Line of Scrimmage (17 page)

“I don’t care what they say,” she whispered to her reflection. “I have to put up that wall so they can’t get to us like they
did before. Everything has to be different this time. Ryan has changed, and I have to change, too, or this’ll never work.”
The thought gave her a moment’s pause, as she realized what a huge leap of faith she was taking.

After she dried her hair, she went into her bedroom, put the ring away in her jewelry box, and got dressed. In a show of support
for what he was about to do, she put on Ryan’s team jersey.
Why the hell not?
She closed the drapes in the bedroom and pulled the covers up over Ryan’s shoulders, hoping he would sleep for another half
hour.

Downstairs, she discovered Carol’s staff had transformed the living room, den, and dining room into party central. Bars were
set up in the living room and den, and empty chafing dishes stood ready on the dining room table.

“Carol, you’re a miracle worker!” Susannah exclaimed when she strolled into the kitchen.

“Anything for you, darling,” Carol said, lifting her cheek to receive Susannah’s kiss. Carol was a tiny Hispanic dynamo in
her mid-fifties.

“Thank you so much. Sorry for the short notice.”

“It was no problem. I’m always ready for an emergency party.”

Susannah laughed, knowing it was true.

“Dare I ask where you were when I got here?”

Susannah’s shrug was full of innocence. “In the shower.”

“Uh-huh.
Sure.
I noticed a sparkling new Caddy in the driveway with Mavericks plates and the telltale number eighteen, which I see you’re
wearing proudly tonight.

Care to tell me what’s going on?”

“Not yet,” Susannah said, knowing she couldn’t breathe a word of her reconciliation with Ryan until she’d had the chance to
talk to Henry. “But soon, I hope.”

Carol took her hand. “
I
hope you and that gorgeous husband of yours are back together where you belong. I never understood what could’ve gone so wrong
between two people who are clearly mad for each other.”

“Thank you,” Susannah said, touched by her friend’s support. “I appreciate that more than you could ever know.”

“I never believed what people were saying about him and Betsy James. I know you had your suspicions . . . ”

“Just the sound of that woman’s name
still
makes me want to punch something,” Susannah said with a shudder. “But he swears he was never unfaithful. I couldn’t bring
myself to come right out and ask him about her because the whole thing just makes me sick.”

“You should believe him. She’s got nothing on you, and Ryan certainly knows that. If he was going to cheat, Susannah, it wouldn’t
have been with that bitch.”

Susannah laughed. “Tell me how you really feel.”

“She’s not worth it. So where
is
the gorgeous husband?” Carol asked with a devilish grin.

“Sleeping,” Susannah said, feeling the blush creep to the roots of her hair.

Carol laughed. “Wore him out, did you?”

“He wore
himself
out, if you get my drift.”

“Oh . . . I need a drink
and
a cigarette. Stat.”

Susannah giggled but then became serious. “Don’t mention this to anyone, okay? I need to talk to Henry.”

“I understand, sweetie.” Carol rested a hand on Susannah’s arm. “I promise I won’t breathe a word of it.

But I guess this means the last Saturday in February is suddenly open on my schedule?”

“Yes.” Susannah’s stomach knotted again at the thought of canceling her wedding and hurting Henry. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. I’m actually kind of relieved.”

“Relieved? Why?”

“I work with a lot of brides, and I’ve never seen one less enthusiastic than you’ve been planning that wedding. He’s all wrong
for you, Susannah.”

“Why am I the last one to realize that?”

“That’s usually the way it goes. All that matters is you
have
realized it—in time to stop it. You know where I am if you need a friend, right?”

“Always. Thank you.”

While Carol darted around the kitchen, they went over a few final details for the Black and White Ball, which Carol was also
catering. Before Susannah went upstairs to wake up Ryan, she asked Carol for one last favor.

“Listen, when the team gets here, do you think you could clear out your people? Ryan has something he wants to talk to his
teammates about, and it’s kind of private.”

“Absolutely. We’ll put everything out and scram.”

“You don’t have to go. I didn’t mean you.”

“I need to get back to the office anyway. No worries.”

“Thanks again, Carol.”

“My pleasure. Go wake up the hunk. I need some eye candy before I go.”

Susannah snorted with laughter and went upstairs.

Chapter 17

SUSANNAH LAY DOWN NEXT TO RYAN, WHO WAS STILL sound asleep. She hated to wake him, but his friends would be arriving soon.

“Ry,” she whispered, kissing his cheek and then his lips. “Wake up.”

“Mmmm.” With his eyes still closed, he pulled her closer to him. “I was having the most amazing dream.”

“Oh, yeah? What about?”

“My wife told me she’s giving me another chance. So whoever you are, it’s over between us.”

Susannah laughed as she smacked his shoulder. “Very funny. Get your butt out of bed. Your guests will be here soon.” When
she tried to get up, he pulled her back down and rolled on top of her.

“Ry! Come on!” She pushed at his chest with a nervous giggle. “What are you doing?”

“Kissing your neck. What do you think I’m doing?”

“Starting something you can’t finish.”

“I can finish it.” His hand dipped under her shirt and cupped her breast. “Oh . . . you’re wearing my jersey.

You know how that turns me on.”

“The passing breeze turns you on. Now,
get up!
”

“Under one condition.”

“What?”

“You’ll wear the jersey and nothing else later.”

“Fine, now get up.”

He kissed her long and hard. “You promise about the shirt? I need something to look forward to.”

“Yes!
Get off
of me!”

Laughing, he rolled over and stretched before he got up and made a beeline for the shower. “Stop checking out my ass,” he
called over his shoulder.

Embarrassed to be caught doing just that, Susannah buried her face in the pillow that still held the woodsy scent she would
recognize anywhere as his.

Ten minutes later, he emerged from his closet wearing faded jeans and a black polo shirt. Sitting on the edge of the bed,
he tied the laces on his Nikes. “Thanks again for doing this tonight. I’ll make sure they don’t tear up the house too badly.”

“Just keep them away from Grandma Sally’s china, and I’ll be happy.”

“You’ve got it.” Bringing her hand to his lips, he stopped short. “Oh, baby . . . You took it off.”

She nodded.

He brought her into his arms.

Susannah held him just as tightly as he was holding her.

“I
so
wish we weren’t having company tonight,”

he whispered.

“They won’t be here forever.”

“They’d better not be.”

“Will you do me a favor?”

“You can have anything you want. You’ve made me the happiest guy in the world.”

Caressing his cheek, she said, “Will you not tell anyone we’re getting back together until I’ve had a chance to talk to Henry?”

He studied her as he mulled it over. “I guess I could do that, but make it snappy. I won’t be able to keep this a secret for
long.”

“I’m going to go see him at his office tomorrow morning before the press conference.”

“I’ll drive you.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“You promised me you wouldn’t be alone with him.”

“I’ll be in a public place,” she protested.

“I’ll drive you.” His face was set into a stubborn expression that told her there was no point in arguing further.

“Ry?”

“What, baby?”

“I don’t want your teammates to think you’re retiring because of me. They’re going to get that we’re sort of back together,
so—”

“I don’t care what they think. You and I know why I’m doing this. That’s all that matters to me.”

When the bell chimed downstairs, he helped her up.

At the doorway to their room, he stopped her for one last kiss and ran his hands over the silky jersey. “Don’t forget your
other promise. I’m not going to be able to think about anything else but you and this jersey all night.”

She gave him a push. “Get moving. Carol’s waiting for you.”

“She wants me
bad,
” he said with a teasing grin.

“Right about now, she can have you.”

He laughed. “Now, baby, I
know
you don’t mean that.”

His arm was around her shoulders when they started down the stairs to the foyer where Carol greeted Bernie and his family.
Ryan had asked him to come earlier than the others, so he could share the news with his best friend first.

When Bernie’s wife Mary Jane looked up and saw them together, her eyes widened with delight. She reached for Susannah and
hugged her. “I’m so happy to see you,” she whispered.

“Me, too.” Susannah was surprised when her eyes filled with tears. Until that very moment, she hadn’t realized how much she
had missed Mary Jane, Bernie, and their two sons, who had grown a foot since Susannah had last seen them. “That can’t be Cole.”

The twelve-year-old’s face turned bright red.

Ryan wrapped the boy in a headlock.

“Don’t fight back,” Bernie warned his son. “Uncle Ryan’s injured and shouldn’t be starting something he can’t finish.”

“Funny,” Susannah said. “We just had a similar conversation.”

“Something tells me you weren’t talking about the same thing,” Carol said with a dry chuckle.

Ryan stuck his tongue out at her, and she rewarded him with a come hither look that made everyone laugh.

“Don’t tempt me, big boy,” she called over her shoulder as she went back to the kitchen.

“Come on in you guys.” Ryan released Cole and reached out to hug his younger brother, Hayden.

“Can we go downstairs and play with the games?”

Hayden asked.

“Sure thing, buddy,” Ryan said. “In fact, I was hoping you guys would be in charge of all the kids. You remember my rule about
the pool table, right?”

“Yep,” Cole said.

Bernie cuffed the boy’s shoulder.

“I mean, yes, sir, Uncle Ryan. We won’t go near it.”

“Are the video games still in the same place?”

Hayden asked.

Ryan looked to Susannah for confirmation.

“They sure are, honey,” she said. “Play with whatever you want.”

“Just don’t let the other kids get wild,” Bernie told the boys.

“Carol put some snacks and drinks down there for you guys,” Susannah added.

“Cool,” the boys called as they took off for the stairs.

“I cannot
believe
how big they are,” Susannah said, linking her arm through Mary Jane’s as they followed their husbands into the den.

“They shot up this year,” Mary Jane agreed.

Ryan played bartender, opening beers for himself and Bernie, and a bottle of wine for the women, who settled on one of the
sofas.

“I was surprised to hear you guys were having a party,” Bernie whispered to Ryan. “The last time I saw you two you were barely
speaking.”

“We’ve made some progress since then.”

Bernie glanced over to the sofa where Susannah was engaged in animated conversation with his wife. “I can see that.”

“You sound surprised.”

“A little,” Bernie admitted.

Ryan grinned. “Were you betting against me?”

“I wouldn’t say that. Exactly. Let’s just say I wasn’t as optimistic as you were.”

“We’re getting back together,” Ryan whispered.

Bernie’s blue eyes widened with surprise. “What about the fiancé?”

“He doesn’t know yet. That’s why I’m whispering. I can’t tell anyone until she tells him.”

“Well, I’ll be damned.” Bernie rubbed at the red stubble on his chin. “I’m happy for you, man. Truly. I just hope, you know
. . . ”

“That I don’t fuck it up again?”

“I wasn’t going to say that. Exactly.”

They shared a laugh as they carried glasses of wine to their wives.

“So listen,” Ryan said. “I wanted you to come early because there’s a reason we’re having the party tonight.”

“What’s going on?” Bernie asked.

Susannah reached for Ryan’s hand.

“I met with Chet and Duke today.”

“Did you sign the new contract?” Bernie asked.

“No.”

“Why the hell not? I heard it was
outrageous!
”

“Because I’ve decided to retire.”

Bernie burst into laughter. “That’s funny. But really, why didn’t you sign?”

“I’m serious, Bern.”

Bernie looked at Susannah, and she nodded.

“But, why? I don’t get it.”

Ryan explained his reasons to Bernie.

“I just . . . I don’t know what to say. I can’t imagine the Mavs without you.”

“Oh, you guys will be just fine. You probably won’t win any more Super Bowls, but you’ll be okay.”

Susannah rolled her eyes at Mary Jane.

“This is why you’ve been spending so much time with Toad, isn’t it?” Bernie asked. “You knew you were leaving.”

“It was also because Toad’s a damned good quarterback. He’s got a big future ahead of him.”

“But he’s not you.”

“Bern . . . ”

Bernie got up and went over to the fireplace where he squatted down to add a log to the flame.

Ryan followed him.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Bernie asked.

“I wanted to wait until the season was over.”

Bernie looked up at his friend. “What the hell are you going to do without this game?”

“I’m thinking about coaching.”

“Pro?”

“High school.”

Bernie was startled, but before Ryan could explain, Carol poked her head into the den. “We’re taking off.

Everything’s either out or in the oven. Enjoy your evening.”

Ryan and Susannah went over to hug her.

“Thanks a million, Carol,” Susannah said.

“Ditto,” Ryan said, making Carol’s day when he kissed her cheek.

The doorbell rang, and minutes later the house was full of people.

With the help of Mary Jane and Darling’s wife Cindy, Susannah kept the food and drinks flowing. Toad’s girlfriend Nancy balanced
their one-year-old daughter Kara on her hip and did what she could to help the other women.

“I can’t believe how fast Ryan bounced back from his injuries,” Cindy said with a shudder. “I was so freaked out when he didn’t
move for what felt like forever.”

With a glance at Susannah, Mary Jane said, “We all were.”

“It’s a good thing you weren’t there, Susie,” Nancy said, holding a cracker for Kara. “It was awful.”

“So I’ve heard.” Susannah reached out to the baby, desperate to change the subject. “Is she walking yet?”

“Any day now,” Nancy said.

Susannah’s heart hurt when the little girl’s chubby fingers closed around hers in a tight squeeze.

“Are you and Ryan back together?” Nancy whispered, and all eyes landed on Susannah.

“We’re working on it.”

“That’s good,” Cindy said. “You two belong together. It wasn’t the same without you with us this season, Susie.”

The reminder that she had missed Ryan’s final season in the NFL saddened Susannah.

With a loud whistle, Ryan summoned everyone to the den.

“He beckons,” Susannah said. A knot settled in her stomach as she anticipated the reaction Ryan’s teammates would have to
his announcement.

The large room quickly became small as the players, their wives, and girlfriends crowded in together. Ryan

held out a hand to Susannah. He had a football tucked under his other arm.

She worked her way through the group until she reached his side.

With his arm around her, Ryan said, “Susie and I want to thank you all for coming over on such short notice.

But before I tell you why I asked you to come tonight, I want you to know I’m so proud of this team and what we accomplished
this year. They said we were rebuilding and the expectations were low, but we showed them, didn’t we?”

The question led to hollering, whistling, and high-fiving.

“This season was the most amazing ride, and I’ll never forget a minute of it.” Ryan cleared his throat and glanced at Susannah.

She nodded with encouragement.

“That leads me to the reason for this shindig tonight.

This afternoon, I met with Duke and Chet.”

“And signed that new fifty-million-dollar contract?”

Darling asked, starting another burst of whistling.

“He’s holding out for more!” Toad called from the back of the room.

“No, no.” Ryan held up his hand. “They said if I signed there wouldn’t be enough left to pay you, Toad.”

The young man’s face fell, and the others roared with laughter.

“Seriously,” Ryan said after they’d had their laughs. “I didn’t sign the contract because I’ve decided to retire.”

The room fell silent.

“I can’t imagine a better time to go out than after the incredible season we’ve just had.” He raised his arm and tossed the
ball he’d been holding to Toad. “It’s your turn now. You’re ready, you’ve worked hard, and I’m asking everyone to get behind
you and to support you the way they’ve supported me.”

Like a deer in headlights, Toad caught the ball as his girlfriend Nancy began to weep softly.

Ryan’s teammates had a hundred questions—and arguments against his decision. During the next half hour, he handled each one
with unwavering patience. When there was nothing left to ask or answer, Darling stood up and raised his beer bottle to Ryan.
“There’s no man whose hands I’d rather have on my ass than yours,” the team’s center said with an expression so serious and
so solemn that the others were crippled with laughter.