Chasing Jillian: A Love and Football Novel by Julie Brannagh

was a lot more patient than his wife would have been. Just keep moving , he told himself.
    “Again, thanks. See you another time,” he said. He pulled Jillian up from her chair and set off at a fast pace for the staircase leading to the lobby. He could hear other people calling out his name and “Go Sharks,” but he wasn’t stopping until they were in his car and heading out of the parking garage.
    “Seth,” Jillian said. “I can’t keep up.”
    He glanced back at her. She was breathing a bit hard, but he was afraid that if he stopped, they’d get waylaid by even more people who hadn’t joined in the first autograph session. He took the risk of something like this happening every time he went out in public, but he never dreamed he’d be besieged by autograph seekers at a ballroom dancing lesson.
    “It’s a few more feet,” he said. “Can you make it?”
    She nodded. He shoved the door to the staircase open and reached back to make sure she was through it.
    “Let’s wait here a sec so you can catch your breath,” he said as he felt the door shut behind him.
    A few minutes later, they’d negotiated the through the lobby’s revolving door, and found his car. He was pulling out of the parking garage. She was resting against the passenger seat and taking deep breaths.
    “Are you okay?”
    “I’ll be fine,” she said.
    He was hungry, but even more than food, he wanted to spend a little more time with her tonight. He enjoyed her company. She made him laugh. He even liked her crazy little cat, which was a first for him.
    If he had to come up with words for his feelings, it was that he wanted to be a better person when he was with her. He gave himself a mental shake. What the hell was going on with him these days?
    The bridge to the Eastside was almost empty for once. He pulled into Burgermaster, parked the car, and turned to Jillian. The parking lot was quiet for a change. Typically, every stall was full. The food was brought to customers’ cars, so he wouldn’t have to have this conversation in front of multiple witnesses.
    Jillian gave him a smile that was nothing more than a curve of her lips. “I know you run the risk of being recognized every time you go out in public, but was that unusual? You were telling them politely that you needed to leave, and most of those people ignored it.”
    “I’m used to it, but I wasn’t happy they made you wait.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Hungry?”
    “Yeah.” This time, he saw warmth in her eyes. “Would you be terribly insulted if I told you that I really do prefer cheeseburgers?”
    “Well, then, we’re at the right place.” He shifted in the seat. Kim would have ripped the building apart with her bare hands if he’d made her wait for him and then taken her to a burger place instead of an expensive restaurant.
    Jillian wasn’t Kim.
    She was studying the menu. “Have you had the veggie burger? How is it?”
    “You’re not a vegetarian—”
    “It might be good. I’d like to try one, and I’d like the garden salad. So, go on.” She turned to face him and unfastened her seat belt. “What happened?”
    He noticed her normally expressive face had settling into a mask of blank composure. He wasn’t going to find out how she felt about this, and he wanted to know. She had to be angry with him, and he really didn’t blame her for it.
    The carhop appeared at his window. He took his time giving their order. Finally, he had no other options, especially since the carhop went back into the restaurant, and they were alone.
    He felt the hot, uncomfortable surge of embarrassment wash over him. He knew he should have handled tonight’s situation better.
    “I apologize. You had to wait a long time, and I should have been more insistent that we had plans.” He let out a sigh.
    “Then they would have been mad at you for not talking to them,” she murmured.
    “It’s pretty flattering to talk to people who think I’m great or want my autograph.