.” Candy eyed Sterling. “Take it easy on these guys, will ya.”

  “Since it’s you askin’, I’ll definitely give it some good consideration.” Sterling’s heart sped up as the sight of the multicolored lights dancing over her body became etched in his memory.

  “Oh damn, I forgot. The kitchen’s closed tonight, cowboy. I’m sorry; Danny had to leave early for somethin’ important.”

  “Well, damn, I was really hopin’ for somethin’ tasty tonight.” Sterling tried his best not to stare too long at Candy and failed. “What’s a cowboy to do?”

  Candy shifted her weight to one foot and planted a hand on her hip. She stared at Sterling from head to toe with a blank look on her face.

  He stepped toward his seat. “Tell ya what, let me know if anything changes.”

  “Yeah, I’ll do that.” Candy turned to head for the bar. “I’ll grab the drinks for y’all,” she hollered over her shoulder.

  Sterling stopped short of saying what was really on his mind, that he wished she were on the menu. He figured he certainly wouldn’t score any points with Candy, being that forward. Especially in front of an audience.

  “What the hell’d you say to her?” Gilbert asked.

  “What are you talkin’ about?”

  “I was over there, remember?” Gilbert pointed to the lane. “When I turned, Candy had this look on her face…”

  “I didn’t say anything, just that I was hungry,” Sterling said.

  “It’s true. One minute, he’s ordering food. The next, she just stared at him.” Andy joined in.

  “All I know is, I’ve never seen her speechless before.” Gilbert sat down next to Andy. “You musta said somethin’. Andy, your turn.”

  “Let’s just bowl, guys. Drinks’ll be here in a minute.”

  * * *

  Candy walked away from Sterling and the guys as fast as her booted feet could take her. The man still had a look in his eyes like he was ready to make a meal out of her, and if she didn’t get away from him right quick, she might not stop him. And Andy watched the whole dang thing. How in the hell was she going to handle this?