Love at the 20-Yard Line (3 page)

Chapter Three

Monday morning, Haven sent Mr. Young a brief email about how well represented the company was at the game Friday night. She was surprised to glance up from her desk that afternoon and see her boss smiling at her from the doorway of her office.

“Have fun at the game?” Mr. Young asked, stepping into the room and sitting down in a chair across from Haven.

“Well, um… I… it, um… My brothers had a great time, sir. Thank you for the tickets.” Haven took an envelope from her desk drawer and slid it across the tidy surface to her boss. “These are the tickets for the rest of the season. I’m sure you want to give others the chance to attend.”

“Actually, Haven, I’d prefer you go to all the games. You can take whomever you want with you, but just work them into your schedule, please.” Mr. Young gave her a look she couldn’t quite decipher.

“Are you certain, sir? Seth and Adam both love football.” Haven knew her two coworkers would enjoy the games much more than she would. “They might…”

Mr. Young cut her off, holding up a hand to indicate her silence. “Nope. I want you to go. You really need to stop putting in so many hours here, Haven. I know you worked more than sixty last week. Judging by the volume of emails from you first thing this morning, I’d assume you also took work home with you this weekend. Is that correct?”

“Yes, it is. I wanted to get the Clemson account settled and I need to…”

“Not work so hard.” Mr. Young smiled at her again. “I appreciate your loyalty and dedication to your job, but you’re going to burn out and I don’t want to lose such a valuable employee. That’s why I’m hiring an assistant for you and Seth to share. I’ll let you know when I have some candidates to interview. I want both of you to be in on my decision.”

“Mr. Young, I…” Haven struggled to sort out her thoughts and feelings at this announcement. She finally found her voice. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

“It’s not thoughtful. It’s entirely selfish. You and Seth carry the bulk of the work around here and I want to keep you both happy. We’re a good team, but you both need to get out more and stop spending every moment working. Get a life, date someone for goodness sakes.” Mr. Young stood and moved to the door, amused by Haven’s shocked expression. “While I’m at it, get out of here and enjoy an extra hour or two of free time.”

“But sir, I have to…”

“Put on your coat and go. I insist.” Mr. Young crossed his arms over his chest and waited for Haven to do his bidding.

Reluctantly, she turned off her computer, straightened her already neat desk and started to grab a file to take home with her. Mr. Young strode across the room and grabbed it from her hand.

“No homework tonight. Go, Haven. Go out to dinner. Go to the spa. Go shopping,” Mr. Young suggested, holding her coat as she slipped her arms into the sleeves then picked up her purse and handed it to her. “Go do something completely fun and frivolous. Then be back here, raring to go tomorrow. I have a new client coming in I want you and Seth to meet.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.” Haven walked down the hall and shrugged at the receptionist as Mr. Young entered Seth’s office. She assumed he’d be shoved out the door in short order.

Haven decided to take the unexpected time as a welcome gift, but couldn’t decide what to do. She drove to the mall and spent an hour browsing through stores.

When she shopped, it was because she needed a specific item. Normally, she would race into a store, get what she needed, and hurry back out. Nevertheless, today she could browse to her heart’s content. She found two blouses and a pair of jeans she liked and purchased them along with a new pair of shoes.

Delighted by her unexpected shopping trip, Haven wandered to the bookstore and browsed, selecting a title from the romantic suspense section. She bought it and a big hot chocolate on her way out the door.

After hurrying home, she changed into jeans and a sweatshirt then curled up on the couch with the book and drink, immersing herself in a world much different from her own.

Lost in the story, she failed to notice the afternoon light grew dim. At an exciting point in the tale, she had no awareness of anything beyond the book in her hand.

A knock on her door made her yelp as she dropped the book on the floor and glanced around, wide-eyed.

The pounding resumed and she rushed to the door. Hale stood on her step, holding bags of Chinese food.

“I come bearing gifts,” he said, grinning as he stepped inside. “I wasn’t sure you’d be home yet since it isn’t obscenely late and you’re usually still hunched over your desk at work, but I took a chance.”

“I’m glad you did.” Haven led the way to her kitchen and took two plates out of the cupboard, setting them on her small table. “What brings you to my humble abode?”

“Can’t I drop by for dinner with my favorite sister without having a reason?” Hale removed his coat and sat down at the table. He helped Haven take the food out of the bags and passed her the fried rice with an innocent shrug.

“You’re joking, right? I’m your only sister so don’t try buttering me up with that favorite business. The only time you guys come over is when you want me to do something.”

“True.” Hale smiled as he helped himself to orange chicken and broccoli beef. “But I really did come over without any ulterior motives tonight. It’s been a while since just the two of us have hung out and I wanted to see how things are going for you.”

Haven set down her fork and stared at her brother. Tom and Wes could be obnoxious and thickheaded most of the time. Hale was the one who offered his support when she needed it and often gave her good advice. She picked up her fork and continued eating but still wondered what brought Hale to her door. He rarely dropped by just to visit, but maybe this was one of those far and few between instances.

“So, did you enjoy the game Friday?” Hale asked, knowing Haven wouldn’t have gone unless she had to. “It was fun to meet that player. What was his name?”

“Brody. Brody Jackson,” Haven supplied, far too quickly. She’d never admit it to anyone, least of all one of her brothers, but the football player had been in her thoughts since the game Friday evening. She kept picturing that head of dark hair, square chin, and rich brown eyes. If she closed her eyes, she could hear his gravelly voice and it made gooseflesh ripple up her arms. “At least I think that was his name.”

Hale looked at her with a narrow, knowing glare. “Yep. That was his name. What did you do with the ball he gave you?”

“Tommy tried to keep it, and I would have let him, but he irritated me before I got him home, so it’s in my closet.” Even if her brother hadn’t annoyed her, she still would have kept the ball. It had Brody’s name and the date scrawled across it. For some reason, Haven couldn’t part with it.

Hale laughed and shook his head. “You know, someday the two of you are going to have to learn to play nice together.”

“Someday, maybe.” Haven gave Hale an impish grin. “But that day has not yet arrived.”

“Are you going to the game this weekend?”

“Yes.” Haven speared a piece of broccoli with force. Although she did enjoy the game and was secretly thrilled at meeting Brody, she didn’t want to go back.

If she did, it would be extremely hard for her to keep pretending she wasn’t interested in the hunky football player. She knew even if she managed, by some miracle, to catch his eye, she’d just be a conquest for him then he’d move on to the next girl. She didn’t intend to become involved with him. Ever.

Men like Brody Jackson were bad news. Especially to softhearted, sensitive girls like Haven.

“Don’t sound so excited about it,” Hale teased, sitting back in his chair and studying his sister. He and Tom both noticed her interest in the ballplayer and planned to find out if she was going to do anything about it.

He could count on one hand the number of dates his sister had been on in her lifetime and the girl was almost twenty-six. Smart, pretty, and funny, he didn’t know what was wrong with the men she encountered. She should have them beating down her door.

Instead, because she tended to be reserved around strangers, most of them didn’t give her a third glance. Those big blue eyes and curly blonde hair always got her a second look, but that was as far as it tended to go.

“I’m not excited in the least, but Mr. Young decided I will serve as the official office representative at all the games. I tried to talk him into letting Seth or Adam go, but he wouldn’t even discuss it. However, he is hiring an assistant for Seth and me to share. He told me to stop working so many hours.”

“That’s great news, baby girl. You work too hard. It’s about time you quit hiding behind your desk and get a life.”

“I’ve got a life, Mr. Know-It-All. I’ve got… stuff going on.” Other than work and the occasional trip out to the farm to visit her parents, the most excitement in Haven’s life was spending a random evening with her cousin Allie and her crazy friends.

“Yeah, I know all about your stuff, missy. Admit it, you are a workaholic and need an intervention. I’m grateful Mr. Young doesn’t take advantage of that. He must really value your work.” Hale finished his dinner and reached for a fortune cookie. He broke it open, chuckled as he read his fortune, and handed the message to Haven.

She rolled her eyes after reading, “
Your wisdom exceeds your years
,” on the little slip of paper.

“Don’t let that go to your already swollen head,” she said, opening her cookie. The message it contained made her choke on a bite of rice, causing it to go down wrong. Hale thumped her on the back and snatched the fortune from her fingers.

He grinned and held it out to her. “Guess you better start enjoying those football games, Haven. Brody Jackson is your best prospect.”

Haven’s cheeks flushed at the words written on the fortune in her cookie. “
True love comes to those who tackle it
.”

“Who writes these stupid things, anyway?” Haven wadded up the little piece of white paper, suddenly losing her appetite. “That’s ridiculous. What’s it supposed to mean? I hope you know I’m not tackling anybody.”

Hale laughed again, patting Haven’s arm. “That’s what you’ve got big brothers for, isn’t it? To do the tackling on your behalf? You just tell us who to take out and we’re there.”

Haven giggled as Hale made a funny face then started cleaning up the leftovers from dinner.

He helped her with the dishes and they sat visiting in her living room for a while before he got up to leave.

“I’m glad things at work are going to get better for you. You really do work too much.”

“I know, Hale. Thanks for your support. And for going with me to the game Friday. You want to go this week? The game’s Saturday night.”

“Can’t. I promised to take Abby to see that new chick flick that’s out.” Hale vigorously rubbed a hand over Haven’s head, mussing her hair. Amused by the static making it stand on end, he watched as she tried to brush it out of her face and pulled on his coat. “I’m sure Tom would be willing to go.”

“Yeah, but I can’t afford to feed him every time there’s a home game. I’ll see who else I can round up.” A prick of guilt niggled at her for not inviting Tom. She knew she could call him if she couldn’t find anyone else to go with her.

“You’re a good sport. Have a great week at work,” Hale said, as he opened the door and cold rushed inside.

Haven shivered but waved at him. “I will. Thanks for dinner tonight, big brother. I’m glad you came over.”

“Me, too. But you can buy or cook next time,” Hale called as he opened his pickup door.

“It’s a date.” Haven waved one last time before closing her door. She returned to the couch and the book she’d spent the afternoon enjoying.

Her thoughts continued to wander to one extremely fit and handsome football player instead of the story in her hands.