Pass Interference

by Desiree Holt

  Wow!

  And now here she was with Tony, whoever he was. He was slightly taller than Rafe, almost as bulky and with touches of gray in his hair. He had a very masculine face, square-jawed with thick eyebrows. The look he gave her now was warm and friendly, but she had the distinct feeling that same face could turn into a hard mask in seconds. Whatever, she was apparently stuck with him. Before she sat down, she stuck her hand in her jeans pocket and thumbed her cell to Off. She didn’t even want vibrate. She didn’t need to get calls while she was here with a stranger and then have to explain everything. If she heard from anyone else, she’d call them back later.

  “It’s nice to see you at the field, Tyler.” Tony’s voice caught her attention. “You don’t come here very often.”

  “Football’s not my thing.” She tried to keep the bitterness from her voice. “Especially this team.”

  “Maybe you should learn a little more about them,” he suggested. “The Hawks are a really hot team. For example, did you know that Dan Ochoa is on track for best defensive player of the year, not just in the conference but in the league?”

  “Uh, no, I had no idea.” Nor did she care.

  “As a matter of fact, Rafe won it twice when he was still playing for the team. They were still the Bisons then. And if anyone asks, I like the name Hawks a lot better.”

  “I’m sure my father will be ecstatic to hear that.” Then, out of some unwanted curiosity she asked, “What makes Ochoa a candidate for that?”

  “Well.” Tony gave her a smile. “The season is only half over and he already has racked up twenty-three sacks and twelve quarterback hits.” He paused. “And a bunch of other stats that if you aren’t into football would be all garbage to you.”

  “I agree.” She waved a dismissive hand. “I really know very little about the game. Um, so what position did Rafe play?”

  “Oh, wow, he was just the greatest safety in the game during his playing years.”

  “Safety.” She repeated it as if it were a foreign word.

  To his credit, Tony didn’t answer her as if she were a nitwit.

  “Yes. He was what we call a strong side safety. It was his job to prevent the quarterback from completing a successful pass by swatting the ball or catching it himself. In a rushing play, his job was to contain the runner.”

  “Hmmm.” She should let it go. She wasn’t all that interested. But as long as she had to sit here she might as well make conversation. “So why do they call him a strong safety? Because he’s stronger than someone else?”

  Tony laughed. “In his case, yes. But the term refers to the defensive back who covers the stronger side of the offensive line. That’s when—”

  She held up a hand. “I think that’s as much as my brain can handle. Thanks, though.”

  “You know, for several of the years Rafe played,” Tony went on, as if she hadn’t spoken, “Marko Spinoza was our quarterback. He always said a major reason we won two Super Bowls and that he won League MVP three times was because Rafe was one of the best safeties ever.”

  Tyler smiled at him. “You do know you might as well be speaking in a foreign language? I never learned about football, like I told you. Never much cared to.”

  He nodded. “Your choice.”

  They sat in silence for a while. Tyler found herself enjoying the warmth of the sunshine, the heat alleviated just enough by a smooth breeze blowing across the stadium. She tried to remember what it was like the few games she’d attended. Exciting, for sure. Noisy? Absolutely, but that was to be expected. Colorful. And there’d always been a crackle of electricity in the air that seemed to sizzle throughout the stands.

  Below her, on the lush green football field, the team continued to move in specific patterns, stopping each time a whistle blew. In spite of herself, she was fascinated.

  “What are they doing?” she asked.

  “The day before the game they walk through each of the plays to make sure they’ve memorized the patterns.”

  “Oh.” She nibbled on a fingernail. “This is a lot more complicated than I thought.”

  “Not really.” He laughed again. “It’s actually pretty simple. When we have the ball, we want to run it into the end zone or throw it. When they have the ball we want to keep them out of the end zone.” He spread his hands. “It’s that simple.”

  “Wow.” She chuckled. “You’re right. It doesn’t sound complicated at all.”

  In point of fact, it actually sounded like something she might enjoy, if she could get past her whole hatred thing about the team and its importance to her father. Really? Enjoy? What was happening to her? Surely one little visit like this wasn’t going to change years of a mindset. Of course, stranger things had happened.

  “So,” she said, breaking the silence, “what exactly do you do here except babysit the owner’s daughter?”

  “I don’t consider it babysitting. I’m actually enjoying myself.” He studied her face beneath the bill of the ball cap. “And if you don’t mind my saying so, I like the daytime Tyler Gillette better than the nighttime one.”

  Tyler was startled. When had he seen the nighttime one?

  “Have we seen each other at night?” she asked. “Because I don’t think you frequent the same places I do.”

  One corner of his mouth tipped up in a half smile. “No, I’m sure I don’t. But I’ve seen you at some of the functions you’ve attended for the Hawks.”

  She cocked her head, studying his face. “How come I don’t recognize you?”

  “I’m usually at Kurt’s table, which you seem to studiously avoid.” He cleared his throat. “Maybe you recognize my full name better. Anthony Castillo. Lone Star Security.”

  Taylor gawked at him, stunned. Rafe had the owner of the security agency babysitting her? Was he for real? She rose from her seat and started toward where Rafe was still working with his team, but Tony put his hand on her arm.

  “Leave him. It’s all right. He needs to go over game-day procedures with the security crew.”

  “I’d think they’d know what to do by now,” she commented.

  “You’re right,” he agreed. “But some games are more high profile and so the atmosphere is edgier. Like the one tomorrow against the Mustangs. People drink more beer and control themselves less.”

  “That’s what I keep hearing. I guess Rafe does a really good job, though?” She made it a question.

  “He does. I’ve had this contract with your father for a whole lot of years and Rafe is the best security chief I’ve ever had.”

  “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” She slouched back down in her seat, wondering how much longer she had to be here. “I’m sorry you have to waste your Saturday here like this.”

  “Don’t be. I have some things to go over with Rafe, some info to give him, and we decided this would be the most convenient place to do it.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “It was my idea, especially when he said he was worried about leaving you by yourself while he put the crew through their paces.”

  “I can’t believe him.” Tyler rubbed her knee in irritation. “This was quite an imposition. I’m perfectly capable of sitting here by myself for a while.”

  “He doesn’t want you alone anywhere until we nail this bastard that’s got you in his crosshairs.”

  “I can’t imagine someone could get to me here,” she told him. “Or that someone with the Hawks is involved.”

  Tony shrugged. “You never know what goes on in someone’s mind. Trust me. For example, Rafe said Chad Sinclair isn’t too happy you aren’t going to the shindig with him tonight.”

  “Chad?” She twisted her lips in a grimace. “I mean, he asked me out a lot between events and I turned him down, but he’s a good-looking guy. I’m sure he could have all the women he wants.”

  “But the one he wants could be you,” Tony pointed out. “Anyway, it may not be him, although Rafe said he got a little ugly about not taking you to the event
tonight.” Tony cast a sideways look at the man in question, now walking back inside with his guests. “But if he’s got an ax to grind, real or imaginary, we have to follow it through.”

  “It just seems so unlikely,” she mused.

  She leaned back in her seat and tilted her head up to the sun, enjoying for a moment the fresh scent of the outdoors and trying to lose some of the tension gripping her. Who on earth could be doing these things? She knew a lot of people disliked her but to pull a stunt like this?

  Then Tony’s voice broke the silence. “You know, Tyler, I’ve known your dad for nearly thirty years. Ever since he became a minority stockholder in the Hawks and made a vow to end up owning the whole team.”

  She made a rude sound. “He certainly accomplished that. The Hawks are his real family.”

  He gave her a searching look. “Maybe that’s an easier situation for him because he can hide his real emotions.”

  Tyler frowned. “I have no idea what you mean.”

  He studied her for a long moment. “I knew your mother, too. She was a lovely, lovely woman.”

  “Yes, she was.” Tyler felt her throat close up as memories of her mother came flooding back.

  “She was the great love of his life. He was truly devastated when she died.”

  “So was I,” she told him in a small voice.

  “Even after all this time,” Tony said, “I can still remember you being so sad whenever I saw you.”

  “Water under the bridge.” She didn’t want to talk about it. At the time she’d felt as if she’d lost both her parents.

  “I’m not excusing him, but he was consumed with so much grief he couldn’t function. And he had no idea how to handle a little girl. That’s why he buried himself in the team.”

  “I was just born the wrong sex.” She tried for a flippant tone, determined to conceal her real feelings. “If I’d been a boy, it would have been different. He made that plain. A son to take over the team.”

  But Tony was shaking his head. “Not true. Not true at all.”

  Tyler looked down at her folded hands. “You could have fooled me. All these years, no matter what I did I couldn’t get his attention. Anyway, I really don’t like discussing it.”

  “Maybe it’s time you did.” Tony’s voice was gentle and caring. “Maybe you need to bring all that up and deal with it.”

  “Why? It’s over and done with. He still doesn’t give a flip about me.”

  Really, Tyler? Then why did he involve himself in your situation?

  “Why do you think he insists you attend functions related to the Hawks?” Tony went on as if she hadn’t said a word.

  “To show me he has control over me,” she snapped. “He always threatens to cut off my trust find if I don’t go. Now, can we please change the subject?”

  “Like I said, a lot of this is on him. He’s handled things badly and admitted as much to me.” He turned his head to look directly at her. “But I know for a fact he wants to try to heal this breach.”

  Tyler shook her head. “I don’t know if that’s possible.”

  “Tyler, anything’s possible if people want it badly enough.”

  “Oh, look.” She interrupted him, ready to be done with the discussion. “I think Rafe is through with everything. We’d better get over there.”

  She rose from her seat, but Tony put a hand on her arm.

  “I’ll leave it for now, but please just think about what I said, will you?” He pointed to where Rafe was standing. “You know, Rafe’s a real good guy, too. One of my top men.” He winked at her. “Try not to give him too hard a time. A woman could do a lot worse than Rafe Ortiz.”

  Tyler looked at him in shock. “Oh, we’re not—” She shook her head. “No, absolutely not. You’ve got the wrong idea. Rafe’s just guarding my body until we catch this nut.”

  Tony grinned. “If you say so. Okay. Let’s go on over there.”

  The others were already dispersing by the time she and Tony reached Rafe.

  “You didn’t tell me you asked your boss to babysit me,” Tyler said in an accusing voice.

  “First of all,” Rafe protested, “he wasn’t babysitting, just making sure you were okay. And secondly—”

  “Secondly,” Tony interrupted, “I’m always up for spending some time with a beautiful woman.” He gave Tyler a serious look. “Keep that look you’ve got going today. It is beautiful.”

  The compliments made Tyler uncomfortable, as had the short discussion about her father. She turned her attention to Rafe again.

  “Tony said he needs to meet with you?”

  He nodded. “When I called the office about the security system, Tony said he’d take care of the order himself, then go over it with me. He was going to be right by the stadium. We figured this would be the best place to get together. Let’s go back to my office.”

  They were headed toward Rafe’s office when she heard her name.

  “Tyler! Hey, Tyler.”

  She turned to see Ed Spinelli jogging toward her. She wasn’t really anxious to talk to him, but she didn’t want to be rude. Who knew what he’d write about her and by extension the Hawks if she was. So she stopped, and Tony and Rafe stopped with her. Great. An audience.

  Ed stopped in front of her, grinning. “Hey. Good to see you.” He blinked. “I mean, really good to see you. You look terrific.” He raked his gaze over her from head to toe and back again, his mouth curving in a hungry smile. “I like the new Tyler Gillette look.”

  She was really getting tired of this. She didn’t think she’d looked so bad. So she wore a lot of makeup and spritzed a ton of spray on her well-teased hair. So what? It got her a lot of attention, didn’t it?

  But what kind of attention. And from what kind of people?

  “Thank you,” she said in a flat voice. “I think. What’s up?”

  Rafe had taken a step closer to her and Tony was on her other side. It was so ludicrous to think she needed protecting from Ed that she wanted to giggle.

  Ed looked at the two men through narrowed eyes, and then gave her a smile.

  “We didn’t get a chance to talk the other day,” he reminded her. “The Hawks are going great guns this season,” he began, “and I’m doing a profile on the team ownership. Kind of personalizing it, you know?”

  She held up a hand. “I’ll tell you the same thing I would have said the other day. You’re discussing this with the wrong Gillette. Go find the team owner.”

  “I did. He gave me an hour of his time, which I thanked him for. Now I want to talk to you.” He looked at the two men again. “I was thinking we could have lunch or dinner. You know. Maybe talk about old times.”

  Tyler curled her fingers into the palms of her hands, hanging on to her temper. She didn’t want or need this right now.

  “Listen, Ed. I don’t—”

  “Miss Gillette isn’t giving out interviews.” Rafe’s voice was uninflected yet at the same time powerful. A man you didn’t argue with. “And we’re late for a very important meeting.” He took her arm and urged her toward his office.

  “Are you her guard dog now?” Ed hollered after them as they moved down the concourse. “What’s the matter, Tyler? Can’t speak for yourself? You and I had a good time. We could have a good time again. And I can write a killer blog about you.”

  Tyler stopped, resisting when Rafe tried to keep her moving. She turned slowly and glared back at Ed.

  “I can speak for myself if I want to, but I do not speak for the Hawks. I don’t want a killer blog or any other kind written about me. And just so we are crystal clear, not only didn’t we have a good time, it was barely tolerable.”

  Then she turned and walked away so fast the men had to hustle to keep up with her.

  “I’m calling you,” Ed shouted after her. “I’ll talk to you without your bulldogs.”

  When they entered Rafe’s office and he’d closed the door, she dropped into the chair she�
��d used earlier. Tony took a seat in front of the desk but Rafe stayed on his feet, watching Tyler who was nibbling on her lower lip, an indication of her nervous state.

  “They’re all the same,” she blurted. “It’s like they’re all reading from the same script. I want you, I’ll have you, if I can’t no one will. Rafe, I know I’m not an ugly mud dog, but surely these men can get any women they want. Women much better-looking than me.”

  “They do seem to have a sense of entitlement where you’re concerned,” he agreed.

  “It’s my father, you know.” The words tasted bitter on her tongue. “They all think if they hook up with me they can be the crown prince. They don’t even realize I’m not the princess.”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” he drawled. “It seems to me this morning he was stepping up and acknowledging you are.”

  She shrugged. “Maybe. We’ll see how it goes. I’m not giving him awards yet.”

  Tony said nothing, just sat there observing.

  Rafe unfolded his arms and stood upright. He glanced over at Tony.

  “Let’s make sure the profiles we run on our suspects cover everything including how many hairs they have on their chest. I don’t want to miss anything.”

  Tony nodded. “If he’s computer savvy, he might have some hacking skills. That would allow him to get Tyler’s new phone number each time.” He pulled out his cell and made a note in the memo section. “Okay, ready to fill me in about the new security system?”

  While they were talking, Tyler pulled out her cell and turned it on. She caught her breath as she scrolled through missed calls and texts.

  “R-Rafe?”

  He turned to her, scowling. “What?”

  “H-he called while I was out in the stadium. I had my phone turned off.”

  Rafe grabbed the instrument from her. “Damn. Five fucking calls. He’s getting impatient. Let’s look at the texts.”