First Down (Texas Titans #3)

by Cheryl Douglas

  “What did you say the guy’s name was?” Terri asked, whipping out her phone.

  “Ronan Holmes, Holmes Inc.” He wasn’t too keen on his sisters looking up Alana’s ex, but he couldn’t stop them.

  Terri’s jaw dropped. “Oh my God. Gray, this guy could be your twin.”

  “Lemme see.” Raelyn grabbed the phone from her sister’s hand. “Jeez, I can see why Alana’s a little freaked out.” She looked back and forth between her brother and the screen. “It’s kind of eerie.”

  “Let me see that,” their mother said, holding out her hand. “I’m sure you girls are exaggerating. He can’t—” She frowned at the screen. “Oh my, there really is a striking resemblance, isn’t there?”

  Grayson sighed. His family was just confirming his fear. There was no way he could convince Alana to forgive him if he was linked to her ex through no fault of his own. “Thanks a lot, guys. That makes me feel a whole hell of a lot better.”

  Terri reached for her phone once it had made the rounds. “Physical appearance aside, you need to prove to her you’re nothing like him. If he was controlling, you need to be supportive. If he was opinionated, you need to hang back and invite her to share her opinions first.”

  “That’s gonna be hard, since she never wants to see me again.”

  “What do you mean?” Duane asked, frowning. “Didn’t you say she was workin’ for y’all?”

  “She was until she quit yesterday.”

  “Wow.” Raelyn’s breath hissed between her teeth. “You weren’t kidding when you said you’d pissed her off. Didn’t she move here just so she could take this job?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I guess she’ll be heading back to California now?” Terri asked.

  Grayson’s stomach pitched. He hadn’t considered the possibility she might run back home since she no longer had a reason to stay in Texas, but of course it made sense. Without the job, she could move anywhere. He jumped up. “I gotta go.” Bending to kiss his mother on the cheek, he said, “Thanks for dinner, Mama. It was great, as always.”

  He ran out the door to a chorus of “good luck” behind him.

  Chapter Eight

  Alana was home alone when she heard a car pull into the drive. Kari and her mother had gone to a movie and invited her to tag along, but she wasn’t in the mood for a romance. Her heart lurched when she peeked out the window and saw Grayson jog up to the door. She’d lost sleep thinking about him last night, which had only incensed her more. She had to get him out of her head!

  He knocked on the door several times and rang the doorbell before glancing up at her bedroom window. Busted. She could move away from the window and ignore him, but that would make her look like a coward. That wasn’t the image she wanted to leave him with, so she squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and made her way downstairs.

  “Alana,” he said when she finally opened the door. “Damn, it’s good to see you. I was afraid you might’ve left town already.”

  “Left town?” She clenched her hands and forced herself to release them.

  “I thought you might think about leaving,” he said, stepping closer. “Since you don’t want to work for High Rollers anymore.”

  She did want to work for High Rollers, but she refused to work for another man who thought he had the right to control her life. “I’m weighing my options.”

  Two middle-aged women walked by the house and glanced at them with interest before smiling and waving.

  “Maybe you’d better come in,” she said, stepping back. She wanted to send him on his way, but not before she’d said her piece.

  “Thanks.” He brushed past her.

  She had to tamp down her reaction when she caught a whiff of his cologne. Why does he have to be so damn sexy? “Can I get you something to drink?” If she could pretend to be unaffected, he might not realize how much it hurt her to give up on the life she’d been hoping to build.

  “No, thanks, I just came from my parents’ house.”

  “Right, the family dinner. How was it?” She had been thinking about it, wondering what they were doing and whether Grayson was having fun without her.

  “It was okay,” he said, shrugging. “I wish you’d been there.”

  Her brows pulled in as she looked down. She hadn’t expected to feel so conflicted. She’d made up her mind about him, but he was making it difficult to remember why she’d taken such a firm stand.

  “Are we alone?” he asked.

  “Yes, Kari and her mother went to a movie.”

  “Good, then we can talk about what happened yesterday. Let me start by saying I’m sorry.”

  She had expected him to list the reasons why she should do exactly as he told her. “You’re sorry?” Was he sorry they’d argued or sorry he’d overstepped his bounds?

  “Yeah, I was way out of line, Alana.” He lifted his hands up before letting them fall. “I had no right to tell you where to live.”

  “You’re right. You didn’t.” She lifted her chin in a show of defiance. She wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but experience had taught her that men like Grayson usually took that as an opportunity to gain more control. Apologies were usually part of their strategy. “I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions, and whether you agree with them or not is irrelevant.”

  “I get that. I do.” He turned away from her, leaning one hand on the banister as he dropped his head.

  She didn’t want to feel sorry for him, but her heart twisted when she saw him beating himself up. “We all make mistakes, Grayson. I’m just trying to rebuild my life, figure out what will make me happy, and I can’t do that if I’m surrounded by well-meaning people who think they know what’s best for me. That’s part of the reason I left Sacramento. My family has strong opinions about what I should do with the rest of my life. I couldn’t think with them breathing down my neck, offering their opinions about every move I made.”

  He faced her, sizing her up slowly. “You’re an amazing woman. I feel this connection with you that I really want to explore.”

  There it was again—that damn chemistry that was impossible to ignore. “I can’t,” she said quickly. “I just can’t.”

  Grayson rubbed the back of his neck before closing his eyes and tipping back his head. “Okay, fine. The bottom line is you need a job and we need an accountant. If you don’t want to have anything to do with me, I’ll stay out of your way, and you can report to Jaxon.”

  He was trying to find middle ground, and she appreciated the effort. She was sure dozens of qualified applicants had applied for the job they had ultimately offered her. “You really think we can keep our distance from each other?”

  “Why not? I travel a lot. It shouldn’t be too difficult.”

  Alana knew she’d sneak a peek into his office every time she walked by, distracting her from her work. “You really think it’ll be that easy?”

  “Why wouldn’t it be?” he asked. “You made it clear you want nothing to do with me, and I promise to respect your decision.”

  When he said it like that, she felt like a self-centered ingrate. She knew Grayson’s concern came from a genuine place, but that didn’t make it any less obtrusive. “You shouldn’t have to walk on eggshells around your own office building. I can find another job.”

  “In Arlington?”

  “I don’t know.”

  His posture was stiff, and the muscles in his back and shoulders were rigid. “That’s just it. I don’t want you to go.”

  “Why?”

  “At least if you’re here, I’ll know you’re doing okay. I may not be able to check in on you, but Jaxon can give me progress reports.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Does that sound creepy?”

  Trying to hold back a smile was impossible. “No, I think it’s kind of sweet.” Don’t give in, a little voice whispered, but his dazzling smile wiped that thought right out of her head. She wanted to call a truce, something she never would have thought about doing twenty-four hou
rs earlier. What kind of power does this man have over me?

  “I’m glad to hear you say that.” He stepped forward, his eyes traveling over her face. “Does that mean you’ll start work tomorrow?”

  Alana wrestled with the voices in her head. She wanted the job, but not if it meant relinquishing control of her life. “I don’t want us to purposely try to avoid each other at work.”

  “Okay.” He looked hopeful. “What do you want?”

  “I want us to be…” Not friends. That would give him an opening she wasn’t prepared to offer. “Co-workers.” She shook her head. “No, that’s not right. You’re my boss. I want you to act like my boss.”

  Grayson rolled back on his heels, shoving his hands in his pockets. “So you want me to treat you like any other employee?”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t know if I can do that,” he said, lowering his voice.

  “Why not?”

  “I’ve never kissed one of my employees before.”

  Her cheeks flamed when she thought of the kiss they’d shared, the one she’d hoped would be the first of many. She’d allowed her imagination to run away with her as she’d fallen asleep that night. She’d thought about dating Grayson, doing the things that normal, happy couples do. Movies. Dinner. Running. A quiet night at home watching TV.

  “Penny for your thoughts.”

  She realized she’d allowed herself to get caught up in that daydream again, the one of them as a couple. “I was, uh, just thinking about how this would work.” She cleared her throat. “Or whether it will work.”

  “It’ll work,” he said quickly. “Trust me. We’ll make it work.”

  “If you’re sure.” She wasn’t, but she wasn’t ready to resort to plan B either—washing hair at Joanie’s salon.

  “Positive.” He grinned. “Report to Bob Landers’ office at nine. I’ll tell him to expect you, and good luck, Alana. I know you’ll be a great asset to the company.”

  Alana held her breath as he walked out the door. She half-expected him to turn around and… She shuddered as she remembered their first kiss. The man had her questioning whether she was coming or going. What had she gotten herself into?

  ***

  Grayson moved his finger over his tablet as he consulted his schedule for the day. “This new accountant we hired is well qualified, Bob. She used to be the accounting manager for a large software company in California.”

  Bob chuckled. “She’s not gunning for my job, is she, boss?”

  Grayson liked Bob. He was competent and efficient, but his sense of humor was sorely lacking. “I wouldn’t worry about that. Alana’s just looking to start over in a new city.”

  “Sounds like there’s a story there,” Bob said, reaching for the eye drops in his top drawer. Taking off his wire-rimmed glasses, he set them on his desk before tipping back his head.

  Grayson wondered why he didn’t go into the restroom so he could look in the mirror instead of letting liquid run down his face. “It’s her story to tell, not mine. The point is, I want you to treat her right. Give her access to anything and everything she needs. Shadow her for the first week or two. Answer any questions she has about the job or the company. I want her to feel at home here.”

  Bob reached for a tissue and wiped the moisture from his cheeks before he put his glasses back on. “I’ve never known you to take so much interest in a new hire, boss. Why is this one special?”

  Because thoughts of her tight little body and her sweet lips keep me up at night. “I just want this to work out for her. She needs this job, and we need her.” I need her. That thought came out of nowhere, knocking him off balance. Before he had time to analyze it, Bob’s receptionist buzzed, letting him know Alana was waiting.

  “Now I’m intrigued.” Bob rubbed his hands together. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

  Grayson pinched his lips closed, wishing he hadn’t made such a big deal about Alana’s first day. She wouldn’t want Grayson paving the way for her with her new boss, but he couldn’t help wanting to make things easier for her. She knocked once before opening the door slightly.

  “Come in,” Bob said, getting up and walking to the door. “You must be Alana. Grayson was just telling me about you.” He shook her hand enthusiastically while her eyes locked with Grayson’s.

  Damn. Grayson would never get used to the way his heart raced every time he set eyes on her. “Good morning, Alana.” He stepped forward, offering his hand. “Nice to see you again.”

  “Good morning, Mr. Barrett,” she said, inclining her head with a slight smile. She seemed amused by his formal approach, but willing to play along.

  “Please call me Grayson.”

  “Okay, Grayson.” She slowly withdrew her hand and brushed it across her lime green sleeveless dress.

  The action made Grayson self-conscious. Were his palms sweating? Curling his fingers in, he was relieved to find them dry. “I was just telling Bob that I’d like him to spend a lot of time showing you the ropes this week. Anything you need, he’s your guy.” He clapped Bob on the back.

  “I appreciate that, Mr. Landers,” she said, turning her heart-stopping smile on Bob.

  Bob was a balding grandfather who’d just celebrated thirty years of marriage, otherwise Grayson might be worried. “Well, I’ll let you two get to it. I have a plane to catch.”

  “You’re leaving town?” Alana asked, looking distraught.

  Bob raised an eyebrow and watched the exchange between them with interest.

  “I am,” he said, frowning at Bob. He wished Bob had the good sense to leave them alone for a few minutes so he could explain his travel plans and invite Alana to call him if she needed anything. “I just remembered there’s a form H.R. told me to have you fill out, Alana. Apparently they forgot it when you went down to see them. Would you mind walking to my office with me? I really am in a bit of a hurry.”

  “No problem.” She glanced at Bob. “Would you mind if I stepped out for a minute?”

  “Not at all,” Bob said, waving at the door. “Take your time. It’ll give me a chance to catch up on my emails.”

  Grayson smirked. “Bob refuses to use a smartphone. He’s afraid a business crisis might take him off the water when he’s got a big fish on.”

  “You’ve got to have some balance in your life,” he said, wagging his finger at Grayson. “My wife taught me that. No sense working yourself into an early grave.” He smiled at Alana. “When this one finds a woman like my Rhonda, he’ll know what I mean. Are you married, Alana?”

  “No, I’m divorced.” She forced a smile. “I haven’t been very lucky in love, I’m afraid.”

  Give it another chance, Grayson wanted to say. He really needed to get away to gain some perspective. The woman was making him crazy.

  Alana was silent until they stepped on the elevator. “Thank you for coming to see me last night, Grayson. I would’ve hated myself if I’d allowed my pride to get in the way of this opportunity.”

  He was relieved she hadn’t had a change of heart. Even if he wouldn’t be her point of contact among the partners, he was glad to know she was with the company. “I’ll call Jaxon from the plane and ask him to check on you while I’m away.”

  “You don’t have to do that. I’m sure I’ll be in good hands with Bob.”

  “I’m sure you will too.” He would rest easier knowing she was spending her working hours with Bob rather than Jaxon. He loved the guy like a brother, but Jaxon could charm the pants off a timid virgin.

  “He seems like a sweetheart.”

  It took Grayson a minute to realize she wasn’t talking about Jaxon. Maybe he should ask one of his happily married partners to check in on her instead. “Yeah, Bob’s one of the good guys. He’s been a loyal employee. We’re lucky to have him.”

  She smiled. “Where are you going… on your business trip?”

  “Las Vegas.”

  “I see.” She clasped her hands in front of her. “Do you go there often?”


  “A few times a year, just to check on things. Our location there is celebrating their third anniversary in a couple of weeks. I want to make sure the bash they’ve planned is on point with what we had in mind.”

  “Oh.” She watched the buttons light up as they made their ascent to the top floor. “Do you gamble?”

  He chuckled. “The boys and I are sort of hooked on poker. We have weekly games in the V.I.P. room at High Rollers here, but I try to make the rounds while I’m in Vegas, if time permits.”

  “Sounds like you like to party.” She held up a hand before he responded. “Not that I’m judging you or anything. I’m just more of a homebody. Give me a good book and a cup of tea, and I’m set for the night.”

  The thought of her wearing a tank top and drawstring pants hanging off her slim hips flashed through his mind. He could picture her settling into his over-sized sectional with the throw as she made herself at home. His chest tightened. He wanted that. He wanted her.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked, frowning.

  “No.” He shook his head. “Why do you ask?”

  She pointed to the wall panel. “We’ve reached the top floor. The doors have already opened and closed.”

  “Damn,” he muttered, punching the button to open the doors again. “Sorry about that. My mind was somewhere else there for a minute.”

  “No problem.” She smiled as he gestured for her to precede him off the elevator.

  Following her down the hall to his corner suite was torture. Her brightly colored dress fit her like a second skin, hugging her in all the places he longed to caress her. How the hell was he going to explain that the form from H.R. was a ruse so he could get her alone? Alana exchanged pleasantries with his receptionist, giving Grayson time to decide he would just come clean with her. He didn’t want any secrets or lies between them.

  Once they were inside his office, he sat behind his desk, hoping she would feel more at ease if he gave her some space. “There is no form from H.R.”