After All These Years (One Pass Away #2)

by Mary J. Williams

  “Oh, honey.”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Riley shrugged. “I’m going to stay with friends in Boston. Amazingly, Harvard still wants me.”

  “Of course, they do.” Gaige smiled. “Two years. I’ll miss you.”

  “I’ll miss you, too.”

  Riley sighed. She looked at Gaige, wondering why she couldn’t have fallen in love with him. He was gorgeous. Tall. Powerful. Women swooned over his blond hair and green eyes. He was the real deal. And she did love him. As a friend.

  “What’s with the mysterious smile?”

  “What would I have done if you had never taught me to play pool?”

  “You’re strong,” Gaige said. “You would have been fine. I, on the other hand, would have missed out on watching a precocious girl grow into an amazing woman.”

  The look that passed between them said it all. Respect. Affection. Love. Gaige would always be there for her—no matter where she was in the world.

  “I have to go.” Reaching for her jacket, her lips curved, her smile tinged with sadness and irony. “I’ll never be old enough for him, will I?”

  “Sean had it wrong, Riley. You aren’t too young for him. He’s too young for you.”

  “What?”

  “He’s a little boy,” Gaige explained. “Everything is a game. Football. Women. Life. He’s Peter Pan.”

  “He looks all grown up.” Boy. Did he ever, Riley thought, picturing Sean’s beautiful body.

  “On the outside. Until his brain catches up, he won’t be ready for you, Riley.” Gaige’s eyes were sympathetic. “It might never happen.”

  “And I can’t wait around hoping it will.”

  Gaige helped her on with her jacket.

  “Keep in touch.”

  Riley returned his hug. She felt safe with Gaige’s arms around her and for a moment, she was tempted to throw away her plans. Seattle was her home. The Knights were in the playoffs. How could she leave?

  “Hey, Riley.”

  Because all it took was the sound of Sean’s voice and she wanted to fall to her knees. Love me, she would beg. Why won’t you love me?

  “Are you okay?” Gaige whispered.

  Riley nodded. She straightened her shoulders, shored up her resolve, and turned.

  “How was your Christmas, Sean?”

  “Terrific. I flew my parents in.”

  “That’s nice,” she said as though nothing between them had changed.

  Riley could see the relief in his eyes. There would be no recriminations. No embarrassing scene. Sean was off the hook. More than he knew.

  “Are you leaving?” he asked when she picked up her purse.

  “I am.” All the way across the country. Riley wondered what his reaction would be to that. Deciding she didn’t need any more heartache, she kept it to herself.

  “I’ll see you around,” he called out. Sean, being Sean, was already checking out the cute blond at the bar.

  “Goodbye, Sean.”

  It was time to leave the old Riley behind. Not looking back, Riley opened the bar’s front door and stepped into the Seattle mist one last time.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  FIVE YEARS LATER

  RILEY PARKED TOWARD the back of the Knights’ parking lot. She gave herself a moment to look around.

  There were a few cosmetic changes. Fresh paint. The façade over the entrance showed the team’s new logo. The updated Knight in blue and gold was more fierce—less cartoony than before.

  For some reason, the change had been contentious among the shareholders. Something about upholding tradition. Yada, yada, yada. Six months ago, her opinion wouldn’t have mattered. However, on her twenty-fifth birthday, Riley inherited another block of shares. Enough to make her an official voting member of the board.

  Like any responsible adult, she weighed the issue carefully. Examined the facts. Perused the new logo. Then sent her vote of approval. The email from her father’s assistant arrived an hour later accusing her of voting, not for the change, but against him.

  It wasn’t true. She thought the new logo was better. Modern. Riley knew without hesitation that her grandfather would have approved. She made all of her decisions concerning the team by first weighing how she thought Douglas Preston would have voted. In her mind, it was still his team. She wouldn’t take over the team for another five years. Until that day, she considered herself an extension of him.

  Thwarting her father had never been her goal. It simply turned out to be a nice bonus.

  Riley opened her car door. It was late November and surprisingly warm by Seattle standards. The heels of her boots clicked as she walked to the building. The logo wasn’t the only thing that had changed. Riley was different. Inside and out.

  Anyone looking at her would see a sophisticated young woman. Which was exactly what she wanted. Riley had worked hard to polish off her rough edges. Gone were the ubiquitous blue jeans, sneakers, and Knights jersey. She was a successful businesswoman and it was important for her wardrobe to reflect it.

  She had started from the bottom and worked up. Heels. High heels. It may have seemed like a small thing, but until she graduated from Harvard, Riley had never worn them. Flats were more practical for running around campus.

  Starting with a pair of four-inch pumps had been a trifle ambitious, but that was Riley. She tackled every challenge with stubborn determination. From the world economics class that seemed like Greek her first week—she ended up getting an A—to traversing the ins and outs of the dating world. When Riley put her mind to something, she succeeded.

  Riley’s first few dates hadn’t worked out well. She had been stiff and uncomfortable. However, she kept at it until she didn’t have to think about smiling or laughing—or talking. Some of the men she met had intrigued her enough to move on to a second date. And a third. A few had gained boyfriend status. A couple had become lovers. Nothing serious, but nice. One was still a good friend.

  All in all, her love life was… nice. Successful, if not spectacular.

  The high heels were another matter. That endeavor quickly morphed from wobbly experiment to what she assumed would be a lifelong love affair. Soon, she was walking around like she had been born wearing stilettos. The added height gave her confidence. Most days it was like gilding the lily. The one thing the new Riley Preston didn’t lack was a belief in herself and her abilities.

  However, today she felt a bit shaky. She took a deep breath. This, the Knights’ headquarters, was the site of her greatest defeat.

  Sean McBride.

  Riley didn’t think of him very often. Not anymore. He was a part of her past. An important part. Her three-year obsession. Four, if she were honest. It took her a year to gain perspective. Out of sight, out of mind. It hadn’t seemed possible when she was twenty with a bleeding heart, but eventually, it became the truth—not just a well-worn adage.

  Confronting her demons was the final step to putting the past behind her for good. Today was the first step in that journey. Visiting the Knights’ facility late on a Monday afternoon—when she was certain Sean wasn’t likely to be around—wasn’t cowardly, she assured herself. It was her way of easing into her old life. The fewer bumps, the better.

  The receptionist looked up from behind her desk. The sleek blonde’s automatic smile didn’t mask the woman’s none-too-subtle once over. Riley recognized the look. Who is this and is she worth my precious time? Making a mental note to keep her eye on—Riley read the woman’s name tag—Carrie, she plastered on her own fake smile.

  “May I help you?” Carrie asked.

  “I need a pass.” Riley reached into her purse for her ID.

  “Are you expected?”

  “No.” That was putting it mildly. Her father would not be happy to see her.

  “Then I can’t help you.” This time, Carrie’s smile was genuine.

  “You could if you wanted to.” Riley slapped her driver’s license onto the counter. “The name is Riley Preston.” When the woman’s eyes widened, R
iley nodded. “Yes, that Preston.”

  “I’m sorry, Ms. Preston.” Opening the top desk drawer, Carrie fumbled with several clip-on badges. “I only have guest passes. I’m sure you can go on through without one.”

  Riley took the badge. “I’d rather not have to explain myself every time I meet a new face. And Carrie?”

  “Yes?”

  “From now on, I’ll be coming in every day. I want to see you treat everyone who walks through those doors with the utmost courtesy. Understood?” Riley didn’t add, your job depends on it, but from the look on Carrie’s face, it wasn’t necessary.

  “Of course, Ms. Preston.”

  Walking to the elevator, Riley wondered how long it would take for news of her arrival to travel through the building. She punched the button for the fifth floor. As the doors closed, she spied Carrie on the phone, speaking animatedly. When she reached her floor, another woman, brunette instead of blond, was there to greet her. Other than the color of her hair, the women could have been twins.

  It seemed large breasts were the overriding hiring criteria at Knights’ headquarters these days. Under a double-D need not apply. Riley didn’t bother to look down. With her chest, it was a good thing she was born a Preston. With her meager endowments, she wouldn’t have been allowed into the building.

  “Ms. Preston. My name is Sapphire. I’m one of your father’s personal assistants.”

  Riley shook Sapphire’s proffered hand.

  One of them? Unable to help herself, Riley asked, “How many does he need?”

  “There seems to be a new one every week.”

  Laughing with delight, Riley ran to the tall blond man, throwing herself into his waiting arms.

  “Gaige.” Riley savored the moment. The feel of his strong arms holding her close was a treat she had missed.

  “It’s been a crappy day, Riley. Until now.” Gaige swung her around. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming when we spoke on Sunday?”

  After the game, a phone call had become a ritual. Win or lose, Gaige always called. Unfortunately, the last couple of years there had been more reason to commiserate than celebrate.

  “I was leaving the window open in case I changed my mind.” Or chickened out. “I didn’t expect to see any players at this time of the day.”

  “Just me,” he reassured her. “I had a meeting with some of the board members.”

  “Pardon me, Mr. Benson.” Riley saw the predatory look in Sapphire’s eyes. The woman liked what she saw. From the expression on Gaige’s face, it was obvious he didn’t return her interest. “Need I remind you. Anything discussed in the corporate offices is not for dissemination.”

  “Why don’t you scurry off to your boss and tell him I’ll bring Riley along in few minutes.”

  “But—”

  “Please?”

  One sweetly phrased word, accompanied by his famous killer smile, was all it took. Sapphire’s shoulders straightened, her chest jutting out to terrifying proportions.

  “If you need anything, I’ll be at my desk until six o’clock,” she purred.

  “How does she keep her balance?” Riley asked when Sapphire was out of earshot.

  “You’re asking the wrong person,” Gaige shuddered.

  “She’s pretty—and interested.” Riley sent him a teasing smile. “You haven’t been tempted to take a bounce on her bazoombas?”

  “And risk drowning if those implants popped? Credit me with more self-preservation than that.”

  Taking her arm, Gaige guided Riley to an empty sitting area. It wasn’t very private, but it was comfortable and at this time of day, they weren’t likely to be disturbed.

  “There.” Always the gentleman, Gaige seated her before taking the chair to her left. “Tell me why you changed your plans. I didn’t expect to see you until April.”

  At least once a year Gaige visited her in Boston. The first time had come only a few months after she had left Seattle. She was homesick—her determination to make a fresh start crumbling. Gaige propped up her courage. Not by reminding her of all the reasons she had to stay away. Instead, he pointed out the many, many advantages to keeping on her new, healthier course.

  Over time, his visits became less of a lifeline and more the simple enjoyment of getting together because they enjoyed each other’s company. Riley wasn’t sure when the change had occurred. At some point she was no longer the lonely girl Gaige had befriended; they were equals. Peers. Friends.

  “I wanted to lend my support to your plan. I get the impression your meeting didn’t go well?”

  “Your father’s vision for this team is myopic. We haven’t had a winning season in three years. That isn’t going to change unless he thinks outside the box.”

  Riley knew what Gaige had in mind and she was one hundred percent on board. She hated the idea of him retiring after next season. The Knights without Gaige Benson at the helm? It was a sad thought. However, she respected his need to retire on his own terms. He was still one of the best in the game. In her eyes, the best. He would be thirty-eight next year. Time to hang up his cleats.

  Gaige had been playing football for over twenty years. He had every accolade the game could provide. There was only one thing he was missing. A ring. The ring. A Super Bowl victory. Whatever it took, he was determined to go out a winner

  “The bye week is in early December.” It was a statement, not a question.

  Riley kept up with the team. The Knights would belong to her one day. It made sense to be on top of what was going on. Besides, she still loved the game. She had shed a lot of things from her past—that wasn’t one of them.

  “Week after next,” Gaige nodded. “I had planned on heading to Oklahoma. Now, I’m not sure there is any point. I don’t want to get Logan’s hopes up if there’s a chance I can’t follow through. Life keeps knocking him down. If I can’t give him a hand up, I’d rather not go.”

  “Don’t change your plans.”

  “I spent an hour trying to bore through your father’s thick skull. He gave me a flat out no, Riley.”

  Riley hadn’t seen or spoken to her father in five years. All communication came through letters, emails, and texts—sent by a third party. A gift card at Christmas, a generic acknowledgment of her birthday. Not that she had been any better. Their relationship would never be close. Or warm. Or loving. Riley had come to terms with that while her grandfather was still alive.

  Having a place to call home—with parents she could count on—would have been nice. However, that was not the case. Riley slowly smiled. It was unfortunate. But it made what she was about to do much easier.

  “Don’t change your plans.”

  “Riley,” Gaige said warily. “I don’t like that smile.”

  “Good.” Her cool eyes met his. “My father has had things his own way for too long. That’s about to change, Gaige. Starting now.”

  “YOU’LL HAVE TO wait until he’s off the phone.”

  Riley wasn’t in the mood. Sapphire blocked the door to Gerald Preston’s office, her arms splayed against the wooden surface. Hello, drama queen.

  She gave the woman points for loyalty. Either her father handed out an amazingly generous Christmas bonus or Sapphire imagined herself as the next Mrs. Preston. She wouldn’t be the first to make that mistake. Short of death, nothing was breaking up her parents. It had been a match made in convenience heaven and continued to suit them perfectly.

  “He did send you to meet me at the elevator.”

  “That was almost an hour ago. You kept him waiting.”

  Riley sighed. This wasn’t one-upmanship, this was petty and juvenile. Taunts from the grade school bully. Her gaze pinned Sapphire to the door. Riley hadn’t suffered bullies when she was ten. She wouldn’t start now.

  “Move.”

  “No.” Sapphire’s voice cracked, but she didn’t budge.

  “Do you realize how ridiculous you look?” It wouldn’t hurt to try reason. “What if someone important walks in? Stories like this t
ravel like wildfire. Do you want to be the lead story on TMZ?”

  From the way Sapphire perked up, it appeared she would be fine with that. I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille.

  “Have it your own way,” Riley said with an angelic smile. “Dad!” When she wanted, Riley could bellow with the best of them. “Get out here before I give your assistant the black eye to end all black eyes.”

  Sapphire’s bravado lasted less than ten seconds. When her body started to shake and tears filled her eyes, Riley took pity on her.

  “Move,” she told the woman. “He’s not coming out to save you.”

  “He isn’t, is he?” Sapphire wiped at the tears gathering in her eyes. Letting Riley pass, she whispered to herself, “The bastard.”

  Another woman disappointed by Gerald Preston, Riley thought. It was a long and varied list. They could start a club. A sad, pathetic club. No thanks. With a shake of her head, she entered the office.

  “Did you enjoy that?” Riley asked the man behind the desk.

  “If you choose to make a scene, that is up to you. It has nothing to do with me.”

  Her father didn’t bother to look up from the paper he was reading. One more power play designed to make her feel small and insignificant. Riley knew the drill. She was supposed to stammer and fuss until she was such a bundle of nerves he could sweep her out the door with little effort. Fat chance. Gerald Preston had a lot to learn about his daughter.

  Riley walked to the chair opposite her father’s desk, took a seat, and waited. She had all day. Until he properly acknowledged her, she wasn’t saying another word.

  To pass the time, she looked around the office.

  It had belonged to her grandfather at one time. Almost every day after school, Riley would join him here. She would do her homework on the desk he had made especially for her. It sat near the wall of windows and provided her a view of the small park to the south. He would go over team business while she did her homework.

  Her desk was long gone—as were every other physical trace of Douglas Preston. However, the memories were strong and comforting. No amount of redecorating could remove those.