Playing for Keeps by JoAnn Ross

Author:JoAnn Ross
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

13

"HEY, SERENA, GOOD LUCK against Fleming tomorrow."

Despite a throbbing headache, Serena smiled as a slim red-haired man stopped by their table.

"You, too," she said, knowing that Phillip Greene represented Great Britain's hope to wrest the title away from Keith Larson, an eighteen-year-old American who had been seeded first in the tournament.

Serena introduced Phillip to Alex, who won points by congratulating the tennis player on winning his fifty-fifth Grand Prix singles title in Stockholm. Serena was not particularly surprised by Alex's knowledge. Throughout the weeks in Paris and London, she had seen him display an amazing amount of trivial information. When she had questioned him about it, he'd shrugged it off, saying he was accustomed to doing his homework before having to make cocktail-party conversation. The casual remark had reminded her that, while he appeared to be a man interested solely in enjoying life to the fullest, he was no stranger to hard work.

Donovan and Phillip had met before at other tournaments. The two men shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

"I know that as an American, I should be rooting for Keith," Serena said, "but to tell you the truth, I'm beginning to get a Methuselah complex. I'd like to see us old folks win.

Not that thirty is old," Serena hastened to add, remembering that Phillip had celebrated his birthday just last week.

Pulling up a chair, he joined them momentarily. "It's different these days. When we were coming up, people saw tennis as a craft. Something you work on and perfect over the course of years. And years." He frowned. "Today you either prove yourself a natural by winning Wimbledon when you're a teenager, or you're just another face in the crowd."

"Keith's a one-dimensional player," Serena offered encouragingly. "He relies too heavily on that lethal forehand of his."

"They should have pulled him off the tour for six months to teach him to volley," Phillip agreed. "I'm hoping that'll prove his downfall." As if he realized he was putting a damp-er on an otherwise enjoyable evening, Phillip shook his head and shrugged. "Oh, well, what's that they say about times a-changing?"

"They say it keeps things interesting," Serena answered with a smile.

"Speaking of changes, I've noticed some in your game. In the olden days, the only time I saw you come into the net was to accept flowers. When did you start experimenting with that chip-and-charge game?"

"Since I decided it was time to retire the Ice Dolly."

"What does Marty think about this?"

"You know Marty. He doesn't interfere so long as everything's working." Her gray eyes twinkled as she gave him a gamine grin. "However, he did seem a little rattled when these ruby-red lips muttered a swear word during practice yesterday."

Phillip laughed appreciatively as he rose from the chair and extended his hand to Alex. "I've got a feeling you have something to do with Serena's metamorphosis," he said. "Congratulations. From one who's been caught in her ice flow."

"I wasn't that bad," Serena protested.

Phillip bent down and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.