Carson didn’t give Jason time to react. He grabbed him by the throat, lifted him off his feet, and slammed him through the set of double doors and forced him outside. He blocked out the world around him—the only thing in his sight was the man who had hurt his girl.
“Motherfucking prick,” he seethed, his fists itching for violence. He no longer cared about his reputation or football. He had enough money to live comfortably for three lifetimes. All that mattered was Sadie. “You get one shot at telling the truth. Why are you harassing Sadie Reynolds?”
Jason swallowed, breaking out in a sweat. He stared up at Carson—too frightened to talk.
Carson pushed him, and Jason stumbled back, smacking into someone standing behind them. Carson looked around, there were dozens of people gathered, many with their cell phones recording everything he was doing. Might as well make the end of his career count.
“Why?” he asked again, stalking closer to Jason.
Just as Carson drew his fist back, Ty stepped between them. “Listen to me,” he said calmly. “Save those hands for the game, okay? I’ve got this.”
Before Carson could protest, Donovan locked his arms around Carson’s waist from behind, holding him back while Ty landed punch after punch on Jason’s face. Once he collapsed in a bloody heap, he kicked him in the ribs. “Didn’t your mama raise you better? The next time you want to fuck with someone—call me.” Ty reached in his back pocket and pulled out a business card, the kind most of the players had printed up to give to women they wanted to sleep with. He shoved the edge of the card between Jason’s lips, leaving him out cold on the ground.
“Goddamnit,” Carson cursed at Donovan. “Let me go.”
Donovan chuckled and let him loose. “Don’t get your jock strap in a wad. Ty knows what he’s doing.”
“Wasn’t his fight.”
“Sure, it was. We need you to play, Carson. Ty knew better. If he wants to sacrifice himself for the team, let him do it.”
Carson scrubbed his face, frustrated and angry—wanting a piece of Jason himself. But the man was still sprawled on the ground, people snapping pics of him. Social media was about to be inundated with video clips and pics that his coach would see.
Sadie…Damn it. He needed to get to Sadie.
As he turned around to go back inside the bar, she was there, looking devastated, her beautiful face streaked with tears.
“Sadie. Sweetheart…”
“I can’t believe this happened,” she said. “You and Ty are going to get fired, Carson.”
Carson knew he should give her some space, but he made a promise once he’d reunited with her to never let things between them ever get out of control again.
The next afternoon in her hotel room, Sadie sat with Leonard on the balcony, trying to make sense of everything that had happened.
“Why?” she asked again and again. The videos and pics were damning—pretty much documenting the full confrontation between Carson and Jason, and Ty’s violent beatdown.
“I’m sorry,” Leonard said. “Wish I would have stayed.”
“To do what?” She swallowed a mouthful of ice water. “Lose your job, too?”
“Carson and Ty deserve a chance to tell their sides of the story,” Leonard said. “As for Charles…”
Sadie palmed a stray tear from her eye. “Our boss doesn’t care, Lenny. I’ve been pulled off the project and have to fly to South Carolina today and out again tomorrow.”
“Where is he sending you?”
“To Nebraska.”
“For what?”
“There’s a pharmaceutical convention in Lincoln and he wants me to represent the company at the services booth.”
“You’re not a goddamned intern, Sadie. You deserve better.”
“I need this job.”
Leonard shook his head. “What about Carson?”
Sadie gazed at the beautiful diamond ring on her finger. “I can’t handle talking to him right now. I need some time to think about what I’m going to do.”
“You’re wearing his engagement ring.”
“I know.” She felt guilty. And was the biggest emotional coward she’d ever known. Instead of facing her problems head-on, she’d shut Carson down, told him she couldn’t deal with their personal issues until she settled her professional problems first.
“Are you breaking up with me, Kitty Kat?” he’d asked.
“Ask me tomorrow,” she’d said.
Well, it was tomorrow, and she wouldn’t take his calls or return his texts. She felt responsible for everything.
“I’m glad you’re taking over the project,” she said to Leonard, trying to sound positive.
“You know I’ll do everything I can.”
“I know.”
“But Sadie…”
“Yes?” She met her friend’s concerned gaze.
“There are better jobs out there.”
She clicked her tongue. “No reputable firm will touch me for at least a year after the media shitstorm I just caused.”
“You have a point. But we could branch off on our own, right? Hell, we did all the work with the Warriors. We could pitch the NFL ourselves and start a firm. I’m open to anything at this point.”
“I appreciate it, Lenny.” As much as she loved the idea of being Leonard’s partner, for now she was stuck with Charles Longley and would likely get demoted and have her pay cut in half.
“Leslie is going to get my office,” she said.
Leonard shook his head. “Over my dead body. Think about what I said about starting our own business, okay?”
“Did I ever tell you how much I love you, Leonard?” She kissed his cheek. “Thank you for standing by me.”
“I didn’t do anything, Sadie. I tried to get Charles to listen to reason, but he’s got his head up his ass, swears we might lose the NFL opportunity if you stay here.”
“Please help Carson and Ty straighten this out with the owner and their coach.”
“I’ll do everything I can. The police are investigating, talking possible assault charges against Ty.”
“I know.” Her shoulders sagged.
Her phone lit up again and vibrated. She had new text messages from Carson and Barbi.
Carson: Please, baby. Come back. We need to talk about it.
Barbi: Don’t blame, Carson. It’s my fault. I told him to punch Jason.
Sadie gulped, anguished and confused.
Carson: Remember everything we promised each other? Don’t run away again. Please. I love you.
Barbi: Don’t blow it, Sadie. You’ve come so far. You and Carson are meant to be together. Please, please call me.
For a moment, she almost convinced herself to dial Carson’s number. Or Barbi’s.
But she couldn’t, not yet.
The hotel phone rang, and she rushed to pick it up.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Reynolds, your cab is here.”
“Thank you. I’ll be right down.” She hung up.
“Your ride?” Leonard asked. He was leaning against the balcony door.
“Yes.”
“Did you see the latest posts on Facebook?” he asked, scrolling through his smartphone.
“I don’t want to know.”
“You need to look, Sadie.” He crossed the room and shoved his phone into her hands.
Sure enough, dozens of new posts had been made.
Carson Savage confronts bully that threatened his old high school girlfriend.
Ty Baxley beats up his best friend’s romantic rival—saving Apollo’s hands for the game…
Then the pics…
Sadie’s face was plastered everywhere. Sadie Reynolds is back. More beautiful than ever. More troubled than ever. More elusive than ever. Runaway sweetheart causes mayhem in Fairhope, Alabama. You thought she nearly cost Apollo his career before—this is the NFL we’re dealing with now. Maybe the UFC is recruiting.
The tags made her sick to her stomach, and she ran to the bathroom to throw up.
“You okay, Sadie?” Leonard called.
“I-I’m okay.” She felt dizzy and exhausted suddenly, the whole world closing in around her.
This is why she had stayed away from Carson and Fairhope. She loved Carson so much it hurt. But she’d let him down again, just by being back in Alabama. She rinsed her mouth out with cold water before she returned to the main room.
“Don’t go,” Leonard said. “We can figure something else out.”
Sadie shook her head and hugged him. “Maybe I can come back after I’m done in Nebraska.”
Her bags were packed and waiting by the door. She picked them up and glanced back at Leonard, who looked like he’d just lost his best friend.
“Call me when you land, sweetheart,” he said.