Holding Holly (Love and Football Series) by Julie Brannagh Read Free Book Online Page A

getting out of here anytime soon. The passes were closed due to white-out conditions and resulting avalanches. They wouldn’t reopen until the snow stopped falling. He fumbled in his pocket for his cell phone, and got up from the couch to approach the living room window.
    Two bars. He’d better text McCoy and Taylor and tell them he was stuck. He’d call his coach too. Just thinking about explaining why he was a hundred miles from home right now made him stifle a groan. If he couldn’t get coverage, though, he couldn’t call anyone at all. Maybe the cell coverage was better elsewhere in the house. He’d try the kitchen first; there was a window in there. A couple more bars popped up as he got closer to the window. Thank God.
    His mother’s cell phone rang once before he heard her voice. “Derrick Luther Collins, where are you?”
    “Didn’t you get my text, Mama?”
    “That would be a ‘no,’ ” his mother said.
    He did his best to keep his voice down. “I’m staying overnight at Holly’s grandma’s house because it’s all snowed in. I’m fine. I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
    “We were so scared, young man—”
    “I know, Mama. I’m sorry I haven’t called before now. I’ll call you in the morning when I can get my phone charger out of my rig.”
    “I’ll tell your grandma you’re fine.”
    “Thanks, Mama. See you tomorrow,” he said.
    He heard footsteps behind him, and Holly’s grandma appeared at the kitchen door. She was rubbing her eyes.
    “I’m going to bed, Derrick. Do you need anything else?” she asked.
    “No, thank you. Is there anything you need—some water, or something to eat?”
    “I’m fine.” She shuffled over to him, and got on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Sleep well. See you in the morning.”
    “You, too,” he said.
    Fifteen minutes later, Derrick spread an old sheet over Miss Ruth’s family room floor. He gave up trying to sleep on the couch when more of him hung off it than on it. He curled into the blankets and stared at the ceiling. He was going to get one hell of a fine—and a legendary tongue-lashing at the least—for missing practice tomorrow, but he couldn’t seem to work up the usual sense of urgency about the fact that the Sharks were fighting for their lives in the playoff picture right now. He’d be damned if the Miners went to the big game again. Right now, though, he couldn’t stop thinking about Holly. He remembered her shy smiles, the way she fit against him, and the softness of her skin. He also remembered the butterflies in his stomach whenever she was near. She was a curvy little thing too. He’d always loved a woman with some flesh on her bones. She probably thought her butt was too big, and that he didn’t like the slight roll over the top of her jeans. She’d be wrong.
    She wouldn’t demand that he take her to the most exclusive nightclubs or ask for his help establishing her singing or modeling career. She worked hard to prepare for and establish a career that would have her helping others every day. If all that wasn’t enough, his mama and his grandma were going to love her too.
    It took a little coaxing to get her to talk with him, but it was worth the effort. He could remember how she smelled, too: a combination of powder, soft floral perfume, and freshly washed cotton. She was so shy with him at first, but the way she snuggled against him with perfect confidence made him wish they were alone.
    Her grandma would not be happy if she could read his mind right now.
    The pizza place was fine, but he’d love to take Holly someplace elegant for dinner. They could go dancing too. He couldn’t wait to spend more time with her.
    He was still tossing and turning an hour later. Maybe he could get some sleep if he had another glass of water. He pulled himself off of the living room floor and padded into the kitchen. The light over the oven was still on, and he grabbed the drinking glass he’d used earlier. He glanced out of the