Playing By Her Rules (Sydney Smoke Rugby Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

variety.
    She glanced to her left. The elegant arc of a white sail, illuminated to show off the perfection and splendour of Sydney’s famous opera house, glowed in the foreground.
    So this was how the other half lived.
    “Tilly!”
    Matilda turned to find Tanner approaching, her annoyance at being called Tilly evaporating as his big frame, looking surprisingly civilised tonight in a black suit, snowy white shirt, and trendy tie, drew closer.
    There was, however, still something of the animal about his mane of golden-blond hair and his powerful stride that no veil of respectability could mask.
    “You look lovely,” he said, leaning in to drop a peck on both cheeks before she could even gather herself to avoid it.
    She stared at him for a moment or two, dumbfounded, when he pulled back. The Tanner she’d known hadn’t been this…cultured. “How very French of you,” she muttered.
    He grinned. “I’m a man of the world now, didn’t you know? Spent six months in France when I was twenty, playing over there.”
    Yes. She knew. She’d surreptitiously followed his career over the years, despite telling herself she wouldn’t.
    “Although to be honest,” he continued, sliding a hand onto her elbow and guiding her toward the restaurant, “I much prefer a different kind of French kissing.”
    Tilly’s heart rate spiked, and she stumbled slightly. Tanner seemed not to notice, although he did tighten his grip slightly while she regained her footing. They were almost at the door before she’d recovered her senses enough to protest.
    “Stop, Tanner,” she said, shrugging her arm out of his grasp.
    He quirked an eyebrow. “Problem?”
    “Yes,” she said, ignoring the slight hitch in her breath caused by that eyebrow. For the love of all that was holy, how on earth could an eyebrow be sexy? “We can’t eat here.”
    He frowned. “Why not? It’s one of the best restaurants in the city. It has a Michelin star, and a view to die for.”
    “And a price tag to go with it, I bet. Newspaper expense accounts are not what they used to be, and this place will blow mine out of the water.”
    He chuckled then, deep and low, his nose looking less crooked as his face creased with laughter. He took her elbow again and urged her onward. “I’m taking you out to dinner, Tilly. I don’t expect you to pay for it.”
    Matilda ground her feet into the pavement, refusing to be jollied along like some hapless female starstruck by his company. “This isn’t a date , Tanner. It’s an interview .”
    “I don’t care what you want to call it, Tilly. I’m the man. We’re eating together. I’m paying. Simple as that.”
    Matilda blinked. His sentiment shouldn’t surprise her. He’d always been the kind of guy who opened doors, stood back to let her pass, and paid for her wherever they went, even back when he was surviving on his weekend-shelf-packer earnings.
    But this was a whole other level. Putting her feminist affront to one side, it was important not to cede any of the power to him. She had to control how these interviews went, she couldn’t let him lord it over her.
    “Don’t call me, Tilly.”
    If he saw the gathering storm flashing in the amber flecks of her blue-green eyes, he didn’t pay it any heed. “If I’m picking the locations, then I will cover any costs incurred.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “That’s a deal breaker. Take it or leave it.”
    “Nice try. But you and I both know this has come from the top. You’re as much a pawn here as I am.”
    “If you think I won’t tell them to go fuck themselves, then you’re dead wrong.”
    Even without his menacing tone and the determined slash of his mouth, Matilda believed him. She ground her teeth. She hated that ultimately he held the upper hand. That she needed him more than he needed her. That her career path was dependent on this feature series.
    She changed tack. “How about we go Dutch?”
    “How about we don’t.”
    Matilda gave an