by Mel Curtis
“You can’t spout conditions when you haven’t fulfilled our original agreement,” Amber said, using her business voice. She might as well have changed into her school teacher suit. Instead she stood in front of Evan, hands on hips, in a slightly worse for wear blue cocktail dress. “You said you’d accept life coaching if I helped you win six games.”
Evan took a step back. “What does that have to do with marrying me?”
“Amber,” Blue warned from behind her.
“Okay. All right. You’ve been playing both sides – Mimi and me. And then you waltz in here – ”
“I stopped a basketball game,” Evan growled.
“And propose to me – ”
Evan tossed his hands. “We were about to win.”
“Without any reason for me to believe this is anything more than one of your ploys to avoid being a team player.” Amber crossed her arms over her chest.
This is what guys had to go through to win the love of their life? Un-be-frickin’-lievable. Evan leaned in real close. “I punched Jack Gordon defending your honor. Hell, I decked Kent Decklin because he threatened you. How is that playing both sides?”
She cocked her head to one side, staring at Evan. “Last night you said – ”
“Decklin declared what he was fighting for. My response was to deck him.”
Amber blinked. “Why would you want to marry me?”
The camera lenses turned on Evan. The warning buzzer sounded. There were only ten seconds left of their time out.
“Because I love you.”
The crowd hooted and whistled.
Amber remained annoyingly silent, her face unreadable. She didn’t admit she loved Evan. She didn’t admit she had feelings for him at all, damn it. Evan stood there in front of everyone looking like a big foolish jock.
He spun on his heel and returned to the court. Spinks kept up a continuous stream of profanity at a high decibel level. Evan glanced back once at Amber. Jack Gordon stood next to her. They were arguing, but Amber’s eyes were on Evan. Cora had turned away from them both, shaking her head as if what they said didn’t matter. As soon as the Flash won the game, Amber was officially screwed and she wouldn’t know what hit her.
Evan told himself he didn’t care. He had business to take care of. That lasted about two seconds, until a self-destructive idea formed in his head. He’d told Brock a man had to be in charge of his relationships, not accounting for the curve balls women threw. In the words of the wise prophet, Bugs Bunny, “What a maroon.” If Evan wanted to be a team player, he had to take one for the team.
At mid-court, Ren inbounded to Evan, who drove back to the Maverick’s basket and scored two points for them. The crowd leapt to their feet. So did Spinks. Beneath the Maverick’s basket, Ren didn’t dare throw the ball to Evan. He passed the ball to Antoine.
“What are you doing?” Amber cried as Evan ran by.
“You didn’t say which team I was supposed to help win.” Evan stole the ball from Antoine and then passed the ball to a surprised Joel Cotter, who drove in for a lay up. The Flash was only up by six points. The crowd was in a frenzy.
Coach Spinks called a time out and then began shrieking at Evan, who ignored him and walked over to Amber, Jack and Blue, all of whom were yelling at him. Cora stood to one side shooting him the evil eye. The microphone and cameras came in for some extreme eavesdropping.
“Do you love me or not?” Evan demanded.
Everyone turned to Amber.
She threw up her hands. “You don’t need anyone, remember? You win alone.”
“I won with my dad and I loved him.” If Evan wasn’t so damn mad at Amber and Cora and Jack and just about everybody around him, the statement would have made him choke up. “I want to win with you.”
Jack and Blue started yelling at Amber, who stared at Evan as if she’d never met him before. With a shrug, Evan walked back out onto the court. Spinks yelled at him to come off. Spinks sent Zablonski to buzz in with the scorekeeper, but Evan just stood on the far side of the court and shook his head. If he didn’t get off the court, the Flash would incur a technical foul for having too many players on the floor, which would give the Mavericks a free throw.
“Are you on drugs, Oliver?” It was Stan Smith, one of the referees. He peered into Evan’s eyes.
“No, sir. I think I’m crazy in love.”
“That’s a shame.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Drugs have become an excuse people accept for poor play. But love…” He shook his head as the buzzer went off. “If you don’t get off the court by the time play resumes – ”
Evan stood his ground. The five other Flash players on the court approached him. Everyone looked nervous, even the other team’s players, who hung back at center court. Jack and Blue were tearing into Amber while most of the handheld cameras recorded it for posterity. Evan almost wanted to go over to defend Amber. Almost.
I love you. Your father loved you. We just suck at showing it.
That’s what he wanted to say.
What are you afraid of?
Nothing but losing Amber’s love.
And he’d risk everything – everything – to watch her back and prove he loved her.
“Listen up,” Evan said to his teammates. “Here’s what’s going down.”
“You’re his good luck charm,” Blue argued. “What does it hurt to tell the man you love him and want to marry him? It’s true, isn’t it?”
Cora sat primly in a chair and rolled her eyes. “She talks like she’s in charge.”
“She is,” Blue snapped.
The crowd had gone silent, as if trying to overhear their conversation. Trina, Franklin and Lyle had backed off just far enough to hear but not butt in.
“I don’t have time for this discussion now.” Evan’s proposal had broadsided Amber. Who was he trying to fool? The media? Jack? Except Evan had said he loved his dad. Amber was confused when there was no time to be confused. Betrayers clustered about her like weeds and what few seeds of hope she had left refused to poke their heads out.
Amber spared the cluster of demi-gods out on the court a glance. Evan played his best as the dark hero, but he wasn’t keeping his teammates at a distance. In fact, as one the men of the Flash turned toward where Amber stood, crossed their arms over their chests and glared. What was going on here? Another one of Evan’s bluffs? It had to be. And yet…
“I’m going to sue you for malpractice.” Jack was spitting mad. “You’ll be ruined.”
Keeping track of Evan out of the corner of her eye, Amber turned first to Blue. “You’re my right hand man, but I can’t let you deal with clients anymore until you learn the Rules.” And then immediately on Jack. “You aren’t going to honor Evan’s contract win or lose, are you? Which means you aren’t going to honor the verbal agreement you have with the Dooley Foundation. Malpractice is just another word for bully, which is what you are.”
Cora sat up and took notice.
“Oliver trusts you,” Blue said, calmer now, catching onto where she was going with this. “He chose you, gave voice to his goal and trusted you – ”
“Don’t pull the Rules on me now,” Amber said, but then she hesitated. The cameras were rolling on them. This would be incredible PR for the Dooley Foundation. She flashed a strained grin toward the camera and added, “We don’t have time.”
The buzzer sounded and then whistles blew. If Amber didn’t fix this situation with Jack, Evan would blow his chance at an NBA career.
“A technical foul.” Jack tossed his hands. “A minute left and we’re up by four points. I’ll double your money.” He grabbed Amber by the shoulders.
“You’re going bankrupt,” Amber reminded him.
“We sold out tonight,” Jack said. “We’ve been selling out because of you and Oliver. And after the drama that goes on tonight, if we win, I’m going to be able to make good on everything I promised you.”
“Really? Three million dollars in retainer fe
es over two years?”
“Yes!” Jack yelled.
“Fine. But you’ll sign an agreement now with me,” Amber said firmly. “Not Cora. And not Blue.”
Her brother nearly choked, which was fine with Amber. Blue needed to learn a thing or two about applying the Rules before he was rewarded.
The Maverick’s free throw went in and the crowd booed. Zablonski stepped off the court, ignoring his coach’s instructions. Antoine inbounded the ball at half court to Ren, who ran directly toward the Maverick’s basket and dunked it. The Flash was only up by one point. Spinks called a time out again. The five Flash players on the court stood shoulder to shoulder as they stared at Jack Gordon.
“And when Evan wins this game,” Amber added, “You’ll deliver on his contract as promised. Say yes or it’ll cost you this game.”
“Yes. Yes.” Jack repeated, running a hand through his thick, black hair.
Amber looked up to see Evan staring at her, flanked by four intimidating men. Amber knew she had a choice – risk her heart or run and hide it away as she’s always done. Evan was willing to give up everything for her, just as she’d been willing to give up a chance at love for him to succeed.
Amber met Evan in the middle of the court. “You’re right. I love you.” Amber glanced around the arena. “I think I have to agree to marry you or we’re going to be mobbed by a very angry crowd.”
“Oliver, you’ll earn your team another technical if you don’t get this fan off the court now.” A referee stood behind Evan, but he was grinning, mumbling something about love being a fool’s drug.
“I need more time,” Evan said.
The ref walked to the scorer’s table, shaking his head.
Kent Decklin and Mimi Sorbet came out of the tunnel, but no one other than Amber seemed to noticed.
Evan scowled at Amber, quite a change from the man who’d gone down on one knee just a few minutes earlier. Then he took her hands, sending the crowd into a frenzy. “Amber, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I love you. I’m willing to wait until you realize you love me, too.”
Whistles blew. The referee made a T with his hands. The crowd went ballistic as one of the Mavericks took the line to shoot another free throw.
A camera crept closer.
Amber recalled her father’s letter. He was convinced she could face anything, perhaps even her old nemesis – the media. Amber smiled weakly at the camera. “How about this? You give me three children, a house in Malibu and I won’t ask you to get rid of the Dracula poster.”
Spinks was screaming again. Jack paced up and down the sidelines. Amber swore she could hear her father’s laughter in her head, but it was happy, not mocking.
Evan grinned down at her. “I’ll need five kids for my own team and you seem to have forgotten that you want to live in Pasadena to protect your privacy.”
Joel Cotter of the Mavericks exchanged a look with his wife in the stands and called a timeout, an action that would endear him to women across the nation and ensure he wouldn’t be sleeping on the couch back in Dallas.
“The housing market is crap,” Amber countered, sparing Evan’s opponent a smile. “So we’ll probably have to live in your bat cave at first, but then definitely Malibu.”
“Are you sure?” Evan would have preferred a response with more enthusiasm.
“I’ll throw in a house in Malibu,” Jack said, coming onto the court with them. “If you’ll just say yes and let us finish the game.”
The other four players on the Flash surrounded them.
“That is a fair deal, Miss Amber,” Ren said.
“I don’t know.” Antoine grinned. “Five kids?”
“Five.” Evan stood firm. He loved Amber, but he wanted his own team.
“I’ll get you a nanny,” Jack said. “If we just win this game.”
The buzzer sounded and Joel Cotter sunk his free throw. The game was tied.
They all looked at Amber as the referee stood on the sidelines ready to give the ball to Joel Cotter.
Amber glowed at Evan with so much love his chest hurt, he was so happy. “Well, if it’s going to be a team effort…”
They all assured Amber it would be.
“Then what are you waiting for? Go kick some Maverick ass,” Jack said.
After a quick kiss for luck, Amber waved at the camera and ran to the sidelines, where she was immediately surrounded by Blue and an odd group of friends.
“It is unfortunate that Dallas gets the ball,” Ren said.
“You just go stand down by our basket.” Evan walked over to where Joel Cotter was inbounding the ball. “Oh, and Ren.”
The Korean turned back around.
“Don’t miss,” Evan said.
“What do we do after Ren misses the shot?” Antoine asked.
“He’s going to make it,” Evan said, grinning. “And when he does I need you to stop the ball on our end, even if you have to foul them.”
With love in his corner and the trust of the Flash, Evan knew he couldn’t lose.
When the clock finally ran out, the Flash was ahead by two points.
Amber, the team and the fans welcomed Evan home.
L.A. Happenings by Lyle Lincoln
…Have I mentioned I received a much sought after invite to the nuptials of Amber Rule to her so hot NBA Flash superstud, Evan Oliver? After a whirlwind spring romance, they say their “I do’s” this weekend at the Beverly Hills Hotel in the oh-so-romantic Sunset Ballroom. In addition to looking for a baby bump – since they pulled this wedding together in only four weeks – I look forward to seeing the usual beauty queens, actors and athletes, as well as a few posers and party crashers.
…And well, well, well. Looks like the Playboy Avengers have struck again. This group of ex-girlfriends are making one unlucky playboy’s life miserable. With a web-site and an on-line store (“Avenging My Broken ♥” T-shirts), this exclusive club is in it for the long term. I almost pity the man who dumped all these vengeful, Hollywood women.
THE END
Turn the page to read the next installment in the series.
Fool For Love
Chapter One
In high profile L.A., careers were made and broken on the fickle stench of publicity.
Blue Rule’s career balanced on the rim of public ruin, a stinking, fuck-ccident waiting to happen.
Clearly, some of his yet-to-be-named, celebrity ex-girlfriends had too much time on their hands. They’d formed a club – the Playboy Avengers. Their only goal? To ruin him.
“This is supposed to be the happiest day of my life.” Amber, his half-sister, the blushing bride, glided toward him at top speed, and hooked her hand in the lapel of his black tuxedo as she passed.
Caught, Blue rode the crest of her white train out of the Sunset Ballroom and onto the terra cotta-tiled patio of the Beverly Hills Hotel.
It was a relief to be out of the blue sky-themed room where professional athletes, Hollywood moguls, and buzz-seeking celebrities were packed tighter than condoms in a frat boy’s wallet. It was not a relief to be publicly towed along like Hemingway’s ill-fated marlin.
Mr. Jiggles, a hot pink teacup poodle with the attitude of a pitbull, agreed with him. Tucked in the crook of Blue’s arm, the dog growled, much as Blue had growled when he’d picked up his tiny charge and discovered the Avengers had struck again. Only this time they’d picked on his deceased father’s defenseless little dog. Not only had they dyed the poodle pink, they’d painted Mr. Jiggles’ nails to match!
With each Avenger prank Blue fought gut-plunging helplessness. With each Avenger prank his reputation teetered on the precipice of a publicly humiliating, income-ending abyss. But the dog was the last straw. This had to end.
About the Book & the Author
This book percolated for years with a combination of things: I enjoy hearing celebrity gossip, I married a Final Four college athlete who later became a coach, I listen to self-help audio books (The Secret is still a favo
rite), and my mother was obsessed with Richard Simmons when I was growing up. If you mix all that together, you'd get a self-help guru who isn't cool to his kids, who dies and wills his practice to his kids - only he's never told anyone the secrets to his self-help success. You'd also get a cast of characters only Hollywood can provide: a sex kitten reality star, a heartless heart-throb actor, a NBA star with something to prove, a wounded gossip columnist, a driven self-made NBA franchise owner, a sister who needs to grow up, and a brother who thinks he can cut corners and ride the heroine's coat tails. Amber Rule is one of my favorite heroines because she lived in my head for far too long. I hope she's become one of your favorites, too.
Fool for Love
It's Only Love
All My Love
All She Needs is Love
Fighting For Love
Melinda Curtis is an award winning, USA Today bestseller who lives in her empty nest with her husband (her college sweetheart), two small dogs (Yorkie-Shitzu mixes), and an average looking cat (Queen of all she Surveys).
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Other Series by Melinda Curtis
Harmony Valley from Harlequin Heartwarming (fun, touching sweet small town romances)
Dandelion Wishes
Summer Kisses
Season of Change
One Perfect Year
Time for Love
A Memory Away
A Man of Influence
The Bridesmaid Series (sweet, romantic comedies)
The Wedding Promise
Always a Bridesmaid
Rescued by a Bridesmaid
