Free Rock Solid by Samantha Hunter

whoever she has to.”
    “Sounds like a sweetheart.”
    Brody grunted in response as Marsha approached them.
    “Brody, nice to see you looking well,” she said, her eyes traveling over him in a predatory way that made Hannah’s jaw clench.
    “I don’t think we had an interview today, did we, Marsha?”
    “No, but I was in the area, and I hoped to confirm a few rumors before I went with my latest story—”
    “That would be a first,” Brody said.
    “Now, now. Play nice,” Marsha said, clearly not fazed at all, from what Hannah could see.
    Then the reporter’s gaze homed in on her. Yikes.
    “You look familiar,” she said, narrowing her eyes, but clearly not able to remember.
    Hannah had never been interviewed when she was with Brody before, but there had been some published pictures of them together. Hopefully that could work for them now. Hannah hoped her smile looked natural as she stepped forward with her hand out.
    “Hannah Morgan, nice to meet you.”
    Marsha shook her hand, focusing on Hannah so hard Hannah thought the woman might stare a hole between her eyes, and then Marsha’s eyes widened. Hannah could almost hear the click.
    “Daytona. You were...hanging out with Brody then. I remember seeing a few pictures of you with the team.”
    “That’s right,” Hannah agreed, not saying anything more.
    “Well, then, that dispels one of the rumors right off the bat.”
    “And that would be?” Brody asked.
    “That you and Jackie Nelson were pairing up for the charity auction, but Jackie suggested that you were also pairing up for a lot more than that. Considering that you’ve been out with several women in the past few months, of course, I had my doubts that you would settle down with just one,” Marsha said. “But I also heard that you were having trouble with your sponsor and trying to make nice after what happened at that club. In fact, someone even thought that maybe you were fired, instead of retiring?”
    Hannah expected that Brody might lose his temper at the woman’s goading, but he only sighed heavily before answering, as if tired or bored by the question.
    “Jackie and I are friends, Marsha. I’m donating some items to the auction, and we went out a few times in the past, but that’s all. You must have misunderstood her.”
    “Apparently. And as for the sponsor?”
    “I don’t have a sponsor. I’m not racing. Retired, remember?” he said, as if she were daft.
    “Hmm... Well, I figured you’d never take yourself off the market. Wild Brody Palmer, settling down with just one woman? Puh-leese,” Marsha said with a not-so-friendly chuckle.
    Hannah linked her arm through his, keeping her voice steady. “Well, that’s where you’re wrong again, actually. Brody is off the market. He’s with me.”
    “You mean, for this week? This is an on-again, off-again thing, or friends with benefits?”
    Hannah bristled at the woman’s tone.
    “We’ve both been getting our careers figured out. I needed some time, but when I came back down to see him I knew this time I wouldn’t be going back north. I’m here to stay.”
    Cynical doubt practically spilled out of the woman’s eyes as they met Brody’s. “Jeez, Brody, all the women I talk to seem to think you belong to them.”
    Brody tucked Hannah in closer. “But in this case, you won’t hear me denying it. Hannah and I had a great time back in Daytona, and when we got together again, the feelings were still there and very mutual.”
    Hannah could tell by Marsha’s face that she wasn’t buying it. Not one bit.
    “You expect me to believe you were in love with her the whole time you were visiting sex clubs and dating other women? Sorry, Brody, try again. The only way I’d buy this is if I see a ring on her finger or a date set for the wedding,” she scoffed.
    “Well, we haven’t had time to talk about a ring yet, but we were talking about possible wedding dates on our ride today,” Hannah said. “Before you showed up