Getting Rough Read Online Free Page A

breathless. My heart raced, punching at my already-constricted chest like it wanted desperately to break free and run into his arms.
    Casey’s left cheek lifted with the corner of his mouth for a lopsided grin, which he topped off with a wink that made my breath catch. “Where you been all my life, darlin’?”
    Jesus, there was something about Casey Michaels that always made me go weak in the knees and get all girly. It was an involuntary reaction no other man had ever been able to evoke from me. I didn’t hate it, but I couldn’t say I liked it, either. It was fine, maybe even cute when we were kids, but as a grown woman, I preferred to feel like I had at least a modicum of control over my own body’s reaction to a person’s presence.
    If the way my feet sent me flying across the room and into his arms before my thoughts could fully process what was happening was any indication, it was clear that control was something I lacked.
    Casey caught me – because he always would – and I buried my face in his neck, breathing him in. That familiar aroma of salty air, motor oil, and hard work was a combination that couldn’t be bottled, but would always be home. I was safe, though I was confused as to why knowing that was such a relief. What did I need safety from?
    The question I asked him was muffled thanks to the tight hold I still had on him and my refusal to let go for fear he’d disappear if I did.
    Casey laughed and nudged me back a little. “I have no idea what you just said, but my answer is yes, darlin’. It’ll always be yes.”
    “You will? You’ll have my babies?” My voice was laced with a fake hopefulness that Casey would undoubtedly understand, because he got me like no one else ever would.
    My oldest and dearest friend, who just happened to also be the man of my dreams whom I’d chosen to leave behind in favor of a career, looked away with a wince. “Damn, it’s gonna hurt when I try to push them out,” he said, almost contemplatively, before he turned back to me, his mind made up. “But you’re worth it.”
    We both laughed, as did Ma and Da.
    “Seeing you two together and still acting silly is making me feel so much better already,” Ma said, sitting up.
    I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. “Nice try, old woman.”
    Ma gasped. “Casey, don’t let her be so mean to her mother,” she said, pouting.
    Casey threw his hands up into the air as he crossed the room to her. “You know she’s just going to do the opposite of what I say, Anna. I figured that out our freshman year when I tried to talk her out of trying out for the football team. She was too hardheaded to listen.”
    Leaning down, he kissed Ma on the cheek as she said, “Not hardheaded enough. She got knocked unconscious during the first practice. Served her right for not acting like a lady. I blame you, Duff,” she said, pointing at her husband. “Always roughhousing her and treating her like the son you never had.”
    “What did you want me to do about it, woman? She liked football better than dolls and tea parties. And that was just fine by me. Look at her now. My girl is representing the best of the best, and can get me any autograph I want.” Da gave me a nod of his head as if to say he was proud of me. I knew he was. Neither of my parents ever missed an opportunity to tell me so.
    I groaned, tired of being in the spotlight. “Enough about that. What are you doing here, Casey?”
    “You’re my favorite girl, Cass. Where else would I be?”
    Every girl in town wanted Casey Michaels, and I was his favorite. That kind of untouchable status tended to make a girl feel special. But we were no longer together, so I didn’t want to send mixed signals.
    “Ah, that’s sweet, but you could’ve seen me in town when they release Ma in a couple of days.” Because of that whole “not wanting to send mixed signals” thing, I couldn’t tell him that I was glad he was there then and now. There was something to be said for knowing