The Total Package (13 page)

He was stealing the melon for his mother, and it was the saddest coincidence that his mother used to call him Honeydew too, because she said he was as sweet as her favorite fruit.

Intellectually Marcus knew his mother’s death wasn’t his fault. He’d spent a long time readying himself for what he figured would be the eventual outcome of her addiction. He just never figured anyone else would care. No one gave a crap about his mom while she was alive. But as the media descended during what was supposed to be his time to grieve, the self-protective shell that Marcus had already formed became harder. His reaction was to do what he had always done: keep control. Only he was no longer a stray dog, scurrying from one place to another in the name of survival. He didn’t need to worry about where his next meal was coming from. He also discovered as he watched the sometimes frenzied attempts to uncover his story, that he enjoyed the game.

Marcus was a loner who would always show up at the exact time he was expected, fulfill his contractual obligations, and then slip back out into mist. There wasn’t anyone who could get a solid read on him and what he did during his off time. It fueled speculation that he had something to hide, and everyone wanted to know exactly what that was. His criminal record, such as it was, consisted of one shoplifting offense when he was ten. He never took a dirty drug test. There were no random baby mammas. With the exception of his mother, there was nobody from his past willing to lend insight. The lesson he learned was that when he thwarted those who thought they had the right to know something, they would resort to anything to get the story. If that failed, the proper media response was to go ahead and muddy the waters, careful not to cross the line into slander. Maybe the media did it in the hopes of making him talk, maybe just to screw with him. It eventually led to the widespread rumor that he was secretly gay, because he had to be hiding some kind of big secret, even if no one had ever discovered exactly what it was.

Marcus remained unaffected by that rumor and every other one that swirled around him. He perfected a nonchalant and distant stare. On game day, he didn’t just bring it, he brought it all. He collected interceptions like a kid collected prize tickets at a county fair. When he refused to re-sign with the Blitz and went into free agency as an offensive player without any explanation, it put Marcus LaRue into a class all his own. There wasn’t a team in the league that wasn’t willing to take the risk in handing him the ball.

Now it appeared Dani was going to be the recipient of that thousand-yard stare on a permanent basis, with the added bonus of having to donate equal time to dodging the team’s quarterback.

The longer Dani sat in the Mavericks Human Resources office and got the details of her new gig, the clearer it became that her job would be extremely cushy in some ways. No longer would she need extensive research on all the teams in the league. She wouldn’t have to keep countless stats on quick recall. Her home base would be a room in a swanky hotel near the stadium, plus she’d get a company car nicer than any she’d ever driven before. The director was in the process of telling her about her camera crew when there was a light rap on the office door.

Both Dani and the HR director stood up out of their chairs simultaneously as Clinton Barrow entered the room. Between the ten-gallon hat and his outsize presence, he seemed to fill it.

“Dani.” He smiled, extending his hand. “I wanted to personally welcome you aboard team Maverick.”

Barrow and the director made small talk for a minute before the woman seemed to make up some excuse and took her leave, telling Dani she’d be right back. Dani and Barrow were left alone.

“How are you settling in?” he asked politely, taking a seat in the chair next to hers.

“Austin is a beautiful city,” Dani replied. “I don’t know how to thank you for this great opportunity, Mr. Barrow.”

Barrow smiled. “I’m sure you’ve been getting your share of job offers since your sudden rise in popularity with the networks.”

None stranger than this,
Dani thought,
or as perilous.
“There’s always plenty of exciting stuff going on in the world of broadcasting.”

“I’m thrilled you used the word
exciting
. And that you were willing to let us lure you away from the network to join our team as we embark on this new adventure. We’ve wanted to try our hand at in-house broadcasting for a while now.”

He had a very nice way of putting things, especially since Dani had already been made aware that she didn’t really have a choice in the matter.

Barrow crossed one leg over the other and shifted, as if he was trying to get comfortable in a chair he was too big to fit in. “I’d like to think you’ve been in the business long enough to know that I pride this team on being innovative.”

His voice had changed ever so slightly. It was still cordial, but with each word, it became less friendly and more authoritative. Dani could visualize the elephant lumbering into the room and plopping down between them.

“I look forward to being part of it.” Dani sat up straighter. It felt like she was in the principal’s office. She had always been a good student, a rule follower. Suddenly she could relate to how the rebels and troublemakers must’ve felt. Maybe she was just projecting her own paranoia. Maybe Clinton Barrow sat down and personally greeted all his new employees.

“There’s another thing we pride ourselves on here in Maverick country. And that’s loyalty, to our great city, to our state, and above all, to our team. The only grandstanding around here, be it unintentional or not, is done by me.”

He was amazing, and if she wasn’t so intimidated, she might have taken a moment to fully appreciate it. The man was able to perfectly convey his underlying threat without touching directly on the subject. Dani wasn’t being paranoid. She was being put in her place. And despite the cushy perks of the job, it was the last place she wanted to be.

CHAPTER 10

THREE GAMES INTO
the season, Dani fidgeted on the sidelines while Stan, her cameraman, took a few handheld shots of the field and the warm-ups. She had gotten good at keeping one eye out for Palmer at all times. Since his first snub and ultimately the “fowling,” she had only seen him when Marcus was his opposition. Now that they were on the same team, she had to get cagey. She would scope out wherever Tyson was, and then keep a safe distance, making sure she set up her shots as far away as possible, something that Marcus seemed willing to accommodate and never questioned. Then it was get the footage and get out. But sometimes a field length wasn’t enough and she would catch herself watching him from afar, because old habits die hard. Adding another layer of discomfort, there were times when she stole her glances and would find him already looking at her. At first it was with a lopsided grin of amusement, then fascination, and more recently, determination. Those times were becoming more frequent, and his look was getting more intense. But if he took even one step in her direction, she would vanish before he reached her. It became a contest, spoiling his attempt at confrontation. But this time she didn’t hear him sidle up next to her. She only saw a huge shadow slowly being cast over hers.

“Good afternoon, Dani.”

His voice was deep but the three words had a teasing singsong quality to them. She looked over at Stan in the hopes he was at least facing her so that she could make a quick getaway. But her cameraman was fully engrossed chatting with one of the officials. She turned her head briefly and glanced at Tyson. He was uniformed, clean and crisp, ready to take the field, holding his helmet in his hand, and to avoid looking suspicious he began to stretch by bringing one knee to his chest and then the other.

“It’s
Ms
. Carr,” she told him haughtily, returning her focus to the field. She double-checked that her microphone was off.

He stopped flexing and cocked a hip. It gave the appearance of casual conversation.

“You’re right, we haven’t been properly introduced. You look like I caught you by surprise. The clucking hasn’t started yet, so it gave me a chance to sneak up on you.”

He was acting way too self-deprecating for someone with an ax to grind. Before it had been about getting him to notice her. Now it was all about him never making the connection. Her hopes of a happy reunion had been foolish, she realized, and now they were dashed for good. Her plan B was to never let him get any closer.

“I’m here to work, not socialize.”

Tyson laughed, which was all the more exasperating. It was as if he knew her intentions all along. “We can talk shop then. I tried to get a real introduction, but you’re like a unicorn, Ms. Carr. Mysterious and always one step ahead of me. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to avoid me.”

He’d adopted this occasional twang, like a Texas native, even though he was from Ohio. Also a new development was a perfectly groomed permanent five o’clock shadow that Dani could easily picture running up and down her bare leg. She knew this time there wasn’t going to be any sort of easy getaway.

“I
am
avoiding you. But you win, now’s your chance. Would you like to extract revenge for something that was completely out of my control? I did have a fly go down my windpipe.”

“So you
are
avoiding me. In the beginning I thought you were embarrassed, and you’re right, it was awkward. But now I think you protest too much. You have a chip on your shoulder about me, and I’d like to know why. Chances are if you’re hating on me that hard, our paths may have crossed. Maybe not in a good way. I’m sorry if I never called again. Trust me, if that’s the case I did you a favor.”

He had changed her life in the most profound way and he still hadn’t recognized her. But he had gotten one step closer. Relief switched off her disappointment. It’s what she needed, but she didn’t want his apology. Tyson had inadvertently given her and her family the best gift they would ever receive. And his cavalier attitude about the trail of broken hearts reminded her to not be fooled. He was her only one, but she was one of many, too many to keep track of. Dani knew she should bite her tongue, but the words spilled out shrewishly. “Not every woman you come in contact with finds you irresistible, Palmer.”

“Of course not. And thanks for using my last name, by the way. Whenever I hear you say ‘Tyson,’ I die a little inside.”

“You’ll never have to worry about me making that mistake again.”

“I’m allowed my shot at redemption, Ms. Carr.”

“Oh yeah, and why’s that? Because you’re so damn special?”

“No. Because we all are.”

“Then go forth and sin no more.” She waved her hand in sarcastic absolution.

Tyson shook his head and exhaled dramatically, still smiling. Damn, watching her blush and bluster was adorable. There was something about her that lit him up just looking at her. She had grit and spunk, not to mention curves that went on for miles. He had known all along it was impossible to stay mad at her, even if he’d wanted to. “You’re a hard sell, Dani Carr. And I would never question your principles. But if you think I don’t see you watching me, you’re dead wrong. Maybe you’d like to further discuss my shortcomings over dinner?”

His stare was fixed on her. He was seriously asking her out. Dani wasn’t sure her nerves would hold up. Too many things were coming at her at once. He was just so formidable, and sexy. Way too sexy that close up. Part of her wanted so much to say yes, but her head knew it would only end in disaster.

Dani knew her face burned red as she sputtered the lamest comeback ever. “Don’t hold your breath.”

“And don’t waste yours.” He took a giant step and stood directly in front of her, using his free hand to make sure the small towel he used to wipe his hands during the game was properly tucked into the front of his pants. From his towering height, he looked down at her. He said it quietly, but distinctly. “One day, and that day is coming soon, you won’t have the protection of a camera crew. There won’t be a stadium full of people standing between me and what I want to do to you.”

And what he wanted to do was shake her until she admitted she really was attracted to him, and then kiss all the other confessions right out of her mouth. He knew he was being antagonistic. There was something familiar about her that he couldn’t put his finger on, something that he found endearing, even when she was lashing him with her sharp tongue.

“Is that some kind of threat?” She smiled at him through clenched teeth and asked the question with the same tone she would’ve used asking him about the weather. But both were well aware there were too many pairs of eyes out there that were already interested in the interaction. He had been a complete gentleman when the incident first occurred, agreed the video was funny, and poked fun of himself on late night television. That was before it turned into a cluck fest and his universal cheer.

Tyson laughed in a casual way, as if they’d just exchanged pleasantries. He shook his head and turned, loping a few long strides out to the fifty-yard line. Dani took a quick scan around to see if anyone was looking before allowing herself a peek at him running away, his perfect buns snug within the confines of his deliciously tight spandex. She was still staring when he stopped, turned, and had to wait for her to look him in the eye. She was stone-cold busted. He flashed a wicked smile.