The Slot (Rochester Riot #1)(56)
“SueAnn, now that’s a blast from the past,” he said as he rubbed his chin. “Her boutique is doing well? Hopefully better than that time in Mr. Shelton’s biology lab when she accidentally put potassium in the beaker with water and caused a minor explosion?”
“You know, for someone who is supposed to be shy, you sure do talk a lot of smack,” she stated as she pulled the vehicle to a stop in front of his porch. “Like my equally annoying brother.”
“He is kind of a pain,” Adam laughed. “But I miss him.”
“Wow...this is so homey. Like an old painting,” she exclaimed softly as she stepped out and closed the car door. “I didn’t expect a small town hero like yourself would stay here. Not when you can afford a mansion on the hill.”
“Why?” he asked, liking the look of appreciation on her face as she inspected his home. “You think an old farm kid like me should move off to the city just because I made it to the NHL?”
“Isn’t that what most athletes do?”
“Yeah, I guess they do,” he chuckled, thinking about stereotypes. He’d never bought in. “I don’t know, I really never fit into the whole city life. This … well, it feels like home. It is home.”
They made their way up the porch and through the cedar plank door with a stained glass insert. There was even an old-fashioned, brass dinner bell hanging from the porch roof. If Julia had noticed Heather’s shit littered all over his lawn and trees, she’d had the grace not to mention it. Or stare.
He glanced around his house like he was seeing it for the first time. Through her eyes. His mom’s face stared back everywhere he looked. Her touches were everywhere. He’d never sell this place. Never leave. The oak floor planks that his grandpa had laid himself, each ding and scrape in the boards had a story to tell. The story of his family.
“This house is stunning, Adam,” she exclaimed. “I can feel the love here, even though you’re the only one living here now.”
“It reminds me of them,” he replied. He walked over to the exposed brick fireplace and ran his fingers along the oak mantle. “I miss them. Every moment of every day.”
Julia walked toward him. Closer. Until he could feel the heat radiating off her skin and feel her feminine energy. It felt like an electric shock when she reached out and wrapped her fingers around his forearm. The simple gesture was one of support, but to him, it felt intimate. And hot. Like he’d been branded. Adam put his hand over hers, then laced their fingers together.
“Come with me,” he said as he tugged her behind him. “There’s something I want to show you.”
He led the way out of the back of the house to the old, red, two-story barn, his hand never releasing hers. It felt so good to touch her. So damn right. He’d never felt that way touching Heather. She’d roused his passion, but never his protective side.
Heather had liked being in control of their relationship. Calling the shots and protecting her image as Duluth’s old money. Her family traced their lineage back to the glory days of iron ore shipping. Come to think of it, he’d always felt like a backwards hick every single time he’d set foot in her family’s mansion on first street.
Julia didn’t come from Heather’s world. She and her family were strictly middle class and hard working. Like his own had been.
Adam lifted the wooden bar and swung the double doors wide as he stepped aside for Julia to precede him. Inside, hanging from the upper rafters was a tractor tire on sturdy rope. It could hold three kids or two adults comfortably. Back in grade school, he and Mark had taken bets over how many kids they could fit in it and still swing. The record still held at ten.
Julia gasped and clapped her hands together as another one of those knee-weakening smiles turned her lush lips upward. Somehow, he’d already known she’d love it. Maybe it was her reaction to the outdoors on the ice rink so long ago. Maybe it was her caring enough to see if he’d made it through the accident. He didn’t care. All Adam knew was that he wanted to swing again. With Julia. Like if he could fly through the air, he’d forget everything that happened. Forget yesterday.
She placed her knee in the hole and pushed with her foot holding the rope with her hands. Adam came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. He knew it was inappropriate to hold her those extra seconds, but he just couldn’t help himself. Then, once she was settled, he pushed her as high as his battered, pain filled body would allow.
He smiled as her girlish giggles wafted on the air. Sunlight danced across her face from the slats in the roof that needed repair. This was one time he was glad he still had that on his to-do list. God, she looked beautiful on the swing. Stunning really.
He’d tried to get Heather in the swing with him multiple times, but she’d always turned her pert nose up in disdain and mumbled something about the dirt ruining her outfit.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked.
“Won’t it hurt?” she asked with concern. “You’re walking like you’re still in quite a bit of pain.”
“I can take it, Julia.” He winked. “I’m tough.”
Adam swung his leg over and couldn’t help the wince of pain that flitted across his face as his limbs protested. So much for impressing her with his grit. Once he got comfortable across from her, he walked his legs through the hole backwards about twenty feet, until the rope was taut.