Page 48 of Ride With Me

“Ugh, now what?” he asks in his usual growl.

“A luxury brand wants you to be the spokesperson for their next line of suits,” I quip. Look, I know damn well Derek doesn’t want anything to do with a brand that makes suits. I do. I know all my clients and their interests very well, but I bring all opportunities to them every time they present themselves.

“What brand?” I hear Hawk’s voice come through. He sounds curious and excited. “Dee, you would look so damn hot in a tailored suit.”

“I already have one of those,” he grinds through what I’m sure are gritted teeth. I’ve been in the room with him countless times when he’s about to lose his patience, but this is Hawk we’re talking about. If Derek’s boyfriend wants to see him wearing suits on billboards all over the world, then Derek will more than likely sign up for this.

Not that I want that. I just think it’s adorable how easily one of the scariest men in the NFL caves to his significant other’s wants.

“Yes, but you could have more!” I know Hawk is only teasing him now, so I join in.

“That’s definitely happening if he signs on. All the suits you want, Johnson.” I’m smiling already.

“Can we meet to talk about this?” he says, resigned. I won’t let him sign on though. I want what’s best for him, and he would hate this, but that doesn’t mean I’m passing up the chance of seeing Ollie again. Maybe this time I’ll have more game than I did last night.

“Dinner tonight?”

“Oh! Yes. I was just telling Ollie that wehaveto take him to the place with the oysters, Dee.”

“Yeah, okay. Meet you there at seven.” The line goes dead less than a second later, but the smile on my face stays.

Time to plan the best second impression in the world.

CHAPTER 3

OLLIE

This is bad.

That’s the only thought I can decipher of the millions going through my mind at lightning speed.

Just a few minutes ago, Derek and Hawk came back from their lunch meeting with Hawk’s business manager. Bruce, I think his name is. They informed me we’re having dinner with Hugh at some fancy seafood place that’s close by.

Hawk loves it and he was telling me about it this morning.

I woke up early and didn’t know what to do with myself. If I went down to get something to eat I might wake Hugh up, and I wasn’t ready for another interaction with him.

The amazing kiss in the middle of the night is something that I still can’t believe happened in real life.And that it happened to me.

It was something out of a movie, out of this world. There’s no way I wanted to spoil that by having an interaction with him in the light of day. Hugh would probably realize that I’m nothing special then, and I wanted to live in the fantasy a bit longer.

But Hawk knocked on my door and told me he was taking me shopping.

I had the best time, even managed to only think about Hugh every few minutes, but Hawk did a great job distracting me. With clothes, toiletries, with plans for the future.

It looks like I’m going to be both his and Derek’s assistant for now, and I’m so happy that they agreed it was a good idea.

Derek is so overprotective already, I can tell, and I know damn well they both could use the help right now. Hawk told me all about what’s been happening in their lives the last few months, and about the interview he’s doing tomorrow night so the press won’t say anything about Wolf being in rehab.

I think he’s so fucking brave to do it. To put himself in the metaphorical line of fire for his brother. I would never want to relieve the worst night of my life, and the worst night of my life is nothing compared to the worst night of their lives.

“Okay,” Hawk says, way too excitedly when he comes back into the room with his arms full of clothes. “This is exciting!” He smiles a bit manically at me. “And the best distraction ever.” He giggles a little and it makes my blood boil a little.

“This isn’t a distraction!” I snap at him. “It’s my life.”

“Yeah well, tomorrow I’m giving an interview about my dead parents so forgive me for needing a distraction, Ollie. Now focus. Start again, from the top. What happened with Hugh last night?”

“Ugh,” I say with a sneer. “The guilt trip is seriously mean, Hawk!” I whisper-shout at him. “I’m going to get you back for this.” I glare the promise at him.

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