Sacking the Quarterback by Alexandra O'Hurley

Prologue
     
    Ten years ago…
     
    Taylor Ashby spied Rhett Banes through
the crowd of tipsy partygoers, her heart beating a staccato in her
ears. In the relaxed setting, the moonlight hitting his tanned skin
only made him all the dreamier. Waves crashed against the beach
where a dozen or so cars had parked, the collective headlights and
radios giving them all the light and music they needed. A chilly
breeze blustered up from the water and cooled her heated skin as
she thought of what she should say when she finally told him her
secret. She’d had a crush on him for years, but he’d always seen
her as Jennings’ little sister. She was almost fifteen and becoming
a woman. Surely he could see that.
    Taylor had to make him see. If she
could just muster her courage.
    It was the night before Rhett went
away to college on a full ride football scholarship, and she knew
tonight was her last chance to make an impression of some kind.
After two years of an intense crush, her heart was breaking. Rhett
was leaving, and her life would never be the same.
    She clasped the cup of warm beer in
her hand. She’d only choked down about half of it, wishing she’d
drunk faster when it had still been slightly cold. The taste was
revolting, but there was no way she was going to look like a little
girl with all the seniors surrounding her. It was amazing enough
she’d been allowed into the party as a freshman. Or rather, rising
sophomore, as she technically had passed the threshold. She wasn’t
a little girl anymore.
    Tonight, she had to show Rhett what
she was made of. His girlfriend, Maria, sat on his lap, laughing
and babbling to her friends, acting as if she had not a care in the
world. Did she not mourn the fact her boyfriend was leaving? Did
she not see this was terrible? Of course she didn’t, because now
she’d be free to fuck her way through the county.
    Taylor happened to know Maria had
already screwed half the senior class, as she’d overheard Jennings
telling another one of their friends what a whore she was and how
bad he felt not sharing the info with Rhett. Her brother had been
too scared to hurt his friend’s feelings, but Taylor didn’t share
the same concern.
    Maria wasn’t good enough for
Rhett.
    Taylor looked through lowered lashes,
watching his every move. He was eighteen and perfect. His body was
strong and lean, his long legs making him tower over everyone
there. Rhett’s short dark locks were just long enough to push her
fingers through, which she dreamed of doing as he kissed her
passionately, a fitting farewell. His ready smile and laughter made
goose bumps skitter across her arms.
    Tonight he’d finally see her and she’d
have a college boyfriend. He could drive home on weekends and they
could neck in his old pickup truck. She could head up on game
weekends; she was sure she could get Jennings to take
her.
    A siren sounded and everyone scurried
around, jumping in cars. Panic struck Taylor. No! No! This couldn’t
be happening. Tonight was her last chance to tell Rhett. As the
police cars got closer Taylor looked for the boy she’d come with,
but he was nowhere in sight. Of course, she’d ditched him almost as
soon as she’d gotten there so she could check out Rhett, so it was
her own damned fault.
    “ Come on,” a deep voice
said.
    Taylor looked up and saw Rhett holding
a hand out to her. Her heart beat through her chest, amazed he’d
come for her.
    “ Come on! Jennings would
have my ass if I let you get caught,” he cried. “I should’ve called
him the minute I saw you.”
    Deflated by his comment, she took his
hand anyway and let him lead her to the back of a pickup truck. She
climbed in along with a half dozen other people and hunkered down.
Near the tailgate, she pouted a little as she watched Rhett go
toward the cab to sit beside Maria. He slapped his hand on the roof
and the truck took off, bouncing over the sand dunes.
    Taylor held on for dear life, the
speed the driver was going much too