Backfield in Motion by Boroughs Publishing Group

attention knocked her on
her ass, then Brett wanted to ask her out? She’d suspected that the
quiet backup quarterback might actually be interested in her even
though he never showed any outward signs. Brett was a nice guy, a
good-looking guy, the type of guy any decent woman with half a
brain would love to date. So why wasn’t she excited? This
stupid-assed crush she had on Bruiser would never amount to
anything. Hell, she so didn’t even want it to go anywhere. It was
just a safe, harmless crush.
    Tonight something had changed between them,
and she was afraid they’d never go back to being casual friends.
Not that she had much time for even casual friends, not with her
brother missing and her father on the verge of a breakdown.
    Why did things have to be so
complicated?
    Steeling herself, Mac stood up straight and
strolled out of the bathroom as if she hadn’t a care in the world,
then stopped dead when she heard voices and her name was mentioned.
Holding her breath for fear of being caught, she stood there,
exposed to anyone who rounded the corner. Backpedalling, she
plastered herself against the wall behind a large potted plant.
    “Really, Bruce, a gardener?” Veronica’s
bitchy voice dripped with disgust.
    “She’s a groundskeeper and a damn good one.
Plus she knows her plants.” Her heart warmed at Bruiser’s defense
of her.
    “If you needed a date for tonight, you
could’ve asked me. I would’ve set you up with any number of
appropriate females. She’s not in keeping with the image the team
expects you to portray.”
    “Not the team, the image you expect
me to portray. Besides, I think she looks damn good.”
    “That much was obvious. You were salivating
after her like a teenage boy at the prom with the head
cheerleader.” Veronica snickered. “She mows grass for a
living.”
    “Seriously, Veronica, I can’t believe you’re
being such a bitch about this.”
    “Bruce, you’re the face of our team. Women
worship you. Guys want to be you. You need to keep up that
image.”
    Bruiser snorted. “First of all, who I choose
to spend time with is none of your business. Mac and I are friends.
She wanted to come here to show you another side of herself.”
    “Oh, now I understand. This is pity
date.”
    “I wanted to do this. Take some time to get
to know Mac better. She’s a hard worker and dedicated her job.”
    “What are you, her campaign manager?”
    Mac closed her eyes. This was so not going
well.
    “She’s applying for the staff scholarship. I
want you to consider her.”
    “The facilities director is endorsing Vince.
If he’s not convinced she’s the right choice, why would I override
his decision?”
    “Mac’s the best person for that scholarship.
Her continued education would be a great benefit to the team.”
    “And you know this how? It’s not like you’ve
mowed one blade of grass in your life.”
    “Maybe I have.”
    “Bruce, drop it. Forget doing her any favors
and go back to taking care of yourself. It’s what you do best.”
Veronica’s laugh taunted Mac, and Mac flexed her fingers, engaging
in a temporary fantasy involving wrapping them around Veronica’s
blue-blood throat.
    “Veronica, just give her a chance. She’s
only a few years from her horticulture degree.”
    “It might as well be light years. She’s too
young and not a good risk for the investment. I think she’s a
typical young woman looking to snag a rich, hot football player,
have babies, and…” Veronica’s voice faded away.
    Holding her breath, Mac waited until their
voices blended with all the others. She rubbed a hand across her
queasy stomach. The tantalizing smell of salmon and prime rib did
nothing for her appetite. She was not a typical young woman,
which should have been blatantly obvious to Veronica if she’d ever
noticed Mac working at the facility. Obviously, she hadn’t.
    Mac called for a taxi and started walking,
meeting the driver a few blocks away. Once she was safely in