~~~~
“LINCOLN JAMES LEADS the set six game to four. The next serve is for the match.”
The umpire announced the score, quieting the crowd. As Linc bounced the ball once, twice, Dee held her breath.
Since Linc’s proposal, their lives seemed like a whirlwind, and she wouldn’t have changed a thing. Between her P.I. business and his tennis career, they were on the go twenty-four seven. They were careful to carve out time for each other. Sometimes they spent whole days in bed. Or in front of the television. Or with their friends. Every moment, long or short, was precious and never taken for granted.
Dee couldn’t go with him to every tournament. However, the big ones were circled in red, not to be missed.
In May, Linc breezed through the French Open. Wimbledon came in July, during one of the hottest summers in history. Dee melted, but she would have endured anything to witness Linc hoist the championship trophy.
August and the U.S. Open rolled around before Dee could blink. Linc had the home court advantage, and New York loved their native son. The stands were packed, a single ticket going for astronomical prices.
Linc was after the rare and coveted Grand Slam, a victory in all four major tennis tournaments during one calendar year. Now, after all the hard work, he was one serve away.
To Dee’s left sat Linc’s parents. To her right, her mother and father. Judy Wakefield, now a huge tennis fan, quivered with excitement.
“He’s going to do it,” she hissed. “Our Linc is going to win.”
Dee’s knuckles turned white from gripping her program. Her palms were sweaty and her mouth dry. She held her breath as Linc tossed the ball in the air, held her breath as he shot the serve over the net. And finally exhaled when his opponent tried and failed to return the screaming ace.
The stands erupted. Linc gifted the beaming ball girl with his racket before he exchanged handshakes the other player.
Linc knew exactly where Dee was seated. He sprinted toward her, jumping over the railing. His fans tried to grab hold as he passed, but he had one goal in mind and would not be stopped.
Dee laughed when he threw his arms around her waist and lifted her off her feet. Cameras flashed all around them, but they only had eyes for each other.
“Ready to finally admit a tennis player is an athlete?” he shouted above the roar of the crowd.
Shaking her head, Dee grinned. She loved everything about her man, even his massive ego. She’d tell him what he wanted to know, later, when they were alone. At the moment, she only had one thing to say.
“Just shut up and kiss me, tennis boy.”
~ ~ ~
Want to read more about the Benedict Sisters?
Grab your copies of the Sisters Quartet series now.
~ ~ ~
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER: https://amzn.to/2Xg8zJN
TWO OF A KIND: https://amzn.to/2TVfeHu
THREE WISHES: https://amzn.to/2XdnEMh
FOUR SIMPLE WORDS: https://amzn.to/2ItaE1J
FIVE MORE MINUTES (A Sisters Quartet Christmas): https://amzn.to/2H01mYX
SIX DAYS Page 20