Match Me if You Can (No Match for Love Book 7)

by Lindzee Armstrong

  Tamera pulled the pillow tighter against her churning stomach. Drew’s hadn’t talked much about his injury while on Eye in the Sky, but she’d noticed how he’d roll his shoulder like it hurt after a competition. The way he favored that side. He’d mentioned he’d probably spend most of the upcoming season on the bench.

  “I won’t lie and say the injury wasn’t partially my fault,” Wyatt said. His eyes were pained, his lips pulled down in a frown. “If I’d done my job right, Drew wouldn’t have gotten sacked. But I didn’t make a deliberate choice to let him get hurt. One of the other team’s players distracted me, and by the time I realized it was a decoy, I was too late. They took Drew down hard. Ended up with a penalty.”

  Tamera had watched the game where Drew was injured and Wyatt’s explanation made sense. The refs and commentators had all assumed what Wyatt had just told Tamera—that he’d fallen for a decoy and Drew got hurt as a result of a bad game decision. But what if Drew was right and Wyatt had done it deliberately?

  She closed her eyes and forced herself to breathe deeply. Someone she cared about was lying, and it made her want to throw up.

  Maybe no one was lying. The mind was a powerful tool. It could have tricked one or both men into believing things that weren’t necessarily true.

  “Do you regret it?” Tamera whispered.

  “Drew getting hurt?”

  She nodded.

  Slowly, Wyatt shook his head. “I’d be lying if I didn’t say that my first reaction was he got what he deserved. It’d been about a month since I found him with Becky, and Drew had made my life miserable. It felt like karma’s way of getting him back. But when the team doctor told us how bad it was, I felt awful. I didn’t just hurt Drew, I hurt the entire team. But these kinds of things happen on the field. I didn’t think much of it until Coach called me into his office and said Drew was claiming I’d let him get hurt deliberately.”

  Tamera stayed quiet, trying to read Wyatt’s body language. His shoulders were hunched, his muscles tense and eyes large. He reached forward, grasping one of her hands between both of his. Warmth skittered up her arm and she hated her heart for pounding at his touch.

  “I told Coach it wasn’t true. And it’s not, Tamera. I swear to you, I didn’t choose to let Drew get hurt. It was an accident. Football’s a rough game. Sometimes the quarterback gets injured.”

  She nodded, but didn’t speak.

  “That’s when Drew brought out the video footage. We watched it over and over in Coach’s office, Drew claiming I let him get injured and me claiming it was an accident. It took a few weeks, but eventually Coach sided with Drew. I never connected with Coach, and he and Drew were tight. In the end, they gave me a choice—I could agree to a trade, or they’d go to the press with their findings.”

  The words washed over her and she tried to process what she’d just heard. Drew had helped the coach force Wyatt’s trade? Her first instinct was to deny he’d ever do something like that. But similar moves on Eye in the Sky told a different story.

  “And here we are.” Wyatt let out a deep sigh. “I knew there was no point in fighting to stay if the Vigilantes wanted me gone. Distance from Becky hasn’t been the worst thing to come of the move. I think I’ve finally convinced her we’re over and to move on. She hasn’t contacted me since I got to California.”

  “I … I don’t know what to say,” Tamera said finally.

  Wyatt took her hands gently in his. “I know you have no reason to trust me. We barely know each other. But I’m telling you the truth, Tamera.”

  She pulled her hand from Wyatt’s and stood. “I want to believe you. But if you’re telling the truth, that means Drew’s lying to me.”

  Wyatt rose as well. “I can’t pretend to have a high opinion of Drew when I don’t. But I’m not asking you to choose between us. All I’m asking is for you to give me a chance to prove to you the kind of guy I am.”

  She was melting, her entire body involuntarily leaning toward his. Longing for his arms to reach out and wrap her close. As though sensing her emotions, Wyatt’s hand gently brushed her cheek, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

  “I want to believe you,” she whispered. “But I’m a notoriously bad judge of character when it comes to guys. You remember Caleb, right? My ex-boyfriend that cheated on me with my sister?”

  “I can sit here and tell you all day that I’m not like that, but I know words are cheap and don’t mean much without actions behind them.” His lips pulled up in a pained smile. “I hate that he hurt you so much.”

  Her eyes filled with tears, and she blinked and took a step back. “After the wedding, I swore off men forever, you know.”

  A warm chuckle filled the room, and she wanted to place her hands on his chest to feel the vibrations. “I swore off women, too. My relationship with Becky totally blew up in my face.”

  She peeked up at him, her eyes searching his. Wyatt’s brown eyes were all melting chocolate, turning her insides to goo. “Then what are we doing here?”

  “I don’t know.” He held up his hands in a helpless shrug. “But I sure would like to see where it goes. Let me prove to you the kind of man I am. Can you trust me that much?”

  She closed her eyes, fear nearly paralyzing her vocal cords. But a tiny seed of hope had her nodding. “Okay.”

  His hand cupped her cheek and she leaned into it. Her legs trembled with the magnitude of that one little word which promised a commitment she’d sworn she’d never give again.

  “Does that mean you’ll still go to Universal Studios with me?” Wyatt asked, his tone lighter than it had been all day.

  Tamera laughed, tension oozing out of her as she let her shoulders relax. “Absolutely. I think it’s high time I visit there.”

  “Good.” Wyatt’s breath wafted over here and she swayed toward him. “Can I get a hug?”

  She didn’t answer, just leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her fingers barely met on the other side, but she buried her head in his chest and relished the feel of his strong arms around her. One of his large hands ran through her short hair, and she wanted to stay in that moment forever.

  She’d taken a leap with Wyatt. Hopefully she didn’t find herself bloodied and broken on the other side of the mountain.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Wyatt closed his laptop, satisfaction rolling through him. Another script finished. That was his fifth one, although the first three had been before his pro football days. He leaned back in the uncomfortable hotel chair and stretched, groaning as his back cracked satisfyingly. His eyes ached from the dim lighting in his room, but that was okay. The next script he started would be in his new home office.

  While he wrote the final scenes, he couldn’t help but picture Tamera playing the part of his strong yet vulnerable heroine. Since their conversation three days ago, they’d been cautiously texting each other, mostly about the house. Today they’d meet with the inspector and if all went as planned he’d close on the house next week. But occasionally Tamera would slip something more personal into her texts. An offhanded mention that Drew was back in Texas. Disappointment over an audition she blew. Questions about his day. She hadn’t completely shut him out, and that gave Wyatt hope.

  The bright California sunshine, fresh air, and green grass of the football stadium were a welcome change from the stuffy hotel room that was starting to feel claustrophobic. Wyatt pushed himself hard in practice and was pleasantly surprised at how well it went. He hadn’t thought it possible, but the team had made some real strides in the month since he’d been traded. Maybe McKinley was right, and Wyatt still had a chance at a championship before retirement. For the first time since Becky’s betrayal, he let himself imagine what winning that game would feel like. The heart-pumping adrenaline. Sweat dripping down his back as he fought to protect the quarterback. Tamera cheering him on from the stands.

  “Hellooooo. Earth to Wyatt.” Tyrone waved a hand in front of his face and Wyatt snapped back to the present.r />
  “Sorry.” He set his deodorant back in the locker and pulled on a soft T-shirt. He had another commercial shoot in a few minutes and knew wardrobe would have their own ideas about what he should wear.

  “You were on Planet Hot Realtor, weren’t you?”

  Wyatt couldn’t stop the smile that spread across his lips. “I’d better get out to the field. Doing another commercial shoot today.”

  “Okay, okay. Don’t tell me.”

  “See you tomorrow.” Wyatt grinned and shut his locker door. Tyrone shook his head in exasperation and waved Wyatt off.

  Outside, the field had already been transformed for the shoot. Wyatt was whisked away to wardrobe, then hair and makeup. He glanced at his watch. About four hours until he’d meet Tamera for the inspection. She had house showings before, so they’d agreed to just meet at the house.

  He grabbed his phone off the small table cluttered with makeup brushes while two women fluttered around him.

  “Hold still, sweetie,” the first said. She had to be at least sixty, with the gravelly voice of a chain smoker.

  “Sorry,” Wyatt mumbled. He stared at Tamera’s number, then quickly sent a text before he could talk himself out of it. Wish me luck.

  The ding of her response had Wyatt’s breath quickening. Good luck! Um, why am I wishing you luck?

  Another commercial shoot. He inserted a wild-eyed emoticon. If we don’t get a decent take or two, I may be responsible for one very frazzled producer switching careers.

  I’m sure it’s not that bad.

  You saw my fake smile, right?

  Oh, is that what you were doing? I thought you were in pain.

  Wyatt laughed out loud, earning a glare from Chain Smoker.

  Another text appeared from Tamera. I never really got around to giving you tips, did I?

  In an instant, Wyatt was back in Tamera’s living room, her soft hands pressed against his chest while his tangled in her hair. I guess we both were a little distracted. ;)

  As soon as Wyatt sent the text, he second-guessed himself. The winky face had totally been overkill. He wasn’t even sure if they were in a place where flirting was allowed.

  The minutes ticked by and Wyatt grew more and more nervous. That winky face had definitely gone too far. He had to stop overplaying his hand with Tamera. She needed slow and steady. He was determined to give her that.

  Chain Smoker and her assistant finished with Wyatt, and he headed onto the field, the familiar nausea overtaking him.

  “Ready for today?” the producer asked with a tight smile.

  “I’m going to try my best,” Wyatt said.

  “Good.”

  Wyatt pulled his phone out of one pocket and was just about to set it on his chair when the screen lit up with a text.

  Well, try and stay focused today, hot stuff. Don’t miss the home inspection or else. ;)

  Maybe he hadn’t screwed up as badly as he feared. Hot stuff. He felt his confidence shoot up at notch at the flirtatious comment.

  “Wyatt?” the producer said.

  “Sorry.” Wyatt dropped the phone and headed to his mark. Someone handed him the football and the director took his place.

  “Action,” the director called.

  Wyatt took a step forward, determination filling him. No way was he missing a chance to see Tamera. He wasn’t about to let this shoot run long.

  They flew through the shots, doing less takes than ever before. Wyatt held on to his confidence with an iron fist, worried that one false move would send him back to becoming a bumbling idiot in front of the camera. He knew he wasn’t great—nothing like Tamera had been on Eye in the Sky—but for the first time, he thought maybe he didn’t suck, either.

  “That’s a wrap,” the director called.

  Wyatt’s shoulder slumped and for the first time he became aware of how much they ached. How tense had he been? He handed over the football, and the director crossed to him.

  “Great job today,” he said. “You’ve really improved. What changed this time?”

  “I’m not sure,” Wyatt lied. He knew what the difference was. Tamera.

  “Well, hold onto that for next time. Although I think we have enough footage for what Mr. Ryder needs. With any luck, we won’t need anymore takes.” He held out a hand. “It was a pleasure working with you, Mr. James.”

  “You as well,” Wyatt lied. He hoped to never be in front of a camera again. Writing scripts was much more his style. But he had done it, and that wasn’t a small accomplishment.

  Wyatt quickly changed clothes, then reclaimed his phone and checked it for notifications. A text icon flashed on the screen and he quickly swiped it open. Hopefully Tamera hadn’t been delayed at one of her showings.

  But it wasn’t Tamera who had texted him. His blood ran cold as he read the name.

  Becky.

  Pinpricks of ice stabbed at his heart. She hadn’t contacted him in probably five or six weeks. What could she possibly want?

  His eyes slid from the name to the message. Can we talk? There’s something I need to tell you.

  He shoved his phone in his pocket and headed to his truck, not answering Becky’s text. There was nothing she could say that he wanted to hear. They’d only dated six months and Wyatt took their relationship at a glacial pace, much to Becky’s frustration. He’d barely mustered up the courage to really kiss her by the time they broke up.

  More head games. That’s all the text was about. But he was done letting her mess with his mind.

  Wyatt drove to the house—his house, he reminded himself, at least soon—and tried not to think about Becky. The last few weeks of silence had been so nice that he’d almost forgotten how horrible the barrage of texts and phone calls had been.

  The home was as inviting as ever. Tingles of anticipation raced up Wyatt’s spine as it came into view. He couldn’t wait to pull his furniture out of storage and finally settle into life in California. It would be so nice to get a drink of water without walking down two flights of stairs for ice. To fall asleep on his own mattress. He missed his ergonomic keyboard and worn office chair.

  Tamera’s red convertible was no where to be seen. Wyatt rolled down his window and turned off the truck so it wouldn’t idle. The warm sun beat down on his arm, and he leaned his head back against the headrest and sighed. At least the sun had the same soothing properties here as in Texas.

  A low purr had him sitting up straight. Tamera’s cherry red convertible pulled up behind his truck, the top down and radio playing a pop song.

  Wyatt got out of the car and leaned against his door. Tamera looked breathtaking in her sleeveless blouse, white capris, and strappy sandals. He fought the urge to pull her into his arms and instead shoved his hands in his pockets. Man, he loved how she looked in sunglasses.

  “Hey.” Tamera perched the shades on top of her windblown hair and gave him a tentative smile.

  He returned it with one of his own. “Hey. How’d the audition go?”

  “Not bad. But that’s what I thought last time and someone else got the part.”

  He nudged her shoulder with his own as they walked toward the front door. “You’ll get there eventually.”

  “How did the commercial shoot turn out?”

  “Shockingly enough, not horrible. The director seemed happy at least.”

  “That’s progress.” She unlocked the door and stepped inside. “The inspector should be here any minute. He texted to let me know he’s running a little behind.”

  “I’m not in any hurry.” Wyatt glanced at the entryway, taking in the house with new eyes. It was the first he’d seen it since deciding to make the purchase. He surveyed the room, imagining where he’d put his furniture. What things he’d have updated or changed.

  “Still glad you’re buying it?” Tamera asked.

  He nodded, unable to stop smiling. “Yeah. I am.”

  “It’s got good bones.”

  A knock sounded at the door and Tamera opened it to reveal a short, st
ooped man with wispy gray hair.

  For the next two hours, the inspector went over every inch of the house with a fine-toothed comb. Tamera lagged behind Wyatt, letting him take the lead, but asked pertinent questions he’d never have thought of. With each room they went through, Wyatt’s excitement grew. Natalie would love this place. He couldn’t wait for her to visit with their parents next month.

  The inspector snapped shut his clipboard, and Tamera and Wyatt walked him toward the front door. “I’ll have my official report to you by tomorrow night,” the inspector said. “But overall, I think it’s a solid purchase. I didn’t see any major red flags raised.”

  “That’s what we like to hear,” Tamera said cheerfully.

  They said their goodbyes and Tamera shut the door behind the stooped man. With no furniture to cushion it, the sound echoed off the walls. Wyatt was acutely aware that they were once again alone.

  “Anything else you want to look at before we leave?” Tamera asked.

  “I guess not.” Wyatt ran a hand over his head. “It’ll be nice to finally move in and get settled.”

  “I can’t imagine staying in a hotel for so long. You must be so sick of spending time there.” She nudged his arm with her own. “Want to go to a movie tonight? That new detective film just released.”

  Wyatt fought to keep his jaw from dropping. He shoved his hands in his pockets and grinned. “Are you asking me out?”

  Her lips pursed together and her eyes turned serious. “Call it a peace offering.”

  His hands itched to brush her hair behind one ear. Warmth was thawing his heart and he wanted to shout his thanks to the heavens. But instead, he just nodded, trying to play it cool. “Okay then. I accept.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Tamera hummed as she finished up her makeup, feeling her stomach twist and roll as butterflies dive-bombed her innards. Wyatt would be here soon to pick her up. She didn’t know what she was more excited for—a date with Wyatt, or having that date at Universal Studios.