"It's none of my business, of course," Andrea was saying.
For a split second, Tess thought her new sister-in-law had read her mind and was referring to her financial predicament. Had Bobby told his wife about the dropped endorsement deal?
Then Andrea said, "I know it's probably all a media stunt or something, to sell papers, but I have to admit, you and Max Fontaine make a sharp pairing. He's so enigmatic and serious and you're so outgoing and—"
"Obnoxious?" Tess finished on a laugh.
"No, no, of course not. I'm just saying you two looked rather sweet together."
Tess snorted. " 'Sweet'? Trust me, nothing between Max and me falls even remotely under that heading."
Andrea waved excitedly at her new husband as Bobby and Tim walked to the far side of the court to give interviews. Tess blew him a kiss.
"So," Andrea went on, eyes still sparkling, "what is it like working with Gabrielle, anyway? Everyone is comparing her to you, and I can see the similarities. Does it feel odd at all?"
Tess was still caught up in the way Andrea all but glowed when she looked at Bobby. What must it be like to sparkle like that because you cared about someone so fully, knowing they felt the same way? She'd entered her past relationships with all the same gusto she did her tournaments, but never with any real idea that they'd last very long. Her constant traveling schedule was very prohibitive. And even if she wanted to date a player, that was almost worse, as their tour schedules were never the same. Of course, she was retired now and could do as she pleased. Date as she pleased. And maybe she would.
Just as soon as she figured out how to earn a living.
"Not odd so much as kind of surreal," Tess said, pulling her thoughts together. "I've never been in the position of teaching or molding anyone's game but my own."
"Gabrielle is having such a marvelous run here, you must be proud to be part of that, at least."
"Oh, I don't know that I've had that big an influence on her game. We haven't been working together long enough for that. Tucking her away at Sir Robin's place, with the private practice court, has probably done more for her than anything. She's really been able to keep her focus."
"And her composure," Andrea added with a teasing smile. "All that talk of her reputation for being a rebel, slamming rackets and questioning calls, cursing herself, and the like. But other than that little dustup in the second round, she's been almost icy out there. At least from what I've seen and heard."
"Sometimes it's like that," Tess said. "She's doing well, staying on top, so she doesn't need the outlet, the release." Her smile turned wry. "But give her time, give her nerves time. She's stepping into bold new territory now, with some big guns in her immediate sights."
"I can't believe that qualifier took out Justine. Gaby caught a very lucky break there. So you think she can make the quarters?"
Tess beamed, "Oh, I know she can."
The crowd having thinned now, Andrea turned and began making her way from the stands, as Tess followed. She tossed a quick grin over her shoulder at Tess. "You are really enjoying this, aren't you? You play it down, but I can see it. You've got immense pride in your pupil, as well you should."
"She's an amazing talent," was all Tess said. "Like I said, I'm just giving her a little advice is all. She'll find herself a real coach once this is all said and done."
Andrea didn't say anything as they quickly slipped down the side path toward the players' area, flashing their passes at security as they ducked inside. "I don't know," she said, holding the door for Tess. "Seems a shame not to stick with something you enjoy. I'm betting Gabrielle wouldn't mind." She looked past Tess then, and her entire face lit up. "Hi, sweetheart!"
Tess turned to see her brother coming down the hallway, sweaty and grinning from ear to ear. "Hey there, you big winner you," she said, thankful to have that particular discussion thwarted. Just the thought of Gaby moving on had made her heart squeeze a little. Okay, maybe more than a little. And she really didn't want to think about that right now.
As Andrea moved by her, she whispered, "And I don't care what you say, I'm betting Max wouldn't mind if you stuck around, either." Then she threw herself in her husband's arms and let him spin her around as they both giggled like school-kids.
Tess stood there and watched the absolute joy they took in just holding each other… and for the first time in her life, she felt like maybe she'd missed out on a big part of something important. All the accomplishments she'd made were great, but how much better might it be to share those accomplishments with someone? Fortunately, she couldn't take the time to worry about that. She had other more immediate concerns. Because unless she figured out how to get paid, the only accomplishment she'd be sharing with anyone was filing for bankruptcy.
"Okay, okay, you two, get a room already," she teased, tugging at her brother's arm. "There are hundreds of honeymoon suites in London, you know."
"Yeah, yeah," Bobby told her with a laugh. "You're just jealous."
Maybe I am, Tess thought, just a little. But she'd die before admitting it to him. God help her, knowing her baby brother, he'd start playing matchmaker. "In your dreams, buddy. Listen, I'd love to stick around with you guys for dinner, but Gaby's match has been delayed and so I'm going to hang out around here."
"Okay, understood." Bobby wiggled his eyebrows. "So, does this 'hanging out' involve your young protégée's very eligible brother? You guys are smokin' the pages right off the tabs. What's going on with that?"
"Absolutely nothing. It's all just hype."
Andrea slid her arm through her husband's. "So says she, anyway."
Tess opened her mouth, then shut it again. "I don't know why I bother. Just because you two are sickeningly in love doesn't mean it's for all of us, you know."
Bobby reached out and snagged her wrist and yanked her close, catching her off balance. She fell against him as he planted a big, wet, sloppy kiss on her cheek. "Come in, the water's just fine. Scaredy cat."
Tess made a big show of using Bobby's shirt to wipe off her cheek, then simply stuck her tongue out at him.
They were still laughing as she left them and went the opposite way down the hall. Once she knew they weren't following behind her, probably too busy sticking their tongues down each other's throats, she made her way upstairs. She headed over to the indoor broadcast soundstages used by the various global networks to beam updates out to the world during the tournament. She paused outside the door to the booth she wanted, ducking as a cameraman stepped out and nearly clipped her with his shoulder gear.
"So sorry, Miss Hamilton," he said, almost gushing in his haste to make sure she was okay.
"Not a problem," she answered quickly. "Good thing I still have quick reflexes." Now go, she silently urged. She had to step inside that soundstage and be instantly "on" and she hadn't had time to mentally gear herself up for what could be the most important moment of her life.
Rumors had been circulating for a few days now, and for once she hadn't been the instigator of them. Word was that one of the major cable networks was thinking about offering her a guest commentating spot for the rest of the tournament. Apparently the ratings had continued to spike the few times she sat in with the regular commentators.
She wasn't nervous about the guest-spot offer. She was nervous because she wanted them to offer her a whole lot more than a guest spot. She'd really enjoyed herself—well, what wasn't to love, she was getting paid to shoot off her mouth, her second-best skill next to playing tennis—but it mattered for so many other reasons. In her wildest dreams she hadn't expected something like this could possibly fall into her lap. And to think, in a way, she had Max to thank for all of it. If he hadn't been so freaked out by the tabloid coverage of the two of them together, she'd have never charmed her way into the broadcast booth that first day of the tournament.
Since the rumors had surfaced she'd given it a lot of thought, and though it meant a good deal more work than she'd had to do filming the occasional com
mercial or shooting a print ad for this product or that, she'd come to realize after working with Gaby these past few weeks that she needed to be working. She needed to have a specific function, something viable and worthwhile that made her feel alive.
Watching Gaby play from the sidelines hadn't been easy. In fact, nothing about being here had been easy. So many memories, many of them wonderful, but now so impossibly poignant, knowing they'd be her last. And yet, hard as it had been, she honestly didn't want to be anywhere else. It felt like she'd come home. The buzz, the excitement, this was the world she knew, the one she thrived in. She'd realized that she didn't want to leave the game completely behind if she didn't have to. Tennis was still her soul mate, her lifeblood. Sure it would take some time to truly come to terms with the reality of no longer being able to compete, she knew that and was prepared to deal with it. Or try to. All she knew was that walking away no longer felt like the right answer. She wanted to stay… she just had to find a new reason to be here.
Hence the broadcasting booth she was about to enter. If all went as planned, she would stay involved in the game she loved and, equally important, keep herself out of bankruptcy court.
She'd already planned out what she was going to say to Wade and her father about the job and why she'd sold off all of her other property. She'd simply explain that without the concern of investing new tournament winnings, she'd wanted to downsize, concentrate her assets. She could see her father's nod of approval as she explained that by doing so, she could focus more on her new television career, and, of course, on her charitable endeavors.
But none of that could happen until she worked her way inside the soundstage on the other side of that door… and made certain that they knew they were dealing with a hot commodity they should snap up now, before some other network came calling. "Ch-yeah, right," she muttered under her breath. But if anyone could pull it off, it was her. She took a deep breath, put a broad smile on her face, and pushed open the door, already preparing what smart-ass comment she was going to use to soften them up… only to run smack into Max.
"What are you doing here?" they both asked simultaneously.
Tess folded her arms and waited.
Max rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, I wasn't doing anything that would spoil the Tess Hamilton—London love connection."
She narrowed her brows. "Very funny. Interview? Is Gaby here?" She looked behind him.
"Yes, interview. My sister happens to be doing quite well here, in case it's slipped your attention between all the parties and television appearances. They wanted to talk to her, but with her match being delayed, she's a little frazzled by the enforced wait and I didn't want her distracted further. So I offered myself instead." His lips quirked. "I know it comes as a shock to you, but they said yes."
She had to work not to smile. Who knew he could have a sense of humor? "Funny. And I know it will come as a shock to you, but I just got done watching Bobby win his match and move into the quarterfinals. It was pretty raucous in the stands, but I wouldn't exactly call it a party. And unless there were cameras trained on me I wasn't aware of, I wasn't on television, either."
"I wasn't talking about just now. And congratulations to your brother."
"Thanks, I'll be sure to pass that along."
"And I was referring to the fact that you haven't been around much the past few nights. Or any nights, for that matter."
She offered him a false smile. "Keeping track of my comings and goings, are we?"
"You forget, being around my younger sibling is like living with Access Hollywood twenty-four-seven. She keeps track, and I hear about it whether I want to or not. By the way, she can't wait until she's older so she can hit the town like you do."
Tess didn't even blink. "You'll be lucky if she makes it to majority before that happens. She's young, beautiful, talented, and headstrong. What do you think she's going to want to do? I don't have anything to do with that, nor anything to say to her about it, by the way. I can hardly tell her Just Say No, can I? I'm a lot of things, but a hypocrite isn't one of them. Besides, she's doing fabulously well here. I can't believe you're still whining and pouting about all this."
He looked affronted. "I'm not pouting."
She laughed. He was pouting, and he was pretty damn cute while doing it, too. "Oh yes you are. I'm out having fun every night, and you're stuck at home, scared to death that Gaby is going to be out having fun every night before too long, and you won't have anyone to sit at home and worry things to death with anymore."
"I have responsibilities, unlike someone else I know. I can't just go out gallivanting around."
"She's a teenager. Surely she can maintain for an evening while you gallivant a little."
"Ah, the two lovebirds."
Tess turned to find one of the producers standing behind her. "Hi, Alan."
"What brings you up to our humble digs this fine afternoon, Tess? Isn't your young charge about to play?"
"Rain delay pushed her match back." She shot him a cheeky grin. "I knew you had airtime to kill, so I thought I'd drop by and give your ratings a boost."
He laughed and glanced at Max. "Ah, she doesn't pull any punches, does she? A breath of fresh air in this business, I tell you," He patted Tess on the shoulder, then scooted past them. "Sorry to leave you folks, but I have to get back there and see how much money they're draining from my budget. Come on back whenever you'd like."
"Thanks, Alan.'' Once he'd gone on into the studio, she turned back to Max and got right to the point. Forewarned was forearmed. "So, exactly what did you say on air earlier? I'm assuming you got asked about the rumor du jour?"
"Which one? You're the source of so many."
"Ha ha. I was referring to the one that also included you. As in us."
"There is no us."
"Exactly my point. So I assume you said as much?"
She'd expected some sort of long-suffering sigh. She still had no idea why she enjoyed poking at him like she did. Probably because he so easily gave it right back to her. Most men were affected by her presence. Usually in a mouth-hanging-open, glazed-over-eyes kind of way that did nothing for her. He was the least affected guy she'd ever met. In fact, he was the antiaffected. So it was just her perverse nature, of course, needing to get a rise out of the one guy who really didn't care.
When he let his mouth curve very slowly into that… well, "wicked" was really the word that came to mind once again. And stuck there. She knew he had it in him, but still, it was just… wow.
You have no idea who you're fooling with.
His words from that morning before Gaby's first round echoed through her mind. At the time, she'd dismissed him. Or tried to. But things had happened between then and now. There had been those looks, exchanged glances, supercharged moments that simply wouldn't leave her memory banks. Dismiss him now? Damn near impossible.
He stepped closer, planted a hand on the wall next to her head. She was so stunned by his making the first move—any move—she stayed rooted to the spot… and for once in her life she was speechless.
He leaned in, until he was so close she could make out every intricate detail of his gorgeous brown irises. "No," he said, his voice deeper, a shade rough. "I told them we were having a passionate, torrid, intensely carnal affair. I told them a man would have to be crazy not to go after someone like Tess Hamilton if he had the chance. And…" He leaned a tiny bit closer and she found herself suddenly unable to swallow as her throat constricted. "I told them seeing as we're living under the same roof, and with ample motive and opportunity… well…" He lifted his other hand and slowly tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.
It was like every single nerve ending in her body had gone on full alert.
"I left the rest to their imagination." He leaned in until his lips were beside her ear.
At some point she'd simply stopped breathing altogether.
"How is your imagination, Tess?" he whispered. "Do you think about what they're saying? Do you ever
imagine… us?"
Was he really saying all these things? Or was she actually asleep and this was all some sort of dream? A very hot, very explicit dream. And a damn sight better than the ones she had been having about him, that was for sure.
She couldn't find the words to respond… not that she had any idea what her response would have been. And any chance she might have had in reclaiming even a shred of the upper hand died instantly with his next words.
"I have." He pushed away from the wall, held her gaze for the longest moment, his dark eyes completely unreadable. Then, without another word, he stepped past her and through the door.
It clicked softly shut behind her. Only then did she allow herself to sag limply against the wall. She was known for making a great entrance, but Max had the market cornered on making a killer exit.
"Jesus. He should bottle that stuff." But even she wasn't buying her own attempt to brush off what had just happened. And what in the hell had just happened? Was he just messing with her? Giving as good as he got?
Or…
No. No, no, no. She was on a mission. He was a distraction. Hell, his sister was already a major distraction, She couldn't afford another one right now. Certainly not one that came with the international complications he would.
Alan popped around the corner just then. "Thought you'd snuck out on me. Come on, I have a spot for you, if you're game."
She had to work a lot harder than she liked to admit to pull herself together.
"You okay?" he asked as she walked past him and through the studio door he held open. "You look a little flushed."
"Fine," she lied. "Just fine." She mustered one of her trademark wry grins. "I'll be even better when there's a camera on me. You know me, I'm always game."
The producer laughed. "I have little doubt."
She brushed a piece of lint off her shoulder and fluffed her hair a little. Nonchalant, Tess. As if your entire life wasn't riding on this. And as if Max hadn't just turned upside down what little life she thought she had.
Not So Snow White Page 26