I'll Catch You by Farrah Rochon Page A

should it matter what anyone else thought?
    But he knew the way the world worked, and he knew exactly what people would think if he and Payton became romantically involved. Payton was right; she would lose all credibility as an agent. An even more disturbing thought was the potential for other ballplayers to think if they signed with Mosely Sports Management they would get a little something extra as part of the deal.
    Cedric’s hands balled into fists. He was ready to commit bodily harm just at the thought of another player thinking about Payton in that way. But he knew how those guys’ minds worked. Hell, he was one of those guys. That was the first thing he’d thought when she’d approached him. He could not expect her to jeopardize her reputation.
    But what if they were extra discreet…?
    “Cedric?”
    “What?” He had no idea what she’d said.
    “I asked if it’s okay for both girls and boys to participate in the same touch football game, or should we separate them by gender?”
    “It’ll be flag football,” he answered. “No tackling.”
    “Great.” She nodded. “The director said nearly all of the kids have returned their permission slips, so it looks like we’ll have about thirty participants on Saturday.”
    “And you’re going to be there?” he asked.
    “In the afternoon. I’m having one of my signature coffeehouse meetings Saturday morning.” She paused, a small grin creating a dimple Cedric had never noticed before. “It’s with Electronic Sports Gaming,” she said, her eyes lighting up.
    “What?” Cedric nearly bolted out of his chair. ES Gaming was one of the hottest video game companies around. “Are you serious?”
    “Don’t get too excited. We’re not talking the cover of NFL Hardball but I am hoping to get you a spot as one of the video game’s premier running backs. If we’re lucky, you may get to do your own voice-over in the game.”
    “Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier?”
    “Because I’ve just set up the meeting with them. As I said, don’t get too excited yet. This is still very early.”
    Cedric leaned back in his chair and shook his head at the hand fate had dealt him. He’d been given exactly what he’d asked for in an agent, and now half the time he wished he could fire her so he could have her for himself.
    “I’ve been sitting here trying to convince myself that you’re not all that good of an agent just so I could justify dropping you. But you’re a damn good agent.”
    “Thank you,” she said, though her forlorn expression told him she wished things could be different as well.
    This was torture. Pure and simple.
    They shouldn’t have to choose between one or the other. They shouldn’t have to worry about what other people would say, dammit. But they did. And at this point in his career Cedric knew he needed Payton, the agent, even more than he needed Payton, the potential bed partner.
    “So,” he said. “You’re speaking to ES Gaming on Saturday. What else do you have lined up?”
    She ticked off several clothing lines, a sports drink and a car dealership, all of which she’d learned about from her web of online connections. It struck Cedric once again how different Payton was from Gus Houseman. Gus hadn’t been willing to even talk endorsements, claiming it was never the right time. Cedric now realized it had never been the right time for Gus. He’d always been low on Gus’s totem pole, coming second to his former agent’s list of clients who all pulled high eight-figure salaries. Gus hadn’t been concerned with furthering Cedric’s career.
    He needed someone out there fighting for him, getting his name in front of the people who mattered. He needed an agent who believed in him.
    He needed Payton.
    “Thank you,” Cedric told her, because he needed to.
    “For what?” she asked.
    “For taking this seriously. For taking me seriously. I was sinking when you found me, you know? I’d called just about every major agent in