When Stars Collide (Chicago Stars #9) - Susan Elizabeth Phillips Page 0,9
legs. One of the photographers gestured toward an armchair near the windows. “Let’s try a few shots over there.”
The Diva settled in the armchair, and Thad took up a position behind her.
Marchand tugged on today’s silk neck scarf. “Thaddeus, may I suggest you put your hand on her shoulder?”
All the better to display the Victory780, but Thad had never been more reluctant to touch a woman.
She flinched, a movement so subtle he doubted anyone else noticed. He had no idea what he’d done to make her hate him so much. He was a straight shooter—blunt when he needed to be—but generally diplomatic. He liked most people, and he didn’t make a habit of collecting enemies. He respected women and treated them well. This was her problem, not his. Still, he had to admit to a perverse curiosity.
After the photographers left, Henri suggested they all meet for dinner at eight in the hotel’s four-star restaurant. Thad had plans to get together with some former teammates, and he declined. The Diva pleaded fatigue and said she’d order room service later. Henri didn’t extend the invitation to Paisley.
Thad excused himself to change into workout clothes, but as he reached the second-floor fitness center, he realized he’d forgotten his phone. He liked to listen to music on the treadmill, and he went back to retrieve it.
The living room’s double French doors were open, and she stood on the terrace by the rail. He hesitated. To hell with it. He was sick of her crap, and this was his chance to talk to her privately.
He walked over to the open doors but didn’t step out. “I’m behind you, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t attack me again.”
She whirled around. She’d gotten rid of the big scarf and traded her stilettos for a pair of flats, but she still looked plenty put together in her white dress. Did she even own a pair of jeans?
“Do you need something?” She addressed him as if he were a servant who’d interrupted her.
She was so condescending his teeth started to itch. “I thought you might have something you wanted to tell me.”
“I can’t imagine what that would be.”
“Something on the order of, ‘I’m sorry as hell I acted like a lunatic last night, and thank you, Mr. Owens, for not knocking me silly.’ Which would have been easy to do.”
Her iceberg expression could have sunk a thousand ships. “I have nothing to say to you.”
She clearly wasn’t worth his time, and he could have walked away. But they were going to be together for a month, and he needed to have it out with her. “You’ve given me the cold shoulder from the beginning, lady. Do you treat most people like garbage, or am I a special case? I don’t give a damn what you think of me, you understand. But I am curious.”
Her nostrils flared like an opera heroine about to order a beheading. “Men like you . . . you’ve got it all. Money. Looks. The public fawning over you. But that’s not enough, is it?”
Now he was really steamed. “Here’s the difference between you and me. If I have a beef with somebody, I’m upfront about it. I don’t hide behind snarky comments.”
She drew in a deep breath that expanded her rib cage in a way he’d have found impressive if he weren’t so incensed. “You want upfront?” she said. “All right. Does the name Alyssa Jackson mean anything?”
“Can’t say as it does.”
“What’s one more victim, right?”
“‘Victim’?” It took a lot to make him lose his temper, but he’d never had anyone regard him with so much contempt. “Exactly what kind of victim?”
She gripped the railing with the hand that held one of her poison rings. “Alyssa and I shared an apartment for a while in the Bronx. It was when you were the Giants’ hot new quarterback—the one who didn’t last two seasons. But you were the big man in town, and all the women wanted you. Except the ones like Alyssa who didn’t.” Her lips curled with contempt. “And you don’t even remember her name.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “How about you refresh my memory? Exactly what am I supposed to have done to her?”
“I don’t know what the legal definition of sexual assault is, but what you did was close enough. I begged her to go to the police, but she refused.”
He clenched his teeth against his rising fury. “Now there’s a surprise.”