Sidetracked by love…
World-class sprinter Kelly Maxwell doesn’t have time for romance. But when she suffers an injury on the track, she begins to reevaluate her life. Facing a difficult recovery at a physical rehab facility in New York, Kelly must decide whether she really loves the sport. But after meeting with her physical therapist, Dr. Alex Hutchinson, she faces yet another hurdle.
Alex Hutchinson has fallen in love with the wrong woman before—another athlete just like Kelly. Now, years later, he doesn’t want to make the same mistake twice. He tries to back off, but the attraction is too strong. And when he realizes that Kelly’s coach has his own agenda, Alex tries to protect her even more. But is he ready to heal his broken heart?
Long Distance Lover
Donna Hill
Contents
Prologue
Associated Press—Atlanta
Scandal Rocks Sports World…
Kelly slowly read the headline.
Gold Medal Hopeful Stephanie Daniels Found Dead in her Atlanta Apartment. Kelly’s hands shook as she read on. Following an injury several weeks ago, Kelly Maxwell lost her starting position to Daniels along with her chance at a gold medal. Now it appears that with Maxwell on the mend and her competitor no longer a threat, Maxwell may well regain her golden-girl title. However, speculation abounds and the Atlanta police continue their investigation…
The rest of the words danced and scurried across the page like frightened ants. She tossed the Atlanta Journal-Constitution onto the couch in frustration. Her nerves were ragged and the circles under her eyes testified to her lack of sleep.
Ever since the story broke earlier that week the entire track team had been on pins and needles. Investigators from the sports commission had been all over them, digging, probing, wanting to hang something on them—her in particular. She was the star now, the comeback kid, the one in the spotlight, the one they would love to see fall. She was next in line for the starting position on the team—now that Stephanie was gone.
David swore to her that there was nothing to the story—an ugly rumor that had gone haywire, he’d said.
Now, she didn’t know what to believe. Too many things didn’t add up and what did she didn’t like. If everything the papers said was true, her future was over and she had no one to blame but herself.
Moving slowly through her one-bedroom garden apartment in the exclusive Atlanta community, she glanced around at the trophies, the symbols of her accomplishments, the expensive furniture and original artwork, which were all a testament to her ability on the track.