Blindsided (32 page)

“I’m sorry. I was eager to start the day, Mr. Colson.”

“Rodney,” he corrected, looking her up and down and shaking his head. His eyes lingered a little too long on her breasts, making Emma uncomfortable. “Perhaps you can find a way to make it up to me.” He caught a lock of Emma’s long hair and wound it around his fingers. Emma drew in a deep breath and trembled. Colson’s smile turned predatory, as if the man sensed her fear and enjoyed it. He took a step toward her.

“Rod. Oh, Rodney,” called out a sing-song voice Emma immediately recognized. He dropped her lock of hair, but not before brushing his fingertips across a nipple. Surely his inappropriate touch had to be an accident.

She backed away from Rodney, and wiped her sweaty palms on her black dress pants, waiting for the aging star to appear. The older woman glided around the corner, as graceful as expected. She spotted Emma and sized her up, her smile turned to a frown.

Not bothering with introductions, she turned to Rodney. “Is this the new girl?”

He nodded, not bothering to introduce her, if he even remembered her name.

Emma stepped forward. “Ms. Latigo, I’m a huge fan. This is such an honor for me,” Emma gushed.

The woman only raised one very thin eyebrow and frowned, causing lines to mar her ageless face. Dismissing Emma with one glance, she spoke to her manager. “Steph never said she’d be such a project. I don’t have time for this.” She waved her hand in the air and heaved a huge, put-upon sigh. Emma’s face heated with embarrassment. If only the floor would open up and swallow her.

“You agreed to it,” Rodney reminded her.

“Remind me again why I’m so generous?”

“You like taking a raw talent and turning her into a star.”

“Even I have my limits.”

Those damn tears threatened again. Emma hated how they talked about her as if she didn’t exist.

“Come along,” Ms. Latigo said gestured to her. “I haven’t got all day.”

Eager to get away from Rodney’s wandering hands and lewd gaze, Emma hurried after Ms. Latigo.

Several hours later, Emma hadn’t sung one note. Instead she’d followed the country diva around and catered to her every whim as if she were her personal assistant.

When Ms. Latigo requested a certain meal be brought to her dressing room after the show, Emma went to the other side of Vegas and spent her own money on a taxi. Triumphant, she presented the meal to Ms. Latigo backstage. The woman opened it, wrinkled her nose, and erupted into a fit of rage, the likes of which Emma had never experienced.

She flung the dish of Thai food at Emma, hitting her in the face with noodles and peanut sauce. “That’s not what I ordered,” she screamed.

Emma cowered against the door. The meal was exactly what the woman had ordered, but she wasn’t about to argue the point now. She wanted out of there in one piece, even if her dignity had taken a massive blow as sauce and noodles stained her favorite blouse.

“I’m sorry,” Emma whispered in a shaky voice.

“This girl is an idiot.” She ranted at Rodney, who nodded his agreement and ushered Emma out the door.

He smiled with fake sympathy at Emma and moved too close for comfort. “Cindy is a little temperamental, as most artists are. She’ll forget all about it in a few hours.”

“I came here to sing, not be her lackey,” Emma spoke with barely controlled anger. She’d reached her limit with these people.

“You’ll get to sing as long as you make her happy.” He grinned down at Emma, his eyes on her wet blouse. “And make me happy.”

“I’m married.”

“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. You didn’t think you’d waltz in here and start singing backup for Cindy without paying your dues first, did you?”

Emma didn’t mind paying dues, but she sure as heck wasn’t paying them to this man. “If you touch me again, I’ll report you to casino management.” Emma applauded the steel in her voice. Tanner would be proud after he beat the crap out of the jerk and left him writhing on the casino floor. Only she didn’t dare tell Tanner. He’d jeopardize his career in order to rescue her. She couldn’t let him do that.

She’d handle these people. Even sweet Emma had her limits.

* * * *

Almost two weeks later on the first Sunday in November, the Steelheads’ record stood at three-three. They’d lost last week’s game in an embarrassing blowout of 34-0.

Today’s game wasn’t going much better. They’d played two quarters so far, and both offenses sputtered, unable to produce any points, while the defenses dug in and refused to give up points. It was Tanner’s first home game without Emma watching from the stands. Even so, he’d been surprised how quickly he’d formed the habit glancing up at her usual seat behind the bench and blowing her a kiss. Today, he’d caught himself looking for her encouraging smile multiple times. Instead he’d been greeted by Cooper’s scowl, Isaac’s inscrutable expression, and Riley’s worried frown.

At halftime, Tanner sat in the locker room, wrung out and tired, feeling as if he’d played four quarters instead of two. He’d been sacked multiple times, and his body ached in places it hadn’t ached before. He’d never been on the verge of admitting defeat, but between losing Emma and his crappy play of late, he teetered on the edge of that precipice.

He talked to Emma every day, usually during lunch break because Emma worked nights. She sounded odd, not ecstatic as he’d expected. He hated to hear the sadness in her voice, but he kept his concerns to himself. She’d come home if and when she was ready. All he could do was wait and hope.

Things didn’t appear to be going well, but she didn’t share much with him. Instead they talked about his game and their friends and family. She hadn’t sung on stage yet, claiming Cindy Latigo was easing her into the business slowly. Her boss sounded like a tyrant. Tanner understood tyrants. He could name a ton of coaches who fit in that category, Meyer being number one on that list. Speaking of Meyer, he was stalking toward Tanner as the team filed out of the locker room to take the field for the second half.

He stepped in front of Tanner, effectively cutting off his escape route. “Get your head out of your ass, Wolfe, and quit stinking up the field.”

Leave it to Meyer not to candy-coat anything.

“Yes, sir.”

Meyer moved closer and lowered his voice from his usual bellow. “I know how much it hurts. Trust me, I’ve been there, and nothing is worse than believing you’ve lost the only woman you’ve ever loved.”

Tanner said nothing, but he was pretty sure his stunned expression and speechlessness said it for him.

“Playing football is your job. Regardless of what happens off the field, you’re a professional. Behave like one, and leave your personal issues at home. We need this game. Carry this team on your back because you’re that good.” Meyer tapped on Tanner’s chest to emphasize his point. “I have faith in you. Don’t let me down. Don’t let the team down. And don’t let Emma down.”

Having said more than he usually did, Meyer pivoted on his heel and followed Tanner’s teammates out of the locker room. Tanner stared after him, attempting to process what his coach had said.

Meyer believed in him, and so did Emma. Sulking and pouting because things hadn’t gone his way didn’t do either of them justice. He couldn’t let them down. Nor could he let his team down again.

Last Sunday, he’d allowed his misery over losing Emma to affect his game.
Damn it.
He couldn’t let that happen this week. Meyer was right, as always. Tanner was a fucking professional, and he needed to behave like one.

Several minutes later, Tanner stood in the huddle. He looked each player in the eyes, squared his jaw, and gritted his teeth. His teammates picked up on his renewed determination. Like an electric current, Tanner’s attitude charged each one of them.

They broke the huddle, and Tanner stood behind center. The call was a bold one, and it had Meyer’s name written all over it. Rhino Craig, the team’s huge center, hiked the ball. Tanner stood in the pocket, hoping like hell his line held long enough to give Grady time to streak downfield. He threw the ball at the last possible second, leaping over a diving defensive end. Grady never broke stride, reached up, and made a perfect over-the-shoulder catch. He sprinted to the end zone for the score.

Emma’s life as Ms. Latigo’s lackey ended as quickly as it started.

One moment the aging country diva was throwing things and verbally abusing Emma, the next, she was insisting Emma call her Cindy and was touting her as a rising star in country music. Emma had John Planes from Country Entertainment TV to thank for Cindy’s change of heart and direction. His network proposed a feature on Emma for their On the Horizon show, and Cindy was all over it. The crew would tail Emma and Cindy for a week as Emma prepared for her stage debut as the backup singer she’d originally thought she’d be. If their interest managed to get her on stage, she’d take it, even though she found it hard to stomach as she listened to Cindy outline Emma’s training so far—total fabrication—and discuss her debut in a few nights.

Emma was sucked into a whirlwind of activity, fittings for costumes, hairstyling, makeup tips, all with a cameraman in tow. She was surprised the guy didn’t follow her to bed at night. Despite the invasion of privacy, his presence greatly improved Rodney and Cindy’s treatment of her.

Unfortunately, she hadn’t been able to connect with Tanner for a couple days other than text messages. She finally reached him late on a Wednesday night as he was leaving the practice facility.

“Hey,” he said, his voice lowering to a husky octave which made her long for his strong arms around her.

“Hi, Tan, I miss you.” She ached for him, an ache which never quite went away, even though things had been going her way lately.

“I miss you, too, baby.” He sounded happy to hear her yet distant, like he’d been busy erecting more walls in the time she’d been gone.

“Great game on Sunday.”

“At least the second half,” he joked with wry laugh. A moment of awkward silence followed, and how she hated that silence.

“I have news,” she announced, attempting to tamp down her excitement and failing.

“What’s that?” he asked warily, as if he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear.

“I’m going to be debuting on stage with Cindy next week.”

“That’s great. So she’s Cindy now?”

She couldn’t let the defeat in his voice dampen her enthusiasm.

“Yes, she is. Oh, Tan, it’s so much fun. I’ve been practicing with a live band, and we have this camera crew following us around to record everything. It’s so incredible.” Emma was gushing, but she couldn’t stop herself. She wanted to share her success with Tanner more than anyone.

“That’s great, Emmie. I know you’ll be a big hit.” His cheerful response rang false, but she gave him points for trying.

Emma had a gut feeling he was right. She was going to be a big hit.

For a fleeting moment, she wondered if she was pursuing the wrong dream.

* * * *

Tanner had heard it in her voice and felt it in his gut.

Emma wasn’t coming back.

She was finally living the life she’d dreamed of living, doing the one thing she’d always wanted to do.

Without him
.

She was excited about the opportunity, and he was happy for her. Himself, not so much. He wished he could attend her debut, but he couldn’t. He’d be in St. Louis for a game the following afternoon. Maybe it was better this way.

After days of denial and no call from Emma, just a few text messages, Tanner’s preference toward avoiding his problems wasn’t working so well for him. His relationship was on the skids. He knew it. Emma knew it. Hell, the whole fucking team probably knew it. He stayed later and later at the Bridge to the point where the night security guy asked him if he’d like to borrow a cot.

Avery picked up Emma’s cat and took him to her house, so he didn’t even have the damn cat for company. He hated going home. Every nook and cranny in the old place reminded him of her and how she’d so lovingly decorated each room, leaving some rooms incomplete, just like she’d left him incomplete and empty. He’d stopped sleeping in their bedroom and started sleeping on the couch. He was that damn pathetic.

His wingmen watched him with trepidation, not knowing what to do to help. They couldn’t help. No one could. He’d fallen in love and lost. Simple as that.

Riley’s team was vying for a spot in the high school playoffs, and Tanner spent time with the team. Hanging out with teenagers beat hanging out with friends who knew too much about his personal life.

After watching Riley’s winning game with Cooper and Isaac on Friday night, Tanner agreed to go out for pizza. Even dinner with his brother and Coop appealed more to him than going home to that big old house and memories of Emma.

“Izzy tells me Emma has her debut tomorrow night.” Cooper said conversationally, watching Tanner closely. He didn’t fool Tanner. He should’ve known the two jerks would pry into his private life, if not for their own information, then because their nosy women forced them.

Tanner feigned interest in the pepperoni on his pizza. “Yeah.”

“You don’t sound overly thrilled about it,” Isaac inserted himself uninvited into the conversation.

He wasn’t. He was sick about it. “She has her life, and I have mine. Seems like they’re separate now.”

Isaac and Cooper exchanged glances, but Tanner was too miserable to care what they thought. Wisely, they kept their mouths shut, and he wasn’t in the mood for a lecture. Only Riley didn’t appear to have gotten that memo.

“You’re an idiot, you know that?” Riley pointed out, causing both Cooper and Isaac to grin in amusement. What the fuck happened to teaching a kid to respect his elders?

Tanner narrowed his eyes and frowned at Riley. He started to say
fuck you
, but Riley was a kid, and Cooper would kick his ass with Isaac’s help.

“Why do you think I’m an idiot?” Stupid question to ask. Tanner was all kinds of idiot, so why invite the kid to spell it out for him?

“You love her, don’t you?” Riley adopted the superior tone teenagers used when dealing with adults who were too dumb to get a clue.