The Girl With Diamonds (Midtown Brotherhood Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

“When Troy asked number fifty-three about the winning goal Friday night, he mentioned something about finding it on his tape.”
    Evan shook his head mockingly at his computer screen as he logged in. “Next time you’re in the locker room, take a look at one of the sticks. The players tape the handle and blade for contrast. Copley meant that his teammate made a really good pass onto the tape of his stick.”
    “Okay.” She nodded, writing furiously. “And he said something about a guy chirping him.”
    Again, Evan tried to hide his amusement at her cluelessness. “Chirping is equivalent to talking smack. The dude was an asshole to him all night.”
    “Oh.” Magnolia made a note. “That makes more sense than what I thought.”
    Evan laughed, but it was cut short. Barging down the aisle of seats, not bothering to apologize to the row of old men she slapped in the back of the head with her giant purse, was Cressida.
    “Shit.” Cressida slung her bag around in her lap. “I missed warm-ups.”
    Magnolia shook her head, but Cressida only grinned back. Even if she was annoying, it was hard not to like Cressida.
    “What?” Cressida pulled out her mirror and checked her make-up. Cressida and her priorities. “I like watching them stretch.”
    Magnolia tapped her pen on the table. “They’re wearing, like, three layers of padding.”
    “Oh, Mags. Have an imagination.”
    Evan leaned around Magnolia, never missing the opportunity to scold Cressida. Evan was technically their supervisor, but he didn’t have the authority to reprimand her. That came from the head lady, Mrs. Stamcose.
    “You’re late.” Evan gave Cressida a stern looked, but then it faded. “And you realize that your attitude is the exact reason why I didn’t pick you for the interview rotation, right?”
    Magnolia sniggered. “I thought it was because she wanted to ask that one guy to do his interview with his shirt off.”
    Cressida eyed them both, but she wasn’t angry. “That one guy happens to be Henrik Rylander. He’s not only one of the best players in the league, but the hottest. You want to increase female viewers? It would take one shirtless segment with him or one of his little buddies, and every woman in the country would be tuning in.”
    Magnolia looked at Evan, but he threw his hands up in defeat.
    Cressida was a force to be reckoned with, never shy about her opinions, and they both knew that would never change. Despite Evan’s teasing, it was Cressida’s choice to stop doing on-air interviews.
    Cressida was a journalist, and preferred her seat behind the desk, recapping games. They also allowed her to run a sports blog for the station, and that’s where she really shined. The readers had no idea that the sports-savvy Mr. Manhattan persona who loved to stir up controversy was actually a high heel wearing, self-professed shop-a-holic.
    They eased into their familiar game time routine. Magnolia opened her laptop and concentrated on taking notes. After the second intermission, Cressida stood up to stretch. “Any idea who you’re going to interview yet?”
    Magnolia stared at the page of stats in front of her and eventually turned to Evan for help. “Blakely is the big story so far,” he said, checking his stat sheet again. “He’s a one man wrecking crew out there tonight.”
    “Surprise. Surprise.” Cressida pulled up a new screen for her blog. “Can I quote you on that?”
    “Evan’s right.” Magnolia checked the numbers again. Austin Blakely had seven hits tonight. Even she knew that was a lot for one game. “He also has a goal, and got in a fight.” And by fight, Magnolia meant Blakely bloodied a guy’s nose. It was pretty one-sided, from what she could see from the box.
    “Oh, trust me. I’m not complaining.” Cressida leaned over and elbowed Magnolia with a wink. “If you sneak in early, you might even luck into that shirtless segment.”
    Evan rolled his eyes, which Magnolia was sure was Cressida’s