The Player Next Door (22 page)

He cut off his thoughts. Maybe that worked for other guys, but a night in sexual antics had only ever weakened his play. Being sated and low on sleep made him fat and lazy on the court. And he had to play well tomorrow. It was important to come out strong and give the fans a good show. Important to prove to the coaches and Mr. Dolan that he hadn’t lost a step. And important to his own peace of mind. This was his life.

So he nodded. Reluctantly. “Yeah, early bed for me. But you can keep the car. Sammy will take you wherever you want to go.”

“That’s a great idea!” Edward said with a grin. “We’ll have an awesome night.”

Fucking great.

Chapter Eighteen

Tori was speechless. And way out of her element.

She knew Mike was a superstar but hadn’t really processed exactly what that meant.

They were at the night-before party, and he had made a beeline straight for her as soon as she and Edward had arrived. He’d smiled at her, looking at her the way he had back in Evanston. Part hunger, part amusement, and all what she loved about him.

Except, of course, he was clearly stressed. There was a haunted look in his eyes and an annoyance every time someone tugged on his sleeve. Not surprising, really. Someone was always tugging on his sleeve. But then he smiled, added a little swagger to his motions, and got on with the business of being a superstar.

She’d come here hoping to get a private word with him. She wanted to explain about Edward surprising her at the airport. She’d been furious, but unwilling to make a scene. Besides, it was her father who had sold her out to her ex.

Also, she wanted to tell him that she understood. It was going to be hard for her, but now more than ever she saw how all-consuming his job was. The journalists at the airport were the tip of the iceberg. Reporters had followed them to the hotel and everyone wanted to know about that kiss. She’d promptly canceled her room and begged a couch for the night from an old friend who now taught at Columbia University.

But that wasn’t all. Within an hour of landing, reporters started calling her cell phone. Mindful of Mike’s advice, she didn’t say anything beyond “no comment.” But they were persistent and she ended up turning off her phone rather than go crazy with it ringing constantly.

This was Mike’s element. Sure, she saw the tension in his shoulders, but everything else about him was smooth. He played the part of a humble superstar athlete to perfection. And yeah, she knew he was both, but taking the right note with the press was a balancing act that she hadn’t a clue how to master.

Just as well he wasn’t in love with her, she thought. She might be able to learn how to say “no comment” with panache. She could probably be taught how to smile and be on his arm without being a detriment to his career, but it would be hard. It would take time away from her research. And…and it was a lie.

It would be hard, but she wanted to learn it. She wanted to be with him and would do just about anything
—
even media training
—
to stay with him. All these mental games about how she didn’t want to take away from her research were just that: games. She was trying to soothe the wound that Mike didn’t want her like she yearned for him. He had his career and his system, and for the first time ever, she had an inkling of just why it required constant vigilance to stay on top of his field.

“You’re amazing,” she murmured and was surprised when he turned to her as if he’d actually heard her words.

“What?” Mike asked. “Jesus, I can’t hear a damn thing in here.”

She smiled and shook her head. God she wanted him so bad her chest hurt.

“Just another hour, baby. Then we can blow.”

“What about curfew?”

He shrugged. “I haven’t seen you alone for five minutes.”

God, she wanted it, too, but weren’t they just fooling themselves? He was never going to give up his career to be with her. Maybe she could wait ten years, but God, that was a painful way to live.

Her throat tight, she reached up to touch his face. Just a touch and in it she tried to convey all her wishes. “You’ve got a big day tomorrow,” she said.

“I’ve got time for you.”

She shook her head. That was the whole problem. “You’re paid a lot of money to focus just on basketball. We’ll have time after you win.”

“Tori—”

“Mike!” It was the booming voice of the Knicks’ owner. “I was just telling Art here that…”

Mike cursed under his breath, but she pushed him toward his job. “Tomorrow,” she said.

Then she slipped away.

...

Halftime and Mike wasn’t just in a foul mood, he was ready to hurt someone. It didn’t matter that this was his big come-back game. That the Madison Square stadium was full or that everyone was cheering for him. Unlike other games, he wasn’t high on the publicity or excited for the first game of the season. Instead, his shooting sucked and now the Knicks were losing. He’d been snarling at his teammates, curt with the media, and playing too aggressive and would soon get into foul trouble. And why?

Because he hadn’t been able to talk to Tori since she’d arrived. She’d slipped away from the party before he could grab her. Her cell went straight to voicemail. And worst of all? He’d called the hotel and found out she’d canceled her room reservation.

So she was shacking up with Edward, and he was one bad pass away from climbing into the stands and decking the man. Yeah, they’d arrived too late for him to talk to them, but early enough that he got to see the bastard’s grinning face as he put an arm around Tori in those first row seats he’d gotten them. Three steps to the side of the court and he could put Edward on the floor.

But that wouldn’t win him Tori, so during a time out, he’d grabbed the closest team publicist. She was a sweet girl who was a little starstruck, so he got her to give Edward and Tori the grand tour during halftime. No proposal was going to happen before he got a chance to talk to Tori. And by talk, he meant plead, cajole, and seduce her into dumping the idiot.

But while the halftime show was still going on, Coach took him aside and ripped him a new one. This was why he had a system. Tori was distracting him. She was making him crazy and he was playing like shit. So maybe he needed to let her go. Because right here was case in point of why he never dated seriously while playing basketball. He was losing it. Big time.

Which meant it was time to focus. Forget Tori, forget whatever the bastard Edward was going to do. He was going to focus. “It’s done,” he told Coach. “I’ve got my head back. I swear.”

Which might have worked if he’d done it in the first quarter. But now they were starting the second half and Coach didn’t believe a word he said.

“You’re benched until I’m sure your head’s out of your ass.”

Or out of a woman.

So Mike sat on the sidelines and adamantly refused to look behind him at Tori. He didn’t talk to her. Didn’t smile at her. Didn’t think of her.

All he focused on was the game. Pure and simple. The game.

And his system.

The end.

Chapter Nineteen

Tori was miserable. Edward had been an annoying jerk the whole morning. Breakfast at Tiffany’s meant he gave her bagels (his favorite) as they stood outside Tiffany’s and he talked about jewelry.

She was sore from her night on her friend’s couch and Mr. Thinks-He’s-So-Romantic was making her stand in the drizzle eating food she didn’t like while looking at jewelry she didn’t want. What the hell was wrong with him?

She asked him exactly that, but he ducked her question and took her to his next special stop: the Museum of Modern Art. At least he’d gotten that right. She loved the museum, but not before Mike’s big game. She’d wanted to talk to him before he started to play, but she didn’t want to distract him. So her thought had been to show up at the stadium in case he wanted to see her. But she couldn’t do that with Edward dragging her all around the city.

She should have just ditched him and done what she wanted, but he was trying to be especially solicitous. He had been since they’d reconnected after Mike left. Didn’t mean she wanted to spend her life with him, but they had a history, a shared language, and…and well this morning, she was trying to encourage his good behavior.

But now it was the end of halftime. They’d had a lovely tour of the stadium where she never caught so much as a glimpse of Mike, and she desperately wanted to duct tape Edward’s mouth shut. He’d done some research into the game of basketball and was trying to impress her with his knowledge. In truth, he just sounded like a blowhard, and though she had a pretty high tolerance for that, he’d gone well beyond even her acceptance.

Then Mike was benched. That was bad enough. She knew enough about his game to know he wasn’t playing well. There were any of a thousand different reasons why that could be happening
—
his shoulder, the pressure, hell, even his shoes might feel wrong
—
but she knew he’d blame her.

It was his damned system, and if this was the result of having her watch him play, then she could understand why he wanted her out of his life.

She tried to catch his eye. She wanted to just smile encouragingly at him, but he wouldn’t look her way. His body radiated tension and she had to accept that this was the way life was for him. Which meant she’d never come see him play in person again. Not if it destroyed him like this.

Which is when she saw the coach walk up to him on the sidelines. Tori had a front row seat to the angry, clenched expression on the man’s face. She couldn’t see Mike’s face, but saw him stand and shake out his muscles. He was nodding and clenching his hands open and closed.

Five seconds later, he was back on the court.

She jumped up and cheered as he went in. She and a few hundred thousand fans, but it did no good.

Oh shit.

He was still playing awful. Even with her limited knowledge, she knew he wasn’t supposed to double-dribble and then a few minutes later get called for traveling. It was after that last call that he finally looked at her. Their eyes met and she saw defeat in them. Anger, frustration, and defeat. And it was aimed at her.

Slowly, she sat back down into her seat.

Well. Here was his system in glorious action, and now she understood that even if it wasn’t true for other athletes, he clearly believed in it. A self-fulfilling prophecy if there ever was one. Which meant she and he were done. There was no way they could make this work. Basketball was too important to him.

She didn’t come back to herself until Edward started tugging on her hand to get her attention.

She blinked and looked at him, startled to realize he was down on one knee before her.

“I was going to do this at halftime, but I didn’t get a chance. So even if Mike loses this game, I want it to hold some happy memories for us.”

Tori frowned. “What the hell are you talking about? Mike isn’t going to lose…” Her voice trailed away as he pulled out a ring box and opened it.

Jesus. The skinflint had actually gone whole hog. That was one big honking diamond ring. She’d never wear something that big. It would forever be catching on things and weighing down her finger. And she’d be terrified some desperate student would mug her on the way to her car.

“Edward, this is not the time…”

“I know. It should have been months ago, but I’m doing it now. Tori Williams, will you marry me?”

...

Traveling. Mike barely restrained himself from cursing out the ref and getting himself called for a technical. Fucking hell. He ought to have his head examined.

He glanced over at Tori. He couldn’t help himself, which is when he realized the truth.

He was in love with her. Full out in love.

Whether she was with him or not, he wanted her. He ached for her. And he was going to play for shit whether she was with him or not.

Fuck.

The game started up again and he tried to focus. Cole intercepted. Good for him, but his friend and teammate couldn’t make the lay-up. Rebound and Mike had the ball. But then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Edward go down on one knee before Tori.

Now? He was proposing now with just over three minutes left in the game? Yup, there he was with a ring box while Tori gaped in shock.

Mike called a time out.

He didn’t even think about it. He called it and was rushing over to the stands where Edward was saying some nonsense.

To the side, the players, the coaches, even the fans were screaming at him, but he was completely trained on Tori.

“Don’t do it!” he bellowed. “Tori, damn it, listen to me!”

She looked up and double blinked. Her eyes filled with tears, and he almost stopped himself, terrified that he was about to hurt her. Jesus, he was so confused, but he had to tell her. She had to know the truth before she accepted the dickhead’s proposal.

“Mike—”

“I love you. Don’t marry him. I want to work this out. I want you, not… not basketball.” There he’d said it. She was more important to him than his career, and damn it, the words felt
right
.

“But what about your system?” she asked. “Your career?”

“It doesn’t matter. If I’m going to play for shit because I love you, then that’s the way it’s going to be.”

“Oh no,” she said, pushing to her feet. Edward still had hold of her hand, was still offering up his ring. But his mouth was open and he started making noises.

“Tori! I’m proposing marriage here!”

“No.”

She wasn’t looking at Edward, her eyes were on Mike. And damn, it was loud in here. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the TV camera aimed right at them. And the coach and about a dozen more people running straight for him.

Oh shit, he was going to get fired.

“Tori,” he begged. “Who are you refusing?”

She frowned then looked to the bastard. “Edward, I’m sorry. I told you a month ago at lunch and again last week, but you refused to listen. We are not getting back together. That means we’re not getting married.”

“But—”

She turned her back on him. “Did you hear that, Mike? No way am I marrying him. But, I’m also not going to be the reason you lose basketball.”