Power Play (Crimson Romance) by Nan Comargue Page B

fidgety eagerness to begin their projects. After handing out the list of study topics, she paused to exchange a few words with the teacher, whom she knew from previous class trips.
    The young woman broke off. “I think that man over there is trying to get your attention.”
    Lila looked across the short stacks of children’s reference books. Tall. Blond. Muscular. From a distance it could be her husband, yet she never made that mistake.
    Catching the teacher’s curious look, Lila explained, purposely inaccurate, “He’s a relative of mine visiting from out of town.”
    “Too bad he’s a relative,” the other woman murmured, obviously not recognizing the face which regularly appeared on advertising across the country. “What about an introduction?”
    “I’ll keep you in mind,” Lila replied, crossing to the front circulation counter where Chris Wallace was standing.
    “What are you doing here?”
    “Not a very nice welcome,” he observed, smiling down into her worried face.
    He was right. Chris didn’t deserve any of the anger she felt for her soon-to-be ex-spouse.
    “I’m sorry. You surprised me.”
    He nodded with approval. “You’re like me. You like to keep your work and your private life separate.”
    Lila grimaced, remembering some of the speculative articles she’d read about her marriage. “Whenever possible, yes.”
    Leaning a broad hand against the counter top, Chris remarked, “That’s hard to do living in a fish bowl. This city is the unofficial hockey capital of the world.”
    “I know,” she sighed, tucking a wayward strand of black hair behind her ear. “This was exactly what I wanted to avoid.”
    He gave her an odd look. “I heard you were back with Cahal.”
    The terms of the contract strangled any possibility of an explanation.
    “Yes.” She couldn’t resist adding, “For now.”
    “Even Jarrett would have been better,” Chris remarked, shoving his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket.
    She stared at him. “Why?”
    “For selfish reasons. Then I would still be able to see you.” His hand reached for her face before he checked the movement in mid-air. “You’ve always been decent to me, even when I was just Cahal’s younger cousin, wearing his cast-off equipment and living in his shadow.”
    It was surprising to hear this interpretation of the family dynamic. With both players forecasted for future superstardom by the time they entered the professionals, Cahal had reached this level first but Chris’ outgoing personality and somewhat wild reputation assured him sponsorship deals and greater financial success. Cahal was still the star but Chris was more often the face on cereal boxes and commercials.
    Yet, because Cahal had achieved success first, even turning around to hook Chris up with his first agent, Chris never stopped resenting his cousin. In hockey, youth was everything and Chris’ grudge went a long way back to when Cahal was scouted as a very young child, leaving Chris to develop a talent that didn’t shine until he had reached his early teens.
    “If you were ever in his shadow, you’ve escaped it by now.” Glancing around the library, she was conscious of the interested stares they were getting from her colleagues. “Chris, I have work to do right now.”
    “I’m in town for two days,” he told her. “I have a guest spot on the Prime Time Sports show. How about dinner tonight? My hotel has a great restaurant attached to it.”
    “Your hotel?” The question slipped out, causing his expression to subtly alter.
    “I can control myself,” he assured her. “Put that night down to too much alcohol and too many painful revelations.”
    Though his voice was cool, his blue-blue eyes assessed her face. Lila flushed, remembering nothing of the night but with the pictures he’d taken on his phone vivid in her mind. Her nude body, laid out on the wide bed like a sacrificial offering, and Chris’ hand hovering above it.
    Why had he taken the