Author: Jaci Burton

But he wasn’t that kind of guy, and he knew this wasn’t about him.

This was about Savannah. And it had nothing to do with him being her client.

He’d been making progress. He might not really enjoy taking instructions from her, but he’d seen the light. He was beginning to see the wisdom in her suggestions. He might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he wasn’t a total dumbass, either. A lot of what she’d been trying to tell him made sense. So he’d been listening, putting those words into action, and it was working.

Which had nothing to do with what went on between the two of them when they were alone. He’d been honest with her when he told her he could separate business from personal.

No, that wasn’t the problem. Something else was.

And he wasn’t going to give up until he figured out what it was that kept sending her running out the door every time the two of them got close.

FOURTEEN

GETTING HIS FRUSTRATIONS OUT ON THE FOOTBALL field had always worked well for Cole.

Okay, maybe he also used to take his frustrations out in clubs, and on the media, but he’d been working hard on turning over a new leaf. This year he was going to leave it all on the field. New image and all that.

Preseason was starting this weekend, and he was psyched up and ready for the game. He was secure in his position, though he didn’t expect to get as much playing time in this weekend’s game against Cleveland as he’d like.

Still, the start of play was always as exciting as the first time he’d walked onto a football field as a professional. It never got old. And this year, on his home team, would be the year that everything was going to change for him.

He hadn’t seen Savannah since that night at his condo. She’d laid low, though they’d exchanged a few phone calls. She’d told him she’d be at the game today to help coach him through media interviews, which he’d found laughable, but he’d agreed to meet with her before the game to go over some pointers.

He’d wanted to see her anyway, to gauge her mood and how things were between them. Despite being busy up to his eyeballs with team practice, he’d also been thinking about her a lot. There were times he’d wanted to call her, but he didn’t want to push someone who obviously didn’t want to be pushed.

Didn’t mean the game was over in his mind, though. It was just a temporary retreat.

He still wanted Savannah. They’d just gotten warmed up. Sex with her was great and he liked spending time with her, time that went beyond the image makeover shit she was making him do. He liked the personal time they spent together.

But for some reason what was going on between them kept scaring her into backing away. Maybe she did fear for her job, but it wasn’t like he was going to approach the team owner or coach and tell him that he was fucking Savannah. He knew how to be discreet.

He just had a feeling there was something else bothering her, and he didn’t know what it was.

“Ready to kick some ass today, stud?”

He was in the team office signing some papers and turned to smile at Elizabeth.

He grinned. “You know it.”

She laid her hand on his arm. “I’m expecting you to make me look like a brilliant agent for signing you when no one else would touch you. Don’t make me look like a dumbass.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got a good feeling about this season. I think it’s going to be one of my best yet.”

Liz leaned a hip against the conference room table. “That’s what Savannah tells me.”

He cocked a brow. “Is that right?”

“Yes. Of course that could just be PR on her part, trying to sell the positive aspects about you.”

“It’s not PR. I’m a changed man.”

Liz snorted. “We’ll see about that.”

“Hey, she’s a freakin’ miracle worker. You’ll see. It’ll be like raising Frankenstein’s monster from the dead.”

“I don’t think you were quite that bad. If you were, honey, I’d have never taken you on.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, as weak as it was.”

She laughed. “And how are things going between you and Savannah?”

He arched a brow and leaned back in the chair. “In what way?”

“In that way.”

He stayed silent.

“She told me the two of you slept together. And don’t bother getting all upset about it. We’re good friends and I’m discreet.”

“I’m not upset about it. I’m glad she has someone to talk to, since she damn well won’t talk to me.”

Liz folded her arms. “Hmm.”

“Yeah? And what does that mean?”

She pulled up a chair. “Tread lightly with her, Cole. I mean it. She’s dealing with some stuff.”

“What kind of stuff? Like a bad breakup or something?”

“It’s not for me to say. If she wants to open up to you, she will. I just don’t want you to hurt her.”

“I’m not trying to hurt her, Liz. I’m trying to get her to trust me enough to have a goddamn conversation with me. Or at least stop fucking me and running like hell after.”

He couldn’t believe he was having this conversation with his agent. With a woman, no less. Men didn’t have sex and talk about it. Ever. But he was at a loss as to how to deal with Savannah and needed some insight.

“Do you care about her?”

“If I didn’t I wouldn’t be so frustrated, and I sure as hell wouldn’t be talking to you about it. I’ve got more important things on my mind, like the start of the season. So yeah, I care about her.”

Liz’s lips quirked into a smile. “I guess you do. Be patient with her and don’t give up. She needs to know you’re going to be there for her, that you’re not going to abandon her. That’s the only advice I can give you.”

That would have to be good enough. “Thanks.”

“Hey, relationships are tough. And sometimes one side has to do a lot of the work. Just ask Gavin.”

He laughed. “How’s married life going, by the way?”

“Obscenely romantic. I love it, even though I hardly see my husband since he’s knee deep in baseball season. But we carve out time whenever we can. I’m just looking forward to November when we can have our honeymoon.”

“Good. I’m glad for you, though why you’d want to be married to my pain-in-the-ass cousin is a mystery to me.”

“Somebody had to take him on. I took pity on him.” Liz stood and kissed him on the cheek. “Play good today.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Liz had walked out the door and Cole saw her run into Savannah outside where the offices were. They stopped and talked for a few minutes. Cole watched the interplay between the two women. There were hugs, a lot of smiling, and some intense conversation. He would have liked to know what they were talking about.

Maybe about him. Or maybe it was just woman talk. For all he knew they were having a conversation about shoes.

They hugged good-bye and Savannah headed into the conference room.

“You talked to Liz?” he asked.

“Just for a minute or two. Nothing significant.”

That she had to say that meant they talked about him.

She laid her bag on one of the chairs, then pulled out the one next to his and took a seat. “She told me she expects you to shine today.”

“Yeah, I got that order from her.”

Savannah smiled. “I have no doubt you’ll be successful.”

“Me, either.” He wanted to drag her into his arms and press a hot kiss to her lips—the ones painted a pretty little shade of dusky pink today. She wore a brown dress and heels, her hair pulled up. He also wanted to kiss her neck, but he could tell she was wearing her professional persona today.

“I need to get down to the locker room,” he said. “You wanted to talk?”

“Yes. There will be media interviews after the game today.”

“There are always postgame media interviews.”

“Yes. And you haven’t always handled those well. Especially if your team loses. It tends to put you in a bad place and you take your mood out on the media.”

“Not gonna happen today. Have some faith in me. I have been listening to you.”

“Good. But just in case they come after you, and you know they will, keep your answers relevant to the game and to the Traders. No matter what.”

“All right.”

She stood. “Promise me?”

She wasn’t beating on him. She was worried about him, about how he was going to be perceived by the media and the public on this first game with his new team. He got that. “I promise.”

“Okay.” She grabbed her bag and headed for the door.

“Peaches.”

She paused. Turned. “Yes?”

“Don’t you think we should talk about the other night?”

She smiled at him. “Have a wonderful game. I’ll be rooting for you.”

SAVANNAH KNEW SHE WAS BEING A COCK-TEASING bitch, and that wasn’t in her nature. She’d gone to school with girls like that, girls who gave it out, then withheld it until they got what they wanted.

That wasn’t at all what she was doing. What she was doing was losing her ever-loving mind.

“Sorry I’m late. I had to deal with a couple other players, then I had to answer some calls, then email. It never ends.” She rolled her eyes.

Savannah looked up and smiled at Liz. Just what she needed, a friendly female who understood.

They were sitting in one of the private boxes, thanks to the team owner who graciously offered up one of his spaces for Elizabeth’s use. Liz had invited the Riley family, which included Cole’s family as well as Gavin and Mick’s family. The box was filled with a horde of Rileys today, except Gavin and Mick, of course, who were busy playing their respective sports. But Mick and Gavin’s parents had attended, as well as Cole’s parents, and they were all sitting huddled together. Savannah had greeted them when she’d walked in, then settled in at the front of the box so she could watch the game—and Cole’s behavior.

It was kickoff. Cleveland had deferred to the second half, so the Traders were going to receive. Savannah leaned forward and watched the return to the thirty-yard line. Good field position as the offense took the field to the raucous applause of the fans.

Savannah’s heart was pounding.

“You look like you could use a drink,” Liz said as she took a seat next to her.

Savannah laughed. “I might.”

“I’m sure you’ve done a great job with him, but this part is all up to him.”

“I know. But I—”

What? Cared about him? Wanted him to win so desperately her heart was in her throat? She had no idea what she felt about Cole. Her emotions were so mixed she didn’t know what to do or how to feel. That was the problem with having sex with a client, or at least with her having sex with a client.

She could have sex with just some random guy she was dating. If a relationship developed—which it typically didn’t—great. There was nothing to hold that back other than her own screwed-up views of love and relationships.

But with Cole, she was entering uncharted territory. Not only was he tangled up in her job, which had always been her one and only true love, she also felt something for him she’d never felt for another man.

She sighed.

“Hey, first play from scrimmage was a good run. Twelve yards. Cole wasn’t even on the field. I think you can exhale now, honey,” Liz said, rubbing her back.

Savannah looked up. “What?” She looked out at the field, realizing she’d totally missed the first play. “Of course. I guess I’m a little nervous.”