Playing to Win

tough. And sometimes one side has to do a lot of the work. Just ask Gavin.”
    He laughed. “How’s married life going, by the way?”
    “Obscenely romantic. I love it, even though I hardly see my husband since he’s knee deep in baseball season. But we carve out time whenever we can. I’m just looking forward to November when we can have our honeymoon.”
    “Good. I’m glad for you, though why you’d want to be married to my pain-in-the-ass cousin is a mystery to me.”
    “Somebody had to take him on. I took pity on him.” Liz stood and kissed him on the cheek. “Play good today.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    Liz had walked out the door and Cole saw her run into Savannah outside where the offices were. They stopped and talked for a few minutes. Cole watched the interplay between the two women. There were hugs, a lot of smiling, and some intense conversation. He would have liked to know what they were talking about.
    Maybe about him. Or maybe it was just woman talk. For all he knew they were having a conversation about shoes.
    They hugged good-bye and Savannah headed into the conference room.
    “You talked to Liz?” he asked.
    “Just for a minute or two. Nothing significant.”
    That she had to say that meant they talked about him.
    She laid her bag on one of the chairs, then pulled out the one next to his and took a seat. “She told me she expects you to shine today.”
    “Yeah, I got that order from her.”
    Savannah smiled. “I have no doubt you’ll be successful.”
    “Me, either.” He wanted to drag her into his arms and press a hot kiss to her lips—the ones painted a pretty little shade of dusky pink today. She wore a brown dress and heels, her hair pulled up. He also wanted to kiss her neck, but he could tell she was wearing her professional persona today.
    “I need to get down to the locker room,” he said. “You wanted to talk?”
    “Yes. There will be media interviews after the game today.”
    “There are always postgame media interviews.”
    “Yes. And you haven’t always handled those well. Especially if your team loses. It tends to put you in a bad place and you take your mood out on the media.”
    “Not gonna happen today. Have some faith in me. I have been listening to you.”
    “Good. But just in case they come after you, and you know they will, keep your answers relevant to the game and to the Traders. No matter what.”
    “All right.”
    She stood. “Promise me?”
    She wasn’t beating on him. She was worried about him, about how he was going to be perceived by the media and the public on this first game with his new team. He got that. “I promise.”
    “Okay.” She grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
    “Peaches.”
    She paused. Turned. “Yes?”
    “Don’t you think we should talk about the other night?”
    She smiled at him. “Have a wonderful game. I’ll be rooting for you.”
    SAVANNAH KNEW SHE WAS BEING A COCK-TEASING bitch, and that wasn’t in her nature. She’d gone to school with girls like that, girls who gave it out, then withheld it until they got what they wanted.
    That wasn’t at all what she was doing. What she was doing was losing her ever-loving mind.
    “Sorry I’m late. I had to deal with a couple other players, then I had to answer some calls, then email. It never ends.” She rolled her eyes.
    Savannah looked up and smiled at Liz. Just what she needed, a friendly female who understood.
    They were sitting in one of the private boxes, thanks to the team owner who graciously offered up one of his spaces for Elizabeth’s use. Liz had invited the Riley family, which included Cole’s family as well as Gavin and Mick’s family. The box was filled with a horde of Rileys today, except Gavin and Mick, of course, who were busy playing their respective sports. But Mick and Gavin’s parents had attended, as well as Cole’s parents, and they were all sitting huddled together. Savannah had greeted them when she’d walked in, then settled in at the front of the box so she could watch the game—and Cole’s behavior.
    It was kickoff. Cleveland had deferred to the second half, so the Traders were going to receive. Savannah leaned forward and watched the return to the thirty-yard line. Good field position as the offense took the field to the raucous applause of the fans.
    Savannah’s heart was pounding.
    “You look like you could use a drink,” Liz said as she took a seat next to her.
    Savannah laughed. “I might.”
    “I’m sure you’ve