“Yep, he wants to paint a picture of the rising talent in American tennis. He wasn’t sure if it would fit into the schedule, but he’s got Penny and Alex down at the beachfor a photo shoot right now, so he’s got time to talk to you two.” Dom rocked back on his heels.
Jasmine’s mouth was suddenly dry and she swallowed quickly, trying to understand what was happening. Dom wanted Harold Hodges to talk to her…and Indy?
What the fuck? The bitch just got here.
Dom led them from the practice courts and down to the beach, where the shoot was in full swing. Wind kicked up from off the water, swirling sand around the two objects of the photographer’s lens, Penny Harrison and Alex Russell. The photographer’s angle was obvious. Penny was in an all-white tennis dress with a gold Nike swoosh logo across her chest. Alex stood right beside her in a black T-shirt and black tennis shorts, no logos, no sponsors, just himself.
Standing at the bottom of the stairs was Caroline Morneau, one of the top agents in the world. Jasmine recognized her from parties her parents used to drag her to when she was little.
“Dominic, you did not even let them shower?” Caroline asked now, shaking her head.
Dom ignored her and turned to them. “Stay here, ladies.” Then he strode down the beach a little closer to the photo shoot.
Caroline began digging through her large bag. “Men, they never think of these things.” She pulled a hairbrush out and handed it to Indy. “Fix your hair so you do not look like a mess for your first big interview. Think of all the buzz this will create. Everyone will be talking about you!” Then she left them as well, kicking off her stiletto heels and carrying them down the beach with her, heading straight for Dom.
Jasmine took a deep breath and then turned to Indy. “Is Caroline Morneau your agent?” she snapped.
Indy yanked her hair out of her ratty, sweaty ponytail and shrugged. “She thinks she is.”
Jasmine tried to keep her reaction off her face, not sure how successful she was. One of the best agents in the world wanted to rep this girl with the terrible footwork and zero track record.
“That’s great,” Jasmine managed to choke out.
“Yeah, well, we’ll see,” Indy said, her eyes focused down the beach as she pulled her new ponytail tight. Jasmine followed the direction of her stare and it landed on Jack Harrison, who was watching the photo shoot intently, like he did everything in his little sister’s career.
“You want Jack Harrison instead?” Jasmine asked.
“What?” Indy asked, turning toward her, confusion written clear across her face.
“You want Jack Harrison?” Jasmine repeated herself.
“To be my agent? No.” Indy’s nose wrinkled. “I think Dom’s calling us.”
Dom was waving from down the beach, standing next to a short, balding middle-aged man in a golf shirt and khakis, Harold Hodges, who had Caroline at his other arm and was listening to her intently.
There were lots of people around—makeup artists, the photographer’s assistants—and they all seemed really busy, but it barely registered for Jasmine. Her mind was still reeling. Nothing had ever gutted her quite like this before, except maybe Teddy’s rejection. No, even that paled in comparison. Her whole life, her entire tennis career, had beenleading up to these next few days when she’d take on the best the world had to offer, and now, suddenly, she had to share it.
“Okay, I think that’s it,” the photographer shouted, drawing her from her thoughts.
Penny marched away from Alex without a word, straight up the beach. Alex watched her go for a moment and then, with a shake of his head, turned and walked toward Caroline.
“Hey, they’ve got you doing this, too?” Penny asked when she finally reached them.
It took Jasmine a second to realize that Penny wasn’t talking to her, at least notonlyher. Then she remembered breakfast yesterday. Indy showed up with Penny and then sat with the other Harrisons. Obviously they were friends, though she had no idea how that had happened. Except Teddy knew Indy from her first day, so of course the new girl would use that angle to get in cozy with OBX’s best player. She’d reeked of ambition from the moment she stepped on the practice court a week before the Classic. Trying to buddy up with Penny Harrison definitely wasn’t beneath her.
“How was shooting with him?” Indy asked, a smirk lifting at the side of her mouth.
Penny rolled her eyes and groaned. “He’s just… he thinks he’s God’s gift to women. He pretty much latches on to anything female in his line of sight.” She waved her hand back down the beach where Alex was leaning into Caroline and smiling widely as they headed away from OBX. “Case in point. I’m gonna get going before the photographer sucksme back in. See you guys later,” she said as she started up the stairs.
“Penny, hold up!” Jack called as he, Dom, and the man Jasmine recognized as Harold Hodges finally walked away from the photographer and toward them. “Ladies.”
Jack followed Penny up the stairs, but Dom stopped in front of them with the reporter. “Jasmine, Indy, this is Harold Hodges.” Then he stepped back, giving them some room to talk.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hodges. I love your column,” Indy said, shaking his hand.
“Thank you, Indy, and, Jasmine, we’ve met before, though I doubt you remember it. I did a profile on your father during his last year on the tour. You were only a baby at the time.”
Jasmine smiled tightly. Competing with both Indyandher dad. Just great.
