Fourth and Goal Read Free

faith in me. Have you seen me play in the past year?"
    "A little.” A lie—she'd watched every single game.
    Looking away, he focused at a spot on the wall. “Remember how we used to pore over game film? You saw stuff no one else saw. Those little things make a big difference."
    "I tried.” She wanted to help him now, to tell him what she'd observed when she'd watched him play. Instead she held her tongue.
    "You helped me. A lot. Now I just don't know. I've lost it, and I don't know how to get it back."
    "You're not a quitter. You'll find a way.” Part of her longed to take him in her arms and hold him, to deny he'd played a role in ruining her dad. Proving this man guilty would be more difficult than she'd ever imagined.
    "I hope so.” His dark eyes brimmed with sorrow. “It's good to have you here. To talk to you."
    "The agreement works for both of us."
    "Rae, I'm sorry. I was an insensitive ass our senior year. I never meant to hurt you. We should've never crossed the line between friends and—” He hesitated, struggling with the words.
    "Friends with benefits.” She waved a hand and dismissed the subject as if her broken heart had been nothing at all, just an immature crush. “It's in the past. Old history. No need to apologize. We were both young and dumb. End of story.” Rachel gulped down her liquid courage and called forth the ice princess. Unfortunately Her Highness refused to cooperate without her power suit of armor.
    "Do you think there's a chance we could be friends again?” Derek leaned forward. His chocolate eyes, earnest and bright, searched hers.
    Rachel looked away and forced all expression from her face. “Let's not run that play yet."
    It might be the one play that'd drop them both for a loss.
    [Back to Table of Contents]

Chapter Two
    The Runback
    A lump of guilt rose in Derek's throat like bile, acidic and rank. He groaned and buried his head in his hands. What the fuck had he been thinking? He cursed the day he'd taken Cass up on her offer to find a caretaker for his small ranch.
    Fisting his hands in frustration, he leaned back in his teak lawn chair and stared down the hill and across the field that separated his house from the barn. Through the trees, the lights in Rachel's little house glowed warmly. When he'd first laid eyes on her, regret and longing had blindsided him as hard as a linebacker with a grudge. Yet the ice princess inhabiting Rachel's body hadn't batted an eye once she'd refrigerated her anger regarding the key theft.
    Part of him wanted to blame Tyler, his asshole cousin, and Cass, Tyler's bimbo blonde girlfriend. Shit, the assholes knew Derek's future rode on his performance the next four months. He had a career to resurrect and didn't need distractions. Rachel living within spitting distance of his home definitely distracted him. He'd sported a major boner since this afternoon, further proof he didn't need this. Any more than she needed him.
    "You're not armed, are you?"
    Derek jumped, startled. The front legs of his chair slammed onto the deck. Tyler peeked around the frame of the open French doors. Derek glared at him. “Should I be?"
    Tyler shrugged as he dropped into a lawn chair next to his. “So you're not pissed at me?"
    "Oh, I am pissed at you, but using a weapon would be too quick and painless. I prefer slower methods to get my point across."
    "Whatever. You could have said no.” Tyler propped his feet on the opposite chair.
    The truth rankled him even more. “Why the hell did I let you talk me into this stupid-assed idea anyway? And take your dirty feet off that chair."
    "Because in the dark recesses of your fucked-up brain, you wanted her here.” Tyler dropped his big feet on the floor with a clunk. “It's been years. Both of you are adults. Fucking deal with it.” He helped himself to the remainder of Derek's beer.
    "Easy for you to say."
    "It should be easy for you to say.” Tyler rose to his feet, disappeared inside, and returned with two