by Edwin Dasso
Glancing into the mirror, he inspected at his reflection, his thoughts swirling with uncharted plans of his future.
By the time Elise reached her office, it was almost eight o’clock. She’d just pulled into her parking spot when her phone buzzed. Expecting a call from Deke, she dug through her purse for her cell then stared at the screen. “Thank God, Deke. I’ve been so worried. What happened last night. Matt called me and said––”
“Matt called you?”
“Yes, thank God.”
“He shouldn’t have worried you.”
“I’m glad he did. What happened? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. A little bruised and achy, but I’ll live.”
She breathed a long sigh of relief. “It’s so good to hear your voice. Seriously, Deke. Do you know if the police have any suspects?”
“Not that I know of. I can’t remember the incident at all. I was showering…then everything afterward went black.”
She tapped her fingers on the console. How could he not remember anything? Why was he alone…in the mezzanine…at ten o’clock at night? And with security so strict, how could some random person get into the locker room and attack him without being seen? “But you’re sure you are okay, physically?”
“Absolutely. So, did Matt tell you about my last workout, too?”
“Not really. He said you slayed it…but I knew you would.” She smiled, imagining how he felt when he knew he killed the final workout.
“Well, I’ll tell you more when I get home. I just wanted to let you know what time I’ll be back. My flight lands at eight thirty Saturday night. I’m pretty sure I’ll be spent, so I’ll crash at my place. Are you free for brunch Sunday morning?”
“Sure.” She slumped. Aware he’d be exhausted after the week-long ordeal, she couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed he didn’t want to rush home to see her the moment he landed.
“Good. How about Ray’s on the River, at noon? I’ll pick you up at eleven-thirty.”
He obviously didn’t want her to worry, and she wanted to sound upbeat. “Perfect. You know how much I love their Sunday brunch.”
“I’ve gotta run to catch breakfast. I’ll see you Sunday?”
“I can’t wait.” Her voice softened. “I miss you, Deke.”
“Miss you, too, Elise. See you soon.” He ended the call.
She lowered the phone and sat in silence for several minutes. Deke’s tone seemed really edgy…but he’d been through a lot…and had obviously slept very little. Shrugging off the thought, she grabbed her purse, locked her car, and strolled inside.
3
The TV-5 Atlanta, Georgia––more commonly known as WAGA––building was nothing like a typical office, especially the construction. Situated atop a hill on Briarcliff Road, the structure looked more like Tara from Gone With The Wind and radiated the same elegance. Elise loved the serene feeling she got every time she arrived or left. A huge porch, set in the middle of the structure, was accented by four dramatic white columns and overlooked a lush, well-kept lawn with a circular driveway. And though the inside of the manor was renovated for office space, the grandeur still maintained the feel of an antebellum mansion.
By noon, Elise had put in a full day’s work. Typical for a Friday, the newsroom buzzed, and she was thankful for a much-needed break. She closed her computer, grabbed her purse, and wandered down the hallway to the impressive spiral staircase that led to the lobby.
As she hustled outside toward her car, she paused and drew in a lungful of the crisp, cool air then touched her key fob. When the door opened, she slid inside and pressed Start. Sitting in the driver’s seat as the BMW roared to life still gave her a rush. She pulled out of the parking lot onto Briarcliff Road and headed toward Lenox Square, reminiscing. Elise loved this car the moment she laid eyes on it. Her dad purchased the new ice-blue convertible with cream interior and for years, she’d begged him to give her the car when she got her driver’s license. Instead, he made her work for ownership and finally acquiesced when she graduated from University of Georgia.
By the time Elise arrived at The True Food Kitchen, Britt had already chosen a corner table by the window and sipped on a tall glass of cranberry limeade.
She motioned toward a duplicate drink sitting across from her. “Come. Sit.”
Elise gave her a quick hug. “Thank you.” She couldn’t wait to sip one of her all-time favorite drinks. She hung her purse on the back of her chair and took a long swig before she sat. “Have you ordered lunch, yet?”
“Nope. I couldn’t decide if I wanted the chicken avocado wrap, shrimp tacos, or salmon…and I thought you might have a preference after the morning you had.”
“Thanks. I love everything here, but today, the avocado wrap sounds really good.” She pulled in her chair then leaned forward. “So, what do you think? Am I overreacting?”
“No. I was stunned when I got your text this morning.”
“So, was Deke’s attack a random hit…or do you think someone wants him out of the picture?”
For a beat, she twisted her lips to one side before answering. “First of all, I can’t imagine anyone randomly entering the property. But even if they sneaked inside, arbitrarily encountering Deke in the shower and jumping him? No. That’s too weird.”
“I totally agree.” Seeing the server approach, Elise leaned against the back of her chair.
“Good afternoon, ladies.” Her long, blonde hair swept over her shoulders and covered her name tag. “I’m Caitlynn, and I’ll be your server today. What can I bring you for lunch?”
“I’ll have the avocado wrap,” Elise spoke up.
She tapped something on her tablet then shifted her gaze toward Britt. “And you, miss?”
“I’d like the shrimp tacos, please.”
“Got it. If you need anything else, just let me know.” She turned and paced toward the bar.
Britt took a sip of her drink then continued the discussion. “Remember, we don’t know the whole story. Don’t worry too much, Elise. When Deke gets back in town, I’m sure he’ll give you more details. Let’s just enjoy lunch.”
“You’re right. At least, I know he’s okay…and he’ll be home tomorrow. He wants us to have brunch at Ray’s on Sunday. I thought I’d run over to the mall after lunch. You want to come with?”
“Sure. Since I know I’ll be wearing whatever you buy, I want to make sure you pick something I like.” She chuckled.
After lunch, they strolled through the mall, popping into favorite stores along the way. Rummaging through a Neiman Marcus rack, Elise blankly gazed from one dress to the next. Though she wanted to find an outfit that would temporarily distract Deke from football, her thoughts wandered five hundred miles away.
Over the moon since Deke proposed, Elise wanted to be the most important thing in his life. And though she loved sports and realized she’d take a backseat to football for a while, she couldn’t help but feel like an afterthought, at times. She drew in a long breath and pursed her lips.
Wait…what was she thinking? If she hadn’t been covering the University of Georgia’s game for Channel-Five News last year, she might not have even met Deke. She’d never forget that day. After he threw a Hail Mary into the endzone to win the game against University of South Carolina, Elise ran the entire length of the field through the crowd to catch him before he disappeared into the locker room.
Just as he was about to turn the corner, she yelled his name…he turned…and their gazes met. For an obscenely long minute, she forgot the interview––her reason for being there. Frozen by his ice-blue eyes staring into hers, and with a mic gripped tightly in hand…she couldn’t breathe…let alone speak. But Deke deflected her embarrassment by placing a hand on her shoulder.
“You win. I’ll give you an interview. But let’s step to one side before we get trampled by this crazy crowd.”
In that moment, he charmed her, and she knew she never wanted to stop gazing into those enchanting blue eyes.
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br /> “Let me see that one.”
Her momentary trance broken, Elise turned toward her friend. “What?”
“The dress you’re holding. Are you going to try it on? ‘Cuz if you don’t, I will.”
Elise inspected the white gown now gripped in her hand. “I like this one.” She held it close to her body and admired the ice-blue piping accenting the shimmering white. “What do you think?”
“I really like the draped neckline and the trim brings out your eyes.” She ran a hand over the fabric. “Is it silk?”
Elise gazed at the tag. “No, a polyester blend, but it’s really silky-smooth and I like the cut. I hope it fits.” Again, she held it against her chest and, this time, peered into the wall mirror next to the rack. “Deke will love this one.” She turned toward Britt. “I’ve got to try it on.”
“Hang on.” Britt returned her gaze to the gowns, plucked from the rack one she’d been eyeing then draped it over her arm. “I’ll try on this one.” As they strolled to the fitting rooms, she nudged Elise’s shoulder. “So, are you planning anything special to celebrate Deke’s homecoming?”
Elise entered a stall and hung it on a hook. “I want to. He’s been so focused on his workouts and performing his best for the scouts…I’d like to plan something different. You know? Like a fun event to get his mind off football and help him relax, for a change.” She wiggled into her dress then stood back and inspected her reflection.
“Why not surprise him with a weekend at your family’s cabin at Lake Lanier?” Britt mused. She slid the drape aside and stuck her head into Elise’s stall. “You could cook him dinner…or pack a picnic lunch with finger foods and hike to the waterfalls…that would be so romantic.” Britt sucked her lips together like a fish and flashed her lashes to emphasize the starry-eyed ambiance, then withdrew into her own stall.
“Ha, ha…actually, I like that idea.” When she fastened the clasp, Elise stepped out of the fitting room and stood in front of the three-way mirror. “What do you think?”
Again, Britt poked her head out of her dressing room. “Oh my gosh, Elise.” She stepped from her stall and ogled her friend. “You have to buy it. That design was made for you, girl.” Britt edged closer to the mirror and smiled. “Wow. Deke will absolutely…rip it off of you.” She snickered.
“Sold.” Elise turned toward Britt and chuckled. “I love your outfit.”
Britt gazed downward at her bra and panties and rolled her eyes. “Right. The perfect imaginary gown for my non-existent boyfriend.” She laughed and ducked into her dressing room.
“The love of your life will come, Britt. When you least expect him.”
“That would be now.” She shoved aside the drape and walked toward Elise, still fastening her pants, then gazed at her watch. “Damn. It’s almost one-thirty. I need to get back to work. I told Dr. Hellman I had an errand to run and needed to take a long lunch. He said to take my time, but I don’t want to push it. I really love this job.”
Elise cringed. “The technology is amazing, but the thought of collecting and analyzing samples from violent crime scenes…I couldn’t do that.” A stream of prickles shot down her arms. To alleviate the sensation, she rubbed a hand over the gooseflesh then glanced at her watch. “I need to get going, too. I’m covering the Georgia Tech–Syracuse basketball game tonight. I have to be there by four thirty to prep for the seven p.m. game, and I want to go over my notes before I leave.” Considering the purchase, she stepped into her fitting room, slid into her jeans and t-shirt, then grabbed her things. “I really love this dress.” Exiting the fitting room, she checked the price tag and frowned. “I might have to eat apples for lunch the next few weeks to afford it, though.”
“Do it, Elise. It’s gorgeous.” Britt gave her a quick hug. “I have to run.”
“Me, too, but I’m really glad we made time to catch up. Let’s make plans to do this more often.”
“Definitely. Muah,” Britt mouthed a kiss. “I’ll call you later.” She spun and disappeared through the rows of clothes.
Elise gazed at the silky white gown. The cut accentuated all her assets, while hiding the little belly she’d tried forever to lose. She folded the frock over her arm and huffed. Why did she have champagne tastes with a beer budget?
After putting the dress on her ever-increasing credit card, Elise swung by the office. She read through her game notes then tucked them into her satchel and made a quick call to Lance Keaton, her press photographer, to coordinate their plans for the evening. By two forty, she headed home to feed and walk Jasper. She parked and strolled toward her ground level condo but stopped cold when she noticed her deck door…ajar.
4
Already spooked by Deke’s attack, Elise edged closer to the entrance. Should she call 911? Maybe. But if she did, then found no signs of an intruder…no. Before alerting the police, she’d take a peek into the dining room. When she reached the porch, she pressed her back against the side wall and leaned toward the window to look inside. Seeing nothing more than the adjacent living room wall, she softly pushed open the door with her foot then peered into the kitchen. Before her brain could register, she saw a flash. Jasper jumped forward and leapt into her arms, wiggling and licking her face.
Still a bit shaken, she shook her head. “Okay, boy, settle down. I’m happy to see you, too.” When she lowered him to the floor, she saw her neighbor standing in the kitchen, fists resting on her waist. She jerked, pressing her brows together, and frowned.
“I’m sorry, dear. I didn’t mean to scare you. Jasper was barking like crazy––which he never does––do you, boy?” Mrs. Murphy bent over to pat his head. “He was so upset, I used your spare key so I could take him outside to piddle. I didn’t want you to come home to a mess, hon. I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course. I gave you a copy of my key for emergencies…and Jasper needing to go out seems like just that.” Elise shifted her gaze to her puppy.
“He’s usually so quiet, but he was barking up a storm.”
“I appreciate you taking care of him, Mrs. Murphy. Thank you.”
“Now that you’re home, I’ll be on my way, dear. Have a nice evening.” She stepped past Elise and ambled outside.
Elise turned toward Jasper. “I wonder what agitated you, boy. Did you see a squirrel rummaging around the porch?” She leaned over and gave him a scrunch behind his ear. “From now on, maybe I should close the curtains when I leave. We don’t want to cause that sweet old lady to have a heart attack.”
She snatched Jasper’s leash from the counter and returned it to the hook inside the coat closet, then filled his bowl with kibble. Stepping toward her bedroom to change clothes and touch up her makeup, she couldn’t stop her thoughts from drifting to Deke.
Three years his senior, Elise had felt like she’d robbed the cradle when they started dating. She kept reminding herself Deke was only a freshman at UGA the year she graduated, but her heart wouldn’t let go. Professionally, she’d seen his rise to fame over the past few years as she covered her alma mater’s games. But this year, Georgia’s star quarterback was injured preseason, and Deke stepped into the big break he needed. He started game one with an explosive performance and never looked back. Oddly, that Georgia versus South Carolina game was the first time she’d interviewed Deke one on one, and their chemistry ignited.
The first time he asked her out, she said no, despite how his very presence shot hot tingles between her thighs. Not because of the age difference, although that excuse was her initial reason to turn him down. Her history with jocks was far from stellar. In her experience, the limelight did something evil to guys. Every athlete she dated ended up cheating. The last one asked her to marry him. She agreed to move in together, but one night, when she walked in on him scoring with a cheerleader after a game, their relationship abruptly ended. From that moment forward, Elise swore off jocks completely and hadn’t so much as considered dating an athlete again––until Deke.
Turning down his first request t
o take her to dinner only strengthened his resolve. He respectfully pursued her, sending her a single white rose at work with a very sweet note…and going out of his way to bump into her at the next game. The entire university knew his routine. Deke Madigan never dated during football season…and even in offseason, he avoided wild campus parties, cheerleaders, and groupies. Deke was unlike any athlete she’d ever known, and he definitely captured Elise’s attention. When she finally agreed to a date, she swore to take things slowly…one day at a time. Surprisingly, Deke respected her decision. When he was with Elise, he never noticed other women. His focus was steadfast on her, not the female fans who shamelessly flirted with him. Elise was smitten with Deke. Every time she heard his voice, she got butterflies.
Once she agreed to that first date, she couldn’t deny their chemistry. Their attraction was palpable, and she knew in her soul Deke would never cheat. When he asked her to marry him, she didn’t hesitate. She loved this man with all her heart, and she knew he loved her. If anything happened to him…she drew in a deep breath and brushed off the thought. One thing she knew for sure, Deke could take care of himself.
After changing her clothes, Elise freshened up and got dressed for the evening then returned to Jasper. Glancing at her watch, she closed the drapes then flipped on the TV. “Maybe the sound will distract you from outside noises, buddy.” Again, she gave Jasper an affectionate scrunch. “I’ll be back in a while, boy. Be good.” She grabbed her equipment and purse, wondering how silly it was to tell her dog she’d be home soon. Did he have a clue what she meant? Probably not, but she thought on some level he at least sensed the idea.
