The Love Triangle

The player bit his lower lip as Lexi continued to tap on his phone. Then she turned it over, opened it, and pulled out the SIM card. “What are you doing now?”

“First, you owe me fifty bucks.”

“For what?”

She reached in her purse and pulled out a simple flip phone. “Your new phone.” She opened the back and slid the SIM card inside, then closed it and slid it over to Franklin.

He opened it and shook his head. “No way. This is one of those phones for old people with the big numbers. All it does is make calls.”

“No shit, Sherlock.” She took his smartphone, held it over the glass of water and dropped it in.

“What the hell did you do that for?”

“So you can’t get in trouble. You wanna talk to someone, or someone wants to talk to you, you now have this wonderful thing called a telephone call. No more social media, no more texting. You are cleansed and off the grid. And therefore… wait for it…”

“I can’t get in trouble.”

“Very good. So what’s more important, Franklin… your cell phone and playing on the Internet or your career and keeping your coach and fans happy?”

He slowly nodded. “My career.”

“Good.”

“You do realize I could simply go out and buy another phone.”

“You do realize that if you do I’ll kick your ass.”

He was speechless.

“Now get your butt back to practice and knock the hell out of the Falcons this weekend.”

Franklin got up and shook her hand. “Thank you, Miss Harlow.”

“You can thank me by staying off the Internet and out of trouble.” He nodded and left the office.

Donna patted Lexi on the back, then sat down next to her. “Oh my God, the look on his face when you dropped his phone in the water! You, young lady, are worth your weight in gold.”

“Thank you. Just a matter of tough love.”

“Well, it worked. Hey, you wanna go to lunch?”

***

Lexi hadn’t realized how much she needed simple girl talk. Chandler was an okay sounding board, but too much like her dad and very protective of her when it came to matters of the heart. And most of her friends were male. But she immediately sensed a kindred spirit in Donna, who seemed to be as spunky and snarky as she was.

Donna picked at her grilled-chicken salad. “So, I don’t see a ring on your finger. What’s the story here?”

“Just got out of a two-year relationship.”

“Ah, rebound city. So, taking time off from the dating pool?”

“Ya know, when I was younger I might have, but I’ve decided to simply bury the past right away and play the field for a while. Dating one guy didn’t work out… I mean, I put all my eggs in one basket and ended up with an omelet on my face.”

“Interesting visual. So, you already back on the horse? Or still looking at the racing form?”

“Got a couple of new guys on my dance card who I just met. But I simply need to have a bit of fun without anything serious.”

“I hear ya. Think you might have room for a third on that dance card? You’re perfect for my brother.”

Her face tightened a bit. “No offense, but I’m not big on fix-ups, Donna.”

“Well, I’m obviously biased, but he’s a catch and I think you two would be a great match. He loves spunky girls and he’s got this thing for redheads. Oh my gawd, he would luv ya. He’s around your age, just turned thirty. Cute as hell. Got that boy- next-door thing going. And a real sweetheart. He’s my younger brother but he’s very protective of me as if he was the older one. We’re really close.”

“That’s nice. So why hasn’t this great catch been caught yet?”

“Well, he’s never had any problems getting dates because he’s so much fun, but when it comes to getting serious… I dunno, I don’t think girls see him as what they envisioned in a husband.”

“Why, what’s wrong with him?”

“Nothing. But he’s got several factors working against him. He’s, well… he’s a little guy. I don’t mean as short as me, but he’s only five-seven and slender. Not the traditional big macho guy many women want. He also doesn’t have a lot of money. He just opened his new business a year ago and finances are tight. In fact, the only way he could go out on his own was by ditching his apartment and moving in with me. So I’m searching for a girl who can look past a short guy with no money who lives with his sister and realizes good things come in small packages.”

“I don’t have any problem dating short guys. In fact, one of the guys I’m seeing this weekend isn’t much taller than me.”

“See, I knew you were open-minded. Anyway, if those two guys on that dance card of yours don’t work out, let me know. Seriously, you’re perfect for him.”

“So how did you feel about him moving in with you?”

“It was my idea. He needed the twenty-five hundred he was blowing on an apartment each month to rent an office, and I had a house all to myself. Pretty much thanks to him.”

“Not sure I follow.”

Donna grabbed her drink and leaned back. “Well, I got married when I was twenty-two to a handsome rich guy and it wasn’t working out. I caught him cheating and the sonofabitch hits me like it’s my fault. So I left the house and went over to my brother’s apartment. When he saw the black eye he was livid, went to my house and kicked the living crap out of my ex-husband, who was twice his size. My brother had been bullied a lot in school so he got a black belt in karate. Anyway, a few weeks later we show up with our lawyers for the first divorce meeting, my brother cracks his knuckles, shoots my ex the death stare and he immediately caves. Gives me the house and most of the cash. So I owe my little brother big time.”

“Okay, I haven’t even met him but his stock just went up.”

“Listen, Lexi, I married a wealthy guy who was incredibly handsome, but I was young and stupid and had stars in my eyes. I’d gladly trade the house and money to have not gone through that. So take it from me, when you do settle on a guy, make sure it’s for love. At the end of the day, looks and wealth don’t mean a damn thing.”

CHAPTER FIVE (#ulink_01bbe853-1b79-5306-b6df-7996d1d43bcc)

Kyle was determined to make a good impression on the little redhead, as he was decked out in a dark blue windowpane three-piece suit. A haircut this morning, an old-fashioned shoe shine from a sidewalk guy. His red silk tie had a perfect dimple in the knot after three tries, and a matching pocket square. He looked at his watch as he leaned against his car. Ten till six.

He’d actually been there since five-thirty, having left extra time in case there was traffic. This was one date he didn’t want to miss, and he sensed she wasn’t kidding when she said she’d be gone if he was late.

Still, as he waited for his date, his mind wandered to the girl on the phone. Lexi Harlow was an amazing conversationalist, incredibly in tune with him, even though they’d never met. And with his crazy travel schedule he wondered when that would be possible.

The sight of the little redhead walking toward him knocked him back to reality.

The sweaty girl in a tee-shirt and shorts with her hair up didn’t remotely resemble the vision heading in his direction. Red tangles dusting the shoulders of her knee-length turquoise dress, her hair bouncing from the energy in her walk. Spectacular eyes done up like an Egyptian princess.