Playing to Win

on the game, though she spent more time watching Cole on the sidelines. He sat with the other receivers, talked to them, got up and chatted up the line.
    He was doing everything right. She couldn’t be more pleased.
    He’d looked amazing today, not just play-wise, but just…amazing wise. He filled out his uniform in a way that made her mouth water. There was something about his arms that made her stomach tumble. It was those lean muscles and hands that were talented in more ways than one.
    And she needed to remember her goals with him were professional ones, not personal. She already had two strikes against her in the bad decisions department.
    “Got your eye on Cole, I see,” Liz said.
    “Yes. Observing his behavior with his teammates.”
    “Looks more like you were observing his fine ass.”
    Her eyes widened and she craned her head around to see if anyonein Cole’s family had heard Liz’s comment. Fortunately, they were all absorbed in the game and talking among themselves.
    “I was not.”
    “Oh, please. You think I can’t see the way he looks at you?”
    “What? No.” She paused. “How does he look at me?”
    Liz gleamed like a cat facing a full bowl of cream. “Like he wants to eat you all up, honey.”
    Her body thrilled at the thought. “He does not.”
    “He does. And you want to take a big bite out of his meaty physique.” Liz studied her. “So how’s that going?”
    Heat spread up her neck. She felt it stain her cheeks.
    “So. A repeat performance?”
    She laid her head in her hands. There was no point in denying it. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
    “Well, I do.” She grabbed Savannah’s arm and hauled her out of her seat. “Excuse us. We have some confidential business matters to discuss in the private offices.”
    Liz took Savannah into the adjacent office suite and shut the door. Savannah fell into the chair and opened one of the bottled waters that was sitting in a cluster on the table.
    Liz pulled a chair up next to her and leaned forward. “Okay, spill.”
    “I swore to myself it was going to be that one time and that was it. But apparently I’m weak, or he’s the hottest, most irresistible man I’ve ever come across. Typically, I’m all business. I’ve worked with sexy sports players before, and not once has one ever tripped my libido like Cole has.”
    Liz grinned. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. I fell hard for Gavin, and that never happens to me. In this business we’re surrounded by hot, sexy athletes. I’m immune to them. Until that one man who does it for you like no one else has before.”
    “I don’t know what happened. I didn’t intend for anything to explode between us. It just did. I swear, Liz, it’s like an inferno.After the first time, I thought, okay, big mistake. A wonderful, hot night together, but still, it couldn’t happen again.”
    Liz gave her a knowing smile. “Until it happened again.”
    “Yes.”
    “So now what?” she asked.
    “Now it definitely can’t happen again. I can’t jeopardize my job. It’s all I have.”
    “You could have Cole.”
    “Would you have done that? Early in your relationship with Gavin, would you have sacrificed your career for hot sex with Gavin?”
    Liz gave her a knowing look. “Not a chance in hell. And I was already on the cusp after what went down with Mick. Taking up with Gavin was the dumbest thing I ever did.”
    “So why did you do it?”
    “Because I was in love with him.”
    “Oh.”
    Liz laughed. “My situation is a little different. I had been in love with Gavin for years before we ever got together. My head and my heart weren’t in sync. Logically, I knew that getting involved with him could be a career ender for me, especially right after that debacle with Mick. But my heart wanted him. And once we got together, there was no going back for me.”
    “So you risked it all for him.”
    “I guess I did.”
    “I don’t understand that. I guess maybe because I never had a role model to show me that great kind of love.”
    “Honey, neither did I. Well, that’s not true. I had Gavin’s family, his parents. I’ve never known two people who were more in love. They’re the best role models for a lasting relationship. Being around them for years showed me that if you want something badly enough, you make it work, no matter the obstacles.”
    “But you’re not using your parents as role models.”
    Liz snorted. “My parents were the worst role models for anything. Love,