had decided to live by the adage, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. As long as Shannon knew his secret, he needed to keep a strict eye on her. Her little lie to the blogger provided the perfect opportunity to do just that.
“Just be gentle with her heart, that’s all. She’s a nice girl trying to make something of herself.”
Brody didn’t have to wonder why Connelly empathized with Shannon. From what he could discern, the two had similar backgrounds.
Nate Dumas joined in among the players surrounding Shannon. “And that asshole doesn’t help matters,” Connelly muttered.
“One sister is a hot Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and the other is . . . not,” Nate bellowed to the crowd. “It’s kind of like Gisele Bündchen and her twin sister. One of them got all the good looks and the other just got the brains, I guess.”
“Tell me he didn’t just say that,” Connelly growled.
Brody didn’t stick around to answer him, instead making a beeline to where Shannon stood, her face expressionless. It was one thing for Brody to want to chew her up one side and down the other, but Nate Dumas was not going to get the satisfaction of dissing her.
“Are you saying Sha-nay-nay isn’t pretty, Dumas?” DeShawn asked, going toe-to-toe with the trainer.
Brody had a newfound respect for the running back for sticking up for her, but he’d rather fight his own battles. He stepped between DeShawn and Nate, giving the trainer a measured glance before turning to Shannon. Despite a pinched look about her mouth, she showed no outward reaction to anything being said about her. Undoubtedly, she’d heard it all before—many times judging by the extent of her composure. But Brody didn’t have time to contemplate her mental toughness. He had a score to settle with Shannon, and for that, he needed privacy.
Donning his best Janik charm, he slipped into the role of devoted boyfriend. “Hey guys, can I borrow Shannon for a minute?” His teammates let out a few snickers and knowing grins as Brody reached for her hand. A wild jolt shot up his arm the instant his fingers slid between hers, totally catching him off guard. The only reaction from her was a quick intake of breath.
“Whoa,” Nate called from behind them. “See, this is why I have a problem with romance in the workplace.”
“You have a problem with romance, period,” DeShawn mumbled.
“You two can’t just go trotting off for a little nooky while she’s on the clock,” Nate continued.
Brody wasn’t aware he’d turned around until Shannon squeezed his hand—hard—halting his progress toward the loudmouthed trainer.
“For crying out loud, Dumas, she’s an intern. She’s not on the clock.” Connelly crossed his arms over his massive chest, treating Nate to his patented menacing stare.
Nate shrugged. “Hey, I’m not the one writing the checks, but I do sign off on her school credit hours.”
Shannon’s whole body stiffened next to Brody’s.
“Go. Take your five minutes, you two. Just try to keep it G-rated for the video cameras in the storage room.” Nate laughed as he slithered out of the commissary, leaving behind a group of players shaking their heads at him.
Before Brody knew what was happening, Shannon pulled her hand from his grip and marched over to the storeroom behind the kitchen. By the time he crossed the threshold, she was searching the four corners of the small space.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t put it past that vermin to have video cameras in here,” she said from behind a steel shelf.
Brody closed the door, leaning up against it. “Wouldn’t that be convenient? Then you could sell that blogger audio
and
video.”
“I told you I didn’t sell anything to that blogger.”
Brody crossed his arms over his chest. “Really? Because yesterday’s story was certainly conveniently timed.”
Shannon looked up from her inspection. “You think
I
sold that information? For pity’s sake, Brody,
“Just be gentle with her heart, that’s all. She’s a nice girl trying to make something of herself.”
Brody didn’t have to wonder why Connelly empathized with Shannon. From what he could discern, the two had similar backgrounds.
Nate Dumas joined in among the players surrounding Shannon. “And that asshole doesn’t help matters,” Connelly muttered.
“One sister is a hot Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and the other is . . . not,” Nate bellowed to the crowd. “It’s kind of like Gisele Bündchen and her twin sister. One of them got all the good looks and the other just got the brains, I guess.”
“Tell me he didn’t just say that,” Connelly growled.
Brody didn’t stick around to answer him, instead making a beeline to where Shannon stood, her face expressionless. It was one thing for Brody to want to chew her up one side and down the other, but Nate Dumas was not going to get the satisfaction of dissing her.
“Are you saying Sha-nay-nay isn’t pretty, Dumas?” DeShawn asked, going toe-to-toe with the trainer.
Brody had a newfound respect for the running back for sticking up for her, but he’d rather fight his own battles. He stepped between DeShawn and Nate, giving the trainer a measured glance before turning to Shannon. Despite a pinched look about her mouth, she showed no outward reaction to anything being said about her. Undoubtedly, she’d heard it all before—many times judging by the extent of her composure. But Brody didn’t have time to contemplate her mental toughness. He had a score to settle with Shannon, and for that, he needed privacy.
Donning his best Janik charm, he slipped into the role of devoted boyfriend. “Hey guys, can I borrow Shannon for a minute?” His teammates let out a few snickers and knowing grins as Brody reached for her hand. A wild jolt shot up his arm the instant his fingers slid between hers, totally catching him off guard. The only reaction from her was a quick intake of breath.
“Whoa,” Nate called from behind them. “See, this is why I have a problem with romance in the workplace.”
“You have a problem with romance, period,” DeShawn mumbled.
“You two can’t just go trotting off for a little nooky while she’s on the clock,” Nate continued.
Brody wasn’t aware he’d turned around until Shannon squeezed his hand—hard—halting his progress toward the loudmouthed trainer.
“For crying out loud, Dumas, she’s an intern. She’s not on the clock.” Connelly crossed his arms over his massive chest, treating Nate to his patented menacing stare.
Nate shrugged. “Hey, I’m not the one writing the checks, but I do sign off on her school credit hours.”
Shannon’s whole body stiffened next to Brody’s.
“Go. Take your five minutes, you two. Just try to keep it G-rated for the video cameras in the storage room.” Nate laughed as he slithered out of the commissary, leaving behind a group of players shaking their heads at him.
Before Brody knew what was happening, Shannon pulled her hand from his grip and marched over to the storeroom behind the kitchen. By the time he crossed the threshold, she was searching the four corners of the small space.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t put it past that vermin to have video cameras in here,” she said from behind a steel shelf.
Brody closed the door, leaning up against it. “Wouldn’t that be convenient? Then you could sell that blogger audio
and
video.”
“I told you I didn’t sell anything to that blogger.”
Brody crossed his arms over his chest. “Really? Because yesterday’s story was certainly conveniently timed.”
Shannon looked up from her inspection. “You think
I
sold that information? For pity’s sake, Brody,
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