Free Player's Challenge by Koko Brown Page B

jumper was waving his arms at them like a wild man. Thankful for the interruption, Gemma slid around Devin and placed the cart between them.
    “Wanker!” he yelled. “This is for knocking Crystal Palace out of the Champions League.” He wrapped one arm around the other, shooting Croydon’s star goalie a bird.
    “See what I have to put up with.” Devin glanced down at her. The corners of his mouth trembled as he struggled to keep a straight face.
    “Serves you right for not sticking to the boun—”
    “Don’t,” Devin growled. Forgetting they were in public, he lashed out, kicking a row of cans on the lower shelf.
    Sensing his frustration and feeling quite a bit herself, Gemma stepped forward to help him clean it up.
    “Don’t, unless you want to go at it right here and now.”
    Gemma gulped. The heat in his gaze was disquieting. And yet, in spite of the circumstances and the small crowd gathering at either end of the aisle, she was more than a little turned on by his primitive display.
    Still, she decided to err on the side of common sense and gainful employment. “I’ll see you at the car.”

Chapter Six

    Devin put the car in park, and then reached in the back seat for his gym bag.
    “Remind me again why I’m doing this,” he stared out the window, his hand resting on the door handle.
    “Three words: multi-million pound contract.” She paused to take a sip of her Illy coffee. She needed to charge up for what lay ahead. “You couldn’t buy this kind of PR even if you tried. Plus, it’ll knock four hours off your community service. Now stop being a baby and get out of the car.”
    “You handle me so well.” Winking, he yanked on the door handle and then climbed out. He walked around to her side and Gemma fell into step beside him, her red-soled stilettos clicking on the hot asphalt.
    “Quite a few media outlets have been invited, so expect anyone from the BBC to Channel 1. Of course, they’re going to ask you about the transfer window. What’s your answer?”
    Devin smiled down at her and like clockwork her pulse fluttered. “Have I told you how sexy you are when you talk business?”
    Gemma rolled her eyes. “Every day. You know what they say about a person who’s overly profuse with their compliments?”
    “People tend to think they’re full of bollocks,” he muttered. “Gemma, I—”
    “Eyes on the prize.” Gemma grabbed his arm and pulled him along. During the past week, she’d become quite adept at changing the subject whenever Devin veered to close to the boundaries.
    “Now if someone asks you about the transfer window, what’s your answer?”
    “Are you actually going to wear that skirt in there?”
    Gemma glanced down at her camel-colored pencil skirt and its matching short-sleeved cardigan by Burberry. Her skirt had been tailored to fit snugly, but it didn’t cling like a second skin. She thought she looked rather smart. “What’s wrong with my skirt?”
    His eyes raked over her. “It’s too sexy. Hugs every single curve, especially your arse. All the guys will be drawn to you like bees to honey. I swear if any of them come onto you,” he gritted out, “I might as well retire now because I’ll be sitting in jail begging for porridge for the next twenty years.”
    Secretly pleased by his reaction, Gemma moved to refocus his attention. “I’m a professional, Devin. While I’m with you, as your representative, I’m officially at work. If I can live under your roof and deflect your advances, I can evade a handful of randy footballers.”
    A smile touched Devin’s lips and made him impossibly more handsome. If he only knew he had nothing to worry about, since every man faded into the background whenever he was near.
    “Now, if BBC’s Philomena Holt asks you about the transfer window, what are you going to say?”
    Devin cleared his throat. “Yes, I’d love to have dinner with you.”
    Gemma bristled. The popular sports journalist and gorgeous blonde had a twitter