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“Pretty much all the news. The story that you and I are boyfriend and girlfriend.” She matched his steady gaze. “You’re never going to guess who took the picture splashed on every news website. It was–”
“Jenny.”
She stopped, blinked. “You know?”
“Of course.”
“Aren’t you angry?”
He took a sip of orange juice. “Why should I be?”
“Because she’s insinuating we have more than a professional relationship.” That they did have more than a professional relationship didn’t matter. It could not go any further. “You said she respected your privacy. Why would she do something like that?”
“Because I asked her to.”
Do not pick up the orange juice. Do not hold it over his head. Do not release said orange juice. “You did what?” she squeaked.
Jason continued eating with ease. He took a hearty gulp of the orange juice he may soon be wearing. “I asked her to share the picture. The story, too.”
“I don’t understand.” What was happening? “You made it seem like we’re a couple.”
His eyes flashed, and suddenly he was all serious. “What would you call that night?”
A masterpiece. “A onetime mistake.”
“And the chemistry?”
“What chemistry?”
He stood up tall, towering above her. She rose as well, but it didn’t matter. He was twice her size. “As a catcher, I’ve learned to read people, but you don’t need special insight to see what’s so obvious. There’s something between us. You can’t deny it.”
She opened her mouth to do just that, then closed it. “As I’ve said before, I won’t be your trophy of the week.”
“Is that what you really think of me?”
Not even a little, and that was the scariest part of all. Yet this couldn’t go further, not with his position and her job. It was why she had to be so harsh, when all she wanted to do was run into his arms. If he knew how she actually felt… “You’re just unaccustomed to obstacles standing in the way of what you want.”
“I face obstacles every day,” he countered. “The competition to get into the Major Leagues is incredibly fierce, and once you’re in, it’s even worse. I’m used to facing challenges – and overcoming them.” He edged closer. “I can tell you feel the same way. Let’s see where it takes us.”
The temptation to agree was nearly unsurmountable. For a day, a week or more. In the next second, she forced herself back to reality. “You mean until you leave.” She regretted being so blunt, especially since he had been so kind, but she couldn’t put her heart at risk. Not when he would depart once the thrill of the chase waned.
Only he showed no sign of backing down. “Whether or not you admit it, there’s something between us. We have to discover what that something is.”
Unbidden excitement tangled with a dash of fear. Was she both the obstacle and the prize? “I… we… can’t.” She lifted shoulders burdened with endless responsibility. “Tomorrow, we’ll put out a retraction.”
“Unfortunately, that’s not a good option for your career.”
Was he threatening her? The world sliced to a sliver as she narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Isn’t it your job to make me appear stable and wholesome?” He flexed his biceps. “How’s it going to look if pictures show us together one day, and the next day we say it’s nothing? It’ll undo any work you’ve accomplished.”
Damn. He was right. Denying what the pictures so obviously showed would be a major step backwards. “What should I do? Be your girlfriend just for my career?”
He grinned pure victory. “Exactly.”
She rubbed her aching forehead. Denying their relationship now would be a PR nightmare. Still, she had to at least try to get out of it. Perhaps she could take a page from his playbook and use it to her advantage. “If we’re pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend, you’ll have to completely change your behavior. No more flirting with hundreds of women. No more wild partying. Think you could handle that?”
The reply was immediate, firm and definitive. “Absolutely.” He took a step closer. “I will happily focus on just you.”
