Tackling Love: A Sports Romance (Tackling Romance Series Book 1)

by Kathleen Kelly

“Sugar, why are you being suspended?” I don’t understand what she’s saying, and I need her to spell it out for me.

  “I signed a contract when I started with the school that stated I wouldn’t do anything, either inside or outside the school, to put it in an unsavory light. The school thinks you are an unsavory light.”

  Laughter rumbles up and out of me. “Me? Quarterback for the New England Warriors, and the guy who’s donating money to the school as well as being instrumental in helping get the drama wing being built is unsavory?”

  “Those first initial pictures of us at my front door, and you do have a reputation—”

  “I can fix this—”

  “No. I’ve decided to see what happens. I spoke to my dad tonight, and he made me see things in a different light. If the school truly believes I’m a risk to them, then I don’t want to work there. My dad has offered to fly me to see him in the UK, get away from things and sort myself out. I have no idea what I’m going to do if I don’t get my job back.”

  “You’re giving up?”

  “No, I will fight it. But in the end, if I’m let go, maybe I should travel a bit, get a feel for what I should do next.”

  I don’t want Skye to go. The thought of her being away from me makes my heart ache, and the fact I’m the cause of her leaving doesn’t sit right with me.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you’d donated money to the school?”

  “I forgot. It’s football season, sugar. I’m either training, playing, or seeing you or Blaise. He’s the one who started it all. He confessed he prefers acting to football, but his family doesn’t have a lot of money, so his mom was going to have to make him the costume. From his description of his mom’s sewing expertise, I made a few inquiries at the school with Juliette and discovered they severely lacked funding.”

  “Juliette?” asks Skye with an edge to her voice.

  “Yeah, Miss Carson.”

  “But you called her Juliette. I didn’t realize you were on a first-name basis.”

  I rise on one elbow, grinning at her. “You sound jealous.”

  Skye knifes up off the bed and throws her hair over her shoulder, then flounces out of the room.

  I follow her quickly and grab her around the waist. “Sugar, since we’ve been together, there’s been no one else. I want you. I’m here with you. You’re the only one,” I whisper next to her ear.

  All tension eases out of her body as she melts into me. “The only one?”

  “Yes, Skye, the only one.”

  Skye twists in my arms and kisses me softly, her hands go up my sides, and she cups my face. “Let’s go shower.”

  “There’s my girl.”

  Skye smiles, grabs my hand, and leads me to the bathroom.

  SKYE

  I’ve been lost for the last week without a job to go to. My home has been cleaned from top to bottom. There’s nothing at home left for me to do. Colt has seen me most nights or called if he’s busy, but I can’t expect him to fill the void in my life that becoming jobless has opened up.

  My dad has also rung me several times wanting to know when he can book my tickets. Between him and Colt, I’ve never felt so loved. Not that Colt has said the words, but he sure acts like it.

  Tonight we are going to his friend, Grayson’s house, for dinner. I think I’ve changed my outfit six times, finally settling on a light pink, almost white, dress. I have a long coat to go over the top that’s a slightly darker shade of pink and silver slingback shoes. I’m wearing my hair up, and as an afterthought, I grab a pink scarf with silver flecks through it just in case it’s cold out.

  I’m applying gloss to my lips when I hear a knock at the front door. Stepping back from the mirror, I give myself the once over again and leave the room. After my run-in with Derek, I check the peephole before I open the door, and standing outside is Colt with a bunch of flowers.

  My heart does a little flutter as I open the door. “Aww, honey, they are beautiful.”

  Colt holds them out, I take the bunch and inhale their lovely scent. “Thank you,” I whisper.

  “My pleasure. You look beautiful. You ready to go?”

  “Sure am. I’ll just pop these in some water.” I hurry off to the kitchen and grab a vase out of one of my overhead cupboards. I fill it with water, put the flowers in, and place it on the kitchen counter. When I turn around, Colt is staring at me funny.

  “What?”

  “Did you forget something?” asks Colt.

  “No, I don’t think so…” I say as I look around the room.

  Colt closes the gap between us and kisses me. “Sugar, you didn’t kiss me hello.”

  I laugh. “The flowers threw me off. It’ll never happen again.”

  “It better not.”

  I slap Colt on the chest. “All right, all right… we should get going.” I push him away, take two steps back, and ask, “Do I look okay?”

  “Nope, sugar, you look so much better than okay. You look perfect. Minerva is going to love you.”

  “Minerva? Who’s Minerva?”

  “Damn! Didn’t I tell you Gray’s momma is going to be the one doing the cooking? You’ll love her, she’s like a second mom to me.”

  “No, you didn’t tell me. Is this ‘meeting your second mom’ appropriate?” I ask using air quotes then spin around.

  Colt laughs and grabs my hand. “Absolutely. This is appropriate for meeting my mom. Don’t stress, sugar, you’re going to love her, and I know she’s going to love you.”

  Colt drags me back through the house, I grab my bag and a bottle of wine off the side table, and we head out to his car.

  COLT

  Skye must have checked and rechecked her face and hair a dozen times on the drive to Gray’s house. I didn’t seem to quell her nerves even when I told her she looked perfect. It amuses me she would worry so much about Minerva’s opinion.

  If I love her, Minerva will. Simple.

  My heart swells at the thought that I love Skye.

  I do.

  Reaching over, I grab her hand and lace my fingers through hers. “Did you notice we match?”

  Skye pushes up the passenger vanity mirror and looks at me. “You’re wearing a light pink shirt.” Laughter bubbles out of her.

  “Great minds think alike.” I wink at her with a grin.

  “Or fools never differ,” responds Skye.

  “I like mine better. They’re going to think we collaborated on our clothing.”

  Skye nods. “We look good together.”

  “Yeah, sugar, we do.” Pulling up in Gray’s driveway, I turn off the engine and look at Skye. “Don’t be nervous. Minerva is wonderful, and Gray is my best friend. They will love you. Gray says you’ve been a good influence on me.” Skye frowns slightly and chews on her bottom lip. I lean in and kiss her. “Stay there.” I climb out of the car and run around to the passenger door. Opening it, I hold out my hand to Skye, she climbs out and grips onto me for dear life.

  “Relax,” I say as I pry her hand out of mine and place it on my arm. “Minerva’s a great cook, too.” I pat her arm, and we walk towards Gray’s front door.

  The door flies open, and Gray smiles at us, then looks over his shoulder and yells, “You were right, Ma. They’re here.”

  Gray opens the door a little more so we can enter.

  Minerva comes into view, and she’s walking quickly toward us. “Grayson! Do not yell all through the house,” berates Minerva. “Let me look at you, Colton. It’s been too long, honey.” Minerva kisses both my cheeks and beams at me. “Now, introduce me to this beautiful woman on your arm, the one I’ve heard so much about.”

  I chuckle. “Minerva Moore, I’d like you to meet Skye Hadley.”

  Minerva’s eyes go to Skye, then she pushes me out of the way and hugs her. “It’s so good to meet you, Skye.”

  “Thank you. It’s so nice of you to have me in your home.”

  Minerva links her arm with Skye’s. “Nonsense! Any woman who can tame my boy here dese
rves an open invitation to dinner whenever she wants. Now, come on, honey, let’s get you to the kitchen, and you can help me dish out the food. These boys eat like animals, so hopefully, with you here, they’ll remember their manners.” Minerva looks over her shoulder at a stunned Gray and I, then she winks as she whisks my woman away.

  I look at Gray, and we both begin to laugh. “Animals?” I ask him.

  “Have you seen the way you eat?” states Gray seriously.

  “I think you are confusing me with you.”

  “Nah… I don’t think so. Drink?”

  “Yeah, man, that would be good. You got any wine? ‘Cause if you don’t, Skye brought a bottle which she’s left in the car. I’ll be right back,” I say, immediately heading back outside.

  When I enter the house again, wine in hand, I find the three of them laughing in the kitchen and talking like old friends. I knew they’d get along.

  “You met my boy in a bar? And you still went out with him?” Minerva looks at me with fake disgust. “Honestly, Colton… you’re lucky she gave you the time of day.”

  Gray doubles over with laughter and slaps his leg. He thinks it’s that funny.

  “Okay, this is not… make Colton feel awkward. This is… check out the new girlfriend and give her the once over. You are my people, you should be looking out for me,” I tease.

  Gray straightens and looks at his mom. “Did he just say my people?”

  Minerva nods, then grins, and her laughter fills the room. “My people!”

  “You know what I mean, I think of you two as family. As if I’d mean it any other way,” I say defensively.

  As we spar back and forth, all the while, Skye is laughing. “Colt, they know. They wouldn’t tease you so much if you weren’t family.”

  Minerva stops laughing and hugs Skye. “We’re keeping this one, Colt.” Then she looks at me seriously. “I mean it. You mess this up, we’ll miss you, but we’re keeping Skye.”

  Skye goes a lovely shade of red. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll be sure to be on my best behavior.”

  “You better,” agrees Gray.

  Minerva smiles. “Dinner is about ten minutes away. Why don’t you take our guests into the living room and get them drinks? Colton, is that bottle for me?”

  I’d forgotten I had the bottle in my hand. Holding it up, I say, “It’s from Skye. She left it in the car.”

  “I hope you like red?” asks Skye, hopeful.

  “My favorite,” replies Minerva.

  Skye smiles widely, and I grab her hand and lead her toward the living room.

  “This is a lovely home,” says Skye as I guide her through the house. “Very homey. It has a woman’s touch.”

  I take in my surroundings as though I’ve never been here before and compare it to my home—Skye’s right. Minerva has added feminine touches everywhere you look, but instead of looking girly or overdone, it’s given the house a warm, inviting feel like only a good woman can do.

  Even in the living room, which has burgundy Chesterfield couches, Minerva has added cream cushions to soften them. I’m thinking about this and wondering what Skye could do to my home as her house is very welcoming. Skye’s coffee table would go perfectly in my media room.

  “You look a thousand miles away, bro,” states Gray.

  “Just thinking your mom has good taste, and how she’s turned this house into a home.”

  “Yeah, Ma knows her decorating and shit.”

  That’s about as deep as Gray gets about his momma.

  “The curtains in this room are gorgeous,” says Skye as she goes over to touch them. “What kind of material is this?”

  “It’s a damask fabric. It was kind of a pain to line up the pattern, but they turned out beautifully,” informs Minerva.

  “You made them?” asks Skye.

  “Oh, yes! Have you seen how many windows are in this house? The money they wanted to charge for curtains was highway robbery.”

  “Momma, I told you I didn’t mind paying.”

  “Nonsense, Grayson. I made them for a fraction of the price those people wanted to charge you. And they look better,” scolds Minerva.

  “Yes, ma’am,” agrees Gray.

  “You know, Minerva, the school I work for…” she sighs, “… worked for, is hiring a seamstress. If you’re looking for work, I’m sure they’d love to have you.”

  “Worked?” I ask.

  Skye smooths her hands over the front of her dress, a nervous gesture. “It doesn’t look good. Maybe you could ask Juliette?”

  “I could ask Miss Carson if you’re looking for a job?”

  Minerva looks at Skye then to me. “I don’t know… it’s been a while since I’ve had to work. It could be fun to do something I love.”

  “I could set up a meeting?” I offer.

  “How about we have dinner, and I think about it?” suggests Minerva.

  “Food, now!”

  “Oh, Grayson… the way you carry on, Skye will think I starve you,” chastises Minerva.

  Skye giggles. “I think all anyone needs to do is look at Gray and Colt to see they are well fed.”

  Looking seriously at Gray, I say, “Did she just call us fat?”

  “No,” shrieks Skye.

  Gray and I double over with laughter.

  Minerva links her arm with Skye’s. “Oh, honey, let’s leave the children to their own devices, and you can come help me get the food out before they clearly fade away from malnutrition.”

  Skye nods, smiles at me, and they leave Gray and me alone.

  “Momma likes her,” states Gray.

  “Yeah.”

  “You mess this up, and Momma is going to whup your ass.”

  “Yeah.”

  Gray pours me a glass of whiskey, neat, and vodka for himself. “How’s the fundraising going for the school?”

  “Good, it’s like they can’t get rid of the money fast enough. With the league’s help, and two construction companies on board, it should all be done and dusted by next fall. Between the league and the team I only had to donate twenty thousand. A far cry from two hundred thousand.”

  “You going to donate more?” asks Gray—he knows me so well.

  “Depends on what the school needs, but now they’ve let Skye go over some bullshit agreement, I’m not so sure.”

  “Man, you know it’s like our deal with Calvin Klein. You don’t do anything to embarrass anyone. You’re lucky you had on the right underwear when that photo of the two of you hit the papers.”

  I nod as arguing with Gray is like talking to a brick wall. “Come on, let’s go eat,” I say, changing the subject.

  Gray follows me into the dining room as Skye places a bowl of rice on the table.

  “Jambalaya?” I ask.

  “Momma knows it’s your favorite, but she made my favorite dessert… Key lime pie.”

  Grinning at Gray, I tease, “She still made my favorite meal. Dessert is like an afterthought.”

  “Now, Colton, don’t you tease Grayson, or you won’t get any dessert,” scolds Minera as she walks into the room with a ladle in her hand.

  “Yes, ma’am,” I reply with a smirk.

  “You get to serve.” Minerva hands me the ladle.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” mimicks Gray.

  “Grayson, you get to put paella in everyone’s bowl,” says Minerva with a stern look.

  “Yes, Momma.”

  I wink at Gray who grabs my bowl.

  “Boy, you were taught better than that. Ladies first.”

  Skye giggles and hands her bowl to Gray. “Thank you, Gray.”

  Gray gives Skye a quick smile and puts paella in the bottom of her bowl then hands the bowl to me.

  “So, Skye, when did you say you were going to England?” asks Minerva.

  I drop the bowl, spilling its contents all over the table. “What?”

  Minerva runs off to the kitchen, and I look at Skye.

  “Colt, I told you my dad said
to join him if it didn’t work out with the school.”

  “I didn’t realize you had made plans to go,” I say, anger lacing my voice.

  Gray leaves the room. I guess he senses an argument brewing.

  “I don’t understand why you’re so upset.”

  “Because I thought we were building something here. That we’d be doing this together after football season.”

  “And what am I supposed to do for the next few months? Sit around and wait for you? I can’t do that.”

  Minerva walks back in with paper towels in hand to mop up the mess with Gray standing a little behind her.

  “Why don’t you two go into the living room while I clean this up?” suggests Minerva.

  “Don’t be silly. Please let me help,” replies Skye as she rips some paper towels off the roll. “The sooner we clean this up, the sooner we can eat. It smells delicious, Minerva.”

  Minerva gives me a look, and I shrug, indicating I don’t mind. The mess is cleaned up in no time, and Minerva takes the ladle from me and serves the rest of the meal herself.

  Internally, I’m fuming. I’m so angry Skye could think so little of me she’d make plans to leave without so much as telling me. The conversation at the dinner table continues without me as I try to understand what the hell is going on.

  Skye glances at me from time to time, worry etched in her beautiful features.

  “Colt?” asks Gray. “Colt, are you listening?”

  “Sorry, Gray, what was that?”

  “That guy, whose son you’re big brother to, he’s out of rehab soon, right?”

  “Ah, yeah, his thirty days are up week after next. I got them tickets to the game at the fifty-yard line. Blaise is super excited.”

  “Blaise! That’s right! Cheeky little fuc… I mean… man.”

  Minerva gives Gray a stern look and asks me, “This is the man that you’re taking care of his medical bills?”

  “Yes, ma’am. He needs to get his act together and set himself on the right path for his kid’s sake.”

  Skye makes a dismissive sound.

  “You disagree, Skye?” asks Minerva.

  “He’s the reason I’m about to get fired. Although I commend Colt for trying to help him, Blaise needs him, Derek isn’t one of my favorite people at the moment.”