Page 50 of The Maverick's Homecoming

“Finn.”

He sat up straighter. “Huh?”

“We were talking about your dad.”

“Right…” Why, why, why had he said a word about his dad? And why wouldn’t she just let it go?

She stared at him across the table, waiting.

Reluctantly he volunteered, “My dad’s… Well, you know how he is. He lives in a world where everything is the way he wants it to be. In that world, his sons have to strive for what he considers success. That I left professional football behind is completely unacceptable to him. He’s convinced that I must be disappointed in myself and now he’s convinced himself that I moved back to Tenacity as the first step in a supposed plan to become a coach in the NFL.”

Her eyes got wide. “Wow.”

“Yeah. Unbelievable, huh? Let me just make this clear. I am not disappointed in myself or my life. Not in the least. I like my life now.”

“Hmm.” She forked up a bite of tossed salad and chewed it thoughtfully.

He looked at her warily. “What are you thinking?”

She sipped from her tall glass of ice water. As she set her glass down, she said, “Well, Finn. Your father’s assumption that you’re planning to get back into professional football isn’t all that far-fetched. Youwerea star NFL quarterback.”

“Yeah, for about ten minutes.”

“Don’t minimize your accomplishments. You won MVP two years running and that second year, you went all the way to the championship.”

“And in the third game of my third season, I tore my ACL. It was downhill from there.”

“Not the point. You’re a golden boy. And your injured knee won’t stand in the way of a possible coaching career.”

“I didn’t say it would. I just said that I only had a couple of great years in the NFL. As for being a golden boy, that ship has sailed. I barely got started before I was finished.”

“But your start was spectacular. People know your name. And you know the game. Your father’s idea of your future is within the realm of possibility if that’s what you want.”

“I don’t.”

She made a low, puzzled sound. “You don’t?”

“No, I don’t want to coach professional football. I honestly don’t. I like my life the way it is right now. I like living here in my hometown. I likebeinghere as Tenacity comes into its own again. I like helping out any way I can. And I like making money selling houses to folks who will put down roots here and help make our town grow, make Tenacity the kind of place people want to live and raise their families.

“Yes, I’m having a great time working with the Titans. But that doesn’t mean I have any desire to be a coach in the NFL.”

Kenzie was staring at him so intently. A single tear slid down her soft cheek.

“Kenz?” He shoved back his chair and stood. “What is it? Are you okay?”

She sniffled, waved a hand at him and commanded, “Sit back down. I’mfine.”

Slowly, he sank to his chair. “But you’re crying…”

“It’s nothing.” Another tear fell. She swiped it away. “Just hormones.” He didn’t believe her. And that must have shown on his face, because she added with a groan, “If you must know, it’s…well, what you just said was beautiful, that’s all.”

Now, he had no idea what to say next. “Yeah, well. It’s only the truth.”

“I’m just going to get up and get a tissue, okay? I’ll be right back.” She headed for the short hall to her room. When she returned, he kept his mouth shut—except to put food in it—for the next several minutes. Eventually, he said, “I’ve been thinking about that cat you said you wanted.”

She looked adorably flummoxed. “What cat?”

“The other day at practice, remember? You said you were considering getting a cat…or a dog.”