Looking for Lacey

Chapter One Bobby McIntyre wheeled up to Bobby's Place in a rugged, black four-by-four. A panther-tight coil curled inside him when he saw the reporters and fans standing by the door. As the starting quarterback for the Texas Lone Stars, Bobby was legendary around the state, and practically a god in his hometown of El Paso. But two Sundays ago in the game against Cleveland, he had been taken down by all 350 pounds of the defensive tackle known as The Bathtub famous for washing up careers. In a moment of mind splitting pain, they had slammed together, helmet to helmet, crashing to the turf in a slow-motion ballet of inevitability. Now hand-painted signs welcomed him home, and television crews tried to stay on their feet as the horde rushed to him. "Bobby Mac, how's the knee?" "When do you expect to be back in Dallas?" "How many hearts have you broken this season?" The questions came at him all at once as he pushed out of the vehicle. Barely using his crutches, he gave the women a devilish wink as if he didn't have a care in the world. With reporters everywhere, the last thing he needed was to appear vulnerable. Even hurt, Bobby Mac never showed weakness. It was one of the things that made him such a formidable player. The corner of his mouth tilted in a crooked grin as he raked his dark hair back from his forehead. "I'll make this easy. The knee is healing fast, you can bet I'll be back in Dallas for the playoffs,"his smile widened, flashing at the crowd"and why aren't you asking me how many lovely ladies broke my heart?" The reporters hooted, and the women melted. There wasn't a female in all of Texas who had been able to resist the combination of endearingly mischievous boy and sensually confident man that embodied Bobby Mac McIntyre. For the first time since the injury, Bobby felt the tight coil start to ease. El Paso did that to him. Maybe it was knowing his sister was here, or that Bobby's Place proved a safe haven. Or maybe it was the fact that El Pasoans adored him at the same time they gave him his space. That was just what he needed right then, peace and the ability to heal in private. His surgery had been a success, and now he would put in his weeks of physical therapy. Then he would return to Dallas and get back on the field, taking the Lone Stars to yet another Super Bowl victory. He didn't care what the doctors said; he knew he'd return in time for the play-offs. He had been hurt before, the injuries never causing more than a ripple of interruption to his season. This time would be no different, he had told himself and the coaching staff. And Bobby McIntyre always got what he wanted. He worked the crowd and made his way into the sports bar he had opened three years ago. In the last twelve months, he had been in and out of El Paso, but never with the time to oversee the establishment as he should. At thirty-five, he had to spend more time training, and most mornings he was sorer than he liked to admit. But walking up to the comforting flash of blue-and-red neon lights of Bobby's now, he smiled his famous Bobby Mac smile. He had known that coming home was the answer instead of staying in Dallas while he went through physical therapy. He couldn't wait to see his cherished sister, Beth, and her family, suspected that she was probably inside the bar right now. A young fan who looked like a high school fullback pulled open the door for him, and he shook his hand. "You're the greatest, Bobby Mac!" Bobby smiled genuinely. "Thanks, kid." But just before he could cross the threshold into Bobby'Lee, Linda Francis is the author of 'Looking for Lacey' with ISBN 9780804119962 and ISBN 0804119961.