In It to Win It (34 page)

“
The Rockets
are
going to win,” he promised her, sealing it with a kiss. “It took a lot of years but I finally won your trust and your heart. And by damn, I will bring that trophy home.”

Staring up into his dark eyes she fell in love with him all over again, and didn’t have a doubt that he would.

Epilogue

T
HE CROWD CHEERED.

Tickertape fluttered from the sky like brightly colored snow.

Jane stood shoulder to shoulder amongst the media and grinned up at Grayson where he stood on the podium. Her own microphone was buried in the pile. Nate was right behind her, recording the win for posterity.

A microphone was shoved into Grayson’s face and someone asked, “Grayson Pierce, your home run won the World Series. What are you going to do now?”

His eyes twinkled as he looked down at her. His lips spread into the biggest smile she’d ever seen on his face. He threw his head back and laughed out loud.

Before she knew what was happening, his hand had wrapped around her forearm and yanked her up on stage. It was all transpiring so fast that Nate’s hand was gone before she comprehended that it was the force pushing her butt upward.

Grayson took her left hand, kissed it and held it up so the diamond caught the light and sparkled brightly.

“
I’m going to marry Jane Alexander and take her to Disneyland!”

Turn the page for an excerpt from:

Fade to Black

Two great men,

one impossible choice.

Walking along a mountain of heartache and regret, Kate struggles to find a world where love does conquer all.

“
A true love story, with a dramatic and devastating twist...no one could have predicted the devastating turn these characters face within the pages….

Fade to Black is not a book you should miss, if you’re even a little bit of a "romantic." I give it a 5+ stars...”

~Book Crazy Reviews

Well, this is it,
Kate thought as she stood outside the five-story building that housed KHB-Salt Lake and would be her new home away from home. Her hands ran down the front of her steel gray slacks, smoothing away any fresh wrinkles. With the matching jacket pulled tight around her, she grabbed her heavy coat and threw her laptop bag over her shoulder.

Nervous energy bubbled in her every cell. She’d heard that this was one of the best stations in Utah, but now that she was here, she couldn’t help but second guess her decision to leave the comfortable for the frightening unknown. A frigid autumn breeze kicked up and blew a lock of hair into Kate’s face. She tucked it behind her ear, wishing like hell she’d taken the time to actually speak with the people she’d be meeting, for all intents and purposes, for the first time today.

She walked through the foyer, one foot in front of the other, until she stood in front of the reception desk.

“
May I help you?” the receptionist asked, her reading glasses perched on the end of her nose.

“
Yes, Kate Callahan to see Dale Morris,” Kate said with a smile.

“
Of course. Just take a seat and I’ll let him know you’re here.” She motioned toward the open room Kate had just walked through.

“
Thank you.” Kate was much too nervous to actually sit. So instead, she resorted to perusing the lobby. The warm burgundy and gold hues were welcoming, and the low sounds coming from the television, of course tuned to Channel 17, eased some of her tension. Faces of their main anchor people smiled back from pictures that adorned the walls.

“
Kate.”

She turned. “Dale.” She extended her hand toward the man that was the same age as her father, but with more honey blond hair than distinguished gray.

He took Kate’s hand in his strong grip and shook it gently. “We’re so glad to have you as part of the News17 family.”

“
Thank you. I’m glad to be here.” And she was.

The news business wasn’t new to Kate. She was good at it, and could eat, breathe, and sleep breaking news. Unfortunately, the glass ceiling was alive and well in some newsrooms, and she prayed that this one was just as she had heard—shattered. Ambition ate at her. She wanted the anchor chair. To be the face on all the billboards. Maybe even end up in New York.

“
Come with me and I’ll introduce you around.” He motioned to the receptionist. “This is Lydia. Lydia, this is Kate Callahan, our newest reporter.”

Her gray curls bounced with her nods as the phone began to ring. “Nice to meet you, Kate,” she said before turning to answer the incoming call, “Thank you for calling News17, your extended family, how may I direct your call?”

Kate followed Dale through another set of glass double doors where he called, “Jordan.”

Smack dab in the middle of the newsroom was the assignment desk—the hub of every news organization. Three men looked up and Kate couldn’t begin to guess begin to guess which one was named Jordan. The red-haired man, who sat behind the desk, waved as he talked away on the phone. The other two stood with their arms resting on the top of the chest high assignment desk. They were waiting for their next task—or shooting the bull.

She recognized both of them, had worked alongside them in the field for two years while she was their competition. Kate hadn’t cared then to even learn their names, and this moment was the first time she’d taken the time to notice more than just the cameras they carried around.

One of them looked like a body builder, his sleeve straining against the muscle of his bicep, with blond hair, cut short in the back with longer curly locks on top. He smiled and his dimples nearly swallowed his cheeks.

The second man had light brown hair that looked as though he’d just stepped out of a windstorm. He had a toned physique, under his cream sweater and loose-fitting jeans—much more Kate’s type than was his muscled friend. And his eyes…. Kate swallowed hard. His eyes were the color of the Caribbean Ocean sparkling in the bright sun. She shook her head, trying to rid her mind of the sudden urge to go skinny-dipping in the salty water.

The tropical waters focused on Kate’s face for only a moment before roaming slowly over her body as though she stood before the group without a stitch on. His lips pulled at the corners, forming a sexy, knowing smile.

Former journalist Morgan Kearns is living the dream! One of her very favorite things is to meet new characters as they step out of her imagination, introduce themselves and keep her up all night telling their stories. Morgan lives in Northern Arizona with her wonderfully supportive husband and her four great kids—and her bulldog, Gus.

Morgan loves to hear from her readers! She can be reached at www.MorganKearns.com.