Game, Set, Match (A Humorous Contemporary Romance) (Love Match) Read Free Page B

catch him giving one of their own a beat down from hell. Not that it mattered, they’d make up stories about him just the same. Only some of those stories would have the barest grain of truth. The paps latest obsession included actress Cienna Dunst and their supposed engagement.
    He’d gone out with her a few times. Next thing he knew,   Us Weekly  splashed photos of them on the cover, with details of a Malibu wedding.
    When he reached the door, he halted when he saw who awaited him on the other side—his manager, Aaron Banks, with his usual optimistic smile. Jason wasn’t in the mood for optimism. But on the plus side, at least it wasn’t a paparazzo with a flashbulb.
    When Jason turned away without opening the door, Aaron let himself in.
    “Hey, buddy.”
    Jason scowled. “I need to change those locks. What do you want?”
    His long-suffering manager put on an affected look of pure dejection and pointed at Jason’s face. “That look, there, on your face, it’s not happiness to see me.”
    Already on his way to the kitchen, Jason didn’t wait for another comment, the itch around his surgery scar too persistent to ignore. He needed a scratch stick. He sighed when he heard Aaron’s heavy footfalls behind him. This wouldn’t be a quick visit.
    “Do I have a reason to be happy to see you?” He heard clattering in the hallway, and turned back to glare at Aaron.
    “What happened to you last night at the club? All the girls asked where their favorite party boy went.”
    Was that the way people referred to him now? What happened to the day when the world knew him as a tennis player first? “I got antsy and had to get out of there.”
    “The VIP room was a rage. Samantha Ronson did her thing. Can’t believe you ditched out. Everything cool?”
    No, everything was not cool. Maybe he was sick of doing nothing but partying all the time. Maybe he was sick of the endless slew of hangers-on. Maybe he wanted to respect himself again. He bit his tongue. “Yeah, cool.”
    Aaron grabbed one of the crutches and hobbled behind him. When Jason reached the kitchen, he almost cried with relief at the sight of the one thing that could stop the constant itch. His housekeeper had left the wooden spoon on the counter next to the sink. He grabbed it and made quick work of wiggling the long end of the spoon into the brace, careful not to disturb the bandage around his surgery scar.  Damn, that’s good . He closed his eyes and let out a sigh of bliss.
    “Damn man, with that look on your face, you’d think scratching was better than sex.”
    Jason cracked an eye open. “Right now, it is.”
    “ Jase, if Cienna isn’t up to the job, there are plenty more to take her place.”
    Jason opened his eyes. The last thing he needed was a woman. The damn paparazzi would have a field day. He gave Aaron a long look. “I doubt you braved the Malibu traffic to discuss my love life.”
    Tugging on his pristine tie, his manager smiled. “It’s my job to worry about your love life.”
    “Oh, yeah? How is my love life part of your job?” Managers like him had a way of spinning anything to their advantage.
    Aaron rolled his eyes, and spoke very slowly, as if dealing with a simpleton. “Your liaisons garner publicity. Clubs want you to host their New Year ’s Eve celebrations. Champagne companies want you as their endorsement angel. Fashion lines throw free swag at you like panties at a Bon Jovi concert. All of it means revenue, my friend.” He leaned the crutch against the counter. “Besides, I maintain an active sex life from your castoffs alone, Bro.”
    Jason wasn’t sure he wanted to be a commodity to buy and sell. But Aaron was right. It was all part of business. “You don’t need my castoffs.” If ever his friend had a downfall, it was women. He had a Patrick Dempsey look to him that got him all the women he ever wanted.
    Pristine teeth flashed into a grin. “Yeah, you’re right. I am a handsome devil. But, I didn’t come