Page 2 of Forgive You

We line up against the back of the elevator, a deep sigh falling from my lips as Ford rests his back against the shiny paneling.

“Your older brother?” he asks, and I hum in agreement. “Y’all don’t get along, right?”

I snort, because that’s a fucking understatement. My stomach churns just at the thought of him.

“Oh, damn. You hate him.”

“If he was a vampire, I’d drive a stake through his heart.” The older Jacob and I get, the more we become strangers, and that’s exactly how I like it. He’s a narcissistic asshole who I wouldn’t give a second of my time to if he wasn’t related to me.

“Hot damn, Cash never went into detail about this fucked-up brotherhood.”

“That’s because he feels the same. Can you stop digging into my family connections and focus?” The last thing I need is a conversation about my shithead older brother to fuck with my mood some more.

I can’t wait for this day to be over.

The metal doors slide open, and I lower my voice as we step out, smoothly changing the subject. “Youneedthis deal.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

The waiting area is spacious, with the same high ceilings and a view of the Hollywood hills. Memorabilia of past athletes that represented the brand decorate the walls, with two sofas placed opposite of each other and a front desk behind it.

“I mean it,” I grumble. “They are hesitant to sign you after your last amateur Pornhub contribution. The next few jobs will be a trial, and we want them on our team.” I poke his white North Viking Sports hoodie-covered chest with a frown.Kiss-ass.“Scratch that. Weneedthem on our team.”

“Oh,damn, I don’t mind having her on my team.”

I sigh when his lustful eyes move past me—again—deciding to ignore the horny smile tugging up his cheeks as I follow his vision.

When in the hell did I switch from sports agent to babysitter for broody athletes?

But as soon as my gaze collides with whoever he’s staring at, my limbs freeze. My heart stops for just a split second before it’s kick-starting back to life by the wave of anger crawling up my spine.You can’t be serious.

“What the fuck?!”

Edward Smith, the director of the company, walks out of his office with a woman by his side, one who I could pick out of a line-up, blind, just by smelling her vanilla-scented skin. I’d recognize her wavy blonde hair in a crowded room, and those curves are not something I can forget, even though I want to. But it’s her whiskey eyes that hit me like a knife in the chest as she casually strolls beside him on her five-inch heels.

Fuck. My. Life.

“She’s hot, right? Talking abouthoney.” He lets out a low whistle, his gaze roaming every curve of her body. The sight ignites a rage within me, like lava coursing through my veins. “I can already see her. Naked.Sweaty.” Ford licks his lips, and my anger shifts to him, the image of him and her….

Oh, hell fucking no.

“Shut up.” I pin him down with a glare, then grab his upper arm with a little extra force.

“Geez, what’s up yo—.”

“You touch her with as much as the tip of your hockey stick, and I will drop your ass so fast, no other agent will dare to come near you in a three-foot radius.”

Very professional, Jason. But the sick bastard isn’t even offended as his eyes widen and lips quirk with intrigue as he studies my expression.

“You know her, don’t you?” If byknow,he means I had my mouth between her legs six months ago and kissed her tears away for the past seven years? Then yes,yes, I know her better than I should.

His grin expands at my silence, but our focus shifts when the sound of expensive leather shoes and high heels is only a couple of yards away.

Our gazes collide, and I’m looking for the smallest of shock in hers, any indication that this is all some weird coincidence, but her features give me nothing more than a stale, yet friendly expression.

“Jason, Ford.” Edward offers his hand to us with a broad smile, and we both return it politely while I swallow away the dryness in my throat. “This is our new brand manager, Julie Bradford. She’ll be your personal consultant from now on. Julie has been working here for the past two months and she’s more than qualified to take over.”

Two months?!She’s been in LA for two months?!

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