that he couldnât deny, heâd left the distinct impression that they were lovers. The man was as smooth as oiled steel.
Obviously the reporter agreed with Kitâs opinion, for she gave a little snort. âIs tonight just a publicity stunt, then?â
âOh, no,â Jarrett said airily. âWeâre mixing work with pleasure. Weâre going to try to convince some of the team members to auction themselves off.â
âYou could just issue orders, I suppose.â Melindaâs eyes, colder than ever, turned to assess Kit. âAnd how do you feel about Mr. Webster offering a date?â
It was Jarrett who answered. âOh, she thinks itâs wonderful. In fact, sheâs planning to buy me, even if it costs a fortune.â
âIs she, now?â
âThe trouble is,â he confided, âshe wants me to offer a month in the South Seasâbut I think she might be the only one interested in a trip like that. And if she was the only bidder she wouldnât have to pay a fortune, after all, and the cause would suffer.â
Kit decided it was time to take a hand. âSo would Jarrett. He canât stand the idea that he might go cheap.â
â Inexpensive , darling. Nobody has ever accused me of being cheap.â
The reporter sniffed and moved away. As soon as she was out of earshot, Kit said, âWhat did she mean, you could just issue orders? Do you own this team?â
âOnly part of it,â Jarrett said modestly.
Kitâs heartbeat speeded up. âAnd youâre serious about asking your players to be involved in the auction?â
âOf course Iâm serious. I think at least half of them are eligible. Besides, why settle for raising a mere ten thousand when we could get into truly big money?â
Kit felt a bubble of excitement rising within her. With Jarrett throwing his support behind herâreal supportâthe auction would be an incredible success. âJarrett, thatâs wonderful! Now Iâm really seeing stars.â
âI thought youâd like the idea,â he said mildly. âAnd just think how impressed Iâll be with your skills when you manage to recruit all these guys without me even lifting a finger to help.â
Â
Jarrett kept up a steady stream of light comment all the way from the arena to Tryad. Finally Kit said coldly, âIt seems to have escaped your notice that Iâm not speaking to you.â
âOh, I noticed,â he said cheerfully. âI just decided to ignore it. Same time tomorrow?â
âAre you joking?â
âYou donât want my help?â
âThis is what you call help? With one sentence to your head coach you could solve the whole problem, but will you?â
âTeam manager.â
âWhat?â
âThe coach wouldnât go for the idea of the auction, but the manager might. And if I took over, it would violate the whole spirit of our agreement. It might even make me question whether you could have pulled it off alone, after all. Therefore, I believe Iâll just stay out of it and let you prove yourself. Front door or back?â
âI beg your pardon?â
âHere we are,â Jarrett said patiently. âAt Tryad. I was just asking where you left your car. I wouldnât want you having to walk around the building at this hour of the night.â
âWhat a gentleman you are.â Kitâs voice dripped sarcasm.
âOf course. I simply couldnât live with myself if anything happened to you.â
She gave up. Jarrett had obviously been born with a better command of irony than she could acquire in a lifetime of effort. âActually, I walked to work this morning.â
âWhich way?â He put the Porsche into gear.
âYou donât have to deliver me. Itâs only a few blocks.â But there wasnât much conviction in Kitâs tone. The evening was cold and moonless, and she didnât
C. J. Cherryh
Learning to Kill: Stories
John O'Riley
Brenda Sinclair
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