Counter Play: A Sports Novella (Players Book 2) Read online

  Finn, however, is pretty cool. “Could we see the grounds, Ms. McAllister? I’d like to be getting’ a feel fer the area.”

  “Why certainly. Bring your juice boxes. I’ll get the plates later.” She stands and smooths out the folds of her skirt.

  I’m torn between checking on Andy or following Finn but choose the latter. Outside on the lawn, my eyes shoot to footprints in the ground, still wet from automatic sprinklers.

  “What’s that way?” Finn points between a copse of evergreens.

  Mrs. McAllister shakes her head, and wrinkles her nose. “Oh, just an dreadful ol’ cemetery. Charming, but hardly the place for wedding photos.”

  Hopeful, I follow the tracks while Finn charms MJ’s mom and I wonder what became of Mary Jane.

  Think of the devil and she appears…

  She whispers like we’re co-conspirators and takes me by the elbow. “This way.”

  “Where’s my Mom and Andy?” I got this bad feeling as we duck under a trellis and enter an old cemetery with over a dozen mausoleums.

  “They’re searching the house. Let’s go.” She pulls me full steam ahead to a marble building where muddy steps darken the otherwise pristine white stones.

  I pull on the door but it’s locked so I shout and pound on the door. “Mel, you in there? Mel?”

  When I hear her muffled cries, I all but fall onto my knees and thank God. “Baby? Are you hurt?”

  “Hurry.” Her voice is weak and barely audible through the thick door.

  “Mary Jane, go get the key from your mother.”

  Too late it dawns on me that she knew right where to go.

  The cold point of her silencer hits the center of my back. “Raise your hands slowly or I swea -ah, I will shoot you and blame the gardener. Nod if you understand.”

  I do as she says while watching squirrels dart back and forth between the trees. The nuts are everywhere.

  She takes a few steps back, out of my reach. “Now, you’re going to walk slowly back to the house and transfer your bank account into mine. Understand? Best be fast about it because there’s not much air left.”

  I don’t even know my fucking bank account number. Andy does all that for me but I don’t tell her that. “Put the gun down, Mary Jane.”

  She hisses, her index finger quivering on the trigger. “I worked for that money. I put up with your stupidity all through middle school. Then I stayed while you cheated on me in high school. Ah have been there for you through every God damned woman you ever slept with. Y’all can’t just up and marry someone else. That ain’t right.”

  It’s true, in high school I was a real jerk. Maybe so in college but I’ve changed. That’s the problem, she hasn’t.

  “Mary Jane, we’ve been apart for almost a year. We talked about this.”

  “No, no, no. You love me. You just need to fuck other women and I understand. I have given you the best years of my life. You promised, Chance, you promised.” She holds the weapon with both hands and I wonder if she’s crazy enough to shoot.

  “Alright. Put the gun down How about I help you get the old place fixed up. How’s that?”

  She snorts and indicates with a wave of the weapon that I should move. “This place? I don’t think so. I need an apartment on Fifth Avenue. I want my rightful seat in Giants stadium. I want my ten million dollars! You’re not backing out without paying through the nose.”

  I guess her mom isn’t the only one that’s off her meds. The way MJ’s waving that gun around, though, I might not get a chance to share the breaking news.

  I say what she wants to hear, figuring that will buy me some time. “Okay. Ten million. Right? Let’s go in the house and take care of that right now.”

  “Oh no. First I need to take out the trash.”

  The weirdness in her eyes worries me so I add quickly, “Finn’s bound to start looking for us. Remember? The FBI only gave him an hour. There’s probably only five minutes before you need to start running.”

  She giggles, spittle running down her chin. “Momma’s the crazy one. Everyone knows that. I didn’t have anything to do with any of this. I got plenty of alibis. Now, no more talking. I got a computer all set up in my room. Move.”

  I don’t want to leave Mel and it must show on my face.

  “Don’t worry. Her air should be gone right about now. Momma always wanted us to be mummified. Made that damn thing air tight. Cost a fortune.”

  Without another thought, I grab her hand, and the weapon goes off right beside my ear.

  Deaf on that side, I wrangle the gun out of her hand and push her to the ground. I search for the key, find it in on a chain around her neck, and open the door to the mausoleum.

  Cold, damp air hits my face like a wet rag. “Mel?”

  Shit. She’s lying on her back, eyes closed, not moving.

  Rushing to her side, I check her nonexistent pulse, and cry out. I just spoke to her just a minute ago, for Christ’s sake. She can’t be dead.

  I haven’t practiced mouth to mouth since I was a boy scout, but it all comes back. A moment later, Finn enters the small space.

  Between breaths into Mel’s lungs, I shout, “Call 911!”

  When I check her pulse again. I swear I feel it but it may be just hopeful thinking on my part.

  After a few more breaths, Finn drops to his knees and does the same. “Keep it up. She’s alive. Ambulance is on the way.”

  Jesus, hey man, if you’re listening, I know I’m a real ass, but I swear I’ll do better if you just let her live.

  Each time I put my mouth to her lips and blow, I pray for her to breathe on her own but she doesn’t.

  Finn has his finger on her neck. “She’s good. Don’t stop.”

  When the ambulance arrives, I don’t want to hand her over and it takes two men to pull me away.

  Then, I watch one man expertly bag her while I whisper into her ear, “Dammit baby, don’t leave me.”

  “What drugs is she on?” One of the EMTs grabs my shoulder, forcing me to look into his face.

  Shit. What did Mary Jane do now?

  “Tell them. What did you give her?” I get in her face but she does that innocent thing with her eyelashes and pretends to be dumb.”

  “Ah have no idea what you are talking about. Ask Momma.”

  That’s when my wonderful, and most awesome mother storms forward, pushes me aside, and slaps that phony look off Mary Jane’s face. “I will pray your soul to hell with the devil for eternity if you do not ’fess up right now, young lady. What did you give that poor girl?”

  When MJ starts to cry, my Mom ignores her and pulls her to standing by pinching an earlobe. “Tell them.”

  “I really don’t know anythin’.” MJ sniffles.

  Finn dumps Mrs. McAllister’s purse onto the marble floor, an EMT grabs an amber prescription bottle and reads the label. Seconds later he calls it into the hospital, then presses a needle into the IV.

  When Mel starts coughing, I say an internal thank you Jesus followed by an amen. I figure I’ll call Jaz and arrange for some charity work before I forget. I don’t mess around with that kind of shit. God stuck to his side of the bargain and I’ll see to mine.

  Then I rush to her side and jump in, just as the ambulance door closes.

  Chapter 16

  I wake up and open one eye a small slit, surprised I’m not in a terrible dark place, starving for oxygen or worse yet, in the afterlife. Not that I think I’m heading to hell but I’d just as soon stay here on earth for a while, thank you very much.

  My blankets smell like bleach and antiseptics and outside in the hall there’s sounds of doctor’s being paged and the beeping of electronic monitors.

  CJ snores lightly in a cot next to my bed, handsome as ever. He’s got a couple days of scruff on his cheek and dark circles under his eyes. I remove my oxygen mask and sit up, grateful I’m not cuffed or gagged and there’s no sign of a crazy woman with pink pumps and big hair.

  IV in arm, I reach for a cu
p of water nearby and swallow, my throat sore as hell. “Hotshot?”

  His eyes pop open and a big sweet grin fills his face. “Mel, baby. Welcome back.”

  “Where are we?” I stretch out my one good arm, the one without the needle poking into it and he kisses it, holding it to his cheek.

  “Hospital in Winston-Salem. You remember what happened?”

  “Sort of. I got kidnapped, then put in an old cemetery building. Then I heard your voice outside, then, nothing.”

  He lowers the bars of my hospital bed so he can hug me. “From now on, I am watching your back 24/7. You’re coming to every one of my away games, even if I have to kidnap you to do it.”

  I laugh as his mouth covers mine.

  When a nurse comes in, she clucks her tongue and forces him away so she can take my vitals. I must be okay because she smiles and lets him come back.

  “What time is it?” Somewhere down the hall someone moans.

  He checks his cell, face blue from the light. “Around six in the morning.”

  “And what day?” I turn on a switch, bathing the room in yellow, glad it’s not the middle of the night because I’m done sleeping.

  “Friday.”

  Wow. I try to process that I’d lost almost a week. “I need to get back to work. My boss is going to fire me.”

  “You’re on vacation. His orders.” CJ stretches out beside me on the hospital bed causing me to squish close under his arm or fall out the other side of the bed.

  There’s not nearly enough room for us both but I don’t care. It feels so damn good to have him near that thoughts of getting naked come to mind. “When are they going to spring me?

  “Sometime this morning, as long as all the tests come back fine. How’re you feeling?” Frowning, he smooths out my hair, then examines my jaw, my wrists, and fingertips. “

  “Really, I’m fine. Do you suppose you can help me out of bed so I can take a shower?”

  “I suppose I could.” He smirks and I know what he’s thinking.

  “Babe?”

  “Chance?”

  “You first.” My hand circles his.

  “I just need to tell you, I’m so damn sorry. I should’ve filed a restraining order.” His hazel eyes search mine, no doubt trying to figure out what’s going on inside my head but I’m not mad.

  I’ve learned my lesson. Life is too damn short. “It’s okay, really I was just hurt how you put her feelings over mine but I get it. You guys were friends for years. It must’ve been so hard to be betrayed like that.”

  CJ rubs my back and kisses the top of my head. “She’s already out on bail, swearing that her Mom was behind everything. Looks like the cops are buying it.”

  “That sucks.” I shudder, wondering if we’ve heard the last of her.

  “So, you forgive me?”

  “Maybe. Maybe not.” My grin, however, gives me away.

  When his hands wrap around my waist, I slip up to meet his lips. Then sighing deeply I wonder if maybe I did die because he sure feels like heaven.

  Chapter 17

  It’s the warmest October on record in the state of North Carolina and I, for one, could not be more pleased. We just won a game with the Panthers in Charlotte. Ahead in the first quarter, we had an even better lead by the second which meant I got a break while the coach let the other quarterbacks work for a living.

  Not bothering to take a shower I rush out of the stadium. Jack’s got the limo and Mel’s already in the back seat.

  As we walk up the front steps to my Mom’s small cape, she questions me for the hundredth time “Is it really your Mom’s birthday?”

  “Uh-huh.” I divert my eyes, hoping she can’t read the lie.

  Mel glances up and down the street, cars parked on either side for over a mile. “Wow. Does she always go all out like this?”

  “Only for really special occasions.” I have to hold back a laugh as I take her hand and walk across the lawn and stare up at the old oak tree in the front yard.

  The ladder truck parked out front was no doubt responsible for those party lights strung into the top most limbs.

  When the heavenly smell of barbeque ribs floats on the breeze, I rush Mel around the side of the house. In the backyard, the whole damn town is congregated around a grill and a couple kegs of beer on ice.

  I wave to Jaz, who brought his significant other. Must be they’re on again. Then, on the way across the lawn to talk to him, I recognize the EMT that worked on Mel and rush over to shake his hand.

  “I never got to thank you in person.” My throat still gets a little tight when I think about that day.

  While I explain to Mel who he is, the young man pumps her hand. “My pleasure. Sure glad she come out of it okay. She sure is beautiful.”

  My lady blushes the nicest shade of pink. “Thanks for saving me. The doctors said I wouldn’t have made it without your quick thinking about being drugged.”

  With a quick goodbye, we walk up the back deck stairs and into the house. In the kitchen we find my Mom with a bottle of peach schnapps, sitting with the whole of the church choir.

  She jumps up to hug us both, gives me a secret wink, and whispers in my ear, “Everything is all set.”

  After the preacher says grace, we all sit down at some picnic tables, stairs, or just some blankets on the lawn, and eat the best barbeque ribs this side of the Mississippi.

  A few beers later, my mom sits between us and says, “Thank God you’re both safe and sound.”

  Mel smiles. “I heard you smacked Mary Jane almost clear across the state.”

  “That girl had it comin’ to her. Can you believe she’s got the whole dratted police force believing she didn’t know nothin’ about what her momma was up to? I got the whole choir prayin’ for her redemption.”

  Knowin’ my mother, she’s got them all praying that Mary Jane rots in hell, but good manners keep me from saying so.

  After a few more retellings of our harrowing story to the neighbors, I lean back into a wooden lounge chair and drag my woman into my lap. It feels so right to have her here that I can’t imagine my life without her.

  Last summer, I promised that’d I would give her some space, which I have done, but now that time is up. I take out the fuzzy box I’ve been holding onto since before the season started and put it in her lap.

  “Make me the happiest man on earth and marry me, Melanie Sanders.” I hold my breath, praying she won’t say no this time.

  She makes a little happy squeal, and turns to kiss me with a resounding yes, without even opening the box.

  Then she takes out the ring and places it on her finger and flashes it in front of my face. “Mrs. Hotshot? Sounds good to me.”

  I whoop, stand with her still wrapped around me, and shout, “She said yes! Let’s do it!”

  My mom calls to the preacher who’s already three sheets to the wind but somehow manages to find a bible. The mayor reaches into his back jeans pocket and unfolds a license. I bend over and let Mel use my back as a table so she can sign. The feel of the pen is just about perfect.

  An accordion player and a guitarist volunteer to play “Here comes the bride and a bunch of flowers are thrust in Mel’s hands straight from my mother’s garden.

  Then, it gets all quiet-like and the moon comes out as if specially invited. Mel jumps up onto the porch looking like an angel in bare feet and a sun dress.

  “You ready, hotshot?”

  “Sure thing, baby.” I can’t stop grinning.

  When my brother gives her away, I swear there’s not one dry eye in the house.

  Then there’s a bunch of holy vows which I swear never ever to break as does she and I believe her.

  Wanting to give her a honeymoon to remember, I make her close her eyes as I park my rental in this open field, miles away from anything.

  She laughs when she opens her eyes, all freckles and sweet stuff. “You serious? Here?”

  “Wait and see.” I take her hand, lift her down out of the cab, an
d bring her to the rear.

  Then I pull down the tailgate so she can see the pink silk sheets by the light of the full moon.

  I hold my breath, wondering if I got this right. “Is this good? If not, I got a honeymoon suite all reserved in the city.”

  “Oh my God, no, this is perfect!” She reaches around the back of my head to bring my lips to hers in this passionate kiss of all kisses.

  When we come up for air, I take a deep breath and lift her up onto the truck bed. I want this evening to last but with her hot mouth, it’s going to take some serious self-control.

  When I jump up behind her, she’s lays back, hands behind her head, staring up at the stars. She’s got this halo of long blonde hair, almost silver in the moonlight and I can’t fucking believe this angel’s my wife.

  “You’re so beautiful.” Kicking off my sneakers, I stretch out, unable to stop touching her.

  “You are.” Soft hands cup my cheeks holding my gaze as the centers of her blue eyes grow dark.

  When the moon ducks under a cloud, an owl hoots and it flaps it wings so close, she screams. I laugh as I pull her cotton dress over her head. All night I’ve been wondering what’s under it.

  Nothing. That’s what.

  My hands slide up and down her naughty body while she reaches to the back of my head. It’s crazy to think she’d worn no underwear for our wedding vows.

  Damn what she does to me.

  Chapter 18

  Pleased at how much I surprised him, I try to untuck his shirt but his hands are all over me, trying to touch every inch of skin at once. Then, when he caresses the globes of my behind, I moan out my pleasure, the sound setting him on yet a new mission.

  He holds my mouth captive and pulls me tight against the hard bulge under his jeans. With his belt buckle digging into my stomach, I try to reach between us to remove it but my mind goes blank because his thigh pushes up, coarse denim caressing my sex.

  It feels so damn good that I press against him for more, my hands in his silky hair, every nerve in my body on fire. When one of his hands slips to my breast, twisting a nipple between thumb and forefinger, I moan. Then an almost painful pinch sends a zing straight to my core, making my clit throb.