Page 36 of The Game We Played

I tap my chest. “My interview?”

“It’s my surprise. I wanted to give you a present for helping me out at the hospital and for the other stuff.”

I assume by ‘other stuff’ he means my agreement to be his fake girlfriend. I’m surprised he hasn’t told his coach or his friends. He did agree to keep the agreement between the two of us, but I assumed he couldn’t keep his mouth shut.

And there I go assuming bad things about Tanner again. I need to stop it. He’s not the man he shows the world. There’s way more to him than anyone knows.

“Thanks, Tanner.” I push up on my toes to kiss his cheek. My lips tingle from the simple contact. I wonder…

Nope. I’m not wondering about the wide receiver now. Not when I have an honest to goodness NFL coach sitting in frontof me waiting for me to interview him. A coach, who I happen to know, is hiding a big, fat secret.

I’m not interested in exposing his secrets. This isn’tThe Siren’s Spill.I want to know his motivations. Why would he give up his career when rumor has it he’s a sure thing for a head coach position at another team?

My hands tremble with excitement. This is it. The chance I’ve been waiting for. An article that will surely save theGazetteand launch my career.

I sit across from him. “Coach Knox. It’s lovely to meet you.”

Chapter 12

BREAKING: CRAB INCIDENT CAUSES CHAOS ON BOARDWALK Tourists advised to watch their step

Tanner

“Hey! What are you doing here?” Alaia asks when I stroll intoBootlegger.

“Everyone’s busy today. I’m bored.”

“Ah, have you been missing your girlfriend?”

She’s joking, but it’s true. I have missed Alaia. I haven’t seen her for a few days. Since her interview with Coach Knox, she’s been busy working at the bar each evening. And Belinda has banned me from spending time in bars.

I’m not breaking the ban. She specifically saidno bars at night.Good thing it’s not nighttime.

“Yep.” I kiss Alaia’s cheek. She picks up her bag and I frown. “Where are you going?”

“Breaking news story. No time to chat.”

I don’t let her go. I capture her hand. “I’ll go with you.”

Her brow wrinkles. “You’ll be bored.”

“I’m never bored when I’m around you.”

She rolls her eyes. “Charmer.”

I’m not trying to be charming. I’m being real. But I don’t correct Alaia. She doesn’t realize how much I want her. How often I think of her while lying in my bed. My cock hard and heavy.

But she thinks this relationship is fake. And I know better than to get involved with a woman. They’ll betray you if you give them the chance.

“I’ll drive. Where are we going?”

“No need to drive. The incident occurred nearby.”

“Let’s go.”

I keep hold of her hand as we walk out of the bar. I don’t usually enjoy holding a woman’s hand. But Alaia’s different. I want to touch her as much as possible. I want to touch more than her hand. But I’ll settle for her hand. For now.

“What’s the incident? I hope no one robbed the bank.”