Page 88 of You Broke Me First

"I don't recognize you." He narrowed his deep blue eyes. "Are you here with someone?"

"Uh yeah," I said. "I came with Maddox."

"Ahhh." He smiled. "So you're the sports gossip girl."

"That's me." I laughed. "And you are Derek Brady." Of course, I knew who he was. Derek Brady was one of the hottest eligible bachelors in the NFL, right behind Maddox. What kind of sports gossip girl would I be if I didn't know who my single ballers were? Thankfully, I hadn't reported anything bad about him, mostly because the guy was clean. He was your typical playboy baller, and I was sure he had lots of hookups, but he kept everything on the DL, making it hard for me to gossip. There had never been an angry girl willing to spill it all after a hookup, which told me he wasn't a complete dog. He never got caught out in public with his pants down. He was only ever caught in public during charity events and a couple of times outside his church with his very proud mother.

"That's me." He smiled an all-white perfect smile that I was sure had melted girls' panties off. "But whatever you heard is a lie."

"All good things." I smiled.

"Good," he said, his gaze raking over me as his tongue swept along his bottom lip. "I was heading out to the fire. Do you want to join me?"

"Yes." I smiled, and I meant it. Derek moved faster than I was used to. He grabbed my hand, pulling me behind him through the crowds of people, only letting it go when we were in front of the fire.

"So I have to ask," he said. "Are you and Parker a thing?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "No, in fact, I think he hates me."

"No." He shook his head. "Parker doesn't do private interviews anymore. There's no way he would do one for someone he hates. Especially for six weeks."

"It's complicated." I sighed.

"Complicated like you are his or complicated like you used to be."

"Complicated like it's a long story neither of us has time for right now."

"Well, then I will take that as an invitation to ask you out," he smiled, "so that we have time for more." The corner of his lip twitched with amusement. "Would you have dinner with me?"

"Like a date?" I asked. He nodded. I pressed my lips into a thin line. I wanted to say yes, but my gaze flicked past him to where Maddox stood in the corner with a small blonde. "This job with Maddox has me tied up, and I'm not sure when I'll have any free time."

"Okay," he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone. "Then we'll exchange numbers, and if you get a free night, you call me, and if not, you text me before you head back to New York so I can convince you to stay here in Florida." He handed me his phone, and I added my name and number before handing it back to him. I didn't actually expect him to call. He was a playboy who had women throwing themselves at him. Why would he wait for me?

The sound of glass breaking cut through the night, and our gazes flicked to Maddox and the woman.

"Who is that?" I asked, my gaze locked on the angry, short blonde.

"That is Casey Davis," he said. "His agent, and by the looks of it, she had no idea he was doing your interview." I shrugged. I didn't know what she knew. I didn't know anything about her. "Don't be surprised if once she's done with him, she doesn't rip you a new one, too."

"Wonderful," I muttered, and as if on cue, she spun on her heels, storming towards me.

"Oh shit." Derek groaned, stepping in front of me, shielding me from the fury Casey was spitting from her eyes. Maddox's gaze narrowed on Derek as he stormed behind her.

"If you fuck him over," Casey growled, pointing her long slim finger in my face. "I will hurt you."

"That's enough, Casey," Derek said. "It's a party. We're here to have fun."

"I'm serious, bitch," she snarled. "You went behind my back to do this..."

"That's enough, Casey," Maddox barked, and her mouth snapped shut. "Do not talk to her like that."

"Maddox," she scowled, "I'm the only one looking out for your best interest."

"You should go." He pointed to the front of the house. Her jaw flexed like she was going to argue, but she threw her hands up and stormed away.

"That was intense." Derek laughed. Maddox's gaze flicked between Derek and me.

"Let's go, Addison," Maddox muttered.

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