Playing to Win

both of them will focus on their careers instead of love, marriage, and those grandchildren I want to have.”
    Savannah laughed. “I’m sure it’ll happen eventually.”
    Cara went to a pot on the stove, stirred, then replaced the lid. “Maybe. Maybe not. Honestly, it’s up to the two of them. I try not to interfere. Much,” she said with a wry smile. “So tell me about you, Savannah. I love your Southern accent. Where are you from?”
    Savannah took a seat on one of the cushioned bar stools at the island. “Georgia.”
    “Where in Georgia?”
    “Macon.”
    “Do you have a big family? Any brothers or sisters?”
    “No, it’s just me.”
    “And your family still lives there?”
    “Yes, they do.” As far as she knew. She hated making up stories about her family, but the truth wasn’t something she ever shared.
    At least not typically. She’d shared too much with Cole and that had been a disaster. It was always better to make up lies than to tell the truth. After all, image was everything, and often the truth was painful.
    “It must be hard to be away from home.”
    “Not too hard. I travel a lot so I’m used to being away from home.”
    “Oh. So you don’t live near your family anymore?”
    “No. I haven’t for years.”
    “That must be difficult. Do you miss them?”
    She paused. “Yes. Of course.”
    Cara got out a cutting board and started slicing tomatoes. “I know it was hard for Cole to move away, though it’s something he had to do to play football.”
    “I’m sure he missed all of you.”
    “He likes to play at being tough and independent, but at his heart he loves his family.”
    An interesting observation, which was why she’d wanted to meet his parents.
    “And here I am monopolizing your time. Let’s go into the family room.”
    The family room was huge and spacious, with a super-large flat-screen television and copious amounts of seating. The Rileys must entertain a lot.
    Savannah was certain Cole didn’t believe she’d show up, or maybe he hoped she wouldn’t, but when Cara led her into the family room, Cole frowned.
    He stood and greeted her, but it was obvious he wasn’t happy to see her.
    Cole’s father shook her hand, and Alicia gave her a hug.
    “I’m so glad you came,” Alicia said. “Now I have someone to talk to. They’re watching baseball.” Alicia sighed.
    “You’re not a sports fan?”
    “Oh, of course. I love sports. I just watch it for different reasons. I pay attention to their physical mechanics—the way they move their bodies, checking for strains or injuries or how they could hurt themselves.” She motioned for Savannah to take a seat next to her on the sofa. “So many of these guys continue to play while hurt.”
    “That’s because we’re tough,” Cole said from his chair.
    Alicia rolled her eyes. “And then they wonder why their careers are so short.”
    Savannah laughed. “I’ve discovered in my work with sports players that they’re not very fond of listening—especially when they feel they’re being lectured to—by a woman.”
    “So not true.” Cole pinned her with his gaze. “When whoever’s talking knows what the hell they’re talking about, we listen. Sex doesn’t matter.”
    She had a feeling she’d just been insulted.
    “Well, you listen to Mom, and she’s a woman, but only because she’s scary.” Alicia looked at Savannah and winked.
    “Who’s going to say no to her? And besides, moms don’t count.”
    “I heard that.” Cara came in bearing a tray of iced tea. She poured a glass for Savannah, and refilled everyone else’s glasses.
    Savannah was content to sit back and watch the family dynamic unfold, but apparently that’s not how it worked in the Riley household.
    “Tell us in more detail about what you do for the team, Savannah,” Cara said after she took a seat on the sofa, sandwiching her between Cara and Alicia.
    She noticed Cole watching her out of the corner of his eye, though he had his focus on the television. She knew he was listening in, no doubt afraid she was going to spill his secrets.
    “I do public relations, both for the team and the individual players.”
    Cole rolled his eyes. At the television. Ha. She knew better.
    “That sounds fun,” Cara said. “So you juggle both?”
    “My main job is to look out for the team’s image, so yes.”
    “And how does that relate to you working with Cole?” Alicia asked.
    Oh, she was smart. “I’ll be working with him, teaching him