Sunday Snippet: Rachel’s Redemption by Jennifer Maitlen

Who doesn’t love a good football hero? I know I do. So when I saw this book I knew I had to spotlight it. 

Before Rachel could stop herself, she said, “Sell me something fabulous.”

Molly brightened. “Really?”

Rachel nodded then looked down at her outfit and frowned. “Yes, definitely.”

Molly chuckled. “Don’t worry. I know the perfect set for you.” She walked over to a display of lacy bras. Turning, she assessed Rachel’s figure then selected a bra and pair of matching panties. “I think you’ll like these. And, they’ll feel gorgeous under your dress.” Molly carried the items to the dressing room and hung them on an ornate hook.

Rachel followed.

“When you put these on, you won’t want to take them off.” Molly held up her hand when Rachel started to protest. “Trust me. I’m going next door to get us something cold to drink. Be right back.”

Rachel waited until Molly left the store then she stepped into the dressing room and closed the heavy drape. She stared at the lingerie. It really was beautiful and far more frivolous then she usually wore. Her work dress code was simple. The peds clinic didn’t exactly call for anything more exciting than denim, cotton, or khakis.

But, this wasn’t for work. This was just for her.

She shed her wrinkled suit, tossing it onto the velvet-covered bench. Then she reached for the new bra. Dark plum lace covered the scalloped-edged demi-cups. She put it on, reaching behind her to clasp the delicate material. Then she turned toward the mirror. The bra did amazing things for her full chest, pushing up and pulling in.

She took off her cotton underwear and slipped on the matching tap pants. They sat low on her hips, several inches below her belly button. She watched her reflection, turning side-to-side, and then all the way around, eyeing herself over her shoulder. The color was rich against her pale skin. The scalloped edges of the underwear rode high over her bottom. The design accentuated her figure. She looked voluptuous and very female.

Sexy.

Could she wear this under her regular clothes? Did she have to save it for a special occasion?

Rachel thought about the sensible and just-for-comfort bras and panties she owned. All nondescript and boring. The complete opposite of the beautiful, made-to-turn-on set she now wore. What if she wore these under her work clothes? It’d make her feel beautiful and sexy, desirable.

Who was she kidding? She worked with children. She needed to get a grip. Cotton was just fine. But, for special occasions, like the tribute event—that would take place, thank you very much—this sensual lace would be perfect.

“Prepare to be dazzled,” Rachel said, flinging open the velvet drape just as Beethoven’s orchestra cried out from above the door. “I am hot!”

“Wow,” a low, husky voice answered.

Rachel screamed. She jumped and executed an Olympic-worthy maneuver, escaping back to the blessed privacy of the dressing room.

Logan.

Rachel’s heart beat in her throat and her chest heaved. What was he doing here? Checking up on her to make sure she wasn’t planning something without his approval?

Maybe he hadn’t seen anything.

She shot her eyes to the ceiling and exhaled. So what if he had? It wasn’t any different than being seen in a bathing suit. Yeah, right. Like she’d ever be caught dead in a bathing suit in front of Logan Hastings.

“Rachel? You going to hide in there all day?”

Tempting . . . but, no. It was a day of facing

challenges head on. Rachel pulled on the wrinkled linen. The plum material of the bra showed through the top, but it was par for the course. And, she didn’t care. She wasn’t aiming to impress anybody. She took another moment to get herself together and flung the curtain open. There he was. All six feet three inches of him.

His stare traveled over her face and down the front of her shirt. Her cheeks warmed as his gaze stalled a moment at her chest. She resisted the urge to cross her arms over her chest. Instead, she smoothed her shirt over her hips and suppressed a grimace. Must exercise. Must exercise. She inhaled, drawing in her stomach.

He brought his eyes back to hers. The icy blue she’d seen that morning was back. “Why am I not surprised to find you shopping?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I stopped in to see Molly.”

“Uh huh.”

She cocked a brow at him and asked, “What are you doing here?”

He didn’t answer, just continued to stare at her.

She stared back. If it was a contest of wills he wanted she’d give as good as she got. She’d had plenty of experience working with kiddos who didn’t want to take their medicine. She could definitely handle the man standing in front of her behaving like a child.

He broke eye contact first and she pressed her lips together to hide her triumphant smile. He swept his eyes around the store. “Molly’s got a nice setup here.” Logan stood in the midst of Molly’s display of bra and panty sets. He looked right at home. The former pro-football star probably well knew his way around ladies’ underwear.

Logan cast a glance to the rack of lace next to him, then returned his gaze to her, one brow raised. “How does Redemption’s underwear shopping compare to Denver’s?”

She so wasn’t answering that. He was teasing her.

Baiting her. Well, jock-star, she wasn’t rising to it. “What are you doing here?” she asked again.

“I live here.”

She’d already figured that out, but, even before seeing him at the meeting this morning, she might have read in some sports magazine that just happened to be left in the staff lounge that he’d retired last year after a broken leg had sidelined him the previous year.

Her heartbeat continued a steady thump against her ribcage. Sharing the same space, as public as it might be, with Logan Hastings, felt too private. Unlike at the town council meeting with board members and several community members present, here it was just the two of them. Her internal warning system must be out to lunch because it should have been tamping down the physical reaction her body had to him. It should have been telling her body to run, not simultaneously kicking up her heartbeat and internal temperature. She bit her lip.

“Give me your phone.”

“What? No.”

“Hand it over, Rachel.”

She scowled at him. Her phone was her lifeline. It was never far from her grasp. And, besides, she didn’t trust Logan.

“Come on I don’t have all day.” He held out his hand, gesturing with his fingers.

She bit back the retort on the tip of her tongue but fumbled in her pocket for her Blackberry. She still didn’t pass it to him. Like passing it over was giving in to something she didn’t quite want to, even though she didn’t know exactly what that something was.

“Give it.”

She hesitated. He eyed her steadily. At last she dropped the phone onto his palm, not touching him.

He punched in a few numbers, hit send, waited a beat then hit ‘end’ and handed it back to her. He patted the pocket of his shorts. “Now I have your number. Since we’re partners.”

He said it like it was the worst possible fate. Well, buddy, on that one thing we both agree. Silence fell around them. She pocketed her phone.

Beethoven announced Molly’s return.
“Oh, hey, Logan. I didn’t know you were here.” Molly shot a

loaded look to Rachel who shrugged. “Can I help you find something?”

“Nope. Already found what I came for.”

What was that supposed to mean?

“So, how’d they fit?” Molly asked Rachel.

“Fine,” Rachel said, sliding a glance to Logan, who, wisely, kept his mouth shut.

“Good! I got us iced lattes, Rach. You’ll love these. Better than Starbucks.” She handed Rachel hers.

Rachel wrapped her hand around the icy plastic cup, anxious to have something to do with her fidgety hands.

Logan’s eyes held Rachel’s a moment. He looked like he wanted to say something to her.

She was sure he had a whole bunch to say to her. But, instead, he said, “Catch you later, Molly.”

Molly waved from where she’d retreated behind the register.

Rachel watched him cross to the door and stop, his broad back nearly blocking out the light from the entrance.

A moment passed and then he turned around. Rachel’s eyes met his and she hated that now he knew she’d been watching him. He raked his gaze from her head to her toes and back again. He opened his mouth to speak.

Rachel held her breath.
At last, he said, “You’re right. You are hot,” and proceeded out the door.

The game plan . . .

All Rachel Delaney-Tolbert has to do is plan the biggest event in Redemption’s history, a tribute to her late grandmother. But, being home won’t be easy. First, she left Redemption while the candles on her 18th birthday cake were still smoldering. Second, planning the event is turning out to be harder than medical school. Third? Well, third is tall, sexy, and blocking her at every turn.

The block . . .

Logan Hastings, the legendary NFL-Super Star, has returned home and he’s not going to allow anything to interrupt his football program, even if that means going up against the one girl he could never have.

The blitz . . .

From the moment she arrives nothing goes according to plan. Rachel finds herself surrounded by old memories, old friends, and an old crush that feels oh so new.

The town princess and the town jock are now in this together and when it comes time to leave, will Rachel learn that home truly is where the heart is