Dare to Desire (21 page)

A mixture of feelings assaulted her at once. Gratitude for his thoughtfulness, annoyance that the job existed at all, intruding on what would otherwise be a perfect situation between them, and then a gut cramp as the reality of what this job meant settled around her again.

“You need to go.” She zipped her skirt and fussed with her blouse. “It’s important, and today won’t be nearly as grueling as yesterday. It’s Jonathan’s turn to prove our side, so Eric will be the one grilled, not me. I’ll be fine.” And she needed to relearn to stand on her own feet and not fall back on Alex when things went bad.

He narrowed his gaze. “I said from day one this was a
we
situation. You and me. I’m not going to leave you mid-nightmare just so I can—”

“Go test for something that could very well change your life? That means a lot to you? Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t need you there.” Did she want him there? More than anything. But she wouldn’t let him sacrifice his dreams for her.

“They can reschedule.”

“What if they can’t? Or won’t? Or decide you’re being difficult and go with someone else?” She picked her earring off the dresser and inserted it into her earlobe, doing the same to the other one.

He frowned at her. “You’re pushing me away.”

“I’m being realistic. Today will be cake for me compared to yesterday, and if you weigh things, you need to be in New York more than you need to be here.”

He studied her, as if he could get inside her head and decide if she was telling the truth or saying what she thought he wanted to hear. “Alex! Call them back and go to New York.”

She turned away, hoping on hope she was doing the right thing by sending him there. Her mind insisted it was best, for him and for her. They were two independent people who would either make a relationship work or not. She didn’t want to be a burden to him. But her heart? Oh, that had been battered and beaten so badly over the years she couldn’t imagine how things could work out for them if he became a celebrity television star with the world—and women—at his beck and call once more.

“Are you sure?” He walked up to her, grasping her forearms and forcing her to meet his gaze.

She managed a bright smile. “Absolutely. Now go make your call and let me finish getting ready so I can grab some coffee before I go to the courthouse.”

He hesitated. “I don’t like leaving you.”

“Well, you need to go,” she said.

He placed a warm kiss on her lips.

Warm but quick, and in seconds, he’d grabbed his phone and dialed, already distracted by all the possibilities the bright lights and big city had to offer.

*     *     *

Madison had been right about today’s events at the hearing. It was Eric’s turn on the stand. He looked more disheveled than he had yesterday, giving her hope his appearance would have an impact on the judge. Jonathan was brilliant in his questioning, making it clear yesterday’s character assassination had been inaccurate.

Jonathan grilled him on his visit to his mother at dawn that had upset her so much, but Eric had that covered. He claimed he was a distraught son. Seeing his mother in a nursing home, knowing someone else was making decisions for her and for his family home, had all gotten to him. He sounded contrite and genuine, and he was lying through his teeth. But Jonathan had been unable to rattle him or get him to admit to needing the money from the sale of the land instead of donating it as Madison claimed Franny wanted. In the end, they’d done all they could.

Whatever way the judge decided, Madison knew she’d done her best by Franny, the same way the other woman had done for her. That’s what mattered, and she could put her head on the pillow and sleep at night, knowing she’d given this fight with Eric her all.

She picked up dinner to eat at home and walked into her apartment at the end of the day, drained. She tossed her keys on the counter and poured herself a glass of white wine and ate alone before turning in for the night. It wasn’t what she’d gotten used to, but it might be what she’d need to expect in the future.

Because the entire day had passed, and Alex hadn’t checked in. No text, no phone call, no email.

*     *     *

Overscheduled didn’t begin to cover what Alex’s agent and S&E had planned from the minute he landed in New York. His agent, Kevin Falcon, sent a car for him, and the first stop was a late lunch, at which Kevin toasted his return to the big time.

The other man’s enthusiasm made Alex uncomfortable. He’d been out of the spotlight for a while now and had gotten used to the quieter way of living. Kevin began by assuming the television test, which was now scheduled first thing tomorrow morning, would lead to him being offered the television show. Done deal. He had plans ready to go based on that.

Using the new job as leverage, he intended to put out feelers with big companies looking for hot sports guys for commercial ads. “Because within a month of the viral campaign I’m sure they’ll launch, you’ll be on everyone’s lips, and women will flock to you again.”

None of which had been on Alex’s radar. None of which he was certain he wanted. And though he conveyed his reservations to Kevin, the other man clearly wasn’t listening. He had his own agenda, which would line his pockets, and he expected Alex would give in and go along. Probably because, before his injury, he always had.

He then had a pre-dinner meeting with the head of S&E Network so the guy could schmooze with him ahead of the screen test with Allison Edwards. Alex didn’t have the opportunity to get to know or assess the other man, as Kevin was up his ass the entire time, as if he was afraid Alex would up and disappear on him before tomorrow.

And from there, his agent drove him over to the newest hot spot to
see and be seen
in town, so he could meet Allison for dinner and warm up to her before their on-air pairing test. For this meeting, Kevin decided to make himself scarce. Alex didn’t understand the man except that greed was his sole motivation. All the years before, he’d never cared as long as the other man did his job. Today he saw Kevin more clearly and wasn’t comfortable with his selfish, shark-like qualities.

“Make sure you get the chemistry flowing,” Kevin said as his parting shot before dropping Alex off at the restaurant and assuring him the limo would be waiting for him on his return.

The only good news in the entire day was that Rachel wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Apparently she’d been used as the connection to Alex and that was it. Something he was grateful for. He was glad to have made peace with her and his past, but he certainly didn’t want her anywhere near him in the future.

The restaurant, a place aptly named Buzz, was hopping with people, many of them famous. He caught sight of Eli Manning, the New York Giants quarterback, and his wife, and stopped to talk for a while. Eli was a guy Alex admired. Whereas while playing, he’d thought the man with his one woman was too tame, Alex now envied the home life the guy had and the way he managed his career. A few choice commercial spots, specific charity events, and time home with his family in between playing. Man, Alex realized now how screwed up his priorities had been before his injury. If his agent had his way, he’d be thrown right back into that fast-track way of life.

He ran his hand through his hair and groaned as he was hit by the sudden need to hear Madison’s voice. He hadn’t spoken to her the entire day. Hell, he hadn’t had five minutes to breathe or even think for himself.

He pulled his phone from his pants pocket and began to dial just as the hostess came over. “Mr. Dare? Your dinner companion has arrived. May I show you to your table?”

Resigned, he slid his cell back into his pocket and followed the woman over to where Allison Edwards sat waiting.

“Alex!” she said, rising as he walked over.

“Hi, Allison.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. They’d met once or twice at various functions, and she’d interviewed him after a playoff game.

The good news was he’d been smart enough not to hit on women he worked with in a professional capacity—before Madison, that is—and he could have a decent working relationship with Allison, should he want to go that route.

Alex had to admit he and Allison got along well. They had a lot in common, with their love and knowledge of sports. They were able to find a rhythm and banter without trying too hard, and he wasn’t at all concerned about them having an issue on camera in the morning. Over dinner, they shared a bottle of wine—not his usual choice of drink, but she’d insisted he try her new favorite, and he had to admit it was good.

As the evening wore on, the restaurant grew more crowded, and it became difficult to hear each other speak. She moved from across the table to the seat beside his, enabling her to lean close while they talked. By the time the waiter asked if they wanted dessert, Alex was ready to crash in his bed, but Allison ordered chocolate mousse, and he had no choice but to wait. He asked for a double espresso, hoping the shot of caffeine would help him stay awake for a little while longer.

The waiter brought the small dessert with two spoons. Alex shook his head and declined her offer to share. But she tasted and moaned about how good it was, offering him a taste with her spoon. He wasn’t the least bit tempted, not in the chocolate treat or in her, as he belatedly realized she was also putting herself on the menu.

He shook his head and swore to himself, wondering when he’d gotten so out of practice that he didn’t notice a beautiful woman coming on to him. “Allison, listen. I’m involved with someone.”

She leaned back in her seat and watched him, amusement in her dark eyes. “All the good ones usually are.”

“I’m sorry.” He didn’t know what else to say.

She flipped her long hair behind her and laughed. “Alex, come on. You haven’t been out of the game for that long.”

Completely lost, he shook his head. “Maybe I have. What’s going on?”

“The offer is a done deal. Tomorrow is just a formality for the network brass. And this?” She gestured between them. “You and me? Dinner? The choice of restaurants, the new hot spot where we’re sure to be seen, all carefully orchestrated for exactly that. To
be seen.
The two new hosts of the hottest new sports show. Tomorrow at the
audition
, they’ll get some damn good, comfortable clips to use for promotion.”

He narrowed his gaze, but she went on, and he figured the best thing he could do was let her explain. Because he felt like he’d dropped onto another planet.

“And once the clips are released, everyone will be speculating whether that chemistry between us on the air is so good because we’re a couple off the air too. Backed up by pictures of us here. Tonight.” She waved a hand around them, and suddenly everything became clear.

“Kevin set this up.” His SOB agent, Alex thought.

“Well, Kevin and the network. Come on, it’s brilliant! Your stock and cachet will only go up when we explode onto the scene. They’re going to take this show national and run it on TV as well as the Internet,” she said, her enthusiasm and excitement huge.

“Did anyone even think of just asking me to go along?” he asked through clenched teeth. Because no way in hell would he have said yes.

She wrinkled her nose. “Well, your agent said you were waffling about wanting the job. He figured you just needed a good push and a reminder of all you’ve been missing out on to get your head back into the game. So to speak.”

“He had no right to lie to me.”

“Part of the reason was to make things between us seem natural. If you knew someone would be shooting cell phone pictures tonight for gossip rags, would you have been as relaxed with me? I was an actress before the news gig.”

“Incredible.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “Did you or my genius agent, or even the network executives, ever hear of the concept of free will?” he asked, rising from his seat. “You can set up all the press and fake publicity you want, but it won’t make it real. You can’t make me want to take this job.”

He’d been counting on the test to see how he felt in front of the camera. He’d needed to hear the concept for the show, to know what kind of commute it’d entail. But nobody had laid out details for him yet. And he’d been taken in by his own agent, someone he ought to be able to trust.

“You can’t say you don’t want it,” Allison said. “Or that you wouldn’t be great doing it.”

“None of that matters when I can’t trust the people around me.” He stormed away from the table, pausing at the front to take care of the bill. Afterwards, he headed back to his hotel, furious and frustrated.

What a bust the entire day had been. And by the time he finally ended up in his hotel room, it was close to midnight, and he couldn’t call Madison because, after the day she’d probably had, she would be fast asleep.

*     *     *

Madison arrived at work in the morning, her mood down and foul. Not hearing from Alex had her on edge, and it took everything inside her to think positively and not jump to the worst possible conclusions. If this relationship was going to work, she needed to learn how to trust.

She walked into the office and immediately headed for the break room, needing coffee to keep herself running this morning. As soon as she entered the small room, conversation stopped.

Madison glanced at the two women she recognized as secretaries for the PR people. “Hi,” Madison said. “I don’t mean to interrupt. I’m just going to get coffee, and I’ll let you get back to your conversation.”

“Have you seen the sports blogs this morning?” Gail, one of the women, asked Madison.

Madison shook her head. “No. Is there something good in them?” She added milk and one sugar packet to her coffee, stirring as she asked.

“Yes, actually,” the other woman said.

“Madison!” Riley came running into the room, interrupting the conversation. “I’ve been looking all over for you. We need to talk.”

Madison turned to her friend. “Sure. I just want to see what has them so interested,” she said, gesturing to the other women.

Riley shot them a glare Madison didn’t understand. “Later. What I have to say is urgent,” she said, grasping Madison’s hand and pulling her out of the room.