Rules of the Game by Nora Roberts Page B

commercials. “We’re just as eager to have him.”
    Claire sent her a brief warning look as she tucked her arm through Lee’s. “And where is he? Brooke and I are both anxious to meet him.”
    â€œHe has a hard time getting away from the ladies.” Lee gave the proud, apologetic smile of a doting uncle. But the eyes on Brooke were shrewd.
    â€œHow awkward for him,” she murmured into her glass. “But I suppose he manages to live with it.”
    â€œBrooke, you really must try the pâté.” Claire sent her a teeth-clenched smile.
    â€œI did,” Brooke returned easily. “Tell me more about Parks, Mr. Dutton. I can’t tell you what a fan I am.”
    â€œOh, you follow baseball?”
    Brooke tilted her glass again. “Why, we were in the park only a few weeks ago, weren’t we, Claire?”
    â€œAs a matter of fact.” Claire didn’t bother to try to outstare Brooke this time but turned to Lee. “Do you get to many games?”
    â€œNot enough,” he admitted, knowing a game was afoot and willing to play. “But I happen to have a few tickets for Sunday’s game,” he said, making a mental note to arrange for some. “I’d love to escort both you ladies.”
    Before Brooke could open her mouth, Claire doled out subtle punishment. “There’s nothing we’d like better.”
    He caught Brooke’s quick scowl before she smoothed her features. “Well, there’s Parks now.” Lee bellowed for him, causing heads to turn before conversation buzzed again.
    Parks’s first reaction was surprise when he saw Brooke standing beside his agent and the woman he knew was head of Thorton Productions. Then he experienced the same flare of reluctant desire he had felt on the other two occasions he’d seen her. He’d purposely let the days pass before he contacted her again, hoping the power of need would lessen. One glance at her told him it hadn’t worked.
    Apparently without hurry, he weaved through the crowd, stopping to exchange a few words when someone touched his arm, then gently disentangling himself. He’d learned, at an early age, how to keep from being cornered at a social occasion. In less than two minutes, Parks stood in front of Brooke.
    Well done, Brooke thought. She answered Parks’s smile cautiously, wondering what his reaction would be when they were introduced. She felt a jab of uneasiness then pushed it aside. After all, he’d been the one to wake her up at dawn and ask for a date.
    â€œParks, I want you to meet Claire Thorton, the lady who’ll be producing your commercials.” Lee laid his hand over Claire’s in an unconsciously possessive gesture noticed only by Parks and Brooke. Parks was amused, Brooke annoyed.
    â€œA pleasure, Ms. Thorton.” He wanted to say he had expected a dragon from what he’d read of her professionally, not this soft-faced attractive woman with faded blue eyes. Instead, Parks smiled and accepted her hand.
    â€œWe’re looking forward to working with you. I was just telling Mr. Dutton how much Brooke and I enjoyed your game against the Valiants a few weeks ago.” Remembering his muttered demand for Brooke’s name at the rail, Claire waited for the reaction.
    â€œOh?” So this was her friend, he thought, turning to Brooke. With her face, he concluded she must be a regular for Thorton’s commercials. “Hello again.”
    â€œHello.” Brooke found her hand claimed and held. Taking a hasty sip of champagne, she waited for the bomb to drop.
    â€œClaire tells me Ms. Gordon is her best,” Lee told Parks. “Since you’ll be working together closely, you’ll want to get to know each other.”
    â€œWill we?” Parks ran his thumb along Brooke’s palm.
    â€œOnly my best director for a project this important,” Claire put in, watching them closely.
    Brooke felt his