Chapter 1
“Terrence Franklin just pulled up in a yellow Ferrari sports car!”
Kyra Dixon jumped as if she’d been zapped with a stun gun. Blistering-hot coffee sloshed over her mug and splashed onto her slingback sandals. She felt a tightening in her chest at the mention of her ex-fiancé’s name and calmed her nerves with a deep breath. Masking her annoyance, she turned and smiled grudgingly at her boss. “Good morning, Mr. Morrow.”
“Can you believe it? He’s finally here. I glanced out my office window, and there he was signing autographs and posing for pictures by the fountain.” Straightening his tie, he studied his profile in the coffeepot, a wide, goofy expression on his face. When he swung back around, his smile had doubled in length. “I asked Nikki to show Terrence into the conference room,” he explained, nodding furiously. “I wanted us to have some time to go over our game plan.”
“Our game plan?” she repeated, frowning. “Walter, I think I can handle a washed-up, ex-football player. I’ve been the public relations director at Hollington College for almost seven years. I know what I’m doing.”
“Terrence Franklin is more than just an ex-football player. He’s a living legend!” Tugging on his olive-colored suspenders, Walter rocked on the balls of his feet with gusto. “This is the biggest moment of your career, Kyra. For me, too!”
His face was flush with excitement, and he was practically slobbering on his starched white shirt. “I think you’re worrying for nothing, Walter. Terrence Franklin isn’t the superstar athlete he once was. Getting him to sign on as head coach will be a piece of cake.”
“Kyra, Kyra, Kyra.” Shaking his head in disapproval, he wagged a finger at her, as if he were scolding a wayward child. “We don’t have much time, but I’m going to give you a crash course on professional sports. Try to keep up.”
Spare me, she thought, adding another sugar cube to her coffee. Raising the mug to her lips, she listened halfheartedly as her boss spoke in a loud but reverent tone about the National Football League. Football was America’s favorite pastime. People watched it, talked about it and die-hard fans gambled on its outcomes. And, a player with the right personality could bring millions in revenue to any given city. Gesticulating wildly with his hands, his breathing grew deep and labored, like a pregnant woman on the verge of giving birth.
“Not only is the kid good-looking, he has more charm than a Hollywood movie star!” His big, bold laugh was like a blast of a trumpet. “He’s a Heisman Trophy winner, an eight-time all-star and the only running back to be voted most valuable player two consecutive seasons. And he’s here, at Hollington College!”
Her legs trembled like a toddler on stilts, but she didn’t slide to the floor like she had the morning Walter called to say her ex-fiancé was interested in the head coaching position. Even though Kyra despised Terrence and everything he stood for, she had to admit that his stats were impressive. Since being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, he’d broken long-standing records, amazed fans with his heroic plays on the field and built a cult following.
In ten seasons, he’d become the most talked about, most admired and most electrifying pro athlete. And every time Kyra turned on the TV, he was hawking the next big thing. Terrence was the golden boy of the National Football League and the media couldn’t get enough of him. Terrence had gotten injured during a nationally televised playoff game, but his coach had assured fans that he’d make a speedy recovery. Then, in a move that shocked the entire sports world, he’d announced his retirement and walked away from it all.
“Terrence is a superstar, and—” he leaned heavily on the word “—a Hollington alum. He’s given thousands to charity, and even partnered with the Make-a-Wish Foundation a few years back. Exceptional athletic ability and womanizing aside, he’s a good man, and an excellent role model for kids and teens alike.”
Kyra snorted. Big friggin’ deal. Her boss might think the former NFL running back was the salt of the earth, but she knew the real Terrence Franklin. The arrogant, showboating Casanova who didn’t have a loyal bone in his body. The one who craved the spotlight and female attention. In his third season, his off-the-field antics had tarnished his squeaky-clean image and after a wild night at a Las Vegas club Super Bowl weekend, the media had dubbed him Flash. Terrence seemed to derive great pleasure from shocking people. But what did she care? He wasn’t her problem, but if he took the head coaching position, the cavorting and partying had to stop.
“Kyra, you don’t watch football, so you don’t get how truly gifted he is.”
If he only knew. Since the day Terrence had stepped onto the field as the newest running back for the Hollington Lions, she’d watched every single one of his games. And she’d been there, along with Terrence’s family, when he was presented with the coveted Heisman Trophy. But admitting to her boss that she’d once been engaged to Terrence would only complicate things. Walter was a fair, easygoing man, who trusted her, and she didn’t want to disappoint him.
The hours were long and the accolades few, but Kyra loved working at her alma mater. And she wasn’t going to let her feelings stand in the way of doing her job. Besides, her history with Terrence wasn’t the issue. Convincing him to sign on as head coach of a losing team was going to be challenging enough without their past getting in the way. Yes, keeping mum about their relationship was definitely the way to go.
“Terrence Franklin is the fastest man ever. Carl Lewis? Maurice Green? Those guys have nothing on him. And if he ever decides to come out of retirement, the NFL and its fans will be waiting.”
“You really think so?”
He nodded fervently. “Terrence is one of the greatest running backs to ever play the game. Right up there with Deion Sanders, Emmitt Smith and...”
She sipped her coffee. A season ticket holder of the Atlanta Falcons for years, Kyra, and her two younger brothers had braved traffic, freaky weather and long lines every Sunday afternoon to cheer on the home team. They were there when Terrence scored his first touchdown in a Dallas Cowboys uniform. Saw him twist and spin out of tackles and shoot into the end zone like a human cannonball. And hollered feverishly when he shattered another decade-old record.
Kyra’s mind returned to that chilly afternoon ten years ago at the Georgia Dome when the Cowboys were playing the Falcons. Over the deafening roar of the crowd, she’d actually heard the thunderous beat of her heart. After celebrating with his teammates, Terrence stopped in the middle of the field, and lifted his eyes to the rafters, as if taking everything in. He’d stared up at Section A, and for a panic-stricken moment, she’d feared he would see her. It was a ludicrous thought, of course. He didn’t have extraordinary vision, after all, just lightning-quick speed. But in that moment, it was as real as her raging, out-of-control heartbeat.
“I love this school,” Walter confessed, his eyes filled with pride, “but I’m tired of watching our guys get butchered out there on the field. Attendance is at an all-time low, players are arguing between plays and even the cheerleaders sound depressed.”
Kyra