The Sport of Romance: A Multi-Author Box Set by Cari Quinn & Jami Davenport & Bianca Sommerland & Crista McHugh & Liz Matis & CM Doporto & Violet Vaughn & Cassandra Carr & Suzan Butler & Morgan Kearns

Author:Cari Quinn & Jami Davenport & Bianca Sommerland & Crista McHugh & Liz Matis & CM Doporto & Violet Vaughn & Cassandra Carr & Suzan Butler & Morgan Kearns [Quinn, Cari]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Bundle, Anthology, Genre Fiction, Romance, Sports, Box Set, Contemporary
Amazon: B00RZVMVQI
Publisher: Sugarloaf Press
Published: 2015-02-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

A week—three games—passed by before Darren was able to see Val again. And the more time he spent with her, the better his game was. She was his good luck charm.

She made him a better player. The least he could do was return the favor. Whether she knew it or not, she was responsible for his career getting better. He needed her to stay. Not just for his game, but also for him. He’d gotten used to her being there. He didn’t want to lose her.

He had to get Val a job.

He stopped at Miss Jane’s desk. She glanced up, a bright professional smile sliding in. “Mr. Moran, Mr. Jenkins didn’t leave word that you’d be here today.”

“No appointment, mi encantadora. I need to talk to him, though. Can you arrange that? Is he here?”

She nodded. “He’s here. I can buzz him and tell him you have an appointment.”

“Oh, chica, that would be fantastico.”

“It’ll cost you a box of chocolate chip cookies.” She eyed him suspiciously. “And not store bought ones. I want the good ones your mother makes.”

“Done.”

She picked up the intercom phone. He winked at her.

“Mr. Jenkins? Mr. Moran is here to see you. Yes, sir, he had an appointment. No, sir, I forgot to put him in your daily agenda.” She hung up with him and grinned. “Mr. Jenkins will see you now.”

“Usted es hermoso, Miss Jane.” He winked again and walked over to the oak doors. He opened them carefully, wanting really to throw them open. He was far too strung up. This had to work.

He shut the door behind him. Ellie wasn’t around this time, of which he was glad. Begging wasn’t his strong suit, and doing it in front of a woman he’d watched grow up wasn’t anywhere near the top of his list of things to do. Regardless of what he had come there to do—namely throw out his pride—he couldn’t stomach having an audience.

Inside his head, he counted the beats between the pulses of his heart. He sat down in the chair when Jenkins motioned.

“Hey, Darren. I didn’t expect you today.”

“No, I didn’t suppose you did. Shame Miss Jane forgot I was coming.”

“Cut the crap, Moran. What did you give my secretary to tell me you had an appointment?”

Darren smiled. “A promise for a box of homemade cookies.”

“Your mother’s?”

“Yup.”

“Mary’s lucky she’s competent. And that your mom makes amazing cookies.” Jenkins grumbled as he set aside the paper in front of him. “So what can I do for you?”

Darren cleared his throat. “I was thinking… we don’t really have a counselor for the players’ families.”

“We never have.”

“And that’s my point.” Darren sat up straight. This was something he’d thought long and hard about, especially after his own situation. “It’s hard, you know. Night after night of road trips, late nights with the home games. It takes a toll on the family.”

“Does this have to do with your marriage?”

“No,” he answered. That was honest, but it did have to do with Val. “My situation was going to happen no matter what.