The next day is Saturday, and I take a much needed breather from work to take my sister to her soccer game. My sister Macy is fourteen, and in the car, she’s peppering me with questions about the new job.

“So you’re seriously working at Blackwell Industries?” she asks.

“Uhh, yeah,” I say.

“How did you get that job?” I explained to her how I turned Sebastian down, and that made him think I would be a good fit.

Macy nods, processing this information.

“So, you’re saying I should shut down the guys I like and they’ll want me?”

I chuckle. “I don’t know if that will always work. But you could try it, I guess. Although I don’t know if guys your age will be able to handle that kind of rejection.”

“Oh, King can definitely handle it. He’s the captain of the football team. He’s used to that kind of thing.”

“So this King guy is the one you have a crush on?”

“Uh, yeah! He’s the guy everybody likes. I don’t think he likes soccer girls though. Apparently, he has a thing for gymnastics girls.”

I glance over at Macy. She’s gorgeous. Fourteen, brunette. Her eyes are hazel, and looking at her makes me think I got the short end of the stick when it comes to looks in our family. And for her to think she’s anything else aside from damn gorgeous hurts my heart.

“Macy, you’re a catch,” I say.

She laughs, looks over at me.

“You’re a catch!”

She rolls her eyes. “Thanks, Sis. Changing the subject, what’s this I hear about you writing a romance novel?”

My grip on the steering wheel tightens.

“A romance novel?”

She smiles, like she’s got the dirty on me.

And she does. Not like I would keep something from her intentionally, but she’s young.

“Yeah, I know about that,” she continues. “Crystal’s sister told me Crystal talked to her sister, her sister talked to me. I’m actually a little bit upset that you don’t trust me enough to tell me.”

“Okay, you got me. I’m writing a little story for fun. Don’t take it personally that I didn’t tell you. Of course I trust you. But I don’t know if I’m a good writer. I don’t tell a lot of people about it. You obviously know now.”

“I do know. And I’m curious. Where do you get your inspiration? You haven’t dated in like forever. Since who, Patrick?”

“You mean the one who shall not be named.” I chuckle, and luckily we are pulling up to the Blackwell HS parking lot so we can end this awkwardness.

“Have a good game, kid.”

“I’m not done grilling you on this,” she says as she jumps out and grabs her gear from the back of the car. “I need to know all about this book.”

I park and head out to the Blackwell High School stadium, where the JV team has just taken the field. Macy goes with the varsity squad and does warm-up drills in the adjacent field.

I watch the game and enjoy the gorgeous fall weather.

Right before the varsity game starts, there’s a special announcement at midfield.

The head coach gets on the microphone, standing next to some Booster Club members and a few other people.

And then Sebastian Blackwell walks out, to whistles from the girls and cheers from the parents in the stands.

The coach says a few words. “And big thanks to the patron who made this new field possible, Sebastian Blackwell. We wouldn’t have been able to make this happen without your generous donation, and we’d like to present you with a special dedication.”

A few of the girls step forward with a golden plaque and ceremoniously hand it over to Sebastian. He steps to the podium.

“Yeah, I just want to thank all the teachers and the coaches I had during my time in Blackwell, who taught me all the lessons that I needed to be successful in life. They taught me that if I want something, all I need to do is go after it and work hard for it. As long as we have the right people and the right team in place, there is nothing we can’t achieve.” He speaks loudly, deeply, and from the heart. The crowd is riveted. He turns toward the line of girl soccer players standing on the sidelines. “And kids, I want you to know I was once standing in your shoes too. The most important lesson you need to take is that if your mind can conceive and believe something, you can achieve it. Now let’s have a good game!”

The crowd roars and Sebastian waves as he leaves the field.

My heart warms, and a new version of Sebastian takes hold in my heart.

One who is capable of loving as well as he does...other things.

Things that involve his dexterous tongue.

The field is incredibly nice, especially for a town like Blackwell that hasn’t got the most attention in terms of funds over the last few decades. We’ve been a pass-over town in so many ways.

I poke the soccer moms sitting on the bleacher next to me on the shoulder, because I’m curious about something.

“Hey, excuse me. Do you know how much this field cost?”

“Yeah, actually” she says. “I was on the committee that helped fund it. It was around five million dollars after everything.”

“Five million? Oh my God.”

“Yes,” she beams. “Five. I know a lot of people don’t like him, but Mr. Blackwell’s a generous man.”

I watch as Sebastian, now standing on the sideline and watching the beginning of the game, scans the crowd. We make eye contact, and he furrows his brow in the sun.

He says something to the head coach, and then makes a beeline toward me.

“Oh my God!” the soccer mom says. “Is Sebastian Blackwell coming our way?”

“Uh, yeah,” I say. “Hm, he’s really a man of the people.”

He’s trying not to walk toward me with a giant smile on his face.

“Hi,” Sebastian says simply when he arrives to our spot in the bleachers. He smiles at me, then, reaches out a hand for the woman next to me. “I’m Sebastian.”

“I know who you are,” she says, blushing. “I’m Samantha.”

The way she speaks, there’s a clear subtext. I’m Samantha and I’d love to get to know you a little more.

“The sky’s so damn blue today,” he smiles, ignoring her flirty look. “Can’t think of many things out there as blue as this damn sky.”

He looks me dead in the eye, and I can’t help but recall what he said about my eyes. “Mind if I take a seat?” he asks.

“Uh, sure!” Samantha says lickety-split, maybe a little too fast to my liking.

Am I getting jealous of this woman?

I watch her line of vision as she stares him down in Saturday clothes, Sebastian looks so much different than how he appears in the office. He’s got on jeans, boots, aviator sunglasses, and a t-shirt. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought it was just some sexy cowboy.

He sits right between the two of us, and Samantha does a good job of giving him just enough room so that he’s forced to graze her thigh. “I tell you what,” he says. “Days like these I live for. Sun in my eyes. People playing sports. Having a good time. Reminds me of my own high school sport days. And these kids out there, they are just living the damn dream.”

He scrubs a hand across his jaw, and shoots me a secretive, knowing smirk that sense goosebumps through me.

I decide to put in my own two sense into the conversation.

“It makes me think of what I’ve always said. If you can make your dream into reality, or your fantasy to reality…that’s what life is for.”

Sebastian shoots me a funny look, squinting through the sun. “Since when do you always say that?”

I smile, my leg just an inch to the right. Our legs are touching.

“Since yesterday,” I say with a peculiar smile. “I had a special lunch meeting with my boss. It made me realize a few things.”

“Oh,” Sebastian says. “That sounds like a successful lunch out.”

“I’m sorry,” Samantha interjects. “Where do you work again?”

“I work at Blackwell Industries.” I can’t help the devilish grin that spreads across my face.

“Uh, alright…so you two know each other.”

I shrug. “You could say that.”

Sebastian and I exchange a knowing glance, and I feel good that we share a secret.

We settle into the action of the game, and make small talk. Macy scores a goal and we cheer her on. When it’s all over, Sebastian stands up. “Well ladies, it’s been a pleasure, but I’ve got to be going.”

“Bye,” I say, and resist winking.

Samantha stands up as well, and hugs him goodbye. “Such a pleasure to meet you. I do have a small arts and crafts business, so let me know if you want to hang out and um, talk business.”

The way she says business makes me think she wants to do anything but.

I want to kiss him and show how I’m his, how he’s taken, but I freeze up. I can’t do anything. Our relationship isn’t official. It’s nothing.

As he walks away, I watch him. We’re not built to last. Our relationship, if you can call it that, is a shooting star bound to flame fast and die hard. I might as well not get emotionally invested, especially if that’s not something Sebastian wants.

Of course I’d want something more with him. But for now, I’m just going to enjoy the ride he’s taking me on.

He looks damn good in those jeans. His normal workday clothes don’t do Sebastian’s ass justice. As a matter of fact, I think I have my inspiration for my next scene with Lacy and Zane.