He turned to the pool where a bunch of ladies were batting their eyelashes and giggling.
One of them cooed, “Jaden, babe, get back here.”
Jaden made a humming noise and muttered something aboutfine honies. “Yo’ Linc, I have to go. You understand?”
I snorted with amusement. “I sure do, kid.”
I let out a laugh, watching Jaden saunter back to the “fine honies” in the pool. Who was I to judge? That was me a few years ago, throwing parties and entertaining ladies left and right. My smile faded. The lifestyle just didn’t cut it anymore. Maybe Jaden would feel the same when he got to my age.
Doing an about-face, I headed back inside to make sure there was nothing crazy going on in there. I walked past a woman in the skimpiest bikini I’d ever seen.
“Hey, I know you,” she purred, making me stop to take a better look at her.
I knew her too. Her face had been popping up on every magazine cover recently.
“You’re like a famous player or something, right? I saw you at a movie premiere two weeks ago.”
My lips twisted wryly. “I haven’t playedfor quite a few years.” Thanks to a career-ending injury. “Yeah…” That movie premiere was me doing some networking, hoping to get one of my clients a cameo in an upcoming sports film.
“I’m Chloe,” she said.
Right, Chloe, a rising star in the modeling industry.
She eyed me with interest. “Do you want to hang out?”
I stared at her for a beat, caught between amusement and secondhand embarrassment. Chloe, barely out of her teens, was asking if I wanted to “hang out.” I was old enough to have been her chaperone at prom. The thought of trying to have an actual conversation with her made me shudder. What would we even talk about? TikTok dance trends? Her skincare routine? I almost laughed out loud.
Still, I kept my expression polite. “I appreciate the offer, Chloe, but I’ve got some things to take care of.”
Her exaggerated pout was practiced, no doubt. She probably didn’t hear no often, especially from men. I offered a gentle smile to soften the brush-off. “Another time, maybe.”
Not waiting for her response, I eased past her and made it inside. As I walked through the kitchen, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and glanced at the screen. It was my assistant.
“Hey, Sienna.”
“Hey, Lincoln. Just a friendly reminder about the reporter coming in tonight.” Her tone was brisk and efficient. Typical Sienna.
“Yes, I remember.”
I spotted a guy rummaging through the contents of a table in the hallway. He was skulking, so he couldn’t be up to any good.
“Oh, and there’s been a?—”
“Thanks, Sienna, gotta go.” I hurried over to the shady man. “Hey, can I help you?”
He jumped as if I’d caught him doing something wrong. The closer I got to him, the more I noticed something in his hand. “What is that?” I asked.
“Uh… Who are you, security or something?”
“Or something. Hand it over.”
With a sheepish expression, the guy placed a little black device in my hand. I immediately recognized it as a camera. It was tiny, and if strategically placed, it would be hard to notice. Gritting my teeth, I snapped my fingers and pointed to the door. “Let’s go.Now.”
“Come on, man. I was just?—”
“Yeah, yeah. I know what you werejust…” I said. “Out.”
I sighed. Jaden had barely peaked in his career, and already wolves were trying to get a piece of him. I’d have to be extra vigilant. I escorted the wannabe spy to the front door. There were two guys out front who were supposed to be security. I’d hired them because Jaden hadn’t thought about it. I instructed them to search everyone else who arrived and to check IDs before letting them in.
