Payoff Pitch (Philadelphia Patriots) (30 page)

Noah stared straight ahead, weighing options as he stopped at the light at 17
^th
and Arch. The narrow street was jammed ahead and at this rate it was going to be a long, slow trip south to the vet’s. As much as he loved having Teddy with him, he didn’t look forward to this conversation. One thing he wouldn’t do, though, is lie to her.

“It’s a long story,” he said, drumming his fingers on the console.

His gaze involuntarily went to her slim, bare legs since her snug dress was hiked up fairly high on her thighs. She always looked fantastic, but in that dress…well, his cock had been trying to do a number on him since the moment she walked into the restaurant. While everybody else had been prattling on about fracking and the environment, at least half his brain had been engaged in thinking of ways to get her alone and naked.

She reached over and tipped his chin back up. “Eyes on the road, mister. Besides, it looks like we’ve got a while.”

The light turned green. He crossed the intersection only to have to brake behind a delivery truck that had barely moved an inch. Morning traffic in Center City—what fun. “You’re not going to like it.”

She sighed. “I suspected as much.”

Teddy was nothing if not intuitive.

“Okay, then. Baron and a bunch of other companies are mounting a state-wide campaign to make sure those tougher regulations you want are never implemented. They’re going to put a lot of money into it.” He glanced over with a little smile. “I guess your people got them good and scared.”

“Huh. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, not when the industry’s national campaign has been successful. But what’s all that got to do with you?”

The muscles in his jaw were so tight they started to ache.

“What is it, Noah? What’s going on?” she asked in a worried tone.

“Believe it or not, Dad seems to have convinced the other CEOs that the best public spokesman for the campaign would be…uh, me.”

Teddy’s eyes bugged wide, almost as wide as her gaping mouth. “You’re serious?”

“
Dad
is dead serious.”

“Okay, but you couldn’t possibly agree to that,” she scoffed.

Noah put the car back in gear, finally moving again. Though he gave a casual shrug, her response pissed him off.

A scowl marked her pretty features and made her look a bit like an old-fashioned schoolmarm—a really hot schoolmarm in a tight dress.

“Really, Noah, how could you do it even if you actually wanted to? And would the Patriots even allow it?”

“The team can’t tell me what to do,” he growled. “Anyway, who knows how much longer I’ll be in baseball, anyway. The way things are going, I might be looking at a career change a whole lot faster than I thought.”

“A career at Baron Energy,” she snapped. “Swell.”

Now he scowled at her. “Why the hell not?”

Teddy thrust out her stubborn little chin. “Because I don’t believe you really want that. You shouldn’t let your father pressure you into doing something you don’t want to do.”

“You don’t know anything about it,” he snapped. This was exactly what he’d been afraid of—a confrontation instead of a discussion. Heat instead of light. “Christ, Teddy, you zip about my relationship with Dad and Levi, so don’t pretend you do.”

Shit.
That sure wouldn’t de-escalate things. He’d let his anger get the better of him.

Surprisingly, her eyes went soft and kind of misty, almost as if she were on the verge of tears.

“Then try to make me understand,” she said gently. “You’re a good man, Noah, and I think you get how truly dangerous fracking has the potential to be. How dangerous it already is. So, how could you possibly go in front of a camera and say it isn’t?”

“You know the jury’s still out on all that, Teddy,” he responded quietly.

Blinking rapidly, she turned away, her lush mouth pulling into an unhappy line. God, he liked it better when she was glaring daggers at him and giving him hell. When she started to get soft on him, he just wanted to wrap her in his arms and tell her everything would be all right.

But it wouldn’t—not until they found some way through this big problem.

“That’s taking the easy way out,” she said. “You need to get off the fence. Come down on one side or the other.”

Easier said than done
.

Noah gripped the wheel harder. He’d try a different tack. “Teddy, I’ve listened to the way you talk about your family. About your dad. I’m pretty sure you’d do just about anything for him, right? If he asked you?”

She nodded. “Yes, of course. But if it was something that my conscience couldn’t live with…well, I don’t think I could do that.”

He raised an eyebrow. “But if it wasn’t all that clear? Wasn’t all black and white?”

“But this issue
is
black and white, Noah. At least to me.”

Noah sighed.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, this is going nowhere good.
“I haven’t made a final decision, but I won’t dismiss Dad’s idea out of hand. Mostly because I’ve never really done a damn thing for my family. Like I told you, Dad’s supported my career from the beginning, and he’s never asked anything from me. Nothing. Now, just this once, he wants me to be there for him and the company. He’s made it personal, and so has Levi.”

When he glanced over at her, she was staring out the window. “It’s nowhere near as simple as you think it is, babe,” he added.

Noah waited a full minute, but she kept her lips firmly buttoned. Her non-response started to piss him off again. “Cut me some slack, Teddy. You can’t imagine what it feels like to suddenly find your career might be going up in smoke.
You
have a great career as a lawyer ahead of you. But I’ve already lived my dream, and I’ve got to start thinking about the next phase of my life. And maybe that might involve going back to my roots. Back to Texas and to the company. If my pitching days are over, I’m not sure what else I could do.”

She turned back to face him, her pretty blue eyes so full of regret that his heart sank through the floorboards of the damn car. “I understand that. I know you’re wondering about your future in baseball. But I don’t think that means you have to be a shill for the industry.” She swallowed audibly, as if her mouth had gone dry. “I know you’re not like your father, so I don’t understand how you could be so cavalier about what’s happening to my family. To the place where I grew up.”

Crap, why the hell had he asked her to come with him? Talk about an impulsive decision that had come back to bite him in the ass.

“Cavalier? Hey, that’s just bullshit, pure and simple,” he ground out before he managed to dial it back. “Look, Teddy, this is tough enough for me, and the last thing I need is a lecture. I care about you a lot—you know that. But I don’t need any more pressure from you or anybody else. I’ll make my own decision in my own time, according to what I decide is the right thing to do.”

Teddy turned away again, a wounded look in her eyes. “Understood. Let’s just get Toby home, and then I’ll be out of your hair.”

Noah strode out the front door just as Teddy pulled into his driveway. Even from a distance she could see storm clouds gathering over his head. Where was he going at six-thirty in the morning?

Teddy didn’t usually feed and walk the dogs this early but sleep had eluded her for the second interminable night in a row. And Toby and Sadie would appreciate the early meal and a brisk walk to the park in the coolness of the early morning.

Noah stopped beside his car, his dark scowl directed her way. Was he waiting to talk to her? They’d hardly spoken for the past two days since the tense ride to the vet’s after meeting Adam and Levi Cade. Noah had seemed to go out of his way to avoid her after that, which made her feel both awful and relieved. In any case, there seemed to be nothing more to be said after he’d essentially told her to mind her own business. Even though she loathed the idea of him turning into a media flack for his father, she knew he was right—it
was
none of her business.

It’s not like he’s my boyfriend or anything.

Still, she missed him like crazy despite all her attempts to lecture herself out of her insanely strong crush on him. And she knew that anything she said was liable to make the situation even worse and possibly even untenable. So far, Noah appeared content to let her continue to do her job exactly as before, but could that last for long?

And could
she
last, being around him and yet not able to even touch him? It already felt like torture, and it would only get worse unless they started talking again soon.

She tried for a friendly smile as he opened the trunk of his car and threw in the duffel bag he’d been carrying. “You’re heading out awfully early.”

Noah slammed the trunk closed. “I’m going fishing because it usually helps to clear my head. And getting an early start is better than more tossing and turning.” He shoved up his sunglasses to look at her.

His eyes were heavy from lack of sleep which, perversely, made him even sexier—like he’d been awake all night making some lucky girl scream with pleasure. His red Patriots T-shirt stretched tight across his wide shoulders and hunky chest. His jeans rode low on his trim hips, calling attention to his groin and the healthy-sized package cupped by the soft denim. Teddy had to swallow hard before she could get more words out.

“You’re agonizing over your decision?” She took a few hesitant steps toward him. It was probably dumb to even raise the issue, but she hated that he had to tear himself apart over what his dad had asked him to do.

He gave an angry little snort. “Right now I’m a lot more concerned over the fact that the team just put me on the disabled list.”

“Oh, no,” she said weakly.

His eyes narrowed, as if judging the honesty of her response. “Even if the tests come back clean, it means I can’t pitch for at last fifteen days. More than likely I’ll be out three weeks or more, and then I’ll have to go down to the minors on a rehab assignment. Not exactly the comeback I’d hoped for,” he said bitterly.

“I’m so sorry, Noah. That must be so disappointing.”
Duh.

He studied her with such dispassion that it made her stomach suddenly queasy. Gone was the sensual hunger that used to fill his gaze. Stupid her, she hadn’t realized how much she would miss it.

“I had the MRI on my shoulder yesterday afternoon,” he said. “So now it’s a wait and see.”

No wonder he was so stressed. “When will you get the results?”

“Tomorrow morning.” He leaned back against the car as if settling in for the conversation. “They speed us through. After that, depending on what the radiologist says, the team doctor will probably want me to see the specialist in Alabama.”

Teddy peered at him. “Really? Philadelphia has just about the best medical care in the country. It seems weird to have to fly down to Alabama to see a doctor.”

He shook his head. “Baseball injuries are a specialty, especially arm injuries. Teams want to make sure players see the docs with the most expertise and experience. And obviously so do I.”

“Oh, well, that makes total sense,” she said lamely. She hadn’t a clue what to do. Should she try to hug him in sympathy? What if he pushed her away? Could she stand that kind of clear and painful rejection?

No.

Noah eyed her for a few moments then straightened up. “Well, I’d better get going or I’ll miss all the good fishing.”

Teddy suddenly wished she could jump into the passenger seat of the BMW and go with him. Escape for a day. Pretend all the bad stuff that had come between them was just a miserable dream. Maybe even find a way to make love on the beach of some beautiful, secluded lake.

“Where are you headed?” she asked, her throat tight.

“The Poconos. A buddy of mine has a cottage up there that he lets me use whenever I want. The lake’s only about an hour away at this time of day. At least the way I drive.”

“It’s so beautiful up there,” Teddy said, hating the forlorn tone to her voice. “I almost wish I could go, too.”

He shot her a surprised and questioning look. “Almost?”

Oh, man, she just couldn’t seem to stop the mixed messages, could she?

“I guess that wouldn’t be smart, would it?” she said unhappily. “Not with…everything…” She let her words trail away, uncertain how to untangle her jumbled emotions. Afraid she’d get herself into even deeper water with him if she kept talking.

He muttered something under his breath and then shrugged. “I guess you’re right.” He opened the door of his BMW and slid in. “See you later, Teddy. Have a nice day.”

“See you,” Teddy said, wanting to cry over the impersonal goodbye. It was exactly what someone would say to his employee, which was exactly what she was.

She forced herself to turn away as he backed down the driveway. She’d be damned if she’d stare after him like some lovelorn teenager whose super-cool boyfriend had just left her high and dry.

But Teddy had to admit that it was pretty much how she felt.

By the time Teddy got back to the house after walking the dogs, Cristina was up and working in the kitchen. Ever hopeful of getting a treat, Toby and Sadie dashed off toward those interesting sounds as soon as Teddy took off their leads.

“Get out of here, you miserable beasts,” Cristina snapped as Teddy hurried into the room. “I have nothing for you. Shoo!” She pushed Toby away by sticking her knee in his chest as he jumped up against her. Clearly wounded in spirit, Toby slunk off toward the living room with Sadie following right on his heels.

“They’re dogs, Cristina,” Teddy said with a sigh, making sure she kept her irritation out of her voice. “They think with their stomachs before getting around to their brains. You didn’t have to be quite so rough with Toby.”

Cristina jutted her chin out. “Save your lectures for somebody else. I’m not in the mood.” She opened the oven and shoved in a tray of chocolate chip muffins. Noah’s favorite indulgence. Food indulgence, anyway. “Besides, you should be doing a better job of training them, if you ask me.”

Teddy wasn’t in the mood to put up with crap, either. “I’m not asking you. And by the way, what’s going on, Cristina? Why so grumpy? Heck, you were a lot happier these past couple of days. Seeing Noah and me at odds must have been like manna from heaven for you. Has the thrill worn off already?”