he knew she’d been watching his entire career, he thought it was likely. “It’s more of a personal choice. If I’m not in a serious relationship, I choose to remain celibate. End of story.”
“You do have a lot of self-control.” Her gaze dropped to take in the whole package. “You’re a young, healthy, vibrant man.”
“Sure, and when I need a physical release, I go for a run, lift weights or play catch.”
“Well, that seems to be working. As your stats show.”
“Yes, I’ve been fortunate that I’m able to put all my energy into my game.” At least that’s what he’d been telling himself.
“Don’t you ever get lonely?” Was her curiosity professional or personal?
“Sure. But spending the night with a stranger doesn’t cure that.” He’d tried that. Once. He couldn’t get his mind off knowing Ali was spending her wedding night with someone else. With Mel.
“So, Johnny Scottsdale, you’re a romantic.” Her voice took on a wistful tone.
“No. Just practical.” He shrugged, hoping what he said next wouldn’t paint him as some kind of jerk. “I know that there’s an element of fantasy some women have about being with an athlete. Any athlete. Some guys are okay with that. I’m not.”
Great, now he sounded like he thought he was too good for any woman. “Besides, I’m afraid of lawyers.”
He punctuated that last remark with a sappy smile.
She laughed and then turned to the camera, wrapping up their interview. As soon as the camera stopped rolling, she turned back to Johnny.
“My boyfriend is a lawyer.” She unclipped her microphone, but kept talking.
“Then I’m sure he’d appreciate guys like me who understand that your friendliness and professional interest don’t mean anything more.” Johnny wished since the interview was officially over, he’d be free to leave.
“He would.” She gave him a smoldering look. “If my ex -boyfriend was the jealous type. Or the faithful type.”
Johnny shook his head and laughed. An awkward, uncomfortable laugh.
“Oh, come on, you’re a very attractive man, Johnny Scottsdale.” She leaned forward enough to provide a glimpse of her lace bra. It was turquoise. Not that he wanted to know.
“I’m sure you say that to all the celibate Cy Young Award winning ballplayers you interview.” Oh, hell that sounded an awful lot like flirting.
“I do.” She laughed, flipping her hair back over her shoulder. “I interview dozens of good-looking ballplayers. Most of them think they’re the greatest thing since free agency. You’re different. You’ve got that untouchable thing going.”
“I’m sort of seeing someone.” He felt heat creep up the back of his neck. He had no idea where that statement had come from. Wishful thinking?
“Oh, you don’t have to let me down that easy.” There was more than a hint of disappointment in her voice.
The heat spread across his cheeks, like razor burn. Even worse, his mind strayed to thoughts of Alice. Did he really want to start things up with her again? His body was ready. Like a rookie just called up late in the season. Put me in, coach. But his heart had doubts. She’d taken him deep last time. Real deep.
“So, who is she?”
Johnny shook his head, forgetting where he was for a moment. “Like I said before, my personal life is, uh, personal.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not that kind of journalist.” She smiled, a you-can-trust-me kind of smile.
“No, I’m sure you’re a professional. And since our interview is officially over, I think I should stop talking.” He returned his most sincere fake smile.
“Johnny Scottsdale, you really are more than what meets the eye.” She dropped her gaze to his lap. “Not that what meets the eye is anything to complain about.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” He tried to choose his words carefully. He didn’t need to get on a reporter’s bad side.
“Wow, do I really need to spell it out?” She shook her head, tossing her hair so
“You do have a lot of self-control.” Her gaze dropped to take in the whole package. “You’re a young, healthy, vibrant man.”
“Sure, and when I need a physical release, I go for a run, lift weights or play catch.”
“Well, that seems to be working. As your stats show.”
“Yes, I’ve been fortunate that I’m able to put all my energy into my game.” At least that’s what he’d been telling himself.
“Don’t you ever get lonely?” Was her curiosity professional or personal?
“Sure. But spending the night with a stranger doesn’t cure that.” He’d tried that. Once. He couldn’t get his mind off knowing Ali was spending her wedding night with someone else. With Mel.
“So, Johnny Scottsdale, you’re a romantic.” Her voice took on a wistful tone.
“No. Just practical.” He shrugged, hoping what he said next wouldn’t paint him as some kind of jerk. “I know that there’s an element of fantasy some women have about being with an athlete. Any athlete. Some guys are okay with that. I’m not.”
Great, now he sounded like he thought he was too good for any woman. “Besides, I’m afraid of lawyers.”
He punctuated that last remark with a sappy smile.
She laughed and then turned to the camera, wrapping up their interview. As soon as the camera stopped rolling, she turned back to Johnny.
“My boyfriend is a lawyer.” She unclipped her microphone, but kept talking.
“Then I’m sure he’d appreciate guys like me who understand that your friendliness and professional interest don’t mean anything more.” Johnny wished since the interview was officially over, he’d be free to leave.
“He would.” She gave him a smoldering look. “If my ex -boyfriend was the jealous type. Or the faithful type.”
Johnny shook his head and laughed. An awkward, uncomfortable laugh.
“Oh, come on, you’re a very attractive man, Johnny Scottsdale.” She leaned forward enough to provide a glimpse of her lace bra. It was turquoise. Not that he wanted to know.
“I’m sure you say that to all the celibate Cy Young Award winning ballplayers you interview.” Oh, hell that sounded an awful lot like flirting.
“I do.” She laughed, flipping her hair back over her shoulder. “I interview dozens of good-looking ballplayers. Most of them think they’re the greatest thing since free agency. You’re different. You’ve got that untouchable thing going.”
“I’m sort of seeing someone.” He felt heat creep up the back of his neck. He had no idea where that statement had come from. Wishful thinking?
“Oh, you don’t have to let me down that easy.” There was more than a hint of disappointment in her voice.
The heat spread across his cheeks, like razor burn. Even worse, his mind strayed to thoughts of Alice. Did he really want to start things up with her again? His body was ready. Like a rookie just called up late in the season. Put me in, coach. But his heart had doubts. She’d taken him deep last time. Real deep.
“So, who is she?”
Johnny shook his head, forgetting where he was for a moment. “Like I said before, my personal life is, uh, personal.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not that kind of journalist.” She smiled, a you-can-trust-me kind of smile.
“No, I’m sure you’re a professional. And since our interview is officially over, I think I should stop talking.” He returned his most sincere fake smile.
“Johnny Scottsdale, you really are more than what meets the eye.” She dropped her gaze to his lap. “Not that what meets the eye is anything to complain about.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” He tried to choose his words carefully. He didn’t need to get on a reporter’s bad side.
“Wow, do I really need to spell it out?” She shook her head, tossing her hair so
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