Page 5 of Match Point

“Yes, for the entire three months of your preliminary contract. I want to make sure our association is a success.”

“Won’t your wife mind?”

The stern cast of his face softened at the mention of his wife, Raina. Sorcha had a vested interest in meeting the attorney for the Seattle Pioneers franchise.

“No, she won’t mind. You’re not the first athlete I’ve hosted.” His phone vibrated, and he stood. “Speaking of which, it’s date night.”

“And your anniversary,” Leo said.

“Yes, it is. Leo, please take care of the details.” Howler opened the door and paused to look back at her. “Oh, and one more thing. When you’re at my house, you’re on your best behavior. Responsible drinking and absolutely no drugs. Ever.”

The door shut with a soft click before she could respond.

“Date night?” she asked, curiosity overriding her irritation at his parting salvo.

“Yep, no electronics, no television, just family time.” Leo finished typing something in his laptop, the light from the computer screen casting his face into shadows.

“Electronic free? I’m not sure if I could do that.” Her admiration for Howler had kicked up a notch. He was a dedicated family man. Not something she’d ever guessed about him, given his reputation. Her gut told her to leave, but given the nature of the conversation, it was the perfect time to ask some personal questions. “But I do like the idea of family time.”

Leo shut the laptop. “If you have a family, I suppose it is.”

So, he was single. A surprise but not unexpected. He wasn’t exactly a barrel of laughs.

“Come on, I’ll walk you to the elevator.” He held the door open for her while she passed through. Her shoulder brushed the soft wool of his jacket, the heat of his body warming her chilled skin.

They walked in silence across the lobby to the elevator.

“As soon as I get the contract from your attorney, I’ll get ours involved. Do you have any questions?”

She had a million questions but none that he could answer. Three months. She had three months to learn everything she could through Raina Hamilton about Miller, the owner of the Pioneers, and the man who might be her father.

Chapter Four

“What the hell was that all about?” Leo slipped onto the weight bench at the office gym and snatched up a pair of dumbbells. He’d been stewing all night over the entire situation with Sorcha. She’d taken up real estate in his head, and he wished he could evict her. He’d been looking for a change in his life but not a complete shakeup.

“You’ll have to be more specific,” Howler said, grunting as he performed a set of chest presses.

Frustration hit all over again, and Leo curled the first of the weights, welcoming the burn. “The shit with Sorcha. I’m not a manager. I’m your assistant. It’s not my job to babysit.”

“Isn’t it?” Howler said, flashing him a sarcastic grin.

“Yeah, you have a point. You’re not the easiest person in the world, and you’ve topped yourself this time. I know the basic rules of tennis, but I’ve never played it.” Leo had never felt comfortable in large crowds, schmoozing people. He liked to stay out of the spotlight, away from the bullshit. From what he’d seen, Sorcha was a social butterfly. He gripped the handle of the weight and put more effort into the curl.

“You don’t need to know anything about tennis. This isn’t about the sport. It’s about whipping her into peak physical shape. Not only are you organized as shit, you have a degree in athletic training. It’s time you put it to use.” Howler set the bar onto the rack and sat up, wiping his forehead with a white towel. “Develop her workout regime and get her staffed up. She’ll need a coach, an assistant, and a trainer, and then you can hand her off. Oh, and you’ll need to clear my schedule for the two weeks of the tournament. I want to focus one-hundred percent on her.”

Leo shifted on the bench, not liking where this conversation was heading for the inevitable outcome. Athletic trainer or manager, no matter what title Howler slapped on it, Leo was still stuck with Sorcha for a month. Sexy Sorcha with the soft hair and… No, he couldn’t let his mind go there. Yes, she was aesthetically pleasing, but she was also stubborn and defiant, and he had a bad feeling she’d fight him every step of the way.

“I don’t need to tell you how big this is for us,” Howler said in a more serious tone.

“I know.” The earnestness in the statement wasn’t lost on him. Leo had seen through the bullshit Howler had thrown at Sorcha. This was a major win for his agency, but Howler was cagey and could read people well. His instinct had worked, a trait he admired in his friend, but he wasn’t crazy about the outcome for himself. “The Bellevue Invitational is in eight weeks. I have reserve duty in six weeks.” If he decided to stay in the Army. His six-year contract was up, and he had to make the decision whether he wanted to sign up for four more years and go back to active duty or opt out entirely. He’d dedicated ten years of his life to the military. Another ten and he could retire at thirty eight.

“Then that’ll be the extent of your involvement. Once you have to leave, you’re done.” Howler studied him; brow furrowed as if he were trying to find the right words. “I know you’re pissed about this; you’ve never liked being torn out of your comfort zone, but you have to admit, you’re bored as my assistant. Which, need I remind you, was supposed to be a temporary situation.”

Leo had come to work for Howler two years ago. . The agency had been struggling and so had he at the time. Yes, it was supposed to be temporary, but with his sporadic duties in the Army Reserves, it was convenient. “I like organized, and it’s because of me this office has thrived.”

Howler shook his head and plopped down on the leg machine. “Yes, it’s organized, but lately you’ve gone a bit overboard. I mean, you fucking had the laundry service fold my underwear and socks. Who folds their underwear and socks?”

“Everybody,” Leo said, performing another curl.

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