The Deal with Love (One on One)

by Jamie Wesley

  “He’s filming a piece on me for NBA TV,” Elise said, pointing to the camera.

  Mack blinked. “Oh. That’s great. Is it going to be a problem for you that I’m here?”

  “Not at all,” his son said.

  Elise wasn’t so sure. The tension in the room was so thick she was finding it hard to breathe. And it wasn’t going to get better any time soon. While she sympathized with Christian’s position, she and Mack had scheduled this meeting last week to discuss free agents and summer plans for their rookies. She couldn’t reschedule or cancel the meeting because Christian wanted nothing to do with his father. She’d just have to get through this meeting with Mack first and discuss the situation with Christian afterward.

  Ten minutes later, she realized how foolish her plan had been. Christian had returned to his position behind the camera, but his presence alone was enough to derail Mack’s attention. He kept sneaking glances at his son, barely listening to what she had to say about sending their draft picks to play in the NBA’s summer league.

  Her attention was affected, too, if she were honest with herself. She glanced at Christian out of the corner of her eye. His face was blank. Too blank. He’d never admit it, but this couldn’t be easy for him. But how could she make things better? Was it her place to try? She didn’t know Christian well. A one-night stand didn’t count in the grand scheme of things. Hell, it didn’t count in the small scheme of things. And while she had a terrific professional relationship with Mack, who’d been supportive of her appointment to GM from day one, they didn’t share confidences.

  “Are we in agreement that our two rookies will be in the starting lineup for the summer league team and that we’ll sign Adam Bateman to play as well to see if he can help us in the fall?” When no response was forthcoming, she cleared her throat. “Mack?”

  He blinked like she’d jarred him out of a deep thought. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

  She sighed. Things between father and son couldn’t continue this way. She glanced at Christian. Even if he wanted them to.

  …

  Christian prided himself on being a professional. Which is why he hadn’t faltered when Mack walked into the office. And why his hand never shook while guiding the camera no matter how many times Mack glanced his way.

  He hadn’t considered the possibility of running into Mack during this assignment. He’d been too busy thinking of all the good he could do with the money Dale would give him and trying not to think about how being around Elise tested his resolve to leave their relationship as a one-night stand. Besides, why would he think about him? Ever since his sister had told him who their father was, he’d gotten very good at not thinking about Mack.

  But they couldn’t go on this way. He didn’t want to make Elise any more uncomfortable because of his drama. He was committed to this project. Mack was the Stampede head coach and would be hanging around, so at the end of the meeting, when Mack angled his head toward the hall, Christian gave a brief nod of acceptance.

  About thirty seconds after Mack left, Christian said, “I’ll be back. I need to go to the bathroom.”

  “Okay,” Elise said. “It’s down the hall to your left.”

  He exited the office and spotted Mack waiting up ahead. He followed him into a room—Mack’s office, obviously—and braced himself for what was to come.

  He didn’t feel angry. He’d been living in a state of numbness ever since he’d found out his father was living in the same town. He didn’t blame his sister for not calling Mack out for the bastard he was like she’d originally intended, but he couldn’t do the whole father-child reconciliation thing that Mack and Caitlin had engaged in. That just wasn’t him. He wasn’t interested in getting to know someone who’d shown his true colors long ago. Mack hadn’t ever wanted to get to know him. He’d made that blatantly obvious when he’d given Christian’s mother five thousand dollars, and told her to take a hike. People encouraged him to give Mack a second chance, but Mack had never given him a chance, so why should he?

  “Thanks for coming,” Mack said pleasantly.

  Christian just stared at him. He refused to see his resemblance to this man, though others had been quick to point it out once the news had hit.

  Mack cleared his throat. “How are you?”

  Christian’s jaw tightened. “I’m doing fine. I’m always fine.”

  “That’s good to hear. I have a few things to say.”

  “I’m not interested in hearing them.” Mack had had years to reach out and find out what happened to the children he’d abandoned. He never had until he was forced to. “I’m only here to tell you we can be polite and professional. That’s as far as it needs to go. That’s as far as it will go.”

  Mack straightened to his full six feet six inches, giving Christian a glimpse of the ultra-confident pro athlete he’d once been. “I’m glad you had your chance to speak, because that means I can talk without fear of interruption. I’ve tried to be cognizant of your feelings and not push too hard too fast, but you’re going to be here every day, and I know I’m not going anywhere.”

  Christian felt a begrudging sense of respect rise in him for Mack standing his ground. Before finding out Mack was his father, he’d never disliked the other man. He’d always liked him as a player. As a fan of the Stampede, he’d been excited when they hired Mack as head coach. He’d always admired his toughness, his assertiveness, and his leadership skills. It had been hard to reconcile that image of him to the man Christian learned he really was. Though he couldn’t match Mack in height, he was more than a match for him in toughness. He spoke clearly. “You’re right. I am going to be here, and I have no intention of not doing the job I was hired to do. Give your speech, and then I’ll leave and we won’t have to speak ever again.”

  Mack’s jaw tightened, but his gaze remained steadfast. “What I did to you, Caitlin, and your mother was shitty. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it.”

  “Yet you’d still be living in that denial if my sister hadn’t found out the truth,” Christian bit out.

  Mack nodded. “You’re right, but she did find out, she did seek me out, and I’m happy that she did. You probably won’t believe me, but I regretted my actions for years, and I didn’t handle my guilt in the right way. Instead of looking for your mother to see how she’d fared, I pushed it to the back of my brain and tried never to think about it.”

  The anger, the disgust Christian had held back for months refused to be silenced any longer. “You thought my mother had an abortion. You wanted her to have an abortion. You gave her a check for five thousand dollars and told her to never contact you again. Why in the world would I ever forgive you for that?”

  Mack’s face fell, the bravado holding up his shoulders seemingly deserting him. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’ve always been so determined and gone after what I wanted in my life, but I’m asking for your forgiveness anyway. There’s nothing I want more in my life right now than for you to give me a second chance. I’m not saying I deserve it. I don’t deserve it, but I’d like it anyway. I’ve gotten to know Caitlin, and it’s been amazing. She’s amazing.”

  Christian hated hearing the pride in Mack’s voice. He didn’t deserve to feel pride. “You don’t know shit about my sister. I wish you would leave her alone.”

  Mack shook his head. “I know you want to believe I don’t know anything about her, but that’s not true. She and I have spent a lot of time getting to know each other these past nine months. I’m not going to say it was all a hunky-dory fairytale, but we’ve both tried, and it’s gradually gotten better. I just want that same chance with you.”

  Christian didn’t respond. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t. The anger, the hurt, the confusion—it all raged in a tight boil inside him, crowding out the numbness. Growing up, he’d never let himself hope for a father. He’d understood at a young age that if his father wanted to be a part of his life, he would have been. His mother had never lied, never pretended his father was dead.
He hadn’t wanted to be a part of their lives, so Christian hadn’t wanted him to be.

  Mack waited a few seconds, clearly waiting for Christian to reply. When it didn’t come, he sighed and said, “Just think about it.”

  “Don’t hold your breath.” Christian turned on his heel and strode out of the office, barely resisting the urge to slam the door behind him. Outside Elise’s office, he paused with his hand on the knob, struggling to get his breathing under control. She’d notice in a heartbeat if he went storming into her office. He was here to do a job, not cause trouble or bring undue attention to himself. Still, it took a few more deep breaths to bring his heart rate under control.

  When he stepped inside, he found her pacing. She rushed up to him when she spotted him. “Where have you been?”

  He gave a moment’s thought to lying, but she was looking like she already knew the answer. “With Mack.”

  Her brow wrinkled. “That’s what I thought.” She paused. “I know you’re in a tough spot, and I shouldn’t butt in.”

  “But you’re going to anyway, aren’t you?” he asked with a brief smile.

  “Yes.”

  He held out a palm. One thing he’d learned about Elise—when she wanted to, she had no problem speaking her mind. “Then go for it. I’m not going to stop you.”

  Elise bit her lip. “I’ve gotten the chance to know Mack over the past few years, and I respect him. I like him.” He couldn’t stop the small growl that spilled from his lips. Still, she straightened her shoulders and soldiered on. “I know this situation with you and your sister hasn’t been easy for him.”

  The anger he’d tried to put a lid on threatened to boil over again. “Yes, because it’s hard to maintain a good-guy image when everyone knows your deep, dark secret.”

  “I won’t defend what he did. He won’t defend what he did. But it was thirty years ago, and I know he would like to make amends.”

  “I don’t care what he wants. I’ve lived my life for thirty years without him, and I’m doing just fine.”

  She studied him, her brow still creased. “Are you? There seems to be a lot of pent-up anger inside you.”

  He held up a hand. “Don’t. Just don’t. I’m handling this the best way that I see fit.”

  “Christian.” Her beautiful eyes pleaded with him.

  He wasn’t in the mood. Why was everyone so damned determined to discount his feelings and tell him he was wrong? “Why do you care? It’s not like you have the best relationship with your father. Do you think I forgot how you ran out on him the night of my sister’s engagement party without speaking to him? Or how you came to me a few days ago determined to thwart his wishes? Or how upset you were with me when I agreed to do his bidding?”

  She didn’t flinch at his harsh questioning. Instead, she nodded and closed her eyes for a second. When she opened them, they were clear and resolute. “Those are fair questions. Yes, my father and I have had our differences, and we continue to have our differences, but the one thing I can say, and that I will always be able to say, is that my father loves me. He believes he has my best interests at heart. Do I always agree with his reasoning? No, but I know I have his love, and he knows he has mine. I wouldn’t trade that for anything in the world.”

  He wasn’t swayed. “That’s great for you. But I have my mother and sister for those types of relationships. I don’t need him. I want you to stay out of it. This is the last time I plan on speaking to you or anyone else about this. My mother has tried. My sister has tried. I’ve made up my mind. Just like he made up his mind thirty years ago.”

  Again, she didn’t wilt under his heated demand. Not Elise. She held her ground and swept her gaze up and down his figure. “It must be hard for people in your life to live up to your high expectations.”

  He jerked back. “Are you saying I expect people to be perfect?”

  She shrugged. “If the shoe fits, then yeah.”

  Her accusation hit him square in the gut. He lived his life with certain expectations, and he didn’t think they were unreasonable. “I don’t know if I expect people to be perfect, but I don’t think I’m asking too much for them not to be assholes.”

  She sighed. “You’re not, but people make mistakes. Sometimes, they even regret them. Maybe you should learn to acknowledge and accept that fact. That’s all I’m trying to say.”

  He stared at her, stunned into silence. How had she seen into him so easily? They’d shared only one incredible night together, and yet she just dug straight into his soul, right to the core of his issues. He’d looked at this Stampede documentary as an opportunity to discover the real Elise, but it seemed like she was doing her best to find the real Christian. Except he had nothing to hide. He was who he was, and he wouldn’t apologize for it.

  “Are you going to be able to do this? I don’t want this to be uncomfortable for you.” She touched him then, gripping his hand.

  Just like that, the turmoil that had been weighing down his shoulders since Mack walked into the office lifted. Her concern touched him. Made him feel like he wasn’t alone on this crazy rollercoaster of emotions. He smiled. “Do you think you can get rid of me that quickly?”

  Her expression lightened. “Pfft. No, if I want to get rid of you, I’d think of something better. Something crazy to make you really want to leave.”

  “I’m pretty sure the emotion I’m feeling right now is fear.”

  “That’s ’cause you’re smart. I’m tough.”

  “I’ve never doubted that for a moment.” He gripped her hand when she started to retreat. He didn’t question his actions. All he knew was that he wanted her close at that moment. “Seriously though, I’m okay. I hadn’t thought about the fact that I would have to see him when I decided to do this, but I’ll be fine.”

  She searched his eyes, then nodded and patted him on the chest. “Okay. That’s all I want for you.”

  He kept her hand locked to his chest, loving the feel of her hands on him, even through his shirt. What was she doing to him? She cared about him. She’d made that clear. But she’d also made it clear she didn’t want anything more between them. He’d dealt with enough rejection in his life. Seeking it out wasn’t an option. Except he was afraid he was starting to feel something he didn’t want to name. And that simply could not be.

  Chapter Six

  Christian released her hand and stepped back. “Do you want to get lunch or something?”

  It took a second for the question to register. For her to break the spell he’d cast over her. For her to stop thinking about the way he’d been looking at her a moment ago. Like it was only a matter of time before he went from having lunch to having her—a prospect that heated every corner of her body and made her heart race. She smoothed her hands down the sides of her skirt. “Are you trying to ask me out on a date?”

  He trained his dark eyes on her. “No, if I was trying to ask you out on a date, you’d know it. There’d be no question about it.”

  “Uhh… Right.” She glanced at her watch to give herself a moment to recover from the arc of electricity zipping through her system. “Yes, I guess I should eat. I get so consumed with work that I forget a lot of times.”

  His brow wrinkled. “That’s not good.”

  Her stomach chose that moment to make its presence known with a loud grumble. “Tell me about it. Let me get my purse.” On the way to her desk, she froze and looked over her shoulder. “Wait. You’re not going to take the camera, are you?”

  He shook his head. “No, we’d need to get permission to film in whatever restaurant we go to, and that can be a time-consuming headache. I don’t think your stomach wants that.”

  Her stomach grumbled its agreement. “No, it doesn’t. Let’s go.”

  They went to a Tia Maria’s, a Tex-Mex restaurant a few blocks away from the arena.

  “I love this place,” Christian said, opening the door.

  “Me, too,” Elise said.

  A hostess led them to a table next to a window th
at served as one wall of the restaurant. The other walls were covered with murals and inspirational quotes from artists like Frida Kahlo. The place was packed, which was to be expected considering it was lunchtime in Texas at a Mexican restaurant. The tables were close enough together that she could hear what others were saying at nearby tables. For better and definitely for worse.

  “She’s the new general manager for the Stampede,” a balding man wearing a T-shirt said at a table a few feet away. At least he whispered, a point that got defeated thanks to the bass in his voice, which carried easily through the air.

  “Pretty, but I don’t want my GM to be pretty,” his companion, a skinny guy in a blue polo shirt, said. “I want my GM to get the job because he deserves it, not because her father owns the team.”

  “I know,” bald guy said. “What does she know about the NBA? It’s not like she played in the league. I hope she doesn’t run the team into the ground. We just won a title. Why did the old GM have to quit?”

  Elise clutched her menu, anger and frustration welling up inside of her. A small slice of hurt, too. These were the team’s fans, and they didn’t believe in her. They were ready to dismiss her just because of her gender and who her father was, neither of which she had control over. They didn’t care that she’d been a huge fan of the team for as long as she could remember. They didn’t care about her advanced degrees in business and applied economics. They didn’t care that she’d worked for another NBA team before joining the Stampede, diligently working her way up through the organization until she was the assistant director of basketball operations. They didn’t care that she’d served as the Stampede assistant GM for the past two years. Not that any of that should have mattered. Most GMs in professional sports had never played professionally, but no one questioned their credentials once they got the job. They cared about their results. All she wanted was that same consideration.

  A low growl caught her attention. She hastily lowered the menu she hadn’t been reading.