When I didn’t answer, his brow rose. “I guess you hear that a lot and you’re tired of it.”
“I’m sure the same can be said of you.”
Ethan downed his drink. “Okay, now that we’ve finished our meeting of the mutual admiration society, I wouldn’t mind blowing this place off and getting a cup of coffee. Care to join me?”
I lifted a shoulder. “I’m not going to go home with you, if that’s your ultimate goal for the evening.”
“I wasn’t planning on asking, but good to know.” His lips kicked up in a grin, and I laughed.
“Sorry, I’m just over this whole scene.”
“Me too. Come on.”
We walked to a diner two blocks away, and I appreciated that he didn’t try and fill the silence with small talk. Once we settledin a booth and ordered our coffees, he folded his hands on top of the table.
“So, Fallon, what do you do in our fair city?”
Never one to give away too much, I sipped my water. “I’m a personal assistant.”
Ethan studied me for a moment. “I’m assuming it’s for someone famous, or you would’ve given a little more info. Good for you, keeping your boss’s privacy.”
Our coffees came, and I stirred in the milk. “I’ve been at this a while. What about you?”
“I’m an attorney.”
“I should’ve known. What’s your specialty?”
“Sports and entertainment.” Maybe my face wasn’t as neutral as I’d hoped because Ethan’s face brightened. “And your work is in one of those fields.”
“No comment.” I fidgeted with the handle of the cup.
“Understood. But now it makes sense why someone like you is at a club during the week. You must be busy morning to night.”
“I have my hands full. And so must you. I’ve seen enough of what goes on to know you deal with temperamental clients.”
“The worst.” His eyes danced. “Some of the things they ask for in their contracts are too funny—specific coffee drinks to always be available, In-N-Out if they’re from the West, bagels from their favorite place in the city if they’re from here…” Ethan shook his head.
“The list is endless, isn’t it?” I couldn’t help but commiserate. “I know someone who made sure they picked out all the yellow Skittles from his candy bowl.”
“Dante Williams from the Brooklyn Kings,” Ethan stated, and my stomach dropped. “He’s a client. Don’t worry, Fallon. I knowyou used to work for Devlin Summers. I’ve seen you at enough Super Bowl celebrations—I recognized you right away. You’re kind of hard to miss.” His attempt at a compliment went over my head. My throat seized up, and I didn’t answer. “You’re working for someone else now?”
I remained silent, and he nodded. “Okay. I’m not one of the bad guys, you know. We’re on the same side. I represent a number of players on the Kings. Active as well as retired, like Dante.”
“I don’t talk about my job. I pride myself on discretion.”
“And I’m sure whomever you work for appreciates that.” He checked his phone and made a face. “I’ve got to run. One of my clients just got arrested. I swear, sometimes I’m more of a babysitter than a lawyer.”
I’d recovered enough and couldn’t help laughing. “Trust me, I get it. But I’ve been lucky.”
He tossed a twenty-dollar bill onto the table. “Yeah, you have been. Dev and Brody Martin are both class acts. Listen, it was nice talking to you. Our jobs can be isolating, with people wanting to be our friends because they think they can get something from us. It’s why most of the people in my life are either family or longtime clients.” He pulled out a business card. “This has my personal cell and email. If you ever need to talk or just step away from the crazy, contact me.”
I watched him stride out of the diner, fairly certain I’d never see him again, but I pocketed his card anyway. I finished my coffee and left for home, already preparing for the following day. Everything had to be perfect for Patrick’s parents, especially for his mother’s birthday.
**
The next day I checked with the driver to make sure Patrick’s parents had been picked up on time and had arrived safely at the stadium. Satisfied that everything had gone off without a hitch, I allowed myself the few hours to watch the game. Patrick looked flawless, and the Kings rolled to a 24-10 victory. Eating my dinner, I watched the postgame interviews, only turning up the volume when Patrick appeared. Even sweaty and tired, he was still the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen.
“I knew I had to win this game. Today’s my mother’s birthday. She’s always been my biggest cheerleader and supporter. My parents sacrificed everything to make my dreams come true. They never missed a high school game, and she and my dad are here tonight, so I made sure to win.” His smile beamed big and bright. “This one’s for you, Mommy.”
