Jake nodded. “That’s true, but like you, V is my friend. I don’t want to see her hurt.”
“I wouldn’t worry about V. From what I can tell, she’s developed a hard shell.” His laugh was a harsh bark. “Or maybe it’s always been there, and I was just too blind to see it back then.”
“You know better than that.”
“Do I?”
Jake sighed. “You obviously didn’t think that way when you asked her to marry you.”
Sam frowned. He didn’t need to be reminded of that foolish move. Although he’d never admit it to TJ, his cousin was right. The memory of his naiveté with V had played a key role in keeping him single all these years.
He sat back. “I wasn’t the first eighteen-year-old to be blinded by sex. I mistook it for love.”
Jake cocked his head and his smile was full of challenge. “I don’t recall you proposing junior year when you slept with Jeanette Parker. Or a few months later when Celeste Howl caught your eye. Then there was—”
“Damn. What were you doing, keeping tabs?”
Jake chuckled. “We’re talking about Barlow, buddy. Knowing which girls put out was essential with such a limited playing field.”
Sam shook his head, but couldn’t help smiling. “Does Gracie know about your hound-dog past?”
“It’s one of the things she loves most about me.” Jake grinned. “She says reformed man-whores make the best husbands.”
That sounded like Gracie. Sam laughed, and the lessening of tension was welcome. Unfortunately, it was also short-lived.
“My point is, I was there, Sam. I saw how the two of you were together. Like everyone else in town that summer, I could see how much you loved her, and you weren’t alone in that. V loved you, too.”
Sam scoffed a laugh and picked up his glass once more. “Then you were as blind as the rest of us. I was nothing more than a meal ticket. When the promise of my pro career went down the tubes, she had no more use for me.”
Jake sipped his wine, his gaze intense. “You wouldn’t say that if you’d seen her when she arrived from Florida.”
Though he’d overcome the bitterness over her leaving years ago, resentment tightened Sam’s chest, and it pissed him off. “Yeah, well. How could I, when I’m the one she ran from?”
Jake studied him silently for a long moment, then shook his head. “I don’t think you were what she was running from.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Angry and embarrassed by her betrayal, he’d refused to call Jake for answers upon learning she’d followed him to Boston College. When they finally spoke several weeks later, Jake hadn’t volunteered any information, and Sam hadn’t demanded any. After all these years, pride insisted he should no longer want to know why she’d left, but his heart thudded wildly at the possibility he might finally learn without having to ask.
Jake glanced toward the empty staircase and sighed. “I’m not exactly sure. I know V, probably better than anyone, and even I don’t know what happened to make her run. When she first arrived in Boston, I tried to get her to talk, but she refused. A couple months later, she finally opened up, but only to say she’d made a mistake and it was too late to fix it, so I should quit asking.”
Frustrated disappointment heated Sam’s gut. “She made a mistake all right, by not counting on an injury derailing her plan to bag herself a pro athlete.”
Jake’s eyes went hard. “If she’s the gold digger you claim she is, she sucks at it. She worked three jobs to put herself through school and earn her degree in sports management. As an agent, she’s handled a half dozen all-pros over the past ten years and, in the process, she’s become one of the most powerful women in the world of pro sports. Combine that with her looks, and she could have had her pick of dozens of rich jocks.”
The memory of her petite frame all but surrounded by Wyatt Hunter’s big body flashed in Sam’s mind, and he shifted in his chair.
“Instead, she’s remained single and alone, with only her job for company.” Jake glanced toward the stairs. “Shit, in all these years, I can count the number of dates she’s had on one hand. Why is that, do you think?” He looked back at Sam, but didn’t wait for an answer. “From the moment the two of you walked in the door, the tension has been crackling like an electrical arc. You want to know what I think?”
Sam narrowed his eyes, but Jake wasn’t finished.
“I think that shit you mentioned is still an issue, my friend. For her definitely, and from the way your eyes continue to follow her every move, for you as well.” He slid a hand over his chin. “So, my question is, why haven’t you ever asked her why she ran?”
Sam tensed at the blatant dare. “She never gave me the chance. She took off while I was still recovering in the hospital, and I was a little busy learning how to walk again to chase after her.”
Squeals and women’s laughter sounded from the second floor, and Jake smiled. He studied Sam with shrewd eyes. “Well, now’s your chance. Her life is here, and I can guarantee you she won’t be doing any running this time.”
* * * *
Perched on the side of the large tub in which her twin sons splashed and shrieked, Gracie turned off the water and looked at V. “I’m sorry, sweetie. That little snub Sam gave you wasn’t like the man I’ve met, but grief can sometimes come across as anger.”
Jaw clenched, V leaned against the vanity. God, what had she been thinking coming here with Sam? Letting him goad her was a mistake. To hell with his taunting challenge; she should have called a car. And asking him about Lucy’s mother? Obviously, she’d lost her mind and, in the process, opened the door to questions she had no intention of answering. Knowing Gracie, slamming that door shut again would be next to impossible.
“Whatever.” V folded her arms over her stomach. “It doesn’t matter.”
Eyes narrowed, Gracie dug in. “Why didn’t you tell us he was coming to town?”
Hoping to head off the inquisition, V shrugged. “What was there to tell? The Marauders offered him Bob Duggan’s job. He accepted. End of story.”
“End of story?” Disbelief widened Gracie’s eyes. “I distinctly recall you saying he was the one who got away, and now, here he is, back in your life.”
V uncrossed her arms, trying to look indifferent. “He’s not back in my life, he’s simply taken a job with the Marauders.”
“Where you’ll be working with him every day.” Gracie brushed bubbles from one of the twin’s cheeks.
V bit back a frustrated groan. “We won’t be working together every day. Caroline gave me little choice about helping them with the move to Manhattan, but once he and Lucy are settled, I’ll barely see him.”
“Then you need to move fast while you have the chance. Hand me a face cloth, will you? They’re on the top shelf.”
Grinding her teeth, V pushed off the vanity to search through the linen closet.
“He’s also moving into a house less than a mile away and, at the moment, he’s downstairs in the den. You know, the den you spend almost as much time in as Jake and I do?” Mischief sparkled in Gracie’s gaze. “He and Jake are friends, and you know as well as I do, he’ll be back. I’d say that puts him smack dab in the center of your life.”
“Gracie, you’re not listening.” V handed her the cloth. “Nothing is going to happen between Sam and me.”
“Why the hell not? If you tell me you’re not attracted to that man, I’ll call you a liar.” She dipped the cloth in the soapy water and fought little Tommy’s flying hands to scrub his neck and shoulders.
Denying an attraction to Sam would be a waste of time. Gracie was a hopeless romantic, and she’d obviously slipped into Cupid mode. “Whether or not I’m attracted doesn’t matter. We have a history, Gracie. One that ended badly.” V shook her head. “In case you missed it, he doesn’t like me very much. With good reason.”
Gracie paused in her scrubbing to look up. “Jake told me you were once engaged.”<
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“Oh, he did, did he?” V scowled at the closed door, and Gracie laughed.
“Don’t blame Jake. After you mentioned Sam at our girls’ night, I badgered him for details. You know how persuasive I can be.” She smiled dreamily. “He’s so easy.”
V groaned. “Ew. I don’t want to hear how you got him to talk.”
Laughter gleamed in Gracie’s eyes. “I’d use a different tactic on you, but the results would be the same, so you might as well tell me what happened.”
V crossed her arms. “You know, I liked you a hell of a lot better when you had your own secrets to hide and weren’t so pushy.”
“Secrets, huh?” Gracie snickered and attacked Jake Jr. with the cloth in her hand. “Do tell.”
V winced at the memory of the argument she’d made when Gracie and Jake had been locked in their custody battle over the girls. As V had predicted, the secret Gracie had been hiding eventually got out, but being the illegitimate daughter of a famous pro was one thing. The secret that had sent V running and cost her Sam’s love would only cause more hurt if told.
Gracie grinned over her shoulder. “Who was it that told me secrets have a way of getting out eventually?”
V met her grin with a bland smile. “That must have been your husband. I never would have uttered such a cliché.”
Gracie laughed, diverting the looming water battle with two rubber duckies from the basket beside the tub when the twins dove after the same toy.
“Well, whoever said it was spot on.” Tommy dunked his ducky. It popped to the surface, making both boys giggle, and Gracie smiled. “I thought keeping my father’s identity to myself was the right thing to do. In the end, all I’d accomplished was to miss out on the years Tom and I could have had together.”
V sighed. “It’s not the same, Gracie. I had my chance with Sam, and chose my career instead. Let it be.”
Chapter 7
With the simple scrawl of his name, Sam’s lifelong dream of making it to the pros came one step closer. Setting the pen on top, he spun the contract to the Marauders’ owner and slid both across the glossy desktop.
Excitement and an unexpected case of nerves collided low in Sam’s gut as Caroline picked up the pen. He lifted his gaze to the framed painting hung strategically behind her head. Although he was no art expert, he knew a Picasso when he saw one. He twisted his lips to stop a wry smile. As if anyone meeting with Caroline Wainwright would need a reminder of her success or power, especially here, at the complex where there was no mistaking who held the home field advantage.
The scratch of the ballpoint recaptured his attention, but didn’t come close to drowning out the thunder of his heartbeat pulsating in his head. With a final, looping flourish, she added her name to the last page of the document, set aside the pen, and looked up.
Satisfaction was keen in her smile. “Welcome to the Marauders, Sam.”
He closed his fingers around the hand she offered him. Thankfully, none of the nerves threatening to unman him showed as he blew a shaky breath. “Thanks for the opportunity.”
“You’ve earned it, and trust me, you’ll continue to. Beginning next week. The Marauders are the odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl, and I won’t be satisfied with anything less.”
Anticipation slammed him in the chest and took care of his nerves. He tried to control his eager grin, but failed. Eyes twinkling with approval, Caroline withdrew her hand and stood. Sam rose and walked with her as she rounded her desk and led him from the office. She paused in the open doorway and he followed her glance down the hallway toward the lounge where Lucy and V waited.
“Did you and your daughter have a chance to see some of the city while you were here?”
“Not really.” He turned back and met Caroline’s questioning gaze. “And unfortunately, any sightseeing will have to wait. The moment we settled on the house yesterday, V rescheduled our flights. We leave for Barlow tonight.”
“V is nothing if not efficient.” A tight smile tugged at the team owner’s lips. “We’re rushing you and, with Christmas on Thursday, that makes the situation worse, but it can’t be helped. Until Bob announces his retirement, we’ll be keeping you and your name under wraps. We have a bye next week, and V will make sure you don’t run into any delays in the meantime.” The smile disappeared. “But, her organizational abilities aren’t the only reason I requested she return to Barlow with you. With her handling the logistics of your move, you’ll have the time and the opportunity to tie up any…” As her words trailed off, she studied him closely as if discerning his reaction. “…personal loose ends.”
Shit. He schooled his face to a blank mask. Well, damn. He’d wondered why Caroline was handling the signing of his contract when that job usually fell to the GM, and now he understood. There was no mistaking the intent behind her comment, or its personal nature. The loose ends she was concerned about had nothing to do with his resignation from East Texas U and everything to do with V.
He clamped down on a disgusted snort. For a woman who garnered nothing but ill will from the people of her home town, V didn’t seem to have had any trouble racking up champions in her new life. Still, he shouldn’t be surprised. Before coming to New York, he’d done his homework. From all accounts, Caroline and V were more than just business associates. They were also close friends and had been since Jake Malone had signed with the team eight years earlier.
God knew what kind of bullshit she’d fed Caroline, yet if the team’s owner had concerns about him, why sign the contract before they were addressed?
The answer wasn’t hard to figure out. With the playoffs beginning next Saturday, she didn’t have the time. Winning games was Caroline’s first priority, but she was too savvy a businesswoman to ignore a potential problem that could come back to bite her on the ass.
Sam shoved his hands into the pockets of his slacks. With frustration searing his blood, he curled his lips into what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “I’m sure between the two of us, we’ll make it work.”
Satisfaction gleamed in her smile. “Exactly what I wanted to hear. We’ll see you on Monday then.” With a curt nod, she turned and disappeared back into her office.
The moment the door closed, he dragged a palm over his face. His cell buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out, then frowned at TJ’s picture on the screen. With a flick of his thumb, he dismissed the call, just as he had her others. There would be hell to pay when he got back to Barlow, but his cousin’s frustration over a few unanswered calls would be nothing compared to the shit storm he was going to face when the town learned he’d shown up with V in tow.
Christ, what a cluster fuck.
He stalked down the hallway toward the lounge where Lucy sat on a couch next to V. According to Jake, V’s job was her life, and God knew Sam wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize his new position. They’d already agreed to disagree, and that should be the end of it but, clearly, the Marauders’ owner wasn’t satisfied with their truce.
Caroline expected him to clear the air with V, which meant he no longer had a choice. Doing so, however, would prove difficult if V refused to talk to him. She had barely glanced his way once she and Gracie had come downstairs last night, and except for answering Lucy’s occasional question, she’d remained coldly silent on the ride back to the city.
Not that he couldn’t find a way around her temper. Thanks to Patricia, he had plenty of experience dealing with stubborn females, and as hard as V’s new tough shell was, he’d seen the signs of cracks. He made her nervous. A definite advantage he’d have no qualms exploiting, but there was an easier route to breaking through the barriers surrounding her like a fortress.
V had always had a soft spot for kids. Though she might have decided the best way to deal with him was to pretend he wasn’t there, Lucy was a different story. V would quickly learn his daughter and he were a package deal.
Entering the lounge, he approached them from behind as V’s words reached his
ears.
“I Googled the dance studio the realtor mentioned yesterday. He’s right about it being a top-notch outfit. Three of their advanced pupils are featured dancers in the Nutcracker with the New York City Ballet this year.”
“Really?” Lucy shifted on the couch, tucking her feet beneath her in her favorite sitting position.
“Really. And I was thinking, since we don’t have to be at the airport until six, we could make the matinee. If you’d like.”
“If I’d like? Are you kidding?” Lucy’s voice was breathless with anticipation.
Sam came to a stop behind them as V turned her head. Even in profile, her wide smile was evident. He did his best to tune out the pull of her low laugh.
“I have a contact with the company who can score us last-minute seats. You’d have to get your father’s permission, of course, but he’ll be busy for a while. I don’t see why he’d object.”
Of course she wouldn’t. She probably figured he wanted to spend as little time with her as she did him, and she’d be right. But he wasn’t about to let an opportunity slip by when one landed in his lap.
He cleared his throat. “Object to what?”
V’s shoulders snapped so tightly, he was surprised the blades didn’t slice through the soft silk of her blouse. She slowly turned to face him, the smile of a moment ago long gone.
Lucy spun around and rose to her knees. “V said she’d take me to see the Nutcracker.”
Sliding his gaze from V’s wary eyes, he crossed his arms and squinted a warning at Lucy. “Last time I checked, her name was Miss Price.”
Lucy huffed. “She said I could call her V. So, can I go?”
He’d rather have his gums scraped than attend the ballet. Still, he had some fence-mending to do before he could put Caroline’s command into action, and the pleading in Lucy’s eyes sealed the deal. He met V’s gaze. The wariness was still there, but the stubborn jut of her chin went a long way in lightening his vicious mood.
To Win Her Back Page 6