But everything she does is.
She is leisurely bringing the cup back to her lips to take small sips, but stops dead on route when I tell her.
“I sort of told my coach I am married, and he wants to meet you,” I say, popping a grape in my mouth like it’s no big deal.
“Why?” Her brows are pinched together.
I chew on the inside of my cheek and my lips purse out a bit as I debate on how to say this.
“He thought it would help with my image. He wasn’t as interested in the trade if I was single.” I leave it as generic as possible.
“Mr. Byrnes...” elongating my name. “Did you have an issue with yourimage?”
I roll my eyes. “No, he just associates bachelors with partiers.”
She drapes her head to one side, like she knows better.
“My first year in the majors, I got injured, and I was injured for quite some time. They moved me down to minors, and my behavior during that time was not the best. That lingering reputation is still thought of at times, even though I haven’t been reckless in years,” I admit. “I’ve been waiting for this opportunity and… I just really need it.” The admission feels too vulnerable and desperate for my liking, but she needs to know how badly I want it.
“So, can you just stop by the stadium today? Pretend to be adoting wife for a day?” I smile, raising my eyebrows, silently begging.
She stares at me, with a sexy pout and a curious squint.
I’m not sure why she fights this so hard. I need to be persistent and show her what this could be and that she doesn’t have to keep hiding from it.
“I’ll get the keys for the condo, and we can move in. You can stay until you get a place in order. So, it’s like an exchange of favors.” I lean back on the counter, crossing my legs with my coffee in hand.
Still holding her mug, she places it in front of her and then turns her head to gaze at the sunrise through the balcony windows of the hotel. The sun is still low on the horizon, making the red and orange rays of the sky glow within the apartment walls. It highlights her natural color and brings out the green in her eyes, that look like perfect uncut gems.
When she turns her eyes back to mine, they look lighter than I’ve ever seen. I hope I had something to do with that, and it’s not just the sunrise.
“I’m in a littlesituationas well.” She bites the corner of her mouth.
“You don’t say.” Slowly, I smile because she needs something, too.
“Don’t do that with your smug face.” She throws a strawberry at me, then grabs some other seedy item, tossing it at me.
“Okay, okay. Stop, fruit ninja,” putting my hands up in surrender. “What canIdo for you?”
She pauses, taking in a deep breath.
“I had to tell my parents I was just visiting here. I told them it was a friend I met in Vegas. But I’m going to be here a lot longer, and I have to go home for an event in a few months. It would be better if I brought that someone with me, so they think I’m in a relationship and not moving back home.” She shifts uncomfortably in her seat. “It would look better if I gotinto a relationship, then I can tell them I’m officially moving here.”
Every chance she gets, Ember distances herself from me, and it’s clear she doesn’t want a relationship, yet she lied to her parents about moving here because of afriendshe met in Vegas.
I’m fucking confused.
“I don’t get it,” is the only reply I can think of.
“They were more accepting that I was visiting a friend for an extended period and taking some personal time for myself than moving here for a job.”
My brows pinch together, still trying to understand.
“They have never been supportive of my desire for a career. Even after I put myself through school, all they wanted was for me to give them grand babies and marry Elliot.” She says that guy’s name like it’s a plague, which makes me quite happy, I must say.
But who the fuck is Elliot?
I take a step toward the counter and lean closer to her.
