Pass Interference (Fair Catch Series, Book Four)

by Christine Kersey

  She could do it. She should do it. “All right,” she heard herself say. Wait. Had she really agreed to a date? Anticipation and excitement and trepidation shot through her all at the same time, and when she glanced at Haylie, her friend was beaming.

  “Great,” Jax said, and Autumn met his gaze in the mirror once again.

  His smile was nothing short of amazing—those perfect lips revealing straight white teeth and the crinkles around his eyes sending warmth cascading through her.

  “What time is your lunch break?” he asked.

  “About eleven thirty.”

  That smile again. “Perfect.”

  They sat in silence while she finished cutting his hair. She wanted to know more about him, but she wasn’t about to go there with an audience. She could ask him her questions tomorrow. On their date. The thought made her smile.

  When she’d finished cutting his hair, she looked at him in the mirror and saw him watching her. Self-conscious to have his attention on her, she said, “I’m all done.”

  His gaze shifted to his reflection. “Looks great.”

  She removed the smock, and when he stood she realized that she felt petite next to him. At five feet seven inches that wasn’t something that happened often.

  He turned to face her. “Thanks for the haircut.” He chuckled. “I have to admit, it’s the first time I’ve had my hair cut in a salon.” One side of his mouth tugged up. “Except maybe when I was a kid and my mom took me.”

  Autumn laughed. “Well, I’m glad it wasn’t too traumatic for you.”

  His gaze didn’t waver from hers. “Thanks to you, there was no trauma at all.”

  The way he looked into her eyes, like he could see into her soul, made Autumn uncomfortable. She didn’t want him looking into her soul. Not yet at least. She glanced toward the register. “You can pay over here.”

  She went to the register and he walked around to the other side, and after he paid, he said, “Until tomorrow, Autumn.”

  Moments later he was gone.

  “Oh. My. Goodness,” Haylie said.

  Autumn turned around to see her two friends and the women who sat at their stations watching her with grins on their faces.

  “Stop it,” she said, but she realized she was grinning too.

  Chapter Four

  Jax parked his car and walked toward the salon. When he’d come the day before he’d been slightly on edge, but now he had a lunch date with the mystery woman—Autumn. Then again, he wasn’t too surprised. When he wanted something, he went after it. That’s how his life worked. That’s why he was in the NFL—something he had yet to reveal to Autumn. He pictured what her face would look like when he told her what he did for a living, smiling as he imagined how impressed she would be.

  He pulled the door to the salon open with complete confidence. He was here to pick Autumn up for their date, a date where he would win her over and she would see what an awesome man he was. Then he would decide if he wanted to go on a second date with her.

  The moment Jax walked in, Autumn noticed. She was finishing up with a haircut, and when Jax smiled at her, her heart did a little flip. He sat in the waiting area, and after Autumn’s customer paid for her haircut and left, Autumn approached Jax.

  Body singing with a mixture of excitement and nerves, she tried to be subtle as she inhaled softly to calm herself. He stood, and she stopped several feet in front of him. “Hello.”

  His lips lifted into a smile and his gaze was fixed on her face. “How are you, Autumn?”

  “I’m doing okay.” That was mostly true. She hadn’t slept well the night before as spasms of fear kept assaulting her. She had tried to analyze what was scaring her, but it hadn’t taken long to figure out. She was afraid of getting romantically involved with someone and then having that someone leave her. She’d been crazy in love with Mitch and he’d left her. Yes, it had been through no fault of his own, but that didn’t change the outcome. He was no longer in her life.

  She was terrified of suffering another loss, yet she wanted to find love. Two competing desires that cancelled each other out. She would simply have to take great care as she dipped her toe in the dating pool.

  “Only okay?” he asked.

  What a way to start a date. She didn’t want to be a downer, so she smiled and said, “I’m doing great. What about you?”

  He grinned. “I’m about to have lunch with you, so I’m doing fantastic.”

  Flattered, despite knowing his line was cheesy, she softly laughed.

  “Are you ready to get some lunch?”

  The butterflies had filled her belly, erasing any hunger she would normally feel at that time of day, but she wasn’t about to admit that. “Yes.”

  “All right.”

  He gestured toward the door and she led the way, stopping to let him open it for her. She was pleased when he didn’t hesitate to hold it for her.

  They stepped out the door and he pointed to a low-slung black sports car. “There’s my ride.”

  The car looked expensive, and Autumn wondered what Jax did for a living.

  “What kind of car is this?” she asked.

  Grinning, he said, “Lamborghini.”

  Autumn didn’t know much about cars, but she knew Lamborghini’s were expensive. “I like it.” He pressed a button on his key fob, and the doors swung upwards. Eyebrows rising, Autumn looked at Jax and could see he was proud of his car. Then again, the way the doors opened was pretty cool.

  He helped her into his car, then walked around to the driver’s side and got in. “What kind of food are you in the mood for?”

  “How about sushi?”

  His eyebrows shot up and he kind of grimaced. “How’d you know I love sushi?”

  She laughed. “No you don’t.”

  He grinned. “No, I don’t. But I’ll eat it.” Still smiling, he turned on the engine and they left the parking lot.

  “Do you know of a good sushi place?”

  “I know of a sushi place.” He glanced at her with a smile. “Do you have a place you want to go?”

  “Not really. Let’s go to the place you know of.”

  “Sounds good.”

  They were quiet for a few moments, then Autumn turned to Jax and said, “Your hair looks good.”

  One side of his mouth turned up. “Thanks. I have a great hairdresser.”

  A blush rose on Autumn’s cheeks. “I wasn’t fishing for a compliment.” She was so out of practice with flirting.

  “That’s okay. You got a compliment anyway. Well-deserved.”

  “Thanks.”

  A few minutes later they pulled into a parking space and walked into the restaurant. It wasn’t too busy yet.

  “How much time do you have for lunch?” Jax asked after they’d been seated.

  “Forty-five minutes or so.”

  “I’ll get you back in time. I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble with the boss.”

  Autumn smiled. “That won’t be a problem.”

  “Oh yeah? Is Haylie the boss?”

  Autumn laughed out loud at that. “No.”

  “Why is that funny?”

  “I love Haylie, don’t get me wrong, but I’m not sure she’s boss material.”

  “Okay then. Who’s the boss?”

  Pride swelled within Autumn’s chest. “I am. I own the salon.”

  Jax’s eyebrows rose. “Really?”

  “Yep.”

  “That’s fantastic.”

  “Thanks.” She paused a beat. “What about you? What do you do?”

  Jax was impressed that Autumn was a business owner. Beautiful, smart, ambitious. What wasn’t to like? Now it was his turn to impress her.

  “I play for the Sacramento Vipers.” Her eyes widened. Just the reaction he’d hoped for.

  “The football team?”

  He chuckled. “Those are the only Sacramento Vipers I know of.”

  She frowned. “Sorry. Dumb question. I’m just…it wasn’t what I expected.”
>
  She was impressed. He could tell. “What did you expect?”

  She shifted in her seat as her eyes narrowed. “Do you know Glenn Richmond?”

  Why was she asking about his former teammate? “Yeah.” When Autumn stayed silent, he added, “It’s not like we’re buddies, but he’s a stand-up guy.”

  The color drained from her face, then her lips flattened. “I think I’d better get back to the salon.”

  What was happening here? Confused, Jax asked, “What’s going on?”

  Autumn shook her head. Jax was friends with the man who had killed her husband. She couldn’t deal with that right now. It brought back all the memories of that awful night. It was so unexpected. Any bit of appetite she had regained had been lost. “I can’t do this right now.” Embarrassed, but too upset to care, she said, “Please take me back.”

  Jax stood. “Right. Of course.”

  She could see the absolute confusion on his face, but she couldn’t explain. Not now. Not unless she was willing to have him see her burst into tears. Which she was definitely not willing to do.

  They drove back to the salon in silence, and when they got there, she turned to Jax with a frown. “I’m sorry, Jax.”

  “Can we do this another time?”

  She bit her lip, looking toward the salon before facing him again. “I don’t know.”

  Jax nodded like he understood, although he was still in the dark about what Glenn Richmond had to do with anything. Glenn didn’t even play for the Vipers anymore. He was in prison for involuntary manslaughter for texting while driving and then killing a guy.

  Autumn got out of his car before he had a chance to open the door for her, but Jax hurried to her side anyway.

  This date had fallen apart so fast that Jax’s head was spinning. Instead of being impressed that he played for the NFL, Autumn had seemed to be repulsed by the idea.

  “I, uh,” he began. “I hope we can try this again sometime.”

  She gave him a tight smile, then she turned and walked into the salon.

  He watched her go, desperate for a second chance.

  Chapter Five

  “Why are you back already?” Haylie asked when Autumn walked into the salon.

  She shook her head and went into the back, not in the mood to spill her feelings in front of Haylie’s customer.

  Fifteen minutes later Haylie sat in the empty chair near Autumn’s desk. “What’s going on?” She frowned. “He turned out to be a jerk, didn’t he?”

  Autumn shook her head. She’d managed to gather herself since she’d returned from her failed date. “No. That’s not what happened.”

  Tilting her head, Haylie said, “Okay. What did happen?”

  “Turns out Jax plays for the Vipers.”

  Haylie’s eyebrows shot up and her eyes went wide. “No kidding.” Her eyes settled into place as a grin pulled up the corners of her mouth. “That just makes him hotter.” Now her eyebrows tugged together. “Wait. What does that have to do with ending your date?”

  Autumn looked at Haylie as if to say Don’t you get it? “He knows Glenn Richmond.”

  Haylie looked perplexed. “And?”

  No one knew what it was like. What memories this brought back. And right when she’d thought she was starting to move on. “I just…” She closed her eyes for a moment. “I can’t date someone who knows the man who killed Mitch.”

  Lips pursed, Haylie shook her head. “So you’re gonna let Jax get away.” It wasn’t a question. “After all that trouble I went through to help him find you.”

  Autumn sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe I just need some time.”

  “You’re assuming he’ll give you time.”

  That rubbed her the wrong way. “Well, if he won’t, he’s not worth it anyway.”

  Haylie nodded. “That’s what I like to hear.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Don’t waste your time with a guy who’s not worth it.”

  Was this some kind of reverse psychology? If so, it was working, because now Autumn was beginning to think she’d been a little hasty in ending her date.

  Jax ate a protein-filled meal, then worked out hard. He wasn’t used to women behaving the way Autumn did. First refusing to tell him so much as her name at the mall, then sending Haylie to pick up her earring, then ending their date before it had even had a chance to get going. And that was right after he’d told her that he played in the NFL—usually a sure-fire way to win a woman’s affection.

  Why was Autumn different?

  He didn’t know, but he was more intrigued than ever.

  After his workout and shower, he parked himself in front of his computer and did some research on exactly what had happened with Glenn Richmond. It didn’t take long to figure out why Autumn had had such a visceral reaction to him knowing Glenn. According to the articles he’d read, Glenn had killed Mitch Foster. And Mitch Foster had been Autumn’s husband.

  She was a widow. A very young widow. Only twenty-four when her husband had been killed ten months earlier. No wonder she’d been reluctant to tell him anything about herself, to even give him her name when she’d run in to him at the mall. And no wonder it bothered her that he knew the man who had killed her husband.

  Now he understood. But it wasn’t right that she should shun him because his former teammate had killed her husband. That had nothing to do with him. Nothing at all.

  Jax was interested in Autumn. Very interested. He had to win her over. He had to convince her to give him a chance.

  “Who are they from?” Autumn asked the delivery person when he handed her a massive bouquet of flowers the next morning right when the salon opened.

  The man shrugged and pointed to a small white envelope. “There’s a card.”

  “Right. Thanks.”

  Before the delivery man was even out the door, Haylie and Cassie were next to Autumn at the counter, admiring the colorful bouquet.

  “I bet I know who they’re from,” Haylie said, a wide smile on her face.

  Autumn had a good idea too. Knowing she had an audience, she plucked the envelope from the bouquet and slid the small card out.

  Autumn -

  I’m so sorry about all you’ve been through, but I’d love the chance to get to know you better.

  Jax

  “I think I’m in love,” Cassie said, her voice dreamy. “He’s so hot. And look how sweet he is. Plus he’s a professional football player.” She fanned herself.

  Autumn laughed. She had to admit that Jax’s thoughtful gesture touched her and made her regret even more her impulsive decision to end their date the day before. Then she remembered the trial and the way Glenn Richmond hadn’t shown any remorse, how he’d acted like it was Mitch’s fault for walking too close to the road. His arrogant attitude had made everything worse.

  Were all NFL players like that? Thinking the rules didn’t apply to them? Was Jax like that?

  The idea that he was made her chest tighten. Was it worth getting to know him only to have him turn out to be just like the man who had taken away her husband? Could she deal with that?

  “What are you gonna do?” Haylie asked.

  Autumn was torn. On the one hand, this felt like a setback and she wanted to retreat to the comfortable world of not dating. On the other hand, she was ready to get out there again, to find love again. Was Jax the man to start with? Or would being around him be too much of a reminder of all that she had been through? All that she had lost?

  Moments later their first customer walked in the door, stopping their conversation. Cassie took the woman to her station, and then the salon got so busy that before Autumn knew it, it was time for her lunch break.

  Her mind went to the day before, to Jax walking through the door and how excited and nervous she had been all at the same time. She wanted that again, that feeling of anticipation, that feeling of hope that something good could be coming.

  She wanted another chance.

  Chapter Six

&nbs
p; Jax hoped he wasn’t making a mistake. He’d confirmed with the florist shop that Autumn had received the flowers he’d sent, but she hadn’t reached out to him. He knew she had his cell number from the whole earring incident. Unless she’d lost his number. Or maybe she’d been too busy to text him. Or maybe she wanted nothing to do with him.

  He shook his head as he got out of his car and walked toward the salon. He had to give this one more try. If she rejected him, he would walk away and never look back. But he wasn’t ready to do that just yet.

  Smiling as he realized this was the third day in a row he’d come to the Cutting Edge Salon, Jax reminded himself that he was a great catch, that any woman would be thrilled to have his attention. That if Autumn didn’t want anything to do with him, it was her loss.

  Somehow he wasn’t convinced. She wasn’t like the other women he’d dated, ready to fall all over themselves to please him, ready to do his bidding. The fact that he was in the NFL didn’t impress her. In fact, it seemed like less of an asset and more like a liability. To his surprise, he found he liked that. Because if she liked him, it would be for him and not for his job.

  Reaching for the handle on the door to the salon, he was shocked to realize his heart was pounding. What was this? High school? He was a grown man. A very successful man. Why should he be nervous to show up without calling? What was the worst that could happen? It wasn’t like she would call the police on him. Right?

  Softly laughing at himself, when someone from inside the salon pulled the door open, he jumped back, startled, but when he saw Autumn standing in the doorway, her green eyes wide, her mouth opened in surprise, he smiled. She didn’t look angry to see him. He even thought he saw a flash of happiness in her eyes.

  Seeing Jax standing on the sidewalk in front of her salon was completely unexpected. True, Autumn had wanted to see him, and after he’d sent the flowers her hopes that he would call had grown. But she hadn’t expected him to drop by.