The Girl With Diamonds (Midtown Brotherhood Book 2) (8 page)

Chapter Nine

MAGNOLIA’S BIG SCENE

Magnolia stood next to her cameraman Randy as he read through the list of players for the second time. She tapped the toe of her candy apple red heel, considering her options. Evan wasn’t there to save her today. Her assignment was to interview a player before the team left for their week-long road trip. It pretty much boiled down to anyone but Austin.

Nerves bit at her stomach. One hour and she would be home free of Austin Blakely and his games for an entire week. Surely, some celebrity would do something stupid between then and the Rangers home game next week to take the focus off their bleep in the gossip universe.

One more interview and this nightmare would be over.

Randy cleared his throat. “Magnolia, you have to pick
someone
.”

She didn’t want just anyone. She wanted meadow green eyes and that make-her-crazy smile. Why did everything including her own backstabbing thoughts want her to fail? She took a breath, closed her eyes and pictured a blank wall. She could do this.

“Jiri Tokarski.”

Randy looked up at her, skeptical. “Tokarski is on the fourth line. Not exactly a big name player.”

She returned Randy’s stare, running a steady hand down the hem of her strictly professional navy blue skirt to straighten out the creases. “I want to interview Jiri Tokarski.”

“Do you know what position he plays?”

She bit her tongue to keep from scolding him. Randy was only trying to help, but it was her call. “Right wing. He played center until recently, but Callen Copley, who is much younger, proved himself in the playoffs last year, and moved up to take that position on the second line.”

Randy smiled. “Well, look who did her homework.”

Magnolia showcased all her teeth. “Now get my Russian, and make it quick.”

Randy shook his head mockingly. “Cressida isn’t going to like this.”

Magnolia playfully threw her empty cup of espresso at Randy’s back. “Last I checked, Cressida isn’t my boss.”

Randy held up his hands up in surrender. “Okay. I’ll request your Russian.”

Magnolia paced the floor. MSG wasn’t the only news outlet waiting for an interview. The players would board a plane in just a couple hours. Western Canada for seven whole days. Everyone wanted an interview before they left. Magnolia nervously glanced over her shoulder as other players started to show up. It would only make sense for at least one of the other news outlets to request an interview from Austin. He was a star player and alternate captain.

It’s what she should have done.

“Hello, Miss Cross.”

Magnolia whirled around, relieved to see the red hair and toothless grin of Jiri Tokarski. She breathed. She got lucky this time.

The interview went off without a hitch. Jiri, unlike his younger teammate, was a complete professional. Magnolia finished the interview and packed up her things within thirty minutes. She waved to Randy. “I’m heading out.”

He threw up a hand in acknowledgment, and she rushed toward the door. She pushed against it and met resistance. The door heaved open, pushing her backward. Feet, bag, and legs. It all went in the air as she landed on the floor. She shoved the hem of her dress down over her exposed ass, and then looked up just in time to see an apologetic face staring down at her.

“I’m so sorry.” Raven hair and a lip ring. It wasn’t Austin. “I didn’t know anyone was standing there.”

“It’s okay. Really.” She could have killed herself in the heels, but that would have been her own fault.

The guy helped her to her feet, and she studied him as she dusted herself off. She ran through the list of players again in her mind until she found the right one. “Callen, right?”

He swiped his unruly black hair out of his eyes. “Yes. Again, I’m sorry. They called me for an interview and I was in a rush.”

“Not a big deal.” Magnolia tried straightening her clothes. “It could have been worse.”

It could have been Austin. That would have been embarrassing.

Callen smiled at her. Really smiled at her. “He knows you’re here.”

Her gaze shot up. “What?”

Callen leaned closer, whispering. “Austin. He knows you’re here.”

Suddenly, she stood a little straighter, her shoulders pulling back. “Good for him.”

Callen laughed. A ‘deep to his core’ kind of laughed. “I see why he likes you.” His eyes roamed down her body and back up. “Well, besides the obvious.”

“Excuse you?”

Again, he smiled, easy and cheerful. “Go easy on him, eh? Our Lone Ranger is only tough on the outside.”

Callen jogged off, still shaking his head and laughing. She didn’t think it was funny. Any of it. Magnolia grabbed her bag and headed down the hallway in a hurry. She still might make it out without any awkward run-ins. She passed by the players’ exit, rushing a little too fast in her heels, but saw no one. She let out a gush of relief as she turned the corner. Her heels screeched to a halt against the tile, almost toppling herself forward.

Austin.

He stood at the door to her exit, his hands shoved in the pockets of his dress pants. She could turn around. There were other ways out of the building. He saw her. His gaze locked on her. She might be a lot of things, but a chicken wasn’t one of them. She clasped her hand around the handle of her bag and sauntered toward the exit. Toward him.

His dress shirt and pants had to be tailored. Nothing straight off the rack could fit so precisely to someone like that. The icy blue tie was knotted perfectly, and his dark hair combed back. Players were required to dress professionally as they traveled to and from games, but someone should have told Austin that professional didn’t mean GQ photo shoot ready.

She walked past him without stopping, or even a sideways glance in his direction. His hand caught her elbow the same time hers hit the door. “Magnolia.”

His voice. Why did his voice saying her name do such illogical things to her brain?

She stopped, each of them frozen in place. His touch lingered. The small point of contact sparked something deep in her gut. Or maybe it was the way he placed the slightest bit of pressure against her skin as if holding her in place. Either way, she couldn’t get her damn feet to move. She tilted her head, the only response she could manage.

He finally took a step back. His hand went straight back to his pockets. “I think we still need to talk.”

Magnolia turned, making an effort to keep her features straight. She didn’t respond. She simply stood there and waited.

His brow furrowed. “Why do I get the feeling that as soon as we do, you’re going to bolt and still not request any interviews with me?”

Still nothing. Blank. She wouldn’t let him get to her this time. She couldn’t. She needed this job. This was her stepping stone. She couldn’t risk that by getting involved with a player. Especially if that player was Austin Blakely.

His face only tightened. “I know you think I made things worse last night by showing up at the event. I’m sorry.” He bent down to look her straight in the eye. “I really mean that.”

“You should.”

He shook his head, frustrated. “Why are you so damn serious all the time?”

“This is my job.”

“You can be a professional and still have fun. Isn’t that the whole point? To love your job?”

She let her voice drop to a whisper. “Who said this was the job I wanted? You’re living your dream. You’ve reached your goal in life. Who said that this,” she gestured around her, “is what I want in life?”

He stood straight and studied her. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“You want to be more than an on-air reporter for a local network. I get that.”

“You get that?” Her voice sounded mocking.

“I know what it’s like to work your way up. I wasn’t drafted straight out of high school. I went to college, and even when I did enter the draft, I went in the third round. I’ve worked non-stop to get here.” This time he gestured around them, mimicking her.

She nodded. “Well, I appreciate your cooperation.”

Magnolia attempted to open the door, prepared to leave. She would put Austin Blakely and his seductive smiles behind her. Then he touched her elbow again. “I didn’t say anything about cooperating.”

She looked over her shoulder, and he stepped closer. His breath brushed her cheek.

“Request an interview.”

“Not if you’re not going to be professional.”

He eased her closer. “I meant what I said. We can work around Ferocia without warding each other off like the plague. You keep your interviews positive, and I’ll keep it professional. Ferocia will lose interest. Everybody wins.”

Magnolia considered it. Then she remembered the video and that freeze frame her boss showed her. Any interview they did right now would elicit press coverage and media exposure. Every viewer only watched it because they thought she was his next big love interest. They didn’t take her seriously. No one would. Magnolia wanted her life back. Not just the one here in Manhattan, but the one she had in Atlanta before the article.

“I’m sorry, Austin.” She pulled away, and he let her go.

She walked out the door and down the steps. She was halfway to her car when she heard the door open behind her. “Magnolia.”

Damn it, he could stop her heart with her name.

Waiting a moment, she finally turned around. Austin stood on the steps, his features soft. Worried. “What happened to you in Georgia?”

Her fingers went limp and her bag fell off her shoulder.

He stepped down a couple more steps. “Last night you said you don’t put much faith in trust anymore. Why? What happened that you can’t just trust me on this one?”

Magnolia snatched her bag off the ground and threw the strap across her arm. She ran for the car. She didn’t want to discuss Georgia. She especially didn’t want to discuss her ex-best friend Felix, or the stupid job interview. Definitely not the article. It wasn’t any of his business.

Magnolia had a new job now. A job she got on her own, with her own credentials. She pulled her key out and wiggled it in the lock. It was rusty. Her entire car was rusty, but she couldn’t afford a new one. At least not and still keep a roof over her head. Austin stood the in parking lot.

She slammed the door shut and shoved the key in the ignition. The engine sputtered.

Just her stupid luck. She cursed. Loudly. It was so loud that Austin, still a few feet away, stopped dead in his tracks. She looked at him. She knew the anger, resentment, and everything she thought she left behind in Atlanta was so clear on her face.

How did he know?

She looked away. He wasn’t part of her plan. He’d ruin everything. She tried the engine again, and the car stammered to life. He stood at her window, but she refused to look in his direction. She pushed the car into gear.

Austin put his hands on the glass. “Magnolia. Talk to me.”

No. Not this time. She couldn’t let him stop her this time. Avoiding each other and allowing time to run its course was the only thing that would save her now. She glanced at the rearview mirror. Austin stood there. She could still hear him screaming her name.

Her
name. As if leaving was this grand tragedy in his life. They barely knew each other. How could he make it sound like his world might end if she didn’t turn around? She forced her foot down on the gas. She literally had to make the conscious choice to demand her foot put pressure on the gas pedal. She left him standing there.

She expected the guilt, but the tears caught her off guard. They sprinkled her cheeks and welled higher into her vision with every blink of her eye. Last night was supposed to have been the end of it. No more games and ridiculous notions that Austin had some sort of legitimate interest in her. In a week, all the feelings and the disappointment would be gone. Next week her life would be normal again. At least, Austinless normal.

The commute home was painfully long. If she hadn’t been bumper to bumper in survive-or-die traffic, she might have changed her mind. She might have done something stupid again.

Chapter Ten

AUSTIN’S GRAND PLAN

Austin’s gut had been tied in a knot for a good twenty-four hours. No matter how many laps he ran, or how loud he cranked up the music in his ear buds, Magnolia squeezed herself into his mind. It was ironic. She was meant to be a distraction from the worry that his missing phone and ultimate hook-up fail would end up on the front page of the news. Now Magnolia Cross was a problem and a worry unto herself, and he hadn’t even realized it until it hit him over the head like a bag of bricks.

Why couldn’t she trust him? Avoiding each other would only stir up more suspicion that they had something to hide. Magnolia needed to interview him again. Then she needed to sneak off into the night with him and spill her guts about whatever caused that crease between her eyes, while she slowly seduced him with her naughty librarian look, but that was a different problem entirely.

Austin grumpily scuffed his skate against the ice at his feet as he made another loop around Edmonton’s new fancy rink. Six more days until he’d get to see her again. The extra workout wasn’t going to get her off his mind. Nothing would at this point.

“This isn’t funny anymore, Austin. It’s fucking cold.”

Austin slowed down, skating backward toward the goal at the south end of the rink. Callen, who Austin found sneaking a nap in the players’ lounge in only his briefs, jerked his arms away from the goal, but it was no use. Austin had locked him in tight. Those handcuffs were not coming off. He splurged on the real thing, knowing his revenge against Callen would present itself eventually. “Really? Because I’m still laughing.”

Callen hopped up and down. “I’m freezing my ass off here. Can I at least have a shirt?”

Austin grinned as Callen shivered. “I gave you skates. That’s the only concession I’m willing to make.”

Callen pulled the goal, trying to pop it off the hinges. Austin only laughed. “What are going to do if you get it loose?” Austin skated around, waiting as the minutes ticked down until the Oilers were scheduled to be on the ice.

Yes. He was that kind of evil. It wouldn’t be his own teammates who ragged Callen all game, but a host of guys he didn’t even know.

“Dude. C’mon, cut me a break. They’ll turn on the cameras soon.”

“I’m sorry. Are you afraid someone might take a picture of this? Share it around?”

“I get it, all right? I broke the rules. Never leave your wingman behind. You forgave Henrik for plastering the picture everywhere. Can’t you let this slide?”

Austin started skating backward to the exit. Callen didn’t know he’d already given Henrik his just punishment.

Callen cradled down, shooting him one last desperate look. “Blakie, please.”

Austin shot his friend one last smile as Callen tried desperately to pull the goal off the hinges again. Austin hopped off the ice, turning the corner to grin at the rink custodian who waited for him. He threw the guy the set of keys for the handcuffs. “Two minutes before the Oilers practice starts,” he said. “Not a minute sooner.”

The guy laughed, but agreed.

Austin made his way back to the visiting locker room and started to get dressed. He had a couple hours of free time ahead of him before he had to be back at the arena for the game. He changed back into his street clothes and was tying the laces on his shoes when Sam popped his head in the door. “Hey, have you seen Cali?”

Austin didn’t bother looking up. “Depends. Why you askin’?”

Sam cautiously stepped inside. “He was supposed to meet me and Magnum for lunch an hour ago. He didn’t show.”

Austin grinned. “Our dear Callen is busy.”

Sam crossed his arms over his chest, a long, familiar sigh gushing out of him. “What did you do to him?”

Austin shrugged, his grin unrepentant. “Nothing he didn’t deserve.”

Sam shook his head. “He’s such an easy target.”

Austin stood and started shoving clothes in his gym bag. “Isn’t he, though?”

Sam walked in the room, his hands in his pockets as he casually waited for Austin to finish. “What are you doing for lunch?”

Austin shrugged. “Room service.”

“You had room service last night.”

Now Austin turned around. He recognized the suspicion in Sam’s voice. Probably because he sounded like Henrik. “Is there a point you’re trying to make?”

“Yeah, Sammy boy.” Henrik appeared out of nowhere and jumped on Sam’s back, forcing him to the ground. “What are you trying to tell Blakie?”

Sam tried to push up from the floor, but Henrik playfully held his knee against his back. Sam reluctantly collapsed against the carpet. “Austin has been pouting ever since we left Manhattan.”

Henrik patted Sam on the head. “C’mon, you can do better than that. You never took it easy on me. Tell Austin what you really think.”

Sam tried to get up again, but failed. He gritted his teeth and glanced up from his spot on the ground at Austin.

Austin threw his hands out. “I’m waiting.”

“You’re being a fucking crybaby, Blakie. Get over yourself. If you’re upset that Magnolia blew you off, do something about it, eh?”

Austin slowly walked over and bent down to look Sam in the eye. “Those are some big words coming from a guy who just broke off the rookie list.”

“Maybe,” Sam said, still trying to shove Henrik off. “But they’re still true. Ask Henrik.”

Henrik finally hopped off Sam’s back, then came over to sling his arm around Austin’s shoulder. “Our little Sammy boy is right. He speaks the truth.”

Austin shot Henrik a glare too. “Magnolia has made it very clear she wants me to stay away from her. I still think another interview, one where I behave myself, would be the best way to throw off Ferocia, but maybe I should just give up and let her have it her way.”

Sam frowned. “Yeah, but ignoring her makes our fun, lovable, giant goof turn into the impossible-to-live-with snow gruff.”

Henrik smiled over at Sam. “From the mouth of babes.”

Austin shoved Henrik away. “What do you two geniuses suggest I do, then?”

Sam dusted himself off and sat down at one of the lockers. “The same thing Henrik did.”

Henrik immediately started shaking his head. “Dude, we don’t bring up the bathroom thing. Ever.”

Austin cringed. They would never stop bringing up Henrik’s infamous hook-up with his baby sister.

Sam rolled his eyes. “I’m not talking about that. I meant a grand gesture. Magnolia doesn’t trust that you two can be around each other and not be seen by the lurking eyes of the media. Show her she’s wrong.”

Henrik’s eyes lit up. “The party.”

“Exactly.” Sam grinned like he really was a genius. “The party.”

Austin sat down now too. “You mean
the
party. The party we aren’t allowed to reference, even when alone in a locker room?”

Henrik smiled triumphantly. “Ding. Ding. Ding.”

Austin rubbed a hand down his face. “You want me to invite a reporter to our private, extremely exclusive—”

“Yes,” Sam and Henrik both interrupted.

The players’ Christmas party was scheduled for the week they got back from the road trip. It made sense. They took every precaution not to let the event’s details leak to the public. He could invite Magnolia, prove to her there were ways of avoiding the media, and maybe she would finally come around about the interview.

It was worth a shot.

“Okay, fine. I’ll send her an invitation as soon as we get back. That’s still six days from now.”

“Patience, my dear Padawan,” Sam said, reaching over to pat him on the back.

Austin shoved his hand away. “I’m not your fucking Padawan. If anything, I’m Luke Skywalker and you’re like my annoying little C-3PO.”

“Speaking of annoying,” Henrik said, turning around, “where’s Callen?”

Austin checked his watch. The custodian should be releasing Callen from his punishment right now. “Oh, our little popsicle should show up any minute now.”

Sam stood back up. “Well, now that you officially have a plan in place, can we please go get lunch?”

A plan. There was still so much that could go wrong with their grand gesture. Magnolia wasn’t from New York. She had no idea the Rangers Christmas party was a big deal. Hell, if he followed tradition, she wouldn’t even know the invitation came from him.

“Stop.” Henrik grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. “No thinking about Magnolia or worrying about anything else until we get back home. Captain’s order.”

Austin nodded and retrieved his bag. He’d relent and go to lunch with the group, but he couldn’t promise more than that. He had no idea how he would make it a week without seeing her again.