Catching Cameron: A Love and Football Novel Read Online Free

aging member of the Sharks’ defensive line—”
    Zach interrupted her. “I’m not ‘aging.’”
    “You’re older than many of the players in the league, especially those who play your position—”
    “They’re full of shit.” He took a rapid breath.
    Cameron heard her producer through the earpiece she wore. “Careful,” Ralph said. “Don’t piss him off.”
    “The injury rate in the NFL is one hundred percent. I’m not any different than anyone else,” Zach said.
    “Wouldn’t you agree that the Sharks should expect more?”
    “What the hell?” Zach’s eyes widened. He sat up in his chair. “Listen, you don’t have the first idea what it’s like to play in the NFL. I give everything I have, every play. It’s obvious to anyone who’s actually watching—”
    “Are you suggesting that the Sharks and their fans don’t deserve an answer?”
    Zach ran a hand through his hair and let out a long breath in exasperation. “I’m bringing it this season.”
    “Maybe you should try something other than clichés, Zach.”
    His eyes narrowed, and he didn’t respond. She saw the corner of his mouth move into a smirk. He didn’t take her questions—or her—seriously, and she saw red. She took a deep breath, took another, and tried to calm herself. It didn’t help.
    She glanced down at the cards on her lap. She pretended to read for a moment. Seconds later, she brushed them off her lap. They hit the floor next to her chair with a soft splat . She knew she’d spent the past ten years concentrating on professionalism, but right now she was teaching him a lesson.
    She lowered her voice and concentrated on appearing calm. “Do you think your well-publicized and turbulent love life is contributing to your woes on the field?”
    The color drained out of his face, replaced by a flush that climbed up from his neck and over his cheekbones, and Cameron watched his fists clench on the chair’s arm rests. Both of his feet hit the floor. He abandoned the relaxed pose he had when the interview started, leaning forward to shove his face inches from hers. His king-of-the-world, trouble-free demeanor had given way to obvious wrath. He shook his head, once, sharply.
    “I’m not going to answer that. That question is beneath you, don’t you think?”
    Her voice dripped insincere concern. “Maybe I need to jog your memory.”
    They stared at each other. She leaned forward a bit more in her chair, too.
    “I thought we were talking about football today, Ms. Ondine.”
    “Oh, we are, Mr. Anderson,” she assured him. “Your personal life is affecting your on-field performance.”
    Her producer was talking through the earpiece. “Cameron, have you lost your mind? What the hell’s going on here?”
    She continued, ticking the bullet points off on her fingernails. “You’ve been linked with multiple actresses, models, and other high-profile women throughout your career. You went to Hawaii on the bye week last year with three of them instead of staying in Seattle with the team. The question is, Zach, why don’t you take your career seriously?” She concentrated on forming the perfect concerned expression, despite the fact she knew the camera was on him. “How do you think that affects your teammates?”
    His eyes flew wide open in shock. His lips were a solid, bloodless line. His voice was barely above a whisper as he bit out the words. “This interview is over.” He jerked the microphone off, pulled the power pack out of the back of his pants, and got to his feet.
    “You don’t want to answer a few questions?”
    He didn’t speak. He was momentarily yanked backward by one wire; he ripped it out of the equipment, and walked away. She saw movement behind the camera. Several people followed Zach out of the studio. In the meantime, Cameron’s producer was shouting into her earpiece.
    “For God’s sake, Cameron. What was that?”

 
    Chapter Two
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    Z ACH STORMED INTO the dressing room the show had provided