Page 51 of Putting Out
“By being number two in the world. Look, sweetheart, he’s not going to be the only guy out there who thinks you should be knocked up and barefoot and standing around in someone’s kitchen.”
“Jerk.”
“Correct, but can we get back to the bigger picture.” “What’s that?”
“You watched the broadcast,” Luke smiled. “I knew you would.”
“Odie wanted to shove it in my face how far these guys can hit it. Like I actually needed to see it.”
“I went with the blazer this time. Going for golfer casual. What do you think?”
“I think if you get any more metrosexual, you’re going to have to officially switch sides. Which, of course, would make Pierce very happy.”
“Who is Pierce?”
“He’s helping me with my physical conditioning. He’s got me doing Pilates until my stomach hurts so bad I want to throw up. He says that’s a good thing. How can that be a good thing?”
“If Odie hired him, it means he knows what he’s doing. You should listen to him.”
“Like a good little girl?” Reilly asked sweetly.
Luke made his way through the cars in the parking lot and stopped at his Land Rover. “Absolutely. How’s the press?”
“Swarming like locusts. I didn’t count on there being so many. Little Creek is filled to capacity and some of the neighboring farms are taking in borders. It’s not just golf writers, it’s feminist groups and serious magazines. Rachel Maddow isn’t taking no for an answer. Gus is beside himself I’m passing the offers up, but Odie thinks it’s best this way and I agree. The lower the profile, the better. Not that it’s helping. The traffic on my webpage caused the site to crash.
And I’m actually getting real mail. The written stuff people send through the post office. It doesn’t stop. Letter after letter. Some of it…well, it’s ugly if you know what I mean. Plus there is this caller. He’s pretty persistent.”
“You need to just concentrate on the game.”
“Right.”
He could hear her soft sigh on the other end of the phone and wished he could be there to hold her. Which was just about the craziest damn thought he’d ever had. Reilly wasn’t the type who needed to be held. It was part of her charm. Luke had no idea what had gotten into him, but he feared maybe Reilly was right. Maybe he was getting soft. Really soft.
He made a mental note to eat red meat and drink beer tonight. Lifting himself into the driver’s seat, he settled in and started the car. “Have you hit the ball any farther yet?”
“Odie won’t let me hit it. Doesn’t want me to be discouraged by lack of results too early on. You should see this contraption he’s got me hooked up to, though. I’ve got all these wires hooked up to me while I swing. I look like a damn robot.”
“I’ll see it soon enough.”
There was a pause while she processed what he said. He smiled, thinking about what her expression might be right now. Confused. But maybe a little hopeful.
“You’re coming back?”
“After the broadcast on Sunday.” Then because he felt weird about it, he asked, “Is that okay?”
“You know you’re always welcome.”
Yeah, but he was hoping for a different response. Slowly. That’s what he promised himself. He needed to move slowly. But he also planned to move surely. “I’ll see you then.”
“Bye.”
Luke heard the soft click and disconnected the earpiece. He’d see her Sunday night. He felt good just thinking about it, and he knew without checking the rearview mirror he was smiling so hard his teeth were showing.
Yeah, he definitely needed some man food. In fact, it might help him if he hunted and killed the food himself.
Or he could just order his steak really rare. That would work.
