"They kept you around, huh?" she said as she playfully nudged him with her shoulder.
"Yeah, they decided I wasn't that bad and paid me a nice bonus to extend my contract with them. Doron and his wife had been trying to get pregnant for over five years, and they didn't think it would ever happen. Then she found out she was pregnant with triplets right before the NFC championship game." Will chuckled, "You should've seen Doron's face when he came into the locker room after finding out. His face was drawn and his eyes kinda crossed. He announced to the whole team that after ten years of playing in the NFL, he was quitting to become a stay-at-home dad. He had even purchased a minivan on the way to practice."
"That certainly sealed your fate then. How long did you play for?"
"I played for seven seasons. All with D.C., which is pretty rare. I loved every moment on the field."
"Why did you stop then?
"I stopped because I got a phone call from my mom saying Dad was in the hospital. She was in tears. She had found him unconscious in the mare barn. He had suffered a heart attack, and luckily she came upon him right after it happened. The stress of running the farm was just too much for him. I decided I'd use my MBA to run the farm. Every summer for three years, I took classes and finished my MBA. I focused on agricultural management, but I also learned enough from my first year in the program to be careful with my money. So I didn't really need to play anymore to live comfortably. I quit at the end of the season while I was at the top of my game and took over the farm. I still get together with the guys a couple times a year, so it's not like I've left it totally behind. But I'm having a lot of fun with expanding the farm. This year, we actually have a chance for back-to-back Derby wins."
"Wow! I'm taking it that it’s hard to do?"
"Very. Speaking of the farm, you haven't seen it yet. Would you be interested in coming over for dinner one night? I can show you around the place." He eagerly looked at her, waiting for her answer.
"That would be great. I'd love to see the place and some of the horses."
He smiled widely at her answer. From jumping around throwing imaginary footballs, a lock of her auburn hair had escaped from behind her ear and was dangling by her eye. He slowly reached over and brushed his fingers gently across her cheek on the way to tucking the errant strand back behind her ear.
Kenna froze the moment Will's fingers touched her cheek. It was so gentle she thought maybe it hadn't happened, but she saw Will's eyes lock onto her lips and felt her own part in response. His hand fell to her shoulder and pulled her to him. He smelled like the outdoors and freshly cut grass. She saw him bend his head toward hers, and as he angled his head, she closed her eyes.
Suddenly, from behind her closed eyelids, the world became bright. And it wasn't from the kiss she'd been expecting. Kenna opened her eyes and saw Will's face inches from hers. "We're totally busted," he said to her and winked.
Kenna looked around and found that the porch, which just seconds ago had been romantically lit by the moon, was now awash in bright lights. The front door opened and out came Miss Lily with her broom. Ignoring the couple on the porch, she started sweeping. "Don't mind me and finish saying your good-nights. I just saw a leaf I wanted to take care of before the morning. Oh, and William, I expect you to say goodnight like a gentleman. There's no hanky-panky on my porch until you're officially courting." And with that, she started sweeping the imaginary leaf to the edge of the porch. The bright lights did nothing to hide Kenna's fierce blush of embarrassment. But Will didn't seem similarly affected. Instead, he leaned down again as if to kiss her goodnight on the cheek. She backed up, not wanting to suffer another embarrassment in front of Miss Lily. Thwack! Miss Lily's imaginary leaf had apparently landed on Will's perfect bottom because Miss Lily smacked it again as Will laughed out loud.
"I was just seeing if you were paying attention, Miss Lily." Will laughed, holding up his hands up in surrender.
"Sure you were, young man, now scoot." Miss Lily, standing on the porch in an old yellow bathrobe, used her broom to sweep Will off the porch as he chuckled and waved good-night to Miss Lily and Kenna.
"Now, young lady, I know they play 'em fast and loose in New York. But that isn't how it's done here. Now, come inside before you catch your death," Miss Lily said as she shooed Kenna inside. "And you tell me all about your night out with young William," she added with a wink to Kenna.
Chapter Four
It was dark. The light from the back room was casting eerie shadows off the cubicles and down the hall. The bass of the music was loud. She could feel it vibrating through her body. She walked slowly toward the music and toward the screams.