Intercepting Daisy by Julie Brannagh Page B

reporter said, “We’re here with Grant Parker. His first start for the Sharks was a success by anyone’s standards.” She recited the game stats one more time. “How does the first win of the Grant Parker era in Seattle feel?”
    She was going for broke on her first question.
    â€œThanks, but Tom Reed is still our starter.”
    â€œWe have a source that tells us Reed has passed the torch to you, at least privately. What are your thoughts on that?”
    He didn’t change his facial expression or his tone of voice, despite the fact that he knew she wanted to keep re-asking the question until she got the reaction she wanted. He wasn’t giving it to her.
    â€œAgain, Tom Reed is our starter. We’re hoping he’ll be back on the field soon.”
    She gave him an almost invisible nod. In other words, she knew that if she didn’t get off the subject of Tom and his possible retirement, Grant was walking away from her.
    His teammates Kyle and Seth materialized out of the crowd and stood on either side of Grant.
    â€œGood game, huh?” Kyle asked Seth in a loud voice.
    â€œOh, the best. How about our boy here? The stats looked pretty good today,” Seth responded while slapping Grant on the back.
    â€œWe shouldn’t tell him that,” Kyle said. “He’ll get a big head.”
    â€œI understand he’s big all over,” Seth responded. “It’s true, ladies. Plus, he’s single.”
    â€œOur man needs a date. Send your applications to Sharks headquarters,” Kade Harrison chimed in. They both knew he was dating Daisy. As usual, his teammates were giving him shit. They wouldn’t bother if they didn’t accept him. He tried to look pissed, but he felt a smile breaking through.
    Several of the guys had drifted over to the knot of reporters and were adding their own opinions on Grant’s on-field performance, the fact he could use a date, and other conversational openings that had nothing to do with the current interview that had broken down in complete chaos. He hoped Daisy wasn’t watching the TV coverage in the suite.
    Derrick Collins’s voice boomed out. “He’s partial to blondes. I heard he likes chocolate chip cookies too.”
    â€œHell yeah,” Drew McCoy said. He reached out to ruffle Grant’s hair. “Milk and cookies, puppies, and walks on the beach. He’s all about that.”
    The group of men dissolved into laughter, shoving and fist-bumping.
    â€œWe’re all about helping him get laid,” Clay Morrison said.
    â€œThat’s right. We’re givers,” Derrick said.
    The sideline reporter who’d been attempting to interview Grant pulled the microphone away from Grant’s face. She turned her back to the joking football players and looked into the camera.
    â€œCongratulations to Grant Parker on his first win for the Sharks. Back to you, guys.” She gave Grant another nod as she turned to face him. “Nice to talk with you.”
    â€œThank you,” Grant said.
    He reached out to shake hands with her. Post-game interviews never did it for him in the first place, and his teammates’ photobombing was actually funny. As long as he didn’t get fined or bitched out by the head coach for the blown interview, he didn’t care if the media walked away from him.
    He knew he should try to make their jobs easier and tell the guys to back off. He’d gone from being ignored by the media for years to being the flavor of the week. Suddenly, everyone cared what he had to say. Maybe he didn’t need them so much.
    â€œYou’re leaving so soon?” Kyle asked the reporter who’d been attempting to ask Grant questions. The grin on his face was a bit calculating. “Don’t you want to talk with us? We’re interesting too.”
    â€œWe’ve got lots to say,” Seth said. “We’re full of—what do you all call it?