UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT (Gods of the Gridiron Book 1)

by Shanna Swenson

  Brett looked over to Hunter’s widow, Madison Hope Thomas, the woman that had been his best friend since they’d first met as children at the ripe age of seven. She was seated in front and to the right of him but not far from his reach or his gaze. His heart went out to her. She looked broken and numb, and he knew that was how she felt because he also felt the same. He’d been in the car with Hunter the day he’d died. He’d been driving Hunter’s car when they were hit. He’d been at the hospital when Hunter was pronounced dead. It all seemed like a horrible nightmare that he would wake from at any moment, but he continued to be encapsulated unwillingly in it. He watched the tears stream down Madi’s face, a continuous flow of them, or maybe it was the rain, he honestly couldn’t tell. She’d given up the handkerchief long ago as it was as soaked as everything else was.

  The preacher seemed to be done with his sermon and stepped toward Madi, she stood and wrapped her arms around his neck, sobbing into his shoulder. She’d known the old man most her life, Reverend James Young, he’d been her mentor, her preacher and her baptizer. Brett’s heart ached for her. She and Hunter had been married for a little over 5 years and they’d loved each other immensely. Hunter had been an easy going, fun-loving, class-clown type guy. He was the one that made everyone laugh, while Brett was the more serious one of the three of them.

  Madi was the girl next door; A smart, beautiful, classy southern woman who was—and always had been—the epitome of perfect in Brett’s eyes. He and Madi had been very close since childhood when Brett’s father, Drew McFadden, was hired on as GM of the Atlanta Gladiators football team, by Madi’s father, Jerry Taylor, owner and president of the Gladiators, the team that Brett currently and Hunter, formerly, played for. Brett and Madi had been raised together, gone to every single school together and then met Hunter in college, quickly forming an ever-lasting bond with him. Hunter had quickly taken to Madi and they’d dated and were married not long after graduation. That day had been the worst day of Brett’s life…well, at least, up until today.

  Reverend Young had taken turns hugging everyone around the small group of gatherers at the graveside and suddenly and awkwardly hugged Brett. The old man’s attempt was short-lived as his small frame couldn’t embrace Brett’s larger build. Instead, he pulled back and looped one arm around Brett’s side and patted his back.

  “I’m so sorry for your loss, Brett.”

  “Thank you, sir,” he responded despondently.

  “I know how much y’all are hurting right now, but you must take great care of Madi.”

  Brett couldn’t recall how many times he’d heard that in the last few days, as if he didn’t intend to do exactly that. He’d known what he had to do the minute he saw her in the ER waiting room, the minute she’d seen the look of despair on his face, the minute he’d caught her in his arms.

  The look Madi gave Brett when she entered the automatic doors of the ER tore his heart right open. She ran at him and looked into his face. He knew he was as white as a ghost—his friend had just died minutes before as he’d held his hand. Hunter had been in such pain, professing his past transgressions, and making Brett promise all sorts of things as he lay dying in a pool of his own blood.

  Brett grabbed Madi as she fell to her knees. She breathed in and out rapidly as she bowed her head. “Oh, God! He’s gone, isn’t he?” She felt like putty in his arms, her voice ragged, on the verge of breaking.

  “I’m so sorry, Madi. I—I don’t even know what to say.”

  Hunter had wanted Brett to drive the brand new McLaren that he’d bought. A ridiculous car, but Hunter was proud of it and wanted to show it off. Brett had obliged.

  The next thing he remembered was a deafening roar and screeching as time seemed to stand still. He remembered not being able to hear right away then assessing the situation, seeing Hunter crushed into the dashboard thinking he was dead right then and there, seeing red—so much red blood—and realizing Hunter wasn’t moving. The next thing he recalled was calling out for help, walking out of the car, the fear, trying to figure out what to do, praying, pleading, watching as the firefighters used the jaws of life to get Hunter out, the ambulance ride, the guilt, trying to save face as the EMTs worked on his friend…

  Then sitting next to him, telling him that everything was going to be ok, the guilt, the conversation in the trauma bay after the doctor told him that nothing could be done to save him, that it was too late, regretting that it was too late, watching the light fade from Hunter’s eyes…

  The guilt, the ultimate guilt.

  “…so just turn to God in this time of need as He can hear your prayers and knows what you need before you even ask Him for it,” Reverend Young stated and gave a weak smile as he patted Brett on the arm.

  Brett came harshly back to reality and just nodded his head. The flashbacks were taking a toll on him. He inhaled deeply and moved behind Madi who spoke to Travis Redmond, Lincoln Porter, TJ Rawlins, and Paxton Guthrie. Brett nodded solemnly to his teammates and gently took her elbow with one hand, covering her with the large umbrella he’d been holding the entire time with the other. He pulled her into his side, tightly holding her to him as they walked in the direction of the road.

  No words were spoken as he, Madi’s mother and father and sister headed toward the car. Brett held the umbrella over her as she stepped robotically into her father’s Buick and then slid in beside her, closed the umbrella and placed it on the floorboard next to his leg. She fell into his chest as he wrapped his arms around her and laid her head over on his shoulder sobbing, as she’d done for the last three days. His heart broke once again. Oh, how many times can a heart break? he wondered again for the umpteenth time. It was as if the breaks just simply got deeper and more painful as each piece re-broke over and over again.

  He looked over to Brooke, Madi’s sister, who was seated beside them and frowned. Brooke just shook her head and looked away, propping her chin on her arm, and focused her gaze out the window as a tear fell down her cheek. Madi’s dad, Jerry, who sat in the driver’s seat, caught his eye in the rear-view mirror, exhaled, and started the car, focusing his gaze ahead. Brett noticed the tears in the man’s eyes as he turned his head. Amelia, Madi’s mother, shifted her position in the passenger seat and reached her hand out to take Madi’s. She gently squeezed and Madi returned it. Amelia frowned as she tearfully looked up to Brett. He just gave her a weak smile. These people were his family, every single one of them. His parents were best friends with Madi’s parents. They’d all been as close as two families could be. He’d always treated Madi’s mom and dad as his second mom and dad. And now they’d lost one of their own.

  The silence was deafening as they rode back to Madi’s house. Only the pounding rain and wind seemed not to take the hint. Brett passed Madi a tissue and looked ahead as she sighed, blew her nose, and tried to calm herself. He simply sat and stroked her hair and arm in comfort.

  It wasn’t long before he closed his eyes and all at once, they were pulling into Madi’s garage. They all got out silently, Brett taking Madi gently from the car and cradling her against his side as they walked into the house. Stepping through the mud room, Madi placed her handbag on the side counter and kicked off her shoes, sniffling as she went. She broke away from Brett’s side as they entered the kitchen then stopped at the counter and seemed to be at a loss for what to do and where to go from there, staring off into space. Brett slipped his jacket off and placed it on the back of one of the kitchen stools, watching her the whole time. The rest of the family ambled in and removed their wet jackets, covertly watching and waiting.

  Suddenly, Madi swung around and looked over to Brett with the most horrific look on her face. As if she’d just realized something terrible, she brought her shoulders up into a shrug and her face crumpled. He moved to her swiftly and embraced her, holding her to his chest as she bawled like a baby. Amelia came up behind her and embraced her, stroking her hair. She shushed her daughter and tried to calm her, but to no avail. Madi was simply over
come with emotion and no attempt at comfort would help at that moment. It was simply going to take time. Amelia pulled Madi, and pulled, and finally succeeded in separating Madi from Brett’s embrace at Madi’s reluctance. She protested. “No, Brett. I—”

  “Shh, hush now, let’s go get you out of these wet clothes and into a warm bath, hmm?” Her mother stroked at her cheek and kissed the tear running down it. “C’mon,” Amelia soothed her, taking her hand and leading her away and up the stairs.

  Madi continued to protest, “But, Brett…I—” She turned and reached for him, but her mother reassured her once more. “It’s alright.”

  “It’s ok, Sunflower, I’ll be up shortly, ok?” He nodded and smiled in encouragement. She contemplated that for a moment then finally turned and went up the stairs with her mother.

  Jerry was the first one to break the silence. “Jesus, I don’t know about you, but I could sure use a drink.” With that, he walked away and toward the parlor. Brett turned to Brooke, who shook her head again. She grabbed a bottle of pills out of the pantry and laughed humorlessly. “I assume Madi’s gonna need these.” She headed up the stairs after Madi and her mother.

  Brett followed Jerry into the first room adjacent to the front door, the formal parlor. It was where the Thomases hosted a small group and formerly where Brett and Hunter would have some drinks at the end of the night on occasion.

  Jerry was pouring scotch into a highball glass and motioned with his eyes to Brett who nodded that, yes, he did indeed want one. Brett lit the fireplace and threw some logs in while Jerry grabbed another glass, pouring a fair amount of scotch into it as well. He then grabbed both, handed Brett his glass, and they took a seat opposite one another as Jerry toasted Brett.

  “What a week, huh?” He meant it as a rhetorical question and continued. “Damn…I don’t even know…just DAMN.” He cursed and slammed his fist down on the arm of the large overstuffed Queen Anne chair he sat in. “Sorry,” he apologized, “but I hate to see my daughter like this. And I know you do too.” Brett just nodded and swallowed hard. “I’m gonna miss that son of a bitch, ya know?” He laughed tearfully. “I know you will too though.” He sighed heavily and sat silent for several long moments.

  Brett just listened to the rain and the crackle of the fire, trying hard to relax his heavy heart and mind. “I know the next few weeks are gonna be real hard on my Madi. I just appreciate you being here for her, Brett.” Jerry reached forward and patted Brett on the knee. “You’re a good man, I’ve always known that, but the way you’ve been with Madi is truly commendable. She needs you. I guess you see that.” Jerry raised his eyebrows and scoffed. Then he fell into silence and sipped his scotch slowly.

  Suddenly, the front door burst open and in stumbled Frank Thomas, Hunter’s father. He struggled to get his umbrella closed and mumbled curses all the while.

  “Well, c’mon in, Frank,” Jerry stated. “Would you care for a libation?”

  “Damn this weather today,” Frank said, slamming his umbrella into the umbrella stand. “Nah, thanks though, Jer. I’m just gonna grab that other casserole for Rita and we’ll head on home. She’s not doing so well right now.” Brett stood to go fetch the dish and motioned for Frank to take his seat. Frank shook his offered hand. “Too bad you couldn’t hear the damn preacher over this stupid rain. The flowers were awful beautiful though, huh? How’s our girl holding up?”

  Brett just shook his head sadly. “Not well, sir, not so well. How about you?”

  Frank sadly shook his head in return. “I guess I’m trying to be as strong as I can for my wife, but I never expected to have to bury my only child today.” He ambled over to the sofa that Brett had been sitting on as Brett exited the room.

  “I’ll go grab that casserole for you.” Brett excused himself and went to the kitchen, opened the well-stocked fridge, took the medium-sized chicken casserole from the second shelf, and brought it out to Frank who took it.

  “Thanks, Brett. I doubt we eat it today but…well, maybe tomorrow.”

  “No worries, there’s so much food in there I don’t know if it will ever get eaten. Want to take some more stuff home too?” Frank shook his head. “I can’t hardly get Madi to eat anything. Come to think of it, I guess none of us has had much of an appetite...” Brett trailed off, propped his hip against the door jamb and wrung his hands.

  Frank sighed. “I guess your folks stayed home today?”

  “Yes sir, Momma’s sick with a sinus infection, but Dad said to give him a call if any of us needed anything. So please don’t be afraid to ask.”

  “That’s mighty kind of Drew. I tell ya, everyone has been so gracious with all of this.” Frank teared up a little. Jerry reached over and patted his shoulder then went over to the bar to make another drink, this one for Frank who took it obligingly. The men sat in companionable silence once again. Finally, right before Frank was about to get up, Brooke came to the landing of the stairs.

  “Brett, I’m sorry to interrupt, but… Madi, she’s refusing to take the Valium. Again.” she yelled down at him.

  Jerry sighed, and Frank looked over to Brett who nodded, “Ok, I’ll be right up,” he hollered back up at her.

  Brett grabbed his drink, slung it back and downed it, said his goodbyes to Frank, and headed up the stairs.

  He wasn’t entirely out of earshot when he heard Frank say, “So… how long’s Brett been in love with my daughter-in-law?”

  He heard Jerry laugh humorlessly and reply with, “Hell, I reckon for as long as he’s known her.”

  FALSE START premieres September 25th.

  Pre-order it HERE

  AFTERWORD

  Thank you so much for reading UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT. I hope you enjoyed Travis and Skyla’s story.

  If so, please leave a review. I appreciate ALL my readers. I couldn’t do this without YOU!

  (If you enjoyed Sky and Travis’s story, don’t worry, you’ll see them again in the rest of the series ;-) This series also ties in with the Sin and Secrets collection—starts in November.)

  The next book in the series, FALSE START, follows Brett McFadden and Madison Thomas’s story and is set for a September 25th release date.

  BLURB:

  Almighty Zeus, thrower of thunderbolts… Ha!

  Brett “Brickhouse” McFadden may be called Zeus on the Gladiators football field, but when the man who’s been his best friend and favorite receiver for over a decade gets killed instead of him, he’s completely helpless and left to pick up the pieces Hunter “Hermes” Thomas left behind.

  The one and only constant in Brett’s life has always been his hidden love for his first best friend, Madison Thomas, the perfect girl he fell in love with at seven—yes, seven—years of age, who also happens to be Hunter’s widow. Love is complicated after all!

  Now that Hunt’s gone, Madi needs him more than she ever has, and Brett feels utterly blessed to be given this second chance, but will the shameful guilt be enough to kill him too?

  Madison Thomas, CEO and VP of the Atlanta Gladiators, thought her life was well-established, until the unimaginable happened; the abrupt death of her husband, Hunter. Her overdependence on her best friend, Brett, begins to intensify as the darkest days of her life follow and she finds herself bombarded with the regrets of her past…and the unavoidable attraction she’s always felt for the perfectly-sculpted “king of the gods”.

  As new revelations come to light, Madi starts to see that Hunter wasn’t the husband—or man—she thought he was. Now, she must storm past the FALSE START she was given and embrace the possibility of a do-over with the one she’s always wanted—Brett McFadden.

  Will the “god of thunder” prove to be the better contender for Hera’s heart or will this long-suffering Olympian forever remain fourth and inches from his ultimate goal line?

  **This book is a second chance/friends to lovers workplace romance that deals with tragic death and has some light BDSM.**

  ACKNOWLEDMENTS

  Thank you, thank
you, thank you!

  To all who helped kick off this new series! To all my betas, ARC readers, fellow indies, friends and fans—Jamie, Nic, Jen, Emina, Crystal—you guys are A-MAY-ZING! Couldn’t have done this without you!

  I’m so glad you enjoyed Travis and Skyla and want MORE.

  Lots of steam, drama, and fun headed your way. I love you all. Thanks for appreciating my work and characters, it means the world to me :-*

  ALSO BY SHANNA SWENSON

  ~THE ABUNDANCE SERIES~

  Abundance

  Return to Abundance

  Escape from Abundance

  Stars over Abundance

  Abundance Legacy

  Starlight Valley: The prequel to Abundance (FREE ebook)

  ~THE GODS OF THE GRIDIRON SERIES~

  PERSONAL FOUL: Prequel novella

  UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

  FALSE START

  (COMING IN SEPTEMBER)