After All These Years (One Pass Away #2) (5 page)

“I’ll see you around,” he called out. Sean, being Sean, was
already checking out the cute blond at the bar.

“Goodbye, Sean.”

It was time to leave the old Riley behind. Not looking back,
Riley opened the bar’s front door and stepped into the Seattle mist one last
time.

FIVE YEARS LATER

RILEY PARKED TOWARD the back of the Knights’ parking lot. She
gave herself a moment to look around.

There were a few cosmetic changes. Fresh paint. The façade
over the entrance showed the team’s new logo. The updated Knight in blue and
gold was more fierce—less cartoony than before.

For some reason, the change had been contentious among the
shareholders. Something about upholding tradition. Yada, yada, yada. Six months
ago, her opinion wouldn’t have mattered. However, on her twenty-fifth birthday,
Riley inherited another block of shares. Enough to make her an official voting
member of the board.

Like any responsible adult, she weighed the issue carefully.
Examined the facts. Perused the new logo. Then sent her vote of approval. The
email from her father’s assistant arrived an hour later accusing her of voting,
not for the change, but against him.

It wasn’t true. She thought the new logo was better. Modern.
Riley knew without hesitation that her grandfather would have approved. She
made all of her decisions concerning the team by first weighing how she thought
Douglas Preston would have voted. In her mind, it was still his team. She
wouldn’t take over the team for another five years. Until that day, she
considered herself an extension of him.

Thwarting her father had never been her goal. It simply
turned out to be a nice bonus.

Riley opened her car door. It was late November and surprisingly
warm by Seattle standards. The heels of her boots clicked as she walked to the
building. The logo wasn’t the only thing that had changed. Riley was different.
Inside and out.

Anyone looking at her would see a sophisticated young woman.
Which was exactly what she wanted. Riley had worked hard to polish off her
rough edges. Gone were the ubiquitous blue jeans, sneakers, and Knights jersey.
She was a successful businesswoman and it was important for her wardrobe to
reflect it.

She had started from the bottom and worked up. Heels.
High
heels. It may have seemed like a small thing, but until she graduated from
Harvard, Riley had never worn them. Flats were more practical for running
around campus.

Starting with a pair of four-inch pumps had been a trifle
ambitious, but that was Riley. She tackled every challenge with stubborn
determination. From the world economics class that seemed like Greek her first
week—she ended up getting an A—to traversing the ins and outs of the dating
world. When Riley put her mind to something, she succeeded.

Riley’s first few dates hadn’t worked out well. She had been
stiff and uncomfortable. However, she kept at it until she didn’t have to think
about smiling or laughing—or talking. Some of the men she met had intrigued her
enough to move on to a second date. And a third. A few had gained boyfriend
status. A couple had become lovers. Nothing serious, but nice. One was still a
good friend.

All in all, her love life was… nice. Successful, if not
spectacular.

The high heels were another matter. That endeavor quickly
morphed from wobbly experiment to what she assumed would be a lifelong love
affair. Soon, she was walking around like she had been born wearing stilettos.
The added height gave her confidence. Most days it was like gilding the lily.
The one thing the new Riley Preston didn’t lack was a belief in herself and her
abilities.

However, today she felt a bit shaky. She took a deep breath.
This, the Knights’ headquarters, was the site of her greatest defeat.

Sean McBride.

Riley didn’t think of him very often. Not anymore. He was a
part of her past. An important part. Her three-year obsession. Four, if she
were honest. It took her a year to gain perspective.
Out of sight, out of
mind
. It hadn’t seemed possible when she was twenty with a bleeding heart,
but eventually, it became the truth—not just a well-worn adage.

Confronting her demons was the final step to putting the
past behind her for good. Today was the first step in that journey. Visiting
the Knights’ facility late on a Monday afternoon—when she was certain Sean wasn’t
likely to be around—wasn’t cowardly, she assured herself. It was her way of
easing into her old life. The fewer bumps, the better.

The receptionist looked up from behind her desk. The sleek
blonde’s automatic smile didn’t mask the woman’s none-too-subtle once over.
Riley recognized the look.
Who is this and is she worth my precious time
?
Making a mental note to keep her eye on—Riley read the woman’s name tag—Carrie,
she plastered on her own fake smile.

“May I help you?” Carrie asked.

“I need a pass.” Riley reached into her purse for her ID.

“Are you expected?”

“No.”
That was putting it mildly
. Her father would
not be happy to see her.

“Then I can’t help you.” This time, Carrie’s smile was
genuine.

“You could if you wanted to.” Riley slapped her driver’s
license onto the counter. “The name is Riley Preston.” When the woman’s eyes
widened, Riley nodded. “Yes, that Preston.”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Preston.” Opening the top desk drawer,
Carrie fumbled with several clip-on badges. “I only have guest passes. I’m sure
you can go on through without one.”

Riley took the badge. “I’d rather not have to explain myself
every time I meet a new face. And Carrie?”

“Yes?”

“From now on, I’ll be coming in every day. I want to see you
treat everyone who walks through those doors with the utmost courtesy.
Understood?” Riley didn’t add,
your job depends on it
, but from the look
on Carrie’s face, it wasn’t necessary.

“Of course, Ms. Preston.”

Walking to the elevator, Riley wondered how long it would
take for news of her arrival to travel through the building. She punched the
button for the fifth floor. As the doors closed, she spied Carrie on the phone,
speaking animatedly. When she reached her floor, another woman, brunette
instead of blond, was there to greet her. Other than the color of her hair, the
women could have been twins.

It seemed large breasts were the overriding hiring criteria
at Knights’ headquarters these days. 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 year.
Time to hang up his cleats.

Gaige had been playing football for over twenty years. He
had every accolade the game could provide. There was only one thing he was
missing. A ring.
The
ring. A Super Bowl victory. Whatever it took, he
was determined to go out a winner

“The bye week is in early December.” It was a statement, not
a question.

Riley kept up with the team. The Knights would belong to her
one day. It made sense to be on top of what was going on. Besides, she still
loved the game. She had shed a lot of things from her past—that wasn’t one of
them.

“Week after next,” Gaige nodded. “I had planned on heading
to Oklahoma. Now, I’m not sure there is any point. I don’t want to get Logan’s
hopes up if there’s a chance I can’t follow through. Life keeps knocking him
down. If I can’t give him a hand up, I’d rather not go.”

“Don’t change your plans.”

“I spent an hour trying to bore through your father’s thick
skull. He gave me a flat out no, Riley.”

Riley hadn’t seen or spoken to her father in five years. All
communication came through letters, emails, and texts—sent by a third party. A
gift card at Christmas, a generic acknowledgment of her birthday. Not that she
had been any better. Their relationship would never be close. Or warm. Or
loving. Riley had come to terms with that while her grandfather was still
alive.

Having a place to call home—with parents she could count
on—would have been nice. However, that was not the case. Riley slowly smiled.
It was unfortunate. But it made what she was about to do much easier.

“Don’t change your plans.”

“Riley,” Gaige said warily. “I don’t like that smile.”

“Good.” Her cool eyes met his. “My father has had things his
own way for too long. That’s about to change, Gaige. Starting now.”

“YOU’LL HAVE TO wait until he’s off the phone.”

Riley wasn’t in the mood. Sapphire blocked the door to
Gerald Preston’s office, her arms splayed against the wooden surface.
Hello,
drama
queen
.

She gave the woman points for loyalty. Either her father
handed out an amazingly generous Christmas bonus or Sapphire imagined herself
as the next Mrs. Preston. She wouldn’t be the first to make that mistake. Short
of death, nothing was breaking up her parents. It had been a match made in
convenience heaven and continued to suit them perfectly.

“He did send you to meet me at the elevator.”

“That was almost an hour ago. You kept him waiting.”

Riley sighed. This wasn’t one-upmanship, this was petty and
juvenile. Taunts from the grade school bully. Her gaze pinned Sapphire to the
door. Riley hadn’t suffered bullies when she was ten. She wouldn’t start now.

“Move.”

“No.” Sapphire’s voice cracked, but she didn’t budge.

“Do you realize how ridiculous you look?” It wouldn’t hurt
to try reason. “What if someone important walks in? Stories like this travel
like wildfire. Do you want to be the lead story on TMZ?”

From the way Sapphire perked up, it appeared she would be
fine with that.
I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille
.

“Have it your own way,” Riley said with an angelic smile. “Dad!”
When she wanted, Riley could bellow with the best of them. “Get out here before
I give your assistant the black eye to end all black eyes.”

Sapphire’s bravado lasted less than ten seconds. When her
body started to shake and tears filled her eyes, Riley took pity on her.

“Move,” she told the woman. “He’s not coming out to save
you.”

“He isn’t, is he?” Sapphire wiped at the tears gathering in
her eyes. Letting Riley pass, she whispered to herself, “The bastard.”