Author's Note: Dedicated to all the gorgeous NFL quarterbacks who give us the imagination to dream {THUD}
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"That was the latest hit by Aerosmith from the movie Armageddon, which is still showing in a local theater near you." Bradley Ryan looked over the table and mike to his co-host, Raelyn Ballard. She was still laughing at the joke he had told right before their mikes were turned back on after the song. He grinned at her as he continued. "Rumor has it they will come to the coliseum sometime in the near future."
"That's right," Raelyn interjected, finally getting a hold of herself. "No official announcements have been made as to any specific dates but it should be some time this fall." She smiled over at Bradley, adjusting her headphones.
"I love that band! Just when you think they're gone, they pop right up again with a hit like this one."
"I love that song," Raelyn added enthusiastically. "One of our listeners called in during the last song and said that it made her want to make love to the radio."
Bradley laughed hysterically. "You've got to be kidding?!"
"No!" she replied, her soft laughter joining his. "She was dead serious!" They both laughed for a moment.
"Speaking of which, we've just received word that our studio guest has just arrived."
"What does that have to do with what we were just talking about?" Raelyn asked, laughing at her partner.
"I don't know," he admitted. "I just had to fit it into the conversation." Raelyn shook her head at him, laughing at his antics. "Anyway, J.T. Young, the quarterback of our new professional football team is joining us this morning."
"That's right," Raelyn added. "Pre-season opens Sunday at Ranger Stadium against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I can't wait."
"Are you going to the game?" Bradley asked, taking a sip of his coffee. Looking over at the phone system, he could see the listener lines already lighting up. Having J.T. as a guest was going to help their ratings ... that could already be seen.
"No," she admitted. "I'd rather sit at home and watch it. I've found that the best seat to a professional football game is in my recliner and above all, it's free."
"Yeah," Bradley argued, "But it's not the same as being there. You've got to actually be in the stadium to soak up the atmosphere. . ."
"And the beer, and the mess, and the stink," she added for him.
"Stink?" he asked, laughing at her.
"People stink," she argued back, wrinkling her nose. "You never know who you're going to be sitting by and with my luck, it's someone who sweats like old socks in this Texas heat and can't hold onto their beer. The first big play and boom! It's all over me!"
Bradley laughed at her, shaking his head. "That's a nice picture you've painted for us, Raelyn."
"Well, it's the truth. If I'm going to pay that much for a ticket, I want to watch the game, not hold my nose and worry about my outfit being ruined by the slob sitting next to me."
Bradley laughed again. "We'll take a break while our guest gets settled. We'll be back in a few with J.T. Young. Stay tuned!" Then turning on a song by The Backstreet Boys, he hung up his headphones and looked across the table at Raelyn as she did the same, grabbing her cup of coffee. "You're crazy, Raelyn. Now we're going to get a bunch of calls from rabid fans who want to argue that point for thirty minutes."
"Oh, Bradley," she laughed, heading out the door and to the coffee maker, "You know you love it when I stir things up a bit. You just go get J.T. You want anything?"
"No," he answered, heading out the other door. Raelyn stopped for a minute, watching him through the glass window as he walked up to a tall man outside the booth. It was J.T. Young, and Raelyn couldn't help but be impressed by him. He stood about as tall as her father had been, well over six feet. He had thick blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. Raelyn smiled to herself and then headed out the other door and to the coffee maker.
When Raelyn made it back into the booth, Bradley was setting up J.T.'s headphones and explaining to him about the mike system. Their mikes were set up on a bar surrounding the switch board and cd systems. Raelyn's system was set up closest to J.T. She smiled at him as she nodded to her coffee. "Can I get you a cup of coffee?" she offered.
J.T. looked up and then smiled at her; instant appreciation for Raelyn's looks lighting up his eyes. "No, I've had my limit," he answered, his eyes traveling slowly over her, starting at her feet and then traveling upward to finally rest on her face. When their eyes met, Raelyn's were blazing at his visual assault. She quickly sat down on her stool, adjusted her mike, and put her headphones back on, not offering anything more to him. Inwardly she was seething. 'He had some nerve,' was all that she could think as Bradley readjusted his headphones and get set to go. Looking over at Raelyn, he nodded and then turned on their sets.
"We're back!" he announced. "And we found J.T. Young in the process." Smiling over at J.T., Bradley nodded to him. "Welcome to our humble abode," he said.
"It's good to be here," he answered, casting another glance over to Raelyn.
Raelyn didn't look at him as she asked, "Everyone is asking the same question, J.T. How are the Rangers going to do this year and can you pull off an initial win against the Superbowl Champion Steelers after last year's losing season?"
J.T. continued to watch her, wondering if he had done something to piss her off. "Well, we're sure going to try, Raelyn. We've worked on some new plays and perfected the old ones."
Raelyn glanced over at him, wondering if he was egotistical as everyone had said. It was apparent that he was used to getting his way with any woman he came across and Raelyn couldn't help but wonder if he thought the same thing about her. "Is that going to be enough?" she asked, raising one eyebrow at him.
"We hope so!" he answered, grinning at her. Damn, if she wasn't beautiful. Violet eyes clashed with his as Raelyn raised her cocoa-brown eyebrows at him. "We're not starting off pre-season with any thoughts of losing, if that's what you're asking."
"I'm only asking if we are in store for a repeat of last season's losing streak. True, last year the Rangers were the NFL's newest expansion team," she quickly retorted, her lavender eyes blazing. "But now you've had a full season under your belts. I think our listeners deserve to know what kind of team we have this year."
Bradley jumped in quickly, realizing that for some reason Raelyn was ready to tear J.T. apart on public radio. "Whoa girl!" he laughed. "I think everyone knows that last year is gone and a lot of changes have been made to ensure that won't happen again."
"That's right," J.T. agreed. "We made some coaching changes and re-signed some free agents we were afraid of losing. There have been some changes made within the team, hoping that a new position would better suit some. The opener against Pittsburgh will be tough, about that we're sure, but we're confident that we can pull off a good game." He glanced over at Raelyn again, taking in her stunning blonde hair, the lavender eyes that sparkled mischievously, the delicate features, and that unexpectedly sensual mouth. Their eyes locked for a moment and Raelyn recognized the desire that burned in J.T.'s expression and she couldn't help but react. Her eyes widened momentarily as she struggled to form a smile on uncooperative lips. Her gaze drank in his tanned features - those remarkable blue eyes; the long, straight nose; that stubborn cleft chin of his; the light blonde hair just showing beneath his cap. Not wanting to, but doing it anyway, Raelyn had to admit that he was handsome, in a rugged sort of way. She blinked, suddenly gaining back her composure . . . the spell broken between them.
"That all sounds good and fine . . ." she began.
