“I love you,” he said again, squeezing her hand. The car came to a stop and Grayson stated the obvious, “We’re here.”
“And where is here?”
“Patience, my love.”
She loved that he called her his love. She loved that he loved her and wasn’t afraid to tell her so. Grayson would be more than happy to stand on the highest rooftop and shout it at the top of his lungs. She, on the other hand, was a little nervous to announce her feelings to the world. Not that she didn’t feel them; she just wanted to keep her personal and professional lives separate. Especially given that he was a major sports figure and she was a sportscaster. She’d worked too damned hard for her career to give anyone the impression that she was using Grayson to further it.
His door closed and moments later a cool breeze blew in as her door opened. He took her hand and helped her out of the car. She tried to listen for clues as to where they were; and got mostly nothing. Rocks crunched under her shoes. The surface was flat.
“Stairs,” Grayson whispered, his arm moving around her back to steady her. “One more.”
Then a door opened with a squeak. Cool air whooshed up around her, chiffon brushing around her knees. She was able to make out a low, steady thumping. Music? Another door squeaked. Yes, definitely music.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known.” Grayson’s lips brushed her ear, his breath tickling. “I love you.”
He was right behind her. She couldn’t believe that she had actually kept her promise not to sneak a peek. Her eyes had remained closed. He put his hands on her waist and tapped. “Open your eyes.”
She did … and the scene before her stole her breath away. They were in the high school gym and it had never been so beautiful; crepe paper streamers, pink and white balloons, a DJ was doing his thing at one end and a refreshment table was set up at the other. It was also filled with people.
Most of the Rockets (sans Xavier) were dressed to the nines, some with women on their arms. Nate waved from the refreshment table—exactly where she’d expect him to be hanging out—and nudged Roxie with his elbow. She shot a glare at Nate then smiled at Jane. There were also faces Jane recognized from her high school days. And … Jane gasped in surprise.
Molly rushed forward, throwing her arms around Jane’s neck. The added height difference made the hug awkward and Molly let go after a quick squeeze. “He is so sweet. I can’t believe he did this for you. He’s a keeper, Jane.”
Grayson was standing right next to them and Molly’s approval was directed more to Grayson than to Jane. As if she and Grayson hadn’t known that Molly adored him. The Christmas gift of a spa-day for Molly and Jane had pretty much sealed that deal. Jane beamed up at Grayson. He kissed the top of her head.
Molly glanced over at where Grayson’s teammates were congregated and smiled. “Do you think you could introduce me?”
“You don’t want any of them, Molly,” Grayson told her. “They’re not good enough for you.”
“Yeah, well, I sure wish I could find someone who is.” Molly sighed and faded into the crowd, every unworthy eye on her.
“I can’t believe you did all this.”
Grayson grinned. “I am pretty amazing.”
Jane laughed. “Yes, you are.”
“And what’s really good about this prom—” His lips were right at her ear. “—there aren’t any teachers gonna stick a biology book between us.”
“You mean we can dance as close as we want?”
“Yep.” He tugged her close. “I expect to be very close.”
Warm, fuzzy feelings fluttered in her stomach but didn’t get a chance to grab hold because Maude stepped forward. She took one of Jane’s hands and one of Grayson’s. She placed them together, holding them joined between her palms.
“I always knew you two were a perfect fit. There was a time when I didn’t think it would work out between you and my heart broke. Then you show up on my doorstep—” Her voice cracked with emotion and she paused for a moment to gain control. “You are the daughter I’ve always wanted.”
Now it was Jane who was overcome with emotion. “Thank you, Maude.”
“Call me Mom.”
“I’d like that, Mom.”
Trent stepped up to them. He smiled at Jane. “I’m glad you finally came back into this schmuck’s life,” he told Jane. “He’s been hopeless over you for as long as I can remember.”
“Your memory’s not that great,” Grayson snorted.
“So you’re not hopeless for me?” Jane asked, smiling.
“Oh, he is,” Maude defended. “I’m his mother and I would know.”
Grayson glared at Trent. “You’re gettin’ me in trouble, man. Get outta here.”
Trent laughed and handed Grayson a microphone. As Trent sauntered away, Maude also slid away, leaving Grayson and Jane standing alone in front of the crowd. Grayson put his arm around Jane and tucked her into his side. The smile he gave her was huge and full of love. He looked out at their audience quickly then, lifting the microphone to his lips, spoke as if they were the only two people in the room.
“Every girl deserves to go to prom. Jane never got that—”
Well, hell. She’d wanted that horrible exclusion from her past to stay dead and buried right where it’d been for the last fifteen years.
“—I’m sorry to say that that tragedy is my fault. Thanks to all of you for helping me make it up to her.” He dipped her backward and kissed her passionately—obscenely—as the onlookers whistled approvingly. He straightened, lifting her with a flourish. “Woo! I love this woman,” he said into the microphone.
More whistling.
Heat rose in Jane’s cheeks; not by the statement, but the fact that he’d made it publicly. Not that she was surprised. This forum wasn’t exactly a rooftop, but it was nearly everyone they knew personally.
“Let’s party!” he shouted.
And did they ever!
The entire group laughed and sang along to the songs that were becoming classic. She giggled through the entire Macarena and held Grayson’s hand while doing the Electric Slide.
“Last song,” the DJ announced and Grayson pulled her against his chest, his hands coming to rest on her hind-end.
He’d certainly made up for her missed prom—and his, technically. Tonight had been perfect, made better by the love that they shared.
“I love you.” Her heart was so full of emotion she wanted to cry, wanted to scream, wanted to shout those words from the rooftops. If she’d had a microphone, she might have told all of their friends how she felt about the man holding her.
As they swirled around the dance floor, Grayson pressed a kiss to the skin under her ear. His hands made lazy circles on her back and she melted against him. “I’ve been thinking.”
“About?” she purred, feeling completely content in his arms.
“I know you don’t want the public to think that you’re with me because of what it might do for your career. And I understand. I do. I get that. And if I were in your shoes, I would feel the same. With that said, I want to make you a deal.”
“What kind of deal?” she asked hesitantly. The last deal she’d made with him had landed her in his home for a week—and she’d lost her heart to him.
He grinned and she had to smile, too. “Well … if the Rockets win the World Series, we have a press conference to tell the world we’re together.”
“And if they lose?”
He feigned offense, pressing his hand to his heart. “If—and that’s a big if, baby doll—we lose, then you get to decide when to announce our engagement.”
“Our engagement?”
His hand slid between them, into his pocket, to produce a black velvet box. It opened with a click to expose a sparkly rock the size of a marble inside. It was big; an enormous solitaire diamond with channel set diamonds running around the band. And it was beautiful.
As gorgeous as the ring was, it was totally eclipsed by Grayson.
&nb
sp; “Marry me, Janie.”
She stared at him. Emotion swamped her. She couldn’t believe that this wonderful man was offering to love her forever.
“Jane?”
“I only have one thing to say to you, Grayson Pierce,” she said, keeping her tone flat.
His face feel and panic flared in his eyes. His Adam’s apple bobbed with his swallow.
She smiled as sweetly as she could. “All I have to say is that … it’s about damned time you make it official.”
“Is that a yes?” he asked, a chuckle in his voice.
“Abso-frickin’-lutely!”
“She said yes!” he shouted.
Their friends applauded and Grayson wrapped her in a hug, spinning her around.
“The Rockets are going to win,” he promised her, sealing it with a kiss. “It took a lot of years but I finally won your trust and your heart. And by damn, I will bring that trophy home.”
Staring up into his dark eyes she fell in love with him all over again, and didn’t have a doubt that he would.
Epilogue
THE CROWD CHEERED.
Tickertape fluttered from the sky like brightly colored snow.
Jane stood shoulder to shoulder amongst the media and grinned up at Grayson where he stood on the podium. Her own microphone was buried in the pile. Nate was right behind her, recording the win for posterity.
A microphone was shoved into Grayson’s face and someone asked, “Grayson Pierce, your home run won the World Series. What are you going to do now?”
His eyes twinkled as he looked down at her. His lips spread into the biggest smile she’d ever seen on his face. He threw his head back and laughed out loud.
Before she knew what was happening, his hand had wrapped around her forearm and yanked her up on stage. It was all transpiring so fast that Nate’s hand was gone before she comprehended that it was the force pushing her butt upward.
Grayson took her left hand, kissed it and held it up so the diamond caught the light and sparkled brightly.
“I’m going to marry Jane Alexander and take her to Disneyland!”
Turn the page for an excerpt from:
Fade to Black
Two great men,
one impossible choice.
Walking along a mountain of heartache and regret, Kate struggles to find a world where love does conquer all.
“A true love story, with a dramatic and devastating twist...no one could have predicted the devastating turn these characters face within the pages….
Fade to Black is not a book you should miss, if you’re even a little bit of a "romantic." I give it a 5+ stars...”
~Book Crazy Reviews
Well, this is it, Kate thought as she stood outside the five-story building that housed KHB-Salt Lake and would be her new home away from home. Her hands ran down the front of her steel gray slacks, smoothing away any fresh wrinkles. With the matching jacket pulled tight around her, she grabbed her heavy coat and threw her laptop bag over her shoulder.
Nervous energy bubbled in her every cell. She’d heard that this was one of the best stations in Utah, but now that she was here, she couldn’t help but second guess her decision to leave the comfortable for the frightening unknown. A frigid autumn breeze kicked up and blew a lock of hair into Kate’s face. She tucked it behind her ear, wishing like hell she’d taken the time to actually speak with the people she’d be meeting, for all intents and purposes, for the first time today.
She walked through the foyer, one foot in front of the other, until she stood in front of the reception desk.
“May I help you?” the receptionist asked, her reading glasses perched on the end of her nose.
“Yes, Kate Callahan to see Dale Morris,” Kate said with a smile.
“Of course. Just take a seat and I’ll let him know you’re here.” She motioned toward the open room Kate had just walked through.
“Thank you.” Kate was much too nervous to actually sit. So instead, she resorted to perusing the lobby. The warm burgundy and gold hues were welcoming, and the low sounds coming from the television, of course tuned to Channel 17, eased some of her tension. Faces of their main anchor people smiled back from pictures that adorned the walls.
“Kate.”
She turned. “Dale.” She extended her hand toward the man that was the same age as her father, but with more honey blond hair than distinguished gray.
He took Kate’s hand in his strong grip and shook it gently. “We’re so glad to have you as part of the News17 family.”
“Thank you. I’m glad to be here.” And she was.
The news business wasn’t new to Kate. She was good at it, and could eat, breathe, and sleep breaking news. Unfortunately, the glass ceiling was alive and well in some newsrooms, and she prayed that this one was just as she had heard—shattered. Ambition ate at her. She wanted the anchor chair. To be the face on all the billboards. Maybe even end up in New York.
“Come with me and I’ll introduce you around.” He motioned to the receptionist. “This is Lydia. Lydia, this is Kate Callahan, our newest reporter.”
Her gray curls bounced with her nods as the phone began to ring. “Nice to meet you, Kate,” she said before turning to answer the incoming call, “Thank you for calling News17, your extended family, how may I direct your call?”
Kate followed Dale through another set of glass double doors where he called, “Jordan.”
Smack dab in the middle of the newsroom was the assignment desk—the hub of every news organization. Three men looked up and Kate couldn’t begin to guess begin to guess which one was named Jordan. The red-haired man, who sat behind the desk, waved as he talked away on the phone. The other two stood with their arms resting on the top of the chest high assignment desk. They were waiting for their next task—or shooting the bull.
She recognized both of them, had worked alongside them in the field for two years while she was their competition. Kate hadn’t cared then to even learn their names, and this moment was the first time she’d taken the time to notice more than just the cameras they carried around.
One of them looked like a body builder, his sleeve straining against the muscle of his bicep, with blond hair, cut short in the back with longer curly locks on top. He smiled and his dimples nearly swallowed his cheeks.
The second man had light brown hair that looked as though he’d just stepped out of a windstorm. He had a toned physique, under his cream sweater and loose-fitting jeans—much more Kate’s type than was his muscled friend. And his eyes…. Kate swallowed hard. His eyes were the color of the Caribbean Ocean sparkling in the bright sun. She shook her head, trying to rid her mind of the sudden urge to go skinny-dipping in the salty water.
The tropical waters focused on Kate’s face for only a moment before roaming slowly over her body as though she stood before the group without a stitch on. His lips pulled at the corners, forming a sexy, knowing smile.
Former journalist Morgan Kearns is living the dream! One of her very favorite things is to meet new characters as they step out of her imagination, introduce themselves and keep her up all night telling their stories. Morgan lives in Northern Arizona with her wonderfully supportive husband and her four great kids—and her bulldog, Gus.
Morgan loves to hear from her readers! She can be reached at www.MorganKearns.com.
In It to Win It Page 24