I set my fork down and clicked on it.
Dear Mr. Sandler,
I hope this email finds you well. I am reaching out because Pressbox would like me to write an in-depth article about you this season. The focus will be more on a personal tone than your usual interviews.
I would love the opportunity to meet with you and learn more about what life is like for Nate Sandler off the field.
Please let me know your availability so we can discuss this further. I know things are getting busy, and I’m happy to work around your schedule.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Becca Hendrix
I leaned back in my chair and stared at the screen.
My first instinct was to laugh and smash the delete button.
This wasn’t the first time someone had reached out to request a personal interview. Sure, I’ve granted them in the past, but I was careful with whom I selected. Becca didn’t mess around. She had a reputation for digging until she got what she wanted. She asked tough questions, but she never twisted my words, which I appreciated. As much as she got under my skin, she was damn good at what she did, and I respected the hell out of her for it.
She reminded me a little of myself. Driven. Motivated. Always pushing forward because slowing down meant falling behind.
Our worlds might have been different, but we were both cut from the same stubborn cloth.
Maybe that explained why I was so tuned into her from the start.
I dragged a hand over my jaw. Of all the reporters out there, it had to be her. It appeared the universe was fucking with me.
I tossed another strawberry into my mouth.
I could ignore her. Pretend I never read the email or decline the interview. For some strange reason, though, I didn’t want to.
No doubt, it would be good for my image and the team. But the thought of just the two of us, alone with no room for me to deflect and no teammate to crack a joke to shift focus, sounded like a recipe for disaster.
It was a bad idea. It was insane for me to even consider it.
I picked up my phone and typed out a reply.
Becca,
You’ll need to get clearance from the team’s PR office first. Reach back out once that’s done.
I set my phone down and walked over to rinse off my plate. The thought of having some one-on-one time with her stirred something inside of me. Maybe I was lonely. Maybe I liked sparring with her.
Whatever the case, I was actually looking forward to it.
CHAPTER 5
BECCA
I shouldn’t have beenthis nervous. It was ridiculous, irrational, and completely inappropriate.
Yet, here I was, standing on the edge of the practice field, fidgeting with my badge as it blew in the wind, with the sounds of whistles blowing and shouting coming from the field.
I scanned the turf, and there was Nate, running drills with a focus and determination that made it hard for me to look away.
I tried to pay attention to the plays rather than be impressed by how well he moved his body. I could see why so many women swooned over him. It wasn’t just because he was easy on the eyes. He carried himself with confidence, and there was something magnetic about him. I told myself I was here in a professional capacity, but the tingles running down my spine said otherwise.
I loved my job, but I was nervous about spending so much time with him. Until now, I had never considered that this could turn out to be an epic mistake.
