Run With My Heart (Texas Tornadoes Sports Romance Book 1)

by Lorana Hoopes

  “Okay, lead the way,” Teddy said.

  Tucker was only too happy to oblige. He turned his back on the peering eyes and led the way to the front door. “How is your son doing?” he asked as he pulled the front door open.

  “He’s good. Loved getting to watch the game from the luxury box. Thanks again for that.”

  “You’re welcome. Listen, the director here is pretty strapped for money and the landlord is out of town at the moment. If I get you some tickets for next season’s opener, do you think you could wait on payment?”

  “I don’t know, Tucker. It’s Christmas and Jack wants some new Xbox game.”

  “I get that, but listen, I’m hosting a clinic here tomorrow where I’ll be teaching the kids some running plays and signing footballs and shirts. Everyone else is paying a hundred dollars to get in, but how about you bring Jack and consider your entrance fee your down payment? I promise you that the landlord is good for it, and you’ll get the full amount when he gets back in town.” He actually knew nothing about the landlord, but he trusted Shelby. He couldn’t see her working for someone underhanded.

  “You’ll sign whatever we want?” Teddy’s eyes narrowed and he stroked his large chin thoughtfully.

  “Whatever you want, Teddy.”

  “All right. You got yourself a deal, Jackson. You better work out your hand tonight though. I don’t want it cramping in the middle of all that autographing.”

  Tucker smiled and clapped Teddy on the shoulder. “I’ll do my best. Here’s the door to the basement. It’s pretty tight down there, but do you think you’ll need some help?”

  Teddy shook his head. “No way, man. I don’t know what I’m going to find down there, and I am not going to be responsible for injuring Tucker Jackson during the playoffs. The mayor would probably yank my license. You know he’s a fan.”

  Tucker nodded. The mayor attended nearly every game. “I do, but Teddy, I promise to be careful.”

  “No can do, Tucker. My license says that all my guys have to be bonded and insured. I doubt you are either, but I promise I won’t be long.”

  Tucker knew he wasn’t going to win this argument. Teddy seemed like a good man, a rule follower, and Tucker wasn’t going to push him to do something else. He would just have to return to shoveling and hope Teddy finished quickly.

  * * *

  Shelby turned at the tap on her shoulder.

  “What did you tell these people, Shelby?” Tucker asked, motioning to all the cars. “I can feel them staring at me, and it’s kind of creepy.”

  Shelby smiled. “Well, I mentioned to the first lady that you were going to be helping out this afternoon, and she decided to wait in hopes we open. I think she might be hoping to see you, and I’m fairly certain she called the other parents because it’s been a steady stream since then.”

  “They’re all waiting for me? Why?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe they’re hoping to shake your hand or something, but this is great publicity for the event tomorrow. If we have this kind of turnout tomorrow, we should raise enough money for rent and the Christmas party, and I have no doubt these people will tell their friends.”

  Shelby smiled as she realized once again how in control God was. The snow had provided an excuse for Tucker to be seen outside. Not only that, but it had sent some of her previous families, who might not have known about the clinic, their way. But her smile faded as she remembered the pipes. If they weren’t able to open tomorrow, all of this publicity would be for naught.

  “Of course, all of that hinges on if we can open. Did your friend say anything about the pipes?”

  “Not yet, but he just started looking around down there. Give him a few minutes. He knows the situation and that you’re in a time crunch.”

  Shelby nodded, but she couldn’t keep the fear from constricting her voice. “Tucker, what am I going to do if he says we can’t open? I don’t have the money to keep this place open much longer.”

  Tucker placed a hand on her shoulder. “I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that. I know the center is old and in need of repair, but I have a feeling the rest of the pipes will be fine. Besides, the snow is letting up. Knowing Texas weather, the sun will be out in ten minutes and all of this will be melted by noon.”

  Shelby glanced at his hand on her shoulder. It was just a touch, a friendly touch, but her skin was on fire under his hand. She had felt the same heat earlier when he touched her face. Was she falling for him? She couldn’t be. He was not her type, or more to the point, she was not his type; but the look he was giving her now and the one he had given her this morning? She didn’t know what to make of them. But she couldn’t think about that right now. She had a center to focus on, and she didn’t need to be getting distracted by a romance. Unfortunately, that logic didn’t slow her heart rate or even her breathing which suddenly felt restricted.

  “Thanks, Tucker.”

  Her gaze met his, and the squeezing sensation on her lungs tightened. His eyes were so dark. So dark that she felt as if she were falling as she gazed into their depths. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had affected her like this. Was he feeling something too?

  “Okay, it looks like the pipes are okay.” The plumber’s voice interrupted the moment, and Tucker’s hand dropped from her shoulder as he turned to face the man. Shelby blinked and tried not to focus on the cold spot that now pulsed where his hand had been.

  “I’ve got a machine thawing what I can reach, and I’ve turned up the heat in the rest of the center to get the ones in the walls. I’d like to take a look around and see how we can insulate them better, so this doesn’t happen again; but you can open now. The water pressure will be a little low until all the ice melts, but you do have water.”

  “Thank you.” Shelby checked her watch. It was nearly nine in the morning. She wasn’t sure how the parents who had stayed had managed it, but she was certainly thankful.

  After a final glance at Tucker, Shelby led the way back into the center. The heater was definitely working overtime and she could feel the warmth caressing her before she made it to the reception area to remove her coat. She fired up the computer and grabbed the stack of flyers that sat neatly next to it.

  Then she slid the window open that separated the reception area from the main gym and smiled at the line of people waiting to come in. “Okay, open for business.” She handed a flyer to the first mother. “Will you be staying all day?”

  “Definitely. Cooper is such a big fan.” Evidently, his mother was too because the woman barely glanced at Shelby as she took the paper. Her eyes were locked on Tucker who was shaking hands with the children as they entered.

  “Wonderful, well, that flyer has all the information about the clinic we’re holding tomorrow night. Cooper could get some training and bring something to be autographed. It’s one hundred dollars if you’re not a monthly member, but you can save twenty-five if we get you signed up to use the center through January.”

  “Sure, that sounds great. Will Tucker be working here through that time?”

  Shelby paused as she thought of how to answer. Tucker was required to spend twenty hours at the center, and he’d already fulfilled four of those hours. Even with only being able to get three or four hours a day, he’d be done with his obligation by the end of this week or early next week. That would take him through Christmas but definitely not through the entire month of January. While she hoped he would decide to stay after that, they hadn’t discussed it.

  “I don’t know, but I do know he’ll be here through Christmas.”

  “Oh, okay. Can I just pay for the rest of December then?”

  Shelby’s heart dropped but she forced her smile to remain pleasant. “Of course. I’ll get that set up for you.”

  The next woman’s response was nearly identical, as was the woman’s after that. By the time, Shelby had handed out the flyers and registered the kids for afternoon care, she had ten more people who said they would continue through the end of
the month, but no one who committed to staying longer. While she was grateful for the extra money, it begged the question of what she was going to do after Tucker was gone.

  “Hey, I have to get to practice, but I’ll see you at four.”

  She glanced up at Tucker who stood at the reception window. “Yes, of course, thanks for the help this morning.”

  “No problem.” He flashed her a lopsided smile, tapped the counter, and then he was gone.

  11

  Tucker pulled into the parking lot of the stadium, glad to see it only half full. He wasn’t late then; he’d been afraid he might be, having to drive slower than he normally would. Though the snow had stopped, the roads were still pretty slushy. Since Texas drivers rarely had to deal with snow, they were extra cautious, making the drive even slower than it had to be. A part of him wondered if they would even have practice today. Because it rarely rained and almost never snowed, the stadium only had a partial roof which meant the field might still be covered in snow. Even if it wasn’t, it would probably be a soggy mess.

  He grabbed his bag, locked his truck, and headed for the locker room. But as he reached the door, the unease pulled at his heart again. The guys had said nothing yesterday, but would they know today? Would Blaine tell them? A part of him didn’t think so. After all, Blaine was the captain, and it was his job to make sure there was unity and harmony on the team. Spreading negative information, even if it was the truth, about a team member certainly wouldn’t do that. But what if Blaine was tired of dealing with him? What if he saw this as a way to remove Tucker from the team? Sharing the information about his community service might create enough tension on the team to get him traded again.

  Tucker took a deep breath and tried to clear his head. Blaine wasn’t like that. He’d done nothing but be supportive to Tucker, so there was no reason to think he would change now. Besides, even if Blaine had told the other guys about the incident, Tucker would own up to it. He had been in the bar, and he could have refused to throw a punch. His actions were his alone, and he needed to stop passing the blame to others.

  He opened the door, fully expecting the hum of conversation to hush as he entered, but it didn’t. The men who were there gave him a head nod, but no one shot him an accusatory gaze. Tucker threaded his way to his locker and dropped his bag on the bench.

  “How did it go at the center last night?” Blaine asked, coming up behind him.

  Tucker sighed and glanced around the room. Blaine’s voice was low, but he had been hoping to avoid discussing the center. “It was fine. I aired up some balls and entertained the kids for a while.”

  Blaine nodded. “Good. Glad to hear it. Just keep your head down. No more fights, no more bars. Understand?”

  Tucker had no desire to step in a bar again, but agitation stirred in his stomach at Blaine’s words. He hated it when Blaine acted like this. He hadn’t had a father figure in years, and he definitely didn’t need Blaine trying to fill the role. “Yeah, I got it, Blaine.”

  Blaine stared at him a moment longer before issuing a curt nod. “Good. Suit up and be ready to go in ten. We’ve got a long practice today, and only a few more days to get prepared for the next game.”

  After donning his pads and practice jersey, Tucker jogged out onto the field for practice. True to Texas form, the snow had stopped. The temperature had risen, though it was still cold without his heavy jacket on. Most of the snow had melted, leaving soggy ground beneath. Whatever snow had remained on the field had been cleared, but the moisture made the ground slick and spongy beneath his feet just as he’d expected. A perfect recipe for injury if he wasn’t careful. He wished he’d left the center sooner because his muscles were cold and tight as well, but there was no additional time to warm up.

  Rubbing his arms to get the blood circulating, Tucker jogged over to the huddle where Blaine was giving the directions for the day. “Okay, I want to run an ‘up the middle’ and an ‘off tackle.’ The next team we’re facing has the number one defense in the league, so our running game is going to be important. That being said, Jackson needs to remain healthy, so no tackles today. Touch only. Is that clear?”

  The men nodded and Tucker took his place in the line. At the snap of the ball, he moved toward Blaine, took the ball, pocketed it in his arms, and ran up the middle of the line. He growled as his foot lost traction in the soft ground, and he stumbled before anyone had the chance to touch him.

  “All right, let’s try that again,” Blaine hollered as Tucker stood up. Frustration raged through Tucker as he made his way back to the line of scrimmage. Mud coated the front of his pants and socks, and his shoes squished, making his feet even colder.

  “You all right?” Blaine asked.

  “Fine, let’s just run it again.” Tucker handed the ball to Blaine, wiped his hands on the cleanest part of his jersey, and took his place in the line once again.

  “Hut,” Blaine yelled, and Tucker took off once more. He tucked the ball and pushed through the middle line managing a measly five yards.

  “Let’s try an ‘off tackle’ this time,” Blaine said as he held out a hand to help Tucker up.

  Tucker nodded and took his place once again. This time when the ball snapped, he ran toward the right line after making sure the ball was secure in his arms. He broke through the line and was just about to kick his speed into gear when he felt a shove on his back. It wasn’t that hard, really, but due to the slick grass, it sent him stumbling forward to the ground.

  As if fuel had been poured on a flame, anger burned within him, and he jumped up to confront the guy who had pushed him. “What’s your problem? Blaine said no tackles.”

  “I didn’t tackle you. It was a touch, man, chill out.”

  “It was a shove, and you know it.” Tucker pulled back his shoulders and moved until he was chest to chest with the other player.

  “All right, enough,” the coach said, jogging onto the field and interrupting the two men before it could escalate into a fight. “Tucker, take five. We’ll run some passing plays while you cool off.”

  “I don’t need to cool off. He needs to learn what a shove is.”

  “I said enough. Bench. Now.”

  Tucker narrowed his eyes at his teammate and then stalked off the field. As he sat on the bench watching the next few plays, he tried to slow his heart and calm his breathing. He’d been doing so well the last few days, so why did his temper have to flare up now? Even more importantly, what could he do to stop it?

  * * *

  “What’s wrong?” Shelby asked as Tucker yanked open the front door. The scowl on his face reminded her of his first day, but she hadn’t seen it since. He’d changed, at least when he was in the center.

  “Tough practice,” Tucker said, shaking his head. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Come here and talk to me first. If you go out there looking like that, you’ll scare the kids away, and I’d like them to come back tomorrow.” She was teasing, mostly, but she did worry about him being around the kids like this. They had enough worry on their plate without adding whatever was bothering him to it.

  Tucker sighed but nodded, and a moment later, he had dropped his bag and plopped down in the chair across from her. “I’m sorry, Shelby. I probably should have told you this earlier, but I have this anger issue. It doesn’t come up all the time, and I’ve been managing it with boxing classes; but after our last loss, I mouthed off to the quarterback. I don’t even know why — it wasn’t his fault, but sometimes I just can’t seem to stop it. Today, it happened again. One of the guys pushed me a little too hard and sent me sprawling to the ground, and I almost lost it.” He dropped his head into his hands. “I don’t want to be so angry, but I have no idea how to stop it.”

  Shelby pursed her lips together and placed a hand on his arm. She wondered if his anger issues had played a part in earning him community service. “Tucker, are you a believer?”

  “You mean like a Christian?” he asked, raising his head.

&
nbsp; “Yes, I mean like a Christian.”

  He shrugged and ran a hand across the back of his neck. “I don’t know. I mean, I guess I believe there’s a God, but I can’t say I’ve been close with him. At least not since my mom died. We pretty much stopped going to church then.”

  Tucker’s words hit Shelby like a brick, and she leaned back. No wonder he had anger issues. She’d seen it with the kids in the center who lost a parent or went through a messy divorce. Some retreated, some grew depressed, and some dealt with anger. She tried to think of the right words to say. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know about your mom. How old were you when she died?”

  His hand moved from his neck to his chin. “Twelve. Much younger than any boy should be when they lose their mother. Plus, my dad withdrew into his work after that, and I pretty much had to raise myself and my sister.”

  Shelby blinked back the tears stinging her eyes. “Tucker, it’s no wonder you’re angry then. That is more than any child should have to deal with, but you don’t have to deal with it alone. I know it’s not the same because you can’t see Him or touch Him, but God is your Father too, and He loves you. More importantly though, He can help you tame your anger and find forgiveness.”

  Tucker’s hand stilled and his eyes locked on hers. “Do you really believe that? You really think He can take away my anger?”

  She touched his arm again. “I know he can. I’ve seen Him do it. My mom was just like that when I was growing up. She would get angry over every little thing. So angry that I used to hide under my desk when she would scream and yell. It was the only place that felt safe. And then one day, she just stopped. She stopped being mad all the time, and she turned into this amazing woman. I didn’t ask her about it for a long time because I was afraid I might remind her and she would start yelling again; but one day, I got up the courage. She told me that God took her anger away. That she prayed for peace, and He gave it to her. Now, I know your situation might be a little different, but if God could do that for my mother, then I know He can do it for you as well.”