Fast Break (Brooklyn Monarchs 1)

“What’s that?”

DeMarcus claimed her gaze. “I don’t do one-night stands.”

Jaclyn arched a brow. “Never?”

“Never.”

She cocked her head. “Ever?”

DeMarcus smiled at her teasing. “Ever.”

“That’s good because neither do I.” Jaclyn crossed her arms. “So what was last night?”

Despite her banter, DeMarcus sensed Jaclyn’s unease. He read the caution in her eyes and the tension in her posture. He approached her. “I work for you.”

“And I’m your boss everywhere but in the bedroom.” Jaclyn let her arms drop.

DeMarcus reclaimed her hands. His thumbs massaged her palms. He felt a fine tremor in her fingers. That was the effect he had on her. And she took his breath away. “And if I want to get to know you outside of the bedroom?”

Jaclyn smiled. “I’d like that, too. We’ll just have to keep our personal and professional lives separate. Can you manage that?”

DeMarcus brought her hands to his lips. He touched the tip of his tongue to the back of her fingers and watched her eyes darken. “I can handle it.”

“Good.” Jaclyn moved closer to him. “And we won’t worry about what other people think.” She raised on her toes and pressed her lips to his.

DeMarcus’s stomach muscles tightened. In that moment, he wanted to coach the Monarchs to a winning season, not for his reputation or for his family’s name. He wanted to win for Jaclyn.

DeMarcus prowled the basketball court’s sidelines in his black Italian suit and best poker face. His muscles strained as he willed the Monarchs to hold on to their 97 to 90 lead over the Atlanta Hawks. His eyes darted to the game clock. Two minutes remained in the fourth quarter. Too much time. They’d been here before, battling to a fourth-quarter lead that he couldn’t keep from evaporating with seconds to go.

Too much time.

Mike Bibby, Atlanta’s seasoned guard, blew past the Monarchs’ porous defense. Bibby caught an easy shot from behind the arc. Three points. Monarchs, 97; Hawks, 93.

Hawks fans, sensing their team’s resurgence, rose to cheer them on. Chants of “Defense!” filled the arena. DeMarcus clenched his teeth.

Barron Douglas took possession of the ball and jogged back down the court.

One minute twenty-four seconds to go. They were losing their lead. He had to stop the bleeding. “Time-out!”

The Monarchs dragged their feet to the sidelines. DeMarcus marched up to them. He clenched his fists to keep from shaking his starters. “The game’s not over yet. Why have you stopped playing?”

Anthony drained the bottle of water a teammate passed to him. “We haven’t stopped.”

DeMarcus glared at him. “Then what’s happened to our lead?” He turned to the other players. “Shore up the defense. Talk to each other. The game’s not over.”

He quickly gave each player individual instructions before the buzzer rang. The players walked back onto the court. Where was their energy?

“Pick up the pace.” DeMarcus shouted to be heard above the primal screams of the Hawks’ faithful.

Atlanta’s Jason Collins covered Vincent, the Monarchs’ center, at the left perimeter. Collins’s teammate, Al Horford, defended Serge at the right perimeter. The Hawks’ Marvin Williams and Josh Smith double-teamed Anthony in the paint. Jamal stood wide open at the post for an easy layup. Barron ignored the rookie and took the shot over Bibby’s extended arm. Bibby barely touched it, but that was enough. Barron missed. Hawks’ fans went wild.

DeMarcus ground his teeth, resisting the urge to loosen his silver silk tie. He watched, incredulous, as Jamal raced across the court without even trying to defend the ball. The Hawks’ Collins took it instead.

“Jamal, defend the ball.” DeMarcus fought the urge to run across the court to get it himself. He was tired of repeating those words. Why wouldn’t Jamal listen?

The rookie’s reputation as a ball hog had spread across the league. Opponents didn’t worry about covering him because they knew Jamal’s teammates wouldn’t give him the ball. DeMarcus added that to the list of transgressions he’d address in the locker room.

Collins passed to Williams. The Atlanta guard lobbed the ball to Bibby, who advanced it to half court. Bibby waited while his teammates took positions around the basket. Vincent covered Collins. Serge took Horford. Anthony guarded Williams, and Jamal stood with Smith. Barron defended Bibby, watching for an opportunity to force a turnover.