Hard & Deep: A Football Romance

She walked up the gray stone stairs, feeling the wind whip her satin dress around her legs. The air was crisp and cool up here as she followed an important looking couple to the main door. There was a lot of security in here tonight. She hoped they would buy her story.

The head of Mr. Hayes' regular security detail, Greg, was at the door. He smiled as he saw her. "Ms. Collins, a pleasure to see you!"

Tracy spoke before he could ask any questions. "I'm Mr. Hayes' 'plus one'."

Greg looked at his list and frowned. "Mr. Hayes has already arrived with Jenna Tice," he said.

Tracy waved her hand dismissively. She wished she had a jacket as her bare arms were freezing in the mountain air, yet she kept a calm face. "That was for appearances. I'm his official date for tonight," she said, confidently.

He looked over his list again, his brows tightening. For a moment, Tracy was sure he was going to tell her to leave. She swallowed the panic in the pit of her stomach. If she couldn't get in, then Mr. Hayes would drink the poison...

"Well... Jenna is on the list anyway, so he's still got his 'plus one' available." He looked behind him, as if he were going to call for someone to check. Tracy started to sweat a little bit, thinking that her plan was about to come crashing down. However, Greg turned back to her with a smile, gesturing over his shoulder. "Go on ahead, Ms. Collins."

Tracy smiled at him. She knew she liked him for a reason. A woman in uniform guided her toward a metal detector. With as many wealthy patrons and political entities supposed to be at this fund raiser, Tracy could easily see the need for all the security. Tracy began to reach down to unlatch her shoes, expecting it to be like the airport. A thought hit her: They would surely see the spring loaded shoe on the x-ray machine. Maybe they'd already caught Jenna. Hope bubbled in her stomach.

“Miss, that's not necessary,” the security guard assured her, stopping her before she could remove anything. “This is just to make sure that no one is bringing in any weapons. The amount of metal in your shoes won't set it off. If it does, we can just use the wand. Your comfort and security are our top priorities.”

So, not like the airport at all, Tracy thought as she smiled sheepishly. She straightened and walked through the metal archway. No alarm. If she was able to make it through, then Jenna with her shoes most certainly did as well. So much for that hope.

Tracy gathered herself and stepped into the main ballroom. Not quite the hall of mirrors that it had been in Jenna's dream, but still a fancy-looking place. There were all sorts of important-looking people there, several of whom were members of the Board of Directors of Mr. Hayes' company. She was probably the only person here with a net worth of less than a million dollars.

She began to scan the crowd for Mr. Hayes, and she didn't have to look long. He was waiting next to the the main stage, confident and handsome in a dark gray suit that flattered his broad shoulders and muscular build. A hush came over the gathered crowd as the emcee began to announce the charity's functions and how each donation went to help cancer patients worldwide. Then the man called Mr. Hayes up to give a speech.

Tracy knew he had rehearsed this speech a thousand times, but she knew he would manage to deliver it as if it were off-the-cuff. That was his style.

"You know me, and you know I don't like to talk for long, so I'll keep this brief.

"My father died of cancer ten years ago. A self-made millionaire, he invested in my company early on, and I wouldn't be the man I am today if not for him. I owe it to his legacy to try and donate more and more of the fortune we accumulated together to try and beat his killer.

"I owe even more of my success to our biggest investor, and he's here tonight. When my father died, he took over, becoming like a father to me. John Tice, where are you? Let's give him a round of applause!"

He scanned the audience, looking for John Tice. His eyes briefly passed over Tracy, then snapped back to her. As he confirmed it was her, a brief scowl passed across his face, then a big smile. He thinks I'm here to apologize, she thought.

His eyes moved on, and finally found John Tice. He was standing with his daughter, Jenna, and accepting his round of applause. When Tracy laid eyes on Jenna, she knew that her dream had been true. She was in the same dress as she had been in the dream. The dress, the hair, even the sparkle of jewelry was all exactly the way Tracy had seen it in the dream. There was no way she'd imagined it, not at this detail.

Tracy couldn't see her shoes with all the people between them, but she didn't need to. While everyone was clapping and smiling, Jenna was staring up at Mr. Hayes, a cold determination in her eyes. It was the look of a woman about to commit murder.

Mr. Hayes continued with his speech. "That's all I've got for you tonight, so give what you can, and drink enough to make my dad proud!" A cheer rose up from the crowd, and Mr. Hayes walked off the stage.

Most people expected him to walk to John Tice, but instead, he made a beeline to Tracy. Just watching him stride toward her made her stomach tighten. She wasn't sure how he was going to respond to her being there.

"Tracy. Since you're already in, I won't have security escort you out." It was a serious thing to say, but Mr. Hayes said it like it was a joke, so Tracy let it slide. "Truthfully, I'm glad to see you. I'm sorry we fought."

It wasn't quite an apology, but it would do for now. "Thank you, Mr. Hayes."

He moved his hands to her shoulders. "I know we were both hungover, and I understand your jealousy. I totally get it. But you're the only woman for me. You have nothing to worry about," he said, looking into

her eyes.

Tracy melted at his words, his voice, his look. She didn't mean to, but it was exactly what she needed to hear. She hadn't realized just how heavy the weight of their fight had been on her until that moment.

"Oh, Paul," she whispered, calling him by his first name for the very first time.

He looked as if he might melt too. His smile softened into something far more romantic and kind, making Tracy forget for a moment everything that was going on. For a moment, with him looking at her like that, everything was how it should be.

Tracy's mood, however, quickly hardened as she saw Jenna walking up with two wine glasses. The moment shattered.

"Oh. Hi, Tracy!" Jenna said, as bubbly as she was the night before. "That dress looks great on you!"