Chapter 2 - Taken Down A Notch

EmPOV

Damn it!

I should never have agreed to stay up that late to watch those stupid scream-fest movies with Jasper. I overslept this morning and now I'm running late to my first television interview. I just hope it isn't my last.

I had volunteered to do this interview for David, the head coach, hoping he would see I was more than able to take on the responsibilities required for his job. He was leaving at the end of the season, and whoever he recommended to replace him would most likely be voted in by the university's board of regents. I figured since I had been his right-hand man these last four years, and if I was able to put in the extra effort, it would only be a matter of time until he chose me to take over. Even Edward and Jasper, two of the smartest guys I knew, had said it was a good plan. However, I was pretty sure if I screwed this interview up, it would reflect badly on me.

Finally arriving at the station, I glanced at the time. 30 minutes…that's not too bad, right?

I nervously looked around the parking lot, while walking up to the station's entrance. I figured it was a good sign there were some cars still here. I paused. Whoa, who drives the red BMW convertible?

Once I had identified myself at the front desk, I was directed to Studio 2. I took a second outside the door to ready myself.

Here goes nothing.

Taking a deep breath, I pulled open the door and stepped inside.

To my left were three people sitting around a news desk, all of whom had stopped talking when I had opened the door. I glanced to the right, and my heart skipped a beat.

There she was – Rosalie Hale, in the flesh. Oh, and what flesh it was.

I started walking toward her, taking my time to sweep my eyes down her body, fully appreciating every curve and those long legs that seemed to go on forever before ending at red stiletto heels.

Holy hell.

She always seemed to straddle that line between respectable reporter and naughty seductress. I realize that's a rather wide line, but it was true, nevertheless. I felt like any second she would crawl up on her desk and start a striptease. There was the possibility I was projecting my own fantasies onto her and no one else saw her this way, but honestly, I didn't care. I just wanted her to strip for me.

I raised my brown eyes to her blue ones and smiled.

Wait, did she just bite her lip?

That had to be the sexiest thing I have ever seen. My smile grew into a full-fledge grin.

Putty in my hands…

She squared her shoulders and raised her chin as I stopped in front of her.

"Hi," she breathed, almost purring. Flashing me a bone-melting smile, she held out her hand. "I'm Rosalie Hale, and I'm assuming you're Emmett Turner?"

"Uh, yeah, hi," I answered, trying to recover from that smile. I shook her hand, reveling in her touch.

Come on Emmett, you can do better than that! I mentally batted away the lust cloud that had taken up residence in my mind.

"Sorry I'm so late. You can place all the blame on my roommate," I informed her, playfully, and threw my patented 'sexy smile' at her. It always made women flustered.

"Oh, really? Do you always place the brunt of blame from your mistakes on someone else?" She reproachfully raised an eyebrow, and seemed completely unflustered.

What the hell?!

"I…no, I don't," I mumbled, feeling foolish.

I sighed. "I'm sorry. I was trying to be cute, but apparently came off cocky. You're right. It's no one's fault but my own that I'm late."

"I would have said flippant, but cocky works too," she said, amused. Her eyes melted the slightest bit.

Beckoning to the people across the set to come over, she kept talking, "Now that's taken care of, how about we get this interview started? The coach from the University of Seattle is supposed to be here in half an hour and I would hate to keep him waiting because he showed up on time." The corners of her mouth lifted and I swear I could hear my heart stop again. She was flirting with me!

Just then a guy approached me from my right, interrupting us. "Mr. Turner? I need to set up your mike." He held up a small black box with a wire running out of it.

Rosalie gave me another smile and went over to one of the cameras. She started talking in hushed tones to the girl now standing behind it.

Keeping her in the corner of my eye, I turned to the interrupting cock blocker. "Do what you gotta do."

I want to say being miked, especially by a dude, and talked through the different stage directions was exciting, but I'd be lying. I could barely keep my attention on the guy talking when I all could see was the single most gorgeous woman sitting in front of me, staring at me with those glittering eyes. I could tell she was interested in me from the way she kept running her eyes over my body, but she sure wasn't making this easy on me. I felt myself straining against the zipper of my pants. I could only hope no one would notice.

All too soon Rosalie was counted down for her cue. I wiped my sweaty palms on my khakis. She must have seen because she whispered, right before the light over the camera switched on, "Just breathe."

She then plastered on her TV smile and spoke into the camera. "With me to talk more about Shelton University's upcoming baseball season is assistant coach, Emmett Turner." Rotating to look at me, she continued. "Mr. Turner, thank you for joining us today."

I'd seen enough of these to know how to answer. "Thanks for having me, and please, call me Emmett."

"Okay, Emmett," she paused, for full effect, and then launched into her first question. "How do you respond to the many critics that say since only six of your nine position starters are returning this season, the chances of the Grizzlies winning their third consecutive conference championship are essentially non-existent?"

I was momentarily stunned, the light-hearted feeling I'd had from her saying my name in that silky voice wiped away in an instant. Geez, way to start off with an easy question…

Ten torturous minutes later, Rosalie wrapped up the interview. "Thank you again, Emmett, and we wish you the best of luck this season."

"Thank you." I held my smile until I saw her relax.

"That was good. I'm actually a little impressed. Usually first-timers want a 'redo' on taped interviews so they don't come off looking bad."

I felt a grin burst forth. One encouraging word from her and, apparently, I was as giddy as a school boy with a new toy. "I guessed what questions you might ask and prepared some responses beforehand. However, I didn't figure you would go straight for my throat on the first question."

She shrugged. "I don't like to beat around the bush and I think my viewers appreciate that."

"Still, I think you should make it up to me," I teased, giving her my sexy smile again. "How about dinner sometime this week?"

The corners of her mouth twitched upward. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?" I asked, baffled. No one had ever turned me down before.

"I can't afford to get distracted right now." She got up and started toward the door.

"Wait, isn't there anything I can say, or do, to convince you to give me a chance?" I realized I was kind of begging, but I was desperate. She hadn't even left my sight, and I was already missing her. No woman had ever affected me this much.

"No, nothing," she said, confidently.

I couldn't help it – I got cocky. "You'll change your mind, Rosalie Hale."

"Get used to disappoint, Emmett Turner." She turned and left me flabbergasted.

Damn, I loved a girl that could quote 'The Princess Bride.'

I chuckled to myself as I returned to my truck. I admit that hadn't gone exactly to plan, but I would wear her down eventually.

I couldn't get the image of how she had looked biting her lip out of my mind. It replayed on a continuous loop. She was a vixen alright, but she was my vixen, and the sooner she gave into me, the better. As it stood now, I could see a lot of cold showers in my future, but I've never been one to take things lying down.

Well, only certain things, but that would come later.