Page 52 of Game On

“I’ve got a lot to do here,” she lied. “I need to help finalize the logistics for the team’s away games so Hank won’t have to worry about that when he gets back.” Which was the truth, but there wasn’t much involved with that other than reviewing the package the travel office had already put together. She’d probably spend most her free time brooding over the hard-bodied, steely-eyed quarterback on the Blaze payroll.

Jeez, she was pathetic. The man had the emotional capability of a newt. Everything about him screamed “not long-term material.” She wanted to smack herself in the head. Hadn’t she already learned her lesson about professional jocks? She needed to exorcise Shane Devlin from her mind. And from all her body parts.

Which was easier said than done. She kept trying to tell herself the attraction was only physical, but she’d discovered these past few weeks that he hid a lot behind the persona he presented to the public. There was something very vulnerable about Shane. A vulnerability that kept nagging at her chest and wouldn’t go away.

Her anger with Shane’s attitude toward Troy had subsided over the past several days. Carly didn’t need her sister’s clinical psychology degree to realize he didn’t have the skills to deal with all the turmoil in his life—much less accept a brother he barely knew. But Troy was still living at Shane’s. That had to mean something.

“You just keep a careful eye out for that Joel Thompkins,” Asia said, interrupting her musing. “He’s trouble. With or without a restraining order.”

“I haven’t heard a peep out of him in a week. I’m sure his grandfather convinced him to go to rehab. It’ll be fine now,” Carly said as she caught sight of C.J. and Troy entering the commissary.

“Well, just the same, Carly, you keep an eye out, okay?” Asia said. “In my experience, creeps like Joel don’t hide under their rocks for long.”

Carly nodded, unsure how to respond. She’d just begun to be less skittish about the situation with Joel, but Asia’s concern caused Carly’s nerves to twitch.

“Good girl,” Asia said, giving her a quick hug. “I’ve got to go or I’ll miss my plane. See you in two weeks,” Asia called as she hobbled out to her office.

Turning back to the cafeteria, she watched C.J. and Troy head for the ice cream bar. Both were red faced and sweaty as each grabbed for a plastic bowl.

“Hello, boys,” she said with a smile. “You both look like you could use something cool to eat.”

“Yeah, well it’s like ninety-five degrees out there, Aunt Carly. We all don’t get to sit around in the A/C all day.” C.J. made it sound like it was a hardship shagging balls for his father’s team, but she knew he loved it. Carly smiled, refusing to let her nephew’s surly demeanor get to her.

“What?” he asked, eyeing her suspiciously.

“Nothing,” she said, reaching up to pat his cheek. “You just look so cute all mussed up.”

“Jeez, Aunt Carly,” C.J. said as he pulled away from her touch, his face even redder now. “You’re blocking the ice cream.”

Troy smiled broadly at their exchange, hero worship shining in his eyes. Carly grinned back at him. “Are you enjoying camp, Troy?” she asked. She really should avoid the Devlin brothers, but it was nice to see Troy not looking so ragged around the edges. Besides, he wasn’t the brother who constantly sent her pulse racing.

He pushed his glasses up against the bridge of his nose and gave her a lopsided grin. “Yes, ma’am.”

When both boys had filled their bowls to nearly overflowing, they sat at one of the round bistro tables. Not waiting to be asked, Carly hooked her foot around the leg of a chair and pulled up to the table to join them. Much as she hated to admit it, she was dying to know what was going on with Shane. Troy was the most likely source of that information.

“So,” she began as she watched C.J. tuck into his bowl. “Do you and Shane have any big plans for the next few weeks?” Really, what was the sense of beating around the bush?

Troy’s chin dropped to his chest as he stared at his ice cream. C.J. nudged her with the toe of his Nike. She looked over at him and he shook his head slightly. She glanced at Troy. He fidgeted with his glasses again.

“We’re going to some cabin for a while,” he said softly.

“Well, that sounds cool,” C.J. interjected. She felt a rush of love for her nephew. Clearly, he was trying to make the trip sound exciting. “Maybe you can go fishing and stuff.” He actually made it sound like he thought it would be okay to be out of cell phone range somewhere.

“Sure,” she added enthusiastically. “You and Shane could get to know one another better.” C.J. shot her the “are you really that dumb?” look he normally reserved for his sisters. Troy sunk lower in his chair, if that were possible.

“I guess so,” he mumbled.

“Hey, you could always come to the beach with us,” C.J. said around another mouthful of ice cream. A hopeful look appeared in Troy’s eyes, but it vanished just as quickly. He sat up in his chair.

“That would be great, but I think Shane likes to go to the mountains to clear his head before the season,” Troy said. “My dad told me once that he goes there every year. We used to invite him to come visit us in Pittsburgh, but he never did.”

Bruce invited Shane to come visit? Now that was interesting. From what Shane had told her, his father had pretty much shut him out of his new life.

“Well, if you change your mind, you’re always welcome at our beach house. Crap, I’m getting a brain freeze!” C.J. said. Not surprising, given the way he was shoveling ice cream into his mouth.

“Stick your thumb on the roof of your mouth!” Troy said.

Carly left the boys laughing about brain freezes while she pondered the information she’d just wheedled out of Troy. Shane was taking his brother with him to his cabin. A week ago, she was sure he’d ship his little brother to his grandparents as soon as he got the chance. Was it possible Shane was finally putting aside some of his animosity for his father? Maybe Lisa was right, Shane just needed some time to come around to the idea of having a half brother. Surely, once they’d spent some time together, he’d realize being Troy’s guardian wasn’t so bad. Perhaps it would all work out for the best.

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