Read Goal Line (The Dartmouth Cobras Book 7) for Free Online Page B

onto the street, Sahara had the radio on. She flicked through each station, cocking her head to listen to the first few seconds of each song. Then she wrinkled her nose and glanced over at him.
    “Do you have any CDs?”
    “No, but my iPod’s in the glove compartment. See if there’s anything you like on my playlists.”
    She pulled out his iPod, then continued checking the glove compartment. “Is there a wire?”
    “No, it’s wireless.” He grinned when she ducked her head, her cheeks going red again. “Just pick a song and play.”
    There was silence, then Sahara let out a sound of excitement. “Oh! I love this song!”
    “Bottoms Up” by Brantley Gilbert came on, a newer country song with a sultry beat and a naughty, sexual outlaw theme. When he stopped at a red light, Dominik watched Sahara out of the corner of his eye as she swayed to the music, singing softly. He had to admit, he’d expected her to find one of the few Top 40 songs he’d downloaded. Or at least show some surprise at his taste in music.
    Instead, she spent the entire drive picking songs she clearly knew, losing her shyness halfway there and singing loud enough for him to enjoy the sweetness of her voice. There was a slight New York edge to her tone, and she didn’t hit all the notes right, but he liked listening to her. Seeing how the country tunes had her letting go. They’d have fun on a road trip. On the open highway, in the summer, with the windows rolled down and the music blaring, he had a feeling she’d be right in her element.
    Hell, she’d probably love going to his older brother Joshua’s place down in West Virginia. When his brother wasn’t stationed somewhere overseas, he was on the ranch he owned with two of his college buddies. The place was the complete opposite of where they’d grown up. Miles from the closest town, but it suited him.
    It was a bit early to be thinking of taking that kind of trip with Sahara, but after pulling in front of the Halifax Dinner Theatre, he couldn’t help meeting her eyes as he lifted her from the seat and lowered her to the sidewalk.
    The question just came out. “Have you ever been to a tailgate party?”
    She blinked and a smile spread across her lips, so big you’d have thought he’d just told her she’d won tickets to the Super Bowl. Or…well, maybe she wasn’t that into football. Maybe a trip to the Caribbean.
    He was definitely overthinking things now, but whatever excited her, his question was on that list.
    “I wish! Jami was telling me Max had a tailgate party for his thirtieth birthday and Oriana showed her pictures, and it looked like so much…” Sahara bit her bottom lip. “Actually, you were probably there.”
    “I was.” Dominik put his hand on the small of her back to guide her inside as she looked up at the sign where a harlequin figurine perched. Then she turned her head from side to side to take in the theatrical décor of the lobby. His mind was no longer on the possible future. He remembered that day, sitting with Oriana in the back of Max’s father’s truck, believing life couldn’t get any more perfect. Even at his brother’s ranch, he hadn’t felt as at home as he had on the farm where Max grew up. Early mornings, doing chores with Max and Sloan, coming in smelly and sweaty to a hearty breakfast Oriana had prepared with Max’s aunts.
    That wasn’t his life anymore. And dwelling on memories while he was with Sahara wasn’t fair.
    At the end of the lobby, a man dressed as a pirate greeted them with an exaggerated accent and brought them to the table Dominik had reserved, a few feet from center stage. He and his younger brother, Cam, had brought their mother here last time she’d come to visit and she’d loved it. He couldn’t say why he’d decided on this place for his date with Sahara, except for the fact that he wanted to avoid anything stiff and awkward. Hopefully, she’d have as much fun as he and his family had.
    They settled in and the