Chapter 1
Walking toward the reception table, Thomas Hawk was about to attend his first high school reunion since he graduated eleven years ago. In truth, he was a bit nervous, wondering if he would recognize anyone. The invitation said it was an ‘all classes’ reunion and he had decided to check it out.
The reunion was held in the school cafeteria as it had been for the past five years. Tommy smiled as he walked in, realizing the place hadn’t changed since he was a student there. Looking around he remembered that every Wednesday the ladies in the kitchen served enchiladas and fish sticks on Fridays. Where else but Texas would they serve Mexican food on campus? He decided that the place hadn’t changed much since he was a student here.
His thoughts were interrupted by a female voice asking, “Are you a past student here?”
“Yes, I am,” he said softly, smiling at the pretty young woman. “I sent an email saying I would attend. My name is Thomas Hawk.”
The young woman’s head snapped up with her mouth open before she smiled. “Of course you are. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you.”
“Hey, I’ve been gone a long time. I don’t expect anyone to recognize me.”
“You still look a lot like those pictures of you in the trophy case. You’re a little older but just as handsome. I remember what a stud you were in your baseball uniform.”
“What a flirt!” Tommy thought as he gave her a second long look.
“Here’s your name tag,” the young woman said as she handed him an envelope. “Because we’re in the school, we aren’t allowed to have any adult beverages, so it’s kind of a punch and cookies night. Groups will probably be going from here to one of the local bars when this breaks up. If you don’t find anyone you know, come look me up.”
“Thanks,” Tommy smiled as he put the nametag on his jacket.
“I’m Lisa,” she whispered in a sexy voice. “I’ll be right here.”
“See you later, Lisa,” Tommy said with a grin and walked off to see if he could locate anyone he knew.
As he turned, Lisa said, “If you’re looking for all of your old jock buddies, you’ll find them in the back corner.”
Nearing the group, Tommy spotted Bernie Anderson, who had played left field behind him for two years. “Hey Bernie,” Tommy said with a bright smile and a handshake. “How you doin’, man?”
“Look, guys,” Bernie said to the group. “We’ve got Tommy Hawk with us. The greatest third baseman to ever play for this school.”
Everyone in the group turned to say hello and shake Thom’s hand. He was glad he remembered most of them. In this cluster Thom was something of a celebrity. He was the first student athlete from the school to make an All State team and Thom did it twice.
“I heard you busted up your foot,” one of the men said. “Is that what kept you from playin’ pro ball?”
“Oh, I’d like to blame it on the foot,” Tommy offered while acting shy. “I might have been able to rehab it, but just decided I wanted to follow a different path. Right now, I’ve got a great job with a bright future.”
“It must have been tough to walk away from all that pro ball money,” Bernie suggested. “I heard you were drafted by the Atlanta Braves.”
Looking at ten men listening to his every word, Thom told them, “First of all, you give half of the big salary to the government. Then you give at least ten percent to your agent. If you live or play in California, you give another ten percent to the state government. So, if you’re paid a million dollars, you’ll only get to keep about $400,000 or less after you put the cash in everyone’s hand.”
One of the men laughed. “I wouldn’t mind getting $400,000 a year. I think I could get by with that.”
They all laughed as did Thom. “That’s true, and I’m certainly not making that kind of money today. But I’m on my way to make good money down the road. If you’re lucky enough to last in the majors for five years, you retire being untrained to do anything unless you can coach. I just decided it wasn’t for me.”
“Why didn’t you come to the ten-year reunion?” one of the men asked.
“I had planned to attend,” Tommy replied, “But I was in Paris at the time. My job sent me there to study some of the things being done at their airport. I spent a week in Paris before going to Rome for a week.”
“Sweet!” Bernie laughed. “Two weeks in Europe using someone else’s money. I like that. Did you get a chance to check out the local women?”
Tommy grinned. “Well, I did have some free time to check out the local scenery. I’d have to say the women in Italy were more to my taste.”
“The Tommy Hawk I knew in high school checked out all of the local scenery,” one of the men said. “I think you dated just about every girl in your class.”
“And the two classes below us,” Bernie added. “And he left them all smiling.”
Now Tommy was laughing. “My Dad always told me to spread the love around.”
“Are you married now?” one of the guys in the back asked.
“I’m not,” Tommy confessed. “I guess it’s a carryover from my Dad’s advice. I just haven’t found the perfect woman yet.”
As if on cue, a soft voice behind him said, “Tommy.”
He turned to find a drop-dead gorgeous blonde looking up at him.
“Do you remember me?” she asked.
His memory came screaming back when he noticed the big brown eyes. “Of course I do. You’re Elizabeth Towney. We had American history together my senior year.”
A broad smile broke on her face. “I didn’t think you’d remember.”
“I don’t forget beautiful women, Elizabeth. And I’ve yet to meet anyone more beautiful than you.”
The group of men behind him howled. “And now we know why he dated every woman in town,” Bernie chuckled. “He is one smooth dude.”
“There’s nothing smooth about telling the truth,” Tommy said over his shoulder. “Now, if you guys will excuse me, I’m going to get caught up with my old friend Elizabeth.” Putting his hand on her shoulder, Tommy turned Elizabeth and walked her toward the refreshment table.
“I guess I saw you last eleven years ago,” he said as his hand touched her back. “Time hasn’t hurt you. You’re still beautiful.”
“I saw you last the night you walked across the stage at graduation. Then I saw you again about thirty minutes later. You were getting into a car with a pretty redhead.”
“It was Jenny McFarland,” Tommy laughed. “We went to a graduation party together.” Picking up two glasses of punch from the table, Tommy handed one to Elizabeth. “What have you been doing for the past eleven years? You still live around here?”
“I graduated the year after you, right after I turned sixteen. I’m still surprised you remember me.”
“I could never forget a woman as beautiful as you, Elizabeth. The first time I saw you in that history class I turned to one of my buddies and told him you were mine. I knew at first sight you were special.”
“You did seem disappointed when I told you I wasn’t allowed to date,” Elizabeth said with a grin.
“Are you kidding? I was devastated. When you told me your father forbid you to date until you were a junior, I was shocked. You looked so much older and the other girls around you just faded away with your beauty.”
“You’re still a sweet talker,” she replied in a soft but sexy voice. “Did you know I attended all of your baseball games that year?”
“I remember seeing you in the stands. You were always with a much younger girl.”
Elizabeth was flattered to think that he had seen her at the games and still remembered it. “That was my little sister. It was the only way I could get my parents to let me go back to the school for a sporting event.”
“If you don’t mind me asking,” Elizabeth said. “Why did you decide to go to Dallas Baptist University? I heard you had offers from Texas, LSU, Clemson, Vanderbilt and North Carolina State.”
“My parents wanted me to get a degree,” Tommy explained. “My Dad told me that the big schools just wanted me to play ball. He said they didn’t care if I even attended classes. Their interest in me was in my ability on the diamond. He pointed out that if I were to get hurt, they’d drop me like a hot rock. So after a lot of deliberation, I accepted a full ride to DBU.”
“Did I hear you tell your buddies that you did get hurt?”
“I did,” he told her. “My senior year I broke my foot sliding into second base. The second baseman jumped to throw to first and came down on my foot. I knew instantly by baseball days were over.”
“That’s so sad,” Elizabeth gasped as she touched his arm. “You were planning on playing professionally, weren’t you?”
“That was my plan, but I had to make a course correction. I’m very pleased with the decisions I’ve made. I had some great help from one of my college professors and landed a super job right after graduation.”
Someone passing by stopped to speak to Elizabeth. It gave Thom a chance to look her over. After all, he hadn’t seen her in eleven years. Thom estimated Elizabeth was about five and a half feet tall. She had shoulder-length blonde hair that swirled around her face showing off her big, brown eyes. Girls in Texas were known for their blonde mane and blue eyes. To Tommy, this woman was smokin’ hot. He had been impressed with her figure back in school but what he saw now was even more impressive. On a scale of one to ten, Elizabeth was at least a twelve.