[First and Ten 06] • Al "Trunk" Mahoney, Defensive Line

When his wife walked out on him, Al “Trunk” Mahoney’s plans for the family he’d never had went up in smoke. A top-ranked defenseman in the NFL, Trunk’s success on the gridiron didn’t translate to the rest of his life. Hooking up with women was easy for the sexy lineman, but Trunk’s secret closed the door to marriage. Would the happiness he yearned for always be just beyond his reach?

Beautiful Carla Ricci, bar owner and independent woman had her choice of men. A love-‘em and leave-‘em lady, she’d made a decision that ruled out 99.9% of men for marriage. She didn’t care. Then Trunk Mahoney came along. Carla resolved to remain true to herself. Could her willpower hold indefinitely, or would she settle for an affair that would break her heart?

Caution: locker room language.

A snippet:

“Mary moved out. Left me. Took the furniture.” He spit it out, fast. It hurt less that way, like ripping off a bandage.

Carla grasped his muscular forearm, and her eyes softened. “Well, shit. I’m sorry, Trunk. What happened?”

“Damned if I know.” He took a gulp of his beer.

“Didn’t she say anything?”

“‘I’m leaving. My lawyer will be in touch. Took the furniture. You can have the house’.”