Playing to Win

started slow, talking about Cole’s hometown connection to St. Louis. Obviously tense at first, Cole seemed to relax under Hal’s easygoing style of questions about how Cole would fit into the Trader lineup. Cole handled those answers just fine. He had enthusiasm, really talked up the Traders, kept his points to discussing the team and how excited he was to be a part of such a great organization.
    It was perfect.
    “So tell me, Cole. Given your past and the fact you’ve often been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons, why do you think the Traders took a gamble on you?” Hal asked.
    Uh-oh.
    She saw the change in Cole’s expression, the way he leaned back in his chair.
    Please think before you answer, Cole.
    He opened his mouth, then looked across the room to the booth where she sat. He took a deep breath and said, “Well, Hal, you can’t believe everything you hear about me.”
    “So all those previous media reports are lies?”
    He gave Hal a grin. “Of course they are.”
    Hal gave Cole a disbelieving look. “Nothing printed about you previously is the truth.”
    “Hey, I’m no Boy Scout. Like I said, you can’t believe everything that’s been said about me. But some of those things happened when I was younger. I learned a few lessons.”
    “So you’re turning over a new leaf with the Traders.”
    “Clean slate. New start. And in answer to your question, the Traders took a gamble on me because I’m one of the best wide receivers out there.”
    Hal laughed. “Pretty bold statement considering there are three awesome receivers on the team.”
    “I’m confident in my skills. Obviously the Traders are, too. Otherwise they wouldn’t have picked me up. But rather than just talking about what I can do, I hope you and the Trader fans will tune in to see what I can do.”
    Savannah relaxed her shoulders. Excellent answer. And Hal wasn’t a contentious interviewer, so he didn’t get into the negatives about Cole’s past. Cole and Hal shook hands after the interview and Cole met her outside the booth.
    He gave her a smile. “Did I pass?”
    “You did okay.”
    “I did better than okay and you know it.”
    They walked toward the front door and outside. “Hal was easy on you. He’s not going to besmirch anyone with the Traders because he doesn’t want to risk his press pass to the locker room. The real test will come when you have to face national media. But as a first test, you passed.”
    “Good enough.”
    “We need to work through some of the questions that will come up when you do have those interviews.” She pulled her phone out of her pocket and scrolled through her calendar. “I have some free time tomorrow afternoon.”
    Cole shook his head. “Can’t. I have Gavin’s wedding coming up and I’m one of the groomsmen. I have all this…wedding stuff to do over the next few days.”
    “Oh, that’s right. Fine. We’ll start on Monday.”
    “That’ll work.”
    “I guess I’ll head out, then.”
    She walked to her car and he opened the door. “Savannah.”
    She turned. “Yes.”
    “You wanna talk about last night?”
    “What about last night?”
    “That kiss between you and me. And what happened the other night at your place.”
    “Nothing happened, Cole. Nothing that’s going to be repeated, anyway, so there’s nothing to talk about.”
    “If that’s the way you want to play it.”
    “It is. It’s best if we keep our relationship strictly business.” The chemistry between them scared her. She had to be on her guard around him to make sure what happened never happened again.
    And he knew she was attracted to him. She caught the hint of a smile, but then it was gone.
    “Sure. I’ll see you Monday.”
    He turned and she slid into her car. Now it was her turn to smile.
    He’d see her well before Monday.



EIGHT

    COLE STOOD IN THE SMALL, SUFFOCATING ROOM IN the back of the church, feeling claustrophobic and wishing this were over already so he could be at the bar. But he’d do anything for his cousin Gavin, including hanging back here to wait for the ceremony that was already ten minutes late.
    “Leave it to Liz to need to make an entrance,” Gavin said as he looked out the window.
    “Maybe she bailed on you.”
    Gavin shot his brother, Mick, a glare. “She’ll show up. Or I’ll hunt her down and kill her.”
    That made Mick laugh. “You do realize you’re in church.”
    “And God knows Elizabeth. He’d forgive me.”
    Cole shook his head. Weddings