Fast Break (Brooklyn Monarchs 1)

“You’re saying it’s the players’ fault?”

Troy shrugged. “They’re the ones quoted in the article.”

DeMarcus scanned the article again before tossing it back onto Troy’s desk. It felt as though someone had hidden a microphone in the Monarchs’ locker room and played the tape for the salacious satisfaction of their readership. “What do we do?”

Troy leaned back in his chair. “Tell the players not to take their grievances to the media. Keep their concerns about their contract or playing time or whatever in the family. I know you want an immediate solution, but complaining to Andy or any member of the press gives the situation greater emphasis.”

“I’ll talk to the players before today’s practice.” DeMarcus glanced at his watch. Practice was still almost three hours away. Could he wait that long? At least everyone would be on time. The late fine was working.

“I’m glad you’ve solved that problem.” Jaclyn’s voice came from behind DeMarcus. She shut Troy’s office door before continuing. “But why did Andy Benson decide to write this story?”

Troy shrugged. “Player dissatisfaction on a losing team isn’t uncommon.”

Jaclyn crossed into Troy’s office. Her dark blue dress hugged her small waist. The hem ended at mid-calf. Beside her, DeMarcus felt her tension.

She stared down at the article. “But this isn’t our first or even

second losing season. Why did she choose to publish this story now?”

Troy inclined his head toward DeMarcus. “Maybe because our new head coach is one of Brooklyn’s favorite sons.”

Jaclyn shook her head. “She works the player dissatisfaction angle. She barely mentions Marc.”

DeMarcus folded his arms. “Do you think someone asked her to do this story?”

Jaclyn shrugged one slender shoulder. “It’s possible.”

DeMarcus grunted. His annoyance multiplied. “I’ll institute a hefty fine for any player who takes negative stories to the press.”

Jaclyn’s troubled gaze lifted to his. “Suppose it wasn’t the players?”

“Who else would it be?” Troy straightened in his chair. “Do you suspect Gerry or Bert?”

Jaclyn seemed to hesitate. “I . . .”

An expression of disgust crossed Troy’s features. “My loyalty is to the team. I won’t break your confidence.”

Jaclyn sat in one of Troy’s guest chairs. “I trust you. Unfortunately, I can’t say that about everyone in our organization. This conversation can’t leave this room.”

Troy nodded. “Of course.”

“Agreed.” DeMarcus took the other vacant chair. Curiosity and concern made him want to touch her. It had been weeks since they’d been even this close to each other. Absence hadn’t lessoned the hunger.

Jaclyn took a deep breath. “Bert wouldn’t go to the media. But I could see Gerry planting a story like this to build on the team dissension we already have.”

Troy drummed his fingers against his teakwood desktop. “Knowing the negative publicity would damage the team.”

DeMarcus glanced from Troy back to Jaclyn. “Which is what he wants.”

Troy made a note on his memo paper. “I’ll find a way to subtly ask Andy for her story’s source.”

DeMarcus cocked a brow. “While you’re at it, use your charm to convince her not to do any more negative stories on us.”

Jaclyn rubbed her forehead. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Troy chuckled. “You may have noticed that Andy Benson is immune to my charms. In fact, I don’t think she likes me.”

DeMarcus snorted. “You’d better work on that. We can’t have the press hating our media executive.”