Playing to Win

the game. He was secure in his position, though he didn’t expect to get as much playing time in this weekend’s game against Cleveland as he’d like.
    Still, the start of play was always as exciting as the first time he’d walked onto a football field as a professional. It never got old. And this year, on his home team, would be the year that everything was going to change for him.
    He hadn’t seen Savannah since that night at his condo. She’d laid low, though they’d exchanged a few phone calls. She’d told himshe’d be at the game today to help coach him through media interviews, which he’d found laughable, but he’d agreed to meet with her before the game to go over some pointers.
    He’d wanted to see her anyway, to gauge her mood and how things were between them. Despite being busy up to his eyeballs with team practice, he’d also been thinking about her a lot. There were times he’d wanted to call her, but he didn’t want to push someone who obviously didn’t want to be pushed.
    Didn’t mean the game was over in his mind, though. It was just a temporary retreat.
    He still wanted Savannah. They’d just gotten warmed up. Sex with her was great and he liked spending time with her, time that went beyond the image makeover shit she was making him do. He liked the personal time they spent together.
    But for some reason what was going on between them kept scaring her into backing away. Maybe she did fear for her job, but it wasn’t like he was going to approach the team owner or coach and tell him that he was fucking Savannah. He knew how to be discreet.
    He just had a feeling there was something else bothering her, and he didn’t know what it was.
    “Ready to kick some ass today, stud?”
    He was in the team office signing some papers and turned to smile at Elizabeth.
    He grinned. “You know it.”
    She laid her hand on his arm. “I’m expecting you to make me look like a brilliant agent for signing you when no one else would touch you. Don’t make me look like a dumbass.”
    “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got a good feeling about this season. I think it’s going to be one of my best yet.”
    Liz leaned a hip against the conference room table. “That’s what Savannah tells me.”
    He cocked a brow. “Is that right?”
    “Yes. Of course that could just be PR on her part, trying to sell the positive aspects about you.”
    “It’s not PR. I’m a changed man.”
    Liz snorted. “We’ll see about that.”
    “Hey, she’s a freakin’ miracle worker. You’ll see. It’ll be like raising Frankenstein’s monster from the dead.”
    “I don’t think you were quite that bad. If you were, honey, I’d have never taken you on.”
    “Thanks for the vote of confidence, as weak as it was.”
    She laughed. “And how are things going between you and Savannah?”
    He arched a brow and leaned back in the chair. “In what way?”
    “In that way.”
    He stayed silent.
    “She told me the two of you slept together. And don’t bother getting all upset about it. We’re good friends and I’m discreet.”
    “I’m not upset about it. I’m glad she has someone to talk to, since she damn well won’t talk to me.”
    Liz folded her arms. “Hmm.”
    “Yeah? And what does that mean?”
    She pulled up a chair. “Tread lightly with her, Cole. I mean it. She’s dealing with some stuff.”
    “What kind of stuff? Like a bad breakup or something?”
    “It’s not for me to say. If she wants to open up to you, she will. I just don’t want you to hurt her.”
    “I’m not trying to hurt her, Liz. I’m trying to get her to trust me enough to have a goddamn conversation with me. Or at least stop fucking me and running like hell after.”
    He couldn’t believe he was having this conversation with his agent. With a woman, no less. Men didn’t have sex and talk about it. Ever. But he was at a loss as to how to deal with Savannah and needed some insight.
    “Do you care about her?”
    “If I didn’t I wouldn’t be so frustrated, and I sure as hell wouldn’t be talking to you about it. I’ve got more important things on my mind, like the start of the season. So yeah, I care about her.”
    Liz’s lips quirked into a smile. “I guess you do. Be patient with her and don’t give up. She needs to know you’re going to be there for her, that you’re not going to abandon her. That’s the only advice I can give you.”
    That would have to be good enough. “Thanks.”
    “Hey, relationships are