Slamdunked By Love (One on One #2) by Jamie Wesley

you.”
    “Apology accepted.” He reached out to brush aside a strand of her hair, his eyes searching hers. “Where do we go from here?”
    “Do you want to quit?” She held her breath.
    Brady dropped his hand to his side. “No. This is still the best way to keep Elise at arm’s length.” A brief smile touched his lips. “The guys can’t complain I’m after her after that public display.”
    The relief rushing through her was embarrassing in its intensity, but only because she needed Brady to gain access to Mack. That’s all it was. “Okay.”
    “I know I’ve put you in some awkward positions, and you haven’t bailed yet. Thank you. It means a lot.”
    The compliment surprised her. Warmed her. “You’re welcome, but don’t forget you’re helping me, too. Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” His voice, so deep, so alluring, made her long for things she shouldn’t.
    She forced an upbeat tone in her voice. “Guess that settles it then. We’ll keep on faking it.”
    His dark eyes pierced hers. “Yeah. Faking it.”

Chapter Five
    “Y ou sure about this?” Noelle asked.
    Caitlin didn’t need to ask for clarification. “Yes, I’m sure.” Mostly sure. No. One hundred percent sure. “Yes. Brady will be perfect.” She ticked off points on her fingers. “He has an edge to him. He’s not afraid to offer his opinion. People know who he is. He’s an unexpected choice, so people will tune in to see what he has to say.”
    Noelle was shaking her head. “Unexpected is one way to put it. I asked Tate about him. I thought it was funny and cool that he helped you out and y’all ended up being gossip fodder, but after what Tate said, I’m not so sure anymore. He doesn’t sound like the kind of guy you want to get mixed up with.”
    Caitlin threw up her hands. “I get that your fiancé is Mr. Sports Talk Show Host who always has an opinion, but good grief. Brady’s not in the mob. He’s a basketball player!”
    “With a reputation for not getting along with players and team officials. Fighting. Demanding special favors. There’s a reason he ended up getting traded. I don’t want someone I can’t count on. My show is designed to help people, not be a showcase for jerks. I’m not in the shock-for-ratings camp.”
    As her friend listed his faults, faults she was well aware of and had catalogued herself, Caitlin started to feel defensive. And protective.
    “I know that, Noelle, and neither am I,” she said with a calm she didn’t feel. “You know that. But I do want this launch to go well. Syndication is as important to me as it is to you. You’re not the only one with something on the line here. And I think, no I know , he’ll be great. I can keep him in line. Besides, you’re being too hard on him. I’ve met him, talked to him. Yes, he can be volatile.” The fire in his eyes when she’d followed him after the run-in with his teammate at casino night would be forever etched in her memory. But so would the vulnerability in his voice when he asked her to be his pretend girlfriend so he could avoid a potentially explosive situation. His admittance that he was under a lot of stress. “But another word for volatile is passionate. You’re the psychologist. You know that appearances can be deceiving and that people often have hidden depths. Give him a chance. A real one.”
    Noelle studied her. Caitlin met her gaze unflinchingly. Her best friend finally nodded. “Okay.” She crossed her arms and squinted. “I’m still not happy you promised him the gig before discussing it with me though.”
    Caitlin grinned. Things were going to be okay. “I know, but I saw an opportunity, and I took it.”
    “Which is why I love you. Still…”
    “Still what?” Had she read Noelle wrong? Did she have more convincing to do?
    “Are you sure pretending to be his girlfriend is a good idea? I’ve thought about this and the potential for things to get out of hand is astronomical.”
    Caitlin shifted