Chapter 11
brEAKING: SAMMY THE SEAL BLOCKS RESORT ENTRANCE Romance continues anyway
Alaia
“Hi!” I greet Tanner. “Why are you jumping up and down? Do you need to go pee?” I motion toward the hallway. “The bathroom is the first room on the left.”
“I don’t need to pee. I’m excited.”
My brow furrows. “Excited? This isn’t real, Tanner.”
I don’t know who I’m reminding. Him or me? Probably me.
“What we’re doing today is real.”
“What we’re doing? I thought we were going on a date to show the world I’m your girlfriend.”
“Nope.”
“What are we doing?”
“It’s a surprise.”
My eyes narrow at him. “If this surprise involves an illegal act, I’m out.
You have wonderful lawyers who have proven they can get you out of all kinds of trouble.
And the jail cells on Smuggler’s Hideaway are actually really nice.
But I have a reputation to maintain. It’s hard enough to get taken seriously on this island with Beth and Anne as my sisters. ”
He rolls his eyes. “We’re not committing a crime. Although I admit I’m curious about the jail cells. How nice are they?”
“They’re super nice. Eli, he’s the billionaire who owns Buccaneer’s Whiskey & Distillery, had them renovated when he moved back to town. His brothers – the Raiders – are all troublemakers. Correction. They used to be troublemakers. They’ve all fallen in love and settled down now. Even Zane.”
“Zane.” He growls. “Who’s Zane?”
Why is he growling? Is he jealous? Why would he be jealous of Zane?
“He was a bigger player than you.”
“Than me?”
“Yep. He had a baby dropped on his doorstep by a woman he didn’t remember.”
“Shit.” He shivers. “I have nightmares about that.”
I glare at him. “You could use protection.”
He holds up his hands. “I do use protection. But fans have been known to poke holes in condoms.”
“Maybe you should stop sleeping with fans.”
He cringes. “I probably should.”
Whoa. Does he actually believe he should stop sleeping around? Give up his playboy ways? Or is this Belinda’s idea? Probably Belinda’s idea.
I ignore the twinge in my stomach. I’m not jealous of the women Tanner has had sex with. It’s none of my business. He can do whatever he wants.
Correction, he can do whatever he wants with whomever he wants once fall arrives. For the summer, he’s mine.
“Anyway. What are we doing?” I ask before I declare Tanner’s mine out loud and pull him into my apartment to have my wicked way with him.
This isn’t real, Alaia.
“I have to show you.”
“Okay. But if my dress gets ruined being chased by the cops, you’re buying me a new one.”
He rakes his gaze over mine. “It’d be a shame to ruin this dress.”
I feel his words deep in my belly. And lower. Where I definitely shouldn’t be having any feelings where Tanner’s concerned.
“Let’s go.” I lock the door and follow him out of my apartment building to his car.
“How was practice?” I ask once we’re driving.
His gaze whips to mine. “You’re seriously asking?”
“Why wouldn’t I ask?”
He returns his attention to the road. “I’m not used to women being curious about the game.”
“You need to stop dating bimbos.”
“You’re probably right.”
“Get used to it, boyfriend. I’m always right. So, how was practice?”
“Tough. It was hot on the field, and Coach Knox had us run drills until I thought I’d pass out.”
“I don’t want you passing out from heat stroke.”
He waves away my concern. “I won’t get heat stroke. I meant from how many times I had to run the play. It was tough, but I don’t mind. Practice is the only way to improve. I don’t plan for the team to lose in the first game of the play-offs again this season.”
“You don’t?”
“Nope. I want to play in the Super Bowl.”
“Big aspirations.”
He shrugs. “If you don’t aim for the best, you won’t get the best.”
“Good point.”
We lapse into silence as we drive out of Smuggler’s Rest. I could pester him with questions about where we’re going, but I enjoy the silence as we drive. It’s comfortable. And I feel wrapped in his scent. It’s sandalwood. It makes me wonder if he tastes as good as he smells.
And there I go again. Forgetting this isn’t real. Forgetting what a player he is. Forgetting what a goofball he is. Forgetting how controlling men are.
Forgetting this is a mutual beneficial arrangement. He gets a girlfriend. I get a story. Except I haven’t told him I want to write a story.
We arrive at the Hideaway Haven Resort, where the team is staying during training camp. He parks and switches off the engine. “You’re going to love this surprise.”
“The surprise better not be you naked in your hotel room.”
“Don’t be silly. I don’t have a room. I have a suite.”
I giggle as he rushes around to open my door.
He holds my hand as we walk to the entrance. I enjoy the feel of his hand in mine. I don’t mind the calluses on his fingers. It means he works for a living. He’s more than a goofball. He has a career. A career he’s serious about.
Tanner Long isn’t the man I thought he was. And it frightens me. I can resist a goofball. I can’t resist a man who’s serious about his career and willing to do what needs to be done to reach his goals. But resist I must.
A crowd has gathered near the entrance.
“What’s going on?”
I hope word of the Seals staying at the resort hasn’t reached the mainland. Hudson, the owner of Hideaway Haven Resort, promised the team management privacy. He’s not the kind of man who enjoys breaking his promises.
“There’s a creature blocking the entrance,” someone says.
“A creature?” I push my way through the crowd.
Tanner squeezes my hand. “Don’t get too close.”
I see what ‘creature’ is blocking the door and tug my hand free. “Don’t worry. It’s Sammy. I’ve got this.”
“Sammy?” He rushes after me. “Who’s Sammy?”
I stop a few feet from the seal. “This is Sammy.”
Sammy waves his flipper at me. “Hello to you, too, Sammy. Are you having fun blocking the guests from the resort?”
He barks at me.
“This is the only sunny spot on all of the island? I don’t believe you.”
“Are you having a conversation with a seal?” Tanner whispers his question.
I wave to Sammy. “He’s a local. And a menace.”
The seal honks.
“Yes, you are a menace. Especially when you block people from entering the resort.”
He covers his eyes with a flipper.
“Don’t lie. You can see all the people waiting.”
“What are you going to do?” Tanner asks.
“Get rid of him.” I kneel down in front of Sammy. “Do you want me to contact the dog catchers?”
The seal honks before galumphing away. He doesn’t make it far. He reaches a patch of grass in the sun and stops. I swear, if he could, he’d stick his tongue at me now. Silly seal.
“Alrighty, folks.” I clap my hands to get everyone’s attention. “Show’s over.”
The crowd disperses until Tanner and I are alone.
“Was this your surprise?” I ask.
“Are you asking if I somehow managed to move a five-hundred-pound animal in front of the door to impress you?”
I shrug. “I guess not.”
“Come on. We’re now officially late.”
“Late for what?”
He wags a finger at me. “I’m not telling. It’s a secret.”
We lace our hands together and he leads me into the resort. Instead of getting on an elevator to his suite, he pulls me toward the conference rooms.
Terri, a friend of mine who’s the event coordinator for the resort, steps out of a room. Her hair is disheveled, and her lips are swollen. Interesting. I wave to her. “Hey, Terri. How’s the event coordination world treating you?”
She startles before smiling at me. It’s the fakest smile I’ve ever seen. My curiosity is officially piqued. “It’s fine. Everything’s fine.”
She rushes off before I can question her further. Not to worry. Someone on the island must know what she’s up to. I have a feeling I’ve found the topic of this month’s Siren’s Spill.
We step in front of a door and Tanner opens it. “Tada!”
Tada. What’s he tada-ing about? I step inside and scan the room. Coach Knox is sitting at the table fiddling with a tablet.
“I’ve only got an hour,” he says when he notices us.
“An hour for what?”
Tanner pushes me forward. “For your interview.”
I tap my chest. “My interview?”
“It’s my surprise. I wanted to give you a present for helping me out at the hospital and for the other stuff.”
I assume by ‘other stuff’ he means my agreement to be his fake girlfriend. I’m surprised he hasn’t told his coach or his friends. He did agree to keep the agreement between the two of us, but I assumed he couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
And there I go assuming bad things about Tanner again. I need to stop it. He’s not the man he shows the world. There’s way more to him than anyone knows.
“Thanks, Tanner.” I push up on my toes to kiss his cheek. My lips tingle from the simple contact. I wonder…
Nope. I’m not wondering about the wide receiver now. Not when I have an honest to goodness NFL coach sitting in front of me waiting for me to interview him. A coach, who I happen to know, is hiding a big, fat secret.
I’m not interested in exposing his secrets. This isn’t The Siren’s Spill. I want to know his motivations. Why would he give up his career when rumor has it he’s a sure thing for a head coach position at another team?
My hands tremble with excitement. This is it. The chance I’ve been waiting for. An article that will surely save the Gazette and launch my career.
I sit across from him. “Coach Knox. It’s lovely to meet you.”