After All These Years (One Pass Away #2) by Mary J. Williams Page A

Under a double-D need not apply. Riley
    didn’t bother to look down. With her chest, it was a good thing she was born a
    Preston. With her meager endowments, she wouldn’t have been allowed into the
    building.
    “Ms. Preston. My name is Sapphire. I’m one of your father’s
    personal assistants.”
    Riley shook Sapphire’s proffered hand.
    One of them ? Unable to help herself, Riley asked, “How
    many does he need?”
    “There seems to be a new one every week.”
    Laughing with delight, Riley ran to the tall blond man,
    throwing herself into his waiting arms.
    “Gaige.” Riley savored the moment. The feel of his strong
    arms holding her close was a treat she had missed.
    “It’s been a crappy day, Riley. Until now.” Gaige swung her
    around. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming when we spoke on Sunday?”
    After the game, a phone call had become a ritual. Win or
    lose, Gaige always called. Unfortunately, the last couple of years there had
    been more reason to commiserate than celebrate.
    “I was leaving the window open in case I changed my mind.” Or
    chickened out. “I didn’t expect to see any players at this time of the day.”
    “Just me,” he reassured her. “I had a meeting with some of
    the board members.”
    “Pardon me, Mr. Benson.” Riley saw the predatory look in
    Sapphire’s eyes. The woman liked what she saw. From the expression on Gaige’s
    face, it was obvious he didn’t return her interest. “Need I remind you.
    Anything discussed in the corporate offices is not for dissemination.”
    “Why don’t you scurry off to your boss and tell him I’ll
    bring Riley along in few minutes.”
    “But—”
    “Please?”
    One sweetly phrased word, accompanied by his famous killer
    smile, was all it took. Sapphire’s shoulders straightened, her chest jutting
    out to terrifying proportions.
    “If you need anything, I’ll be at my desk until six o’clock,”
    she purred.
    “How does she keep her balance?” Riley asked when Sapphire
    was out of earshot.
    “You’re asking the wrong person,” Gaige shuddered.
    “She’s pretty—and interested.” Riley sent him a teasing
    smile. “You haven’t been tempted to take a bounce on her bazoombas?”
    “And risk drowning if those implants popped? Credit me with
    more self-preservation than that.”
    Taking her arm, Gaige guided Riley to an empty sitting area.
    It wasn’t very private, but it was comfortable and at this time of day, they
    weren’t likely to be disturbed.
    “There.” Always the gentleman, Gaige seated her before
    taking the chair to her left. “Tell me why you changed your plans. I didn’t
    expect to see you until April.”
    At least once a year Gaige visited her in Boston. The first
    time had come only a few months after she had left Seattle. She was homesick—her
    determination to make a fresh start crumbling. Gaige propped up her courage.
    Not by reminding her of all the reasons she had to stay away. Instead, he
    pointed out the many, many advantages to keeping on her new, healthier course.
    Over time, his visits became less of a lifeline and more the
    simple enjoyment of getting together because they enjoyed each other’s company.
    Riley wasn’t sure when the change had occurred. At some point she was no longer
    the lonely girl Gaige had befriended; they were equals. Peers. Friends.
    “I wanted to lend my support to your plan. I get the
    impression your meeting didn’t go well?”
    “Your father’s vision for this team is myopic. We haven’t
    had a winning season in three years. That isn’t going to change unless he
    thinks outside the box.”
    Riley knew what Gaige had in mind and she was one hundred
    percent on board. She hated the idea of him retiring after next season. The
    Knights without Gaige Benson at the helm? It was a sad thought. However, she
    respected his need to retire on his own terms. He was still one of the best in
    the game. In her eyes, the best. He would be thirty-eight next