Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Samantha’s body shook from pain. “Don’t call Dex. Busy,” she slurred. “Important,” she forced out, as she felt herself going under and everything went black.
* * *
Dex sat in the second bedroom of his apartment that he used for a home office. A large monitor was in front of him, his agent’s face on the screen.
“You have a business dinner with Peter Morgan in an hour. Think you can be pleasant and not discuss the issues with paparazzi?” Austin asked.
Dex shook his head. “I won’t bring it up unless he does.”
“Good. Once Samantha’s business issues are over, her partner will take his money and be happy, and you two are free to do whatever you want. Morgan won’t care if you’re dating her by that point and neither will Jeremy Rollins.”
Slamming his hand on the desk, Dex leaned forward. “Do you think I give a damn what that weasel wants? I’m trying to protect Samantha. To that end, I’ve done what you asked. I’ve kept us out of sight for over a week, if you include my time in Florida.”
“Good—”
“I’m not finished,” Dex muttered, pissed at the world for the frustration he felt for so many reasons.
“By all means. Go on.” Austin folded his arms across his chest and leaned back in his chair.
“Samantha thinks this seclusion is all about Jeremy and her business. She has no idea my career would be in jeopardy if we went out in public and Jeremy created another scene. But she’s upset and tired of spending every night at home in her apartment, and I have to tell you, I’m no happier about hiding us.”
Austin ran a hand over his face. “I get it. But Peter Morgan didn’t hire you, his predecessor did. And Morgan is a stickler for morality clauses.”
“We did nothing wrong,” Dex reminded him.
“Do you remember the two morning co-anchors who had an affair?” Austin asked. “They claimed they were already separated when they got together. It became a huge social media scandal. Next thing you know, their lawyers worked out a severance package and they were gone. And the publicity surrounding them was not pleasant.”
“We can handle the publicity,” Dex said. And he believed it.
“And the job? Don’t you want to keep it?” Austin asked, his tone sounding like the question was rhetorical.
And maybe it should be because what normal human would turn down the money he’d been offered? But Dex had a trust fund he hadn’t touched. Football money he’d saved. But he’d been hesitant to accept the opportunity to start with it because he wasn’t sure he was up to the traveling.
He hadn’t had a long time to decide if he’d sign with FSN. At the time, he had nothing else going on in his life, so he’d taken the position. Now, he was juggling regrets because he’d rather be in one place instead of flying from city to city for Sunday games and missing every weekend with Samantha.
“Dex! Are we having a conversation or am I talking to myself?” Austin’s annoyed voice grated on him.
“I need to go.” Dex had to talk to Samantha. It was enough keeping her in the dark when everything revolved around her. “I’ll be in touch.”
“But—”
He hit the button that disconnected them, figuring he’d deal with his agent later. He had someone more important to see.
But Dex couldn’t reach Samantha by phone. Every time he dialed, the call went to voicemail. Knowing it was unlike her, he began to worry. He tried the office but Brandy had left for the day.
He was due to leave for dinner with Peter Morgan but his gut was telling him something was very wrong. He paced his apartment until the last second. After dialing her one last time, he locked up his apartment, set the alarm, and took the elevator downstairs.
A black Town Car idled outside on the street. Just as he walked to the vehicle, his cell rang. Ian Dare’s name showed on the screen.
Based on gut instinct alone, his stomach turned over as he answered. “Ian.”
“Samantha was shot outside her office. I can’t get there for a few hours. I need to pick up my mother on the way.”
The words barely registered but Dex went into strategic mode, much as he did on the field when he had an instant to figure out a play. “Which hospital?” His heart pounded hard in his chest.
Ian replied.
“I’m on my way,” he said, opening the car door and sliding in. “Change of destination,” he said to the driver, then gave him the hospital name before turning his attention back to the call.
Chapter Twenty-One
Enclosed in the car, Dex sat back, bouncing his foot, frustrated already with the slow pace of the drive. “What the hell happened?” he asked Ian.
“Jeremy, that son of a bitch. Her assistant was with her and called me, she’s hysterical but she was able to relay information.”