Read Online Skin in the Game by Jackie Barbosa - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jackie Barbosa
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high with dirty dishes and the filthy counters and stovetop. Not to mention the empty pizza and Chinese take-out boxes.
Damn it, had no one in Harper Falls realized that Harvey needed help? The man might have been divorced for more than twenty years, but he’d just had a heart attack complicated by pneumonia. He couldn’t take care of himself, for God’s sake.
Before returning to the living room, Cade resolved to hire someone to cook and clean for Lund, at least until he was back on his feet. The pneumonia might not kill him, but his coronary problems weren’t going to get any better if he ate nothing but pizza and Chinese takeout.
After he’d taken a few sips of water, Lund’s coughing eased, and Cade returned to his position on the couch.
“Angie’s not here because if she knew what I was doing, she’d refuse to let me do it.
First, she’d be determined to handle it by herself. Second, she’d be angry with me for not trusting her to be able to. And third, even if she would allow this, if she isn’t hostile toward you, Donnelly will be onto you in a minute. He’ll only believe you’re really in charge if Angie believes you’re really in charge.” He covered his mouth as he coughed again, this time more gently. “Well, if you knew her, you’d understand.”
Cade smiled to himself. He did know her. Intimately.
“Come to think of it, though,” Lund continued, scratching his stubbly chin, “maybe you do know her. If I remember right, she was a freshman when you were a senior.”
The final piece of the puzzle fell into place. The sensation that he knew her from somewhere—it hadn’t been his imagination. He did know her. Angie Petersen was the name of the tall, gawky girl with the thick glasses and long hair who’d told him they’d never win with only twelve plays. The girl who, over a few simple conversations that year, had been as responsible for making his career as anyone.
And she hadn’t told him who she was. Had actually, now that he thought of it, flat-out lied when he’d asked.
Why hadn’t she told him? Was she insulted because he hadn’t remembered on his own?
It was the sort of pettiness he could imagine a lot of beautiful women engaging in, given past experience, but it didn’t seem to fit in Angela’s case. Partly because she didn’t seem aware of just how beautiful she was, and that made sense now, too. She hadn’t been beautiful at fourteen, and she hadn’t adjusted yet to the fact that she was nothing short of a knockout now.
He shook his head. Women! They made no sense at all. He didn’t understand why she’d pretended they didn’t know each other, and he didn’t understand why she’d left without a word.
But now, at least, he was damned sure he was going to find out.
###
Whether it was because his shoulder was healing better than he thought or because he was looking forward to getting to the bottom of the mystery of Angie Peterson—and maybe even to the bottom of her again—Cade’s “audition” with the Vikings that afternoon went exceptionally well. The GM gushed with enthusiasm over the fact that Cade hadn’t lost his touch despite the long recovery, and the head coach had been impressed with his range and accuracy as well as his ability to read defenses and fit into their existing offensive system without advance preparation.
When the interview was over, Cade was fairly confident that they’d offer him the position, and with trade conditions favorable enough that the Texans might want to do the deal.
Cade could refuse to accept the trade, of course, but getting back on the field today had been such a rush, he was rethinking his opposition to the whole “hired gun” thing. But before he could even consider accepting an offer, there was someone he had to talk to first.
He stopped at a liquor store for a six-pack of beer and then headed to Regions Hospital in St. Paul. Getting to Warren’s room took a little doing, since the hospital had him
Damn it, had no one in Harper Falls realized that Harvey needed help? The man might have been divorced for more than twenty years, but he’d just had a heart attack complicated by pneumonia. He couldn’t take care of himself, for God’s sake.
Before returning to the living room, Cade resolved to hire someone to cook and clean for Lund, at least until he was back on his feet. The pneumonia might not kill him, but his coronary problems weren’t going to get any better if he ate nothing but pizza and Chinese takeout.
After he’d taken a few sips of water, Lund’s coughing eased, and Cade returned to his position on the couch.
“Angie’s not here because if she knew what I was doing, she’d refuse to let me do it.
First, she’d be determined to handle it by herself. Second, she’d be angry with me for not trusting her to be able to. And third, even if she would allow this, if she isn’t hostile toward you, Donnelly will be onto you in a minute. He’ll only believe you’re really in charge if Angie believes you’re really in charge.” He covered his mouth as he coughed again, this time more gently. “Well, if you knew her, you’d understand.”
Cade smiled to himself. He did know her. Intimately.
“Come to think of it, though,” Lund continued, scratching his stubbly chin, “maybe you do know her. If I remember right, she was a freshman when you were a senior.”
The final piece of the puzzle fell into place. The sensation that he knew her from somewhere—it hadn’t been his imagination. He did know her. Angie Petersen was the name of the tall, gawky girl with the thick glasses and long hair who’d told him they’d never win with only twelve plays. The girl who, over a few simple conversations that year, had been as responsible for making his career as anyone.
And she hadn’t told him who she was. Had actually, now that he thought of it, flat-out lied when he’d asked.
Why hadn’t she told him? Was she insulted because he hadn’t remembered on his own?
It was the sort of pettiness he could imagine a lot of beautiful women engaging in, given past experience, but it didn’t seem to fit in Angela’s case. Partly because she didn’t seem aware of just how beautiful she was, and that made sense now, too. She hadn’t been beautiful at fourteen, and she hadn’t adjusted yet to the fact that she was nothing short of a knockout now.
He shook his head. Women! They made no sense at all. He didn’t understand why she’d pretended they didn’t know each other, and he didn’t understand why she’d left without a word.
But now, at least, he was damned sure he was going to find out.
###
Whether it was because his shoulder was healing better than he thought or because he was looking forward to getting to the bottom of the mystery of Angie Peterson—and maybe even to the bottom of her again—Cade’s “audition” with the Vikings that afternoon went exceptionally well. The GM gushed with enthusiasm over the fact that Cade hadn’t lost his touch despite the long recovery, and the head coach had been impressed with his range and accuracy as well as his ability to read defenses and fit into their existing offensive system without advance preparation.
When the interview was over, Cade was fairly confident that they’d offer him the position, and with trade conditions favorable enough that the Texans might want to do the deal.
Cade could refuse to accept the trade, of course, but getting back on the field today had been such a rush, he was rethinking his opposition to the whole “hired gun” thing. But before he could even consider accepting an offer, there was someone he had to talk to first.
He stopped at a liquor store for a six-pack of beer and then headed to Regions Hospital in St. Paul. Getting to Warren’s room took a little doing, since the hospital had him
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