Opposites Attract

see ’em.”
    Stopping, he put both hands on Asher’s shoulders and studied her. His look remained serious even when she gave him a quizzical smile. “You know, Face, you really look good.”
    She laughed. “Well, thanks . . . I think. Did I look bad before?”
    “I don’t mean you look beautiful, that never changes. I mean you look happy.”
    Lifting a hand to the one on her shoulder, Asher squeezed. “I am happy.”
    “It shows. In Ty too.” Briefly he hesitated then plunged ahead. “Listen, I don’t know what happened between you two before, but—”
    “Chuck . . .” Asher shook her head to ward off questions.
    “But,” he continued, “I want you to know I hope you make it this time.”
    “Oh, Chuck.” Shutting her eyes, she went into his arms. “So do I,” she sighed. “So do I.”
    “I asked you to keep an eye on her,” Ty said from behind them. “I didn’t say anything about touching.”
    “Oh, hell.” Chuck tightened his hold. “Don’t be so selfish. Second-seeds need love too.” Glancing down at Asher, he grinned. “Can I interest you in lobster tails and champagne?”
    “Sorry.” She kissed his nose. “Somebody already offered me pizza and cheap wine.”
    “Outclassed again.” With a sigh Chuck released her. “I need somebody to hit with tomorrow,” he told Ty.
    “Okay.”
    “Six o’clock, court three.”
    “You buy the coffee.”
    “We’ll flip for it,” Chuck countered before he sauntered away.
    Alone, Asher and Ty stood for a moment in awkward silence while an airplane droned by overhead. The awkwardness had cropped up occasionally on their return to the States. It was always brief and never commented on. In the few seconds without words, each of them admitted that full truths would soon be necessary. Neither of them knew how to approach it.
    “So,” Ty began as the moment passed, “how did it go?”
    “Easily,” Asher returned, smiling as she stood on tiptoe to kiss him. “I didn’t need the bodyguard.”
    “I know how you feel about press conferences.”
    “How?”
    “Oh . . .” He combed her hair with his fingers. “
Terrified
’s a good word.”
    With a laugh she held out her hand as they started to walk. “
Was
a good word,” Asher corrected him. “I’m amazed I ever let it get to me. There was one problem though.”
    “What?”
    “I was afraid I’d faint from starvation.” She sent him a pitiful look from under her lashes. “Someone did mention pizza, didn’t they?”
    “Yeah.” He grinned, catching her close. “And cheap wine.”
    “You really know how to treat a woman, Starbuck,” Asher told him in a breathless whisper.
    “We’ll go Dutch,” he added before he pulled her toward the car.
    Twenty minutes later they sat together at a tiny round table. There was the scent of rich sauce, spice and melted candles. From the jukebox in the corner poured an endless succession of popular rock tunes at a volume just below blaring. The waitresses wore bib aprons sporting pictures of grinning pizzas. Leaning her elbows on the scarred wooden table, Asher stared soulfully into Ty’s eyes.
    “You know how to pick a class joint, don’t you?”
    “Stick with me, Face,” he advised. “I’ve got a hamburger palace picked out for tomorrow. You get your own individual plastic packs of ketchup.” Her lips curved up, making him want to taste them. Leaning forward, he did. The table tilted dangerously.
    “You two ready to order?” Snapping her wad of gum, the waitress shifted her weight to one hip.
    “Pizza and a bottle of Chianti,” Ty told her, kissing Asher again.
    “Small, medium or large?”
    “Small, medium or large what?”
    “Pizza,” the waitress said with exaggerated patience.
    “Medium ought to do it.” Twisting his head, Ty sent the waitress a smile that had her pulling back her shoulders. “Thanks.”
    “Well, that should improve the service,” Asher considered as she watched the woman saunter away.
    “What’s that?”
    Asher studied his laughing eyes. “Never mind,” she decided. “Your ego doesn’t need any oiling.”
    Ty bent his head closer to hers as a defense against the jukebox. “So what kind of questions did they toss at you?”
    “The usual. They mentioned the business from
Elegance.
”
    “Are you going to do it?”
    She moved her shoulders. “I don’t know. It might be fun. And I don’t suppose it would hurt the image of women’s tennis for one of the players to be in a national