Playing to Win

salary cut was just the beginning, Cole. Your image is toast. You know it, I know it, and Coach Tallarino knows it. If the coach wasn’t such a good friend of your cousin Mick—and if he didn’t owe me a few dozen favors—I guarantee you wouldn’t have this job.”
    Cole wasn’t buying it. The Traders signed him because he had the talent and plenty of it. Agents liked to make threats to keep their players in line. He knew how this game was played. All he had to do was sit here and listen to Liz’s spiel for a few minutes, then he’d be outta here.
    “The clock is ticking. It’s only a matter of time before no one will touch you, no matter how good you are on the field. You’re a PR nightmare.”
    He stood and faced Liz, doing exactly what she said he wasn’t capable of. He took a deep breath and tried to keep his temper under control. “I’m a damn good wide receiver.”
    “That might be true, but until you stop the nonsense off the field and prove to the coach, your team, the media, and the general public that you’ve grown up and your bad-boy days are over, itdoesn’t matter if you score ten touchdowns a game. Reputation is everything in football.”
    He blew out a sigh. Why couldn’t his stats be enough? What difference did it make what he did during his off hours? So he liked to party a little. So what? His bad rep was the media’s fault anyway. He was at the top of his game. After six years in the NFL, he’d damn well earned the right to relax and enjoy life.
    But yeah. PR. He understood. And if he had to toe the line for a while until he got in the good graces of the fans and the coach, that’s what he’d do.
    “What do you want me to do?”
    “I’m bringing in someone to help you.”
    He frowned. “Who?”
    “Just hang on a second.” She sent a text message, and a minute later the door opened.
    He was shocked when Savannah walked in.
    Relieved to see her, Cole grinned, glad he hadn’t lost the opportunity to spend more time with her.
    “Hey. I was wondering where you’d wandered off to,” he said.
    “You two know each other?” Liz asked.
    “Yeah. We met earlier.” Cole turned to Liz. “You know Savannah?”
    Liz’s lips lifted. “As a matter of fact, I do. And you’re going to get to know her a lot better. Savannah is your new image consultant.”
    He pivoted and looked at Savannah, who gave him a serene smile.
    The pieces fell into place. He’d been screwed by the pretty blonde. The game player had been played.
    “ My image consultant? What the fuck?”



TWO

    COLE NARROWED HIS GAZE AT SAVANNAH. “YOU played me.”
    “I did not.”
    “You didn’t tell me who you were.”
    “As a matter of fact, I told you exactly who I was and what I did for a living.”
    “That’s bullshit. You told me you were there to observe. You didn’t say you were there to watch me . Were you looking for me to make an ass of myself?”
    “I was hoping you wouldn’t. And you didn’t. Until now.”
    “Well, this is fun,” Liz said, stepping between Cole and Savannah. She turned to Cole. “Look, I have no idea what went on between the two of you, but the team has hired Savannah to work with you, so like it or not, she’s yours.”
    Cole glared at Savannah. “I don’t like it. She isn’t mine, and I don’t want her.”
    “Tough shit. She’s the best in her field, and you’ll do what she says.”
    Great. Someone else to tell him what to do. An image consultant? He didn’t need anyone to change him. “And if I don’t?”
    “Then you’ll have to answer to the team owner, and as I mentioned earlier, you’re out of options.”
    He took a deep breath and let it out. He’d make this work. Peaches there seemed like a pussycat, and he could be pleasant if he wanted to be. He’d just wrap her around his finger and then go about his business, and still make the owner, his coach, and Liz happy.
    It was a win-win for everyone. “Fine.”
    Liz smiled. “Good. I’m out of here. I’ve got wedding plans to finalize.”
    “I’m so excited for you, Elizabeth,” Savannah said, turning her attention to Liz. “How are the wedding preparations going?”
    “Everything’s moving right along, thanks to my future sister-in-law, Tara, who’s the best wedding planner ever. If it weren’t for her and Gavin’s sister, Jenna, I’d have slit my wrists by now.”
    Savannah laughed, and the sound shot right to Cole’s dick. She had a throaty laugh, the kind you’d expect to hear in a