KISS Page 3

  "My mom said you're making jobs for everyone,” a little girl with pigtails piped up. The little girl looked at Jared and smiled, then booted her ball high in the air.

  Well, at least someone's in my corner. Even if she is only nine-years-old.

  Jared let the ball bounce once, lifted his right foot and stepped on it to slow its movement. He kicked it to her and returned her smile.

  "That's not entirely true,” he replied. “It's not me who creates the jobs, it's my stores. And,” he glanced toward Kat. Her green eyes met his coffee-brown ones. “People just have to give me a chance to explain my ideas—like you're going to give me a chance today to help you win this game."

  "We gotta win this game,” Jamie told him. “We wanna go to the play offs."

  Excited murmurs came from the other girls on the team. Jared sized them up quickly. Most seemed athletic, tomboys to the core, but Jared gazed at one round, sullen face. The little girl wore sports glasses that she kept tugging and adjusting. She stood apart from the team, kept looking at Jared. His heart went out to her. During his brief stint as a physical education teacher, he had seen kids like her before—shy, awkward.

  His pulse raced when he realized how much he suddenly wanted Kat's team to win this game.

  * * * *

  "Okay,” Jared turned to face Kat. “What's the deal with the little girl with the glasses?"

  "Go warm up, girls,” Kat told her team. “We'll join you in a minute.” She hated to admit that her well-thought-out plan hit a snag. Jared didn't seem bothered in the least by Jamie's grubby appearance or the fact that she deliberately hit him with her ball. He didn't seem fazed by their blunt questions about MegaMart, either. Jared didn't seem to care that many of the town's residents thought MegaMart an intrusion on their idyllic Summerville, but maybe that was an act on his part.

  There was still time to wear him down.

  "Allie's a little challenged,” she told him.

  "How so?"

  Kat slanted him a look. “She's got some self-esteem issues."

  Jared's dark brows snapped together as he mulled over that piece of information.

  Ah ... he's uncomfortable. Good!

  "And she has a few learning disabilities. Nothing major, but, she's had some trouble in school."

  He scowled some more. Kat bit back a triumphant grin. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Do you mean to tell me that Mr. People-First is actually bothered by a little girl with—"

  "I didn't say I was bothered,” he snapped. “I'd just like to know what I'm dealing with, that's all."

  "Okay then, here are the facts.” She lifted a hand to her eyes to shield them from the sun. “Allie's got some issues, but she wants to play soccer. She loves the game—she just needs lots of encouragement."

  He nodded. “Got it. Let's go warm them up."

  "Wait a minute,” Kat laid a hand on his arm. “This better not be your way of showing off. I don't want those kids used as your pawns."

  He whistled. “I'd say you have some trust issues."

  Kat shook her head and picked up her pace. Again, Jared strode along with her, ignoring her pique.

  "This isn't about me, it's about Summerville,” she huffed.

  "Could have fooled me,” he replied.

  They stopped a few feet from where the girls practiced. “What is that supposed to mean?” Kat asked him.

  "Maybe you're using them for your own means. If you want me gone, Kat, you're going to have to muster up a lot more ammunition than a bunch of nine-year-olds."

  "I don't use people. You use people. You're so money hungry, you'll stop at nothing to put companies out of business,” her voice shook.

  "Ah,” he grabbed her arm. “So now we get to the real issue here. My dealings with Plasticmate."

  "You almost put them out of business.” She tried to shrug out of his grip, but he wouldn't let go. “Seventy percent of their profits came from selling their plastic products in your damn MegaMart stores!"

  His dark eyes flashed. “They almost put themselves out of business by trying to pull a fast one on me and my MegaMart customers."

  "You have no regard for anyone.” She finally managed to shake out of his hold. “They came to you, those Plasticmate people, and begged you to raise the price of their plastic storage containers just a little when the price of resin went up."

  Jared's face darkened just as a cloud passed over the sun. She couldn't be sure in that moment if she shivered from the look he gave her or the cool breeze on her overheated skin. “Plasticmate told me they needed to raise the price of their storage containers because the price of resin skyrocketed. Resin, I found out, didn't go up all that much. For the price they would have had to charge to compensate for the extra expense of the resin, I would have probably understood, but no, they had to be greedy."

  "Just like you,” she jutted her chin at him. “Maybe it takes one to know one."

  "You know something?” He leaned down until they were nose-to-nose. “You haven't got a clue. I discontinued Plasticmate products because I didn't want MegaMart customers over-charged for the sake of greed. You shoot your mouth off—"

  "Hey!” the kids yelled. “Come on!"

  Jared shook his head and sighed. “I don't want to argue over this.” He strode over to the team.

  "What do you think you're doing?” Kat ran to catch up with him.

  "Warming up the team,” he said through gritted teeth.

  "Oh, so you can tire them out?"

  He stopped and glared at her. Good, she thought. Soon, he'll lose his temper and storm off. Then everyone in Summerville would see the ‘real’ Jared Martin. A jerk.

  "I won't tire them out,” he replied, his voice tight.

  "It's hot, you'll dehydrate them."

  "They've got their water bottles."

  "I don't want their parents worrying about them, especially Allie's. These are children we're talking about here. You have to know that the parents worry—"

  Again he cut her tirade short, but this time, he grinned, reminding Kat of a sleek, smiling panther.

  "I do know,” he replied easily. “And you?"

  "What about me?” Kat eyed him warily.

  "Why are you coaching the team? You don't have kids, why bother?"

  Because my husband informed me late in our marriage, that he didn't want kids. I'm thirty-three, at the rate I'm going, I'll never have kids.

  Kat squared her shoulders. “To give something back to Summerville.” A tiny muscle by her left eye quivered in response to her lie.

  Jared cocked his head, watching her, his gaze intense. Seconds went by before he answered.

  "Liar,” he finally replied. He reached out and tugged gently on a wayward strand of fiery-red hair .

  Then he turned and walked off toward the team, leaving Kat to wonder if the man read minds.

  * * * *

  "Allie, you can do this. I know you can."

  A drop of perspiration trickled down between Kat's breasts making her wish for the earlier breeze that soothed her parched skin. Her face flamed from the sun's scorching rays that shined down on the soccer field. She tugged the brim of her cap further down, hoping to shield her sensitive cheeks and nose. Laying her hand over Allie's, she tried to get the child to stop fidgeting with her glasses. “Just get out there and try, that's all I'm asking. We need you to boot the ball into the net, and you've got the biggest kick on the team."

  Allie's round face paled. “I-I can't. I know I can't."

  "Oh, Allie.” Kat squatted down in front of her. She smoothed her hand over the child's chestnut-colored curls. “Please don't say that. You've got to have some faith in yourself."

  Allie shook her head. “I'm not doing it."

  Kat glanced to the stands where Jared sat chatting with the parents. Everyone came to watch Summerville's youth play soccer on Saturday. Some sat with umbrellas to ward off the sun's stifling rays. Parents and grandparents sat in rows, fanning themselves and chatting, cat
ching up on all the latest news and gossip.

  Jared sat there with them, chewing their ears off about his damned MegaMart store. Kat realized that her team of nine-year-olds adored him. During the warm-up, he managed to dribble and pass with them and even took a turn at warming up the team's goalie. And no, she wasn't the least bit impressed with his skill with a soccer ball or how his shirt stretched across his wide shoulders and chest when he moved, his muscles rippling. While her skin became red in the sun, his tanned and turned deep bronze.

  Kat's heart skipped a beat. Her plan to show Jared up for a phony was falling apart. Allie was scared to get out on the field and every parent in the stands had their eyes on Kat. She needed all this like she needed another hole in her head. Kat had to be out of her mind when she told Summerville's Youth Soccer coordinator that she'd coach a team of nine-year-old-girls, but she could never seem to say ‘no’ to anyone who needed her.

  The ref walked over. His gruff voice cut into her musings. “Coach, ya gotta send someone out there to take the shot. The clock's tickin.’”

  Kat sighed. “Just give me a minute."

  The ref shook his head as he took in Allie's sullen face. “I'll give you five minutes, but no more."

  He walked off, leaving Kat alone with Allie. She wanted Allie to take the shot on goal more for Allie's sense of pride than anything else. The Summerville Slammers tied the game and now the clock counted down on overtime. Kat glanced at the tense faces of the girls on the field and the people in the stands. Her own stomach clenched in response.

  In the next instant, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She rose to her feet to find Jared standing there.

  "You know,” he began. She opened her mouth to speak then stopped when she noticed the barely discernible shake of his head. “Allie, you're right,” he continued. “If I were you, I wouldn't bother."

  Kat's mouth hung open. How dare he ruin everything she tried to do! She opened her mouth again to argue with Jared until she looked toward the ref. He shook his head and pointed at his watch.

  Allie stared down at the tips of her cleats and tugged on her jersey. She wouldn't look at Jared or Kat.

  "Just forget it, Allie. Don't take the kick,” Jared told her.

  Allie lifted her head and scuffed the toe of her cleat across a bare spot in the grass. “I'm gonna miss the shot."

  Jared shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. So, forget it. Just go back to the bench and sit with the other girls."

  She started to walk away.

  "Are you out of your mind?” Kat whispered to him. “We need her to—"

  "But then again, if you walk away,” he called out to Allie, ignoring Kat. “You'll never really know."

  Allie stopped and turned around. “What won't I know?"

  "If you don't try, you'll never know the result. You'll always be wondering."

  Allie walked back. He got down on his haunches in front of Allie and grabbed her shoulders. “Not knowing is worse than failing, Allie. Have you ever shot on goal before?"

  She shook her head, ‘no.'

  Jared smiled at her. “Want to know the secret for getting the ball in every time?"

  Her eyes widened. “Yeah. I do.” Her face glowed.

  Watching Jared interact with Allie, Kat felt that peculiar little twist her heart made in her chest, similar to that first time she saw him take Doris’ hand in his own.

  "Okay, then. I'll tell you. That's a wide net and the goalie is really nervous. She doesn't have a clue where you're going to shoot the ball."

  Allie shook her head and pouted. “At the net, that's where."

  "Yes, but shoot for a corner. Fake the goalie out. Make her think you're shooting for the left corner then shoot right. Switch feet if you have to. I saw how you can kick with either foot, you're good."

  Allie's face lit with a smile.

  "Give it one of those big boots I saw you use during the game, and you'll do it."

  Kat held her breath as she watched Allie concentrate on what Jared said.

  Allie tugged on her shirt again. “You think so?"

  Jared nodded. “I know so."

  Allie chewed her bottom lip. “Okay, I-I'll try."

  Kat released her pent-up breath. Allie ran onto the field and stood behind the eighteen-yard line in front of the goal. The ref placed the ball on the ground in front of Allie, raised his arm and lowered it. Allie looked down at the ball, took a few steps back, moved forward then raised her left foot.

  Kat saw the goalie run to the left side of the net. Allie lifted her foot and started to toe the ball to the left corner, but at the last minute, she switched feet and kicked it with all her might with the side of her other foot, sending the ball into the opposite corner.

  No one was more surprised than the goalie when the ball sailed past her and into the net.

  Kat shouted in triumph until her voice grew hoarse.

  The next thing she knew, she had her arms wrapped around Jared Martin's bronzed neck.

  When her lips collided with his, she stepped back and gasped.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Three

  Monday morning following the soccer game, Kat stood on the front stoop of KISS. She unlocked the front door as a bird's song wafted by her ears. The parrots inside ‘Noone's Nest,’ the rare bird emporium next door, chirped and chattered. Kat could hear their excited ‘caws’ as she pulled her key from the lock and stepped inside the dark, cool interior of KISS.

  Balancing her coffee in one hand, and a white bag containing a buttered bagel in the other, she kicked the door closed with the heel of her foot. She pressed her shoulder against the light switch on the wall. Golden rays shined down from the ceiling, highlighting her displays of gowns and lingerie shimmering in a halo of luminescence. Kat glanced at her newest creation, a midnight blue illusion nightgown. The silk and fine-mesh gown had been cut on the bias for a peek-a-book effect. Trimmed in Brazilian lace, Kat's design evoked a sensual, elegant feel.

  She walked to her office in the back and thought about whom she'd give one of those peek-a-boo gowns to ... maybe Nancy Noone. Yes, Kat thought, it would look stunning on her. Maybe it would lift her spirits, taker her mind off her problems. The owner of the exotic bird emporium didn't want to sell out to MegaMart. Mounting bills in the wake of her recent problem had Nancy thinking twice about taking Jared Martin's offer.

  Mr. Moneybags would buy out another one of her friends, Kat thought disgustedly. He had more money than he knew what to do with, so what did a mere fifty or seventy-five thousand dollars mean to him, anyway? He could care less that Nancy spent years building her business.

  Damn, here I go again, thinking about Jared Martin.

  She had made a fool of herself at the soccer game on Saturday. Not only had she hugged Jared when Allie scored that winning goal, she had...

  Kissed him. Full on the mouth. In front of every single person at that game. “Stupid, stupid ... stupid,” she muttered as she walked toward the back of the store. She switched on the lights in her office and deposited her bags on the desk. He had been so kind to all the girls on the team, particularly Allie. Kat rubbed her forehead while she tried to reconcile Mr. Moneybags with this other side of his personality—compassion. She couldn't, no wouldn't trust him. Helping Allie had been an act, a phony gesture on his part to win her over.

  She booted up the computer. While she waited, she tossed the bag containing the bagel into the small fridge stacked on top of a filing cabinet. Her appetite fled as she thought about her insane plan to drive Jared Martin out of town. She had moaned and whined to Lilith about her failed scheme. Her childhood friend listened patiently then dispensed her usual sage advice."Make friends with him, Kat.” Lilith had told her at the coffee shop that morning. “You get more with honey than you do with vinegar. Besides,” Lilith continued, “the whole town thinks you've changed your mind about MegaMart, especially with that kiss you two shared.” Her violet eyes had danced with mirth.

  "We didn'
t exactly ‘share’ a kiss, it was more of a heat-of-the-moment thing.” Kat's own cheeks heated at the mention of that kiss. She hated the smug smile on Lilith's face.

  She pressed her hands to her lips as she thought about Jared's. His had felt warm, silky. Kat recalled having to stop herself from nibbling on them. He had responded to that kiss like any other red-blooded man would. Kat felt the force of his desire, remembered how his lower body stiffened when he pulled her close. He had tasted of her lips as though he couldn't get enough of her.

  She removed her hands from her mouth, bringing her thoughts to the present. Glancing at the computer, she saw the desktop design come into view—KISS’ logo—the store name super imposed over a pair of lush, bow-shaped lips. Kat's brows snapped together in thought. If only she could find some nasty little secret Jared harbored. Maybe she could use it to win her fight for Summerville. She noted Jared's sensitivity about his family when she mentioned his father. Hadn't she read something about Sam Martin? He had turned MegaMart over to Jared a few years ago when he was still a robust, vital, active man. No one could figure out why he'd abandoned the reigns and dropped out completely from the MegaMart picture.

  Maybe if she ‘Googled’ his name she'd find something out. She punched in ‘Sam Martin,’ but all she got was a slew of biographies, filled with things she already knew...

  Including those ridiculous rules of success Jared claimed he and his father lived by.

  She shook her head and sighed. Maybe she could hire someone to dig into Jared Martin's past...

  Kat pressed the heel of one hand against her forehead. What was happening to her? She hated the direction of her thoughts. She disliked the idea of digging into someone's family and past, but unless she found out something soon, Jared's MegaMart would destroy Summerville.

  The bell above the door to KISS jangled, breaking her thoughts. Kat glanced at her watch. Nine-thirty a.m. Customers usually didn't venture into KISS until around ten. She rose from the desk and exited her office to see Michael Benton, Summerville's dentist, standing in the front of her store.

  "That was a great game Saturday,” he told her, his face pink and pinched with tension. Kat thought he always looked like that whenever he entered the threshold of KISS. Jared flashed through her mind. He hadn't been uncomfortable at all. In fact, he appeared as though he truly enjoyed every corner of KISS as he examined and touched each gown, each piece of intimate apparel.