Broken Play Read Free

closing his eyes and just listening to the two of them talking over him, saying dirty shit, the way he liked it. Damn, he loved dirty talk. He loved Cass’s dirty talk. He looked over at Marian, looking so prim and proper, and hanging on Mike’s every word. She probably didn’t even know dirty words, her earlier cussing notwithstanding. But if she did? Yeah, he’d like to hear them. Even if she didn’t like him. How sad was that?
    “Mr. Perez,” she said politely, interrupting his thoughts. He smiled at her, wishing she’d called him Beau so he could hear his name in her pretty little voice.
    “Yes, ma’am?” he answered just as politely.
    She cleared her throat. “I was wondering what your thoughts were on Tom Kelly.”
    “I don’t have any,” he answered honestly. Mike laughed and Beau smiled at him. When he turned back, Marian Treadwell was frowning. “That is,” Beau said, “I don’t really know anything about him. I had no idea we were considering him. I watched a few games last year, is all. Like Cass said, he was okay, not great.” He shrugged. “Who am I to judge? We all know you can’t predict how someone’s going to fit in. You’ve just got to wait and see.”
    “Oh,” she said. “I assumed you had some insight, which was why you were here at the meeting.” Beau didn’t think she meant anything by it. She looked genuinely confused. She turned to Mike. “Are all players allowed to attend these meetings? Doesn’t it get a little crowded?”
    Her questions were met with uncomfortable silence. Beau resisted the urge to squirm in his seat. She didn’t know he went where Cass went. Used to be because neither one of them trusted Beau. It’s bad when a man can’t trust himself. Now they just hated to be separated. Cass couldn’t concentrate if Beau wasn’t around. He worried too much. Marian Treadwell probably wouldn’t understand even if they tried to explain it. She didn’t look like she needed anyone around. She was completely self-contained and confident. Must be nice.
    “He’s here because I want him here,” Cass said. “Do you have a problem with that?” He sounded like he was getting mad. Cass mad was not a good thing. Beau was about to step in when she answered.
    “No. Do you have a problem with my asking questions about things I don’t understand? Seeing as how I’ve only been with the team for two months, and this is my first meeting with you, I confess I don’t know all the rules yet.”
    She had to go and mention rules. Beau sighed inwardly as Cass got that heated look in his eyes. Cass sure loved rules. “I’ll answer all your questions about the rules,” Cass told her, and Beau bit his lip again as Cass ran one of his thumbs along the length of the other where they rested on the table. Cass did that when he really wanted to touch someone else. Beau had to clasp his hands on the table to keep them from wandering where they shouldn’t—couldn’t—go.
    “Good,” Marian said briskly. “Well, Mr. Perez, I assume you feel free to contribute to the discussion, correct?” Beau nodded, hiding a smile at her sudden burst of efficiency. “Excellent. If you do form an opinion about Mr. Kelly, please come and talk to me about it. We’re still working on the playbook.”
    “What about Danny Smith?” Beau asked, curious that he hadn’t been mentioned. “Mandatory mini-camp starts in three weeks, and he’s not answering calls and he’s threatening a no-show in the press.” He was watching Marian closely and saw her flinch a little around the eyes. No one else noticed. She busied herself with straightening the pile of papers in front of her and didn’t answer.
    “Smith damn well better show up,” Mike said. “He’s our ace in the hole. Four Pro Bowls, NFC champs last year, a Super Bowl appearance two years running. That’s the kind of player we need to help solidify the offense.”
    “I hear you,” Cass said, frowning. “I’m looking forward to playing