Strike to the Heart(7)

“It wasn’t only that for me and I don’t think it was for you, either.”

I threw up my hands. “I can’t believe you’re here. How did you know where I was staying?”

Zane shrugged. “A few questions in the right ear.”

I frowned. “This is supposed to be a secure hotel.”

“It is. I met a few fans by the elevator. I came up with them. You opened the door.”

“I was expecting room service.” I was irritated that he was right. I never should have opened the door without checking.

“What did you order?”

I pursed my lips. “Enough for one.”

Zane laughed. “So you won’t share?” He faked a pitiful look.

I smiled. “I’m very hungry.” It sucked that he was so charming because it made it all the more difficult to resist him.

Zane’s eyes took on a feral quality, but then it was gone. He rubbed his belly. “I’m getting ready for training anyway.”

My body stiffened with surprise. “You are? When?” Though I knew Zane was a fighter, I didn’t like to think about it. I didn’t want to think about the bruises, cuts, and worse that he must experience. I’d had a few injuries, but none inflicted purposefully by another person.

“A couple weeks,” he said vaguely. “I’ll be here in New York through the end of the Open. Then I’m going to the beach for a week and after that, the real fun starts.”

I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know what to say. So I pushed it back out of my mind again.

There was a knock at the door and before I could answer it, Zane was there. He opened the door, and this time it was a young man with cart. Zane stepped back. The cart squeaked as the delivery person rolled it through the doorway. He looked up. “Oh man. Oh man! Wait until I tell everyone. I’m such a fan. Seriously, dude.”

For a split second, I thought the guy was speaking to me, but he wasn’t. Next thing I knew, Zane had posed for a selfie, put some cash in the guy’s hand, and escorted him to the door. I wondered if I could be as generous. I appreciated the fans, but in small amounts under controlled conditions. What that said about me I wasn’t sure.

“Does that happen often?” I asked. The fan had been harmless, just excited. I tended toward the wary side these days.

“Yes, but I figure if he pays to see my next bout on pay-per-view, he’s entitled.” Zane eyed the covered dishes on the tray.

“You were good with him. Sometimes the fans make me nervous,” I admitted.

“I don’t blame you. I don’t feel vulnerable, though sometimes fans can be too pushy. Most though, they’re regular people, looking to be entertained and happy to meet someone they think is famous.”

“You’re famous.”

Zane bobbed his head. “Yeah, I guess so. You’re right, but I don’t think about it.” He took the cover off my plate, revealing the grilled salmon and steamed broccoli that I’d ordered. “I think we can do better than this.”

“I guess it depends on your definition of better. I have two matches tomorrow.”

“Two?”

“I’m also playing women’s doubles.”

Zane picked up a small piece of broccoli and popped it into his mouth. “Is that wise?”

As he chewed, I watched the play of the muscles in his jaw and neck. “I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe not. I’m in good shape, but if the matches go long, I could be in trouble.”

“You don’t have to do both,” he stated.

“No, I don’t, but I promised Darcy. It means a lot to her. She doesn’t have a great chance at a singles title.” Darcy was a strong player, but she wasn’t in the top ranks for singles.

Zane pointed at me. “But you do. That’s what everyone’s saying. Why would you risk that?”

“You don’t have any friends that you would risk something for?” Darcy and I met at tennis camp as kids and then wound up at the same tennis-focused boarding school. My shyness had been mistaken for snobbiness and some of the girls made it their mission to make my life hell. Sometimes it seemed like Darcy was my only friend, and I would never forget that. She’d been a good friend to me, always, and I wasn’t going to let her down.

Zane hesitated and then responded, “That I do. Okay, I get it.”

“Darcy is like family to me.” I rarely saw my family. My mother hadn’t traveled with me since I graduated from playing in junior tournaments. Darcy was closer to me than my own sister.

A shadow crossed his face, and then it was gone. “You need fuel for tomorrow. Let me take you out.”