Playing For Keeps (8 page)

Millie gave a little gasp. Hal and Craig
exchanged looks. Jacelyn was mortified.

“Victor’s all that and more,” Mike told them,
his chin jutted out arrogantly. “I guess y’all are just too busy
figurin’ out things like the theory of relativity to enjoy simple
pleasures.”

Church-like quiet pervaded the room. In the
hallway, there was a bustle of traffic and conversation, but no one
spoke in the lounge.

Finally, Jacelyn stood. She hated that he
overhead the sniping. She hated the sniping itself. “Mike, did you
want something?”

“Yeah, I was looking for you. I was hoping we
could move up our meeting time. The guys are all coming in and I
wanna help them.”

“Sure. Let’s go to my office.”

“I changed my mind. We’ll keep it at four.”
His jaw was rigid. “I’ll be back.” He turned and stalked out.

“Wow, just like the Terminator,” Craig said
snidely.

“Put a sock in it, Craig.” Millie’s voice was
irritated. “You and Hal were cruel.”

“Why, because I’m telling it like it is?
Hell, Millie, they play ball. They were carrying video games and
large-screen TVs into the dorm when I came up. They’re just big
kids with a lot of toys. Pardon me if I don’t feel sorry for them
being out of their
comfort zone.”

“You could be sorry you insulted one of them
to his face.”

“I didn’t know he was here. This place should
be off-limits to them.”

Millie stood. “This is a damn lounge, Craig.”
She turned to Jacelyn. “Let’s go get coffee somewhere else where we
don’t have to listen to this.” She threw a disgusted glance at the
guys. “Maybe we’ll bump into a few players. I’ll bet they’re nice
guys.”

“Jacelyn?” Hal’s tone was critical.
Unfortunately for him, it reminded her of Neil’s two nights ago.
Mike had stayed after her ex left and told her to forget about Neil
and just worry about Kyle.

“Millie’s right, Hal. You’re acting like
children. Don’t do this again in front of me.”

In defiance, he turned and tacked the article
to the bulletin board. Craig rose and did the same. Jacelyn could
see the headlines: Distraction of Camp Hard on the Bulls and The
Rigors of Training Camp. Craig faced Jacelyn and pointed to the
board. “This is ridiculous. They’re a bunch of spoiled
crybabies.”

Without responding, Jacelyn strode out of the
lounge. Millie was leaning against the wall in the hall waiting for
her. “Their masculinity’s threatened by the athletes.”

Jacelyn nodded. “I know.”

They began walking. Millie added, “Craig’s
livelihood is in question because of the Sports Studies
program.”

“I feel bad about that.”

“It’s the only reason I wasn’t harder on
them.”

Jacelyn stopped when they reached the
elevator. “I partly agree with them, Mil. How hard can it be to go
away for a month to play ball? How hard can playing ball
be
?
”

“It’s physically exhausting. And we’re
talking pros here. A lot’s on the line. They could lose their jobs
if they have a bad season.”

“Just like the rest of us.”

“I know. And they make bigger bucks.”

Jacelyn shook her head. “Notwithstanding all
that, it doesn’t sit right constantly hearing them being put
down.”

“That’s what I like about you, girl. You have
your biases but can see past them to what’s right.”

They stepped in the elevator and Millie
pressed four. Jacelyn pressed one. “Aren’t you going to your
office?” Millie asked.

“No, I’m going to look for Mike
Kingston.”

“Why?”

“I feel bad about what he just overheard.
He’s the team liaison to the Sports Studies program, so I don’t
want to alienate him. And he was kind to us two days ago when Neil
pitched his fit.”

“Neil and Hal and Craig—the Stepford
Profs.”

“Well, they’re cut from the same cloth.”

“Kyle talk to you about it yet?”

“No. He’s angry, though.” Jacelyn ran a hand
through her hair. “Hell, so am I.”

“I think it’s good for Kyle to be showing
anger. And you, too.”

“Always the psychologist.”

“Always your friend. Want me to come with you
to see the King?”

“No need.”

“He looked sexy as hell in those
tight-fittin’ jeans.”

Jacelyn snorted.

“You know, Jacelyn, a summer fling might be
good for you.”

“I’m seeing Hal.”

“Oh, God, no, not with him. With the King. I
bet he’s great in bed.”

“Millie, I don’t even like sports.”

“I’m thinking of having one myself.”

“With Mike?” The notion didn’t sit well with
Jacelyn.

“No, with one of those hunky trainers. His
name is Gage Garrison. You met him when you hurt your foot.”

“He’s a doll.”

“Yeah, we ran into each other at the new
field house. My boys wanted to see it so I snuck them in. Gage was
setting up things in there and showed them around.”

“The team’s only here for a few weeks.”
Jacelyn didn’t want Millie to get hurt.

“Enough time. I’m not looking for anything
serious.” The elevator pinged. “You ought to think about it,
too.”

Jacelyn did. All the way down in the
elevator. But she was no groupie. And it took her a long time to
get involved with a man sexually. She hadn’t even slept with Hal
and they’d been dating several months.

Though the images of Mike’s hands on her leg,
of his covering her body when they fell, of the look in his eyes
over the garter belt weren’t...unpleasant.

The first-floor elevator opened in front of
the Cyber Café where she found Mike sitting at one of the computer
stations provided for on-campus use. Even from a distance, she
could see his face was set in stern lines. He was staring hard at
the screen. Taking a deep breath, she wrapped her arms around the
waist of her off-white dress and headed toward him.

“Mike?”

He didn’t look up.

“I’d like to talk to you.”

“I reckon that’s not a good idea right
now.”

“I’m sorry about what you heard.”

He didn’t say any more.

She drew a chair over and sat down adjacent
to him. “They shouldn’t be trashing you like that.”

“They?”

“I wasn’t participating.”

Mike was using e-mail; he typed something and
sent it. Then he turned toward her. The blast of his gaze sent her
leaning back against her chair. “So, you weren’t
participating?”

“No. I asked one innocuous question about the
soap thing.”

“Ever hear of silent consent, darlin’ ?”

“I told them after you left that they were
acting like little boys on the playground.”

Casually, he lazed back and crossed an ankle
over his knee. His face was flushed and his gray eyes turbulent.
“But you agree with them, don’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You think my job is a piece of cake, that
we’re
all spoiled little boys on the
athletic
field.”

Remembering her comments to Millie, she
hesitated.

He swiveled away. “That’s all the
confirmation I need, Dr. Ross. You know, I was beginning to think
you weren’t so bad—that you had hang-ups about things, but could
get past them.”

“Look, I’ve made no secret about my feelings
regarding the team’s disruption of campus life and the viability of
a sports major.”

He didn’t say anything, just stared at the
screen again.

“But you’re a nice guy, Mike, and I don’t
want to offend you. You were so understanding of what happened at
my house Monday—you didn’t—”

Again, he swiveled angrily around. “What?
Give my opinion on that scene with your ex?”

His tone silenced her.

“Didn’t ask you how you could let that jerk
walk all over you?”

“He didn’t walk all over me. I stood up to
him.”

He ignored her comment. “That I didn’t ask
what the hell kind of mother you are to let him hurt your boy like
he did? Like he apparently
does
all the time.”

She felt her face blanch. His opinion of her
cut to the quick and tapped into her insecurities, which she had
plenty of since Neil left her for a younger woman and constantly
criticized her mothering. So Mike’s words really stung.

Carefully, Jacelyn stood and smoothed the
skirt of her dress before slowly turning and walking away. It
wasn’t until she reached her office that she realized he’d done to
her what she’d done to him—each of them had given their negative
opinions of the other’s life. Unfortunately, they’d both spoken the
truth.

o0o

“Hey, Coach, where are you?”

Mike turned from the Porsche parked by the
dorms and stared at the tall, good-looking guy in front of him.
Marcus Stormweather—the fans had a field day with his last name—was
one of his best wide receivers. He was also a nice guy. Not all of
them were.

He waited to answer Marc’s question because
he’d been thinking about some stupid female who insulted him
without even trying. He’d insulted her back, but good. And it made
him feel like a slug. “I’m checkin’ out your new wheels.” He patted
the hood of the black beauty. “Bet it’s faster than greased
lightning.”

“Yeah. Bet it’s faster than yours.”

You think this job is a piece of cake,
that we’re spoiled little boys on the athletic field.

“Mine’s red.” Mike reached in and grabbed a
box. “What’s in here?”

“DVDs, man. I gotta do something at night,
now that my honey’s not with me.” Marcus had recently married. Mike
had been his best man.

“How’s my favorite lady?”

“Singing your praises.” Marcus picked up a
heavy box as if it held feathers. “I’m jealous, man.”

“Hey, that does my ego good.” They walked
toward the dorms. “And I need it.”

“Why?”

He glanced around the formerly sleepy campus—
now abuzz with activity. “We’re not being welcomed here with open
arms.”

“Why the hell not? Jeez, the camp’s gotta be
bringing business into the city and giving the college lots of air
time.”

Mike nodded to the faculty building, tall and
stately and covered with ivy. A perfect home for Jacelyn Ross. “The
brains beg to disagree.”

“Then they ain’t so smart. We’re good for
Beckett.”

“Yeah, we are. Still, we do turn them around
some. Summer school was cut for the second session.”

“Small price to pay.”

“Guess there’s just no reasoning with those
academic types.” They took the stairs to Marcus’s room. When they
reached it, Mike scanned the inside. “This is pretty near the Ritz,
Stormy.”

“Hardly. I’m gonna miss my foam bed. And o’
course, Marissa.”

“She coming up for the parade Friday?”

“Yeah.” He studied Mike. “Your family
coming?”

“Uh-huh.”

Mike pushed aside a video-game player and set
his box next to the big-screen TV. “Looks like you got all the
comforts of home.”

“Easy for you to say. You rented a
house.”

“For my kid, Marc.”

“I know, Coach. How is he?”

“Better. He misses his mama, though.”

“I bet he does. Poor little guy.”

“There you are.” Head Coach Tim Mason stood
in the doorway.

Mike smiled broadly. “Hey, bossman. How ya
doin’?”

Marcus greeted the coach, too.

“I’m doin’. Sorry I couldn’t get here
earlier.”

“How’s your mother?” The point man for the
Buckland Bulls had been taking care of his mother, who had been in
the hospital, so his arrival at camp had been delayed.

“Better. Think we dodged that bullet.”

Mike shook his head. They were regular guys
with regular problems. Too bad Jacelyn Ross couldn’t see that.

“I need to talk to you.” Mason addressed
Mike. “Can we meet this afternoon?”

“I got some time now. Later, I’m meeting with
the Business Department chair on the Sports Studies speaker series.
I think we’re gonna decide who from our team’s gonna
participate.”

Mason held up his hands, arrest-style. “Don’t
volunteer me. I ain’t no teacher.”

“I’m planning to volunteer myself,” Mike
said. “And to see who else she wants.”

Marcus asked, “What’s wrong, Coach?”

“Wrong?”

“You got that look on your face you usually
get when I miss a pass.”

“Nothing. I’m just itchin’ to get to
practice.”

He made arrangements to meet up with Mason in
a half hour. His cell phone rang as he was heading back down to the
first floor. “Kingston.”

“Hi, Daddy.”

Just the sound of his son’s voice warmed him.
“Hey, how’s my best boy?”

“Right nice.” The kid was picking up his
expressions. “Kyle said I could call you.”

“I’m glad you did. Talking to you makes my
day, Champ.”

The boy giggled. “Can Kyle take me to the
beach?”

“It’s hot enough.” He thought a minute; there
was a lot he didn’t know about his son. “Can you swim, Tyler?”

“Yeah. Like a fish, Papa says.”

“Good. Let me talk to Kyle.”

A brief wait. “Hey, Coach.”

“Hi. You wanna hit the waves?”

“Yeah, there’s this great place called Hamlin
Beach about a half hour from here. Kay and I want to take Tyler
there.”

Mike hesitated. “Kay’s going?”

“I won’t take my eyes off Tyler, Coach.
Neither will Kay. She’s majoring in education and Phys. Ed. She had
a CPR—”

“Whoa. Okay, you can take him. Be careful,
though.”

“I will.”

“Seat belts?”

“You already told me all this.”

“Right.”

“Great, now if Mom can just get a ride home,
we’re all set.”

“A ride?”

“Her car’s still kaput. And she’s got a late
meeting so I can’t pick her up now.”

Don’t offer.
“The late meeting’s
with me.”

“Oh.”

A meaningful pause.

“I can drop her off at home.”

“Jeez, that’d be terrific.”

Mike wondered if Dr. Ross would think so.