End Zone: Texas Titans 2 Read Online Free PDF Page B

of trying to maintain a relationship, don’t you
think?”
    Obviously Matt was on a fishing expedition
to figure out why things hadn’t worked out with Kristen and Robert. She’d been
too embarrassed to admit the truth—she hadn’t been woman enough to keep him
satisfied.
    “If that’s true, how are you and Kristen
making it work?” Robert raised an eyebrow at Matt. “I know her career comes
first. I assume yours does too?”
    Kristen glared at Robert. He had routinely
said things that were completely out of line when they were a couple. She
couldn’t rein him in with a kick under the table anymore, so she had no choice
but to let him run off at the mouth, embarrassing himself and everyone else.
    “You would assume wrong,” Matt said,
putting Robert in his place. “I gave myself over to our business in the early
stages because that’s what it took to be successful. Things are different now.
We’re more established, and we have a larger team to run the day-to-day
operations. That gives all of the principles more time to devote to other
interests.”
    Kristen imagined Matt’s social calendar was
packed full with women anxious to help him waste his free hours between the
sheets. It shouldn’t bother her, but it did. She didn’t want to believe the
sweet kid she used to know had become a merciless player just because he had a
few bucks and a flawless face to complement his centerfold body.
    “Other interests?” Robert took a sip of his
scotch. He wasn’t much of a drinker and was clearly trying to act as though the
burn didn’t bother him. “Such as?”
    “I enjoy traveling, real estate investing.”
Matt shrugged. “Watching sports, engaging in extreme sports.”
    Before anyone could ask him to elaborate,
two other couples joined their table. Pleasantries were exchanged and
introductions made before the servers appeared with their first course.
    “I saw you in that magazine spread,
Kristen,” one of the guys from their high school football team said with a wide
grin. “My wife wouldn’t believe we used to date.”
    “Him too?” Robert asked, glaring at
Kristen. “Show of hands, is there anyone at this table who hasn’t slept with
Kristen?”
    Kristen gasped as her cheeks burned. She
was mortified. Every pair of eyes at the table turned to her… except one.
Matt’s sole attention was on Robert.
    “You need to back off,” he told Robert. “If
you ever disrespect her like that again, I’m gonna haul your ass outside and—”
    “Please, don’t,” Kristen said, reaching for
her pewter evening bag and standing. “Excuse me. I’ll be right back.”
    As she walked away, she questioned whether
she would have the nerve to show her face to these people again. She heard a
chair scrape across the parquet floor but didn’t have the guts to turn around.
If Robert was stupid enough to come after her, she would make him wish he
hadn’t. When a strong arm closed around her wrist, she knew immediately it
wasn’t Robert’s.
    “Matt, please. I just need a minute.” Her
voice broke, adding to her humiliation. She wanted to escape to the ladies’
room so she could collect herself.
    He hauled her back against his chest,
wrapping her in a tight embrace. “Ignore him, Kris. He’s an asshole.”
    “I know.” She closed her eyes, praying the
stinging behind her eyelids would subside. She couldn’t let Matt think she was
the kind of woman who slept with men indiscriminately. “It’s not true, you
know. I never—”
    “I know.” He brushed his lips against her
cheek. “I know you’re not that girl. That’s why I’m still so crazy about you.”
    “What do you mean?” she asked, almost
afraid to breathe.
    “You’re the girl no man could ever have,
not really. You kept your distance, never letting anyone get too close. Why is
that?”
    When Kristen dropped her gaze to the arm
wrapped around her, she noticed a colorful tattoo peeking out from under his
sleeve. She wondered what else he might be