“Grace.”
“I’m Nick,” I said with a little wave.
“Oh, I know who you are.”
Fuck, I hated that. But this could be my ticket to testing out my skills on someone interested.
“So, uh, what’s a good little slut like you doing out tonight?”
Grace’s eyes widened. “What did you call me?”
“I, uh, didn’t mean it like that. I meant it in a good way?”
Guess I got that water to the face I was hoping for. Or rather, vodka and soda to the face, the ice cubes hitting extra hard. And then my entire beer poured over my head.
The bartender chuckled and handed me a towel. “You asked for that one, my guy.”
I looked back at the guys watching me. Leroy was almost on the ground laughing. Mikey shot me a thumbs-up while Guy and Sorrento gathered our jackets for us to leave.
“I’ll take my check please.”
Chapter 14
Annie
OCTOBER | Balance $50,262
The U-Haul was loaded up and my road trip playlist filled, my whole life contained in one small trailer. I took one last look at my building in East Nashville. Eight years I’d spent in Nashville. College, law school, and beyond.
I felt sure there was nothing else for me there.
I’d be in L.A. for at least a year while Marcie was out. Some clients were being shifted around, as it was decided that me having Guy as a client would be a conflict of interest. After all, I was going to be living in his house after I moved.
As the Nashville skyline shrank in my rearview mirror, a wave of peace came over me, as well as a few tears. I was leaving behind friends and some comforts. But what was ahead for me was myoldest friend and a chance to start over. To my knowledge, no one at work ever caught on about Roger and me, but I felt better knowing I’d never run into him again. He, who lied to me about getting a divorce, which was the whole reason I got with him in the first place. We’d been flirting and he made a move after hours. I told him I didn’t get with married men, and he said he was divorced. I believed him.
It was my mistake for ever believing him. For ever thinking that he could love me. For thinking that I’d be the only one someday. It’s a slippery slope when a man’s lying to you, what you’re willing to believe.
But that was all behind me, fading out the window. A new page, a new leaf, a new life.
* * *
“Annie, come meet your new client!”
I was at a benefit put on by the L.A. Princes. Our firm had gotten an invitation as many of the players were on our client list. Marcie was on her last legs, due to have her baby any day. She was hanging on at the office as many days as she could, wanting to make sure I had a smooth transition into her role. I felt unbelievably lucky that she’d approached me at Guy and Kitty’s wedding. She wasn’t just a good agent—she was a good colleague. She was taking such care to get me settled in. I was a little sad that we wouldn’t be potentially working together again until she was back from leave.
Marcie looked behind her and frowned. “Oh, he must have just slipped out. He’s the one we changed for Guy. You’re lucky. He has some good endorsements coming up,” she said. “Dev was pretty mad that he’s getting shifted to you.”
“Yeah, but he gets Guy. That’s a pretty good trade. I imagine he’s an easy client.”
She snorted. “Try telling Dev that. Oh, here he comes!”
My stomach dropped. I knew this was a possibility, and I knew I’d see him at some point. But I did not expect Nick Oberbeck to be approaching me as my new client.
“Obi, this is—”
“Annie. Hi,” he finished.
Marcie raised her eyebrows. “You two know each other?”
