Page 24 of Love In The Spotlight

He laughed. “I’m with you. Money can be evil. My parents tried to say that is what changed me. They don’t get it. I didn’t have money in college. Nothing like college athletes can get now. I’m still the same as I was then. I didn’t blow through my money. I’ve got a lot of it left and make millions a year working part time on top of it.”

She grinned. “I’m sure you’ve got a nice house,” she said. “A guest house and all.”

“I live in a nice area with a few acres of land. There are houses around but not on top of each other. I bought the cheapest most worn-down house in the best area. I put money into it to increase its value and made sure it was a good investment for when I sell.”

“Smart,” she said. “Did you buy this house before or after Penelope?”

“I was in a nice townhouse and living life well having no responsibilities,” he said. “Then once I knew Penelope was coming I had to change. I think at that point I accepted that my football career was over and focused on Fox Sports.”

“Because you didn’t want to be gone so much with a baby?” she asked.

Though he hadn’t volunteered a lot about Penelope’s mother, she knew he’d had the baby since she was born.

“Yes. I’m still gone but not as much as if I was training and traveling for games. I normally arrive and leave the same day as a game now. I can work from home rather than away. It’s just a different life. A calmer one.”

“I’m sure there are some single broadcasters out there not thinking that and still living it up,” she said.

“There are,” he said. “But it’s not me.”

“No one knows about Penelope?” she asked. “No one you work with or players?”

“Very few know,” he said. “I’ve kept it that way on purpose.”

“Are you embarrassed by her?” she asked.

His face changed. She’d insulted him.

“No,” he said. “I’m not. She deserves to live her life out of the spotlight. I personally can’t do that with my job. Not if I want to keep the career I’ve got. The best thing I can do for her is to let her live as normal of a life as I can until she’s old enough to make her own decisions.”

“I’m sorry I asked that,” she said. “I commend you for that thought and for putting your daughter first.”

“You didn’t think I had it in me, did you? Just judging me like everyone else.”

Yeah, she made a huge misstep here and would mend that bridge.

“I’ll admit when I’m wrong and I was,” she said. “I’m sorry if I offended you.”

“It’s fine,” he said. “You're not the first one who has thought I’ve been selfish.”

She was saved by the knock on her door and lunch brought in.

“Why don’t we eat and take a break? I think we both need to cool off. Then we can talk more about product design and I can bring in someone from marketing to go over things.”

“You’re not doing it?” he asked.

“No. Consider me the liaison for every facet of your business. I’ll keep things on track and facilitate what goes on, but there are things I won’t have a hand in, though I could play mediator if I have to.”

He nodded and they went to her table to eat.

Which they did in silence.

She’d have to let West know what happened if they couldn’t get back on track. No reason to have the guy she was working with pissed at her.

“How did it go?” West asked her three hours later. Braylon was in there talking too.

“It was good, but I think I stepped on his big toe before lunch.”

“What did you say?” Braylon asked.

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