Page 78 of Tough Score

"Do you know who Oakley Humphries' brother is? Barrett Humphries?" she asks.

"Barrett who?"

I know Oakley has mentioned that he had one brother but as far as I know, they don't talk and he's been in prison for years, though I don't think I ever heard of the reason why.

"I started digging into Keely's background and her family. My boss thinks that the story of you saving Keely and then her becoming your PT is the feel-good story that he wants out in front of the longer story I'm doing about the Hawkeyes. But when I looked her up, all the basic stuff came up—where she went to high school, where she got her doctorate and the ACL she tore in middle school. Most reporters would have enough to use to fill their quota but then I heard that Humphries is the family name, not Woods."

It just now dawns on me that Rowan is right… Keely's last name is Woods, not Humphries. But if Keely is the daughter of Oakley's brother, she would have the Humphries name.

"Leave Keely alone," I tell her.

Whatever information she found, she needs to un-find it because I don't like the way Rowan is looking at me.

"I'm just doing my job, Reeve."

"Then stop doing it," I say, pushing past her, back down toward the hall.

"Keely's dad is the same man who did fifteen years for racketeering the World Cup for the mob—Barrett Humphries. Woods is her mother's name," she calls out behind me.

I stop and turn back toward her. "That was her dad? Keely told you this?"

"No, but she told me at Serendipity's Coffee Shop with the girls that a relationship with her could kill your career."

"She said that?"

Keely suggesting that we can't date because of us working together never made sense. She knew that the Hawkeyes don't care about people inside the organization dating as long as HR knows about it and there was always a part of me that thought there might have been something more to it than what she was telling me.

Rowan nods. "And I thought she was exaggerating until I did a lot of digging. No other reporter would have found this out. If you ask me, a lot of the information was erased about her dad. I couldn't have figured it out without knowing Oakley's last name and Keely prompting me to dig deeper," she says. "It might be my best work yet."

"Rowan—" I warn.

"Don't worry. No one will figure this one out and I have no plans of telling a soul except you."

"Why only me?"

"Because these girls are becoming my friends and I will protect each of them for as long as I can… and because it's obvious to me that Keely is holding herself back from being with you, and I believe this is the real reason why."

"How do you know that she wants to be with me?"

I want her to tell me that Keely confessed it all to her, but I know that's pushing my luck. Though I'm furious about Keely for keeping us apart for this reason, I'll be relieved if this is the thing keeping us apart.

"I'm a reporter Aisa, I look for the things people don't want me to find… like their true feelings."

Chapter Twenty-Six

Thanksgiving

Reeve

The rich aroma of roasted turkey and savory stuffing wafts through Oakley's as I push open the front door of the bar.

The place is buzzing with conversation and laughter from familiar faces. Strings of twinkling lights are draped across the ceiling, casting a soft glow over the room and giving it a cozy, festive atmosphere.

I scan the crowd, my eyes searching for one person in particular. When I spot Keely setting up a long table that looks like it could seat at least forty people, my heart skips a beat. She's wearing a burgundy sweater that brings out the warmth in her eyes, and her long hair cascades down her back in loose waves as tendrils frame her face.

As I make my way over, I notice Seven and Brynn arranging place settings while Brent and Tessa are carefully placing centerpieces along the table. Lake is helping Oakley carry in more chairs from the back.

"Hey," I say, approaching Keely. "Need a hand?"

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