Read Online In the Red Zone by Crista McHugh - Free Book Online Page A

chest. “You know Doug Boutry?”
    “Yeah, why?” Frank replied, his brows drawing together in puzzlement.
    “Because he’s one of the stars of the team.”
    Frank’s face relaxed into an easy smile. “Maybe, but he sucks at playing Halo .”
    “Hold on a minute.” Her mind still whirled from everything she’d witnessed so far tonight. Her dad had been a legend, but it still didn’t seem to get him into the same circles Frank moved in. “You play video games with him?”
    Frank nodded. “So?”
    She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Once again, Frank Kelly had managed to render her speechless.
    “Want to meet him after the game?” he offered.
    Her tongue continued to be a clumsy blob in her mouth. “Seriously?”
    “Yeah, if you want.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice to a whisper. “I’ll talk him into playing a game of one-on-one with you if it will score me some brownie points.”
    She didn’t know whether or not to believe him, so she chose to roll her eyes instead. “Sure, Frank.”
    “No, I’ll prove it.” He started to rise, but it was her turn to yank him back into his seat.
    Her heart hammered so hard from just the idea of meeting one of her favorite players that she was certain she’d keel over from a heart attack if she actually did. “Maybe later. I need to get home and get some sleep before going into work tomorrow.”
    “Just let me know what works for you, and I’ll arrange it. Anything for you, lovely lady,” he added with a wink and smile.
    The return of the flirtatious Frank soothed her rattled nerves and brought them back to the relaxed vibe they’d enjoyed earlier, and her lips rose into a matching grin. “You just don’t give up, do you?”
    He shook his head and waited for the dance team to finish their routine before ordering another round of Cokes from the girl designated to serve them that evening.
    At the end of the third quarter, the dreaded Kiss Cam made an appearance on the screen. Frank nudged her and said, “You know, my brother met his future wife because of one of those.”
    “Are you telling the truth, or is this a load of blarney?”
    His eyes widened in mock innocence, and he crossed his heart. “It’s the truth.”
    She was about to roll her eyes again, but someone behind them tapped her shoulder. She followed his finger to the big screen and stared at her image.
    Frank leaned in and murmured in her ear, “Shall we give them a good show?”
    She licked her lips. After all, it was just a show. A publicity stunt she’d come up with to help get some attention for her father’s foundation. What damage would one little kiss do?
    Kiana closed the space between them, aiming for a demure peck on the cheek, but Frank intercepted her by locking his lips on hers.
    Sweet Jesus! It was ten times more intense than the kiss they’d shared over lunch. Fire, passion, heat—it was all there for her delight. She closed her eyes and indulged in what he offered her, savoring the warmth of his touch and the sugary sweetness of the Coke that lingered on his lips. It infected her to the point where she gathered his shirt in her hand and fought the urge to rip it off.
    And yet, despite the intensity of it all, Frank still managed to keep it PG rated. His tongue never got involved, much to her dismay, and after they’d gotten a chorus of cheers from the audience, he managed to pull away. “Careful, Kiana,” he said in a tight voice. “Remember the kids.”
    She opened her eyes and blinked several times to clear the lust-filled haze that clouded her vision. When things came into focus, she found Frank staring at her with something akin to a grimace.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing.” His chest rose and fell at the same breathless rate as hers. “Just fighting the urge not to sling you over my shoulder and take you somewhere more private so we can really kiss.”
    “Are you saying you didn’t stage that kiss like the other one?”
    “Nope.”