Curiosity gets the better of me, and I walk up to him to see what’s going on. “What’s Ethan so upset about?” I ask.
“WMGT got a big scoop on a corruption story out of the mayor’s office that one of our people was supposed to be working on,” Thomas tells me. He reaches up and massages a tight muscle in his neck and sighs. “Ethan’s furious. It’s going to be a long, long day.”
Just then, Ethan stalks up to the two of us. “Thomas,” he snarls. “Aren’t you supposed to be on the phone with Andy?”
“I already called him,” Thomas says with exaggerated patience. “He’s on his way here.” He looks at me. “Andy was the one who was supposed to be getting the story for us.”
Wow. Judging from the look on Ethan’s face, I would not want to be Andy right now. He’s a good reporter, and a good guy.
“That’s too bad,” I murmur. “But, I mean, I’m sure Andy was doing everything he could. Sometimes scoops are just luck, right?”
Ethan turns to me, an expression of pure contempt on his face.
“Anna, no offense,” he says, his voice dripping with scorn, “but stick with what you’re good at. Looking pretty, and saying whatever we tell you to say.”
Ethan storms off, shouting back at Thomas to send Andy to his office as soon as he arrives. I’m too stunned to say anything.
Thomas gives me a sympathetic look. “Don’t take him seriously. He lashes out when he’s mad. He doesn’t mean it.”
But he does.
Even if he wouldn’t have said it if he wasn’t angry, my boss has just revealed what he really thinks about me.
I feel sick and disheartened as I go back to my desk and try to start doing some research on a story I’m supposed to be preparing for next week. But I can barely concentrate. What’s the point? It’s a story about an immigrant kid who just qualified for the national high school scholastic chess tournament. It’s barely going to even get a glance from Ethan.
Ethan doesn’t think I have anything to contribute other than my looks. He’s never going to promote me or reward my efforts, no matter what I do.
I’m going to be stuck doing stories he doesn’t care about for as long as he’s my boss. Because they’re the only ones he’ll ever think to give to me.
I’m still stewing and feeling sorry for myself when my phone buzzes. It’s my dad calling. I almost answer it, but then I realize he’ll know instantly that I’m upset. I hate to make him worry about me. It’s not good for his health.
I set the phone back down on my desk and let it go to voicemail. I’ll call him later, when I’m in a better mood. He was so excited and proud for me when I got hired at WSPR. I don’t want to give him my sob story about how I’m afraid I’ll never be taken seriously as a journalist.
Great use I made of the money you invested in my college education, Dad. I’m stuck in a dead-end job, with a boss who thinks I’m an airhead.
A few minutes later, Andy comes flying into the newsroom, looking nervous and harried. I try to give him a reassuring smile as he goes to Ethan’s office and knocks on the door. A few seconds later, the yelling starts.
Oh, brother.
I finish up what I’m working on and decide to take the rest home with me. I really don’t want to be here when Andy comes out, and I can’t concentrate right now anyway. Gathering up my files and my laptop, I dump them in my bag and head out to my car. I drive back to my place, taking the scenic route because I’m not really in the mood to work right now.
It’s a beautiful day, and I roll down the windows to let the fresh air in as I drive.
I think about what Mackenzie said when we were out for drinks yesterday.
You never know what you’ll learn or what opportunities you’ll have, just by being in the room.
In this business, you have to take every opportunity that presents itself.
Every opportunity.
I flip on the stereo and find a song I like, turning it up loud.
Mason likes turning up his music loud when he drives, too.
Mason.
Mason, who probably won’t get signed to the Rockets now, because I turned him down.
Unless he finds someone else to agree to his crazy plan.
Could he find someone else?
Of course he could. He’s Mason freaking Robichaud. He’s hot as hell and one of the best linebackers around. Who wouldn’t want to be linked to him?
His words come back to me, unbidden:
You said you’re trying to move up the food chain at your job, right? Well, what would being the fiancée of a high-profile linebacker for the Rockets do for your image? Everyone in town would know who you are, Anna. The station would be falling all over themselves to offer you a prime slot. It’s a win-win, for both of us!
The messed-up thing is, he’s probably right.
And would it be so bad? I mean, it’s not like I’d actually have to marry him. I’d just have to pretend for a while.
It’d be a little weird, but I can keep my professional distance.
Of course I can.
Right?
Before I know it, I’ve pulled my car over to the curb and put it in park.
I sit there for a few minutes, staring into space with the engine running.
Finally, I pull my phone out of my purse, scrolling through the calls. I find the number I didn’t recognize from yesterday, which must be Mason’s.
I can’t even believe I’m considering this.
Cringing, I press the call button and wait.
On the third ring, Mason’s voice answers.
“How long?” I ask.
“What?”
“How long will I have to be your fake fiancée?”
There’s silence on the other end of the phone. Suddenly, I’m terrified he’s going to say it’s too late. Then:
“One season,” he says firmly. “Just until my contract is renewed. After that, we can ‘drift apart’ and split amicably before the start of the next year.”
“How do you know you’ll be re-signed for next year?” I ask skeptically.
His familiar, rumbling laugh comes over the line.
“Doll, have you seen me play?”
I ignore the sudden fluttering in my stomach. “Okay, number one, we’re gonna finish with this ‘doll’ stuff right now,” I retort.
“What’s wrong with doll?” Mason asks innocently.
“It’s demeaning. I have a name.”
“I know you have a name,” he sighs. “Let’s just say ‘doll’ is my affectionate nickname for you. You know, like a pet name.”
“Let’s just not say that,” I argue.
“Are we having our first fight?” he teases.
Through the phone, I can practically hear him grinning.
And then I realize:
I may be on the verge of making a huge, huge mistake.
11
Mason
Anna has some more questions about the terms of the contract, so I ask her to come over to my place so we can talk about it. She takes my address, and then I hang up and go hop in the shower because I’d just got back from a run when she called.
I’m fucking pumped that she’s changed her mind. Or at least that she’s considering it. I still haven’t called Tom to tell him Anna turned me down, because frankly, I didn’t want to think about what it meant.
I have to play this right, though. I don’t want to do anything to mess this up, or scare Anna away. I’m gonna try to play the gentleman all the way. I need to get her to let her guard down. Reassure her this will be a good thing for both of us.
Which means that right now, I have to put all thoughts of how hot Anna is — and how much I’d like to fuck her — out of my head.
Though if she agrees to this, we’ll be spending a lot more time together…
I’ve just gotten out of the shower when I hear the bell. I quickly throw on a pair of jeans and go to open the door. There she stands, dressed business-casual, in a simple white button-down
shirt and blue pinstripe pants that hug her curves in all the right places. Damn, she looks good.
“Hi,” Anna says. She glances at my chest for an instant, then quickly back up at my eyes.
In any other situation, I’d enjoy making her blush about that.
Stay on point, Robichaud. Now’s not the time.
“Hey. I just got out of the shower,” I say casually. “Come on in.”
“Thank you.” Anna’s voice is quiet, a little wobbly. She walks inside and I close the door behind her.
“Make yourself at home,” I tell her, nodding toward the living room. “You want something to drink?”
“No, thanks.” She casts her eyes around the room, and I realize she’s trying not to look at me. I guess I’d better go put a shirt on, to make her more comfortable.
“I’ll be back in a minute.” I go to my bedroom and grab a fresh T-shirt, then come back out, pulling it on as I go.
“You sure you don’t want anything to drink?” I ask as I head to the kitchen.
“No, I’m fine.”
I go to the kitchen and almost grab an energy drink from the fridge. “Okay,” I say when I’m back in the living room. I flop down on the couch and crack open the can. “Good to see you again, Anna. Glad you’re reconsidering the deal.”
“I’m not reconsidering,” she corrects. “I’m just… considering.”
The flush in her cheeks is fucking adorable. But I resist the urge to tease her about it. Instead, I lean back on the couch and crack open my drink. “Okay, so shoot. Ask me anything you want.”
“Well…” she begins, hesitating. “For one thing, I assume there would be a contract or something that we both sign? With the terms we agree to?”
“Yes,” I agree. “The team’s lawyers will draw up the whole thing, including how long the agreement lasts, how and when we’ll be seen in public, photo ops, rules about PDA, and all that stuff. Plus a non-disclosure agreement, so that both of us are protected, and barred from discussing the contract with the public. And a financial compensation package for you, of course.”
“I’m going to get paid for this?” She’s surprised.
“Definitely. After all, you deserve to be compensated for your time.”
She considers my words. “How much?”
“Negotiable. We can talk about a lump sum, once the lawyers draw up the contract and have a sense of how much time in the public eye the team’s management is wanting from us.”
She nods slowly. “You know, if we’re going to be doing this,” she goes on, “we’re actually going to need to work at it. We’re basically strangers, Mason. And we can’t stay that way, if we’re going to be convincing people we’re getting married. We need to know a bit more about each other.”
“I can think of a few ways to get to know each other,” I can’t stop myself from saying. She glances at me and I wiggle my eyebrows at her.
“Good lord.” She rolls her eyes. “Keep your mind on business and out of the gutter.”
“Okay,” I say reluctantly. “But you gotta admit, it’s a good idea. We have to be physically comfortable with each other in public. What better way to get comfortable with each other?”
I think it’s a convincing argument. Hell, I’m convinced. But she doesn’t seem swayed.
“I think we can manage without having to go that far,” she murmurs, but her skin is starting to flush hotter. I don’t know if it’s because she’s embarrassed, or turned on.
Maybe both.
Anna shakes off her shoes and leans back, crossing her legs under her on the couch. It’s weird: even just removing her footwear makes me think about her taking the rest of her clothing off. I think how much better she would look naked…
And my cock is instantly rock hard.
Anna keeps talking. I nod along with everything she says, though I’m barely listening at this point. I do catch enough to at least keep up with the gist, but the greater part of my mind had already shifted, and I move forward unconsciously.
“… to make up a story about how we met. And we need to spend some time learning things about each other. Like where we grew up, whether we have brothers and sisters, stuff like that.”
“One brother,” I say. “Derek.” My head clouds with unpleasant thoughts, like it always does when I think about my brother, but I push them away. “Parents Robert and Patsy. You?”
“Only child,” she says. “Dad Raymond. Mom died when I was a baby.”
“Where’s your dad live?”
“Nebraska.” Her face changes, a shadow of sadness crossing it.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Yeah.” She sighs and glances up at me with eyes full of sorrow. “He’s sick. He has ALS.”
“Shit, Anna. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She reaches down and fidgets with the hem of her shirt. “I mean, it’s not. But life is shitty sometimes, right?” Anna sighs. “He’s in the early stages, so far, so he’s still able to live on his own. I’ve been trying to convince him to move here to Springville, but he won’t. And he won’t let me move back to Nebraska. Says my career is too important.”
Anna looks like a scared, lonely little girl as she talks about him. I want to go comfort her, but since just a minute ago I was suggesting we have sex, I’m afraid she’ll take it the wrong way. Now I feel like kind of a dick.
“He’s the one who got me interested in sports,” she says softly. “When I was growing up, it’s what we did together, on weekends. We’d listen to games. Sometimes he’d take me to one, when he could afford it. My dad is a huge Huskers fan.” She gives me a sad smile. “And Springville Rockets, of course.”
I smile back. “Of course.”
For a second, something passes between us, that doesn’t have anything to do with sex, or with business.
“You know,” I say honestly, “I hoped you’d reconsider this deal. But I never thought you would.”
“Neither did I.” She lets out a soft laugh. “But here I am, I guess.”
“Couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing me again, could you?” I decide to risk teasing her a little again, to lighten the mood. It seems to work, because Anna puffs out a breath and rolls her eyes.
“Yeah. You just go ahead and think that if it makes you happy,” she retorts, but the corners of her mouth are quirking up.
“Oh, it does,” I grin. “The thought of you unable to resist my considerable charms makes me very happy.”
“Good lord, you’re a cocky ass, Mason Robichaud.”
“Not cocky,” I correct her. “Confident.”
She rolls her eyes again. “Whatever.”
“So.” I lean forward, wanting a clear answer. “Anna. Are we doing this?”
She’s silent for a moment, giving me a long look.
“Assuming we can agree on the terms of the contract,” she finally says, “then yes.”
I resist the urge to jump up and pump my fist in the air.
Springville Rockets, here I come!
“Thank you,” I say instead.
“Don’t thank me until the contract is finalized,” she replies mildly. “I haven’t signed anything yet.”
“Anna. Can I ask what made you change your mind?” I ask.
She considers my question, biting her plump lower lip. Instantly, the thoughts of sex are back, my cock stirring to life again in my jeans. I almost growl, wishing I could suck that lip between my teeth and bite it for her.
“No,” she finally answers. “You can’t.”
“Okay. I guess I’m gonna have to accept that.” I shrug, trying to sound casual. “So. You’re technically my fiancée now. What kind of ring do you want?”
“Not until we sign the contract,” she corrects me again. “But wow, I guess you’re right. I will need a ring, won’t I?”
“Yeah. And you’ll be wearing it non-stop for a year,” I point out. “So it should be something you’ll like.”
“God, that’s so weird,” she says, shaki
ng her head. “Would you believe I’ve never really thought about it before?” She considers for a moment. “I guess a diamond ring would be nice,” she muses. “Or maybe something kind of like Kate Middleton’s.”
“Kate who?”
“You know.” She waves a hand. “Prince William’s wife.”
“Oh, yeah.” The hot royal chick. Actually, Anna kind of looks a little like her. Anna’s got a better body, though.
“But first things first, I guess,” Anna continues, getting up from the couch. “I assume someone from your end will call me about coming in to sign the contract? I’ll see you then, Mason.”
“Wait. You’re going already?” I ask in surprise. I’m disappointed. I thought maybe she’d stick around for a while.
“Well, yeah.” She flashes me a coy smirk as she turns toward the door. “I’m not on the clock yet, after all.”
12
Anna
I get out of Mason’s house as soon as I can, while I still sort of have the upper hand. I drive back to my place, hands gripping the steering wheel, all my senses aflame from being in the same room with him alone. I think I managed to keep my cool in front of him, but I can’t be sure.
I’m really thinking this whole thing is not a good idea. Mason just seems to have this magnetic pull on me. Like, almost literally. I can hardly manage to stay away from him when he’s anywhere near me. I think I’m going to have a little more trouble maintaining my distance than I thought I would. My God, just the image of him coming to the door in only his jeans, with his hair still wet from the shower… Whoosh. Instant lady boner. That sexy, cocky grin. The slightly mocking cast to his eyes when he looks at me. Even the scent of him is so masculine. He’s intoxicating. I don’t think I’ve ever been around someone before whose presence just screams man like his does.
But I’ve come this far, and I’ve decided I’m not going to back down now. I’m going to see this through. I just have to get past the next few days and everything will be easier. After that, I just need to do everything I can to only be with Mason while we’re in public. After all, I’ll have to control myself when people and cameras are watching our every move. And so will Mason. At that point, we’ll just be playing parts, like actors in a play.
PLAYERS: The Complete Series (Springville Rockets (Sports Romance Books 1-3) Page 40