Free OneManAdvantage by Kelly Jamieson Page B

what it is, going forward.”
    Nicole burst out laughing. Oh man! “Seriously,” she gasped
once she’d stopped laughing. “How did you feel last night?”
    “I felt good.”
    “Really?”
    “No.” He slanted her a glance. “I’m trying to be positive.
It wasn’t bad. Just different. It’s going to take a while for me to get used to
things—new coach, new teammates, new building.”
    “Yeah, I’m sure it will. You played well, though. That goal
was pretty.”
    “Thanks.”
    “You and Scott get along?”
    “Yeah. So far. He’s great.”
    “Don’t sound so enthusiastic.”
    He glanced at her again. “Apparently I’m not doing a good
job of acting happy about this.”
    She tipped her head to one side. He was doing a good
job of it, any time she saw him with other people, but the few times they’d
talked about it, she’d sensed his frustration. This must be hard for him. She’d
been all wrapped up in her own problems and embarrassment, but he was going
through a major life change. She knew how important it was that a player have a
good relationship with his coach and how long it could take to adapt to a new
coaching style, a new personality. Plus, there was getting to know all the
other players and finding his place on the team. And then all the personal
stuff, like finding a place to live. And buying this mondo spiffy vehicle he’d
driven them to the photo shoot in. She swallowed a sigh.
    “What?” he asked.
    “Nothing. I know this is hard for you.”
    His lips pursed briefly. “Nah,” he said. “It’s all good.”
    She didn’t believe him. “Oh, right there,” she said,
pointing. “Turn right into this parking lot.”
    She studied the converted warehouse adjacent to World Market
Square, all old brick and arched windows.
    “Looks nice,” he commented, pulling into a parking spot.
    “It does. There’s a gym across the street and a park just
behind the building. And of course you’re close to World Market Square, which
is quite a neat market.”
    “Price?”
    She bit her lip. “There are only a couple of units
available. One is eight hundred thousand, the other is one point two million.”
    “Which are we looking at?”
    “I thought the one point two million one.”
    He nodded without even flinching at the numbers. “Okay.”
    Inside the building they were met by the realtor, who took
them up to the seventh floor out of eight. They walked into the loft, the
ten-foot ceilings giving an open feel. Dark wood floors gleamed in the sunshine
that streamed in floor-to-ceiling windows. The two walls of windows met in one
corner of the living room, giving an incredible view of the city. A door in the
wall of windows led to a balcony, which was where Logan headed first.
    Nicole followed, looking around. It wasn’t going to be her
place, but she studied it anyway, taking in the modern black fireplace set into
old brick, halogen lights on tracks suspended from the ceiling, matte taupe
walls with pristine white baseboards.
    “There’s a powder room here,” the realtor, Mary, showed
them. “And the bedroom and bathroom are through there.” She indicated an
opening in the wall beside the fireplace. Logan wandered in there, and she
hesitated. Did she really need to see the bedroom?
    No, she did not.
    So she hung around in the main open area, a kitchen, living-
and dining-room combination.
    “Hey, Nicole,” Logan called. “Come see.”
    She bit her lip and walked to the bedroom. It too was
spacious and full of light.
    “Lots of room for a king-size bed,” he said. “Which I need.”
    Of course he did.
    “And it would be so easy to hang a swing from those beams.”
    Her heart missed a beat and she gaped at him. “Whaat?”
    He laughed. “You should see the look on your face!” He
slapped his thigh, still chuckling.
    Why had he said that? Was he joking? Or did he know
something…how could he?
    “And the bathroom’s great,” he said, moving away. “Check it
out.”
    Disoriented, she