Page 61 of Match Point

Howler disengaged himself from Raina’s embrace. “Vicki’s putting out a different fire, so I have to go head off the reporters and make a few calls and shit, where is Trent?”

“I’ll take care of the reporters and meet you in the press room.” Without stopping to think about why he’d volunteered, Leo flashed his credentials at the security guard who paced the perimeter of the court. He might not technically work for Sorcha anymore, but he was still invested in her success. And he wanted to be near her. Pathetic but true. He jogged to where Sorcha and Tucker stood.

She looked up as he approached, face flushed from her efforts. Eyes lit with pleasure swept his face and his chest swelled with an emotion he couldn’t put a name to. He ached to pull her into his arms, but he kept them close to his side. There was no denying that the chemistry between them hadn’t lessened one bit. What he wouldn’t give to take her into a quiet room and kiss her until he got her out of his system.

With slender fingers she removed the sweatband from her head and shoved it into a backpack. She was pleased by her performance and it showed.

Tucker took the backpack from her, grinning from ear to ear. He looked relieved and happy; the seriousness gone from his face.

“Howler doesn’t want you to answer any questions until he’s briefed you,” Leo said.

“That’s fine with me. I need to take a shower and change out of these clothes,” Sorcha said, not looking at him.

Leo willed his mind not to picture her naked under running water. She might have pulled off the game of her life, but nothing had changed between them.

“If you’d take Sorcha to the locker room, I need to meet with the Umpire for a brief clarification on a call she made,” Tucker said, a bounce to his step. Sorcha’s victory would elevate her coach, a win/win for both of them. And for the agency.

“No problem.” Leo offered a terse nod in response. But it was a big problem. He’d had a hard-enough time separating his emotions from his job as her manager. Now, he no longer held that position. He’d worked at the agency to get back on track and lost direction in the process. For far too long, he’d been chasing another dream, being the man he thought his dad would want him to be. He’d followed in his footsteps, but after spending time with his mother, he realized what a useless endeavor that was. His father would have wanted him to be happy. Full stop.

He led her out a door hidden in the wall at one end of the court. The darkened hallway was cool and quiet, their feet the only sound. Hollow, like their relationship. He would have to determine his future as soon as he took care of Sorcha. He’d promised to work with her for a month and he’d fulfilled that obligation. Yet he couldn’t just cut her off. Her success was too important to him, no matter how painful it was to be close to her. “Sorcha, I have to tell you how proud I am of you. You were fantastic, focused and on point.”

She offered him a broad smile, pride shining from her eyes at her own accomplishments. She rested her hand on the knob of the locker room door and turned to him. “I’ve never been so confident or scared. I didn’t see you at the beginning of the match. How much did you see?”

“Enough to know you’re well on your way back.

“I owe a lot of this to you. If you hadn’t pushed me—obnoxious though you were—I don’t think I could have done it, I truly don’t.” She pressed her lips together. “That and you promised me a box of chocolate covered bacon.”

“I promised you a piece, not a box.” He raised his hand and ran his thumb along her cheek, the softness in her expression bittersweet.

“No, you said a box,” she said on a light laugh. “When it comes to chocolate, I never forget.”

And he’d never forget her. “After today, you deserve two boxes. With your score, you’ll qualify for the Miami Open.”

He dropped his hand. His phone buzzed and he read the text from Howler. “You better hit the shower. The vultures are circling.”

“It’s my favorite tournament. It was the first one I won when I was eighteen.” She clasped his hand and squeezed his fingers. He met her grateful stare. Eyelids lowering, she leaned in to brush a kiss on his cheek before she pulled back. “Thank you, Leo. I’ll take that chocolate covered bacon now.

Breath held, he watched her disappear into the locker room.

Leo found the media room and was directed to a private office. Marco stood next to Trent who rested his hip on the desk, his ever-present phone at the ready. “Social media is on fire. And look here, Marco, a picture of you and Princess out on the town. Oh wait, there’s a picture of you two on the dance floor with your hand on her naughty parts.”

Jealousy slammed into Leo’s chest and he clenched his fists, trying to calm the emotion. He’d cooled it with her, not the other way around. She was free to date whomever she wished. Except she could have had the decency to wait.

Why? What was the point? Because he didn’t want to see her with someone else.

“That’s not what happened, I—” Marco began, laughing at Trent’s teasing.

“Ride the wave, my friend, ride the wave.” Trent said. He noticed Leo for the first time. “Leo, my man, you’re back, and just in time to celebrate the big win.”

“Yes, I am.” He kept his gaze from meeting Marco’s and tucked his hands into his pockets to keep himself grounded. “Is Sorcha’s win trending yet?”

“It’s gathering hits faster than the app can keep up and it’s only been twenty minutes.”

The door opened and Sorcha entered, her wet hair in a ponytail. She wore a white Princess logo top and jeans, and the same red heels she’d worn on Grace’s show. The same shoes she’d kept on while he pumped into the heat of her body.

Howler leaned against the door jamb and looked down at his watch. “Are we ready to do this? My two star players?”

Marco had placed low in the tournament, but he’d placed, which was big for a first-time professional player. He’d be on the circuit with Sorcha and continue to partner her in practice. Would their relationship progress? Would Leo read about her exploits in Miller’s magazine?

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