Page 3 of Most Likely to Score
“Then consider it confirmed. And if you want to know what I’m up to today, my to-do list includes teach Cletus a new trick, walk the dog, and hang with my brother.”
She laughs softly. “That’s adorable.”
“You could ambush me and take some more pics,” I tease.
“A pic of you and Cletus would be super cute,” she says.
“We are pretty damn photogenic. See you tomorrow on the field. When you snag more pics for yourpersonal photo stash,” I say, since I can’t seem to stop flirting with her.
I probably shouldn’t be lusting after the team publicist. Except, I kind of am.
3
JILLIAN
The email blinks at me the next morning when I wake up. A smile spreads as I read it. Then I kiss the phone. Yes! Competitive me is so damn happy. I pulled it off!
An hour later, I consider my reflection in the mirror. Black slacks. A short sleeve blouse. My hair tucked behind my ears. A bit of lip gloss. A little mascara. Then my shoulders sag. “Stop being so obsessed with how you look when you see him,” I mutter at my reflection.
“But if you want to look good,” I say back to myself.
Great. Just great. Now I’m talking to myself about how I’m going to dress when I see Jones at work. This is getting ridiculous.Well, you did confirm in advance he was going to be there just in case.
I argue back: but Iwasplanning to wear a skirt today.
It’s not like I’m going to wear it because I think he’ll like my legs. I change out of the pants, tug on a pencil skirt, and head to the corporate offices of the SanFrancisco Renegades. I march to my office, stopping at Lily’s office on the way in. The door is ajar, so I rap on it.
“Come on in,” she says, then her eyes pop when she sees me. “You look pretty today.”
A flush crawls up my cheeks. I hope it’s not obvious why. Can she see through me? Does she know I’m into one of our players? “Thanks, Lily,” I say as professional as I can be. Which is super professional.
“But you always do,” she adds. “What’s going on today?”
This is why I’m here. To share the good news from this morning. “Sporting Worldliked my pitch,” I say then I let a smile take over. I’m proud of my accomplishments. I picked the right guy for the right reasons.
“That’s fantastic. I love coverage in national magazines. In fact, I love coverage that doesn’t have to do with players doing something risqué. A celebration of the hard work they put in is exactly the type of press that we want,” she says.
“And honestly we want a little more of that for Jones,” I add.
“And however we can get it, that’s what we should do,” she adds, and I breathe a quiet sigh of relief.
There was no need to doubt my own intentions. Jones was always the right guy for this piece, crush or no crush. But I’m glad I confirmed he’ll be working out today, since I had a feeling this news was coming and I want to deliver this news in person. I know how much it’ll matter to him. That’s why I kept it a surprise till I won the placement for him.
I head downstairs and out to the practice fieldwhere he’ll be finishing his light workout with some of his friends on the team. I suppose I could have told him this over the phone. But he’ll be excited. And after the press trouble he’s had, it’s a joy to bring good opportunities to the man.
That is all.
I head up the tunnel, the same one the players go through before games, then stop at the end. He’s striding toward me. He’s a white guy from California with a smile like sunshine, and eyes like the ocean. He stops in front of me. “I’m ready for my close-up, Jillian.”
The way he says that, with a little bit of heat, a lot of innuendo, warms my chest, flips my stomach.
And worries me.
What if I let this crush get out of hand?
Focus on the news. Only the news.“Actually, I have something better than a picture for our social. Would you be available to do a photo shoot for the body issue forSporting World? I pitched you and I think you’d be fantastic.”
His smile widens. Like he can’t believe I just pulled off a magic trick. “That’s what your little paparazzi routine on the bridge was all about?” He sounds delighted with my tricks.
