Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 58992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
But when I reach her and her eyes lock with mine, Brooke almost seems like a different person. Her genuine smile from the beach is gone, replaced by a plastic grin. Her warm brown eyes are cold.
What’s that all about?
“Drew, this is Brooke Holland. She’s my top attorney. She’s been working for the Bandits, and the Carlisles just added the football team to her responsibilities, which means she handles legal work for the Mercenaries, too,” he says.
And it turns out I’m now working with the woman who wants me to spank her with tacos tonight.
8
NAUGHTY LITTLE GOBLINS
Brooke
I’ve never been one to run away from a challenge, but now seems like a good time to slap on some sneakers and start.
I’ve had two hours since Stephen dropped the news on me this afternoon about Drew coming to the Mercenaries. Two hours to figure out how to act when seeing my Sunday night hookup, but I’m no closer to an answer than I was when I left the office. After dropping my car at home so I could change my clothes, I caught a Lyft here. I’ve spent the last hour at this event chatting with donors and executives, and basically avoiding Drew.
Yet I can’t avoid him any longer. He’s heading my way with Stephen.
This is weirder than when we were in bed and I didn’t know what to do with my hands.
What do I do with my whole body now? Do I lean casually against the bar? Maybe flick some hair off my shoulder? Wait. I’ll take a drink.
I knock back a gulp of my water. Then I flip mentally through my group text with Cara and my good friend Rachel. On the way over, I begged them for advice on how to handle seeing the hookup who ghosted me who’s now become the hotly anticipated new player on the team I work for.
Cara’s advice? Be cool. Be badass. Be yourself.
Rachel’s words of wisdom? He doesn’t deserve you. Mark my words—he’s going to be trotting after you tonight, begging for text forgiveness. Have no mercy. Not one ounce. You are badass.
Right now, I don’t feel badass. I feel foolish because Drew’s in front of me, offering me a hand and smiling curiously. “Nice to meet you, Brooke,” he says, upbeat.
So that’s how we do it? We pretend we don’t know each other?
Oh, right. Of course we do. I can’t tell Stephen I screwed our new quarterback and then he blew me off.
My stomach roils.
This is such a disaster. I would rather be interviewed by The Shirtless Esquire than talk to Drew. At least I have a buffer, though, in Stephen.
I extend my free hand. “Pleasure to meet you Drew. We’re excited you’ll be leading the team,” I say.
There. I’m such a pro.
“Me too.” Drew’s lips twitch. Seeing me again must be the height of amusement for him. The asshole. It’s not funny that he ditched me. It hurt, and I didn’t like being misled.
“I heard about your trade this afternoon, right after Stephen told me about my promotion.” I coolly drop in that pertinent info. Drew might be a dick, but I don’t want him to think I am. I definitely don’t want him to think I lied about my job. There’s only one liar among us.
Except, did I just sound like I’m tooting my own horn?
Yeah, I did.
Groan.
Drew meets my gaze, his focus solely on me. “Good for you on the promotion. That must be—”
He cuts himself off before he says anything more. Anything like I knew you were down on your job the day I met you and led you on. Sure, I never replied, but good for you in moving up, lady-boss style.
At least, he has enough sense to fake things.
“I’m excited for the new opportunity,” I say.
Stephen flashes a rare smile. “So am I. The hardest part was not saying a damn word when you didn’t get the promotion. But I had bigger things planned for you.” He clears his throat, his gaze drifting briefly around the room, like he’s scanning for something. “Ah. I need to chat with Paul for a few. Drew, if you need anything, Brooke is the legal liaison to the press department this season. She’s tasked with helping to make sure we present the best public face, and don’t break any rules. I’ll let you two get to know each other since I need to chat with a few folks.”
Then he spins on his heel and takes off.
I gulp. My buffer is gone. I am all alone with the man I desperately wanted to see again but who didn’t want to see me.
I take another drink of my water. And that was a rookie mistake. My skull turns to tundra. I fight off a wince. I will not let Drew see my face contort from the brain freeze. I ignore the ice headache as I say, “What a great event.”