Page 4 of Playing for Keeps
Sometimes it landed her in trouble.
Like with Patrick. He’d shown her plenty of times that he couldn’t be trusted.
For all the creeper vibes she got from Patrick, there was nothing like that about the man standing in front of her now. He’d been polite, apologized for something she initiated, and hadn’t tried to force her hand at all.
This was one of those moments where her discernment was going to show up and show out or she was going to end up the star of a one-hour crime documentary.
Everyone deserved a chance. She believed that—mostly.
“Okay, let’s go,” she said as she headed for the entrance to the dance hall.
Justin’s hand wrapped around hers, gently tugging her to a halt. His larger hand encased her smaller one, holding on with a tenderness that didn’t match the rough surface. “Not in there.”
Caroline peeked inside the barn where the music grew louder by the second, and the lights had her squinting in their brightness. “Why not?”
Justin was silent for a moment, so she turned back to him. His left brow rose.
“You want to spend the rest of the night being gawked at so rumors can fly at school on Monday?”
Hmm. He had a good point. Justin wasn’t even in school anymore, but he’d thought of her situation and the aftermath of walking into the most popularChristmas event in town arm-in-arm with him. Maybe he was trying to save his own skin, but if that were the case, why had he even asked her to spend time with him?
Plus, she really didn’t want to explain “hanging out” with Justin to her older brothers. Yeah, keeping this meeting a secret was priority number one.
But Caroline never snuck around. She never lied to her parents. In fact, she wanted them to know where she was at all times. It was the safe thing to do. If she went missing, they would know where to look first.
Okay, that was a stretch. Hopefully. Still, better safe than sorry.
No one was waiting for her inside, but Justin was still standing by for her answer.
“I guess you’re right. That wouldn’t be a good idea,” Caroline whispered.
Justin glanced at where they were linked as if he just realized he was still holding onto her. He released her hand as quickly as he’d taken it and shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
The full impact of the decision she’d just made began to sink in. It was risky. She would have to keep it from her family and pray she wasn’t doing something stupid like the first girl to enter the basement in horror films. “Where are we going?”
Justin’s shoulders widened as he straightened. His frame wasn’t huge, but he had plenty of leanmuscle… everywhere. He was noticeably bigger since graduating from high school a few years ago, but he looked almost meek with his hands tucked into his pockets.
“Do you trust me?”
Oh no. Was this a trick question? She’d officially met him half a second ago. “Um, I don’t know.”
Justin tucked his chin and chuckled. “That’s fair enough. I was thinking we could walk to the creek behind the barn.” He pointed behind the building where the chorus of “I Cross My Heart” by George Strait melted into the night.
Oh. She’d been to the creek plenty of times with her brothers, Skye, and Nora over the years. It was one of her favorite places that wasn’t a part of her own family ranch.
She looked at Justin, and a tug-of-war raged inside her. A sure “yes” was on the tip of her tongue, but her throat kept closing. His dad had stolen from her family plenty of times, poisoned their cattle, torn up fences, and liked to dispose of his junk on their side of the property line.
If her family saw her hanging out with the neighbor’s son, they’d freak out. Rightfully so. Chuck McKinnon wasn’t someone to play around with. But was Justin dangerous too?
Justin glanced one way, then the other, making sure they were still alone before tilting his headdown slightly and whispering, “I promise not to kiss you again. Unless you ask.”
And every strap and tie holding her guard up loosened. Sure, he could still kill her and throw her in the creek before the night was over, but instead of fear creeping up her neck, peace washed over her.
Caroline shifted her weight from one side to the other. “I have to be home by twelve thirty.”
Telling him about her curfew was a test of sorts. If he disregarded it the way she never had, even a casual friendship wasn’t going to work between them.
Justin nodded once. “We’ll be back to your car at eleven thirty.”
