David had been a fun, attentive companion. He could always make her laugh with his dumb jokes, and he’d proved to be a sensitive lover. But lately he’d taken her for granted. As if he’d grown so comfortable in her presence he no longer had to make any effort to improve their relationship.
“Hey, is that Garret Kelly?”
“Who?” She looked up to find David pointing across the room. “Where?”
“The big guy over there by the keg. That is him. Let’s go meet him.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her across the room.
“Who is Garret Kelly?” she protested, dragged along like a dinghy towed by a yacht.
“Only the best indoor lacrosse player in the country. Led the league in goals last year when he was with the Denver Mammoth.”
Sports again. Moira groaned.
They reached the group by the keg. “Hey, I’m Dave Brewer.” Dave stuck out his hand. “I’m a big fan of yours.”
“Pleased t’ meet you, Dave.” Garret turned his smile on Moira. “And who is this lovely lady?”
Moira stood straighter and resisted smoothing her hair. Talk about a gentleman….
“That’s Moira,” Dave said. He scarcely glanced at her before turning his attention once more to Kelly. “I heard the Dallas Devils signed you. That’s terrific. I can’t wait to see you play.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Garret said. He smiled at Moira again. He had a nice smile. Sexy even, if you liked the big, brawny type. “Moira, do you know everyone here?” he asked.
She shook her head. None of the people in the circle looked familiar to her.
“These are some of the other players on the team. This chap on my left is Bud Mayhew. Next to him is our goalie Tate Maguire and his wife Leslie. Then Guy Clifford, Slate Williams and Peter Rutherford. And of course you know Dave.”
Right. Dave who was all but ignoring her. The others smiled and murmured hello.
“Love those shoes,” Leslie Maguire said. “You’ll have to tell me some good places to shop around here.”
“Don’t do it, I beg you,” her husband said. “I’m already reduced to one little section of the closet.”
“There’s always the spare bedroom,” Leslie said meaningfully.
“Fine, shop all you want,” Tate conceded. “Just don’t make me go with you.”
“I know what you mean.” David inserted himself in the conversation once more. “Moira’s always after me to take her to the mall. Why women think men would be interested in that kind of thing is beyond me.”
Moira frowned at him. She almost never asked David to go shopping with her. In fact, she could think of nothing worse than having a whining man tagging along while she was trying on shoes. She turned to Leslie once more. “I’d love to go shopping with you one day,” she said. “And you should meet my friend Rachel. She’s about your size and has great taste in clothes.”
“Rachel Westover?” Garret Kelly froze in the act of raising a beer to his lips. “You know her?”
“Sure. She’s my best friend.” Moira braced herself for yet another comment about Rachel’s man taming column.
“Just met her tonight. Over by the buffet table.” He took a sip of beer. “Interesting woman.”
“Yes, Rachel is very…interesting.” And she must have made quite an impression on Garret Kelly. Moira subtly checked him out. Nice suit, but no tie. Definitely the rugged, athletic type. Definitely not Rachel’s preferred sort of date, but there was something to be said for a man’s man.
Was he man enough to stand up to the Man Tamer? Moira chuckled to herself. Could be Rachel would finally meet her match. No doubt the battle would be fun to watch—from a safe distance.
2
Men and Sports
Dear Man Tamer:
My boyfriend loves sports. Sometimes I think he loves them more than he loves me. He is always going to games or watching them on television. Our entire social calendar is planned around baseball, hockey, football and basketball season. Now he’s talking about taking up golf! What can I do to save this relationship?
Hates Sports
Dear Hates Sports:
This is a tough one. For many men, sports are like a religion. They identify with teams and players and are invested in the outcome of games. But these are only games and the trick is to show the man in your life how much he is missing of real life—i.e., a relationship with you—by being so involved in sports. I suggest you start by attempting to distract him by planning fabulous evenings alone. Favorite foods and hot sex are usually winning distractions. Some women have had success in learning to love sports and sharing them with their men, but if you do this, I suggest insisting he meet you halfway and learn to love movies or ballet or whatever your passion is. After all, a relationship is a partnership. You shouldn’t do all the work. In the end, you may have to confront him with an ultimatum. Does he choose sports or you? If he chooses sports, your heart may be broken, but at least you won’t have wasted your life on someone who couldn’t give you the love you need. Let me know how it goes!
The Man Tamer
RACHEL WATCHED Wild Man Kelly’s departure. Her fingers still tingled from the touch of his tongue. Her breasts felt heavy and aching, and the dull throbbing in her groin testified to how fully turned on she’d been within mere seconds of first laying eyes on him. He’d had her so under his spell that if he’d suddenly laid her back on the buffet table and begun stripping off his clothes she wouldn’t have protested.
She shifted and squeezed her thighs together, breathless at the thought of herself laid out among the chocolate tarts and cream puffs, a half-naked Garret looming over her.
He’d certainly lived up to his nickname so far. If she didn’t have serious business to discuss with Denton, she wouldn’t have minded getting to know Garret better. Not that he was at all her type, but he would probably be fun for a fling—provided he didn’t get too wigged out by her occupation.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” Denton asked. “I haven’t got all evening.”
Denton’s prompt pulled her back to the present. “Have you made a decision on the afternoon slot on KTXK?” she asked.
“No. I’ve got a chance to buy the rights to reruns of Space Cadet Coeds.”
“Space Cadet Coeds?” Was he for real? “I’ve never heard of it.”
“Number one in Japan last year,” he said. “I think it’ll be a big hit.”
“Who’s going to watch a Japanese import when they can have a hometown star?” She drew herself up to her full five feet six inches. “The Man Tamer is the number-one relationship column in the state,” she said. “A Man Tamer television show would draw the
