Lex and Lu(77)

“You’ll pick it up as you watch more. I think I see a fan in the making.”

Lu laughed. “You may be right.”

Enjoying every minute of her night, Lu almost wished she wasn’t planning on going to work for Malcolm Helms. She enjoyed his company, not to mention he was hot. She could totally see enjoying herself with him. But it wasn’t something she’d pursue, knowing that their relationship would be professional. His attentiveness allowed her to forget that the Lex Pellitteri on the field had long ago stopped being the boy that she loved. Without realizing it, she got caught up in the excitement of watching him play and felt a pride that she knew she had no right to feel. Even those rooting against him appreciated his skill.

In the eighty-seventh minute, with the game tied, Lu felt rather than saw Malcolm’s body tense. She focused in, trying to see what he was anticipating.

He leaned in. “Watch Pellitteri.”

Like she needed to be told, she thought. She watched Lex come from the right. He received the ball but passed it quickly back, breaking to the middle. The ball came back to him. He trapped the ball and shot, sending it sailing past the goalie into the back left post, opposite from where he kicked. She wanted to jump in the air, but she contained herself out of respect, although the smile on her face gave her away. Lex looked heavenward and raised his left hand in the air, pointing his finger toward the sky. Then he brought his arm down and kissed the inside of his wrist. With three minutes added to the time, the last five minutes of the game seemed to fly by and before she knew it, the game was over. Lu’s eyes stayed trained on Lex.

She saw him run toward the box where she was sitting and felt, rather than saw, something pass between him and someone in her vicinity. Glancing at Malcolm, she saw him nod his head, his eyes locked with Lex’s and a rueful smile on his face.

“Smug bastard,” he muttered.

Lu turned back toward the field and saw Lex see her. His whole body stopped, as if he had run smack into some invisible wall. He pinned her with his eyes, all the joy of his victory seemed to leach out of his body. As the rest of his team celebrated, Lex left the field.

Lu tried not to let his reaction affect her. She knew when she’d agreed to come to this game that she had gambled. But she convinced herself that surprise played the biggest role in his actions—not anger. She let Malcolm lead her from the box where they sat.

“I’m sorry your daughter was unable to come,” he remarked as they walked down the steps into the bowels of the stadium.

Lu had made that decision. Nina still suffered from jet lag, as evidenced by her cranky mood over the last few days. Technically, she should have been grounded because of her stint as an extortionist at school. Leaving Nina at home had been a responsible parenting decision. One that she knew Nina felt as she had really wanted to see Lex play.

“With the trip this past weekend, I thought it best that she stay home.”

“Are you able to stay for a bit or do I need to get you home?” he inquired.

“I’m at your disposal. I know you are working.”

“I have someone I want you to meet.”

Lu looked at him quizzically. “OK.”

They continued past the home dressing room through the corridor. As they drew near the visitor area, Lu began to panic.

“Who is it that you want me to meet?” she asked, hoping what she was thinking was wrong.

He stopped and turned to face her. “I may be interfering but …” He paused. “Lex Pellitteri lost his father a number of months ago and I think he’s having a hard time with it. I thought maybe he might be willing to talk to someone.”

“That’s not what I do,” she said quickly, trying to find a way to avert this certain disaster. “I’m sure that there are qualified people that you could suggest.”

“I know his club manager has made suggestions. He thought I may be able to help because of my relationship with him. And when I met you yesterday, I felt certain that you were the answer. You understand athletes and you work with them. I really think you could help him.”

“Mr. Helms, I think you misunderstand what I do. This isn’t what I do. I’m not comfortable with this,” she said firmly. “And from what I saw tonight, he seems to be doing just fine.”

“She’s right, Mal. I’m just fine,” Lex said from behind her. She felt every muscle in her body cringe, but she valiantly hid her reaction and didn’t step away. “Oh, and we already know each other, don’t we, Lu?”

The sarcasm dripping from his voice sounded sickly sweet in her ear. He’d moved toward her, she knew, because she could feel his body heat. Lu watched the impassive face of Malcolm Helms in front of her. He’d be good at poker, Lu thought, as she couldn’t read anything in his expression.