Page 94 of Hello Quarterback

“I’m fine,” I reassured him. Even though I wasn't. But I would be. I hoped.

I turned and went to my desk, hearing Vanover mutter, “Oh shit.”

I turned back to him to see what on earth he was talking about.

Several people were coming out of the elevators with more sunflower and lavender arrangements, and something that looked suspiciously like a box of chocolates.

Vanover said, “I think this is a double delivery. A fresh bouquet was sent earlier this morning.”

The lead delivery person stepped forward and said, “Ford Madigan told us to send this.”

I swore under my breath. I needed to get back to work. “Put the flowers on the reception desk,” I said.

The other delivery people carrying the flowers did as I asked, but the man with the box of chocolates and a card in a white envelope came to me. “These are for you.”

I had half a mind to throw the card in the trash, but the same curiosity that killed the cat had me opening the flap and reading the card inside.

Congratulations on the acquisition. I'm so proud of you. You amaze me every day. -Ford Madigan

My eyes stung with moisture, and I blinked it back quickly, handing the card and the chocolates to Vanover.

“What would you like to do with these?” he murmured.

“You can have them,” I said softly, trying to keep it together. Trying to remind myself I said goodbye to Ford for a reason.

I went back to my office to prepare for the meeting with the Andersen sisters. We had less than half an hour before they would be here, along with press to record them signing the agreement.

The flowers seemed to stare at me until I went to the conference room to meet them, a dozen photographers watching by.

I signed for the company, and then while Leticia was signing, asked Andrina, “How does it feel?”

She smiled back at me and said, “It's amazing to see what women can do when they get their hands on more money.”

I grinned at her, feeling truly happy for the first time today. The three of us women had done an incredible thing, and so many people were going to benefit from it.

I couldn't let whatever was going on with Ford overshadow this.

So when I posed for the photos, my smile was real.

53

FORD

I stared at my dad,who was in my entryway, lacing up his tennis shoes to go for a run with me. Well, he’d be biking while I ran. Just a reminder of that day Mia and I shared in California that had me hoping for the beginning of something beautiful.

“You know you can go home, right?” I asked him. He’d decided to stay with me after the game to keep an eye on me.

He finished lacing up his shoes and stood up, stretching out his hips a bit. “If one of my kids needs me, I'm here.”

“I understood that when you insisted on coming to my doctor’s appointment, but now?” I shook my head at him. “Do you really think you can keep up with me?”

He rolled his eyes at me. “Your doctor said you’re ready for an easy run, not a race.”

“Fair,” I replied, but now I was reconsidering it. It had been over a week of only training arms and abs. My foot wasn’t a hundred percent, but at least the wound was completely closed, pink skin knit together in a hard, jagged scar. My doctor said as long as I eased back into training, I might be able to reach full capacity within a few weeks.

He held open the heavy front door for us, and I began an easy jog around my property. I enjoyed running in the grass, beatinga trail into the earth. Today was cold enough I had to wear a headband to keep my ears from aching. My dad wore a sweatsuit he probably bought in the eighties.

But he pedaled beside me, easily keeping up. “How’s the foot feel?” he asked.

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