CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Out of spite, Hannah took a little bit longer than usual to get ready for dinner. She put on her most flattering jeans and lowest cut top, made sure to wear her hair down, and put on A-list event worthy make-up. By the look on Zach's face when she stepped off the elevator, it had been worth it.

Hannah had suggested they go somewhere with entertainment for dinner so that they wouldn't have to have awkward conversation, so Zack led way to the hotel's sport's bar that happened to have karaoke that night. After a couple of drinks and dinner, Hannah decided to become part of the entertainment. Zack was beyond shocked when he saw her make her way to the stage to sing.

Hannah got a smirk on her face when the opening chords to "You're So Vain" came across the speakers. Luckily, Zack was so blown away that he didn't even realize she was singing to him. Smart, athletic, gorgeous and talented? He was an idiot! And apparently not the only one who had noticed how amazing she was. There was a line of guys waiting to talk to and buy her a drink when she got off stage. Without even giving him a second glance, she headed off with her suitors. Zack decided that as her PR rep, he should stick close to make sure nothing got out of hand. He told himself that was the only reason he followed the crowd to the patio. Knowing she would be irritated that he was there, he hung back from the crowd, keeping an eye on things. He let her dance, laugh, and drink all she wanted. When he saw her leaving with a guy, he knew it was his duty to step in, though. And he knew it was as much for himself as for the team.

Zach ran up just as the elevator door was closing and put his foot in to stop it. Hannah looked less than thrilled to see him joining her and her new friend.

"Hannah, don't forget we have a meeting in thirty minutes."

"I know of no such meeting. I've already got plans for the remainder of the evening, sorry," she replied without even looking at him.

"Considering you take the ice in about twelve hours, I think you can postpone your plans."

"Considering there's not even a real meeting, you can kiss my ass."

"Excuse me," said Zach, turning to the other guy in the elevator, "I have no idea who you are, and personally don't care. I am sure that you do not want to be known as the guy who cost America there shot at gold, though."

"Look man, I was just going to grab an old magazine article for her to sign, forget it, though," he replied, hopping off as soon as the elevator stopped.

"What the hell?" exploded Hannah as soon as they were shut in the elevator alone.

"It's my job to make sure your reputation stays in tact?"

"And signing an autograph would really ruin my reputation? And what the hell do you know about a good reputation anyway?"

"How was I supposed to know that's what you thought you were going to do? Not usually the first thought when you see two people leave a bar together"

"Thought? That IS what I was going to do. It was for the guy's wife who was home on maternity orders!"

"I apologize if I over reacted, I just didn't want you to do anything rash."

"You mean like the night we hooked up?"

"That's not the same at all, and you know it."

"Yeah, well I also thought I knew you better."

As soon as the door opened, Hannah bolted past him, never looking back to see Zach's look of bewilderment as she took off down the hall.

Why couldn't he have just told her he was wrong? That he wanted to give them a shot? Instead, he had made a complete ass of himself and put an even bigger wedge between them. Not wanting to deal with thinking about it all, Zach got back in the elevator and headed back to the bar.

Hannah threw herself on the bed as soon as she walked in. Maybe she should have just told him that she was only going up with the guy to make him jealous. That she hadn't really agreed with him when he said they wouldn't work. He had to still be interested in her to overreact that much, right? Knowing she would not get a good night's sleep without talking to him, Hannah headed towards Zach's room to clear the air.

After what seemed like hours of knocking, the door to Zach's room finally opened. It was not Zach, however, on the other side. It took Hannah to a minute, but as soon as she figured out it was Celeste Mercier, she took off back to her room, not once stopping to respond to Celeste calling her back. It was like catching Jackson in the coach's office all over again.