Fast Break (Brooklyn Monarchs 1)

“Thank you.” Tiffany accepted the bag. Her eyes widened as she pulled out the chubby, brown teddy bear. “Wow. Thank you.” Her face glowed with joy.

Jaclyn laughed. “You’re very welcome. I heard you were lonely. I thought he could keep you company for now.”

Tiffany showed the bear to her mother. “Mama, look.”

Constance blinked. Her voice shook. “I see, honey. What will you name him?”

Tiffany hugged the stuffed toy. “Bear.”

Constance chuckled. “That’s fitting.” She turned to Jaclyn. “Thank you so much. She has been lonely. And scared, I think. How did you know?”

Jaclyn extended her hand and touched the other woman’s thin forearm. “Father Leonard told me. I’d better get back to the line. We’re serving ground turkey and vegetables tonight.” She gave Constance an encouraging smile before leaving.

Violet handed Jaclyn her apron. “You should be a mother.”

“Hopefully, one day.” Jaclyn heard the wistful note in her voice. She shook off the feeling and tied the apron around her waist. “But we’re talking about you. It sounds as though you’ve made a major break

through.”

“I did. I don’t feel like I’m being a bad mother because I want to go back to work.”

“You’re not.” Jaclyn moved to her station and picked up her serving spoon. “Dawnie won’t be neglected just because you’re working.”

Violet spoke with confidence. “I’ll make sure of that. If it comes to a choice between my daughter and my work, Dawnie will always come first.”

“That’s the way it should be. My grandfather made me his priority, even missing away games if I had a school event that he thought he should attend.”

Violet checked her silver wristwatch. “Speaking of away games, aren’t you flying to Atlanta with the team tonight?”

Experience helped Jaclyn keep up with her friend’s frequent conversation bounces. She checked her own watch and her pulse leaped. The Monarchs were leaving for Atlanta in just over two hours. Would they finally win a game tomorrow night or extend their losses to zero and nine two weeks into the six-month season? “I’m already packed. I’ll meet them at the airport once we’re finished.”

Violet nodded. “I’m lucky that my parents and Aidan’s parents are available to babysit when I go back to work. Although I’d like to put Dawnie in nursery school when she’s older.”

Jaclyn stared across the room at the crowd making their way into the dining area. Men and women, young and old. Mothers with their children. “My grandfather had wanted to open a daycare center in the arena and offer it to the community. He said parents should never have to choose between their family and their job. I’d like to fulfill his wish.”

“How are the negotiations going with the Empire’s owners?”

Jaclyn’s grip flexed around the serving spoon. “It all comes down to what they’ll make from our rent. We’ve got to increase our event revenue. Failing that, I’ll have to figure out another way to raise the money.”

“Like what?”

Jaclyn’s gaze took in the people seated at the shelter’s dining table. Her neighbors. “I don’t know. But saving the Monarchs is about more than protecting my grandfather’s legacy. It’s about serving the community. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it going. I just wish I knew what it would take.”

Jaclyn hesitated in front of DeMarcus’s hotel room. They hadn’t had an opportunity to talk on the plane. She wanted to know what he thought of the team’s chances of beating the Hawks, especially since they were playing in Philips Arena, the Hawks’ home court. Jaclyn rapped three times on the door. She looked around the pale gold walls and burgundy carpets. The hotel was clean, quiet and nice. The players should get a good night’s sleep here. She hadn’t been able to sleep all week. Her team needed a win.

She stared at the door. What was taking DeMarcus so long to answer? He wasn’t at dinner. They’d eaten with the players earlier. He couldn’t be asleep. It was just after nine P.M. She raised her fist to knock again. Before she could, the door swung open. DeMarcus stood in the threshold. He wore tan sweatpants and a blue Miami Waves jersey.

Jaclyn’s inspection slid to his bare feet. “I’d rather my head coach didn’t wear our division rival’s logo.”

“Sorry.” DeMarcus’s expression was as cold as it had been hot the night he’d held her against him and explored her mouth with his tongue.

Jaclyn glanced into his hotel room. For the first time it occurred to her DeMarcus might not be alone. “Am I . . . interrupting . . . anything?”

DeMarcus leaned a thickly muscled shoulder against the threshold. “What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to you. Is this a good time?”

He hesitated. Finally, he stepped back, pulling the door wider. “Sure.”