Page 4

SEVEN YEARS LATER

MADISON

“Madison?”

“Yeah, Mom.”

“Your phone has been ringing for the last hour. What’s the deal?”

I am always forgetting my damn phone. “Sorry. I forgot it.”

She rolls her eyes as she hands me the phone. “It must be important. It says fifteen missed calls.”

“Yeah. Thanks.” I take my phone from her hand and yep, fifteen calls in the last hour and a half from my agent and a number I don’t recognize. I walk away and hit the last voicemail.

A woman’s deep, sultry, southern accented voice drawls. “Hi. This is Georgie Scott, head coach for the Dallas Dauntless FC.” She exhales a heavy sigh. “I’m trying to reach Madison Bennett.” She goes on to leave her number. My mind scrambles. I don’t recognize the name, and the Dauntless wasn’t on my list for potential soccer teams. Penny would know. I dial my best friend from college.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Penny.”

“Hi, Benny. How are you? Is your mom driving you nuts, yet? I still don’t understand why you decided to rehab your knee in Dallas.”

“I’m good. Um. Pen? I got a call from Georgie Scott with the Dauntless FC.”

Penny sucks in air like a hoover, making a funny squeak. “The Dauntless are good, and they’re in Dallas. Their coach is a legend.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. What did she say?”

“She left messages.” When did I become the woman that was afraid to listen to my own voicemails?

Penny scoffs. “You didn’t have your phone again, huh?”

“You know me.” And she really does. We met at Freshman orientation the summer before college. We roomed together for all four years. She left Boulder after our Freshman year like I did. I’d never been as unhappy as I was under Coach York. She took an instant dislike to both of us. I stretch my neck with a sigh. We had hoped to find a professional team to take both of us. A pipe dream. FC New Orleans drafted Penny while I was drafted to the Phoenix Bobcats. I extend my knee, well until I blew my ACL and that bitch of a coach took over at Phoenix in the off-season. Now I’m team-less when all of my former teammates have been playing all season while I’ve been out since March. I stretch my leg, remembering the first game of the season when I injured my knee.

“Benny?”

“I’m here. What do you know about Dallas?”

Penny pauses. “The team or the city?”

“You’re funny Penny. I only lived here all of my childhood. I mean the team, silly.”

“It’s great. Two former Wildcats play for them. The coach, Georgie Scott, is a dream. She’s an ex-player, and her husband assists her as her lead assistant coach. They’ve been rebuilding for three years; this should be their break out year. She must want you to replace Holly, who unexpectedly retired last week.” She clicks her tongue. She’s thinking. “This could be a perfect fit. You’re better than Holly and younger. You were captain for two years in college, so you’ve got the leadership experience.”

“Gah. I’d be brand new to the team. There’s no way she’s planning for me to take on that role. Six of her players have much more experience than me.”

“I guess. I suppose I’m biased. You were my captain and did a stellar job.”

“You’re my best friend, Penny. I don’t have any experience with these players.”

She clicks her tongue again. “Well, looks like you’re going to get to know them.”

“Yeah. Thanks. I’ll call with deets.” I hang up the phone and stare at it. Do I call now or should I wait?

My phone rings in my hand, startling me, and I almost drop my phone. “Hello?”

“Oh finally. Hi. I’m Georgie, Georgia Scott of the Dallas Dauntless. I assume this is Madison?”

“Yeah. Hi.”

“I had planned on schmoozing you when I got you on the phone, but I’m just too excited. We’d like to have you in to meet with us on Friday. I’m aware it’s only three days away, but we spoke to your agent, and we all think you’re a perfect fit for the Dauntless.

“Uh. Sure. You’ll send me the itinerary?”

Georgie blurts. “Yes. My assistant will call in a few. Can’t wait to meet you.” The line goes dead, and I’m staring at my blank phone again. Why the hell didn’t my agent call me and tell me what was going on? And why isn’t my team fighting to keep me? I know why. The Bobcats hired my former college coach, and she hates me. This is revenge for my leaving her in Boulder. The feeling is very mutual. I thought Phoenix would want to keep me after my accomplishments last season. Once again, I missed the memo that what I expect isn’t what’s going to happen.

Three days later, I step into the Dauntless facilities. Penny said the team was rebuilding, but damn, the place looks like a show pony in a corral of burros. Everything in the building looks new and polished. Much better amenities than Phoenix. I glance at the wall. Every award and recognition for the last ten years is showcased behind glass. The championship win from eight years ago is highlighted with the silver trophy. My friend and agent’s words rattle around in my brain about what a fortuitous opportunity the Dauntless would be for me. Everything I could want in a contract is on the table.

I jump as a woman’s voice hits my brain. “I see you found the brag case.”

A beautiful black woman wearing a dark gray power suit with a bright red shirt and shoes approaches as she extends her hand. “Hi. I’m Georgie.”

I grasp her hand in mine and smile. “Hi. Nice to meet you, I’m Benny.” She chuckles and the soft lilt of her voice catches me off-guard.

“It’s an unusual nickname for a woman. From ‘Bennett,’ right?”

“Yeah. It was a family nickname that helped me out in grade school. Too many Madisons in school, so the P.E. teacher called us all by nicknames. There were two Madison B’s, so she called me ‘Benny.’

Georgie smirks. “And the other was called?”

“Barry. Her last name was Barrison.”

She cackles. “Very creative. We have two Amandas, so maybe this idea could be a trend.”

I put my finger up to my lips. “Let’s not mention the idea came from the new girl.”

She doesn’t respond as she turns with her hand outstretched. “Let’s tour.”

The gleaming white floors remind me of a hospital: sterile and stark. The long hallway has a dozen doors leading into it, and while most are closed, I can see into a few of the offices. They’re well decorated with professional looking people sitting at the desks.

“Our staff is almost entirely new since we took over.”

I nod as I absorb the experience. “When RMK bought the Dauntless, they brought you in as the head coach?”

“Yes. I went to college with Mackenzie and Robert. They named their corporation after their initials R. M. Kilkenny.”

A man barrels into the hallway and nearly steps on my foot. I recognize the scent, and my body alerts. He turns to smile at Georgie. “Sorry.” As his focus swings to me, his face morphs from a handsome man to an ogre as soon as he sees me. “Oh.”

“Oh?” I scoff. “Good morning to you, too, Dixon.”

Georgie’s head pings back and forth between me and the gorgeous obnoxious man. “You’ve met before?”

He rolls his eyes. “She’s my best friend’s little sister.”

Georgie raises her hands. “Excellent. Another family connection.”

The color drains out of Dixon’s face. “What?”

“A little slow on the uptake.”

The realization that I’m standing with the head coach hits his face like a flyswatter. “Wait. Really?” His scowl lifts into a beaming smile that lights up those stellar sea-green eyes.

Georgie’s smile drifts into a scowl. “What’s going on here, Dixon?”

For a moment, I forget about our past and my heart lifts at the thought he’s so happy to see me. As fast as his happiness resonated on his gorgeous face, it dims as quickly.

“Nothing.” He glares at me. I guess he thinks I’m going to word vomit all over my new potential coach that we had a relationship. I wonder if he’s still married. Cringing inside, I scold myself for caring.

Georgie’s stare continues to follow him as he heads into a different office than the one he came out of. “That was… interesting.”

I chuckle. “Men.”

She laughs. “Right? I find them intriguing but tiresome.”

That’s a good explanation of Dixon. “Does he work here?”

“Sort of. He works for Campbell Petrov Security and Protection. They handle organization security. He’s our liaison. You’ll see him once a week or so.”

I’m not going to see him ever again if I can manage it.

DIXON

What the hell is the little nymph doing in Dallas? I tap the door of the Team Assistant Manager and friend, Kyle Brooks. “You’re bringing on Benny Bennett?”

His eyes read my face. “Who?”

I flick my head to the door. “Bennett.”

Recognition pops on his face. “Oh. Madison Bennett.” He purses his lips. “You know her?”

“Yes. She’s my best friend’s little sister.”

“Small world. Her file looks really clean, I doubt you’ll have any security work to do for her.” I sit down across from his desk as his face morphs into a huge smile. “You like her?”

“What? No!”

Kyle gives me the side-eye. “I think he doth protest too much. Have you two…?”

I throw up my hands. “She’s not my type.” Well, not my type anymore since I fucked it up again with her in Newark a few years ago.

Kyle cocks his head. “I’ve met your type. And yes, she is. She’s exactly your type. Trust me, I’m just as happy if you avoid her. We don’t need any fraternization.”

“Sure.” I pull my large body out of the chair and stand before his desk. “So, her knee is good?”

“You tell me, pal. You’ve got a history with her.”

“No. Her brother and I don’t discuss her.”

He cocks his head. “There’s more to this story, huh?”

“No idea Kyle. I’ll catch you later.” Damn straight there’s more to this story. We had a good thing starting until I ruined it all. Fuck. This is a nightmare.

MADISON

I grab my phone from my purse and turn it on, frantically pushing buttons.

Penny answers and I blurt before she can say ‘hello’. “He’s here.”

“Ooh. I love guessing games. Let me guess… Snoop Dogg?”

I laugh. It’s a desperate, I’ve been lost in the desert and finally rescued kind of laugh. “Ha, ha. Dixon.”

“Dixon… Dixon? Where?” “In Dallas.”

“Didn’t your brother tell you he was going to be in Dallas?”

“We don’t ever talk about Dixon. It took them months to get their friendship back after we got snowed in together in New Jersey. He’s a forbidden subject.”

Penny clicks her tongue. “Wait. How much does he know about all of it?”

“Who? My brother? Well, I didn’t tell him. I can’t imagine Dixon shared all about our hunting adventure or New Jersey, either.”

“And you haven’t seen him again?”

I blow out my breath. “Not since I spent those four days with him in Newark three years ago, but no. Not lately.”

Penny speaks. “He’s a liar and a cheat. Be grateful you dodged a bullet.”

“Damn straight, I dodged a bullet. Think about the drama if we had continued with it. We had two brief flings, and Newark could have been a happy memory, but when Brian told me Dixon was married, that ruined it.”

Penny breathes out a hard breath. “He had an excuse about why he was married and the fact that it didn’t mean anything.”

“To him. To me, it meant everything. Loyalty means everything. You know this after what my father did to my mother. I…”

“I’m sorry, Benny. I can’t imagine he’ll be in Dallas long. Where’d you see him?”

“At the stadium. He works there.”

“What do you mean he works there? He’s not a SEAL anymore?”

I swallow, trying to take a moment to process. “He works for the Dauntless in security or something.”

“Oh… That could be weird.” Her statement hangs in the air like the smell of dirty gym socks.

“Yeah. I guess he’ll just be around occasionally. He works for some security firm and just stops by.”

Penny pauses. “You’ll just have to avoid him… Unless you'd rather not?”

“Pfft. That ship sailed.” I blow out my breath, trying to assure myself that it’s true.

“Tell me about the team.”

Penny’s enthusiasm about this opportunity gives me something else to focus on. I ramble for the next twenty minutes talking about the facilities and the team. I have to take the position. It’s better money than the average and being cut by the Bobcats after my injury has put an asterisk by my name.

“What’s your brother going to say about you guys being in proximity again?”

“I don’t have a clue what Brian is going to think about this. It doesn’t matter. I’ve worked long and hard to put him into the brother box he belongs in. I’m not sure I’m even going to mention it. It will just be another subject we avoid.”

“See, there’s a downside to not talking about him with your brother. You would have known and been prepared to see him.” She pauses, which means she’s going for the real questions. “How did it feel to see him again?”

“It sucked.”

“I can imagine. Is he still hot?”

“Damn it, Penny. That’s not something I need to think about.”

“Ha. So, he is.”

“Yeah. He’s still hot. Maybe hotter than ever.”

She sighs. “I’m sorry.”

My throat constricts at the thought of our two brief chances at a relationship. “Let’s talk later.”

“Sure, hun. Call me when you’re watching our show tonight.”

“Yeah. Bye.” I end the call and swallow, not wanting to think about the hurt he caused when he left the first time without telling me. Then three years ago, our hot accidental forced proximity at the hotel in Newark. My mind drifts to the past.