Page 35 of Quarterback Sneak

Sam nodded. Because the player’s weren’t able to confirm or deny the rumors, due to a gag clause in the interim contract, he had little choice but to either avoid the press or keep with the tired answer he’d been forced to repeat. It was second nature for him to offer placations, to distract the person asking until the original question convoluted into a series of canned responses. It had proved a valuable skill when speaking to the press but not when trying to establish a relationship. Ivy’s comment about him skirting the truth had been too close for comfort.

She was right. He’d been hardwired to sidestep the facts, an art his father had mastered and one he’d ingrained in his son. Sam had learned the hard way the importance of keeping up appearances, to convolute the truth until he almost believed it himself. As much as he wanted to share every bit of his life with Ivy, he couldn’t allow himself the luxury, not yet. Once the deal with Miller was done, he’d have more leeway. Until that time, he had to keep his mouth shut and let fate run its course.

Chapter Fourteen

Ivy glared at Sam’s back and waved away a fly buzzing by her ear, the insect reflecting her rising annoyance with herself. She’d been excited to go on a hike with him near Stevens Pass. In the earlier chill under the dense forest canopy, she’d been grateful that the weather stayed warm. Had being the operative word. Once they cleared the trees and reached a higher altitude, the oppressive heat began to suck at her energy, bringing on a dull headache.

“Did you know that Highway 2 connects from Everett, all the way to upper Michigan?” Sam pointed to the ribbon of road visible in the distance, the hem of his blued short-sleeve shirt fluttering in the breeze.

“No, I didn’t.” Sam had been spouting a fountain of information along the trek. If only she could shake her foul mood and enjoy it. She’d received a follow-up email from Alice the previous night inquiring about Sam, which had revived her resentment. The fly resumed its orbit and she swatted at it. She’d worked hard to win 3Square and deserved a place on the tournament by her own merit, not because of Sam. She skirted a small bend that ended on a level plateau and stepped on the bed of loose shale. The rocks shifted and she twisted her ankle.

“Sam, hold up.” Ivy hobbled to a large boulder. Great, just what she needed miles away from civilization. She pressed her lips together and took a tentative step, wrinkling her nose at the bite of the pebble that had managed to work its way into her shoe.

He jogged back, concern etching his brow. “Did you hurt yourself?”

“No, I have a rock in my shoe.” She removed her sneaker and sock and inspected the large blister that had formed on her heel.

“Maybe we should rest.” Sam opened the backpack and retrieved the first aid kit. Ivy cast him an envious eye. Despite the heat, with his physical conditioning, he barely broke a sweat. Even after two hours of continual exercise, he exuded the same raw energy that he started the hike with.

“I’m fine.” A lie. A big lie. She felt limp and in need of a rest. Granted, she’d had a double shift the day before, cooking on the line and doing prep for a banquet. Sam had worked out for four hours before he picked her up for their hike. He showed no signs of lagging. Sighing at the unfairness of it all, she accepted the bandage he offered and ripped the package open. “How much longer until we reach the top?”

He crotched before her, khaki shorts hugging his powerful thighs. “It’s a couple of miles until the lake. It’s deep enough to swim in and has a great place to picnic.”

The hot sun beat on her neck, and the prospect of cooling down sounded like heaven, if not impractical. “You do realize it’ll be freezing and although we haven’t crossed paths with anyone so far, there’s bound to be people around.”

“Undoubtedly. Don’t worry, I’ll keep watch while you swim.” He tipped his sunglasses and winked, a sexy smile tugging at his lips. “Naked.”

“I’ll let you go first, stud.” She tried to maintain a straight face, her mood lightening at his teasing. Shaking her head, she donned her shoe, squared her shoulders. This was supposed to be a fun outing with Sam, the two of them together enjoying the spectacular views of the Cascade Mountains. No more pity party. She willed herself to be in the moment and enjoy what nature offered. Sam slipped off the cotton shirt he wore over a white tank revealing another, equally enticing view that rivaled that of the mountains.

“Or we can stay here. There’s a patch of grass along the tree line.” His grin widened as he rested his hands on lean hips. Her insides melted and her hungry gaze scanned his broad shoulders and cut arms exposed by the sleeveless tank. Damn, he was beautiful.

Unfortunately, she also caught her reflection in his sunglasses. The exercise enhanced his good looks while she resembled an Oompa Loompa. Biting off a curse, she hopped to her feet and turned to avoid his probing stare. Sexy was the last word she’d used to describe herself at this moment. “We’re too close to the top to stop now.”

“Let’s head out then.” He playfully squeezed her butt and took off up the trail, a bounce in his step.

She wished she could be as easily motivated. Kicking a small stone out of the path, Ivy fiddled with the amulet around her neck, she followed him. I just wish you weren’t so damn perfect. If this relationship was going to stay on track, she had to suppress her insecurities and get herself under control. Sam might be the man she had been searching for, but it proved difficult to appreciate his self-assurance when she still questioned her own.

Sam waited for Ivy at the top of the trail, admiring the sway of her hips in a pair of jogging pants, a pink tank top showing off her creamy shoulders. The only thing ruining the tantalizing picture was the perpetual scowl she’d worn throughout the past few days. It sent alarm bells ringing inside his head. Something was definitely wrong, no matter her insistence otherwise. Was that something residual from her fight with Beth? If it was, she hadn’t said anything. Or perhaps she was mad at him for interfering or having second thoughts about the entire fame thing. So far, the pap’s had kept their distance from her. Sadly, it was only a matter of time before that changed.

He rocked on his heels, no use counting the proverbial chickens before they were hatched. She was on a hike with him, a positive sign. Regardless, that didn’t mean he was in the clear. It had been difficult but he hadn’t wanted to press her for answers. He’d given her space, hoping that she would open up on her own. It was the least he could do after she’d afforded him the same courtesy in the past few weeks. It couldn’t have been easy to accept what he had thrown at her but his life was crazy and he had no control over all of it. Tomorrow, he would sign with the team and without the question of his future in the picture, he would be at liberty to be forthcoming.

It couldn’t come soon enough.

Once he’d signed on the dotted line, he’d share his future plans with her. He hated to keep his life cloaked in secrecy. Yet you haven’t told her about Patrick. Nor did he intend to tell her about his father. The man was in the past, tucked away in the deep recesses of his mind, except he kept showing up at the most inopportune times. Clenching his jaw, he shifted the backpack to his other shoulder when the horizon tilted at a crazy angle. The earth fell out from beneath his feet and he flailed his arms, trying to regain his balance, he tumbled down the grassy embankment.

He tried to halt his momentum by digging in his heels into the turf, but gravity proved stronger, rolling him over until he crashed at the base of a tree, the air leaving him in a loud woosh. His chest tight, airways constricted by the impact, he closed his eyes, willing his body to relax as he had countless times after being sacked. He counted to ten in his head, careful to inhale the sweet air through his nose, filling his lungs. Opening his eyes, he stared up at the sky through the green foliage, mentally taking stock of his limbs to see what, if anything might be injured.

“Sam, are you okay?” Ivy knelt next to him, blocking out the sun. Biting her lip, she hovered her hands across his chest as if afraid to touch him. Indecision marking her brow, she cupped his cheek. “Can you move?” she asked, panic tinging the question.

Needing to comfort her, he lifted his arm in answer and allowed his fingertip to brush aside a stray strand of hair from her forehead. “I’m good.”

She offered an exasperated smile and began to skim cool fingers along his legs “Are you sure? You took a pretty long tumble. Let’s try moving your arms and your legs first, and then you can stand.”

“I’m fine, Ivy,” he said, embarrassed as hell by his clumsiness. “Help me up.”

Frowning, she rose to her feet, still holding his hand. “Are you sure?”

“100%.” Sam kept his voice confident and assured, although inside his stomach was rioting. He hated to be injured and freaked out at the thought of being incapacitated, yet another reason to stay in peak physical shape. Except there were no guarantees in life and you could go from able to disabled in less than a few seconds. Not today. He gained his feet and a wave of dizziness hit him, an odd sensation, as if something wasn’t quite right.

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