Inside Game by Collette West
Publication Date: July 10, 2015
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Third baseman Drake Schultz is the undisputed bad boy of the New York Kings. So it's no surprise when Major League Baseball suspends him for taking performance-enhancing drugs. Furious with their superstar, the front office issues an ultimatum: either work with their sober companion or kiss the rest of his quarter-billion-dollar contract goodbye. Cocky and arrogant, Drake resists being saddled with a live-in babysitter—even one he's insanely attracted to.
Drake is Eva Sloane's first celebrity client as a substance abuse counselor, and she knows she's in trouble when he starts tempting her at every turn. The way he looks at her is as hot as sin, but she refuses to become his new drug of choice. Slowly, she helps him realize he has to face the demons from his past and heal his tortured spirit before he can even think about satisfying any craving he has for her.
Her voice is rich and melodic. And if it were anyone else, I'd shove my hands under my arms and refuse to cooperate, but I can't. Not with the way she's looking at me.
I extend my hand to her, and she gives me a firm handshake, one I can respect. There's nothing light or dainty about it, but I hate the fact that she can feel me trembling.
"Hello, Eva," I mumble, looking away.
Her warm, brown eyes are too compassionate. They're full of understanding, not revulsion or pity. Based on the way she's staring at me, it’s clear she sees right through me. I might be fooling everyone else in the room, but not her.
She's remained quiet, taking it all in, like she's trying not to form any snap judgments about me, even if my hostility isn't making it easy for her. But her reticence only makes me more curious as to what's going on inside that head of hers. Just knowing she's here to witness my downfall is really getting under my skin.
I pound my fist and shove myself away from the table. I'm seething inside, so angry that I could spit. But when I turn my head to gauge Eva's reaction, all she does is look back at me, unflinching under the scrutiny of my gaze.
She's not afraid of me.
But she should be.
About Collette West
Collette West grew up as somewhat of a jock-nerd hybrid. Entering the world three weeks premature, her dad nearly missed her birth because he had seats behind the dugout for a sold-out, highly-anticipated match-up between two of baseball's biggest rivals. Not to be outdone, her book-loving mom taught her how to read by the time she was three. A love of the game coupled with an appreciation for the written word were instilled in Collette's impressionable brain from a young age. No wonder her characters believe in the philosophy: sports + romance = a little slice of heaven.
Collette West grew up as somewhat of a jock-nerd hybrid. Entering the world three weeks premature, her dad nearly missed her birth because he had seats behind the dugout for a sold-out, highly-anticipated match-up between two of baseball's biggest rivals. Not to be outdone, her book-loving mom taught her how to read by the time she was three. A love of the game coupled with an appreciation for the written word were instilled in Collette's impressionable brain from a young age. No wonder her characters believe in the philosophy: sports + romance = a little slice of heaven.
Splitting her time between the Pocono Mountains and Manhattan, Collette indulges her inner fangirl by going to as many games as she can from hockey to baseball and downloading every sports romance novel in existence onto her iPad. When she's not clicking away on her laptop, she enjoys walking her dog in Central Park, satisfying her caffeine craving at the Starbucks on Broadway and keeping an eye out for Mr. Right. But above all, she loves dishing with her readers. Email her at collette_west@yahoo.com.
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