Page 5

“O-line is top tier,” Logan announces. “Austin has really turned into a leader, and the boys like him. He has a good attitude, and he keeps calm under pressure. If he does well in college, he could go all the way to the pros.”

I take a drink, doing my best not to beam with pride. It’s bad enough I get accused of favoritism by some of the parents. I don’t even respond to them. They need to wake up. Like I wouldn’t put my best player at the top of the roster.

Nostalgia warms my chest when I remember his first camp three years ago. He was hungry and as clumsy as some of the boys out there today, but he was determined.

I could see he was a hard worker. Dylan said he’d been practicing every day leading up to camp, and when he made that first catch, the way Allie almost cried…

Clearing my throat, I distract my thoughts from her shining blue eyes, the way she looked at me like I was her hero. “Lucas Outlaw’s coming along. I expect he’ll be QB-1 next year.”

Logan nods. “He doesn’t have the natural talent that Austin has, but he’s enthusiastic.”

“They’re all green at this stage, but they’ll be ready to play by the end of next week.” Zane is always there to provide calm logic.

He’s come a long way from the broody, wounded loner who returned from Baltimore on crutches after a shocking injury forced him into retirement. He was hobbled and in a dark place for a while. We were all worried.

If it weren’t for Rachel and Edward, I’m not sure he would’ve seen the light. Edward’s special needs and interest in horses were the first step, then Rachel’s sunny disposition and healing hands broke through his anger.

Now they’re married, and he even smiles occasionally.

I glance over at him. “How are you feeling about Rome?”

“I’ll get him there.” Zane tilts his beer to the side, but he’s not smiling now.

Dad always said a good kicker can save a game, and he was never wrong. Not only that, I’ve been in games where the extra point cinched the win.

“Hey, Coach.” I recognize Austin’s voice. “I’m surprised you’re still standing. I’m about to pass out.”

He’s with Edward, and I’m sure they’re going to play pool.

“Austin, Edward.” I smile at the boys. “I won’t be long.”

They continue walking, and the petite woman following quietly behind them sparks a low hum of electricity beneath my skin.

“Hey, Coach.” Allie’s voice carries a cute tease, and she pauses where I’m standing with my brothers. “Is this a Bradford Boys official meeting?”

“Hey, Al.” Garrett straightens, going to where she stands blinking up at us.”You working tonight?”

As I expected, she’s wearing those cutoff jeans that show off her legs and a red Cooters & Shooters tee that hugs her breasts, which are small but look like nice handfuls.

She’s doing something different with her hair, piling it all on top of her head in one of those messy buns, and she’s wearing glasses. I didn’t know she needed glasses. Interesting .

Her legs are tanned, and her bright red toenails peep out from her black flip-flops. She’s the picture of a south Alabama beach girl, and it doesn’t just make me want her, it feels like she’s mine. I’d like to put her on her knees, and…

“No, sir, I’m only here Thursday nights during the school year.” She lifts her chin, smiling up at him. “I’m just dropping off the boys, and I have a special delivery for Coach Jack.”

My dick jumps when she says it that way. I imagine her saying it as I tell her how pretty she looks taking my dick. Shit .

Turning away, I take a sip of cold beer.

“Look, Daddy!” My daughter prances up behind Allie clutching a small, orange kitten to her chest. “Aunt Deedee said we could get one more kitten, but that’s it !”

Her imitation of my sister’s cross voice is a good distraction, shutting down my unbidden thoughts of Allie .

Kimmie is so much like my sister was at that age, it makes me smile. This little girl and I’ve been through a lot since her mom left us in Texas.

I found out quickly that relationship was a mistake. She didn’t understand me, and she didn’t want to. She pushed me away and said I was a misogynist, and when she turned up pregnant, I put all my needs away.

I was ready to be whoever I needed to be for my daughter. I wanted to be a good dad and husband, but Danielle didn’t want to settle down.

I’d never badmouth Kimmie’s mom, but her dreams came first. She left me alone in that penthouse apartment hundreds of miles from any help.

My contract was up for renewal, but I was at the top of my game. I was a star, on my way to being a legend like my dad. None of it mattered.

The first time my baby girl looked up at me with her big brown eyes, exactly like my mother’s and my sister’s, that was it. I retired and came home.

“Let me see this guy.” I take the prickly critter from my daughter’s hands.

“It’s a girl, Daddy. Her name is Apricot, and Miss Gina said she’s a born mouser!”

“She’ll have her work cut out for her around here in a few months.”

Cold weather doesn’t last long this far south, but when the temperatures drop, we usually get a few field mice. Heck, when the temperatures drop, a lot of unusual things seem to happen.

“Can we keep her at our house til she gets a little bigger?” Kimmie blinks up at me, but I’m immune to her charms.

Most of the time.

“Not this time, Peanut.” Squatting down to her level, I pass the kitten to her again. “She needs to stay here with Smokey and establish her territory. ”

And I know if we bring Apricot to our house, she’ll never leave.

Kimmie’s bottom lip pokes out, and she makes a pouty noise.

Straightening, I put my hand on her shoulder. “You’ll be starting school in another week. Who’ll play with Apricot then?”

Her pout twists into a half-frown as she thinks about it. Also like my sister, her little Type-A logic is the one saving grace in all her enthusiastic impulsivity.

Exhaling a resigned breath, she shakes her head. “I do have to go to school, I guess.”

“I guess you do.” I hold back a chuckle, but she’s pretty cute doing her best to act as grown-up as the adults surrounding her.

She turns, slowly walking to the kitchen as the small orange cat claws its way onto her shoulder.

“Jack Bradford?” A deep male voice approaches from the door, and a man about my height with light brown hair and a clean-shaven face leads a boy even taller to where we’re standing.

The man’s dressed in khakis and a light blue golf shirt that stretches over his thick middle. I don’t recognize them, but I can see the boy is high school-aged.

The man gives me that smile I know well. It means he’s about to give me an order—but in a friendly way. I get that a lot in this job.

Only, I don’t take orders. I give them.

I square my stance, facing them. “That’s me.”

The man sticks out a hand. “Name’s George Powell, and this here’s my son Levi.”

Reaching out, I give him a firm shake. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Powell. Levi.”

“Call me George.” He smiles, but again, it’s only conditionally friendly.

“George,” I say easily. “Something I can do for you?”

“More like what I can do for you.” He grins like a salesman. “We just moved here from Gainesville. That’s in Florida. ”

“I’m familiar with it.”

“Levi was starting quarterback at his old high school, and when I heard the Jack Bradford was head coach at Newhope High, I said my son had to join the team.”

It’s a line I’ve heard before.

My eyes move to his son, and I meet his gaze head-on, trying to get a read on this young man. Levi is slightly taller than I am. He has well-defined muscles, which means he’s been training. His light brown hair is a bit too long and shaggy, but his brown eyes are serious, if a bit loose.

“What grade are you in, Levi?”

“I’m a senior, sir.”

“This isn’t the military. You can call me coach.”

“Yes, sir, Coach.”

My lips press, but I let it go. We’re in the south, where saying ma’am and sir are just part of the culture.

“How do you feel about playing football?”

“It’s the best thing in the world, Coach. It’s the only thing that matters to me.”

“Your grades will need to matter to you if you play for Newhope. You’ll be off the team if they fall below a 3.0 average.”

Levi nods, and I glance at his father, wondering what kind of parent moves a kid one state away from home at the start of senior year just for me.

I’m good, but there’s more to getting into college than a coach.

Maybe they came here so Levi could play a year with me, or maybe they came here for some other reason. Whatever it is, all of it will impact the way he behaves and performs on the field, which is my business.

“How do you feel about joining a new team as a senior?”

Meaning, the team has already been established, the boys all know each other, and the starting lineup is set as far as they know .

Hell, everyone’s been watching Austin for the past two years. These guys aren’t ignorant if they know high school ball.

Levi hesitates, glancing at his father before returning his eyes to mine.

His chin lifts, and a cocky expression crosses his young face. “I’ll be the best player you’ve ever had, Coach. Just put me in the game.”

It didn’t answer my question, but my face remains neutral. I feel a shift in the group of brothers behind me, and I know they’re all eavesdropping.

“Is Levi enrolled at the high school?” Never hurts to be sure.

“We got him signed up this week,” his father answers.

Inhaling slowly, I think about what this means, how it will impact the offensive line I’ve built. It’s good to have a backup quarterback. It’ll bump Lucas down to third string, but it’s only for a year.

Shifting my stance, I nod, exhaling slowly. “We’re halfway through training camp. I need you to suit up and be on the field Monday at 7 am sharp so I can see what you’ve got.”

“He’ll be there.” George puts a hand on his son’s shoulder, smiling.

So many parents are over-involved in their kids’ lives. I know it’s because earning a scholarship is a big assist, but these two don’t look like they need money.

Looks can be deceiving, I suppose.

“Nice to meet you both.” I leave it at that, returning to my brothers.