Down by Contact - A Seattle Lumberjacks Romance by Jami Davenport Read Free Book Online Page A

of her—several scenes taken of the celebration after the
Lumberjacks won their first Super Bowl. She recognized Tyler Harris
holding the large trophy over his head, while his cousin, Derek
Ramsey, stood nearby, one arm around Rachel, his now wife, while
giving the Number One sign with his free hand. She scanned the rest
of the pictures, unconsciously looking for Zach. Of course, there
were none. He’d signed with the team during the off-season. Maybe
at the end of this season, there’d be a new photo of Zach hoisting
the coveted Lombardi. She’d like that for him. She’d followed his
career over the years, cheered his victories, been saddened by his
defeats, because of the guilt she’d felt over her treatment of him,
she supposed.
    Her stomach churned with more than just
nerves but in anticipation of seeing Zach again—as much as she
hated to admit it.
    She didn’t have a clue how he’d take this
new twist on his life—or maybe she did have a clue. He wouldn’t
take it well, not well at all. First of all, he’d resist etiquette
training with his typical determined stubbornness. Second, he’d be
pretty darned upset to have her as his instructor.
    Well, Mr. Murphy, I’m not doing splits and
cartwheels over working with you either, but it’s for your own
good.
    Two to three long months with Zach Murphy
didn’t bode well for Kelsie’s sanity or willpower. One look at the
man last week, and her body screamed I want that like a
spoiled kid in a toy store. As long as Zach maintained a distance,
she’d be able to keep it strictly business—had to keep it that
way—for his future and hers.
    She wondered if he had any idea how much
Veronica wanted him gone. Kelsie had no doubt if Zach’s manners
didn’t improve, the owner’s daughter would try to get him off the
team. She could help him stay on the team and ease her guilt at the
same time.
    The best thing for both of them is to let
him believe she was still the same selfish bitch she’d always been.
Of course, that would negate one of the reasons she came to Seattle
in the first place—to apologize for her cruelty of years ago. Then
again, a lady could apologize and still maintain a smart distance
from a rough-around-more-than-the-edges sexy guy.
    Yes, she could do this, be coldly
businesslike and lead him to believe she didn’t care a bit about
anything but her bottom line. Yet, as far she’d come so far from
her mean-girl past, she still owed him an apology. A big one,
straight from the heart.
    Kelsie looked down at her dog-eared,
autographed copy of Mabel Fay Buchanan’s Book of Southern Charm
and Etiquette and smiled to herself. She’d start with Chapter
1, “Must-Have Social Graces.”
    Call her weird, but she loved this book.
Mabel Fay was like an old friend, a purveyor of common courtesy but
also practical advice. Kelsie met the woman once at a dinner in
Atlanta and thoroughly enjoyed the grand old dame’s spunky charm
and grace.
    She thumbed through the first chapter and
wrote down notes, brimming with her old confidence. The book
outlined courtesies so basic she found it hard to believe people
didn’t already understand them, but not everyone had the formal
upbringing she’d had, groomed from birth to be a doctor, lawyer, or
politician’s charming wife. Zach hadn’t had that indoctrination
into social graces. Once in high school in a rare moment of letting
his guard down, he’d confided in her about his alcoholic mother and
abusive father. Later she’d used that information to betray and
belittle him.
    Kelsie sighed, riddled with regrets and
determined to help the man. It couldn’t be that hard to tutor a
football player and transform him from a sow’s ear to a Gucci
wallet. Not hard at all. Even if he was Zach Murphy. Even if they
did have a history.
    She patted herself on the back for
leveraging one of the few talents she had besides shopping,
cheerleading, and competing in beauty pageants. All those manners
her mama drilled into her