Falling for You: A Forbidden Office Romance (Annapolis Harbor Book 5)

by Lea Coll

  I parked, unhooking my seat belt.

  Her eyes opened immediately. Stress lined her face.

  “You ready to go in?”

  She pulled the handle to get out. I wanted to reach out to take her hand like I had last night on the way to dinner, but we weren’t on a date. We walked inside, I waited while she signed in and then lead the way back to his room. She paused at a door, turning to me. “Thanks for driving me. I can take an Uber home.”

  “No.”

  She crossed her arms, raising a brow. “No?”

  “I’ll stick around in case you need me.”

  She considered me for a moment before her shoulders relaxed. “Do you want to come in? If he’s in a good mood, he loves talking football. If you don’t mind?”

  Her expression was vulnerable. She’d felt bad when that fan had interrupted our dinner, so I knew it cost her to ask me to play the part of a player for her grandfather.

  “Sure.” I wanted to say I’ll do whatever you need, but it was too soon for that.

  I followed her in, not sure what to expect. The man sat in a chair by the window. Callie moved closer, kissing his cheek before sitting next to him.

  “How’re you doing?” Callie’s shoulders were still tense.

  “They keep bringing me breakfast. I already ate.”

  Frank turned, seeing me in the doorway. “Come sit down. Don’t just stand there.”

  His words were clipped.

  “Jonah, this is my grandfather, Frank. Grandpa, this is Jonah, he plays football with Reid.”

  Frank turned in his chair, a spark of recognition in his eyes. “JT?”

  “Yes, sir.” I was JT with my fans, most people in fact, but I liked being Jonah to Callie. I moved farther into the room, stuffing my hands in my pockets. I wasn’t sure what to do with my hands or where to sit. Frank and Callie were seated in two of the chairs. The bed was neatly made.

  “You’re friends with the players now?” he asked Callie.

  “I work with him at the sports complex.”

  At his blank look, she continued, “Remember, Reid opened a sports complex. He asked me to manage it. Jonah is one of the investors.”

  From his blank expression, it was clear he didn’t remember.

  Callie chewed her lip.

  I moved things off a chair in the corner so I could sit.

  We watched TV quietly for a few minutes. It was sports highlights.

  “How’s your knee?” Frank tipped his head toward my injured leg.

  If it had been anyone else asking, I would have been annoyed, but this was Callie’s grandfather. She shot me a pleading look, one that begged me to humor him.

  “It’s been better.” I went for light.

  “I bet. You going to be ready to play soon?” The sharpness in his eyes and his question told me he was fully present.

  “I hope so.”

  He nodded. “We sure could use you out there.”

  “I want to be on the field.” There was something about his words that warmed my chest, easing the pressure inside. Other fans were less nice about it. They accused me of losing the last game and ruining their shot at the playoffs.

  “You gotta keep up with your therapy.” He nodded reasonably as if we knew each other well enough to give advice.

  Callie shot him a look. “Don’t you need to as well? The nurse said you refused to go this morning.”

  His expression turned blank. “No one came to take me for therapy this morning.”

  Callie sighed, patting his hand. “Okay.”

  I wished I’d had some time to look up his disease, do some research on the best way to talk to someone whose memory came and went. I took my cue from Callie, she seemed to go with it, not arguing with him.

  A few minutes later, Frank said, “You took a hard hit. It woulda knocked anyone for a loop.”

  Fans said all kinds of things to me. I usually nodded, signed my name on whatever they held up to me, and took a picture with them. Something about him saying it was okay was nice.

  “That’s football though, right?”

  Frank nodded. “You take the hard hits and keep getting up.”

  “That’s right.” It’s what my coaches had always said. It didn’t matter what the fans said, you keep getting up and working hard.

  “You’ll be fine.”

  Something about his confidence made me want to believe him. I wanted to ask him if he meant I’d play again or if I’d be okay in general. He was so sure of himself, so confident, yet he had memory issues. Who knows if he even knew what he was saying?

  “I hope so, sir.”

  The nurse paused in the doorway. “Oh good. You’re here. Do you have a minute to talk?”

  “Of course,” Callie said to her. She paused, placing a hand on my shoulder, “You’ll be okay with him for a minute?”

  “We’ll talk football. Go,” Frank said.

  “I’ll be right back,” Callie said, following the nurse out of the room.

  “You take care of her?”

  I braced my elbows on my knees, searching for the right thing to say. “I don’t think she needs anyone to do that.”

  “She’s never brought you by before.” Frank wanted to know why I was here.

  “She seemed upset. I didn’t think she should drive here alone.” I went for a partial truth. It wasn’t completely altruistic.

  Frank nodded, seemingly pleased with my answer. “This is your first big injury.”

  He knew enough about me to know my history. “It is.”

  “How you deal with it will be a test of your character.” I could see why Callie was so upset about Frank losing his memory. He was wise.

  “I haven’t dealt with it the best.” Only a few weeks ago, I’d been drinking too much, I’d kissed my employee twice, and now I was here, somewhere I had no business being.

  “How are you doing now?” Frank considered me.

  “Better. My teammates sat me down. My head’s on straight now.”

  “You’re not always going to make the right decisions. It’s how you evaluate where you’re going, changing course when necessary, that defines you.”

  Talking to Frank, I felt like a man who was worthy of a spot on a professional team. I didn’t feel like the guy hiding his past, putting on a facade, pretending to be someone—anyone―else.

  He settled back into his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “Who are you to Callie?”

  “I’m her boss.” I shifted, not liking his focus on my personal life. Football I could handle.

  “I thought Reid was her boss.”

  “He is. I’m only a silent investor in the sports complex. I’m helping out while I’m out of commission.”

  “Callie asked you to come here?”

  I wasn’t sure if he’d forgotten our earlier conversation or not. “She looked like she could use some company.”

  “Are you dating her?” He gave me a pointed look.

  “No.” Kissing wasn’t dating, yet I felt dishonest with Frank’s intense gaze on me.

  Frank nodded. “You like her.”

  I cleared my throat, wanting nothing more than to get out of this conversation. I wasn’t ready for it.

  Frank chuckled. “No need to answer. Would a man drive all that way to meet with an old man if he isn’t interested?”

  “I care about her.” That admission cost me because the last time I’d cared about someone, it hadn’t ended well. Caring about someone meant taking an important role in their happiness, their safety. I wasn’t sure I was ready for that.

  I tensed, waiting for him to call me on my uncertainty but instead, he nodded, seemingly accepting my words at face value.

  The conversation changed to Frank’s life, what so and so was doing down the hall, the activities, the nurses, but my mind was split between the conversation with him and what the nurse was saying to Callie in the hall. She’d been gone a long time. I wanted to know what was going on.

  When Callie finally
returned to the room, her face was tight before she carefully relaxed it, greeting Frank before she sat down. I wanted to ask her what the nurse said, but I didn’t think she’d want to discuss it in front of Frank.

  “What do you think about the rookie?” Frank nodded toward the screen where they were discussing training camp. A picture of the recently acquired rookie wide receiver came on the screen.

  My heart stopped then raced forward. “He’s gunning for my position.”

  It’s what I would do if I was him. Go for the weak link. Being on injured reserve was a tenuous position I didn’t like.

  “He has a similar style of play.”

  I’d noticed. I didn’t like it. Of course, a coach would prefer to replace me with someone younger and faster.

  “Youth isn’t everything, Grandpa. Jonah has the experience of a veteran. That can’t be discounted, especially in high-pressured situations like playoff games. He’s a leader.”

  Frank didn’t acknowledge Callie’s words but they flowed through me, making me feel like I could do anything.

  On the way home, I said, “Thanks for letting me meet Frank. He’s one of a kind.”

  He loved football. He was a good man. One who wanted the best for Callie. I was glad she had someone in her corner. My heart ached that he wouldn’t always be there for her. How was she handling that knowledge?

  “Thank you for answering his questions. He’s obsessed with football.”

  “I didn’t mind.” I was more than a statistic to him. He cared about how I was doing, not just when I’d be catching balls again for his team or boosting his fantasy football stats.

  “I know how irritating it can be—fans wanting a piece of you all the time.”

  “It wasn’t like that.” Even if he was, Frank was important to Callie, so he was important to me. Even if I never acted on my attraction to her in the future, she was someone I wanted in my life.

  “Sometimes it feels like I’m an avatar running around on a screen to people. Like they don’t realize I’m a real person with feelings, hopes, and ambitions. It’s all about how I lost the game for them, or how my statistics made their fantasy football team lose.”

  “Give the fans a glimpse into who you really are. You’re not just a football player, you’re a real person. Then they’ll identify with you.”

  Every muscle in my body coiled tight. Being me meant being honest about my past. I’d never be okay with that.

  “It’s almost like you’re a different guy with the fans.”

  “I don’t think there’s any requirement I have to let them in.” I rubbed my neck, wanting to change the subject, move the focus off me.

  “There isn’t, but you were the one complaining how they don’t see you as a person. You’re the only one who can change that.”

  No one wanted to know who I was before. I didn’t even want to know that guy, much less be him.

  “What did the nurse say about Frank?” I desperately wanted to shift the focus to anywhere else but me.

  She sighed, long and hard. “He’s getting worse. They can keep him for a bit longer, but I need to start thinking about moving him to a facility that’s equipped to deal with an Alzheimer’s patient. He’s in personal care, so he’s supposed to be taking care of himself. I can’t be there every day because of where I work.”

  “You can take any time you need to be with him. I know Reid won’t care.”

  “I’m not equipped to handle his disease either. When he was diagnosed, he said he didn’t want to be a burden to me. He wouldn’t want me quitting my job to care for him.”

  “I can see that.” Frank seemed like a proud man. It was commendable he looked out for Callie and wanted what was best for her.

  The fear and stress emanated from her.

  “It’ll be okay.”

  “It’s just so overwhelming. They gave me a list of possible facilities. Looking at them makes it real.”

  “I’d like to help any way I can.” There wasn’t much I could do. Other than being there for her.

  “There’s a new medication that just came out, but it’s not approved for general use yet, so it’s not covered by insurance.”

  I wondered if she’d born this stress by herself ever since Frank was diagnosed. “Do you have anyone helping you? Friends? Family?”

  She sighed. “No. It’s just me.”

  I knew Reid visited with Frank, but they were friends. I didn’t know if he was a support system for Callie.

  “Are you close with Dylan?” I knew her mother suffered from some health issues. She might be able to give her advice.

  “We’re becoming friends.”

  “She might be able to help.” I didn’t want to betray her confidence if she hadn’t discussed her mother’s situation, but I wanted to point Callie in the right direction. I wanted to do something to help.

  “I’ll talk to her.”

  I usually shied away from people needing me. I’d proven that I wasn’t reliable, but maybe with Callie, I could be different. The hope wasn’t that strong. It was more like a flicker of a candle that would blow out at the slightest gust of wind, but it was there.

  Chapter Eleven

  CALLIE

  On the ride back to work, my head ached. I knew this day was coming, but I hoped I’d have more time before I had to make this decision. I needed to do some research before I talked to my grandfather. The nurse was understanding but adamant they weren’t equipped to handle Alzheimer’s patients, especially not in the personal care unit where he was expected to do more for himself.

  If his mind kept going, he would need specialized care, more than they could provide. The difference in cost between personal care, a nursing home, and an Alzheimer’s facility was huge. I hoped I’d have more time to prepare, a longer work history, a higher salary to draw from.

  I wanted to be able to afford that new medication, especially if it made a difference.

  Instead, I was in a new job where my position wasn’t guaranteed. Reid was helping me out, doing me a favor, but we all knew I wasn’t the most qualified candidate for the job. If I couldn’t deliver, Reid would have to replace me or move me to a lower-paying position. He wouldn’t want to do it, but he’d have no choice. It was a good reminder to be careful with Jonah. He might be looking for a way to pass the time, but I had a lot to lose.

  After talking to the nurse, I’d gone to the bathroom, pulling up the costs of some of the homes on her recommended list. The monthly costs were staggering. Insurance only covered a percentage.

  Jonah wanting to help in any way he could was nice, but realistically, there wasn’t anything he could do. Taking care of my grandfather was my responsibility.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Jonah asked.

  His concern was sweet.

  I forced myself to relax, to smile. “Yeah, I will be. I was expecting this—”

  Jonah glanced over at me, his concerned gaze drifting over me before he turned back to the road. “Just not so soon.”

  “I’ll figure it out.” I’d make a list of the pros and cons of each facility. I’d make a spreadsheet of accommodations, prices, and locations.

  Parking in front of Rebel Sports, I tried to pull myself together. Jonah was my boss. I needed to show him personal stuff wouldn’t affect my job performance.

  With my hand on the door, I said, “Thanks for driving me.”

  “No problem.” He made no move to get out. “Keep me updated on Frank. I’d like to know how he’s doing.”

  His words were sincere.

  “I will.”

  “I meant what I said. I want to be there for you, whatever you need.”

  I sighed. “There’s not much you can do.”

  He nodded. “I can listen. I can go with you to visit Frank.”

  “Why would you though?” I looked at him, studying the sincerity of his expression.

  That question seemed to make him pause. “I care about you.”

  His declaration felt differe
nt than Reid’s friendship with Frank. Jonah cared about Frank because of me. A warmth spread through my body, making my breathing shallow, my head light.

  In a lot of ways, I’d been on my own since my parents died. It would be nice to have a sounding board, someone to lean on.

  “I have an idea for the grand opening,” Jonah said as we walked into the complex toward our offices.

  I was happy to shift from worrying about my grandfather to something more within my control—the grand opening. “I’d love to hear it.”

  “I thought it would be cool to have a football competition like what they do before the big game each year. Separated by age group of course, but how far can you throw, how fast can you run, how accurate are your passes…

  “I love that idea.” I knew exactly what he was talking about. It was always televised before the game. It would be the perfect activity to highlight the fact that football was a big part of the complex’s focus.

  “Yeah?”

  We paused outside of his office.

  “It sounds fun. Hopefully, it will attract a lot of local kids who’d want to participate in the leagues and camps.”

  He leaned against the doorframe as if he wasn’t ready to end the conversation. “I thought so too.”

  “We talked about you heading up the mentor program, are you still interested?”

  He pushed off the doorway, heading into his office.

  Had I said something wrong?

  He sat in his chair, gesturing for me to do the same. “Are you sure I’m the right guy for the job?”

  Where was this doubt coming from? “You have to know you’re amazing with fans, especially kids.”

  His expression was uncertain. “I don’t know. Wouldn’t Chase or Reid be the better option?”

  I was genuinely confused by his hesitance. It was something I’d expect from Reid, not him. “You’ve never backed away from a PR opportunity before, why now?”

  “First of all, Lena doesn’t pose it as a question.” Jonah’s mouth turned into an easy smile almost making me forget his show of nerves.