Free Hill Country Hero by Ann DeFee Page B

heartbreak waiting to happen, and absolutely the last per son in the world Mac should get involved with.
    “Why are you so quiet?”
    What could CiCi say? Other than “are you out of your mind?” As tempting as that was, she couldn’t bring her self to be that blunt, so she went with something a little more benign.
    “Sweetie, I don’t want to be a wet blanket, but you really have to be careful. Guys like Cole Benavides eat people like you for a snack.”
    There was a pause before Mac let her have it with both barrels. “I hate to tell you this, sister dearest, but I’m a grown woman. And I can decide who to see. So considering that I’m really irritated with you right now, I think I’ll hang up.”
    CiCi stared at the phone, hoping her sister would call back, but no such luck.
    Life hadn’t been easy for Mac and Molly since her sleazy husband left her for his massage therapist. In their more lighthearted moments, CiCi and Mac had laughed at the cliché.
    Professional athletes in almost all sports lived in a heady environment. Millions of kids dreamed of going pro but only a tiny percentage ever made it, and those who did faced aunique challenge. Could they keep their priorities straight de spite the money, adulation and fame? Tank had succumbed to an adulterous affair, as had Mac’s husband. What about Jake? Did he have his head on right? She didn’t know him well enough to answer that question.
    That was a hurdle they’d never be able to get over. She’d known too many athletes who’d lost sight of common sense to ever get involved with another one.

Chapter Thirteen
    It had been a long, hot, sweaty day and Jake was on his way back to the cabin for a cool shower. Amazingly, Camp Touchdown was growing on him. He’d only been there a couple of days and he was already getting used to the smell of newly mown grass, the sound of the cicadas nestled in the live oaks and the nonstop teenage noise.
    Overall, Jake was content—that is, until he thought about CiCi Hurst. He’d dated some of the most beautiful women in Texas, but something about her appealed to him on a deeper level than “wow, she’s a hottie.”
    Unfortunately, the feeling wasn’t reciprocated. Her reaction to his kiss made that quite clear. Why did she have such a low opinion of him? Heck, he could get dozens of people to testify that he was one of the good guys. Even his ex-girlfriends (Brenda excluded) liked him. So what was with CiCi Hurst? Women—you couldn’t live ’em and you sure as shootin’ couldn’t live without ’em.
    Since he didn’t have a hope in hell of deciphering her thought process, Jake decided to press on to a subject that was more comprehensible—kids. Watching the campers let down their defenses and just be kids was pretty cool.
    And if his being here made a difference in even one life, it might just would be worth the cramped quarters, cranky shower and interminable humidity. But that didn’t mean heintended to get involved in their lives. Kids like Rondelle and crew were incredibly needy, and like Darrell and Dwayne they would suck the life blood out of him if he’d let them.
    Jake was about to strip down to jump in the shower when he heard a racket.
    “Jake! Jake, open the door!” CiCi was pounding on the cabin door as if there was no tomorrow. “I need your help.”
    This time he remembered to zip his jeans before unlatching the screen. “What’s wrong?”
    “Jennifer, one of the counselors, is in Spiceville and she just called to say that some of our kids are at a pool hall/kid hangout. They’re about to get in a fight with the townies.”
    “Which kids?” Jake asked, even though he’d bet his last dollar he knew exactly who was heading up the pack. “Is it Rondelle and his buddies?” He truly wanted to throttle that kid. CiCi nodded.
    “How did the little jerk have the energy to get in trouble after digging ditches and playing ball all day?” She shrugged.
    Chip, the head counselor of the