Synithia Williams - Guarding His Heart

She couldn’t see him in corporate America. Not because of the tattoos or pierced ears; the art could be hidden beneath business suits and the earrings could come out. She couldn’t see it because Kevin had this layer of wildness and excitement about him. No matter the environment, that dangerous air and flair to live outside the boundaries expected of him would always show.

But stranger things had happened. She didn’t really know him and was basing her decision on his outgoing personality and the few reports of his off-court antics she’d read. The guy took his teammates skydiving to celebrate their first playoff win.

But he was thirty-six and successful. Her quick internet search hadn’t brought up rumors of him spending money frivolously or filing for bankruptcy, a situation that plagued some celebrities who achieved superstardom as young as he had. He could get excited about one of his businesses and really thrive.

“You won’t know until you try,” she encouraged. “If you’re ready to retire, don’t let the idea that you’re only good at basketball stop you. I’m sure you’re good at other things.”

“How do you know?” he asked with a sexy tilt of his full lips that made her ease closer.

“Your eyes are intelligent.” She met that dark gaze. His eyes were brown, bold and very cocky, but he wasn’t a dumb jock. He watched, listened and observed. All signs of intelligence.

His gaze became guarded. His brows drew together. She must have surprised him. “No one’s ever told me that.”

“I’m glad to be the first.”

Kevin closed the distance between them. His large hand clasped her waist. The possessiveness came back to his gaze. Jasmine’s pulse accelerated and she swallowed hard. He pulled her close until the tips of her breasts brushed his hard chest. A shiver went down her spine. Not from fear but anticipation. Heat roared through her like wildfire.

“I want to kiss you again.”

She wanted to kiss him again. When she didn’t protest, his head lowered. Jasmine’s lashes lowered, too. Expectation wound up and tightened her nerves like a coiled spring. Thoughts of cabins and next steps in life blew away with the soft breeze.

Ringing filled the air. Something at Kevin’s hip vibrated.

He pulled back. “My bad. That’s my cell.” He pulled out his phone and checked the screen. “My daughter. Let me take this.”

Jasmine nodded and stepped back. She tried to steady her breathing as he leaned against the concrete balcony railing and answered the call.

“Hey, babe, what’s up?” Kevin frowned and cocked his head. “What? Well, I’m sure your mom has a good reason for saying that.” Pause. “Let me talk to her.”

Kevin held up a finger toward Jasmine and gave an apologetic shrug. “Sabrina, what’s going on?” He listened for a few seconds. His lips tipped up, followed by a low chuckle. A flirty sound filled with history and memories.

She watched Kevin talk to his daughter’s mother and her passion slowly cooled. Her internet search had brought up personal information on him, as well. Married young to his high school sweetheart, right when he entered the league. Divorced four years later. After that, he’d been in a long-term relationship with another woman and she’d had twins right before they’d split. Since then, he hadn’t been connected with anyone on a lengthy basis.

Baggage, drama, warning! Back away from this man ASAP.

“Okay, kitten, calm down,” he said laughing. “I agree on punishment. She shouldn’t have come in late. I’ll swing through Atlanta and check out this guy she likes.”

He paused to listen. Jasmine’s mind whirled. Kitten? That was definitely a pet name and had definitely been spoken with affection.

The call ended. He shook his head and slipped the phone in his pocket. “Sorry, that was my ex-wife. My daughter has a new boyfriend and it’s driving Sabrina crazy.” He turned back and reached for her. “But that’s not important right now.”

So kitten was the ex-wife. Oh no! She wasn’t about to sign up for this again.

Jasmine stepped far out of his reach. She looked at her watch. “You know, I’ve really got a lot to do tomorrow and I need to go.”

“Now?”

“Yeah, like, right now.” She was having a serious case of déjà vu and that crap wasn’t cool. Memories of getting swept up in a guy she knew could get under her skin, ignoring his overly friendly relationship with his ex-wife, the crushing blow when he left her to go back to the familiar. Sure, she didn’t have plans to do anything long-term with Kevin, but that didn’t mean she wanted to be halftime in whatever game he played with kitten.

“But I thought—”

“Kevin, it was really nice to meet you. Good luck in the off-season, okay?” She turned and hurried off the balcony before his smooth lines, sexy smile and sweet kisses made her forget that men always went back to their first loves. She wasn’t going to be the rebound chick ever again.

Chapter 4

Two weeks later and Kevin still couldn’t get Jasmine out of his mind. He’d swung through Atlanta and checked in on his ex-wife, Sabrina, and their girls. Sabrina always worried their daughters would fall too hard and too fast for a boy and end up brokenhearted.

Kevin couldn’t blame her for her fears. He’d broken her heart when they were young. That’s why he worked hard to keep his relationships superficial. No more broken hearts in his future if he could help it.

“Why are you frowning?” his grandmother asked.

Kevin looked up at her from his spot on the back porch step. He hadn’t heard her exit the house to join him. Every off-season, he spent at least a week or two back home with his mother and grandmother in Silver Springs, South Carolina. Not just because his grandmother made the best red velvet cake in the state.

Charlotte moved a little slower than she used to due to arthritis. Kevin could sympathize with her on that. Her mind was still sharp, and at eighty-three, she was the person most likely to give him good advice when he needed it.

“Was I frowning?” He stood and took his grandmother’s arm.

She tried to shoo him away, but he wasn’t to be deterred. She liked to ignore her walker and cane when she was at home. Kevin helped her to one of the rocking chairs on the porch and helped her sit.

“I can walk by myself.”

“Yeah, and I can still palm a basketball easily,” he replied.

He eased back down onto the top step of the porch. The humidity was at a decent level for a change, making the high temperatures bearable. His grandmother and mother lived together in a house he’d purchased for them in one of the newer subdivisions on a golf course that popped up as part of the town’s resurgence. His family lived on a private corner lot that backed up to a natural undisturbed area.

Charlotte huffed and rocked back in the chair. “Is that why you’re frowning? You still thinking about that play?”

The play that had almost cost the Gators the championship. The play when the pain and stiffness residing in his hands had gotten so bad he’d dropped the ball and the opposing team scored, tying the game and potentially costing them the win. The play that would have ruined the season if his teammate, Will Hampton, hadn’t scored a winning three-point shot right before the buzzer.

“I’m over that, Grandma C,” he replied. His grandmother grunted again but didn’t dispute him. “I was thinking about Asia. Sabrina’s worried about her boyfriend.”

“You checked in on them though, right?”

“Yep. He seems like a good kid. I put a little fear in him if he hurts my baby, and I’ll drop in more.”

“Sabrina’s always worried about something,” Charlotte mumbled. “Maybe if she stopped worrying, she’d be able to pull that stick out of her ass.”