I thought that would shut everyone up. After all, I represented a big paper in our home city. But at my words, the man behind Mr. Obnoxious stepped into view and his expression was downright ugly. “The hell you say.”
Oh shit. It was Dirk Benson, the head sports reporter from my own paper. Damn it, he probably thought I was here for his job. I started to say something, but he never gave me a chance. He reached for my badge where it dangled from a lanyard around my neck and hauled it up to his nose, all but strangling me in the process.
Meanwhile, Mr. Obnoxious snorted.
“Guess your paper thinks she’s got better assets than you, Dirk.”
“The hell she does,” the man growled.
“I’m not here to replace you,” I said in a low voice. It didn’t work. I could hear everyone quieting just to listen in. “I’m getting an interview with Rob.”
He still had hold of my press pass, which is why I slipped. I’d been trying to step back to give us both some space, but he kept it firm in his large fist. The lanyard tugged on my neck and my heels slid on the floor. I was able to grab the top of a chair to keep myself upright, but that gave the bastard time to yank the pass from around my neck.
“The hell you are, missy. I’m theIndianapolis Sunhere, and you need to get your ass out.” Then he grabbed my arm and used his bulk to march me toward the door. I glanced desperately at the other people, but not one moved to help. Probably because they’d heard me say I was from theIndianapolis Sun. That meant this was an internal turf war.
“Stop it!” I squeaked. “Let go of me!” None of it worked and, in my pumps, I had little grip to push back.
So I went with a right cross. I had two older brothers who’d had taught me a thing or two.
I hit him hard enough that his face snapped to the side. I’d aimed for his jaw, but instead, I clipped his nose and felt the satisfying crunch of cartilage. He howled and dropped me like a sack of potatoes. And in my impossible shoes, I went straight down.
I was still checking my teeth from the jolt up my spine when a dark pair of men’s shoes appeared in my peripheral vision. Then someone way above me said in a deep voice, “Is there a problem here?” I looked up—way up—and saw a man with dark hair, dark eyes, and a mesmerizing stare. He wore a well-tailored suit, but what made him distinctive was the suave violence in his body. It was as ifGQhad outfitted a really good-looking gangster.
Security, obviously. And what could I say? I wasn’t stupid enough to start pointing fingers. Dirk was the regular sports reporter and in my naïveté, I’d hoped to get his help. Instead, I’d probably broken the guy’s nose. The last thing I needed was to get us both kicked out. So I took a breath and tried to cover.
“I, um, I just slipped in these shoes. Mr. Benson was, um, offering me his seat.” Okay, so I wasn’t immune to getting my digs in.
The security guy’s striking eyes narrowed as he peered down at me. “He wasn’t trying to manhandle you? And you’re not about to slap him with a sexual harassment suit?”
I blinked. Wow. That was rather extreme. “N-not for this.”
The guy nodded. “Okay then. Dirk? You know where the washroom is. And, miss, you can take his seat right here.”
“Oh. Thanks.” I did my best not to stagger as I finally made it to my feet. Now at my full height, the security guard was still way above me, but I didn’t have to tilt my head far. He even bent down to grab my notebook and purse before handing it to me.
Then we both stood there awkwardly while Dirk fumed. Was he going to make an issue of this? If looks could kill, I’d be a smoking pile of ash. But in the end, he shoved his way past us. Possibly because his nose was dripping blood like a leaky faucet.
I didn’t want to take Dirk’s seat, but there were no others anywhere. The guard helped me settle and then just as he straightened up, he pressed a business card into my hand. On the back, handwritten, was a room number and a time.
“What—?” I asked.
“If you could come to my office after the postgame interviews, I’d appreciate it.”
“Um, am I in some sort of trouble?”
He arched a brow indicating the room in general. The hostility was palpable. I wasn’t sure that anyone was a big fan of Dirk, but I was the pretty young upstart taking over for a competent older reporter. No one was going to rush to be my friend.
“Just be there.” Not a request.
Well, hell. Now what?
Chapter Six
Rob
“What do you want with her?” Nico’s voice was wary as we walked down the hallway to his tiny security office.
I ducked the question. “She’s in there?” I couldn’t believe Heidi Wong was right here. The girl I hadn’t been able to forget. When I’d seen her in the press room this afternoon, she’d looked older, more anxious, and like a beautiful ten-ton wrecking ball into my concentration.
