Showdown (Gridiron Book 2) Read online

  “Running just makes you tired,” Ella added. “And sweaty.”

  The front door opened, and Ronnie leaned back, seeing Clark and Jack argue their way into the room.

  “What’s the debate on today?” Ana asked.

  Walking over, Jack kissed her before replying. “Which Star Wars movie is the best. I believe it was the original, and Clark thinks it was the last. We’ve decided to watch them all again and then decide.”

  Ella moved her mass of curls off her shoulder and stood up. “Everyone knows the first one was the best.”

  “I’m going to pretend like you didn’t just say that, babe,” Clark replied as he walked over and grinned. “The last one definitely was, and I know if you think about it, you’ll agree.”

  “No way,” she replied as she put her hands against his chest. “And don’t try and kiss me so you can change my mind.”

  “Party pooper,” he replied before holding her hands and kissing her firmly.

  “Hardly,” she replied.

  Clark draped his arm over her shoulder and shrugged. “I’m not starting a fight over a movie because you just started liking me and I can’t risk having to start all over.”

  Chase and Scott walked in the back door at the same moment the front door opened, and she couldn’t imagine who it would be. Leaning over, she watched Trevor walk in. “Hi, there. What brings you here?”

  He nodded in greeting to the room and then crossed his hands over his chest. “Good news, Ronnie. The woman who we’ve been tracking just got picked up by the MPD for soliciting. They’re not going to let her out on bail this time because it seems she’s wanted in Georgia. They didn’t pick that up the first time, and I’ve been told getting out on bail is not an option. You’re free to move about without worrying there’s someone gunning for you.”

  Tears ran down her face as she turned to Chase and walked into his arms. Burying her face in his T-shirt, she let out a breath and felt his big hand against her back.

  “How can it be over so quickly and easily? It seems unreal.”

  “Honey, believe it.”

  Looking up, she nodded and heard all the happy sounds her friends were making.

  Chase kissed her head and then grinned “I’m taking everyone out to dinner to celebrate. Let’s see if we can get in at Joe’s.”

  Scott held up his phone. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Jack called over to him, “Tell him you play for the Sharks now because the owner is a big fan, and the team has taken care of him. Ask for the back room. It’s a Monday, so it’s probably not booked.”

  Scott gave him a thumbs-up and made the call. “Finally made it into the group,” he mumbled to himself.

  “Not yet,” Ella replied as she elbowed him. “But we’ll give you a pass for now and see how you do.”

  Looking down, he nodded. “Thanks.”

  “Just don’t make me regret it.”

  “Not planning on it.”

  ***

  Chase looked over the loud group as they sat in the back room at Joe’s and enjoyed the food that was spread across the table. Ana was regaling the group with the story of their first date and her trip to the ER, and he was glad nothing like that had happened to him and Ronnie.

  “Despite our lack of dating success, I never doubted for a minute that he was the man for me. We still don’t really go out, but that’s okay because we’ve found that we can hang out at home and have fun,” Ana said as she looked up at Jack.

  Wrapping his arm around her, Jack laughed. “I like your revisionist history. You were not sure about me for a long time, but I’m not complaining because I’m a lucky guy.”

  Leaning in, she patted his leg. “I think we’re both lucky.”

  Clark snorted next to them. “Y’all are perfect for one another, and my friend is fortunate to find someone who doesn’t find him boring.”

  Ana smiled at Clark. “The man is interesting in ways that you’ll never understand, and that’s where I’m going to leave it.”

  The whole table erupted, and Chase knew the quiet scientist and the quiet athlete had found one another against all odds and were making one another happy in ways that were known only to one another. Leaning over, he kissed Ronnie’s head. “How are you doing?”

  “Good,” she replied. “I’m just trying to process that the nonsense is over.”

  “It is, and we’re damn lucky.”

  Trevor and Katie walked in, and both appeared less than happy. Sitting at the end, they ordered a drink and stared out at the table. “What’s wrong, Katie? You look like you ate something sour,” Ronnie asked.

  Waving her hand in the air, she frowned. “Just work stuff.” Smiling over at Ronnie, she took her hand. “I’m so happy the woman is in jail. I was starting a little analysis of my own to see if I could determine her next move but wasn’t coming up with anything conclusive.”

  Scott leaned over to Ronnie. “What does Katie do?”

  “Katie has a doctorate in Forensic Neuropsychology and has a fellowship in the same program that Ana does. They’re both working on their specialties in the practical world. She’s had some breakthroughs, and it’s making the director of her program crazy jealous. The guy is kind of a sleaze, and that’s where Trevor comes in. He stops into the university once a day to remind the guy who’s who and what’s what. Thus, the unhappy faces.”

  Scott nodded. “What did Captain America do before working at the security company?”

  Ronnie turned and shook her head. “Trevor is a retired Navy SEAL. You need to check your attitude at the door and might consider thanking him for putting his life on the line to protect yours. While you were here getting an education and playing pro ball, he was on the other side of the world making sure people could sleep peacefully at night. So, a big fat thank you is in order, as well as a generous donation from your signing bonus given to Wounded Warriors.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Scott responded. “I guess saying the first thing that pops into my mind isn’t such a hot idea anymore.”

  “It certainly isn’t.”

  “Noted,” he replied quietly.

  Jack spoke up at the other end of the table. “I lost fifteen minutes of my life talking to that guy at the team fundraiser. Ana left me with him and made her escape. Don’t get me wrong, better me than her…but what an asshole.”

  Trevor gave him a high-five from across the table. “Thank you. I don’t like the way he speaks with Katie and corners her by herself in the hall. He’s one step away from doing something that will get his ass landed in the hospital. He’s got no more rope, so the next move he makes will be answered accordingly.”

  Slapping her hand down on the table, Katie let out a silent scream. “Trevor, you can’t harm him because then my career will go down the toilet.”

  “I know, babe. Don’t worry; I promise to keep it under control.”

  “You’re just saying that because you won’t leave any evidence or marks on him. I should probably make you the subject of my next study.”

  Putting his arm around her, he kissed her cheek. “You can study me all you want. Maybe we should start tonight.” He waggled his eyebrows at her. “Too much?”

  “Always.” She kissed his cheek, turned back to the table, and took a sip of her drink.

  Waiters entered the room and brought the next round of food, and people started to get serious about eating. Chase looked out and felt an overwhelming sense of peace because Ronnie was no longer in danger, and he could see the beginning of a happy life with her. The people sitting at the table were going to become the fabric of the family that he was creating with her and knew how lucky that made him.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Chase heard Ronnie’s car and walked out the front door. When she emerged, he noticed she looked tired and decided she needed some TLC. “Hey, honey.”

  “Hey.”

  Taking the bags out of her hand, he kissed her head. “How was your afternoon?”

  “It was goo
d; Scott came in, and we signed a letter of intent. I couldn’t take his whining anymore, so he’s going to be a client.”

  Wrapping his arm around her, he rubbed her shoulder. “I told him not to bug you anymore. Are you sure that you can take on another client?”

  “Yes, Alex’s baby sister is going to come work for me. She’s graduating in May from Vanderbilt with an accounting degree. She’ll get a masters eventually but is going to take a break and get some practical experience.”

  “Will you have enough time for a vacation? I want to take you someplace for a couple of weeks before I start my new job in July.”

  Looking up, she smiled “That sounds wonderful; let’s look at our calendars after dinner.”

  “Before I forget, can we walk next door real quick? I need you to tell me what you want to do with the front of our houses since I have a landscape guy coming tomorrow.”

  “It’s your house, so why are you asking me?”

  Setting her bags on the bench next to the front door, he gave her a patient look. “Honey, that house is as much yours as it is mine. Tell me what you want, so that we don’t have to re-do it next year when you decide that you hate what I’ve done.”

  “All right, but after that I expect you to make me a drink and rub my feet.”

  “I’d love to do nothing more and will make dinner too.”

  She leaned against him and sighed. “I was smart to pick you ‘cause you’re turning out to be an excellent boyfriend.”

  Laughing, he took her hand and led her toward the door. “If that’s what you want to believe, then so be it.”

  Swinging his arm back and forth as they walked down the drive, she sighed. “That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.”

  Pressing his thumb against the pad that disengaged the locks on the front gate, he nodded. “If it makes you happy, then go for it,” he replied as they walked through the gates “I won’t get keys to the house for another two weeks, but I thought we could get started with the plans for the front right away. The hedges are similar for both homes, and I was wondering if we should keep them.”

  “I don’t know that I’ve ever paid attention to the house you bought because, when I leave, I turn the other way to go out to the main road. How big is the house?”

  “It’s the same size as the house out at the horse farm. It has six bedrooms, a big kitchen, and a family room, as well as a good-sized guest cottage next to the tennis courts.” Standing together, they both studied the home he’d purchased. “I’m glad the owners agreed to sell. Otherwise, we would’ve ended up with a house around the corner.”

  “What do you mean, ‘agreed to sell’? This house wasn’t on the market?”

  Holding her hand tightly, he wondered how mad she was going to get. “Not exactly. My agent contacted the owners and offered them a good price, and they decided to sell, so it all worked out.”

  “Oh, my God, you’ve lost your mind and good sense.” Stepping away, she shook her head. “That borders on crazy.”

  “One person’s crazy is another person’s love, and it all depends on how you view it.”

  “I’m looking at crazy and need to think about what you’ve done.”

  He encircled her in his arms, gazed down into her flashing eyes, and knew now was the time to confess. “I’m in love with you, and plan on making a life together.” Watching her eyes become the size of gumballs, he let out a breath. “I love you and hope someday you’ll return my feelings.” Leaning down, he captured her lips, kissing her for all he was worth.

  Once she responded, he felt a small surge of relief since not fighting him was as close as she was going to get to agreeing with him.

  A car drove by and let out a little honk, startling them both. Releasing her mouth, he stared into her dazed eyes. “So…hedges. What do you think?”

  Patting his chest, she leaned her head against his shirt and laughed. “Let me cross the road and take a look because I can’t tell from here.” Stepping out of his arms, she looked both ways before crossing and then skipped across quickly. She stood in between the two houses, looking back and forth. “These hedges are beautiful, and we should keep them. Let’s just make the gates match…”

  A shrill sound filled the air, and Chase turned to see where it was coming from. “That’s either a drunk driver or an old person who’s lost control of their car. Ronnie, you’ve got to…”

  “What…”

  A large American-made sedan careened around the corner at a speed that told him the driver had lost control. Before he could move, the car accelerated, taking the curve on two wheels.

  It was heading straight for her. The scream left his throat as the car swerved and the front bumper sideswiped her, sending her body into the air.

  She flew up like a doll, and before he could get to her, she crumpled against the ground.

  Behind him, he vaguely registered the sound of crunching metal and broken glass as the car crashed into a wall. Everything had become deadly still as his feet hit the road.

  At her side instantly, he wrapped his arms around her and called her name. “Honey, open your eyes if you can.”

  A woman ran down the street, and Chase yelled, “Call 911. Now!”

  The woman instantly did as he asked and then ran to Chase’s side. “A car hit a fire hydrant around the corner and the fire trucks were already on their way, so it shouldn’t be long.”

  Nodding, he returned his attention to Ronnie. He checked for blood and found a big gash against the back of her skull where her head had hit the ground. He pressed his hand against it to staunch the bleeding and began praying.

  He couldn’t lose her like this.

  He couldn’t lose her at all because his life would end without her.

  The sounds of sirens filled the air, and he pressed his head against hers. “Stay with me, Ronnie. I love you, and you have to stay with me.”

  An ambulance, police car, and fire truck came down the street. One of those people had to be able to help her. Doors flew open on the ambulance, and two paramedics rushed over quickly. “A car came around the corner and swerved into her. She flew up and landed on the ground,” Chase said.

  “Step aside, sir. Let us help your wife.”

  Moving back, he sat on his haunches and watched the paramedics begin to assess her injuries. He heard one of them call for a chopper, so they could medivac her to the Ryder Trauma Center. “I’m going with her,” he announced loudly.

  The paramedics ignored him as he let out a breath and started to pray again. How in the hell did this happen?

  In a matter of seconds, the world had turned upside down.

  What he would give to change places with her.

  Why couldn’t it have been him?

  Another ambulance came down the street and screeched to a halt. Wondering why they needed two, he watched the paramedics run past him toward the car that had run into Ronnie.

  The sounds of a chopper filled the sky, and he looked up, trying to determine how far away it was. He had no idea where it was going to land, but hoped it was close.

  The paramedics placed her on a gurney, and one of the men called out, asking what her blood type was. “O-negative,” he yelled, realizing how lucky it was that he’d found that out when she’d gotten a tetanus shot during their week at the horse farm.

  He watched the man speak into his mic and relay the information and felt like he was living outside of his body. How was he standing, responding to questions, taking in details? Vaguely, he registered the sound of the chopper nearing and saw it come down in the intersection half a block away.

  The paramedics lifted the gurney and started moving Ronnie down the street toward the open doors of the helicopter. Rising up, he ran next to them and grabbed her hand as they moved quickly down the street. “You stay with us, Ronnie. Show everyone what you’re made of and don’t give up. Fight with everything you have.” He stepped back and let them move the gurney onto the chopper. Once she was loaded and secured, they m
ade him step aside so that they could load the driver of the vehicle. “Can I go with her?” he asked the tech in the chopper.

  “Sorry, only patients ride in the bird. We’ll take real good care of your wife and meet you at the hospital.” Giving the signal to the pilot, the paramedics closed the door and tapped it. They pulled Chase out of the way, and the firemen made sure the area was clear so that the chopper could take off.

  A policeman stood next to Chase, and they both watched the helicopter rise straight upward and move toward Miami. Turning toward the house, he felt a hand on his arm and turned. “I need to get to the hospital.”

  “I know, son, let me give you a ride because you don’t look like you’re capable of driving right now.”

  “Thanks, that would be great. Let me close the front door and grab my phone.” Running to the house, he tried to get his mind to function and found it impossible, knowing he wouldn’t be able to until Ronnie had recovered.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Chase glanced around the waiting room, counting the number of people who’d shown up to sit vigil for Ronnie. The place was filled with many of Florida’s top athletes, and he knew it was because she did more than manage people’s wealth. She also managed parts of their lives as well, and it was gratifying to know they all cared.

  They’d officially admitted her a couple of hours ago, and he did the best he could with the paperwork and, for the first time in his life, was glad that he was famous. The administrator had wanted to give him the runaround until he told her his smile was worth a million dollars and not to worry about the bill being paid. Certainly not his proudest moment, but he’d lost civility when the car hit Ronnie and knew he’d need to apologize to the woman eventually.

  Ana handed him a cup of coffee and sat down. Nodding his thanks, he took a sip. “Appreciate it.”

  “I’ve spoken with my colleagues, and the surgeon who’s doing Ronnie’s surgery is considered one of the best.” Patting his leg, she stared off into the distance. “It’s all going to be okay; she’s going to pull through, and you two are going to start a happy life together.”