The End Game : Bad Boy Football Romance

By Melissa Rose

Detective Lilly Bruce has life figured out.  That is, until a handsome football player named Jason Hathaway finds himself caught in the middle of a murder investigation.  Handsome Hathaway tugs on Lilly's heartstrings and ignites her passions in ways no man ever has.

But as she delves deeper into the case, the evidence points to Jason.  He insists that he's innocent, even in the face of the most damning evidence.  As much as Lilly wants to believe him, the facts are right there before them.

When the facts suddenly reveal a more startling truth, Lilly is left reeling.  Her perfect world of logic and reason is turned upside down and what's worse; Jason is in danger because she didn't believe him. 

Can she find Jason in time and put the bad guy behind bars before it's too late?  Will Jason ever forgive her for arresting him for murder?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melissa Rose
• Release date: Feb 21, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386796640

Melissa Rose

Melissa Rose is an author based out of small town in Georgia. Happily married, she and her husband share their home with their two beautiful children. Although her interests are numerous, she enjoy writing mainly steamy romance novels, that star hot, in-charge alpha males and their smart, sexy female lovers and companions. Melissa first got into writing when she was fifteen. She was attracted to romance early on, and she enjoys entertaining her friends and family wither stories. An avid reader as well, she draws influence from a variety of sources, including her own experiences. She tells stories in order to make the world a brighter place and to bring joy to her readers, each of whom she considers a friend.

Book preview

The End Game

Book 1: The Fumbling Football Player

When a man is discovered murdered in the locker room on the first day of spring training, football player Jason Hathaway is almost excited.  He loves a good murder mystery and spends so much time reading novels and watching crime shows that he knows exactly what to do.  The problem is, he’s done something ridiculous because it was on a crime show.  He may have ruined everything and blown the only chance investigators have of finding the killer.

Lilly is furious that this man-however well-meaning-has tainted evidence and possibly compromised her case.  The problem is, he’s the only one cooperating.  Everyone else on the team gives Lilly the silent treatment, and she’s left wondering if it’s because she’s a woman in a male-dominated field or because they are involved somehow. 

Everyone is a suspect, including the handsome Jason Hathaway.  Coming up empty when she tries to question the rest of the team, she begrudgingly gives in and allows Jason to help her.  But there’s an even bigger problem than the dead guy that no one seems to know.  The more she works with Jason, the more attracted to him she becomes. 

Chapter 1

DETECTIVE LILLY BRUCE sat at her desk, eyeing the stack of reports sitting on her desk. 

"Rethinking this whole Detective thing, are you?"

Lilly rolled her eyes, slapping her new partner with a file folder playfully.  She was annoyed, but not for the reason he thought.

No.  I’m glad I changed careers.  But I just wonder what the new Medical Examiner is doing.  Did they hire someone straight out of school or is he just that careless?

You wanna know what I think?

Sure, why not?

I feel like you’re patronizing me.

No really, she said, a touch of sarcasm in her voice.  I always try to take advice on my former career from people who are afraid to step into the morgue.

For the last time, I’m not afraid.  I wasn’t feeling well when I came to work and it got the better of me at a bad time.

Lilly smiled, biting her lip to keep from laughing.  She knew that it was very likely that Detective Adam Tremaine had indeed come to work sick that day, but that logical explanation wasn’t as fun.  The image of big, burly Adam, with his slick blond hair and striking blue eyes passing out near the autopsy table was too good to pass up.

So like everyone else, she constantly gave him grief over it, especially since it had happened while she was still the Medical Examiner for the small suburb of Fort Worth, Texas.

I guess I’ll never get the image of you face-planting inches from the drain out of my head.

Back to the problem at hand, he said, trying to steer the conversation away from his most embarrassing moment.

Sure.  Please, tell me what you were thinking.

I was thinking that he keeps doing that so that you’ll come down there and you can talk to him.

No way, Lilly said.  That’s asinine.

Adam shrugged.

"Whatever you want to think.  But I’m a man, and a man knows these things."

Based on what, my stunning good looks?

Lilly laughed, shuffling through the papers and trying to make sense of the garbled notes on the page.

Exactly.

Please, Lilly chided him.  There’s no way.

Is your mirror broken?

The Sergeant walked by, dropping another folder onto Lilly’s already piled up desk.

I hate to cut this little love story short, but we have a dead body at the football stadium in Brook Ridge.  I need you two lovebirds out there ASAP before the scene is destroyed.  The coach is getting antsy.  Seems a dead body in their locker room on the first day of Spring Training is cramping their style.

Lilly grabbed the folder, which held only a fax from the department that had sent the case over after the 9-1-1 call and a grainy cellphone picture of the body stuffed into the equipment cage.

I hope no one disturbed the scene, Lilly mumbled.

Someone always does, Lil, Adam said.

That’s Detective Bruce, Lilly corrected.

We’re partners.  I’m not calling you ‘Detective’ anything.

Don’t call me Lil.

Fine.

Lilly grabbed the keys to their department issued car and headed to the parking lot.

It’s my turn to drive, Adam said, trying to snatch the keys out of Lilly’s hand.

No way.  I let you drive once.  I almost ended up on the slab myself.  I’d like to make it home in one piece.

I’m a great driver.

You’re a terrifying driver.  It’s a wonder your license hasn’t been revoked yet.

Adam scoffed. 

Says you.  Maybe you’re not cut out for police work.  You’re too prissy.

Lilly spun around, jabbing Adam in the chest with her finger.  She was short, her head barely coming up to his collar bone, but she was a force of nature.  Curly black hair seemed to have a life of its own as it settled on her shoulders.  Jade green eyes flashed with anger at his words. 

Don’t ever say that to me.  I’m just as qualified as you are, perhaps even more so.  You’re a horrible driver, but that doesn’t give you the right to question whether or not I belong here.

Adam put his hands up and took a step back.

Whoa, sorry.  Didn’t mean to touch a nerve there.

Well, you did.  I’m not here to take crap for being a woman.  If you don’t like it, get another partner.  Heaven knows I can work this job alone.

I’m sorry, really.

You don’t sound sorry, Lilly said, unlocking the car and getting into the driver’s seat.

I am sorry; I just don’t know how to deal with you.

Treat me like one of the guys.

I can’t.

Why not?

You’re not like one of the guys.

Pretend I am if you have to.  Do whatever it takes, just don’t call me Lil and don’t question my ability to do this job.

Adam slouched in the car seat, arms folded and mouth set. 

You’re such a diva, he mumbled under his breath.

What did you call me?

A diva.  I said you’re a diva.  I’m not the only one who says it.  People have been calling you that for a while; long before you became a detective.

Lilly pulled to a stoplight and took the opportunity to give Adam a withering glance.

They called me a diva?

Not just a diva.  Diva of the Dead.

Huh.

What do you mean ‘huh’?

I think I actually like that.  Diva of the Dead.  It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

I’m not going to answer that.

Why not?

It feels like a trap.  Regardless, we’ve all been called worse.  You need a thicker skin.

Lilly shrugged and pulled into the parking lot of the football stadium.  They had work to do.  They could pick up this conversation later.

Chapter 2

LILLY STRODE INTO THE locker room, following the sound of crime scene investigators collecting evidence in the equipment room.  The smell reached her long before she passed through the locker room. 

The football players sat in silence in the locker room, but she could feel their eyes on her as she passed by.  There were a few low, breathy whistles, but Lilly couldn’t tell where they were coming from.  To be honest, she didn’t really care.  The Brook Ridge Railroaders were a minor league football team with aspirations of joining the national league.  There was a lot of ego in the room, not an ounce of it earned, and Lilly wasn’t about to give them the reaction they were looking for.

The equipment room was dank and dark, with single, bare bulbs spaced semi-evenly along the ceiling.  The result was a creepy, yellow glow that made everything in the room look jaundiced.

The smell was even worse in here, and Lilly soon knew why.

Is he in there under all that stuff? Lilly asked, studying the decomposed mass under a mound of gray kettle balls.

Yep.  And each of those weigh about fifteen pounds, so it’s going to take a while to clear them without disturbing the body.

What’s that on his hands?

Lilly squatted down beside one arm that had slid out under the chain-link fencing that made up the equipment cage.

That, the tech said, eyes darting to a dark corner of the room, is the brain-child of the first man on the scene.

Lilly spun around, locking eyes with the man sitting on a low bench and watching everything around him with obvious interest.  Her stride was long as she rushed towards him, shoulders tense.

You put sandwich baggies on his hands?

Yep.

The man seemed proud.

What the hell, why?

Um, I thought that’s what you’re supposed to do so that if there’s any skin under the nails you can preserve it.

Did you touch the body?

I had to.  It was a lot of work to get the bags on and tie them.

Lilly rolled her eyes.  Was this man serious? 

And where did you get the idea that it was something you should do?

The man rattled off the names of several prime-time crime shows and Lilly groaned.

Did I do something wrong?

You did several things wrong.  But let’s focus on the baggies.  When you jostled the hands around like that, you probably knocked any loose skin off and it’s going to be nearly impossible to find in the dust and dirt scattered on the concrete floor.

Oh.  I’m sorry.  I didn’t know that.

Sorry doesn’t bring back evidence.

Adam stepped into her line of vision, giving her a slight shake of the head and trying to get her to stop her angry tirade.

Excuse me, Mr.—

Hathaway.  Jason Hathaway.  I’m the Railroader’s tight-end.

He stuck his hand out, but Lilly didn’t take it.  She walked a short distance away, standing close to Adam and talking in low tones.

What?

Don’t badger the witness.

Why?  He’s an idiot.

He may be an idiot, but he’s the only one cooperating.  Don’t screw that up, he might be the only lead we have.

So that’s it?  He just gets a free-pass for messing up the crime scene?

He didn’t mean to and I’m sure it’s fine.

Well, some of us are realists instead of blind optimists.

Regardless, we need him to come to the station with us for questioning and we have no grounds to take him in against his will.  He’s going to need to come willingly or you might as well drop this one in the cold case file today.  We have no leads and no idea who the guy in the cage is.

Lilly looked at Jason Hathaway, sitting on the bench, his expression tense.

Fine.  I’ll play nice.  But I’m still pissed.  This isn’t a television show; this is real life.

That’s right, and I’m sure he’s sorry.

Lilly took a deep breath, trying to steel herself for the show she was about to put on.  She was beyond irritated with this man and his actions, regardless of his intentions.  She didn’t want to cut him some slack.

Mr. Hathaway?

Please, call me Jason.

Of course, Jason.

Lilly painted on her best southern belle smile.

I’m sorry I was a little harsh there a second ago.  I appreciate the effort, even if the technique was a little rough.

I’m really sorry about that.  Next time, I’ll do better.

Next time?  Was he hoping for more bodies?

I’m sure there won’t be a next time, but in any case, please leave the evidence collection to the professionals.

I’m hoping there will be a next time.  Football is just a way to pay my way through college.  What I really want to be is a homicide detective.

Is he serious? Lilly thought.

It’s nice that you have dreams and aspirations, Lilly said, mentally kicking herself for how off-putting her words sounded.

She’d been in the business of death for so long that she really didn’t know what to say to the living at times.  This was no exception.  She knew what she wanted to say, but she didn’t think that telling him that he was living in a fantasy world was a nice thing to say.

Still, it was tempting.

But there was something about this handsome football player that made her hesitate.  Normally she didn’t think twice about putting a man in his place.  After all, she was just over five feet tall.  In her line of work, if you were small in stature, you made up for it with a big presence.  That’s what had always worked for Lilly, and she wasn’t about to change. 

Unfortunately, she needed to get this man to not only come back to the station, but to willingly submit a DNA sample to rule him out as a suspect.

You know what, Jason?  I think that this is perfect.  I need to question you anyway to rule out any DNA you might have left on the victim when you were covering his hands, and I also need to ask you some questions.  Since you were the first person on the scene and you’re an educated witness, I really need some time to pick your brain.

That sounds great.

Perfect, she said, shocked that it had been just that easy.  Then why don’t you come with us, and we’ll take you to the station so we can get all of this out of the way.

Jason didn’t even hesitate, shouldering his backpack and falling into step behind Lilly. 

That was much too easy

.

Chapter 3

THIS IS SO EXCITING, Jason said as they stepped out of the sedan and headed into the station.

Adam smiled at Lilly, giving her a sly wink behind Jason’s back.  Lilly sighed but didn’t return the gesture.  They were going outside her comfort zone; treating a possible suspect with kid gloves like he was just a friend coming to the station for a visit.  Lilly preferred the straightforward approach, but Adam was right.  Jason was the only one cooperating and they didn’t want him to lawyer up like the rest of the team.  If she had to treat him gently to get him in the interrogation room, so be it.

But she didn’t have to like it.

If you’ll come this way, Adam said, I’ll get you something to drink while you wait.

I’ll take a water.

Lilly left the room behind Adam, going into the viewing room to watch Jason while Adam fetched a water.

She watched Jason closely, noting how calm he appeared in the stark room.  His dark hair was perfectly styled, hazel eyes bright and friendly.  Looking at him, Lilly would never guess that he could have anything to do with the murder of the man in the locker room, but she knew better than to judge a book by its cover.  She’d been working homicides in one fashion or another for almost a decade.  At thirty-three, she was one of the youngest people in her field, having starting in the ME’s office at the tender age of twenty-three. 

The detective closest to her age was Adam, who was thirty-five and had been in law enforcement since he graduated high school.  He’d been promoted to detective shortly before his thirtieth birthday, assigned to a partner that was just a few years shy of retirement.

Lilly’s career shift had come at just the right time.  She and Adam had been partners since Lilly had left the ME’s office a few months before.  Their relationship had its ups and downs, but for the most part, Lilly enjoyed Adam’s company.  He was a bit of a pain, but compared to her other options for partners, she’d gotten lucky.

Adam left the bottle of water in front of Jason, gave an explanation for having to leave and told Jason he would be back in a bit.  Jason nodded, opening the water and taking a huge swig before setting it down again.

He rummaged around in his backpack in the interrogation room as Adam slipped in through the door to join Lilly.

Anything good yet? he asked.

No, but I can’t believe him right now.  Does he have any shame?

Adam looked up at Jason and laughed out loud.

I did tell him to get comfortable.

That didn’t mean that he could just put his feet up on the table and pull out a book.  What kind of football player is he?

The kind that’s only playing to pay his way through college.

Lilly reached for the intercom button, intent on giving Jason a piece of her mind.  Adam reached out, stopping her before she could press the button.

Just give him some time.  Let’s see what he does.

Lilly leaned closer to the one-way glass, squinting so