Page 13 of One Wild Night
“Okay, Scott. To each their own.” She raised her brows athim.
“How’s yourhead?”
“The pain is going.” Thankfully. She didn’t want a repeat of yesterday where she’d taken tablets in time to prevent a full-blown migraine, but it was still bad. She thought she was going to have to suffer through the sametoday.
“Good.” He straightened up. “So, do you think we could start our re-acquaintance again? Maybe you could do it without the scowl thistime?”
She looked at him, stared straight into his eyes that flickered with interest. She decided that she could. The past was exactly that, and they were here for Margo and Gale’s wedding. Chances were she’d never see much of Scott again after this anyway (with the exception of his ever-growing popularity with magazines and top brands). She’d seen the Calvin Klein ad on the billboard on the way here and pretended shedidn’t.
It would have been easy to make some wisecrack about it if he didn’t look so damn hot on the billboard in just his underwear, stretched out on the white sand of some exotic beach. Tattoos she’d never seen before were on display. They were on the curve of his waist and looked like they continued across his back. And then there was all that muscle. Ripples of it that could make anyone lose their mind. She’d always been a sucker for a man with muscle, and she lovedtattoos
“How are you?” She decided to say with a pleasantsmile.
“I’m good. Preparing for the nextseason.”
“Congratulations on winning the SuperBowl.”
“Thankyou.”
As much as she’d stopped keeping up with football news, she knew that. Margo had told her, and the Gladiators were all over the news for weeks. It was kind of something she couldn’t avoid, just like the numerous magazine articles that popped up afterward. She’d seen one too many of him with his host of women. Some of the pictures taken were so outlandish and unreal, scandalous, even. She was just grateful to not be a part of that wild lifestyle anymore. Or, rather, trying to fit somewhere where she didn’t belong because she was trying to make sure everyone knew Scott was with her. It wasexhausting.
“What do you predict for thisseason?”
“We do ourbest.”
“I guess you’re swamped with promos tillthen.”
He shook his head. “Not me. I have about three more. Then I’m off to camp to coach for three weeks before trainingstarts.”
“Coach?” She couldn’t imagine him coaching. He’d always lovedplaying.
“Yeah. Myself and two of the other guys set up a free summer camp for inner-city kids. Basically, kids whose parents’ aren’t able to afford training. We’ll give them a taste of what football is like, and, if it’s successful, I’ll do it everyyear.”
All she could do is look at him. The Scott she knew would never have thought of doing something sonice.
“Don’t look so surprised,” helaughed.
“Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just I never imagined you doing something likethat.”
“Well, I am. It’s a good thing to do. How about you? I’m sure you have more to add about work. Margo’s told me alot.”
“I’m enjoying it.” She was vice president of Black Inc., a prestigious advertising company that was only up-and-coming when she firstjoined.
Bradley, the owner and C.E.O, gave her the chance to use her creativity to work wonders. She was one of those people who didn’t quite know what to do with herself after college. She had a business degree with a minor in English. She didn’t exactly use what she learned in her job, but it helped, and she washappy.
“It keeps me busy, and I look forward to going in each day. I definitely found myniche.”
“Cool. Looks like we’re both doing goodthings.”
The waitress came with her pancakes and, boy, did they looktasty.
“Thank you,” Abi told her before she saunteredaway.
“While we’re being friendly, is there any chance you’ll tell me what’s up withMargo?”
He looked worried, and since Margo did say she wished she could have her big brother there with her, Abi thought she could shed some light on what was goingon.
“She found out Gale did something and she got upset and decided to do a runner, but then she changed her mind, tried to come back, but someone stole her bag. Hence, the being stuck in Phoenix with nothing to her name but a few coins for phonecalls.”
