After The Rain (One Pass Away #1)

by Mary J. Williams

  “Nothing has changed.” She smiled when he raised an eyebrow. “Outside of Gaige knowing about us. The plan is the same. I’ll still be around to workout with you. But from here on? It’s going to be you and Gaige. He knows the Knights better than anyone. He’ll be your secret weapon, Logan. When training camp starts, you’ll be ready.”

  Logan closed his eyes when Claire rested her head on his chest. Did she realize her hand was over his heart? Did she know that it was hers?

  Now wasn’t the time to tell her. Not when there were still so many questions for which he didn’t have the answers.

  Would he make the team? Would his knee hold up? Was his future here or back in Denville?

  Only when he knew the answers to those questions could he ask Claire to share her life with him. She needed to know what she was getting into. Running back or bartender? He didn’t think she would care which it was. He was the one who had to know. One way or the other.

  “DAMN, KID. I don’t remember those moves. Let me see that again. And Sol? Don’t hold back. We’re going at full speed.”

  Gaige’s backyard had become their football field. For over a month, they had gone through the same drills they would face when training camp opened in less than three weeks.

  It was becoming harder and harder to tamp down his excitement.

  The first major hurdle was behind him. The team physical. No one was giving Logan a pass because of his history with the organization. Logan didn’t want them to. There was too much at stake for everyone involved.

  Logan knew what to expect. He went through the same thing out of college before he signed his first professional contract. The big difference was that this time they paid particular attention to his surgically repaired knee.

  After the routine examination, a new set of x-rays was taken followed by an MRI. The team doctor and trainer wanted time to look them over and consult. If they were happy with what they saw, Logan would be taken through endurance drills. Included? The stress tests on his knee.

  Proof once more that Claire was a genius. Her program not only strengthened his knee. It also prepared him mentally. The adrenaline pumping through him had been more anticipation than anxiety.

  Because of Claire, he knew he was ready. Because of her, he passed every potential obstacle with flying colors.

  Gaige handed off the ball to Logan. Sol Fellows, the big Knights linebacker, was deceptively fast. His bread and butter was feasting on cocky running backs who thought they could sprint past his imposing bulk.

  A few years ago, Logan was one of those idiots. Now, he appreciated what men like Sol brought to the game. Experience. Instinct. Before he stepped on the field, Sol knew his opponents. He studied their moves. He prepared – mentally and physically.

  Logan knew what he was up against. Sol was in his prime. One of the best in the game. Logan took the ball from Gaige. Using his repaired knee, he faked right, then left. Then, he blew past Sol like he was standing still.

  Amazed, Sol looked at his empty arms. It should have been full of gimpy running back. Then he looked at Logan and grinned.

  “Damn, Gaige. We got ourselves a runner.”

  Watching as Logan did a victory lap, Gaige nodded. “He’s better than he used to be.”

  “That’s because he’s added brains to his repertoire. He was always fast. His instincts were good.”

  “Maturity. It hits us all eventually. Some guys don’t find it until after they’ve hung up their cleats.”

  “True.” Sol took the bottle of water Gaige offered. “With the kid, we could be good for another five or six years.”

  “I know what you’re saying, Sol. I won’t change my mind about retiring.”

  Gaige picked up a towel to wipe the sweat from his face. The early summer day was pleasantly warm if you were out for a casual stroll. What they were doing in his backyard wasn’t casual. This was going to be his last season. Not matter what. After all these years, he refused to go out anything but a winner.

  “You’ll miss it.”

  “I’d say it’s only a game, Sol. But we both know that’s bullshit.”

  “The game is everything.” Sol said the words with the reverence they deserved.

  “Damn right.” Gaige tapped his bottle against Sol’s.

  It was time to find something else. Gaige knew his body could survive a few more seasons. His mind needed a new path to pursue. He still loved football. His greatest fear was losing that love. He was close to burning out. Devoting his life to something, day in and day out, for close to thirty years, there had to come a time when he was ready to walk away. For Gaige Benson, that time was fast approaching.

  “What the hell will you do with yourself? The idea of retirement scares the hell out of me.” Sol shuddered at the thought.

  “I have no idea what I’m going to do.” Gaige’s famous smile widened. “But I’m looking forward to finding out.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  LOGAN FELT LIKE a child on his first day of school.

  The Seattle Knights training camp opened with the usual buzz from the media and fans. Who will make the team? Who will surprise the experts as a breakout player? Who will be a bust? Will this be our year?

  Logan was enough of a story to garner a bit of attention. It wasn’t a distraction for him or the team. The players he knew from before welcomed him back. The men fighting for a spot on the roster were another matter. Logan was competition. Older. He had been here before.

  None of the rookies was overtly hostile. More like wary. Friendships off the field were one thing. Once you stepped between the hash marks, it was every man for himself.

  Logan might be apprehensive. Claire was close to throwing up.

  If she didn’t care so much, she could stand on the sidelines – professional. Detached. It would be easier. However, it wouldn’t be half as much fun. She had a horse in this race. A big, sleek, beautiful stud. She couldn’t cheer aloud. However, inside she was screaming like a madwoman.

  Logan only looked her way one time. Right before he took the field. Something passed between them, as it always did when their eyes met. It calmed them both.

  Claire’s stomach settled.

  Logan showed the coaching staff, the media, and the fans that he was back. After the first week, there was little doubt that he was in shape and determined to make the team. It was early, but some were already predicting he wouldn’t just be on the roster. If his knee held up, Logan Price would start on opening day.

  “I’VE MISSED YOU.”

  Claire smiled. There was nothing better than naked Logan. Unless it was her on top of him. After they had made love. Or during. Or before. Honestly? She would take Logan any way she could get him.

  “It’s been four days.”

  “An eternity,” Logan proclaimed.

  She couldn’t argue. Yesterday, the Knights had played their third, and most important, preseason game. The starters stayed in for most of the first half. The players fighting for their football lives were given another chance to impress.

  Instead of flattening out as most people expected, Logan’s performance continued to wow both his critics and supporters. Gaige kept telling him that he was on the team. It was a done deal. However, until the official word came down, he wasn’t counting his chickens.

  “I can’t believe Harry Coleman didn’t tell you after the game. How much more are you expected to do?”

  Claire felt Logan’s frustration – and he felt hers. The assistant trainer’s job was still out there. She felt like it was being dangled like a juicy carrot. Tantalizingly close. As soon as she thought she had it, they jerked it away. Not out of sight. Just a few inches. Enough to keep her hopeful.

  “The good news is coming,” Logan assured her. “For both of us.”

  She hoped so. Claire was ready for a change. Her job as a masseuse at a day spa in Renton wasn’t terribly fulfilling. Her clients were mostly rich women with a few hours to kill in the middle of the day. If she had to hear o
ne more pampered trophy wife complain about how hard it was to find decent caviar, Claire thought her head would explode.

  However, it paid the bills while she waited for the Knights to get off their asses and give her the job of her dreams.

  “I need food.”

  Claire scrambled out of bed before jogging to the bathroom. As always, Logan enjoyed the view, brief as it was. He would have liked a slow saunter, but not from the woman he knew. She never walked when she could run. She had things to do and no time to waste.

  Luckily, the one time she slowed down was in bed. Logan could spend hours exploring her beautiful body. To his delight, Claire let him. Then she happily returned the favor.

  “What are you hungry for?” he called out.

  Claire stuck her head through the door. She was grinning. “What do you think?”

  “Pizza.”

  What else? It was Claire’s go-to food craving. Reaching for his phone, Logan called the nearby place that delivered. They usually stayed in. Gaige was a gracious host. Either they barbecued or Claire would cook something healthy. Indulging her occasional guilty pleasure was fine with him.

  Well, he would have skipped the whole-wheat crust, added cheese and piled on the meat. He hated to break it to her, but sauce and vegetables on cardboard wasn’t his idea of pizza. Or anyone else’s.

  As a reward for being so clever, Claire blew Logan a kiss before disappearing into the bathroom.

  Logan placed the order, already planning to raid Gaige’s well-stocked refrigerator after Claire left for the night. The ice cream was his favorite treat. She knew he cheated with the occasional bowl of Mocha Almond Fudge. The fact that she never called him out on it made him love her more.

  He could hear the sound of running water and was about to join Claire for some steamy, wet fun when his phone signaled an incoming text.

  Get your ass downstairs. Now. We have company.

  Logan frowned at the screen. Company? That meant don’t bring Claire. They had successfully hidden their relationship from everyone except for two close, trusted members of the Knights. One was Sol Fellows.

  Sean McBride was the other. The wide receiver was a close friend then and now. Sean refused to let Logan drop him after he went back to Oklahoma. Once a week without fail, Sean emailed him. He called at least once a month.

  At first, Logan didn’t answer. Rather than give up, Sean showed up in Denville with no warning. They shared a beer, and then Sean turned around and flew home. Before he left, he warned Logan that if he were forced to make a return trip, he would kick his ass. Logan believed him. From then on, all emails and phone calls were promptly answered.

  Logan dressed quickly. Instead of leaving Claire a note, he left his phone with the text on his pillow.

  Laughter reached Logan before he was halfway down the staircase. It appeared Gaige and his guest were out on the deck. And in a good mood. That was a good sign. His curiosity growing, Logan walked through the open French doors.

  “Logan,” Gaige called out. “Grab a beer and join us.”

  Logan did as Gaige suggested but he didn’t know how he would swallow the alcohol. Standing five feet away was the Seattle Knights head coach. Why would Harry Coleman be there unless it was bad news? If Logan had made the team, Harry could have told him anytime on the flight home from Denver.

  This is it, Logan thought. All the hard work. The raised expectations. His last chance. Over. It looked like he was going back to Denville after all.

  “Coach.” Logan shook the other man’s hand.

  Harry Coleman was considered old school by most of the league. Sixty years old. He looked like every one of them. Rumpled was a kind way of describing his style. Jeans. T-shirt. A jacket with the Knights logo over his heart. Tall and thin, the man bled blue and gold.

  Harry loved his wife, his kids, and his team.

  All that mattered to his players was his knowledge of the game and his steadfast loyalty. If they played hard and kept their nose clean, Harry had their back.

  Logan knew Harry lobbied hard for the Knights to give him another chance. It was good of the head coach to come here instead of cutting him in a more public way. It showed what a classy individual Harry Coleman was.

  “Christ,” Harry said in his unmistakable, booming voice. “The kid looks like he’s going to his execution. I thought you wanted to play for the Knights.”

  “I do.” Logan sighed. “More than anything. It’s… Wait. What are you saying?”

  He looked from Harry to Gaige. They were smiling. No. Grinning. One wasn’t that happy when delivering bad news. Right?

  “You made the team, kid.” Harry’s laugh rang out over the deck and probably across Lake Washington.

  “You’re sure?”

  It wasn’t the brightest of reactions, but Logan was stunned. To go from thinking the worst to finding out he’d made it, was disorienting. It took him a few seconds for it to sink in.

  Logan Price was back. He was a member of the Seattle Knights football team.

  “You’re not going to faint, are you, kid?” Gaige’s words teased, but just in case, he put a steadying hand on Logan’s shoulder.

  “I’m fine.” Logan let out a whoop. “Holy shit, Gaige. Holy shit.”

  Grabbing Gaige, he gave him a bone-crushing hug. It was Gaige’s belief in him that was the start of all this. He would never be able to repay him.

  “Easy. The last thing I need is for my QB and starting running back to injure themselves before the season starts.”

  Harry shook his head as he watched them hop around. It was part of what made them fierce competitors. The boys inside the men. Yes, football was a multi-billion dollar business. However, the real secret to success was to never forget that, at its heart, it was just a game. Be serious when necessary, but play like a bunch of ten-year-olds.

  Gaige hadn’t lost sight of his inner child. It was good to see that neither had Logan.

  Finding the lump in his throat had magically dissolved, Logan grabbed his beer and took a long pull. When Harry’s words finally sunk in, he spit a mouthful across the deck, barely missing Gaige.

  “Did you say starting running back?”

  “Promise me you’ll pay better attention during the games,” Harry admonished, with a twinkle in his eyes. “You earned it, Logan. Congratulations.”

  Instead of jumping with excitement, this time, Logan collapsed onto a nearby chair. It was too much all at once. Making the team and starting? It would take a while before his legs could hold his weight.

  Understanding, Gaige let him absorb the news.

  “Can I get you another beer, Harry?”

  “Nope. I need to get home.” Harry slapped Logan on the back. “Enjoy the moment, kid. I’ll give you until practice on Wednesday. Then I expect you to work as if you’re still fighting for that job. Deal?”

  “Deal.” Tentatively, Logan pushed to his feet. Steady, he shook Harry’s hand. “Thanks, coach.”

  “Win us some games. That will be thanks enough.”

  Harry was almost out the door when another thought hit Logan.

  “What about Claire?” When he saw Harry’s confused frown, Logan’s heart sank. Harry never forgot a name. This couldn’t be good.

  “Claire Thornton,” Gaige said pointedly. “The woman who rehabbed Logan’s knee?”

  “Right,” Harry nodded. “You thought she would be a good assistant trainer.”

  “Cut the crap, Harry.” Gaige had known his head coach too long not to recognize when the man knew something he wasn’t sharing. “You know what the deal was. If Logan made the team, management would give Claire serious consideration for the job. I’d say she’s more than proven her worth.”

  “She’s a miracle worker, Harry.” Logan wasn’t going to let Claire’s chance slip away. Harry had to understand that without her, Logan would still be walking around Denville in a haze of self-pity.

  “Harry.” Gaige waited until his head coach looked him straight in the eye. “
What’s going on?”

  “Officially?”

  “Shit,” Gaige slammed his bottle onto the table. Foam shot out in an angry burst, perfectly mirroring his and Logan’s feelings. “If there is an unofficial version, Claire is well and truly screwed over. Go ahead, Harry. Give us the company line.”

  “No one is disputing what your friend has accomplished. You say her program got Logan back on the field, I believe you. The worry upstairs is that you are too close to the situation. It’s a relationship that could cause tension in the locker room.”

  Logan almost exploded. If he understood what Harry was saying, management thought Claire was using Gaige to sleep her way into a job. Fuck. She’d called it. A woman couldn’t put a foot out of place. The fact that she wasn’t involved with Gaige didn’t matter. It was all about perception.

  The only thing that kept Logan from jumping to Claire’s defense was that Gaige beat him to it.

  “We discussed this back when I brought the idea to you, Harry. I assured you there was nothing between Claire and me except friendship. Do you doubt my word?”

  “No.”

  “Then what the hell is going on?” Logan could keep silent only so long. Claire had earned her chance. A chance, according to Gaige, management had agreed to give her.

  “They wanted to keep their franchise quarterback happy. No one believed Logan would pass the physical, let alone make the team. What was the harm in letting you think your friend would seriously be considered for the job?” Harry knew it sounded bad. Because it was.

  “Who exactly are they?”

  Gaige asked exactly what Logan was wondering. They waited impatiently for Harry to answer.

  “Gaige…”

  “Now is the time for the unofficial explanation, Harry. Though it isn’t hard to figure it out.”

  “What?” Logan demanded.

  When Harry didn’t answer immediately, Gaige gave a disgusted snort.

  “It’s because Claire is a woman.”