“Yes. I know. I ruin the party. You good now? Can we go back without the huffing and puffing?”
“Yeah, I’m good.” He rolls his shoulders back and it’s distractingly sexy.
I need to get a grip.
“All right. Let’s get this over with.” I nod toward the door, making a step in that direction, and he follows.
NINE
Alex
When we get backin Drew is more sedate and Harper’s hand is resting on my forearm, gently sweeping her thumb back and forth over my skin. He insists upon getting pictures of her injuries and mine because Daniels’s agent has documented all of his in a folder he’s given to management. I’m annoyed at the process, and even more annoyed that they’re making a record of the fact that asshole managed to catch her lip.
After having us recite the whole incident again and documenting it for posterity, Drew finally leaves the room, and I feel like I can fucking breathe again. I’m not completely fucking heartless. I’m sure it’s not easy to see the two of us together, especially when he suspects a lot more is going on between us than there really is. But I also feel like he’s got zero right to say a fucking word given everything he’s done to her.
“All right. Next up… our plans.”Sam’s eyes flick over to Harper, and they exchange quick smiles before Sam gets down to business. “The two of you need to create a social media footprint and fast. Pictures of you together, social outings, events, photos of her attending games, the quicker you get it all done the better. Do you have some candids of the two of you? Maybe even from before when you and Drew were married and Alex was at the house?” Sam’s eyes go to Harper, and Harper pales a little under her sharp assessment.
“No, I don’t think so. I’m not much of a picture taker.”
“You weren’t saying that when you were taking pictures of me naked in bed the other morning.” I smirk at her, and her eyes go wide before she narrows them and a blush pops on her cheeks.
“Yes, well… While I am sure those would go viral on social media, I would rather not have half the women in the world seeing them. Those were private.” She teases me back.
“I know, gotta have something to get you through the away games, Saint.”
“Exactly.” She gives me a sly smile in return.
Sam studies us both.
“He’s joking. I’m joking. You know we’re joking right?” She remembers we have an audience.
“Oh, you two are good. This thing you have could work in your favor. Have you thought about a joint account? You make short videos of you two together like that. People would eat that up.”
“Now see what you’ve done, Saint. Sam’s been more than happy to just let me keep my mouth shut and look pretty.”
“I mean, she might have the right idea.” She laughs and shakes her head at me. I even see Sam’s impenetrable mask crack a little with a smile.
“This is the other reason we don’t post anything. I have a reputation to keep up and if they know how whipped I am, well…”
“I mean that actually plays pretty well these days. A guy like you falling for someone like her, and she can put you in your place? I want a whole reality show like that.” Sam looks up then and looks back and forth between us. “Have you considered a reality show?”
“No.” We both say in unison.
“Oh well, that’s too bad. If you ever change your mind, let me know. I bet we could make it happen. They’d eat up the whole normal girl with the bad boy thing. Especially given who some of your exes are, Xander. It would probably get you some more high-dollar deals. I’m just saying… consider it.”
“Yeah, I think we can skip that. I don’t think either of us could tolerate being followed by a camera.”
“Well, when this hits wide, and I will make sure it does because we need it to, you will be getting followed by cameras. Probably be hounded by them for a while, so you’d better get yourself ready for that. Do you have any media training?” She shifts her gaze back to Harper again.
“A little bit. I did a small boot camp with a PR firm a while back for interviews and things when we were getting ready for the push to save the museum.”
“That’s good. That’s a lot better than I’d hoped. And you’re well put together so that’s a plus.”
“Sorry, Saint. Sam here is a little blunt.”
“That’s what you pay me for, isn’t it?” Sam’s eyes raise to mine for a moment.
“Yes, but you could give the newborn fawn a second to adjust to her legs.”
