Smooth Play (Brooklyn Monarchs 2)

Troy held her gaze. “I won’t give up until I find the coward behind these attacks.”

“Work fast.” Jaclyn strode from his office.

She was counting on him. The whole team was counting on him. Troy returned to his seat. He’d do whatever it took to protect the franchise.

Andrea grabbed her office phone to make the ringing stop. But she continued reading the Cleveland Cavaliers stats in preparation for Saturday’s game. “New York Sports. Andrea Benson.”

“Hi, Andy.” At the sound of Troy’s sexy baritone, Andrea’s vision blurred.

“Hello, Slick. Aren’t you supposed to be on a plane to Cleveland for tomorrow’s game?” Game one of the Monarchs versus Cavaliers series was scheduled for Saturday in Quicken Loans Arena.

“I have a couple of hours. How’s my favorite sports reporter today?”

Andrea’s suspicion stirred. Why was he being nice to her? “I’d be a lot better if you hadn’t blocked my access to your players. Have you come to your senses?”

His low chuckle strummed the muscles in her abdomen. “I came to my senses the day I blocked access. But it looks like you’ve found a way around that.”

Andrea was confused. “What do you mean?”

“Connie told me you invited her to move in with you. You’re not looking for a back door to the team, are you?” His accusation stung.

“This has nothing to do with the Monarchs. Connie and her daughter need a place to live, and my friend and I need another roommate.”

“Then put an ad in the paper.”

Andrea gripped the receiver. “Why?”

Troy’s tone sobered. “It’s not a good idea for you and Connie to room together.”

“Why not?” She would make him say it. Troy would have to state the reason for his objection to Constance living with her. She wouldn’t let him dance around his apparent discomfort when he was the one who’d made the call.

The line went silent. Could he have realized the idiocy of his position? No such luck.

“If you live with a Monarchs employee, you’re going to have access to sensitive information.”

He’d already blocked her access to Barron, making it difficult for her to help the shooting guard. She wouldn’t let him stand in the way of helping Constance get herself and her daughter back on their feet. This was as much for the mother and daughter as it was for her.

Andrea glanced around the newspaper’s office. Its open floor plan made privacy impossible. She wasn’t anxious for her coworkers to overhear her arguing with one of her sources. She lowered her voice. “Don’t worry, Troy. If Connie confesses that you’re a jerk of a boss or you never miss an opportunity to admire your own reflection, I won’t put that in the paper.”

“I’m serious.” He didn’t sound offended, either. Too bad.

“That’s what’s so irritating.” Andrea’s gaze dropped to the surface of her dented metal desk. It was piled high with folders and research printouts. “What do you think I’m going to do? Withhold the TV remote until Connie tells me all of the office gossip?”

“Something like that.” His tone was dry.

Andrea checked the clock at the bottom of her computer screen. It was minutes after five in the evening. She’d have to leave soon to get Constance and Tiffany. Nothing Troy said was going to change her mind about inviting them to live with her. They represented another act of atonement, another attempt to make amends for past mistakes. Hopefully.

She recalled Constance’s comment about her talking to one of the players despite the media block. “Connie’s loyal to the team. She won’t give up any company secrets.”

“I know.”

Andrea inhaled the dusty air, heavy with the scent of newsprint. “I’ve proven I’m trustworthy as well.”

“You’re also ambitious and determined. That makes you dangerous. You’ll do anything to get ahead.”

That was her past. The memory of that mistake still made her face burn. Luckily, Troy couldn’t see her over the phone. “Why won’t you trust me?”

“We’re on opposite sides, Andy. Positive press sells tickets, but negative news sells papers. My job is to fill the arena. Your job is to sell the news.”