Page 98 of Wild Love
There’s no dancing, which is a real shame because I’d love to have an excuse to wrap my arms around Dakota. I convince her to sit with me during dinner, but she’s mingling around the room until then, and I’m avoiding my dad.
As soon as he walked into the room, he started chatting up Coach Miller and Brad Albert, the president and CEO.
I’m with some of the guys on the team, smiling for photos when he finally decides to approach me.
I thank the photographer and walk over to where he stands, waiting for me.
“Hey, you made it,” I say, adjusting my cuffs.
He shakes my hand. “Just got a tour. Not a bad arena here. It’s a little smaller than the one in Chicago, but not bad.”
“Sorry it doesn’t live up to your expectations.” I grit my teeth. One sentence out of his mouth, and already I feel like I’m bracing for a puck to the face.
He laughs it off and squeezes my shoulder. “Let’s get a drink.”
My dad has this way about him where no one is a stranger, and he’s totally at ease in any situation. He works the room like he’s the most important person here. I plaster on a smile and keep a fresh beer in my hand at all times.
When they start to bring out dinner, we take our seats, and I let out a long breath. Dad’s on one side of me, and Dakota is on the other. I’ve never been happier to have her next to me. She brings Quinn, ever eager to look like just another intern, and Jack joins us too.
“Dad, this is Dakota. She worked on the endorsement.” I make the introduction, placing my hand on her elbow and thankful for an excuse to touch her.
“Ahh,” he says, nodding politely. “You’re responsible for the photos of my son taking a shower.” He makes a face—one I’ve seen often, disapproval dripping from it.
She inhales sharply, and her cheeks dot with pink and I want to punch him in the jaw.
“They are hygiene products,” I say.
“Yes, yes, I know. We’re looking to go in a different direction, something a little classier. Upscale.” He waves a hand and picks up his scotch. “Something like that ad you did for Givenchy, Jack. Now that was a good ad.”
“That was for a clothing company,” I say. “It isn’t anywhere near the same thing.”
He makes a dismissive humming noise.
“I like the photos we got. Dakota did a good job. Even the head of publicity here said so.”
“It’s fine.” Dakota shoots me a wide-eyed glare, and her lips pull into a brittle smile. “The campaign should fit the brand.”
“See? She gets it.” Dad winks at her. “I brought a couple of suit options with me tonight. Maybe after dinner, we can snap a few pictures. See if we can get something nailed down.”
Is he for real? Well, that explains the sudden desire to see his son. He needed something for his company.
I push back my chair with a loud scrape against the floor. “Excuse me. I’m going to get another drink.”
Dakota’s heels click-clack behind me as she tries to keep up. She whisper-hisses my name, “Johnny. Johnny.”
I don’t stop until I get into the hallway.
She starts to reach for me and then stops herself, which just further pisses me off. I don’t want any rules on when and where I can touch her. Especially not right now.
“He wouldn’t know a good campaign if it hit him upside his head. It’s bullshit.”
“Johnny, it’s fine.”
“You worked your ass off on that campaign, and it’s good. I’m not just saying that.”
“I should have listened to what they wanted. I had my own vision, and it didn’t meet the clients’ expectations. That’s on me.”
She might be playing it off like it’s fine, but I know she’s upset.
