Fast Break (Brooklyn Monarchs 1)

The answer was obvious. “Because it wouldn’t matter as much to me whether Walsh believed Gerry.”

Her jaw dropped. “I know you’re not taking drugs.”

DeMarcus closed his eyes. He didn’t know what hurt more, losing her or having to explain why he’d been such a coward. He opened his eyes and met her gaze. “I know that. That’s not the part that worried me.”

Jaclyn prompted him when he fell silent. “Then what was it?”

DeMarcus swallowed. “I didn’t want you to doubt me. I didn’t want you to wonder whether I was losing on purpose because of what Gerry said. I need your faith in me.”

Jaclyn rubbed the fingers of her right hand over her eyes, pinched the bridge of her nose. When she opened her eyes, they were damp. DeMarcus’s heart clenched again.

Jaclyn took a breath. Her slender shoulders trembled. “You wouldn’t have lost my faith in you if you’d talked to me. But you’re keeping secrets, Marc. Maybe you’re trying to protect me, but I can’t do my job with your brand of protection. I can’t wonder what else you’re not telling me.”

DeMarcus wanted to go to her. Take her into his arms and beg her for another chance. Instead, he braced his feet to the floor and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m used to protecting the people I care about.”

“You don’t need my protection, but the team does. As much as I care about you, if I have to choose between you and the team, I have to choose the team. It’s all I have left of my family.”

“I know.” She could have both, if she’d just give him another chance.

Jaclyn checked her watch. “I have to go. I asked Troy to pull together a press conference. I want to address Gerry’s lies before they end up in print.”

DeMarcus’s eyes widened. “You’re holding a press conference? Do you want me there?”

She finally looked at him again. Her cinnamon eyes were red and wet. “No. The press would try to corner you. I want to go on the offensive. Then I’m giving Andrea an exclusive on what Gerry’s been up to. It’s time we exposed him for the traitorous worm he is.” She moved toward his office door.

“Jack.” DeMarcus called after her. “I didn’t mean to let you down. You have to believe that. I was trying to help.”

She gave him a half smile. “We should have known we couldn’t mix business with pleasure. We’re not the first couple to fail at an office romance.” She opened the door and walked out of his office.

DeMarcus stared at the open door. Jaclyn was wrong. They hadn’t failed. There was still time left on the clock, and DeMarcus hated to lose.

The Monarchs’ large conference room was crammed with reporters, cameras, tape recorders and microphones. Jaclyn was overwhelmed. Playing in the shadows of the New York Knicks, the M

onarchs didn’t hold many press conferences.

Jaclyn covered her eyes to avoid the blinding camera flashes as she walked with Troy toward the podium. “What a circus. We didn’t have this kind of response when we announced Marc was joining the organization.”

Troy used his bigger body to shield Jaclyn from the crush of people and equipment. He’d put his suit jacket back on and straightened his tie. “There’s nothing like a scandal to bring out the media.”

Jaclyn glanced up at the former newspaper reporter. “You used to be the media.”

Troy smiled down at her. “That’s how I know.”

The former reporter turned media executive reached the podium and took the microphone first. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming. Let’s get settled so we can start the press conference. We don’t want to keep you too long.”

Jaclyn looked at the wall clock mounted across the room. They still had a couple of minutes before the event was supposed to begin. She and Troy had a long day ahead of them. The sooner the conference started, the sooner they could prepare to leave for the Wizards game in Washington, D.C.

The crush of bodies, lights, cameras and other audio-visual equipment made the room almost unbearably hot. Someone was wearing a lot of cheap cologne. The chatter of personal conversations was making it difficult for Jaclyn to mentally review her speech.

Troy once again thanked the members of the press for coming to the event. “As I explained in the announcement, rumors are circulating about our head coach and drug abuse. Brooklyn Monarchs owner Jaclyn Jones wants to address those rumors. Ms. Jones, if you’ll take the podium, please.”

Jaclyn switched places with Troy on the makeshift platform. She exchanged smiles with Andrea Benson, who sat in the front row. Today, they were pals and coconspirators in a strategy to stop the slander against DeMarcus and her team. Tomorrow, they could very well be on opposite sides of some other issue. That was the nature of their professional relationship.

As Jaclyn adjusted the microphone, she realized this was her very first press conference. And she was using it to tell the world her lover wasn’t a drug addict. “Thank you for taking the time to attend this press conference. When we learned of the lies circulating about our head coach, DeMarcus Guinn, we wanted to address the allegations immediately to put a stop to these outrageous and completely false accusations. The Brooklyn Monarchs takes drug abuse very seriously. We support and strictly adhere to the NBA’s drug-testing policy. We want all of our employees to be good citizens and role models in the community. They can’t do that if they’re crippled by drug addiction. That’s why I can stand here with complete confidence and assure you that DeMarcus Guinn is not addicted to drugs. That’s all that I wanted to say. Do you have any questions?”

An older gentleman with a receding hairline stood toward the front of the room. “Are you standing by The Mighty Guinn because the rumors aren’t true or because you’re lovers?”

Jaclyn would have been stupid if she hadn’t seen that question coming. And Jaclyn wasn’t stupid. “I don’t sleep with drug addicts. It’s a personal preference.” She surveyed the rest of the room. “Anything else?”