After The Fire (One Pass Away Book 3)

by Mary J. Williams

  “I’m bad,” Gaige flipped Violet onto her back, covering her body with his. “When I want to be.”

  To prove his point, he kissed her. It wasn’t a sweet, gentle exploration. He moved in hard and fast, changing angles. Taking a long, ravenous taste.

  Violet sighed, twining her arms around his neck. When he slowly pulled back, he watched as she slowly ran her tongue over her lips.

  “Yum.”

  “I was thinking the exact same thing.” He gave her another kiss. “Ready for dessert?”

  “Pie? Or you?”

  “Why not both?”

  “Perfect.”

  Gaige rolled to his feet then helped Violet off the sofa.

  “I have ice cream.”

  “Two scoops. Gaige?”

  “Hmm?” He took the carton of vanilla from the freezer.

  “I know you would never hit me.”

  His eyes jumped to hers. Gaige’s stomach settled when he realized it was a statement, not a question.

  “Never.” He would walk away if he thought there was the slightest chance.

  “There is only one way you could hurt me.” Violet’s gaze didn’t waver. “Lies corrode from within, a little bit at a time. You think you have something solid until one day it collapses around you.”

  “Violet—” He hated to make a promise he wasn’t certain he could keep. If there were something she couldn’t change and the information caused her pain, Gaige knew he would keep it to himself. A lie by omission. He didn’t think Violet would appreciate the distinction.

  “You’re right. And yes,” she answered before he could voice the question, “there will be times when I can read your mind.”

  “I better watch my step.”

  “Damn straight. Lies,” she reiterated. “If it’s big, you have to tell me. No matter how difficult or painful. Can you promise me that?”

  What constituted big? Gaige wondered. It would be a case-by-case decision. Hopefully, the question wouldn’t arise.

  “I promise.”

  “Good. I’m ready for something sweet.”

  “Pie or sex?”

  She sent him a provocative smile. “Both.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  “TAKE THOSE WITH you, then read and send them back before the end of the week. The sponsor wants to get rolling on the ads before the start of the playoffs.”

  Gaige added the paper to his briefcase.

  “I need you to take care of something else, Walter.”

  Walter Crenshaw leaned back in his chair and studied his favorite client. Gaige Benson was a dream to represent. He conducted himself as a professional, avoided trouble, and nearest and dearest to Walter’s heart, was a money-making machine. It had been that way from the day Gaige signed with him straight out of college, and it was hard to imagine any scenario where that would change.

  It wasn’t that Walter didn’t like Gaige as a person. He did. They were friends in and out of the office. But where was it written that your friends couldn’t make you money? Show him that passage and he would piss all over it. His relationship with Gaige was mutually beneficial, and Walter planned for it to stay that way for many years to come.

  “The last time I heard that tone in your voice was… honestly, I can’t remember the last time.”

  “Sixteen years ago.”

  “When you were drafted?” Puzzled, Walter searched his memory. Then it hit him—hard. A sucker punch to the jaw. Reeling, he put on his best non-committal agent’s face.

  “Don’t worry,” Gaige laughed. “Nothing is wrong. Just the opposite. I want you to clear it with the sponsor to let me bring a friend to the shoot. I know it’s considered hush-hush, but I can guarantee Violet isn’t interested in spilling secrets.”

  Violet. It wasn’t a name he heard every day. Fuck, Walter thought. Why couldn’t the past stay buried? He thought he had dug a nice deep hole, but apparently it hadn’t been deep enough.

  “I heard a rumor you were seeing a new woman. Anyone I know?”

  “She isn’t new. She’s…” Gaige took a deep breath, then grinned. “Violet Reed. Remember? The mess with my father. The young woman he injured.”

  “Right,” Walter said. His tone was casual, but his insides jumped around like lightning bugs in a mason jar. “It’s been a long time.”

  “Too long.” Gaige slipped on his jacket. “Get back to me as soon as you speak to the sponsor. If there’s a problem, have them call me directly.”

  “That’s it?” Walter laughed through gritted teeth. “No details?”

  Walter had spent years cultivating his father/son relationship with Gaige. True, Gaige needed that dynamic more when he was younger. If he were honest, they weren’t as close as they once were. There was a time when Gaige would share details of his personal life, or come to Walter for advice. Not anymore. Gaige’s friends and outside football interests kept him busy—and Walter had been fine with that. He wasn’t the hand-holding type. As Gaige became more and more independent, Walter was content to sit back and let the money roll in. He suddenly realized it might have been a mistake.

  “Another time,” Gaige slapped him on the back. “We’ll grab a beer one day soon. Right now, I have a lady waiting.”

  The door shut behind Gaige. Walter looked around his office. When he first signed Gaige, he worked out of a clean but less than desirable building on the outskirts of downtown Los Angeles. His clients barely brought in enough to pay the rent. He certainly couldn’t have lined his walls with paintings worth over a million dollars.

  The move to Seattle had made perfect sense. He could keep an eye on his meal ticket and cultivate some local talent. Walter liked the city. But he loved his office. It was perfect. Rich leather, a seventeenth-century desk that once belonged to a king. Plus, a gorgeous view of Puget Sound.

  Walter’s bank account was in good shape. But how long would that last if Gaige dropped him? A trip to the Super Bowl would solidify the Benson brand. A win would mean unending endorsements. Television appearances. Possible movie deals. Walter wanted his percentage. Damn it, he had earned it. Years of pushing and maneuvering for the best deals possible, it was his right to cash in for as long as Gaige was a viable money maker.

  No bitch from the past would derail his money train. Not now. Not ever.

  Walter picked up his phone. There was a number he had never used, but he diligently kept it on his contacts list for a rainy day. Right now, it was only a drizzle, but Walter was afraid the skies were about to open up. It was time to prepare himself for the deluge.

  VIOLET WONDERED IF she were pushing her luck. She was happy. Happier than she could ever remember. All she could think about was Gaige. Yet, she wanted more—she wanted everything. He had become such an important part of her life in such a short time, she wondered if she were setting herself up for a terrible fall.

  Not that she was miserable before coming to Seattle. She had a great life. Her job was more than she could have hoped for when she used to dream of medical school and beyond.

  She helped people. That had always been her ultimate goal. Violet knew what it was like to live with the fear that she would never see again. She had been lucky. Her injuries weren’t permanent, but that didn’t always matter. Her doctor had made the difference. His skill as a surgeon was the difference between success and failure. Now, because of him, Violet was able to use her training in the same way. There was nothing like unwrapping a patient’s bandages and being the first thing they saw after weeks, sometimes, months of darkness.

  It never became old. When it did, she would hang up her scalpel.

  “I love you.” Riley gave Violet a hug, squeezing hard. Her dark brown hair was pulled into a casual ponytail. On the surface, her long-sleeved navy shirt and blue jeans seemed casual, but Riley managed to give them a touch of elegance.

  “That’s nice,” Violet laughed, hugging her back. “How much have you had to drink?”

  “One beer.” Her eyes were unnaturally bright, making Violet
give her a skeptical look. “I swear. My high is one hundred percent natural. And you are the reason.”

  “I’m glad I could be of service? Care to share what I did to send you on this trippy trip?”

  “Right there.” Riley pointed to where Gaige and Sean were tending the electric grill. “You are the best thing to happen to Gaige in a long time. He’s my best friend, and I want the best for him.”

  “And that’s me?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Violet liked the sound of that. She hoped Gaige felt the same.

  They were on the deck of Gaige’s house. The late Monday afternoon weather was unseasonably mellow, prompting him to insist that it was time to grill some steaks. Why waste the energy on two people? He invited Sean and Riley. Then Logan and Claire. Sol and his wife had to be included. Soon, half of the Knights wandered around with a beer in one hand and a plate full of food in the other.

  “Are you feeling a little overwhelmed?” Claire asked. She looked as put together as Riley. The blue of her suede jacket made her eyes appear almost turquoise. “These guys are a tad larger than your average banker or office manager. Thirty or so football players in one place—other than a field or locker room—can intimidate the uninitiated.”

  Violet hadn’t thought about it. She liked Gaige’s friends. The men were funny. They treated her with an easy, playful respect that she found refreshing. The wives and girlfriends were a little less welcoming. Yes, it was established right away that she was here with Gaige. But these ladies were leery of new blood. It wasn’t easy to land a professional football player. They watched out for anyone who might set their sights on usurping their hard-won position.

  It was a sad way to live, but Violet tried not to judge them too harshly. She didn’t live in their world. A world that, to the average person, was foreign and exotic.

  A football wife. Perhaps National Geographic should send a team to study them in their natural habitat.

  “The men are fine. It’s the women I’m worried about.”

  Riley nodded. She kept the volume of her voice low. “I had a run in with that herd. They wield a lot of power. Once they understand that you aren’t the enemy, they will give you the shirt off their pampered backs.”

  “Riley isn’t kidding,” Claire said. “But don’t think they’re all former beauty queens and reality stars. Some of these women have thriving careers in their own right. And one owns the team.” She winked at Riley. “You don’t find that every day.”

  “It’s not like I earned it.”

  “Listen to her,” Claire laughed. “She’s a big reason the Knights are going to win the Super Bowl. Oh, shit.” Claire looked around, her eyes a little panicky. “Thank God there isn’t a player within earshot.”

  “Why?” Like Claire, Violet scanned the room. “What was wrong with what you said? They are going to win the Super Bowl.”

  Riley laughed, her eyes sparkling. “It’s taboo to mention it. Especially this late in the season. Gaige is particularly prickly on the subject. He’s not big on superstitions, but jump ahead, even one game, and he will give you that stare.”

  “The stare,” Claire shuddered. “I’ve never been on the receiving end. It’s icy and scary and intense, and… well, you get the idea.”

  After pondering the information for several seconds, Violet announced, “I want to see it.”

  Riley and Claire exchange surprised looks.

  “Why?” Riley seemed genuinely perplexed.

  “I feel so far behind. You and Claire. Everyone in this room. You know Gaige so much better than I do. Is it crazy to say that I want to speed things up and slow them down all at the same time?”

  “Oh, honey, you have it bad.” Claire gave Violet a one armed hug. “Loving any man is a bumpy ride. Loving Gaige Benson? I can’t imagine.”

  “I don’t know if it’s love.” Even as she said it, Violet knew she wasn’t fooling anyone. But it was too soon to shout it to the world—or to Gaige. Claire and Riley didn’t push the subject, for which Violet was grateful.

  “You never felt a twinge of interest?” she asked Claire.

  Violet knew Claire’s story. Gaige sponsored her through college, giving her moral support and helping with her tuition. It was hard to imagine not falling for him a little bit.

  “Sure,” Claire smiled. “The first time he looked at me, those green eyes made my stomach do a slow flip. He has a way of looking straight into your soul. You know what I mean?”

  “Oh, I know.” Violet hadn’t felt it the first time around. It was his kindness and that sexy voice that won her heart. But now, all it took was one look to turn her into a quivering bundle of hormones.

  “Me too,” Riley admitted. “Mind you, I’ve known Gaige since before I was a teenager. He’s my big brother and fiercest champion. That doesn’t mean I’m immune. Not that long ago I wished it was Gaige I had fallen in love with—not Sean. What a disaster that would have been.”

  “Women like him.” It wasn’t news to Violet. What wasn’t to like? However, it was a bit disconcerting.

  “Women. Men. Teenagers. Small children,” Riley ticked them off on her fingers.

  “Dogs. Cats,” Claire continued. “It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t like him. Except opposing teams and their fans.”

  “Even they have a grudging respect for Gaige.” Riley took a sip of beer. “I can’t think of a single NFL franchise that wouldn’t sell their future for one season with Gaige taking the snap.”

  “They’re out of luck. Gaige is a Knight for life.” Claire sighed. “It won’t be the same without him.”

  “Claire!”

  “What?” Violet looked at an exasperated Riley, then at Claire, who closed her eyes and sighed. “Tell me what you meant.”

  “I shouldn’t have said anything, Violet. It’s been on my mind—on all our minds. Besides, Gaige should have told you.”

  “Told me what?”

  “This is my last season,” Gaige said. “Whatever happens, I’m going to retire after the last game.”

  Violet hadn’t heard him approach. From their expressions, neither had Claire or Riley.

  “I’m sorry, Gaige. It slipped out.”

  “It’s okay, honey.” Gaige affectionately tapped a finger against Claire’s chin. “You’re right. I should have told Violet.”

  “Oh, look. Sean and Logan are trying to get our attention. Let’s find out what they want.”

  Riley urged Claire along, leaving Violet and Gaige alone. Or as alone as you could be in a crowd of very big men and their women.

  “Let me nip this in the bud.” Violet didn’t want there to be any misunderstandings. “There was no reason for you to tell me.”

  Gaige didn’t look convinced. Violet thought she knew why. She placed her hands on his waist, tipping her head to look into his eyes. Claire hit the nail on the head. His eyes could see all the way to her soul. The beauty of it was that she could see his as well.

  “I am not a high-maintenance woman. You don’t have to hold my hand if my great aunt’s cat dies or worry about leaving me to my own devices if you want to get a beer with the guys.”

  “This is a little more important, Violet.”

  “Were you planning on telling me?”

  “Of course. We’ve been busy with other things.”

  “Hold me close.” When he did as she asked, Violet whispered. “Between our letters and marathon sex, when did you have the time?”

  Gaige chuckled. He rubbed his lips against her ear. “In the shower?”

  “Nope. As soon as you took the amazing lemon-scented soap and lathered your hands, I couldn’t think, let alone listen.”

  “In the tub?” He moved from her ear to neck.

  “Same problem.”

  “I would have told you.” Gaige pulled her tight.

  “I know. And I can’t wait to hear your reasons. You’re still young.”

  Gaige snorted.

  “Relatively speaking. I can verify that you
’re in terrific shape. The only reason I can think that you would retire is if—” Violet gasped. “You’re not… Please tell me you’re okay.”

  “You said yourself, I’m in terrific shape.”

  “Are you ill?” Violet took a deep breath. She didn’t want to think the words, let alone say them. “Cancer? Your heart? Is there a medical reason?”

  “Whoa. Hold on, sweetheart.” Gaige rocked her from side to side. “My doctor thinks I’ll live to be a hundred. I’m betting on one ten.”

  “Promise?”

  “I promise.” He lifted her chin, looking deep into her eyes. “Though I can’t make any age guarantees.”

  “Thank God.” Violet felt like weeping with relief. “I know life likes to kick a person in the teeth now and then, but it wouldn’t be fair if I lost you now.”

  “Why would I go?” Gaige asked, smoothing her hair back from her cheek. “I’m exactly where I want to be.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “I DON’T HAVE to ask if you enjoyed your vacation. You haven’t stopped smiling since you got here this morning.”

  Violet took the chart from Pauline Kraig. The nurse had worked at the Brooklyn hospital for almost thirty years. She was efficient, cared about her patients, and most of the doctors were scared to death of her. Violet wasn’t because Pauline had been her recovery nurse after her eye surgery. They had become friends, and it carried over when Violet returned. Not as a patient, but as a doctor.

  These days, Violet spent most of her time in her Manhattan office. Three days a week she rotated between several hospitals. Today she was back in Brooklyn. She never said so, but it was her favorite for several reasons. Sentimentality at the top. It had been bittersweet to walk the halls where she met and lost her first love. Today, she said goodbye to the bitter and embraced nothing but the sweet.

  “I had a good time.”

  “Good?”

  “Okay,” Violet admitted, grinning. She couldn’t seem to stop. “It was… fantastic.”

  “So your dream man didn’t turn out to be a bust?”

  “Gaige is… what’s the word?”