Block Shot (Hoops #2)(23)

Early on, our paths crossed infrequently. She was at Bagley & Associates in New York and I was at Richter Sports in Chicago. I saw her for the first time at a convention in Philly. When we spotted each other, she turned and walked the other way. I followed. I may have cornered her and tried to talk about that night again.

Okay. I did corner her and try to talk about that night again.

She threatened to blow her rape whistle if I didn’t leave her alone. Seeing how she called the cops on me before, I didn’t want to chance it. After a few more thwarted attempts, I gave up. She made it abundantly clear she wanted to put that night and me behind her. As badly as I wanted another night, and another one and another one, that wasn’t meant to be.

What did it matter anyway? Banner was a soft spot, and the further up the ladder I climbed, the less I could afford those. Especially when we were pursuing the same clients. It’s a dog-eat-dog and spit him—or her—out game.

Survival of the fittest.

Banner can be the killer with the heart.

I’m just the killer. It has served me well.

“You think we could ever tempt her to work for Elevation?” August asks as we walk back into the house.

“Who?” I snap my head around to look at him.

“Banner.” He walks up the stairs with Sarai in his arms, her head on his shoulder.

“Banner Morales?” Iris asks from the top of the stairs and reaches to take Sarai from August. “I love her.”

Of course she does.

“Is she gonna come work for us?” Iris’ eyes light up like a Christmas tree.

“No,” I say decisively.

“Maybe,” August replies at the same time. “You don’t think she would even be interested? Cal Bagley’s a jerk.”

“So’s Jared,” Iris says with a straight face because it’s true. “I want to go on record that I approve of recruiting Banner to come work at Elevation.”

“And I want to go on record that your opinion is completely irrelevant,” I say, only half-jokingly. Iris is still young to the game and is working her way up from the bottom. I don’t afford her preferential treatment just because she’s married to my brother. She doesn’t expect it.

“You don’t like her?” Iris rolls her eyes. “Men are always intimidated by her.”

“Hell, if I am.” I huff a disparaging breath. “I could negotiate Banner Morales under the table. Gimme a fucking break.”

“Her clients love her,” August says, a sly look in his eye that tells me he’s trying to get under my skin. He should know by now I don’t have skin to get under anymore. Just an exoskeleton to ward off provocation and bullshit.

“I guess so,” I say with a shrug. “She matronizes them enough.”

“She does not matronize them,” Iris shoots back. “She takes care of them.”

“My clients know representation doesn’t come with ass-wiping, hand-holding, and cuddles, not that my guys need it,” I reply. “If Banner wants children, she should give birth.”

“Whoa.” Iris shifts Sarai to her other hip, brows sky-high. “I know Bagley’s a rival firm, but wow, Jared. Harsh much.”

“Yeah, she represents Kenan,” August offers. “And you know Glad doesn’t cuddle with anyone but his kid.”

Kenan “Gladiator” Ross, August’s teammate on the San Diego Waves, is about as un-cuddly as a man could be. I wanted to sign him, but Banner beat me to it. That loss hurt and actually came up in one of my last performance reviews at Richter before I struck out on my own to start Elevation. By then, Banner and I had bumped heads enough professionally and avoided each other enough personally to extinguish any “tender feelings.”

Still.

There is that occasional inexplicable pinch when I hear her name.

“We may see her at tonight’s game,” Iris says. “Since both her clients are playing.”

“Yeah, I’m on Vidale tonight.” August shakes his head. “One of the toughest guys in the league to guard.”

“Are Sarai and I still riding with you, Jared?” Iris asks, walking backward slowly toward Sarai’s room.

“Yeah. I’ll work outside by the pool ’til it’s time to go.”

She closes the door to Sarai’s room, leaving August and me on the landing alone.

“Dude, everybody in the locker room was talking about this thing with Banner and her favorite client,” August says, giving me a pointed look. “If you know what I mean.”

“No, I don’t know what you mean.”

“Apparently, it’s been going on for a while,” he says as we head back down the stairs and out to the pool. “But it’s just now getting out. Or maybe they’re letting it out now.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I gather my boots and socks and head over to the umbrella-covered table where I left my laptop.

“Banner and Zo Vidale,” August says. “You hadn’t heard?”

“Dammit, Gus. Heard what?”

“They’re dating.”

Pinch.





8





Banner





“Quinn, can I get your autograph?”