I swallowed, my gaze going to Dad.
“We talked about it earlier,” he said.
“What did you have in mind?” I asked Royce.
“Grant thinks it would be good for you to attend practices, learn the play calls and the formations.”
I turned to my cousin. “Why?”
“Because there’s more to the Coopers than ticket sales and scheduling half-time entertainment.”
“Let me talk to the coaches. We’ll get something worked out,” Royce said.
Uncle Darin changed the subject. “It should be common knowledge by now that we signed Griffin Graham to a one-year contract.”
The remainder of our upcoming meeting caused my pulse to accelerate. Sometime during the night, I’dconvinced myself that Fin could play for the Coopers without any interaction from me. That notion was obviously ill-founded.
Dad was speaking. “…Beasley, Darin, Grant, Vee, and I are meeting with Mr. Graham and his agent this afternoon to discuss extending that contract.”
Questions came from around the table. Dad replied as he had to me—Fin’s performance on Sunday was spectacular. The Coopers didn’t want to risk Fin being lured away by another team.
“Do you want to grab some lunch before the meeting with Graham?” Dad asked after our meeting ended.
“I brought something from home,” I said. “What time is the meeting?”
“One o’clock in the Carroll meeting room.”
I feigned a smile. “I’ll see you then.”
I hadn’t brought food from home, but I wanted a few minutes alone to prepare myself before meeting Fin’s sexy blue stare for the first time in nearly fifteen years. I’d been only twenty when we first met, that fated night at a horrible party. That was fourteen years ago. We’d said our so-longs less than a year later. It wasn’t supposed to be goodbye.
Life interrupted both of us and the plans we had.
And here we were.
Those were my thoughts as I made my way toward my office. My two-inch pumps made no sound on theamber carpeting. My gaze went upward. Along the tall hallway, banners with the likeness of each current player hung. A smile tugged at my lips at the picture of Troy Dennison. He would keep the quarterback position and Fin would fade away. He’d get tired of playing backup and move on to a team that could use him.
Entering the business offices, Jen came toward me. “Did you get my text?” she asked.
“No.” I shook my head. “I had the volume off. Sorry, what did I miss?”
“Griffin Graham is here to see you.”
My circulation rushed to my feet, making it difficult to remain standing. “He’s here?”
She nodded, her eyes wide. “In your office.” She lowered her voice. “He’s a lot taller than he looked on the jumbotron. And his eyes...” She inhaled.
I didn’t need to hear her assessment. I knew every word she said was accurate. “Did he say why he wanted to see me?”
Jen shook her head. “He asked if you were in today. I said yes, but you were at a meeting. He introduced himself and asked if he could wait for you.” She shrugged. “That’s all I know.”
Damn. I should have eaten lunch with Dad.
“Thanks, Jen. I have a meeting at one. Could you give me a call in fifteen, an excuse to end the meeting with Mr. Graham?”
“I can do that.”
Inhaling, I straightened my neck and shoulders. My suddenly sensitive breasts pressed against my white silk sleeveless blouse as a cold chill scattered over my flesh. I looked down, mentally demanding my nipples not to bead. It was my body’s response to the memories of a man, not the man behind the door. One more glance…I hoped that if my body betrayed me, at least my padded bra would do its damn job.
