Free Game, Set, Match (A Humorous Contemporary Romance) (Love Match) by Nana Malone Page B

he has a soul, she thought bitterly.
    He didn’t speak for several beats. Frowning, he asked, “Is it the subject you don’t want to deal with? I caught some of the tension there. If it is the subject, I’ll tell them it’s a definite no and line something else up for you, but  Sports Illustrated  is a huge step in getting you where you’re supposed to be. I don’t want to tell them there are artistic differences if I can help it.”
    She bit back the bitter bile at his artistic differences retort. “I know how important SI can be. I’m not crazy about shooting the athletes and actors and stuff, but I can do it. I have done it.”
    “So it  is  the subject you object to.”
    Shit . If she said yes, he’d want an explanation, not only as her manager, but as her boyfriend. She wasn’t ready to give explanations. If she said no, he’d think she was a difficult artist type, and she hated it when he made those kinds of references. She was a professional.
    “No, it’s not the subject.”
    “Good. Then there’s no problem. You’ll do the shoot.” He took her hand and pulled her out from around the light table. He encircled her waist with his hands. “I’ll make this as easy on you as possible. Anything you need, you just tell me, and I’ll make it happen.”
    She leaned back from him. Knowing she couldn’t ask him to make Jason Cartwright disappear without a trace, she opted for something in the realm of possibility. “How about less pieces in the gallery opening?”
    “Well, how about we try something smaller. Besides, you know forty will give the critics a good range of your work and your talent. Anything else you want? How about I come to the set and make sure everything goes smoothly?”
    Izzy hated having him on set. He always got in the way, tried to give direction. She’d have to babysit him to make sure he didn’t waste SI’s money. “Oh, no, you don’t have to do that. I know how bored you get at shoots. It’s a lot of sitting around. How about more time in my day?”
    “Your wish is my command. I’ll cancel the publisher this afternoon. Give you more time to work. But I think coming to the set will be fun. It’s been a while since I’ve seen my lady work.”
    He seemed so pleased with himself, she didn’t bother to tell him he’d make her job harder, not easier, and by going to the meeting in her place he’d only be giving her back the time he stole from his interruption. “That would be great, Simon. But honestly, don’t feel obligated to come babysit me. Jessica will be on hand to make sure everything goes smoothly.”
    His jaw clenched at the mention of Jessica’s name, then slowly unclenched before he spoke. “I’m not there to babysit you. I’m there to be your right hand. Jessica’s capable enough I’m sure, but she’s not me.” He grinned and pulled her tighter. “Anything else milady wants?”
    She screwed her face up, body tightening at the contact. “That you can provide me? Not that I can think of right now, but I’ll take a rain check.”
    He smiled as he dipped his head. “Where’s your sense of imagination,” he mumbled against her mouth before nipping her lower lip.
    In what could only be a practiced move, he shifted to pin her against her light table with his hips while both hands went to her face in what might have been an attempt at an achingly tender kiss. But it wasn’t. Firm, coaxing lips slid over hers and demanded a response. He left her nowhere to run.
    When in Rome . He wouldn’t let her wheedle out, so she threw everything she could into the kiss and waited for the tingle of arousal to slide up her spine. Waited for the quickening and thrumming of heady heartbeat. Waited for the dizzying ladder of lust and longing. Hoped to replace the memories of Jason.
    Traitorously, her heart and body sighed in resignation to a kiss from the wrong man.   Not Jason.
    The moment the image of Jason’s handsome face peeked into her consciousness, she felt