His smile brightened his eyes, making them even bluer. “That’s okay. We’ll break the ice, so to speak. What would you do if you weren’t a reporter?”
Usually, people answered her questions and that was the end of it. No one she interviewed ever asked about her. “Um… I’m not sure. My entire life since I was twelve was about being a reporter. What about you?”
“I’d figure something out. Maybe teach surfing or cave diving.”
“Really?” She’d always wanted to cave dive, but was too paranoid about closed in spaces, add water and the fact you can’t breathe it… a double whammy in her book.
“Or I’d teach rugby to tykes if that didn’t pan out.”
“I think you’d be good at that.”
“Has to be easier than all the blokes here,” he pointed his chin in the direction of the TV and living room, “sometimes they throw tantrums worse than two-year-olds.”
She laughed. “So your team placed third this year. What did you do differently than last year at this time? It’s quite a jump from the underdogs to making it into the top three.”
“We trained more. Worked harder.”
She waved a hand. “Yes, yes, but you’ve done that before. And, while it might have helped some, it doesn’t explain how and why every team member has improved strength and endurance over this year.”
A scowl darkened his features. “Not steroids, if that’s what you’re implying.”
Touchy. Something was here, under the surface, but what? “Not at all. But how did you and your team go from such a low rank in the league to such heights? And speculators say you threw the last two games, or you all would have been up for the World Cup.”
His expression clouded as he narrowed his eyes. It felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room and Jessica couldn’t look away.
“As I told you. We’ve practiced more. Even done some controversial things like meditation and visualization. Carmen invented a protein fruit shake that we all drink every morning.”
“I’d like to know what’s in that if possible.” She scribbled her notes down on her pad. “Does it taste good?”
“It gets the job done.”
“If you don’t mind, may I sit in on a practice session or two with you and your team? I promise I’ll stay out of the way.”
“And you’ll be a huge distraction.”
She smiled. “I’ll wear a sweatsuit.”
“And boil to death?” He shook his head. “I’ll give you one hour on the field, then you’re out. No short shorts or skirts.” His gaze roved down her legs to her ankles and back up.
Heat pooled through her. “Right. Got it.” Would Ryan be as distracted as the other men? Wait, why did she care? This was to advance her career, not indulge in fantasies. Ryan was popular, an athlete, and sexy as hell with his thick chestnut hair, dimpled bad-boy grin, and mischievous dark blue eyes. He had celebrities and models at his beck and call. Why would he be remotely interested in her except for a one night stand? “Um… are you dating - seeing anyone?”
“What does that have to do with our team winning?” He cocked an eyebrow.
“Nothing. I just wondered if that’s why you’re able to work harder.” She swallowed and clenched her hands in her lap. Why was she suddenly shaking? “You know. Distractions? I thought maybe since you’ve not dated, as far as the tabloids have said, that maybe you’re more focused on your career and moving ahead.” Like me.
He scratched his chin as if pondering. “The papers are saying I’m not dating?”
Did he not read? She glanced around. Obviously, he did, or was just a messy librarian. “Exactly.” She flipped through her notebook that she’d filled with notes since Mr. Casey had given her this assignment. “You and your team went to Romania, came back with the stomach flu for several days. At the time, you were dating Irena Silverado - but you refused her access even when she brought her homemade chicken soup. Shortly thereafter, you broke up with her and haven’t been seen on a date with anyone serious since then.” She looked up at him. “Did you two have a huge fight off-camera? Is that why you’ve not gotten over her?” Crap, why did her mouth run before she could think?
“No.” His face darkened, but she couldn’t tell if from anger or embarrassment. “We’d been drifting apart long before that.”
Oh. “So why haven’t you dated anyone regularly since?”
“Is this an interview about the team or my love life?” He shifted, as if uncomfortable.
Damn, she had a habit of making people distressed with her forwardness. It was the opportunity for a change of subjects. She pointed her pen to the stack of books beside his foot. “What’s up with all the reading material? Macrobiotics, Biology, Myths and Legends, Curses?”
“Just a hobby of mine.” His tone hardened to granite. “I like dabbling in many things. Will you be covering the Xmas party?”
What button had she pushed that he didn’t want to delve into his bizarre reading materials? “I’d love to.” If Casey would give her permission to extend her stay through until then. Right now, she was due to fly back from New Zealand to Sydney days before the fundraiser. Seeing the party to the end would give her more time to delve into Ryan’s character, maybe even interview a few team members as well. Get their thoughts on Ryan and their recent winning streak.
“Great. In the meantime,” he stood, “I’ve got a meeting with our manager to work out this week’s schedule.”
“But I’ve not gotten to all my questions yet.”
“We’ll address them another time.”
Oh, he wasn’t getting away that easily. She’d barely uncovered anything that she couldn’t have gotten online with more time. “Maybe we can do dinner?”
At the doorway, he stopped short. “How about something less formal? Brunch tomorrow?”
She tucked her notebook under her arm and half-limped, because of her loose heel, to the door. Her heel caught as she crossed the threshold, and he caught her before she face-planted in front of him. The warmth from his hands on her arm and waist spread through her. “Uh… thanks.”
“No problem.” Letting go of her, he stepped back.
Then he gave her a cocky grin and motioned her ahead. His cell phone buzzed and he dug it out of his pocket. He walked past her down the opposite way they’d come from, answering his phone.
“Are you sure?” His boots echoed down the corridor. “Which hospital? I-I’m on my way.”
Jessica bit her lip. She shouldn’t have been eavesdropping, but the hallway provided good acoustics.
Around the corner, Ryan brushed past her, his mouth set in a firm line. Not even sparing her a glance, he disappeared out in the living room. Jessica speed-walked after him, cursing every time her ankle turned because of her stupid shoe.
“What’s up, man?” one of the men with an open bag of chips in his hand asked. Did these guys eat all the time? Their food bill must be enormous.
“Kevin. H-He’s done it again. I’m going to the hospital now.” He had to get to his brother.
“Shit man, we’ll drive you.”
“No thanks. I want to get there now.” He waved to Jessica. “They can answer any questions you have. I’ve gotta go.”
She trailed after him. “I don’t think you should drive in your condition. I don’t even know you, but I can tell you’re upset.”
“Girl’s got a point,” a voice behind her said.
“Can you drive a stick?” One guy grabbed her elbow.
“Psss… of course.” Thanks to her ex-boyfriend who’d forced her to drive his pickup truck in the mountains with a bad clutch and her screaming the entire time. She didn’t argue that one of his teammates could drive him. It was obvious he wasn’t thinking clearly because of this Kevin, whoever he was. She searched her memory as she stopped in front of the silver corvette. Well, no wonder he didn’t suggest one of the guys drive him… doubtful two of them would be able to fit inside this two-seater car. It was a sweet, sexy looking car, th
ough.
“Crap, where are my keys?” Ryan patted his pants pockets. “Anyone see them?”
“No mate.” But everyone looked around.
“Did you leave them in the car?” Jessica suggested.
He dashed outside and rummaged through a sexy silver corvette, but shook his head after a few minutes. “I don’t have time for this.” Ryan clenched his fists and the vein on his forehead pulsed.
She frowned, looking back at the house. “Did none of your team drive here?”
A strange look crossed his face before he shook his head. “No, they rode the bus then walked. I’ll call a cab.”
Her stomach flipped. She could tell Ryan was upset as his hand shook as he dug out his phone, then punched some numbers. “Hey, my car’s on the other side of the gate. I can drive you.”
He glanced up, his stare locking on her. “Really? I’d pay you back.”
“No need.” She bit her lip. “Just open the gate so I don’t have to crawl under it next time.”
“Fair enough.” He entered a code on his phone and the gates swung open.
They hiked in silence down to her car. As soon as she hit the unlock doors on her key, Ryan was in the passenger seat and buckled in before she could blink. How had he moved that fast?
Scrambling around her car, she climbed into the driver’s seat. The engine sputtered. Ryan Taylor was in her car! His long legs were bent inside her rented hatchback. “Which way to the hospital?” Hopefully this Kevin, whatever his relationship with Ryan, was okay.
“Take the left up here.” He gestured to the main road. “Thanks for driving.”
“No problem.” She zipped down the road. “I hope your friend is okay.”
He rubbed a hand across his face, then shifted his weight. “My brother better be or I’m gonna kill him.”
Chapter Four
Ryan
The road stretched ahead of them as Jessica weaved through traffic. Ryan’s only concern now was seeing Kevin, his brother. As soon as he knew Kevin was okay, he was going to lecture him until the ghosts of their parents showed up and asked him to lay off.
Kevin didn’t know what was good for him. All he saw was his big brother enjoying the limelight as a rugby celebrity. What he didn’t see were the sleepless nights Ryan endured, trying to find a cure for his and the team’s curse. Or if he did sleep, how to keep the night terrors away. Kevin had tried out for rugby but had suffered a compound ankle fracture and a torn ligament. Doctors had cautioned him from playing again, but his brother didn’t know when to quit. And had kept up with the sport.
What Kevin didn’t realize, was that Ryan did get injured on the field, but healed quickly. Once, he’d had to fake a concussion, just to stop the paramedics from suspecting something. As much as he wanted his brother safe, he wouldn’t implant this werewolf curse on anyone. It wasn’t worth it.
“Take this exit. It leads to the hospital’s back parking lot.” Ryan shifted in Jessica’s rental car. The scent of burning oil clogged his throat. He’d have to get her engine checked after he finished ripping into his brother.
Jessica pulled into the parking lot and squeezed into the closest spot, but also the tightest. Girl had some skills. And she'd been kind enough to drive him.
“Thanks. Mind waiting for about an hour?” That should give him enough time to wring his brother's neck. Why did he have to follow in Ryan's footsteps anyway? Kevin should've become a sales manager. The guy could talk anyone into anything.
The automatic door opened and Jessica walked in with him.
“I'll meet you back here.” She waved a hand out toward the waiting room. “I've got work to do, so take all the time you need.”
He nodded and went to the nurses’ desk. “I'm here to see my brother. Kevin Taylor.”
“Sorry, he's in surgery right now. You'll have to wait.”
“Surgery? What the hell for?” Kevin's manager had said his brother was in the hospital for an injury during training, not goddamn under the knife.
“I'm sorry, but you'll have to take that up with the doctor and his manager.”
Ryan slapped his hand down on the desk. “I'm his brother. Now you tell me what's going on or I'll tear this place apart until I find him.” The wolf within him howled, aching for release. He bit his back teeth down hard.
“Sir, if you don't calm down, I'm calling security.”
Go ahead. No one would be prepared for a six-foot-five werewolf.
“Everything all right?” Jessica placed a hand on his shoulder.
He spun, a snarl lunging from his throat.
Her eyes widened but she didn't shrink away. She swallowed and wet her lips. “Look, I know you're upset. Let me try and find out about your brother. Okay?”
With a nod, he stepped back.
“Hi.” Jessica leaned on the desk. “I know you're terribly busy, Mrs. Johnson, but someone had to check, ah... Kevin, into surgery. Since there's no cell usage allowed here in the hospital, could we have them paged over the system?”
The nurse gave a sidelong glance over his way, then nodded. “Sure. Let me see who checked him in.”
“Thanks.” He'd underestimated this broad. Maybe she’d have an idea how to get his brother to listen this time. “Why don’t you come with me? I know Kevin would get a kick out of meeting a beautiful reporter from The Australian.”
A look of disbelief and unease flashed in her eyes before she nodded. “Sure.”
What was that about? Him asking her to join him? Or did the woman not know she was pretty or something? She was busty and had dark wavy hair that drifted past her shoulders. And she had an air of confidence about her, when she wasn’t limping in broken shoes.
“Do either of you have a relationship with Mr. Mills? That’s who brought Mr. Taylor in,” the nurse asked.
“Yes. He’s my brother’s manager.” And the guy was a sleazeball. Always trying to get Kevin to do more stunts, ham up the crowd before games, or keep his name alive by doing daredevil motorcycle acts off-season. “Is he here?”
“No, I don’t think so.” The nurse frowned. “He didn’t answer the page, but one of the nurses in surgery recognized the name and answered me. She said your brother is still in surgery. Once the surgeon is finished, he’ll meet with you in the surgical waiting room up on four.”
Ryan took off to the elevator, not bothering for a thank you or to see if Jessica was coming. His breaths spiked inside his chest like iron maces as he waited for the ticking numbers to come to the ground floor. The doors buzzed open and he pushed past people getting off and hit the number four button. Jessica leapt inside just before the doors closed, but didn’t say anything.
On the right floor, Ryan tore down the hallway.
What the hell had happened?! No wonder Mills had taken off, ‘cause if he were here right now, Ryan would sink his teeth into his throat and rip his head off. And now he couldn’t even see his brother?
The waiting room was small with a dozen wooden chairs lined up against three of the walls and a coffee table with magazines and newspapers strewn across it. Ryan paced in the hallway, glancing up each time a doctor walked past. Hours mockingly ticked away like days.
“Here.” Jessica pushed a cup of coffee and a bagel at him.
“I’m not hungry.”
“Eat. It’s all the cafeteria would let me bring into the waiting room, and it’s past eight at night.” She glared at him until he took a sip.
The heat and caffeine warmed him all the way down. She was right. If he didn’t eat, he might munch on the doctor if he brought bad news. He shook his head. No, everything was going to be fine. His brother probably had his appendix removed or something. Still, unease settled in his gut, along with the bagel.
“Better?” she asked after he’d finished.
“A bit. Thanks.”
She crossed her arms. “As soon as we have news and you see your brother, we’re taking you out for some real food. It won’t do you or your brother any good if you st
arve yourself.”
An infant cried in her mother’s arms and the woman stood, juggling the baby and a huge diaper bag.
“Let me.” Ryan held out his hands and the woman smiled as she handed over her daughter.
While the woman grabbed a bottle and blanket from the diaper bag, Ryan caught Jessica staring at him. “What?”
“Sorry, just wish I’d brought my camera. Not often you see a Rugby player holding a screaming infant.”
He shrugged. The mother thanked him and took back her child. “Just helping out.” Before the wolves had bitten him, he’d wanted children. His fiancée at the time was even planning on getting her IUD removed that month. Now, he feared passing his curse onto his offspring.
“Sit.” Jessica pointed to a recently vacated chair. “You’ve been standing and pacing for hours.”
Truth was, he could stay on his feet for days without tiring if he had to, but she was right. The people in this small waiting room were staring at him more and more like he was a psycho fixing to snap. They didn’t know the half of it.
He plopped down in the chair, his legs stretching out in front of him. An hour later, a doctor stepped into the room, smelling of antiseptic soap, sweat, and his brother’s blood. Ryan gritted his teeth to keep his fangs from descending.
“Mr. Taylor?” the doctor asked looking at the men waiting.
Not trusting his voice to remain human, Ryan stood.
“Come with me.” The doctor turned on his heel and marched down the hallway. Finally, he’d see his brother and find out what all this was about.
The doctor entered an empty room, no bigger than a closet. Ryan turned to find Jessica in the hallway and she waved him on.
“How’s my brother?” Ryan kept his fists clenched at his sides.
“There are complications.” The doctor ran his hand through his graying hair. “He’s unconscious, but we need to monitor him closely for the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours. If there’s any sign of infection, we’ll need to remove more of the leg.”
Falling for Shifters: A Limited Edition Autumn Shifters Collection Page 59