Title: Where Your Road Leads
Author: Sarafu
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Power Rangers do not belong to me.
Summary: After ten years of hard work, the Dino Thunder team has found success, but for two of them, happiness remains elusive. Can they find it in each other?
Dedication: To my PR friends on LJ because I'm constantly amazed by you and your talents in particular the icon makers. And to raging kissage that proves passion can be far more compelling than loyalty and guilt.
Chapter 2: Connecting Again
January 2014
Conner chose a discreet restaurant tucked away in a quiet corner of Boston, a hidden gem that catered to business lunches and private parties. Keeping their lunch clandestine seemed essential to both parties as neither wanted the undue attention of tabloids for a mere meal between old friends. The spotlight on Conner had dimmed considerably since the Olympics, and Kira desperately wanted an afternoon of normalcy.
The athlete arrived early, dressed in black slacks and a red cashmere sweater that hugged his body snugly. Shrugging off the black trench coat, he folded it over his arm and brushed the snow out of his hair. "Good afternoon, Conner," the host greeted with familiarity, used to the soccer star appearing without warning.
"Hey, Matt, how was your daughter's dance recital?" Conner was truly interested in the answer to the question since he had met Sam several times since he had moved to Massachusetts.
"It was beautiful – she was the star," he said, pride radiating from his smile.
"I'm sure she was. She's pretty graceful on the soccer field."
"Your usual table?"
"Nah, I have a friend joining me today. I was hoping to get one of the corner tables, you know, one of the less visible tables."
Startled by the request, Matt tried to hide his astonishment as he examined the pro athlete. A frequent visitor, Conner never lacked confidence or presence, but there was something almost nervous in the way he fiddled with the chain around his neck. "We can definitely find something private for you and your guest," he answered, wondering who could discombobulate the self-assured young man. He led Conner to a quiet table away from the lunch crowd and left him contemplating a glass of water.
Matt's curiosity was appeased a few minutes later when a burly fellow stepped through the doorway, glanced around keenly, and moved aside to let a petite woman into the foyer. She wore black jeans and a yellow coat that she slid off to reveal a dark gold blouse. Wavy blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders, emphasizing her bright hazel eyes and her cheeks pink with cold and excitement. No father of a twelve-year-old daughter would fail to recognize the music idol in front of him so Matt bravely asked, "May I help you, Miss Ford?"
Her eyes widened briefly, but she accepted the name without comment. "I'm meeting a friend here," she said warmly. "He's probably already here. Conner McKnight?"
"Sure, he's seated at a table for two, but we can change that," Matt replied, eyeing her companion.
With a soft laugh, she shook her head. "It's okay. All Jorge needs is a table where I'm in his line of sight."
"Well, Mr. McKnight is right back this way," Matt said, escorting her to a darkened corner shrouded in privacy.
Conner stood as they approached and smiled boyishly at the woman. "Kira," he said before his arms were full of his best friend who squeezed him tightly. The embrace lasted for several seconds.
As they separated, Kira beamed at Conner. "You look great."
"Isn't that my line?" he said, surveying her with appreciation. "Only I would have said you looked gorgeous."
She chuckled affectionately. "No, you would have told me that I look like a real woman or something equally lame. I know you, Conner, remember? You're not that smooth."
"Maybe when I was seventeen," he protested.
"Which is why the media still loves your inability to be tactful." Her smile lessened the sting of the insult.
"Whatever. My point is that you look beautiful," Conner answered and pulled out her chair.
"And you've learned some manners."
"I've always had them – I just never saw any reason to use them around you," he said flippantly.
"May I offer you something to drink?" Matt offered, intervening evenly. He correctly suspected that the banter would continue if left unchecked. It was apparent that Conner and Kira were old friends who clearly adored each other. Their menus remained untouched in front of them.
"Lemonade, please. Conner keeps raving about it."
"I just want strawberry lemonade, Matt."
"I'll bring that right out to you, and I'll seat your companion right over there if you like, Miss Ford." Matt gestured to a nearby table.
"Perfect," she murmured sweetly.
As the host turned away to seat the man, he heard Conner ask, "Who's the Hulk?" and for a moment, Matt wondered if it was jealousy he actually heard in his voice.
"That's Jorge," she said in a factual tone as she picked up the menu.
Forcing himself to relax, Conner used the most casual voice he could muster. "And who is Jorge in the grand scheme of things?"
"Security detail. My label and my manager both insisted on hiring him. Apparently, I'm too invaluable to risk my safety." Her tone contained annoyance as she glanced at the man who was the bane of her existence.
"Good," Conner muttered a bit too emphatically. She gave him an astounded look. "You are too invaluable to risk."
"You sound like Ethan. I think it's silly. One or two letters is nothing – it's not like I have people camped outside my house, trying to abduct me or anything. And you know better than anyone that I can take care of myself."
He winced in remembrance, but he added, "No kidding, Kira. Still, the crazies do seem to come out of the woodwork when it comes to celebrities, and like it or not, you are a celebrity now. There's nothing wrong with being careful."
Ignoring his words of caution, she smiled with a memory. "I had forgotten about the girl who broke into your hotel room wearing only a red ribbon because she wanted to give herself to you."
"I'm glad someone still finds that funny," he said with a grin. "It freaked me out, and I triple-locked my doors for a long time after that."
"But as I recall, the girl was way more freaked to find what's-her-name in your bed."
"That was Gina."
"Oh, right – the girl you were going to marry without ever introducing her to us."
"There was never any truth to that story particularly the looking at engagement rings crap. It was blown way out of proportion. I've told you this before, Kira."
"You never did come clean about why you were in a jewelry store in the first place." Kira tilted her head and gave him a direct stare.
"Do you remember what I gave you for Christmas that year?"
"Of course." She pulled out a small gold locket from under her blouse. A dinosaur footprint was carefully etched into the gold, each toe containing a gem, a yellow topaz, a red ruby, and a blue sapphire. Inside the locket, a photo booth snapshot of Kira, Ethan, and Conner rested securely. "It's practically the only piece of jewelry that I own."
"I had gone to check out the design, and I didn't even know the photographer was tracking me until I saw the photo," he explained quietly. "You know my policy about jewelry and the women I date, Kira."
"Oh," she murmured, aware that he never bought jewelry for his girlfriends as she tucked the locket away. In fact aside from the locket, she was certain that his mother was the only female who had received any sort of jewelry. She glanced at the menu in her hand. "How's the ravioli alfredo here?"
"It's excellent," Matt answered, placing the lemonade on the table with a smile.
Relieved, Conner agreed with a merry laugh. "It's one of my favorites."
"I'll have that then," Kira said, handing the menu to Matt. Conner quickly ordered a steak, and the pair was alone once more.
The athlete glanced at Jorge who was warily surveying the room. "He must be fun to travel with."
"He's pretty quiet which is a nice change from the people around me who spend all their time talking at me." She smirked. "He's very devoted to his family so being so far away is difficult for him."
"I can understand that." He looked at Kira, clearly conveying his own feelings about his family including her being across the country.
She touched his hand with empathy. No matter how long they had been apart, the trio could never quite forget about the distance that separated them and wish that it did not exist. And even though Ethan lived nearby again, there was never a possibility that he could fill the hole that the dynamic young man left. "Do you have any plans after the World Cup this year?" she said softly.
"Not really. I'm still contracted to the MetroStars for the rest of the year, but they could trade me at any time if they wanted."
"They won't," Kira said forcefully.
"And how do you know?" He looked amused at her categorical denial.
"Because no one's going to let the leader who won the first World Cup for the U.S. go. Even if he is old and decrepit."
"You're nearly as old as I am, Kira Ford. If I'm old and decrepit, then you should start sprouting gray hair any time now."
Matt returned with their dishes, but they barely paid attention to him as Kira said, "It's not polite to talk about my age, and I'm not the one getting ready to turn 28."
"Not for like three more months, and I'll talk about your age all I want. Wasn't I the one who taught you how to drive and took you to the DMV so you could pass your test? Hell, I've seen your DMV picture," he challenged.
"Don't even go there. You promised you'd never talk about that," she said before her eyes filled with mischief. "But speaking of age, Kylee just divorced her third husband so I think she's on the market again."
Horrified, Conner shook his head fiercely. "You still talk to her?" he choked out.
"Sometimes. L.A. is a small town for musicians, and there are always award ceremonies, too. I know she was only married for about two minutes so I bet she wouldn't say no if you called her."
"Are you really trying to set me up with Kylee Styles?"
"Well, Ethan said you hadn't been dating recently."
He tried not to blanch, forcing a light note into his words. "Funny, he said the same thing about you, but you don't see me trying to set you up with anyone."
"Ethan needs to find a love life of his own," Kira said with a laugh.
Here was a statement Conner could support with wholehearted agreement. "I keep expecting him to introduce us to some girl and announce that he's engaged."
"I think Ethan's a little more discriminating than that."
"C'mon, Kira, he dated Cassidy for like two weeks, remember?"
"I seem to recall it being a little longer than that," she reminded him.
"Whatever – it was Cassidy, and it should have been over after one date. Face it, he has like no taste in women."
Kira erupted with a peal of laughter. "No taste," she repeated in between giggles.
Fascinated, Conner watched her with bemusement. Who knew Kira could actually giggle? "It's not that funny," he said as her mirth started to die.
Her eyes glowed with amusement as she contradicted him. "Oh no, it really is that funny. You have like no standards and would date any girl, but you think Ethan has no taste. Pot, meet kettle."
He looked indignant at her barb. "Hey, I have standards."
"Sure, the girl just has to be beautiful and look good on your arm. Never mind that she might not have a personality. At least, Ethan's girlfriends are intelligent enough to have conversations that don't revolve around make-up and fashion."
He glared at her with angry brown eyes, but he kept his voice carefully controlled. "Do you really think that, Kira, that I could be that shallow?"
She could handle the anger, but the hurt she heard in his words was something new especially because it was such a harmless comment. They had traded hundreds of taunts and insults over the years, and this was no different than anything Ethan might have said to him. Her amusement vanished as she sobered instantly and tried to frame a response. "Of course I don't think you're that shallow, Conner. This is me – I've known you for far too long to even entertain that thought."
"But you think that I date chicks, excuse me, women for the sole reason that they're beautiful," he said.
Helplessly, she stared at his intense expression. "Well, you do seem to date uncommonly beautiful women, Conner, but you never seem to develop anything deeper with them. I know the magazines are all convinced that some girl broke your heart a long time ago, but there's never even been anyone you could have fallen in love with. You seem to be completely resistant to the idea of a relationship."
"Thank you, Dr. Phil," he muttered. "Did it ever occur to you that I might be dating so many women because I am looking for someone that I could connect on that level with? I know what I want, Kira – I just . . . I just haven't found her yet. And being a soccer player who travels all year long doesn't help any."
Her eyes softened at his confession. "I know what you mean. Being on the road all the time – there's just never a chance to form any sort of real romance. I love the rock star gig – it has perks I never dreamed of, but it's such a lonely lifestyle. I hardly ever get to see you, and I missed Alexa's birthday party because I was touring in New Zealand. I can't even imagine trying to having a relationship right now."
"I feel the same way. It seems like I've always played to make the U.S. National Team and now that I'm here, I don't want to do anything to mess it up. Besides, how many interesting women do you meet on a soccer field nowadays?"
"I'm sure you meet plenty," she said. "All I ever seem to meet anymore are musicians or rabid fans, neither of which are very appealing. But it's all so much fun still – I guess that's the important thing. Despite the tiring concerts and the snafus that occur almost daily, I'm still enjoying myself."
"What do you have planned after your tour's done?" he asked with interest.
"My label want another album by the end of the year as crazy as it may sound. Other people can go six years without making a new album, but apparently, I have to release one every eight months or so," Kira complained without sounding too upset.
"You love it – I know you do. And you probably have six CDs worth of music saved up from the early years."
She grinned at him – Conner had always known her best when it came to her music. "You're right, but I'm going to make an effort to write some new songs. I'm in a very different place than I was six years ago."
"I always knew you'd make it," Conner said fondly. "Even when you were sure you were going to wait tables for the rest of your life. Did you know that I was happier about your record contract than my gold medal?"
"I don't believe that," she said lightly.
"No, it's true. All I ever wanted was for you to be happy, Kira, and I knew that you were talented enough to achieve your dream. Getting off that plane to the roaring crowds, crowds that weren't screaming my name for once – that was wonderful." He leaned across the table and brushed an errant strand of hair from her face.
Kira sucked in a silent breath – his eyes held something she had never seen from him, a depth of feeling that she had only seen once before in another's eyes. Strange was the first word to pop into her head because Conner wore his emotions on his face, not just in his eyes. He did not know how to hide his feelings whether it was joy or sorrow or anger, but the distinctly intimate gesture of brushing her hair out of her face combined with the look in his eyes seemed to indicate that he had another hidden layer.
For one brief electric moment, Conner looked liked he was about to say something important, but the emotion in his eyes disappeared, replaced by his usual smile. "Sorry about that. Your hair looked like it was about to land in your alfredo sauce, and nothing should spoil the sauce. It's too good to waste."
"For an athlete, you're way too obsessed with food." They both laughed, feeling the awkward tension in the air dissipate with a return to the familiar argument.
"I'm not that obsessed with food," he said, but it was an empty statement because she was perfectly aware of how much he could eat. "I just think it's stupid to let good food go to waste."
"Conner, you wouldn't let any sort of food go to waste. You'd probably drink expired milk if it didn't smell bad." His expression told her more than she ever wanted to know. "Eww, I so did not need to know that." She pushed her nearly empty plate away with disgust.
A human compactor, Conner picked up her plate and covered his own empty plate with it. He proceeded to finish her lunch without a second thought. "That's delicious."
"Some things never change," she said with a laugh. "I always could count on you to finish my meal."
"Well, there wasn't enough to take home with you," he argued.
Matt approached long enough to drop off the check and ascertain that Conner did want a piece of cheesecake though Kira said no to any dessert. "This has been a really great lunch, Conner. We shouldn't let three months happen between visits or phone calls or whatever."
"You should come see the World Cup final match," he invited. "It's not until the end of June, and your tour ends in what, April?"
"Maybe I can. Have you invited Ethan and the others?"
"Ethan, yes, the others, not really. Dr. O and Kim think Ben's still too young to be flying on an airplane, and I have no idea what Hayley might have planned." His words were thoughtful as he answered her inquiry.
"What about Trent?"
"Why would I invite him?" Ice filled his tone and matched the disdain on his face.
"Because he's your friend?"
"Kira, he hasn't been my friend for a very long time. I respect your decision to remain his friend, and I can handle Ethan's acquaintance with him," he stated in a very unconvincing tone. "And I know that Dr. O and Hayley haven't let past events interfere, but I'm not that sort of person."
"Conner! That was years ago," she said, scandalized by his candid words.
"And yet I was the one who picked up the broken pieces of your heart and watched you try to get over his betrayal for how long? We're civil with each other, and I don't expect that to change any time soon," he admitted honestly.
"He made a mistake."
"Kira, betrayal runs deeper than that. We both know what exactly he's done in the past. Don't ask me to be his friend because you won't like my answer. Can't we just disagree on this point?"
"Fine," she said unhappily. His feelings had always been crystal clear about Trent, and his betrayal of Kira had proven his point that the ex-White Ranger was untrustworthy as far as he was concerned.
Jorge suddenly stood nearby. "Kira, it's time to go. Your manager wants you back in time for sound check."
He rose to help her out of her chair, but the bodyguard was already there. "Thanks, Conner," she said anyway. "You're coming tonight still, right?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." There was honesty in his statement as he beamed at her.
Any residual sadness fled with his smile, and she hugged him again, reveling in the warmth of his arms, the strength of his body, the softness of his sweater, even the rapid beat of his heart under her head. Confused by the racing heartbeat, she closely examined his tender eyes, but there was no sign of any deeper emotion than friendship. "You should come early and hang out with me before the show," she said.
"If I won't get in your way . . ."
"Don't be silly. Come around 5:30. Jorge will let you in at the stage door."
"Okay." He helped her into her coat with the same manners she had teased him about earlier. "I'll see you later."
As she walked away, Matt brought his cheesecake to the table. "Miss Ford is very pretty," he ventured the comment to the man staring after her.
"She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," he said in a contrary tone.
"How long have you known her?"
"Ten years. She's been my best friend for almost as long." Now his tone was measured as if he was gauging Matt's ability to keep a secret.
"I hope you'll pardon my interference, Conner, but people don't usually look at their best friends like that."
"Well, that's why I don't look at her with anything but friendship, Matt. Can I get this to go instead? I have a concert to get ready for."
As the dark-haired young man rushed out into the snow, Matt watched him go with a tiny shake of his head. Denial was never pretty, not even on a soccer star with a pin-up calendar.
Author: Sarafu
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Power Rangers do not belong to me.
Summary: After ten years of hard work, the Dino Thunder team has found success, but for two of them, happiness remains elusive. Can they find it in each other?
Dedication: To my PR friends on LJ because I'm constantly amazed by you and your talents in particular the icon makers. And to raging kissage that proves passion can be far more compelling than loyalty and guilt.
Chapter 2: Connecting Again
January 2014
Conner chose a discreet restaurant tucked away in a quiet corner of Boston, a hidden gem that catered to business lunches and private parties. Keeping their lunch clandestine seemed essential to both parties as neither wanted the undue attention of tabloids for a mere meal between old friends. The spotlight on Conner had dimmed considerably since the Olympics, and Kira desperately wanted an afternoon of normalcy.
The athlete arrived early, dressed in black slacks and a red cashmere sweater that hugged his body snugly. Shrugging off the black trench coat, he folded it over his arm and brushed the snow out of his hair. "Good afternoon, Conner," the host greeted with familiarity, used to the soccer star appearing without warning.
"Hey, Matt, how was your daughter's dance recital?" Conner was truly interested in the answer to the question since he had met Sam several times since he had moved to Massachusetts.
"It was beautiful – she was the star," he said, pride radiating from his smile.
"I'm sure she was. She's pretty graceful on the soccer field."
"Your usual table?"
"Nah, I have a friend joining me today. I was hoping to get one of the corner tables, you know, one of the less visible tables."
Startled by the request, Matt tried to hide his astonishment as he examined the pro athlete. A frequent visitor, Conner never lacked confidence or presence, but there was something almost nervous in the way he fiddled with the chain around his neck. "We can definitely find something private for you and your guest," he answered, wondering who could discombobulate the self-assured young man. He led Conner to a quiet table away from the lunch crowd and left him contemplating a glass of water.
Matt's curiosity was appeased a few minutes later when a burly fellow stepped through the doorway, glanced around keenly, and moved aside to let a petite woman into the foyer. She wore black jeans and a yellow coat that she slid off to reveal a dark gold blouse. Wavy blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders, emphasizing her bright hazel eyes and her cheeks pink with cold and excitement. No father of a twelve-year-old daughter would fail to recognize the music idol in front of him so Matt bravely asked, "May I help you, Miss Ford?"
Her eyes widened briefly, but she accepted the name without comment. "I'm meeting a friend here," she said warmly. "He's probably already here. Conner McKnight?"
"Sure, he's seated at a table for two, but we can change that," Matt replied, eyeing her companion.
With a soft laugh, she shook her head. "It's okay. All Jorge needs is a table where I'm in his line of sight."
"Well, Mr. McKnight is right back this way," Matt said, escorting her to a darkened corner shrouded in privacy.
Conner stood as they approached and smiled boyishly at the woman. "Kira," he said before his arms were full of his best friend who squeezed him tightly. The embrace lasted for several seconds.
As they separated, Kira beamed at Conner. "You look great."
"Isn't that my line?" he said, surveying her with appreciation. "Only I would have said you looked gorgeous."
She chuckled affectionately. "No, you would have told me that I look like a real woman or something equally lame. I know you, Conner, remember? You're not that smooth."
"Maybe when I was seventeen," he protested.
"Which is why the media still loves your inability to be tactful." Her smile lessened the sting of the insult.
"Whatever. My point is that you look beautiful," Conner answered and pulled out her chair.
"And you've learned some manners."
"I've always had them – I just never saw any reason to use them around you," he said flippantly.
"May I offer you something to drink?" Matt offered, intervening evenly. He correctly suspected that the banter would continue if left unchecked. It was apparent that Conner and Kira were old friends who clearly adored each other. Their menus remained untouched in front of them.
"Lemonade, please. Conner keeps raving about it."
"I just want strawberry lemonade, Matt."
"I'll bring that right out to you, and I'll seat your companion right over there if you like, Miss Ford." Matt gestured to a nearby table.
"Perfect," she murmured sweetly.
As the host turned away to seat the man, he heard Conner ask, "Who's the Hulk?" and for a moment, Matt wondered if it was jealousy he actually heard in his voice.
"That's Jorge," she said in a factual tone as she picked up the menu.
Forcing himself to relax, Conner used the most casual voice he could muster. "And who is Jorge in the grand scheme of things?"
"Security detail. My label and my manager both insisted on hiring him. Apparently, I'm too invaluable to risk my safety." Her tone contained annoyance as she glanced at the man who was the bane of her existence.
"Good," Conner muttered a bit too emphatically. She gave him an astounded look. "You are too invaluable to risk."
"You sound like Ethan. I think it's silly. One or two letters is nothing – it's not like I have people camped outside my house, trying to abduct me or anything. And you know better than anyone that I can take care of myself."
He winced in remembrance, but he added, "No kidding, Kira. Still, the crazies do seem to come out of the woodwork when it comes to celebrities, and like it or not, you are a celebrity now. There's nothing wrong with being careful."
Ignoring his words of caution, she smiled with a memory. "I had forgotten about the girl who broke into your hotel room wearing only a red ribbon because she wanted to give herself to you."
"I'm glad someone still finds that funny," he said with a grin. "It freaked me out, and I triple-locked my doors for a long time after that."
"But as I recall, the girl was way more freaked to find what's-her-name in your bed."
"That was Gina."
"Oh, right – the girl you were going to marry without ever introducing her to us."
"There was never any truth to that story particularly the looking at engagement rings crap. It was blown way out of proportion. I've told you this before, Kira."
"You never did come clean about why you were in a jewelry store in the first place." Kira tilted her head and gave him a direct stare.
"Do you remember what I gave you for Christmas that year?"
"Of course." She pulled out a small gold locket from under her blouse. A dinosaur footprint was carefully etched into the gold, each toe containing a gem, a yellow topaz, a red ruby, and a blue sapphire. Inside the locket, a photo booth snapshot of Kira, Ethan, and Conner rested securely. "It's practically the only piece of jewelry that I own."
"I had gone to check out the design, and I didn't even know the photographer was tracking me until I saw the photo," he explained quietly. "You know my policy about jewelry and the women I date, Kira."
"Oh," she murmured, aware that he never bought jewelry for his girlfriends as she tucked the locket away. In fact aside from the locket, she was certain that his mother was the only female who had received any sort of jewelry. She glanced at the menu in her hand. "How's the ravioli alfredo here?"
"It's excellent," Matt answered, placing the lemonade on the table with a smile.
Relieved, Conner agreed with a merry laugh. "It's one of my favorites."
"I'll have that then," Kira said, handing the menu to Matt. Conner quickly ordered a steak, and the pair was alone once more.
The athlete glanced at Jorge who was warily surveying the room. "He must be fun to travel with."
"He's pretty quiet which is a nice change from the people around me who spend all their time talking at me." She smirked. "He's very devoted to his family so being so far away is difficult for him."
"I can understand that." He looked at Kira, clearly conveying his own feelings about his family including her being across the country.
She touched his hand with empathy. No matter how long they had been apart, the trio could never quite forget about the distance that separated them and wish that it did not exist. And even though Ethan lived nearby again, there was never a possibility that he could fill the hole that the dynamic young man left. "Do you have any plans after the World Cup this year?" she said softly.
"Not really. I'm still contracted to the MetroStars for the rest of the year, but they could trade me at any time if they wanted."
"They won't," Kira said forcefully.
"And how do you know?" He looked amused at her categorical denial.
"Because no one's going to let the leader who won the first World Cup for the U.S. go. Even if he is old and decrepit."
"You're nearly as old as I am, Kira Ford. If I'm old and decrepit, then you should start sprouting gray hair any time now."
Matt returned with their dishes, but they barely paid attention to him as Kira said, "It's not polite to talk about my age, and I'm not the one getting ready to turn 28."
"Not for like three more months, and I'll talk about your age all I want. Wasn't I the one who taught you how to drive and took you to the DMV so you could pass your test? Hell, I've seen your DMV picture," he challenged.
"Don't even go there. You promised you'd never talk about that," she said before her eyes filled with mischief. "But speaking of age, Kylee just divorced her third husband so I think she's on the market again."
Horrified, Conner shook his head fiercely. "You still talk to her?" he choked out.
"Sometimes. L.A. is a small town for musicians, and there are always award ceremonies, too. I know she was only married for about two minutes so I bet she wouldn't say no if you called her."
"Are you really trying to set me up with Kylee Styles?"
"Well, Ethan said you hadn't been dating recently."
He tried not to blanch, forcing a light note into his words. "Funny, he said the same thing about you, but you don't see me trying to set you up with anyone."
"Ethan needs to find a love life of his own," Kira said with a laugh.
Here was a statement Conner could support with wholehearted agreement. "I keep expecting him to introduce us to some girl and announce that he's engaged."
"I think Ethan's a little more discriminating than that."
"C'mon, Kira, he dated Cassidy for like two weeks, remember?"
"I seem to recall it being a little longer than that," she reminded him.
"Whatever – it was Cassidy, and it should have been over after one date. Face it, he has like no taste in women."
Kira erupted with a peal of laughter. "No taste," she repeated in between giggles.
Fascinated, Conner watched her with bemusement. Who knew Kira could actually giggle? "It's not that funny," he said as her mirth started to die.
Her eyes glowed with amusement as she contradicted him. "Oh no, it really is that funny. You have like no standards and would date any girl, but you think Ethan has no taste. Pot, meet kettle."
He looked indignant at her barb. "Hey, I have standards."
"Sure, the girl just has to be beautiful and look good on your arm. Never mind that she might not have a personality. At least, Ethan's girlfriends are intelligent enough to have conversations that don't revolve around make-up and fashion."
He glared at her with angry brown eyes, but he kept his voice carefully controlled. "Do you really think that, Kira, that I could be that shallow?"
She could handle the anger, but the hurt she heard in his words was something new especially because it was such a harmless comment. They had traded hundreds of taunts and insults over the years, and this was no different than anything Ethan might have said to him. Her amusement vanished as she sobered instantly and tried to frame a response. "Of course I don't think you're that shallow, Conner. This is me – I've known you for far too long to even entertain that thought."
"But you think that I date chicks, excuse me, women for the sole reason that they're beautiful," he said.
Helplessly, she stared at his intense expression. "Well, you do seem to date uncommonly beautiful women, Conner, but you never seem to develop anything deeper with them. I know the magazines are all convinced that some girl broke your heart a long time ago, but there's never even been anyone you could have fallen in love with. You seem to be completely resistant to the idea of a relationship."
"Thank you, Dr. Phil," he muttered. "Did it ever occur to you that I might be dating so many women because I am looking for someone that I could connect on that level with? I know what I want, Kira – I just . . . I just haven't found her yet. And being a soccer player who travels all year long doesn't help any."
Her eyes softened at his confession. "I know what you mean. Being on the road all the time – there's just never a chance to form any sort of real romance. I love the rock star gig – it has perks I never dreamed of, but it's such a lonely lifestyle. I hardly ever get to see you, and I missed Alexa's birthday party because I was touring in New Zealand. I can't even imagine trying to having a relationship right now."
"I feel the same way. It seems like I've always played to make the U.S. National Team and now that I'm here, I don't want to do anything to mess it up. Besides, how many interesting women do you meet on a soccer field nowadays?"
"I'm sure you meet plenty," she said. "All I ever seem to meet anymore are musicians or rabid fans, neither of which are very appealing. But it's all so much fun still – I guess that's the important thing. Despite the tiring concerts and the snafus that occur almost daily, I'm still enjoying myself."
"What do you have planned after your tour's done?" he asked with interest.
"My label want another album by the end of the year as crazy as it may sound. Other people can go six years without making a new album, but apparently, I have to release one every eight months or so," Kira complained without sounding too upset.
"You love it – I know you do. And you probably have six CDs worth of music saved up from the early years."
She grinned at him – Conner had always known her best when it came to her music. "You're right, but I'm going to make an effort to write some new songs. I'm in a very different place than I was six years ago."
"I always knew you'd make it," Conner said fondly. "Even when you were sure you were going to wait tables for the rest of your life. Did you know that I was happier about your record contract than my gold medal?"
"I don't believe that," she said lightly.
"No, it's true. All I ever wanted was for you to be happy, Kira, and I knew that you were talented enough to achieve your dream. Getting off that plane to the roaring crowds, crowds that weren't screaming my name for once – that was wonderful." He leaned across the table and brushed an errant strand of hair from her face.
Kira sucked in a silent breath – his eyes held something she had never seen from him, a depth of feeling that she had only seen once before in another's eyes. Strange was the first word to pop into her head because Conner wore his emotions on his face, not just in his eyes. He did not know how to hide his feelings whether it was joy or sorrow or anger, but the distinctly intimate gesture of brushing her hair out of her face combined with the look in his eyes seemed to indicate that he had another hidden layer.
For one brief electric moment, Conner looked liked he was about to say something important, but the emotion in his eyes disappeared, replaced by his usual smile. "Sorry about that. Your hair looked like it was about to land in your alfredo sauce, and nothing should spoil the sauce. It's too good to waste."
"For an athlete, you're way too obsessed with food." They both laughed, feeling the awkward tension in the air dissipate with a return to the familiar argument.
"I'm not that obsessed with food," he said, but it was an empty statement because she was perfectly aware of how much he could eat. "I just think it's stupid to let good food go to waste."
"Conner, you wouldn't let any sort of food go to waste. You'd probably drink expired milk if it didn't smell bad." His expression told her more than she ever wanted to know. "Eww, I so did not need to know that." She pushed her nearly empty plate away with disgust.
A human compactor, Conner picked up her plate and covered his own empty plate with it. He proceeded to finish her lunch without a second thought. "That's delicious."
"Some things never change," she said with a laugh. "I always could count on you to finish my meal."
"Well, there wasn't enough to take home with you," he argued.
Matt approached long enough to drop off the check and ascertain that Conner did want a piece of cheesecake though Kira said no to any dessert. "This has been a really great lunch, Conner. We shouldn't let three months happen between visits or phone calls or whatever."
"You should come see the World Cup final match," he invited. "It's not until the end of June, and your tour ends in what, April?"
"Maybe I can. Have you invited Ethan and the others?"
"Ethan, yes, the others, not really. Dr. O and Kim think Ben's still too young to be flying on an airplane, and I have no idea what Hayley might have planned." His words were thoughtful as he answered her inquiry.
"What about Trent?"
"Why would I invite him?" Ice filled his tone and matched the disdain on his face.
"Because he's your friend?"
"Kira, he hasn't been my friend for a very long time. I respect your decision to remain his friend, and I can handle Ethan's acquaintance with him," he stated in a very unconvincing tone. "And I know that Dr. O and Hayley haven't let past events interfere, but I'm not that sort of person."
"Conner! That was years ago," she said, scandalized by his candid words.
"And yet I was the one who picked up the broken pieces of your heart and watched you try to get over his betrayal for how long? We're civil with each other, and I don't expect that to change any time soon," he admitted honestly.
"He made a mistake."
"Kira, betrayal runs deeper than that. We both know what exactly he's done in the past. Don't ask me to be his friend because you won't like my answer. Can't we just disagree on this point?"
"Fine," she said unhappily. His feelings had always been crystal clear about Trent, and his betrayal of Kira had proven his point that the ex-White Ranger was untrustworthy as far as he was concerned.
Jorge suddenly stood nearby. "Kira, it's time to go. Your manager wants you back in time for sound check."
He rose to help her out of her chair, but the bodyguard was already there. "Thanks, Conner," she said anyway. "You're coming tonight still, right?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." There was honesty in his statement as he beamed at her.
Any residual sadness fled with his smile, and she hugged him again, reveling in the warmth of his arms, the strength of his body, the softness of his sweater, even the rapid beat of his heart under her head. Confused by the racing heartbeat, she closely examined his tender eyes, but there was no sign of any deeper emotion than friendship. "You should come early and hang out with me before the show," she said.
"If I won't get in your way . . ."
"Don't be silly. Come around 5:30. Jorge will let you in at the stage door."
"Okay." He helped her into her coat with the same manners she had teased him about earlier. "I'll see you later."
As she walked away, Matt brought his cheesecake to the table. "Miss Ford is very pretty," he ventured the comment to the man staring after her.
"She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," he said in a contrary tone.
"How long have you known her?"
"Ten years. She's been my best friend for almost as long." Now his tone was measured as if he was gauging Matt's ability to keep a secret.
"I hope you'll pardon my interference, Conner, but people don't usually look at their best friends like that."
"Well, that's why I don't look at her with anything but friendship, Matt. Can I get this to go instead? I have a concert to get ready for."
As the dark-haired young man rushed out into the snow, Matt watched him go with a tiny shake of his head. Denial was never pretty, not even on a soccer star with a pin-up calendar.