“Armi,” Hayden warned. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it. Come on. Let’s go over the questions. I went through the past five years of Martin Price interviews, and he pretty much has a standard script he follows.”
“Really?”
Hayden grinned. “Really. Would I steer you wrong?”
He gripped Hayden’s arm. “No. I know you won’t. It’s crazy, but I feel so much better with you in the office.”
Hayden stood rigid under his touch. “I’m glad,” he replied softly and withdrew.
If ever there was a signal that what happened between them would never be repeated, that was it. Hayden had made his decision, and Armi needed to give up the wild fantasy of the two of them together. It would remain just that—a fantasy he’d only explore in his very dirty dreams.
With dinner finished, they returned to the living room. Hayden pointed to the laptop on the table. “I sent you the questions, so you can use your computer or your phone, whichever’s more comfortable.”
Acutely aware that Hayden had taken the single chair to sit in rather than the space next to him on the couch, Armi found the document and read through it. “You’re right. These are pretty standard questions. Do you think I should tell him about the team looking deeper into Division III or the lesser-known schools for quality players? And what about my long-term goals? What should I say?” He nibbled on his lip.
“Hmm. Good question.” Armi appreciated Hayden not tossing out platitudes but taking the time to think about the answers. “Maybe say…the Kings are looking into new ways to strengthen the team with quality players, and we’re exploring all avenues open to us.”
“Ohh, that’s good.” He took that down word for word and repeated it several times.
“And as for long-term goals, getting into the playoffs and a Super Bowl win is always the right answer, I think.”
“Right again. See?” Frustrated, he tossed the phone aside. “It comes so easily to you. I get hung up on feeling like I’m going to look stupid.” He stood and began to pace. “It’s like college and business school all over again. I hate speaking in public, and every time I’d get called on to answer a question, I’d hear the snickering because I wasn’t confident. It’s like the jungle where only the strong survive. My oral presentations were a disaster. I never got above a C.”
“Whoa, Armi.” Hayden joined him and put a hand on his shoulder. “You’re doing great. I’m telling you the truth.”
“You’re saying that to make me feel good.”
“No. I’m not.” Hayden’s eyes blazed fire. “And I had no complaints about your oral presentation. I’d give you an A.”
His face burned. “That…that’s different.”
“It doesn’t have to be. Just remember how confident you were with me, and use that.”
A shudder ran through him. “I wish…I wish it were that simple.”
“It will be. You’re going to kill it. Let’s go through everything until you feel ready.”
Hayden returned to his chair, and Armi missed his closeness. His mere presence gave Armi confidence. He’d have to figure out a way to channel that energy into the lunch tomorrow.
“All right. Let’s do this.”
**
Martin Price turned off the recorder. “Now that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
It was horrific, but Armi gave him a tentative smile. “I guess not.” He gulped his third glass of ice water. “Do you have everything you need?”
“Yep. It’s all there. And just in time for dessert.”
“I hope you enjoy it.”
Price took a big scoop of hiscrème brûlée. “I know I will. Nothing for you? You didn’t eat much.”
“I, uh, don’t usually eat a big lunch.” He’d barely managed to choke down a bowl of soup. Hopefully Price didn’t notice that a spoonful of it had landed in his lap. At least it was on the napkin this time and not on his tie.
Shrewd gray eyes met his. “I didn’t make you nervous, did I?”
“Me?” Armi huffed out a laugh through a throat so tight, it almost hurt. “No, not at all.”
