Page 45 of Match Point

“She’s Leo’s foster sister. She’ll be taking over as my manager once he’s gone.” The thought of him no longer being in her life stung more than she cared to admit. “I figured I’d try a woman this time.”

“So you won’t be tempted to screw her?”

“I don’t swing that way, so yes, she’s a safe bet.” Sorcha had eyes only for Leo. A crazy notion she’d never pictured after their first disastrous meeting. “And she trains dogs, so you better watch out.” She stared at Vegas and he thumped his tail on the carpet.

“And we’re back to the first application. Harvard graduate in business and marketing, nice.”

“Boring. She was boring. They were all boring. If I have to be with somebody 24/7, I want someone fun who I feel comfortable with. Someone like you.” She sat up straight and clasped his hand. The more she considered it, the more excited she became. “I want you to come work with me.”

“You want me to work for you?” Trent tilted his head, his eyes brightening.

“Work with me. You’d be controlling my life and it’ll be a lot of travel. I pay well—and believe me, you’ll need compensation. I can be a diva—not as difficult to deal with as Vegas Baby—and you won’t have to take me outside to piddle. But I know you’ll put me in my place. I don’t need yes men; I need a friend. Please say yes.”

“You just told me you don’t need a yes man,” he said, linking his fingers with hers.

“See, it’s working already. You don’t need to give me your answer right now but please consider it. I’m not as cute as your current client but you won’t have to clean up my poop, just put up with my shit.”

He threw back his head and laughed. “For the record, I’m not a dog-walker by trade. I do it as a favor to Raina. I’m a message therapist for the Pioneers’ franchise.”

Disappointment turned down the corners of her mouth. “You get to rub down macho men all day? Of course you won’t want to leave your job.”

“Are you kidding?” He bounced on the couch, his enthusiasm contagious. “My friends are going to cream themselves when I tell them about the goddess I’ll be working for.”

“With. I’ll have Leo send you an offer letter.” She beamed, her earlier mood much lightened by the news. If she couldn’t have the man she loved by her side, she’d have the man that she’d come to adore as her friend.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Leo leaned against the railing at the clubhouse in Pioneers Stadium. The elongated room was enclosed in glass and overlooked the field. Several team members were speaking to the people gathered. The quarterback was getting a lot of attention; the same man he’d seen Trent with at the gay bar. He seemed uncomfortable with all the attention from the fans and Leo could sympathize. Crowds weren’t his thing either. He stood at the periphery of the room, content to watch Sorcha from a distance.

She fit right in with the excited fans, smiling and laughing throughout the hour-long meet and greet. The line of fans had died down and she stood at the far end of the room in conversation with Tucker and Raina. A turquoise dress hugged her curves, the same dress she’d worn to the agency on the first day he’d met her. Grinning, he shook his head, recalling the way she’d tried to distract him by displaying her cleavage as she leaned over the reception desk. It had almost worked. Almost. Every time he looked at Sorcha, he had memories, both good and bad. He hadn’t wanted to develop any feelings for her, but that ship had sailed. How far he’d fallen was yet to be determined.

“Hey,” Howler said, coming to stand beside Leo. “Sorcha looks like she’s having fun. She and Raina seemed to hit it off.”

“Yes, they did.” With Raina’s hectic schedule, Sorcha hadn’t met the woman until Leo introduced the two. “I got some news yesterday. I found my mom. She’s in Puerto Rico.”

“Wow, excellent news.” Howler ran a hand to the nape of his neck. “You’ve been looking for her, well, most of your life. Have you spoken to her on the phone?”

“No. The PI said she lives in a remote part of the island. Cell service is spotty because of the damage caused by the hurricane. I told him not to approach her since she might be there illegally. She’s already faced deportation once. I don’t want to freak her out.” Part of him wanted to leave the past in the past. Because when it came right down to it, she’d abandoned him. She could have taken him with her, but she hadn’t. “Speaking of the military, I am not re-enlisting. Instead, I’m going to Puerto Rico.”

“Okay...” Howler said, brow high. “Have you told Sorcha about the change in plans?”

“No, because it doesn’t change anything. Vicki will be taking over my position as manager and trainer. Trent has agreed to be her assistant. Although that’ll leave no one to challenge her on the court, not that I was much of a challenger.” But it had been fun as hell trying.

“I have another tennis player who can fill that void.” Howler rocked back on his heels and crossed his arms. He wore a navy suit and tie, his standard gear when out in public. “He’ll be competing in the Invitational, too. He can practice with Sorcha. I’ll make it happen.”

Sorcha would have a new partner to flirt with over the net. Would she hit it off with the other man and leave Leo hanging? Hanging on what? A quickie in a dressing room?

Raina leaned in to hear something Sorcha said, nodded, then burst into laughter. Her blue gaze swept in his direction. Raina’s grin brightened and she blew Howler a kiss.

“Is it just me, or do those two look an awful lot alike?” Howler said.

“It’s not just you,” Leo said.

Howler had always noticed little things about people. As a kid, it was annoying as shit. Every time Leo had planned on running away, his foster brother guessed his intentions. In many ways, he owed Howler his life.

Sorcha beamed at Leo and his pulse picked up. Despite his good intentions, she was a constant on his mind. He wanted to find a woman to build a future with, but judging by Sorcha’s past life, she didn’t seem the settling-down type. There was no doubt Leo was attracted to her, but he was getting to be a certain age and frankly, he wanted what Howler and Raina had. You’ve never asked her what she wanted. She might surprise you. Or confirm his suspicions.

“It’s the shape and color of their eyes. Both are an unusual blue. And their smile is similar. I never noticed that about Sorcha until now.”

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