Page 40 of Challenge Me

His answer didn’t satisfy me the way it should have. Thankfully, one of Clara’s worker bees slipped into the room and gestured for us to follow her.

Remi held his hand out. “United front?”

Though I had my doubts, I took it. His hand was larger than mine, and when he threaded our fingers, I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to feel comforted.

Once we were settled on a couch, I squinted at the way the lights hit me. We were in one of the rooms at Fenway South where we spent our time training, so it didn’t feel as stuffy as going to a studio, but it wasn’t ideal either. If it wasn’t raining outside, I would’ve pushed to throw the ball around while we did this, just to be more comfortable.

Clara, seated in a plush chair but sitting ramrod straight, crossed her legs. Her black heels looked ridiculous in this place, and I wondered if she knew how much of her thigh she had on display in her skirt.

“We’re going to be recording this,” she said, gesturing at the camera crew behind her. “We’ll cut it as needed, so if you say anything you don’t want included in the publication, let me know.”

I shared a look with Remi to confirm that neither of us believed in her honor.

“How’s Florida treating you?” Remi asked as he uncapped his water bottle. “Beats Boston in March, right?”

She smiled and faked a warm laugh. “Yes, I do love spring training.”

“You don’t live there, though, if I remember correctly. You travel north searching for stories.”

“I travel all over, Mr. Keane. That’s the nature of my job.”

“Where do you call home, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Dropping my voice low, I squeezed his fingers. “Let’s not drag this out.”

“Now, we’re here to talk about you two,” Clara said. “I’m sure you’re very busy with training, Amir, so I appreciate that you finally agreed to sit down with me.”

“Of course,” I replied politely. I took my hand from Remi’s and stretched it over the couch behind him. After a moment of hesitation, I let my arm drape over his shoulders. “I’m always happy to make time for the press, especially since there are a lot of questions floating around.”

“People are curious. After all, your names have been popping up online recently.”

Remi leaned back and flipped his cap across his fingers. “Yeah, that first article was very . . . flattering.” There was a charming but almost sinister expression on his face. It was downright sexy, and I wanted to tell him to wipe it off his face since we were on camera. “Pulitzer-worthy stuff. I wish you would’ve at least given me a chance to zip up my pants.”

My fingers dug into the back of his shoulder.

Clara’s hunger was evident in every part of her. “I think one of our most asked questions is how this all started.” She waved her pen between the two of us. “When a player fresh out of a marriage is spotted in a position like that, it raises some uncertainties.”

“Fresh out of a marriage?” With a nonchalant laugh, I smoothed my hand down Remi’s arm. “My divorce was nearly two years ago. There was no overlap.”

“That’s about when you and Travis McKinney first started talking, am I right?”

My jaw was tight, but I refrained from letting the cameras catch me grinding my teeth. “We were professional acquaintances.”

“And now?”

“Friendly acquaintances.” I smiled, refusing to give her a bone. “Have you had an exclusive sit-down with him yet?”

The blow landed enough to make her nose twitch, but she played it off. “He’s a difficult man to book a slot with.”

Remi glanced at me and painted on a thoughtful expression. “Didn’t he recently do an hour-long special with Margot Collins?”

“That’s right,” I said. “It blew up fast, too. People love Trav to death.”

“Maybe Amir would put in a good word for you, Clara.”

If she was annoyed by him using her name, she didn’t show it. “Anyway, let’s hear about you, Remi. Everyone wants to know where you came from. Your bar popped up out of nowhere, then six months later, we learn that you two are an item. Did you move to New Haven because of him?”

“No,” Remi replied coolly. “My best friend and his boyfriend moved nearby, so I followed. The town seemed like a quaint place to put down roots.”