Page 68 of Drawn to You

“No,” I say more forcefully than I intended.

He gives me a knowing smile. “I heard the two of you have a very friendly relationship.”

I pause before saying, “That’s true.”

“I plan to keep her on through the end of the season, but if you’re here to ask me to make her a permanent hire, I can’t do that. I’d have all the players asking me to put their girlfriends on the payroll.”

There’s always a note of condescension in his tone, and it’s all I can do not to bite back and tell him I’m not a fucking idiot who expects him to pay my girlfriend to travel with the team full time. But that won’t get me what I want. I take a deep breath, keeping my expression neutral.

“Of course. You’ve been more than generous helping me get back on track already.”

Fuck. My ego is taking a major beating today. I don’t suck up to anyone, but that’s exactly what I’m doing right now.

This is for Josie.I imagine myself giving her the good news, and it helps me keep shoveling down this humble pie.

“Josie was in line for a promotion and it went to someone else,” I say, hoping my direct approach will work. “She deserved to get it. I’m asking you, as a favor to me, to end the contract with JG Publicity and give it to Josie instead. It won’t change anything, really. She’ll finish out the season, but then she’ll have something great to put on her résumé for all her hard work.”

Arnold arches his brows. “Her hard work getting you in line by sleeping with you?”

I tense, my right hand instinctively closing into a fist. It’s all I can do not to lunge at him and grab him by his perfectly pressed dress shirt so I can wipe that smug look off his face.

“That’s what you think of her?” I don’t even try to hide the menace from my tone.

He puts his hands up, the tone in the room tight and tense now.

“Look, whatever she’s doing to keep you out of trouble, I’m glad it’s working. But I’ve been a client of Jane Garver’s PR firm for many years, and I’m not dropping her just because her niece was passed over for a promotion.”

Why did I think he’d help Josie? Arnold’s a self-centered prick. I fucking hate that I lowered myself before him and he dismissed me like a fly buzzing around his steak.

“I guess we’re done here, then,” I say, standing up.

“Let’s get a win tonight.”

Like he’s the one out there getting rammed into the boards and punched. I want to tell him to suck my dick, but this isn’t the right time. He’d probably fire Josie immediately just to spite me, and I won’t risk that.

I’m not shaking his hand. I’ll lie my ass off and thank him for seeing me, but I’m not shaking that asshole’s hand.

“Keep up the good work, Dane. No more park benches.”

He flashes me a too-white smile and points at me. I force myself to smile back, hoping the universe has at least given him erectile dysfunction.

“We’re back,” Carol says, coming into the room with Arnold’s friends.

“I have to go,” I say quickly. “Pregame stuff to do.”

I wave at everyone and make a hasty exit.

So much for my plan to save the day for Josie, I hate this feeling of helplessness.

Somehow, though, I have to find a way to focus on the game. Not for Arnold, but for my teammates. And also because the longer we make it into the postseason, the longer I get to be with Josie twenty-four seven.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Josie

I smileat Dane as he walks into the bedroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair wet from a shower.

“I guess I should shower again, too. So I don’t go to the arena smelling like sex.”

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