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    Double Overtime
    Double Overtime
    Double Overtime
    Ebook200 pages4 hours

    Double Overtime

    By Cristina Grenier and Sasha Smith

    ()

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    About this ebook

    When Cassandra Hill lost her fiancé to the war in Afghanistan, she didn't know if or when she would find true love again. But when Brock Hayden, quarterback for the Arizona Miners NFL football team comes into her beauty shop for a haircut, her interest in men is revived. Brock and Cassie share a few dates and she finds herself becoming more and more attracted to him. Then she attends her five-year high school class reunion where she runs into her high school boyfriend. They had been an exclusive couple during their junior year, but then his family moved to another state. Kent soon forgot all about Cassie and broke her heart. But now he's back in town and wants to pick up with Cassie where they left off six years ago. 

    He and his live-in girlfriend have parted company, so he comes looking for Cassie. She finds it fun to reminisce with him, but when he tries to put the make on her, she tells him she has a boyfriend and isn't interested in him. This doesn't set well with Kent, and he keeps insisting that Cassie come back to him. Brock isn't pleased when he learns that Cassie has been out with Kent and demands to know just whom she wants in her life—him or Kent. With two men competing for her love, only one will win. Will the two men have a showdown, or will Cassie be able to keep them apart? Which of the two will win Cassie's heart and hand in marriage and her love for life? Read Two for Her Love to find out who will be the happy winner and who will be the tragic loser. 

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMonster Media LLC
    Release dateApr 2, 2019
    ISBN9781386221197
    Double Overtime

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      Book preview

      Double Overtime - Cristina Grenier

      Cristina Grenier Presents

      DOUBLE OVERTIME

      Sasha Smith

      Want to receive a FREE copy of this

      full length BWWM Romance by bestselling author Cristina Grenier?

      Click the cover below.

      Chapter 1: First Date

      A warm spring breeze tousled Cassandra Hill’s straight black hair, and the sun kissed her brown cheeks, as she walked from her car to the front door of the beauty salon that she co-owned with her partner, Roxanne Thorndyke. She unlocked the door and flipped the Open/Closed sign around so that it told the world that the shop was open for the day.

      Roxanne wasn’t far behind her, and together they readied the shop for business. Cassie, as she preferred to be called, checked her appointment book and saw that her first client of the morning was a man for a haircut. She didn’t recognize his name, so she assumed he was a first-time customer. It was thirty minutes before he was due in, so she went into the small restroom and gave it a quick cleaning. Then she prepped her station for a man’s haircut.

      It was still ten minutes before the client was expected, so she spot-cleaned the front glass doors and windows. She was just putting away the roll of paper towels and spray bottle when a giant of a man walked through the door. At least he seemed like a giant to Cassie. At six feet four inches, the man towered over Cassie’s five feet two inches.

      Brock Hayden? Cassie questioned him with a welcoming smile.

      In person, he replied.

      Right over here, sir, Cassie said, leading the way to her station.

      After Brock was seated, he told Cassie, Just trim it up the way it already is. Not too much off the neck, but above my shirt collar.

      Brock’s hair was a dark brown with waves that were almost curls, but not quite. Cassie resisted the temptation to run her fingers through it, choosing instead to be professional as she fastened a cape around him. Then she took him to the washbasin and washed his hair. That gave her the excuse she needed to run her fingers through that thick, beautiful head of hair. Back at her styling station, she began the cutting process.

      As she cut, she chitchatted with him as she did with all of her clients. In doing so, she learned that he was a quarterback for the Arizona Miners. That explained his size and muscular build. Before leaving, he made another appointment two weeks out.

      My hair grows fast, he told her.

      Cassie watched him as he walked out the door. His stride was easy, yet strong; casual, yet purposeful. She found herself anticipating his next visit. It had been a long time since Cassie had been attracted to a man. She had been engaged once, but that relationship ended when her fiancé was killed in the line of duty overseas. It had taken her months to get past the initial shock and grief of losing the man she loved and had pledged her life to. She wasn’t sure she was over him yet, even though it had now been two years, three months, and sixteen days since that awful day when Joseph Allen Cassidy had taken a sniper’s bullet in the forehead and died instantly.

      She and Joe had often joked about how her name would be Cassie Cassidy after they were married. She had secretly considered changing her shortened name to Sandra, rather than Cassie, but it had become a moot point anyway. It was after Joe’s death that she and Roxanne had formed their partnership and opened their shop. Cassie had been going to beauty college while Joe was in the service. Roxanne was one of her classmates.

      The two girls became fast friends at school and dreamed and schemed all the while they were in training of opening their own shop after graduation. In reality, they’d both gone to work in an established national chain salon so they could earn and save some money. Cassie’s parents were well-to-do, so after Cassie had gained some practical experience in the hairdresser’s business, they offered to set her up in her own shop. They knew that it was her dream to own her own shop, so they set about to make it happen.

      Roxanne was a trust fund baby, and didn’t need to work. But she had been obsessed with doing hair ever since she was six years old and gave her four-year-old sister a haircut. Fortunately, her skills had improved dramatically since that first disaster. She had also developed an attitude of independence as she was growing up, and had been determined that she would support herself, and only use her trust fund for education and emergencies.

      They had a hard time deciding on a name for their shop. They wanted one that would attract both male and female customers. Eventually they chose CasRox Cuts, which incorporated parts of both their first names, with a tagline of Unisex Hair Salon.

      CasRox Cuts had been operating for a little over a year when Brock walked into the shop and onto Cassie’s radar screen that April morning. After he left, Cassie realized that for the first time since Joe died that she found herself interested in another man. It was actually a good feeling. The grief had weighed her down like a boulder on her heart, and she was weary of carrying it. It was time to lay it down and give love a second chance.

      Not that she had the slightest notion of falling in love with a complete stranger, but just the fact that she had noticed him and had felt a bit of an attraction to him was enough to thaw the ice that had frozen her heart for so long.

      Are you all right, Cassie?

      Roxanne’s voice broke through the fog of retrospective thought that enveloped Cassie’s brain. Cassie looked over at Roxanne, and saw concern written on her friend’s face.

      I’m fine, just fine, Cassie said, a slow smile spreading across her face. In fact, I am finer than I’ve been in a very long time.

      Roxanne stared at Cassie for a moment, and then a grin broke out on her face.

      You’re attracted to that guy, aren’t you? she accused happily.

      Well, I did notice what a hunk he is, Cassie admitted sheepishly.

      Good for you, Roxanne said, crossing the room quickly to give Cassie a quick hug. It’s time you let go and move forward.

      Yeah, I think so, too, Cassie acknowledged.

      So is he coming back again? Roxanne asked.

      In two weeks, Cassie told her.

      Think you can wait that long?

      Do I have a choice?

      That evening, Cassie took out the bundle of letters that Joe had written to her while he was overseas. She read through all twenty-five of them one more time, then put a rubber band around them and put them on the shelf clear to the back of her bedroom closet. She also put the photo album that had only pictures of Joe and her in it on the shelf along with the letters. The framed eight-by-ten that sat on her nightstand was added to the collection.

      She felt as though she were giving Joe another funeral. Laying him to rest, so to speak. She knew that she would carry him in her heart for the rest of her life, but he would no longer have first place. He was dead. He was never coming home. She was alive, and she would move on. She had moved on with her career. Now it was time to move on with her heart.

      During the two weeks that followed Brock’s first appearance, Cassie alternated between anticipating his next appointment, and forgetting all about him as she began to notice other young men. It was such a new and heady experience, that by the time Brock walked into CasRox again, she felt like a new woman. But her professional manner prevented her from greeting him with too much enthusiasm.

      However, her customary conversation with him as a client was warmer and more open than it had been two weeks prior. Her cheery attitude, her flawless brown skin, her glossy black hair, and her petite figure were not lost on Brock. He had been attracted to her the first time he was in. For the first time, he wished that his hair grew even faster so he could come in sooner. But two weeks was pushing it, he knew. He hoped it would grow enough to merit another haircut in that length of time.

      Cassie noticed that his hair wasn’t nearly in as need of a trim as it had been the first time, but she was secretly pleased that he was back again so soon. By the time she had finished with him this time, she had secured a dinner date with him for the following Sunday evening.

      Roxanne noticed with pleasure the glow on Cassie’s face as Brock took his leave that morning. She gently teased her, and wished her luck on this first date. Cassie was glad that it was Friday, because that meant that it was only two days until she would see Brock again. It kinda scared her that she was so attracted to this man so quickly. But he had a lot to be attracted to. He was ruggedly good looking, and his self-confidence had an edge to it that both amused and attracted Cassie.

      The hours dragged by one by one until it was finally Sunday evening. Brock’s knock on Cassie’s door set her heart pounding in nervousness and excitement. She did a quick once-over in the full-length mirror that hung on the wall beside the front door, and then opened the door to welcome him. His appearance nearly took her breath away. He was wearing a deep red shirt, long sleeves folded neatly up to reveal muscular forearms, and black slacks. Basic clothing, but that deep red was definitely his color, and he looked extremely attractive

      He gazed at her for a brief moment and then chuckled. She looked up into his laughing eyes and wondered if her pants were unzipped or her lipstick were smeared—which she knew it wasn’t, because she had just looked. Then it dawned on her what had tickled his funny bone. She was also wearing a deep red blouse and black slacks. She glanced down at her outfit, back up and him, and laughed, too.

      Great minds think alike, don’t they? she said, grinning up at him.

      I guess we do, he replied. That must be a good sign. You ready to go?

      Ready as I’ll ever be, she answered.

      She stepped through the doorway, pulled the door shut behind her, and locked the deadbolt. Brock reached for her hand and led her to his car that was parked in front of her apartment. Once they were rolling down the street, Cassie tried to relax somewhat and remember what it was like to be out on a first date. Of course, she’d been on quite a few first dates. Many of them had also been last dates, although there had been a boy or two in high school that she had dated on a steady basis. But after she had met Joe during her first semester at the community college, he became her only date.

      They enjoyed dinner on the patio at one of Tempe’s many unique dining spots. Cassie noticed several things about Brock that evening. One, he was recognized by several die-hard football fans. Two, he was gracious to their faces, but muttered to her under his breath about wishing they would leave him alone. Three, he didn’t take guff from anybody.

      When one Miners’ fan approached him for an autograph, someone else at a table close by said something rude about the Miners as opposed to the Buckaroos. It didn’t take Brock long to put that guy in his place, although he did it with tact and in a manner that drew applause from several other diners there on the patio. The shamed man got up and left, even though his meal hadn’t yet been served to him.

      While they ate, Brock told her all about his football career, and she told him a little about her life.

      I confess that I know less than nothing about football, Cassie admitted, after he had described a couple of fancy plays that he had made recently. I’ve never been into sports at all. So if that’s a date-breaker for you, I understand.

      Absolutely not, Brock said firmly. I know that not everyone enjoys sports. There’s likely to be something you’re into that I’m not. So, no big deal.

      I guess I’m hoping that there’s more to Brock Hayden than football, Cassie said, searching his eyes.

      I hope there is, too, Brock replied, because football isn’t going to last forever. I’ll be lucky to have five or ten more good years, at most. And that’s providing I don’t get injured and have to drop out. I also love hiking, swimming, a good old Western movie, fast cars, and horseback riding. And that’s just for starters. What about you? What do you enjoy?

      Well, I enjoy easy hikes, I love to go swimming, I love a good clean murder mystery—either book or movie—and I have always admired horses, but have never ridden. I also like to drive around and explore. There are parts of Arizona that I’ve never been to yet.

      See, we already have some common ground, Brock pointed out. Just because football is my current career, doesn’t mean it’s my whole life. No more than doing hair is your whole life. We can go hiking, swimming, and horseback riding. That is, if you’re interested.

      Cassie looked into the stunning blue eyes that looked back into her chocolate ones. A million thoughts chased each other through her mind in the few seconds that she paused before responding.

      Yes, I’m interested, she said simply, and then allowed her lips to curve into an honest smile.

      Good, Brock said firmly. No time like the present to plan our next date. I’m in my off-season, so my time is pretty much my own. What are your usual hours?

      The official shop hours are Monday through Friday, nine to six, Cassie told him. But Roxanne and I both will schedule weekend and evening appointments in certain instances. However, since I am one of the owners, I can block certain days or times if I want to, and nobody can fire me. I try not to do it very often, because it cuts down on my income. But when I really want to, I can.

      So, how about next Saturday you come out to my place and we’ll go horseback riding?

      We-ell, it sounds fun and scary, both, Cassie said hesitatingly. I told you I’ve never ridden a horse, so I know I’ll be nervous.

      That’s okay, I’ll teach you, Brock promised. I’ve got a real gentle old mare than will suit you just fine. How about I pick you up at eleven? I’ll have my housekeeper make us up a picnic lunch, and we can take it with us and eat somewhere out on the trail.

      Sounds like an adventure to me, Cassie said, trying to feel braver than she felt.

      She had read horse stories and watched horse movies ever since she was a little girl, but Cassie had never so much as gotten close enough to a horse to touch one. Her mother had been thrown from a horse once when she was a teenager and had been seriously injured, and ever since then, she had been paranoid of them. She had absolutely forbidden Cassie to own or even ride a horse. But Cassie was a big girl now, and her parents didn’t need to know every single thing that she did.

      After dinner, they went to a movie, and after it was over, Brock drove Cassie back home. As he walked her to the front door, she debated on inviting him in. But since the hour was late, she decided against it. Instead, after unlocking her door, she turned her face up to his.

      Thank you for such a nice evening, she said simply. I had a wonderful time. I look forward to next Saturday.

      Brock looked down into the sweet, innocent face looking up at him, and realized that this pint-sized woman was already getting under his skin. Brock wasn’t one to get romantically involved with women, especially not this quick. He was more of a love ‘em

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