Page 66 of The Cupcake Cottage

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“No.” Maverick turned to Louis, who wouldn’t meet his eye. He turned back to Reanna. “This is my interview.”

He was missing his morning coffee in Daisy-Mae’s office for this. And with things extra busy since their engagement two weeks ago, he didn’t want to miss a single moment with her. His agent had been fielding calls, and there were a lot of pulls on his time right now. It was a good thing Daisy-Mae understood his lifestyle, the fame, the busyness. She’d helped him get here, after all.

The season was ending in just a few months, and there would be one more thing off his plate until training. They’d have more time, and everything would work out beautifully again.

Except for this.

“Actually, it’s my interview,” Reanna stated calmly.

Maverick turned to Louis again, who gave a sheepish shrug. “You ambushed me? You lied? I’m the sideshow inherinterview? I was supposed to be talking about the season ahead and our winning streak. What is this?”

Louis pulled him aside. “She’s agreeing to talk about things publicly. She’s going to clear your name of any wrongdoing.”

“Too little, too late.” He paced one way, then the other. He faced Louis again. “So now that I’m finally getting my life andcareer repaired and people are forgetting, she wants to stir it up? She’s going to tell the world we didn’t have an affair. Who’s going to believe that?”

“It’s worth a try, isn’t it?”

“For what?” Maverick asked. “I’m fine. Finally. I have an offer for a commercial. I have my health. I could retire tonight and be okay. I don’t see any reason to go on screen with her.”

“Can you please do it for the rest of the guys on the team?”

“They don’t need me. Getting engaged to Daisy-Mae increased my likability, and I’mhappy. Isn’t that enough?”

“I need this.” Louis locked his gaze on Maverick’s, staring at him in a way that had him second-guessing his stance. He glanced toward Reanna, who was being fitted for a lapel microphone, getting comfortable on the white couch set in front of the cityscape backdrop. This was supposed to be his interview.

“Daisy-Mae isn’t here,” Maverick stated, crossing his arms.

“This doesn’t concern her.”

“I think it does.”

“If she were here,” Louis said, carefully steering Maverick toward the soundstage, “it would look as if Reanna was apologizing to your fiancée for going around with you behind her back.”

Louis had a point.

“This is clean. PR has vetted all the questions.”

“I don’t like this.”

“Miranda thinks it’s a good idea. A push to get you even higher. Theteamhigher. Your team, Captain.”

“Seriously. Could you guilt me a little more?” All Louis needed to do next was bring up his mom and the crap she’d had to deal with.

His coach was giving him that steely look again. It was one he used on unruly rookies just before he benched them for half aseason or bag skated them for weeks on end so they learned he was the boss.

Wait a second. “Why areyouhere?” Louis was in his coaching gear, not likely to be on screen.

“One minute!” called someone from over by the large cameras.

Maverick and Louis stared at each other for a long moment.

“When have I ever steered you wrong?”

Maverick sighed, unable to think of a single time. Even dating Daisy-Mae—as crazy as the setup had seemed—had been a smart move. In all ways.

“Fine. But put it on record that I hate this idea and I’m against it.” He pointed at Louis. “If things go to crap, it’s all on you.”

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