The Big Man Falls Read online

  THE BIG MAN FALLS

  by

  CASSANDRA CARR

  ~ * ~

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  THE BIG MAN FALLS COPYRIGHT © 2014 by Cassandra Carr

  Published by Twenty or Less Press. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or Twenty or Less Press.

  Contact Information:

  [email protected]

  Visit us at twentyorlesspress.com

  Book Cover

  Man-portrait COPYRIGHT © scarlett070 / bigstock.com

  Trademark Acknowledgments

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  NHL: National Hockey League not-for-profit unincorporated association

  BMW: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft

  Navy SEALs: The Department of the Navy agency of the United States government

  ESPN: ESPN, Inc.

  PRAISE FOR CASSANDRA CARR

  ~*~

  Should’ve Known Better (Storm Series, Book 1)

  “…a good contemporary romance read and perfect for a day of reading. Should've Known Better has you cheering the team as well as their [Sebastian and Sarah’s] relationship. I can't wait to read more about each of these players and how they discover love.”

  ~Night Owl Reviews

  “Cassandra Carr never disappoints. Having read several of her books, she is a must read author and one we highly recommend and Should've Known Better fits right in there…. I seriously hope that Cassandra Carr writes more books based with this hockey team. I love a good hockey story with romance mixed in and as she is such a talented writer it would be a pleasure to read more…. I loved the characters and storyline so much that I finished it quickly just absorbing everything.”

  ~Illustrious Illusions

  “5 stars! Cassandra Carr scores again…! Carr writes an absorbing contemporary romance that grips you from the beginning and does not let you go. … The romantic tension between Sarah and Sebastian is electrifying. With its lively storytelling and loveable characters, Should’ve Known Better is an entertaining story that readers will be glad they picked up.”

  ~Jeep Diva

  ~ * ~

  Scorin' on the Fourth of July (Storm Series Novella)

  “The element I liked most out of this short little read was Terri and her being part of a hockey team, you see plenty of books revolving around the lead male being part of a hockey team but I don't believe I have ever come across a read where the lead female was also involved in playing hockey before this one, it was a nice touch. It ticked all the boxes in what I look for in a short read and in characters.”

  ~Book Devotee Reviews

  ~ * ~

  Hooking Hannah (Seduced by the Game, co-written with Cindy Carr)

  “Loved Hooking Hannah! It had steam and funny parts. I personally like the inner dialogue between Scott and Hannah. Scott pretty much won me over with his charm. For a quick little read, it sure packs in the steam and a pretty good story for being a novella.”

  ~What I'm Reading

  ~*~

  Talk to Me

  “Ms. Carr wove the sexual tension and interludes so seamlessly into the story that they were not just delicious but also necessary.… Readers will easily relate to the theme and be cheering the characters on as they discover love in a place neither thought they would.”

  ~The Romance Reviews

  ~*~

  Master Class

  “The writing was fresh and fun and I couldn’t have asked for anything more. … It was a story that was perfectly written and perfectly told.”

  ~Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

  ~*~

  See the Light

  “I became emotionally invested through the author’s eyes as I read page after page, cheering for the happy ending that I so desperately wanted.”

  ~The Jeep Diva

  ~*~

  Service Ace (Close Contact anthology)

  “Fun short and sexy sports tale, with some sports lingo but mostly all the hot intensity. Cassandra Carr never seems to disappoint me!”

  ~For the Love of Reading

  ~*~

  Loaded Question

  “Ms. Carr did a phenomenal job of bringing these characters to life in a very short story and giving the reader a heat level that is scorching while never compromising the plot or message of the story.”

  ~Sizzling Hot Book Review

  DEDICATION

  To all the readers wanting more of the Storm players.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  CHAPTER 1, SHOULD’VE KNOWN BETTER

  CHAPTER 1, UNDERNEATH IT ALL

  ABOUT CASSANDRA CARR

  OTHER TITLES AVAILABLE

  ONE

  Jon Duncan stared out the window of his office at the Barn, home of the Buffalo Storm. Lately he’d been feeling restless but couldn’t put a finger on why. He was pushing forty and still single, but he’d never been one of those guys who yearns for a gaggle of kids. Someone to come to home to would be nice, though.

  Maybe that’s what this is about. I’ve never had a long-term relationship. Not sure I could even if I wanted to. I’ve been alone all my life. I don’t know how to do hearth and home.

  Sebastian St. Amant, one of his players, was set to marry a coach on his staff, Sarah Jenkins. Could be that all the wedding stuff was making him feel like he was missing something. Disgusted at his ruminations, he turned away from the view of the harbor, running a hand through his buzz cut. I need to get to the barber. I’m getting fuzzy. He had prospect tapes to evaluate, especially since Sarah, who headed up this area with Doug Howard, was deep into wedding plans, and he’d offered to take up some of the slack.

  After another long day where his eyes grew tired long before he wanted them to and his neck constricted into a twist of knots, Jon stopped at his favorite Chinese take-out place and got some lo mein. As he walked back to his car, he glanced down to make sure he didn’t trip over the uneven sidewalk and frowned. Is that the beginnings of a paunch? He needed to make sure he got to the gym at the Barn more often. Whoever said women were vainer than men had never met a professional athlete, or ex-professional in his case.

  Just like he did every night, Jon ate dinner in front of the TV and then grabbed a DVD with more prospect videos. He glanced at the image he currently had on pause. These kids were so freaking young. He could be their father.

  Man, I’m getting old.

  ~ * ~

  The next day was gorgeous, a perfect July day in Buffalo. By lunchtime, Jon couldn’t handle being inside anymore. Taking his ham sandwich and chips with him—this chips habit probably isn’t helping my waistline—he took a walk over to the harbor area, where many other people with the same idea strolled. Businessmen mingled with moms pushing strollers and older folks shuffling along, watching the birds.

  He found one end of a picnic table and set down his lunch, along with the iced tea he’d purchased in the hot dog stand nearby, The Hatch. There was a sign warning people not to feed the birds, and Jon hunched over his lunch, knowing how forward the seagulls got when they were hungry. Another side benefit was that fewer people recognized him. Jon didn’t mind talking about his team, but there were times when he just wanted to be left alone.

&nbs
p; After finishing his lunch, he threw away the garbage and decided to take a brisk stroll before returning to the office. He’d gotten most of the way back to The Hatch when his attention was diverted by a commotion out on the water. Several of those infernal seagulls were vying each other for something, but he couldn’t quite make out what. Curious, Jon craned his neck to see.

  His forward momentum was stopped with a crash. When he turned his head back toward the path, a woman was falling. Jon tried to grab her, but only came up with air. She landed on her bottom, wincing as it made contact with the hard concrete of the path.

  “Oh, shit! I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” Jon knelt on one knee, giving his own little wince. Damn that trick knee that had ended his career prematurely. For now, though, he ignored the pain.

  “I’m fine. Embarrassed, but fine.”

  “This was totally my fault. Let me help you up.” Nice going, douchebag. The first really pretty woman you’ve seen in weeks and you knock her on her ass. Jon wasn’t exactly a small guy. Though he didn’t quite reach six feet, he was built stocky—had been his whole life—and playing professional hockey had kept him in shape. Reaching out a hand, Jon gently pulled her to her feet.

  She reached behind her, brushing at the back of her skirt then making a face. Glancing up at Jon, who probably had a good eight inches on her and felt like a clumsy oaf between that and his rather larger overall size, she said, “It happens to everyone.”

  “I feel bad. I’m clumsy and I wasn’t watching where I was going. Your suit is dirty. Let me give you my card and you can send the dry cleaning bill to me.”

  “Oh, no, I couldn’t.”

  Jon tried to give her a friendly smile, hoping it didn’t look more like a grimace. He was aware of how he was perceived. Normally he used that to his advantage to intimidate people—it came naturally in his job—but for some reason he didn’t want this woman to be afraid of him. “I insist.” He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and extracted a card before handing it over.

  The woman’s eyes widened. Obviously she’d read the information on the card. She looked up. “I thought I recognized you. But out of context and all…. Anyway, I’m just going back to my office and I’ll have a lab coat on for the rest of the day that’ll hide the dirt.” The woman blushed. “I’m a researcher over at Cegenix.”

  Jon searched his mind. Should I know that name? The woman seemed to think so. “I’m not familiar with the company.”

  She waved her hand as if it didn’t matter. “We’re a small start-up that’s trying to isolate the cause of leukemia and other blood-borne cancers.”

  “Wow.” She must be really smart. And probably not interested in a guy like me.

  “Oh, I never introduced myself. I’m Mari.” She held out her hand and he made sure not to crush it with his meaty paw as they shook.

  “Jon.”

  She’s probably read the card, you jackass.

  “Yeah.” Mari chuckled. “Saw the card.”

  And there it is. Proving you have absolutely no talent for flirting.

  “I hope you reconsider letting me pay for the dry cleaning. It’s the least I can do. Better yet, why don’t you meet me here for lunch tomorrow and you can give me the receipt? I’ll even buy you a burger.”

  What the hell am I doing?

  Apparently he’d caught Mari as off guard as he was currently feeling, since she blinked but said nothing.

  “Or if you’d rather not—”

  “No!” Her cheeks flushed. “It’s not that. I was just, um, surprised.” She looked away and then back at him. “Sure, we can have lunch tomorrow. Noon?”

  “Sounds good. Meet you here?” He jerked a thumb toward The Hatch.

  Mari nodded.

  “Again, I’m sorry for being such an oaf.”

  “It’s fine, really. There are worse things than having a good-looking guy bump into you. See you tomorrow!” Mari turned and hurried away across the parking lot.

  His gaze wandered down her body, and Jon told himself he was only checking the suit for dirt, but he had never been a liar. The woman had curves in all the right places.

  Wait, did she call me a good-looking guy? Maybe her contacts got jarred when she fell. With an incredulous shake of his head, he started walking back to the arena. He was halfway there when he stopped dead. Thankfully no one was around him, or there would’ve been a second collision. I have a date tomorrow. Even if it’s just lunch, that’s a date, right?

  Jon nodded. Right. I have a date.

  ~ * ~

  The next morning, Jon was unusually fidgety as he waited for the acceptable time to leave for his lunch date. Normally he could lose himself for hours with scouting tapes, but today, it was as if the world had been submerged in molasses—everything seemed slower, whether it was the clock on the wall, phone calls, or his laptop, which was suddenly acting up.

  Finally, about twenty minutes before he was supposed to meet Mari, Jon gave up on the laptop and decided to get going. Between thinking about Mari and the stupid piece of technology sitting nearly useless on his desk, he wasn’t getting anything done anyway. After double- and triple-checking that he had his wallet, he set out toward the harbor. As he walked, he tried to think of possible conversation topics and kept coming up a total blank. He was well aware he wasn’t the best communicator; it was probably why he was still alone.

  As far as he knew, women found him attractive, though why, he wasn’t sure. He thought he looked like a thug half the time. Due to his nose and cheekbone being broken at different points in his career, his face was far from perfect, and with his beefy arms and chunky legs, he would’ve thought women would go running. Though it was true the past few years could definitely be considered a dry spell with regard to female companionship.

  Maybe it was him getting older and therefore even less of an “ideal man” than he had been when he was younger. Maybe it was the lesser amount of free time he had to go out and meet somebody now that he was a head coach. Jon didn’t know, but he did know this date would be dead in the water—so to speak—if he couldn’t find anything interesting to say.

  He spied Mari hurrying across the parking lot from what was presumably her office building, since that had been the direction she’d gone in yesterday. God, she was beautiful, and she’d agreed to have lunch with him. Jon would guess she was around his age, and she was petite but well-formed. Her brown hair hung in loose waves to just past her shoulders. When she saw him, she smiled and waved, and he waited for her to cross the small road already—prematurely as hell—thinking about kissing the luscious set of lips she possessed.

  A man turned to look at her and his gaze caught Jon, who narrowed his eyes and stared the guy down. The man scurried away like the little rat he was. Yeah, she’s my date, not yours, jerk-off.

  TWO

  Over lunch, it turned out he didn’t need to have a million conversational topics. Mari could talk enough for the both of them. But instead of being annoyed at the incessant chatter like he normally might’ve been, Jon found himself charmed. She appeared to be as nervous as he was, but it manifested itself in a different way, more like a nervous contained energy, whereas Jon could pretty much never stay in one place for long. His team had gotten used to watching him pace as he spoke. He’d long since resolved himself to the fact he couldn’t sit still, though today it didn’t seem so hard.

  Mari glanced at her lunch, still half uneaten, and then at him. Her beautiful green eyes were troubled. “Jon, I’m so sorry. Here I’ve been prattling on and on about this and that, and you’ve just been sitting there, probably thinking I’m some sort of lunatic.”

  “No, that wasn’t what I was thinking at all,” Jon said before the internal censor could kick in.

  She tilted her head and smiled a little. “Then what were you thinking?”

  “That it’s pretty cool to meet somebody who has as much passion about her career as I do about mine.” Good cover. Jon patted himself on the back for his quick thinkin
g. He did think it was sexy how devoted she was to finding a cure, just talking about it made her eyes sparkle and her face light with excitement.

  Blushing, she said, “Most people think it’s boring.”

  “I’m not most people.”

  Her eyes softened. “No, you’re not.” Mari paused and regarded the food left on her plate. “I’m actually not that hungry. Would you like to take a quick walk down toward the end of the harbor?”

  “Sounds good.” There weren’t many things Jon wanted to do more than spend more time with Mari. Plus now he could move. Even talking to Mari hadn’t completely calmed him down, though he’d been happy, for the most part, to sit and listen to her talk. Jon picked up both of their trays then threw away their trash.

  As they began to walk, she slipped her arm around his arm. He tried to conceal his surprise and was apparently successful since she didn’t pull away. Shit, I love the way she touches me. So many women seem afraid of me, but Mari doesn’t.

  She sighed, but it was a happy, contented sound. “This is nice. Buffalo in the summertime is perfect. Not too hot, not too humid, sunny.”

  “Try telling that to the people who think it’s a frozen wasteland all year long. Buffalo is practically balmy compared to where I grew up.”

  “Which was…”

  “North Dakota.”

  Mari sucked in a breath. “Oh, my. That’s a long way from here. How’d you end up in Buffalo? I assume the job?”

  “Yeah. I was actually hired as an assistant coach, then moved up to head coach a few years ago.” He hated talking about himself, but knew if he didn’t he’d come off as this weird dude and probably destroy any chance he had with Mari.

  “You must be very good at your job.”