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

angry faced loomed over him.
    “What’s going on with you and my sister?”
    Frank’s blood chilled, and a cold sweat added to the perspiration already covering his skin from his workout. The trainer wisely ducked out of the room, but there was no escape for him. He kept his voice nonchalant in the hope it would cool his friend’s ire. “What are you talking about?”
    “This.” Tre pulled out a full-page ad from yesterday’s newspaper and poked his finger right in the middle of Frank’s smiling face on it.
    His anxiety waned, and he sat up slowly, wiping his face with a towel. At least Tre didn’t know about the kiss. He’d asked the photographer he’d planted in the restaurant to hold off on releasing the pictures of him with Kiana. Not that it didn’t keep him from pulling them up on his phone a dozen times this weekend. They looked good together. Real good. But until he got the green light from her, he was willing to respect her privacy.
    “She asked me if I’d be willing to help promote your father’s foundation, and I said sure.”
    A muscle rippled along Tre’s jaw, and his hands bunched into fists, crumpling the newspaper in the process. “Fine. But keep your hands off her—understand?”
    “And if she can’t keep her hands off me? After all, she was the one who contacted me.”
    The veins along Tre’s neck started to protrude, and Frank forced a laugh to break up the tension. “Relax, bro. I’ll behave. Kiana’s a class act, and I admire her for taking over your father’s work. She’s not fling material.”
    “Damn right, she’s not.” He flung the paper down and turned away, but not before Frank got the sense there was something else upsetting his teammate. The seconds ticked by, though, and Tre’s fingers slowly uncurled, releasing his anger with them. “Besides, what am I worried about? I’ve already warned her about you, and she’s smart enough to keep you at arm’s length. You ain’t got a chance with her. She’ll push you away before letting you get too close.”
    “Gee, thanks.” Frank took a healthy chug from the bottle of Gatorade beside him. “Just don’t ruin my chances with the rest of the ladies.”
    “That’s all on you.” Tre nodded toward the barbell. “And what are you doing here, anyway? It’s the off season.”
    “Just trying to stay in top form.” Frank stood and moved to the leg press machine. “The draft’s coming up in a couple of weeks, and I want to make sure some rookie doesn’t strip me of my starting position.”
    “Whatever, man.” Tre tried to make light of the situation, but a hint of worry laced his words. If anyone was in danger of being cut, it was him.
    “Want to change into some gym clothes and join me?”
    Tre’s phone buzzed, and his attention returned to the screen. “I’ve got things to do. Thinking about making a little trip to Vegas. Want to come along?”
    Frank shook his head. The last time he’d joined Tre, they’d spent the whole night in the casino, either playing blackjack or watching sports scores roll in. Tre was a high roller—sometimes winning, sometimes losing—but never getting to the point where he appeared to be in over his head. “I’ve got too many things to do here.”
    “Your loss.” He left the gym, his fingers flying as he replied to a text message.
    Frank sat on the bench but didn’t resume his workout. Something about his conversation with Tre bothered him. He meant what he’d said about Kiana not being fling material, and he knew his reputation as Romeo was a strike against him. Hell, he’d even agreed to play along with the fake romance as a way to feel out how receptive she’d be to going out with him. But if the chemistry of their kiss was any indication, they’d be good together.
    Real good.
    However, he first needed to find out if she was interested in him or only what his name could bring to her foundation.
    ***
    Frank stared at the number on the screen of his phone and swallowed