Guarding His Heart

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“Card-carrying member of the Jasmine Hook fan club,” Jada said with a finger snap.

Jasmine chuckled and rested her head on her sister’s shoulder. Jada was her biggest fan and source of support. She was the only one Jasmine let see her fear of possible failure. The only one she trusted. Jada gave her advice, listened to her vent and laughed when times were good. Jasmine didn’t know what she’d do without her sister.

“Keep stealing my dresses,” she said, tugging on the dress her sister wore. “And I’m going to revoke your card.”

“Nope, that’s what comes with the VIP membership.”

They both laughed. Jasmine’s ringing cell phone interrupted the moment. She lifted her head and shifted to her left in order to pull the phone from her back pocket. The number was unfamiliar, but since she was traveling soon, she didn’t want to ignore any unknown calls.

“Hello?”

“Jasmine? It’s Kevin.”

Her eyes widened. Her heart bucked like a wild stallion. She scrambled off the floor and crossed the room. “Kevin? How did you get my number?”

Jada got up and moved toward Jasmine, curiosity all over her face. She mouthed, “Who is Kevin?”

Jasmine waved her off and went to her bedroom window.

“Rafael gave me your number,” Kevin answered.

She was going to kill Rafael. He’d told her she needed to get back in the dating game. He was right about that, but she wasn’t sure if Kevin was the right person to jump in with. That didn’t stop the excitement pulsing through her veins from his call.

“I didn’t expect to hear from you again.” She’d figured he would move on after she brushed him off. She had written down his number, and she’d looked at that slip of paper dozens of times in the past two weeks.

“I had to when it became obvious you weren’t going to call me.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“And I’ve been thinking about you.” His voice was like warm velvet against her skin. Soft, smooth, seductive.

She’d been thinking about him, too. That kiss. How brief it had been. How a guy with baggage wasn’t good, not even for short-term flings. “I’ve sent the pictures of you over to Sports Fitness with my recommendation for the cover. Have you seen them yet?”

His low chuckle sent a vibration through her midsection. “You’re going to just ignore me saying I’ve been thinking about you, huh?”

Hell yes. If she didn’t, she’d be pulled back into flirting with him. “I’ll send the pictures if you haven’t seen them.”

“I saw them. They’re good. Though I don’t know which one you suggested for the cover.”

“You’ll like it.” She loved it. A great shot of him jumping with the ball in his hand as he dunked it into the net. Every muscle of his body at play, showcasing the fluid motion he’d accomplished effortlessly. He’d had a smile on his face that showed just how much fun he had playing the game.

“I trust your judgment, then,” he said. “Your pictures are actually why I’m calling.”

She bit her lower lip and tried to hold back her grin. The compliment about trusting her judgment was simple enough. He should trust her judgment. She was the professional photographer after all. But she’d also had her judgment questioned by subjects a lot over the years. Hearing him say it so effortlessly made her appreciate the words even more.

“The pictures from the photo shoot?”

Jada jumped up onto Jasmine’s bed and watched her closely. She waved her hand for Jasmine to come closer and mouthed who is it? again. Jasmine put a finger to her mouth.

“No, the pictures for the project you told me about,” Kevin said. “Capturing and recording homes owned by freed blacks after the war. I’ve been thinking about that.”

“You have?” Surprise crept into her voice. Sure, he’d seemed interested in her project, but she hadn’t expected him to think about it after they parted.

“I know of a place that you might want to capture.”

“Where?”

“My family’s old farm. My grandma is going to sell the property. I don’t see a reason to keep it, but I do think it’ll be a good idea to record the history before it’s no longer in the family. Will you consider including this in your project?”

Okay, asking her to photograph his family’s old property was probably a ploy to see her. But having a property tied to a well-known and well-loved professional athlete wouldn’t be a bad thing for the exhibit or the book.

And it’s not like you don’t want to see the man again.

“I didn’t realize you had a family farm.”

“I grew up on the land but not in the old house. My grandfather was a farmer. My dad tried his hand at it but was never very good. After he left, my mom and grandmother stopped altogether and got jobs at the local textile mill. When I made it professionally, I moved them both to a new house and haven’t looked back.” He paused and she heard him grunt. “You didn’t ask for all that.” He sounded bashful.

“I’m glad you told me all that.” Kevin was more than the outgoing ballplayer. His biography said he was born in a small town in South Carolina, but until then, she hadn’t pictured him as a Southern boy with country roots. That intrigued her. The urge to know more about him grew.

“Are you interested?”

In a lot more than just taking photos. “Where’s the house? I’m going to Georgia this afternoon to meet with Mr. Tatum, the man I told you about who’s saving slave cabins. I’ll be there for about a week.”

“South Carolina in the Pee Dee region. I know that probably means nothing to you. I’ll just send you the information,” he said. Excitement crept into his hurried reply. She pictured him smiling and her own lips curved. “I’m in town for now, but I’ve got business in Atlanta and then Jacksonville. I can be back in town to meet you the week after next.”

He didn’t have to meet her. She could get the information from him, take her pictures without him and get any information on his family via email. On the other hand, talking to him face-to-face and learning what she could from him was the most logical choice.

“I’ll think about it,” she said while her mind reworked her schedule to include a trip to his place. He didn’t need to know how eager she was to see him again. “Let me see how the meeting with Mr. Tatum goes. I may check out some of the places he mentions after we talk. Depending on how long that takes, I’ll consider it.”

“Does that mean I should look forward to you calling me?”

His cocky, hopeful tone sent heat rising in her cheeks. “I’ll call you.”

“And will you be thinking about me?”

Damn, how did he do that? Make his voice sound like sex, temptation and a demand all rolled into one? If she weren’t going to think about him, which was already doubtful, she’d be dreaming about his voice whispering in her ear anyway.

“I’ll be thinking about your family’s property,” she said.

“And I’ll be thinking about that kiss,” he countered. “Talk with you soon, Jasmine.”

The call ended. Her body tingled everywhere. Everything felt heated, and giddy anticipation made her heart rate flutter. Kevin knew what he was up to. He wanted her, and because their chemistry was undeniable, he wasn’t going to let up. She wanted him, too. Couldn’t deny that. Not when her body still buzzed from a freaking phone call.

But she didn’t want to be an easy catch. Or the dumb girl who fell for the guy she had no business falling for. If he really wanted her, she’d let him court her. Do a little work, while she shored up her defenses. Playboys like Kevin had a knack for breaking down good intentions to keep the heart out of an affair.

“Who is Kevin and why are you looking like you’re ready to mail him your panties?” Jada’s voice cut into Jasmine’s thoughts.

Jasmine spun to her sister and slipped her phone in her back pocket. “No one is mailing anyone their panties.”

“Well, you look like he’s getting them some way or another.” Jada looked up. “Thank the Lord.” She focused on Jasmine again. “It’s about time you got back out there.”

“I never stopped being out there.”

“Julio hurt you. Now you’re extra cautious. I’m glad to see you’re not scared anymore.”

Jasmine held up a finger. “First of all, I’m completely over Julio. I ignored the signs that he was still in love with his ex. Second, that’s exactly why Kevin isn’t a good idea. That was Kevin Koucky with the Jacksonville Gators.”

Jada sucked in a breath and put a hand to her chest. “The sexy one with the tats?”

Jasmine rolled her eyes at her sister’s antics. “The sexy one with an ex-wife, ex-girlfriend and four kids, who is also photographed with a new flavor every few weeks.”

Jada shrugged. “So? You’re not trying to marry him, are you?”