Page 69 of Going All the Way (Knights of Passion)

Jason stepped outon the porch of his condo to grab the paper. Stacia might like her tablet and online newspapers, but he liked to see the print, and enjoy it over a cup of coffee without worrying about spilling anything on the screen. He was old-fashioned that way.

It was a beautiful September day. The day seemed brighter after the night. For the first time since returning to baseball, he felt at peace and rested. It was all due to Stacia.

He stepped inside and wandered to the kitchen. Tossing the paper onto the table, he poured a cup of coffee and sat down to read the sports section, but it was the front page that grabbed his attention, stealing his breath and freezing him in his seat.

Representative Glazier and Image Consultant: Love Affair or Convenience?

And right below the large print headline was a picture of Stacia and Representative Glazier at a party. Stacia was clinging to his arm and gazing up at him adoringly. He quickly scanned the article as rage built inside.

Stacia Kendall was hired to be Glazier’s image consultant, to help him create a family image. Was she hired for bedroom duty too? Patsy Hillenbrand, the representative’s former mistress, accuses Ms. Kendall of cutting her off from the representative in an effort to save his campaign, then taking her place in his bed to keep his image clean.

He scanned further and saw his name.

Ms. Kendall is now a consultant with our very own Georgia Knights’ first baseman, Jason Friar. We all know his very public image issues, but it appears she’s up to her old tricks, traveling with the team, spending the nights in Friar’s room, even acting as his date. So the question is– is Stacia Kendall an image consultant or a high-paid escort? Or is that just fringe benefits?

Jason sat back in his chair and stared at the slider to his deck, no longer seeing the sun shining so brilliantly. Sonofabitch. She’d played him. She was no different than any of the other women in his life. Trading sex for his compliance. He should have known it was too good to be true.

He heard a noise in the hallway and Stacia appeared, wearing his bathrobe and yawning. She smiled when she saw him and leaned down to hug him. He jumped up and stepped out of the way. Ignoring the hurt and confusion in her eyes, he tossed the paper onto the table.

“So, which are you? Image consultant or call girl?”

“What?” She glanced at the article and paled. She snatched it up and scanned quickly. “That bitch! The representative was done with her. She was sleeping with his campaign manager, whom he also fired. Yes, I encouraged it, but I never slept with the man.” She stared up at Jason, a pleading look in her eyes. “You have to believe me!”

He stared at her, her words falling off of the rock wall around his heart that he hadn’t realized he had dropped until that moment. He rebuilt it in an instant, shutting her out and sealing himself away. She stepped forward and placed a hand on his forearm.

“Jason. I never slept with him.”

“So, what was this picture? It sure looks like you’re awfully cozy with the man.”

“Please,” she said, dismissing the picture. “That was my job, to keep his image clean. He had a tendency to wander and I was asked to try to keep him on the straight and narrow. I told them to watch out for jilted lovers, but he couldn’t keep it in his pants.”

“Interesting job, sleeping with your clients. Is that part of the package or is it a special service you provide at no extra cost?”

His words bit hard, as intended, and she flinched as if it had been a real dagger to her heart. “I never sleep with clients. I never slept with Glazier.”

He glanced up and down at her as she stood there his bathrobe and nothing else, then at the picture. “Are you sure?”

“Of course I am. This had nothing to do with my job and everything about you and me.” She stepped forward and laid a hand on his arm. He flinched as if burned and she dropped her hand.

He stared down at her, his face chiseled from stone, her tears and pleading falling on deaf ears. “We’re done. My image is probably ruined now thanks to you.”

“I saved your image.” Her voice was small, weak, deflated.

“And you destroyed it in one fell swoop. Even I couldn’t do the job as well. I’m going for a walk. Don’t be here when I get back.”

He steeled his resolve and walked out of the condo as Stacia crumbled into tears.

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