Candee Fick – Real Life Romance – Part 1 of 1

Shannon here: Contemporary Romance author, Candee Fick shares insight into her real life romance plus a chance to win a copy of her latest release, Catch of a Lifetime. Paper copy (US only) or mobi/ebook file, winner’s choice. Deadline: Dec 12th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Candee:

When football players start matchmaking, a girl knows she’s in trouble.
My first full-time job out of college was teaching science at a Christian middle/high school where I also coached cross country and track. At the start of my second year, I couldn’t help but notice the new math teacher and assistant football coach and his athletic physique. However, as teachers and coaches everywhere can confirm, juggling class preparation, grading, practices, and competition gets chaotic and I only saw the new guy across the room during our weekly staff prayer meetings.
Fast forward a few months to an evening school event where we both had arrived early. Since my mother always told me to be polite, I made a point to ask how he liked being at our school and if he’d settled in yet. We talked for a couple minutes and then, as others trickled in, we went our separate ways. But not before a student saw us talking to each other.
The rumors started the next day. “Miss Coen, do you like Mr. Fick?” “Miss Coen, do you like football?” “Are you two dating?” With a red face and stammering speech, I somehow deflected the attention. My internal vow to never be seen talking to him again did not stop the speculation and matchmaking efforts of our students. A freshman football player asked in class why I’d given Coach Fick an autographed picture of myself. (Turns out the captains had photocopied my yearbook mugshot and given it to him at their football awards banquet along with a collection of ugly ties and a free membership to a Christian dating service.)
The passage of time did nothing to dispel the rumors and when Valentine’s Day rolled around, I received several cards allegedly from my sweetheart, all signed by “Mr. Fick.” During baseball season, I substituted for a few of his classes on away game days and was again subjected to random questions about football and my personal life. However, I still avoided speaking to the man. After all, if this was the level of scrutiny when we were barely acquaintances, what would it be like if I actually wanted to spend time with him?
Having survived a year of matchmaking, I believed I was safe. However, the next fall, we could no longer avoid each other. Between pre-season coaches meetings, chaperoning the junior-senior fall retreat, and a common planning period spent in the teacher’s lounge, Clint and I saw each other daily. Within a few weeks, he asked me out on our first date and a whirlwind romance ensued. A month later, the football players were the first to learn that he was about to ask me to marry him and they delighted in telling the rest of the student body. We were blessed to have a dozen of those matchmaking players serve as ushers at our Christmas wedding almost 20 years ago.
About Candee: Candee Fick is the wife of a high school football coach and the mother of three children, including a daughter with a rare genetic syndrome. When not busy with her day job or writing, she can be found cheering on the home team at football, basketball, baseball, and Special Olympics games. In what little free time remains, she enjoys exploring the great Colorado outdoors, indulging in dark chocolate, and savoring happily-ever-after endings through a good book.
About the book – Catch of a Lifetime: He breathes football. She shudders at the very mention of the sport. After a tragedy involving a football player destroyed her family, athletic trainer and graduate student Cassie moves across the country looking for a fresh start, but a change in financial aid lands her in the middle of her worst nightmare. Meanwhile, rookie coach Reed worries his dream career will slip away as injuries plague his players and his star receiver teeters on the brink of ineligibility. As the two work together to salvage the season, sparks fly, and Reed must eventually choose between the game he cherishes and the woman he loves.

Can’t wait for the drawing. Purchase your copy now:
Catch of a Lifetime Kindle Copy              Catch of a Lifetime Paper Copy

Question for readers: Have you ever been “blessed” with matchmakers? How did it turn out?

Come back Dec 7th for Ane Mulligan!