In the Red Zone Read Online Free PDF

different when they asked for her number and then waited a week to call. At least she knew where she stood with him.
    She pushed back from her desk and crossed her legs, noting the way his gaze fell to them. Silent laughter filled her mind. He could play mind games, but she still had the upper hand.
    “So, what’s the verdict?” she asked.
    “I’m in.” He sat in the chair across from her, his massive build making the chair appear smaller than it was, and crossed his arms. “But once I commit to something, I’m not content unless I’m giving it a hundred and ten percent. And I have a few ideas that may give the foundation even more exposure.”
    “Such as?”
    “Let’s start with lunch.”
    Her pulse kicked up a notch. “Lunch?”
    He nodded, his grin widening. “It is noon, in case you failed to notice.”
    The grumbling in her stomach answered. “I suppose we could discuss this over lunch.”
    “Perfect.” He bounced up from the chair like a kid hearing the recess bell. “I took the liberty of making reservations down the street. You up for a walk?”
    “How far?” She glanced down at her heels and wondered if they’d be up to the challenge.
    He named a restaurant a block away.
    Her mouth watered. One of her favorite places to eat in Atlanta. “I’m there.”
    She grabbed her purse and waved to Sherita on the way out of the small office she rented in Midtown. Maybe once the foundation got bigger, they could afford more room and a larger staff, but at the moment, it was a two-woman show.
    Frank’s hand fell to the small of her back as they got on the elevator, and a shiver coursed through her. His hand was warm, but possessive. And although her body welcomed his touch, her mind urged caution.
    Focus on business . “So, what did you want to discuss over lunch?” she asked, keeping her voice light.
    “A surefire way to make sure everyone knows about your father’s foundation.”
    Something about the twinkle in his blue eyes made her stomach flip. “Do you ever stop flirting?”
    “Sorry, but it’s as natural as breathing to me.”
    Uh-huh. And all the more reason why she should stay away. Of course, it didn’t help that the close proximity allowed her to catch a whiff of his spicy cologne. It was clean, yet masculine. Something she could enjoy breathing in all night as they wrestled under the covers.
    The elevator opened on the ground floor, and she darted out, anxious to get a few feet between them.
    He caught up to her with a few easy strides. “Do I need to spoil the fun by acting serious for once?”
    “That would be helpful.” Both for me and my sanity .
    “Anything to help a woman as lovely as yourself.”
    She found herself laughing. Maybe he couldn’t stop flirting.
    His teasing grin widened. “Laughter always eases the tension.” His face grew a tad more solemn as he added, “So it’s just you and Sherita running things?”
    She nodded. “I’m hoping the fundraiser will allow us to hire more staff, but she’s all I can afford at the moment. As it stands now, we’re already overwhelmed. School budgets keep getting cut, and requests to replace wornout pads and helmets keep piling up.”
    “The kids deserve better.”
    “Damn right they do.” For a moment, she forgot about the sexy man beside her and got lost in what had become her mission. “All this evidence is coming out about the long-term effects of concussions in athletes, yet they can’t even give a peewee player a proper helmet. And don’t even get me started about the sorry-ass equipment we’ve seen at some of the local high schools. Those guys hit hard, and we’ve been seeing an alarming rise in injuries, especially at some of the inner city schools that lack the Roswell budgets.”
    She paused to catch her breath and look up at Frank. Gone was the cheeky flirt. In his place stood a genuinely engaged man who watched her with something akin to admiration in his eyes.
    “You’re very passionate about this,