The Back-Up Plan (16 page)

“I’m sorry,” Donna murmured. She reached out and pushed the unruly lock of hair from his forehead as she had dreamed of doing every day since she had first met the man. With him sitting on the edge of her desk, they were almost at eye level.

Hank caught her hand in his and pulled it down to his mouth. He closed his eyes and pressed his lips to her palm.

Her heart fluttered like a thousand butterflies trapped in a single net. She splayed her fingers over his jaw and tilted his chin upward. His lips parted slightly, she heard the rush of breath go past them. Slowly, she leaned down to cover his mouth with hers. If he wouldn’t kiss her, she would damn well kiss him.

His lips were firm and hot. He tasted salty and sweet at the same time. Hank pulled her between his wide spread legs, nestling her intimately against him. A groan sounded deep in his throat as Donna pushed her hands over his chest and around his neck. She leaned in closer, pressing her breasts against that firm wall. Tangling her fingers in his dark hair. She lost herself completely to the need.

His hands rested on her back, his embrace relaxed. She was in charge. She could deepen the kiss whenever she wanted. And she wanted. She touched the tip of her tongue to his lips. His arms tightened around her. Desire burned deep and strong.

Hank slid his hands up her back and over her shoulders to gently cup her face. He pulled her mouth from his, leaving her lips yearning for more of him. “Donna,” he said on a jagged breath. She raised her gaze to his as he gently stroked her cheek. “Unless you plan to lock that door and take the rest of the afternoon off, we’d better cool down.”

Heat rose in her cheeks as she pulled her arms from around his neck and folded them over her middle. “Sorry. I guess I got a little carried away.”

He chuckled, a gentle, teasing laugh. “You never cease to amaze me, Doc.” He brushed a wisp of hair back from her face and then settled his hands on her hips, his touch light. “I didn’t think I had a snowball’s chance in hell of ever turning your head. I hoped, mind you, but deep down I was afraid it would never be.”

“You can be very persuasive, Coach.” She traced his lips with the tip of one finger.

He made a delicious sound at her touch. “You’d better watch it, Doc, or your sister’s going to catch us in a compromising position.” He ground her hips solidly against him.

Heat and moisture pooled between her thighs at the feel of him. She had imagined a dozen times over what it would be like to make love with Hank. If the fiery passion in his eyes was any indication, Donna felt sure it would be amazing. Reluctantly she removed his hands from her hips and backed out of their intimate position.

“Finding the two of us in a compromising position wouldn’t surprise Patty,” Donna scoffed. She stepped back around behind her desk to a less tempting environment. “She’s already trying to push china patterns on me.”

Hank straightened and turned to face her. “Does it bother you that she’s so gung-ho about our relationship?”

“Of course it does,” Donna said without thinking. He blinked and then averted his gaze, but not before Donna saw the flash of hurt in his eyes. “It’s not what you think, Hank. I had a really bad experience, and I need to go slowly.” Donna shook her head, unable to explain how terrifying it was to be putting herself out there again. To risk Melissa getting hurt.

“Melissa’s father?”

She nodded.

“Your ex hurt you that badly?” A muscle in his jaw twitched and anger flared in his eyes.

“I was young and... I don’t want to talk about him, okay?” She desperately hoped he would understand. Anxiety expanded in her chest. She just wasn’t prepared to share those feelings with him yet.

The fire in his eyes reduced to a slow simmer. “Okay for now.”

Donna massaged her forehead with nervous fingers and then crossed her arms over her chest. She had to make one thing clear. “I didn’t come here looking for a relationship.” She took a deep breath and said the rest of what had to be said, “And even if I had, I wouldn’t have been looking for a man like you. Melissa is the most important thing in my life. I don’t want her to get hurt. She wants a daddy and I can’t give her that unless I’m sure it’s the right man. No matter how attracted I am to you, I have to consider what’s best for her.”

That muscle in his jaw jumped again. “And I’m not the marrying kind.”

The resentment in his tone ached deep into her heart. “Are you?”

He looked away for a long moment before meeting her questioning gaze. “I don’t know.”

Something very elemental and very deep inside Donna moved at the uncertainty in his eyes. Could he be as unsure of this shaky ground as she? “I think maybe we should take things really slow.”

“I can live with that.” A devastating smile kicked up the corners of his mouth. “Slow and easy, Doc. That’s the way it’ll be.”

“Agreed.” Donna returned his smile. One by one, the man continued to disprove every single flaw she had associated with jocks. Maybe they weren’t all alike after all. Just maybe she could trust Hank Bradley.

~*~

Hank paced the sidelines. The last quarter. Ten to seven, Franklin County. Third down on their own forty yard line. Five seconds on the clock. Hank shook his head as two players helped Graham off the field.
That’s it
. There was no one else to put in—Hank glanced at the bench—except Stevens. Hank took a long, deep breath and blew it out. He had to have eleven players on the field.

“You need me, Coach,” Stevens pleaded.

Hank looked at Stevens. The kid had been on his heels the entire fourth quarter. He wanted to play something fierce. Hank turned to his latest injury. “You okay, Graham?”

“It’s my ankle, Coach,” Graham replied, dropping onto the bench.

Hank crouched in front of him and removed his cleats.

“Let me take a look.”

Donna was at his side. She knelt next to Hank and examined Graham’s swelling ankle.

“Just a bad sprain, I think. He needs to elevate his leg and put some ice on his ankle. We’ll need an x-ray just to be sure.”

Hank groaned. As he suspected Graham was down for the count. The game was over. He reached for a cold pack and twisted it. “Swing your leg up on the bench.” Hank helped Graham rearrange himself. He handed him the cold pack. “Keep it on your ankle like the Doc said.”

“What’s it gonna be, Coach?” The referee asked.

“You gotta let me out there, Coach,” Stevens urged.

Hank stood, his gut clenched. He looked from Stevens to the ref. A long moment of indecision gripped him. “We’re still in,” he told the ref with a hell of a lot more confidence than he felt.

“I’ll just go back over and sit with Melissa.” Donna gave him a thin smile.

He knew what she was thinking. Not allowing Stevens on the field except for kicking was his own rule. A rule he was about to break. He watched Donna slip back through the gate and reclaim her seat in the bleachers.

“Stevens, front and center.”

Stevens pulled on his helmet and stepped up to Hank.

“We got one play left. We could go for a field goal—”

“It’d be a stretch, Coach,” Stevens interrupted, visually gauging the distance.

“Yeah,” Hank muttered. He knew damn well it’d be a stretch. And if the kick was good they’d get three lousy points. The only thing worse than losing would be a tie. He turned to Stevens. “Did you take your medicine today?”

“Yes, sir, Coach.”

“Okay.” Hank nodded. “We’re going for it, Stevens. You’re going to fill Graham’s position as split end.”

Stevens whooped for joy.

“If you’re still in, Coach, you’d better get that player on the field.” The ref shot Hank a warning glare.

Ignoring the impatient ref, Hank went nose-to-nose with Stevens. “Listen to me, Stevens,” he ordered. “Stay way back from the heat. Don’t take any chances. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, Coach.” Stevens face split into a grin.

“All right. Get out there,” Hank ordered, wishing he could feel as good about this as Stevens did. He tightened his jaw and took an unsteady breath. He pushed his hand over his face and watched the kid run for the huddle. If something happened to him, it would be Hank’s fault for being too damn pigheaded to know when he was beaten.

Silence overtook the restless crowd as the two teams set up their formations. Both the home and visitor stands were full. Hank could feel Donna’s presence in the stands just beyond the fence directly behind him, but he couldn’t chance a look in that direction right now. He had to watch every second of this play.

The center snapped the ball. Hank kept his eye on the ball as it changed hands in the evolving I-formation. Three, two, one, the buzzer sounded as the clock went to zero.

He held his breath. When this play ended the game was over.

McKinney had the ball. He scanned the field.

Hank shook his head slowly from side to side. McKinney would never get an open shot. Defense had the whole damned team covered.

Except for...Stevens.

Hank felt the word
no
go past his lips as he watched the pass fly through the air.

Complete
.

Stevens had the ball.

For the space of a heartbeat Stevens only stared at the ball in his hands.

A cold, hard lump of terror rose in Hank’s throat. “Run, damn it, run.”

As if in slow motion and suddenly realizing what he needed to do, Stevens turned and ran toward the end zone. Slow at first. Then faster and faster.

Forty-five...forty yard line...thirty.

Stevens ran like hell with the whole damned defensive line on his heels.

Twenty...ten...

“Touchdown, Huntley!” the announcer screamed.

Hank released the breath he had been holding. His chest ached and his knees felt weak.

Stevens had done it!

By God, the kid had made the winning touchdown. The crowd went wild. The scoreboard read visitors ten, home thirteen. The other players hoisted Stevens onto their shoulders and headed toward Hank.

Hank held both fists in the air and shook them in a triumphant gesture. He stole a quick glance at Donna through the mass of people moving about. She smiled at him and his heart ached again. If he could only get to her right now he’d kiss the hell out of her, but the crazed crowd was dispersing in every direction.

He met Franklin County’s coach in the middle of the field and shook his hand.

“Good game, Coach.”

“Thanks.” Hank gave a nod of acknowledgement.

The next thing he knew, the cheering, clamoring members of his team surrounded him. Hank almost embarrassed himself with tears of joy. Despite the odds against them they had won.

An icy wave of cold struck him. He gasped. Gallons of ice cold Gatorade streamed over his head and shoulders. As soon as his system recovered from the shock, he shook himself, splashing Gatorade over those standing closest to him. The rowdy group roared with laughter, earning themselves a glower.

“Five miles, every day after school next week,” he barked, pushing the wet hair from his face.

Stevens led the resounding “Aw, Coach.”

“Just kidding,” Hank shot back with a wide grin.

He and his winning team jogged off the field and headed for the dressing room. As soon as he had the team squared away and had showered the real celebration would begin. Hank smiled. He had a date tonight.

Tonight he and Donna would finally have some time together—alone.

~*~

Drink cups and hot dog wrappers fluttered and scattered across the empty grounds. Someone would have a mess to clean up. Donna hurried across the near-dark field. The few lights that remained on did little more than cast eerie shadows. Amazed at how fast the place emptied when the game ended, she found herself all alone in the deserted stadium before she realized it had happened.

The concession stand and press box were locked up tight. Even the parking lot looked bare compared to just minutes earlier. The few cars that remained probably belonged to Huntley’s players. Patty insisted on having Melissa spend the night with her girls. Donna smiled as she thought of her sister’s blatant attempts to facilitate this relationship.

Donna had to admit that she was looking forward to some time alone with Hank. She smiled again. Anticipation sent her hurrying a little faster across the field.

Meet me at the locker room after the game
. Those were his instructions. Donna shivered from the sudden chill in the shifting breeze or maybe it was in anticipation of the magic tonight might hold.

The wind swirled around her and this time the shiver was definitely related to the temperature. The slinky dress she’d decided on didn’t afford much protection against the unexpected dip in the temperature. The sweater was more for decoration than for protection from the cool night air.

Cold or not, Donna loved her new dress anyway. It made her feel very feminine and Hank liked it. He had mentioned how good she looked in blue when he picked her up tonight. Judging by his classroom, he appeared to be a big fan of blue. Her heart swelled at the thought of him and his infinite sweetness.

Donna frowned. She had to remember that they were supposed to be taking things slow. One day at a time.

She waited outside the dressing room door for a full ten minutes, feeling a little foolish and totally juvenile. She couldn’t bring herself to knock on the door and let Hank know she was here. She felt like a cheerleader waiting for the captain of the football team to come out and whisk her away.

She surveyed the parking lot and spotted Hank’s vintage 1969 Camaro. He was definitely still in there. Maybe she should wait in the car. She would be able to see him coming out of the dressing room from there. She crossed to the Camaro and climbed into the passenger seat. Hardly anyone around here locked their houses much less their cars.

She relaxed into the leather and inhaled the scent that reminded her of the man. The memory of how he’d held her against him in her office today played over her senses. The tingle that started deep inside her had her heart rate climbing.

A car door slammed and she jumped. A young man, maybe one of the players, climbed into a truck a couple of parking slots down. Maybe Hank and his team were coming out now. She should just go back to the dressing room and wait.