Page 9 of Off the Ice

I hated admitting it, even to myself. Ava Carlisle was the kind of woman who didn’t take shit from anyone, and she sure as hell wasn’t going to make this easy. But that’s exactly why I needed her. She wouldn’t let me off the hook, wouldn’t settle for anything less than the full story. If I could convince her to work with me—on my terms—it might be enough to shift the focus. To make people start talking about something other than gambling rumors and betrayal. The irony wasn’t lost on me. Here I was, walking into a coffee shop to ask for help from the one person who could just as easily bury me. The reporter who’d seen through every PR shield I’d thrown up and still managed to make me second-guess myself in a fifteen-minute interview.

But desperate times called for desperate measures. And if anyone could help me clean up this mess, it was Ava Carlisle.

I plastered on my best grin as I approached, sliding into the seat across from her without waiting for an invitation. “Morning, Carlisle. Did you miss me?”

She didn’t look up right away, finishing whatever she was typing before setting her phone down. Her hazel eyes narrowed slightly as they met mine. “You’re late.”

“By two minutes,” I said, holding up two fingers. “I figured you’d appreciate the suspense.”

She snorted. “Try again.”

I leaned back in the chair, spreading my arms out. “Fine. I’ll admit it—I needed an extra minute to mentally prepare for you.”

Her lips twitched, but she didn’t smile. “You’ve got five minutes before I walk out. Use them wisely.”

Straight to the point. I liked that about her. “All right, here’s the deal. I don’t want to redo the interview.”

Her brows shot up. “You’re joking.”

“Nope,” I said, shaking my head. “I want to propose something better. Something that works for both of us.”

She folded her arms, leaning back in her chair. “I’m listening.”

I leaned forward, lowering my voice slightly. The buzz of conversation around us made it unlikely anyone would overhear, but I wasn’t taking chances. “You know my situation. The press is eating me alive, and every move I make adds fuel to the fire. I need a way to change the narrative, fast.”

“And you think I can help with that?” she asked, skepticism clear in her tone.

“I know you can,” I said. “You’re relentless, Carlisle. Smart. You don’t let people off easy. That’s exactly why I think you’re perfect for this.”

“For what, exactly?”

I leaned in just enough to hold her gaze, a slow smile tugging at my lips. ‘I want you to be my girlfriend. Fake, of course, but we’ll make it look real.’

Her jaw dropped, and for a moment, she just stared at me like I’d suggested we rob a bank together. Then she laughed, a short, sharp sound that cut through the hum of the coffee shop.

“You’re serious.”

“Dead serious,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “Think about it. You get exclusive access to me, my side of every clip, behind-the-scenes insight, whatever you need to write the story of your career. And in return, we give the media something else to focus on.”

“You want me to pretend to date you?” She leaned forward, her voice low and laced with disbelief. “Logan, that’s... insane.”

“Is it?” I asked, raising a brow. “The media loves a good redemption arc. A steady girlfriend? Someone smart and respectable? That’s the kind of story that buries a scandal.”

She shook her head, her pen tapping against the table again. “This is ridiculous.” She began to gather her things.

“It’s not,” I said firmly, putting my hand on top of hers to stop her from cleaning up. “It’s mutually beneficial. You get the inside scoop of a lifetime, and I get a chance to clear my name.” I looked at her earnestly hoping she would see the sincerity behind my eyes.

She stared at me, her eyes narrowing as she studied my face. “Why me? You could hire an actress or find some influencer to play the part. Why a reporter?”

“Because you’re the one digging into this mess,” I said. “If anyone’s going to uncover the truth, it’s you. This way, we control the stories before someone else does.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but I held up a hand. “Look, I’m not saying decide right now. Think about it. We date for a few months, and when the dust settles, we go our separate ways. No strings attached.”

Her eyes searched mine, and for a moment, I thought she might actually consider it. But then she sat back, shaking her head again. “You’re unbelievable.”

“And you’re intrigued,” I said with a grin. “Admit it.”

She huffed, grabbing her coffee and taking a long sip. “I’ll think about it,” she said finally. “But don’t expect me to play along just because you asked nicely.”

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