by Ella Jade
“Yeah.” Rebecca cleared her throat, embarrassed she’d been busted. “I’m just...did you get what you needed?”
She nodded, grinning slightly. “I did. Do you mind breaking up the testosterone party and sending over my next victim?”
“No problem.” Rebecca smoothed her blouse and skirt, then let out a long breath to calm her nerves. The entire day had been abnormal, but the gawking issue she’d developed in the past few hours was too much and had to stop. “Who’s next? Kara’s ready for another body,” she said, rushing to the snack center to grab an energy bar, hoping to scarf it down in her office before meeting with Maureen. Her plans waned when she tripped over the leg of a chair, staggered to catch herself, failed, and headed face first to the floor.
She yelped as a strong arm snagged her waist and coiled her tight like a yo-yo, suspending her against a warm chest, Wade’s chest. Facing him, she took a small step back and did an internal shake to clear away the want racing through her mind. In a split second she was composed.
“Thanks for the save,” she said, pretending to be unaffected by the brief contact.
He frowned, rubbed his face with both hands, then dropped them to his sides and stared at her for a long second before racing off to be photographed.
“What did you do to piss him off?” Blaine asked. “Drink the last protein shake?”
“You’re a funny man, Blaine,” Dominic sneered.
“And you’re a pretty princess,” Blaine retorted with a chuckle.
“That’s the biggest compliment you’ve ever paid me.”
“And the last.” Blaine started toward the weather room. “I’ve got to check the radars. Seems like there may be a storm brewing.”
“Rebecca, my office. Please,” Maureen said with a twinge of bitterness.
“There’s a woman who needs to get laid,” Dominic whispered. “Oh! And you are not getting out of explaining what just happened between you and Superman.”
“Dominic!” Rebecca’s face went hot, probably so red it glowed against her brown hair. “I tripped.”
“You know what I’m talking about. Don’t pretend with me.”
“I’ve got to go.” She veered toward the hallway, crossing her fingers that he would drop the assumptions.
“Come out with me tonight. Maureen might not be such a bitch to you if she knew you outside of work.”
“I’ll see you at six for the staff meeting.”
Rebecca stepped inside Maureen’s office. The general manager sat at her desk, her face exhibiting a blue hue from the reflection of the computer screen. She didn’t lift her sharp gray eyes from the monitor before speaking. “Corporate is making changes.”
“They’re always making changes.” Rebecca slid into one of the two empty chairs across from Maureen. She couldn’t wrap her head around why her boss wanted a private meeting to announce an already well-known fact. “How is this time different?”
“Well, for starters, I’m sure you noticed Wade. He used to play football, if you can’t tell by looking at him, and his addition is only the beginning. I’ve got to raise our viewership.” Maureen shut off the computer and gave her full attention to Rebecca. “I give you a hard time because you’re good. Honestly, you are one of the few natural talents I’ve worked with in my twenty-plus years of being in the business. I know you have a lot going on personally, and I’ll need you to keep this between us right now but…and I’m filling you in strictly because I feel as though out of the entire night crew team you deserve the heads-up, but we may all be replaced.”
* * * *
Surprisingly, Wade’s first night on air went off without a hitch. He had gone in for a ‘chemistry’ check at Maureen’s request, ended up getting hired and shooting promos, then he’d been hurled into live news before he fully caught his breath. Out of everything though, the most challenging part of his entire day was being around her. A distraction he didn’t need, or want. He learned a long time ago what kind of turmoil came along with women like Rebecca Ryan. Gorgeous and aloof, tempting and dangerous, all crushed together to form an intense ball of dynamite that could detonate his world while she stood on the sidelines watching little pieces of his life fall from the sky in irreparable ash.
Wade sat next to Dominic at a table in the small pub they’d gone to after leaving work, chatting with Maureen and Blaine. He sipped on the one beer he allotted for himself, wishing he would have maneuvered Rebecca away from him when he kept her from falling. He’d panicked when she looked up at him, tucked against his chest, and needed to get away from her. He hadn’t spoken to her since, except for on air earlier.
“I haven’t been out for drinks after work in months,” Maureen revealed. “Thanks for the invite.” She slightly tipped the glass containing her whisky-sour and nodded to Wade. “As I expected, you didn’t disappoint today, rookie.”
“I hear you used to be a big-shot football player over at Cape U,” Blaine said, focusing on Wade. He leaned back in his seat. “I played in high school, but I decided not to pursue the game after that.”
Dominic laughed. “As if you were good enough.”
“What were you, a cheerleader?” Blaine scowled, reached for his beer, and took a swallow.
“No, I was one of the top tight-ends in my school’s conference,” Dominic proclaimed, full of sass and bobbing his head from side to side.
Blaine coughed, choking on his beer. He launched forward, covering his mouth with his hand, and ale spewed between his fingers. All four of them erupted in laughter.
“You are one crazy mother.” Blaine snorted, wiping his face.
“I’m serious though.” Dominic chuckled then sighed. “I have the plaque to prove it.”
“I’ve never attended a football game,” Maureen added. “Believe it or not, I was quite the book nerd growing up.”
“Are my eyes betraying me?” Dominic asked. He bounced from his seat and disappeared across the room.
“There’s a first,” Blaine uttered before chugging his drink.
Wade turned to see what the fuss was about. Rebecca stood to the left of the doorway. She sauntered toward Dominic, sporting an amazing smile. The moment he saw her he knew it was time to go. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said to Blaine and Maureen, tossing some cash on the table for a tip.
“You’re leaving?” Maureen stood and shook his hand. “We’re happy to have you as part of our team.”
“Thank you, and thanks for giving me a chance.” He gave a salute to Blaine. “Later.”
When he turned around Rebecca was in his space, taking up all the air in the room with her big green eyes and pouty lips. “I’m so glad everyone is here. I haven’t been out in a while,” she cooed. Her voice was perfect, thick and smoky, nearly taking out his knees.
“Hate I have to miss it,” Wade replied, stepping back until he was stopped when the backs of his thighs hit the table. “I’m on the way out, you all have fun though.”
“Stay.” She grabbed his forearm, tugged. “Please.”
“I’m leaving.” He pulled away, foolish as he felt for doing so. But he had a plan. His life was on a schedule that veered off path the day he was cut from the Hawks. He’d been forced to uproot his life, rearrange, and adjust everything he’d ever known. If another obstacle wanted to take aim, too late, Wade McKinney was bulletproof. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the station.”
“Wade?” She bit her bottom lip and let it slowly drag through her teeth.
The woman was killing him. “Yeah?”
“Are you taking off because of me?”
Wade shook his head, guilt washing over him, and he desperately wished he were at a different time in his life. “I’ve got an early appointment tomorrow.”
* * * *
Rebecca signed in at the office of the local high school, nervous about speaking in front of a classroom full of teenagers, but she’d made a promise and would stick to her word. The intention was to give them an idea for a career path. Bless those poor k
ids, according to the email from their teacher, they thought she was a celebrity. She giggled inwardly and collected herself when the woman behind the desk asked her to follow.
The two strode down the hallway in silence until they reached a massive, floor-to-ceiling window. The lady paused in front of the glass pane and began boasting about how the garden on the other side was erected solely by the Spanish club and how her granddaughter was the president of the organization. Rebecca lost track of the woman’s words though, because past the garden, on through to the other end of the parking lot, she spotted Wade McKinney stepping out of a large, black truck. He sauntered toward the field house wearing gray gym shorts and a tight navy-blue tank top. He knocked on one of the outside doors.
“Ms. Ryan.” The elderly woman started moving again. Rebecca refrained from gaping at the man who had stolen her attention, and trailed close behind the lady. “We’re nearly to Ms. Lowe’s room.”
The presentation took forever. Twenty minutes really, but it may as well have been a lifetime. Students asked questions for another ten and Rebecca tried hard not to sound in a rush as she answered them, but she needed to be in another building. She had to get to the field house and talk to him. Surely he hadn’t left yet.
She rushed down the hallway the instant the chance to escape was available, pushed through the heavy steel doors at the front of the school, and darted across the parking lot. This was the first man to spark her interest in over three years. She felt it necessary to find out why, to figure out what it was about him that made her insides tingle and caused thousands of goosebumps to appear on her skin each time they were close.
Making her way across the parking lot, she noted his truck was still in the same space. Rebecca tapped on the exact door he had. When no one answered she opened it and stepped through, ending up in an office. The desk was so cluttered with papers and folders the top was concealed, and the shelves lining the walls of the rooms had stacks of binders strewn about in disarray. But the trophy area was neat and tidy, spotless, perfectly organized.
“Can I help you?”
The voice startled her and she turned to find a young, clean-cut man standing in another doorway, wearing a track suit and a visor in the school’s colors.
“No.” She shook her head. “Well, maybe. A friend of mine is here, I think… Wade McKinney?”
“Yeah, he’s here.” The man propped his shoulder against the doorjamb and adjusted his visor. “He’s busy though.”
Of course he was. “Is he addressing the football team about becoming a sports anchor? I was a guest speaker for Ms. Lowe’s English class a few minutes ago.”
“He’s running drills.”
“With the athletes?”
“Alone.” The guy drew his head back and scowled, but then relaxed to a smile. “Hey, aren’t you that news lady?”
“Yes.” She simulated a grin, not wanting to take time for small talk when she was on a mission. She didn’t want to bother asking what he meant by ‘running drills’ and risk hearing a sarcastic tone in response. “I’m Rebecca Ryan.”
“Bo Mitchell. Wade and I go way back, since before he was at The Cape.”
“The Cape?”
“Capeville? Cape University?” Bo crossed his arms and shot her a doubting look. “How well do you know McKinney?”
“I work with him at the station and spotted him coming in here a bit ago.” She straightened her back and put her hands on her hips. “Frankly, it isn’t your business, but I stopped by to tell him hello.”
Bo sniggered and moved from the doorframe. “Good luck getting him out of the zone. He’s on the practice turf, through here.”
“Thanks,” Rebecca replied, following his direction.
The next door she went through led straight into a smelly locker room. She stepped over an abandoned dirty sock and hoped she wouldn’t trip over a cleat and be forced to grab one of the certainly germ-smeared metal lockers to catch herself. Sweaty clothes were tossed at the base of most of the lockers, and helmets lined the top shelves of each players’ designated area. The scent though—teenage boy stink. She covered her nose to obstruct the rancidness as she treaded about the room, desperate to find the exit and suitable oxygen.
From a distance she heard rough, quick breaths and a few grunts followed by a frustrated shout along with a loud, metal-on-metal clatter. She trailed toward the noise outside of the locker room into a large, warehouse-like space. The place was much bigger than she expected and quite organized considering the mess in the coach’s office. Green turf lined the floors. Team banners were tacked to the walls, and practice equipment was neatly aligned and organized. A giant bay door was opened on the opposite side letting in sunlight and fresh air.
A solid thud caught her attention. Glancing toward the direction of the noise, she lost her breath for a second. Wade was in the far corner. His back was to her. She could tell he had earbuds in, and his phone was strapped to his left bicep. He did a few warm-up style hops then darted to the right, to the left, to the right again before plowing into a padded practice dummy. The metal-on-metal noise she’d heard earlier echoed off the walls with the impact, and Wade repeated the process within seconds.
He ran the pattern once more, this time when he neared the end he roared. The yell was low-pitched, heavy, transmitting enough distress to thicken the air. He punched the padded equipment with another quick shout then jerked the earbuds from his ears and turned around. His hair was wet and disheveled. His tan skin glistened with sweat, his muscles swollen from the extreme movement, and his eyes were focused on her.
Wade stared for a long moment, unmoving until he wiped his face with the back of his hand and shuffled to the closest wall. Rebecca was frozen in place, watching as he chugged away at a bottle of water and dabbed his face with a towel then ran it through his hair. What the hell had she been thinking, tracking down this guy, her work colleague nonetheless? What had she expected?
“Why are you here?” He tossed the towel, and it landed in a crumpled heap on the floor next to the wall.
“I saw you leaving your truck earlier,” she said. “I had a presentation in one of the English classes, and I thought I’d stop in and tell you hello, you know, because I saw you.” Rebecca shook her head to get her mind straight. “Why are you here? Is this your appointment, the reason why you wouldn’t stay at the pub last night?”
Wade didn’t answer, instead bending over and grabbing another water bottle. He took a long gulp then screwed the lid back on the container. His gaze went to a row of weight benches, his jaw tight, and Rebecca imagined a droplet of sweat rolling down his temple, tracing the length of his neck. She swallowed hard, wanted to be closer. Her mouth went dry when she thought about how his chest might look under the drenched workout shirt.
“Something like that,” Wade said, but his voice startled her and she couldn’t remember what she’d said for him to respond to.
“Something like what?” she asked.
“This is why I left last night.”
“Oh, I wasn’t there long either, left about half an hour after you because of other responsibilities also. It’s funny. When I saw you in the parking lot I thought you were here giving a speech to the students about your job. But I met this guy, Bo. He was in the office over there.” Rebecca pointed to the back of the building. “He said you were running drills. So you’re a football player…or used to be?”
“Am,” Wade replied and began walking across the fake green grass covering the floor, straight to her, his gaze unwavering.
“What?” His movement had her flustered.
“I didn’t used to be. I am.” Wade stopped an arm’s reach away from Rebecca. His chest still heaved from the exercise, his brow damp. “The job at KDRD is temporary. I’ve got four months before I’m invited to camps as a free agent.”
Rebecca nodded, but she hadn’t a clue about sports, so the words ‘free agent’ meant nothing to her.
He must have read the confusion on her fac
e and explained, “I can sign to play for any franchise, which means in four months I’ll be on a professional team. It means I won’t be in this town. I won’t be anywhere near here, and even if I were, I’d be too busy for anything other than the game.”
She didn’t appreciate his cutting tone and retaliated with her own dash of sarcasm. “Good for you, Wade. And might I suggest, try not to make friends with the commoners while you’re here in this town, gracing us with your presence. And you better believe I’ll be chairman of the parade committee that escorts you out when the time comes.”
Rebecca smirked at his stunned expression. Turning on her heel, she marched away without looking back.
Chapter 3
Wade caused the misery on his own by acting like a jackass to Rebecca. For nearly a week now she had merely worked around him, acting as if he were nothing but vapor taking up too much of her space. What’s worse, what made her reservation to ignore him seem permanent was that during the show each night she managed to not even address him. Dominic introduced him to the viewers. Dominic asked him questions about his pieces. Rebecca had completely ejected him from her thoughts.
With thirty minutes left before they were scheduled to go on, Wade sat in makeup getting his face powdered to keep the shine down while on air, watching Rebecca from the corner of his eye. Her hairdresser, Kim, was busy pulling out curlers and spraying clouds of hairspray as she went along. They chatted in low mumbles, then both ladies giggled softly. Rebecca’s laughter elevated and she tossed her head back, exposing her lean neck. He shifted his gaze from her, couldn’t take the torture any longer, especially since she would never forgive him. He’d tried to apologize multiple times, hands sweating, nerves jumping. She refused to hear him out.
“There you two are.”
Wade turned to see Maureen standing in the doorway with her right hand grasping the frame.
“Rebecca, Wade, I’ve called an emergency staff meeting. My office. Five minutes. It’s mandatory,” she blurted before taking off down the hallway.
Rebecca sighed. “At least we’re on a time constraint and I won’t be held over tonight. Some people have personal lives outside of work.”