Page 19 of Necessary Roughness

That’s how it worked.

I hadn’t taken any time to think about other ways it might have affected Luke. He was retired for god’s sake. How could I possibly have had an impact on his finances?

I had no idea what to say, so I just opened my mouth and let it do the talking for me.

“I’m so sorry to have lost you a ten-million-dollar deal,” I said with a dramatic sigh. “It must havereallyset you back considering you only have a measly two hundred million left over from your NFL career.”

Luke balked. “It’s funny how someone who’s never set foot on a football field has so much to say about my playing career.”

I offered a fake, smug frown. “This all sounds so very, very difficult for you. Do you think you’ll be able to keep ownership of all your private islands, or might you need to sell one to make ends meet?”

Luke glared at me. “You’re vile.”

I shook my head. “You’re just mad at me because I’m doing my job. Sorry if the truth doesn’t align with your delusional view of yourself as a legend.”

I knew that one had to sting. Then again, that was my goal. To sting.

Although, for a flashing moment, I wondered why.

But this wasn’t the time or place for me to be introspective.

This was a public place, and people were sitting close enough that they could definitely hear our conversation. Unless it was being drowned out by the crashing waves.

I knew that this was not a scenario someone like Luke Dalton wanted to be in. But here we were. Forced next to each other for three long months.

“Enjoy your moment in the spotlight, Brett,” Luke said as he turned to leave the café. “I’ll be out here living a life that’s actually worth talking about.”

With that, he was gone, disappearing as quickly as he’d arrived.

I had absolutely zero ideas about how I was going to maneuver my way through the next three months.

6

LUKE

My interaction with Brett earlier in the day had left me reeling.

I was so frustrated that I’d started to consider relocating to a different house. Sure, I had already paid a deposit—and the entirety of the three month’s rent upfront on the beach house. But there was no way in hell I could spend an entire summer next to someone who hated me so much.

Someone whom I hated too.

Well… sort of.

Hate was a strong word. But I couldn’t think of a better one.

As I stood on my patio facing the ocean, I picked up the barbell and lifted it again.

I’d spent the better part of an hour trying to workout, contorting, and stretching my body in an effort to deviate my thoughts. Anything I could do to take my mind off Brett. That was the exasperating thing about him, he had a way of creeping into my head and refusing to vacate.

Brett had some indiscernible quality that irked me beyond even my own understanding.

I knew the solution: lift weights, don’t think about it.

So, I lifted.

One… two… three…

I counted as I raised the barbell into the air.

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