Game On
Page 23
An arm reached out to pull me.
“You got the goods, girl,” drawled the voice attached to the arm.
“And how would you know?” I purred.
“Cause them goods is mine,” he answered and gave me a lingering kiss.
“Mr. Markovich!”
I hooked my arm through his elbow, and we continued walking toward my dressing room.
“I’m glad you stopped by, Alek, but what brings you here?”
“I am going through the archives for history on past Super Bowls. You were zipping down the hall pretty quickly when I caught you. What’s the rush, Mais?”
“I have just enough time to change and drop in on that baby shower I told you about. The one that Phyllis flew out here to throw for her model friend?”
“Is this a couples’ one or just women? Or is it just your family that does those mixed baby shower things?”
“Ah, but you guys never complain about the food, do you?” We both remembered the feast at Addison and Anthony’s shower before they had their son, Dante. “This one is just women. But the guys are probably doing something separate, so if you want to come—”
“I wish I could, but I have to get my crew ready for Miami. I’ll visit with Phyl at home since she is staying with us before we leave for the game.”
“I thought you had all the footage you needed … Never mind! I will never again argue about the amount of footage you shoot!”
“Thank you, my beloved wife.”
“You’re welcome, my adoring husband.”
We reached my dressing room, and it only took me minutes to change into casual clothes while munching on the dinner that my assistant had brought me. In the meantime, Alek briefed me on the latest deadlines on the documentary he was shooting about the Super Bowl.
“Speaking of baby showers …” he said as he sat at my chair and propped his feet on my desk.
I stopped in my tracks, splaying my hands over my abdomen.
“Shh. I haven’t told anyone here yet.”
“Do you think your job would be in jeopardy, little mamushka?”
“What is this, the fifties? No. I’m in no physical danger since I’m not on the sidelines anymore, and as the co-host of the number one national daily sports round-up show, I’m kinda sure they like me enough to keep my job for me while I’m on maternity leave.”
“Gosh. To think I knew you when you were dragging your own camera around, grinding out stories about chessboxing. Now you are the popular co-host of Sports Focus.”
“And married to an Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker.” I turned to the mirror to adjust my hair.
“I like your confidence, sweetheart, but we’re only nominated for that piece on the history of the Heisman, you know. No guarantees of a win.”
“All in due time, Markovich, all in due time.”
I straightened the pearls at my throat, turned to him to smile, but slapped his hand instead.
“And stop stealing my french fries!”
If you liked this or any other book,
show the author some love by leaving a review
on the site where you purchased it
or on your favorite social media site.
More Titles by Barbara Oliverio
Love on the Back Burner:
A Tasty Romantic Comedy
Readers’ Favorite Award™-Winning Love on the Back Burner spins the story of sassy Alexandria D’Agostino. She is youngest in a tight-knit Italian-American family with a successful marketing career and a passion for cooking, yet her romantic life is less than 4-star. For years, she has tried cooking her way into men’s hearts by flaunting her old world culinary skills, but now, she’s changing the menu. She dishes up childhood favorites to a succession of first dates (recipes included). The book features an engaging cast of characters including a rock-star-turned- priest brother, a no-nonsense Italian immigrant grandmother, and a crew of friends who are always up for a good meal. With a dollop of persistence and a dash of laughter, will Alexandria discover the recipe for happiness—and perhaps love?
* * *
Love on the Lido Deck:
A Nautical Romantic Comedy
Sharp-witted, always-organized Keira Graham has traded in her high tech career as a systems analyst for the whirlwind world of event planning. As she builds up her fledging business, she learns that her widowed mother has news of her own—a serious gentleman caller! Is Keira ready for mom’s new romance?
When she gets a game-changing opportunity to organize a major event on a luxury Caribbean cruise, Keira turns to best pal chef Alexandria D’Agostino to help recruit famous chefs who will offer classes for foodies looking for fun in the sun as they gain cooking know-how. The cruise becomes a rollicking adventure for Keira, her sassy assistant Juliet, the entire D’Agostino clan, Keira’s mother and other surprise guests. And has Keira meet her match in charismatic Cruise Director Brennan McCallister, who could have something more than keeping everything shipshape on his mind?
Filled with wit, charm, and a few recipes along the way, Love on the Lido Deck brings characters to life with laugh-out-loud situations, crisp dialog and sweet romance on the high seas.
Available on Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, iTunes/iBookstore and wherever fine books are sold.
* * *
Passports and Plum Blossoms:
An International Romantic Comedy
Annalise Fontana is feeling blue with no job, no boyfriend, and packed among her childhood memories in her parents’ home. What could be more enticing than the opportunity to serve as a companion to her elderly Auntie Lil on a senior citizens’ tour of China (with a side trip to Singapore?). She digs out her passport and packs her bags and assumes that she’s in for a tranquil Jane Austenesque journey.
Nothing could be further from the truth as the trip takes a turn before they even leave the country. What follows is a lively journey with a cast of quirky travel companions who are anything but dull. The Fontana girls immediately fit in to the festive group.
While visiting heart-stopping sights, Annalise also has her heart begin pounding faster as she meets a number of charming young men. But who is the mysterious, brooding stranger who seems to pop up on the streets of Singapore, in Beijing’s Forbidden City, and stays on her mind at the Great Wall of China?
Acknowledgments
I would not exist without my late parents who gave me life, my blue collar work ethic, and the greatest gift they could: my Catholic faith. My brother John was my childhood hero and remains so to this day – thank you for always being in my corner. Thank you to my extended family. Thank you to my readers who like the heroines in my books and appreciate the fact that good girls can be sassy and witty and still keep true to their ethics. Thank you to KOA/iHeart radio of Denver who let me sit in on sports broadcasts and who answered all my questions about sports reporting and producing, particularly Andy Lindahl, Ed McCaffery, Cory Lopez, and Reid Fischer. Special thanks to Jenny Cavnar of Root Sports in Denver who gave me great insight into the life of a woman in the world of sports reporting. Any mistakes I made were totally mine and any embellishments were in service to the story rather than in service to maintaining accuracy of their world.
The powerhouses at MyWordPublishing – Polly Letofsky, Andrea Costantine, and Gail Nelson – are, in a word, “groovy”. Susan Hindman proved once again that good editing is the key to any author’s success, and Li Hertzi makes cover art like nobody’s business. The lion’s share of appreciation goes to the guy who has supported my writing efforts from day one. He’s the best friend a gal can have, and probably bought the engagement ring as soon as he realized that I could use phrases like “blitz”, “corner route”, and “block in the back” correctly. He is and will always be the MVP of my life: Darby.
About the Author
Award-Winning author Barbara Oliverio applies her writing skills to both fiction and non-fiction and is a public speaker and retreat facilitator. She and her husband are rabid sports fan
s, dedicated foodies and have well- worn passports with many global stamps. This is her fourth novel.
For bulk sales or author appearance, contact
@BOliverioAuthor
AuthorBarbaraOliverio
www.scolapastapress.com
Barbara@scolapastapress.com