“He was invited to go early to participate in a robotics workshop.” She’d had to max out her credit cards to make it happen but she wanted to make his dreams come true. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d been forced to sacrifice. But J.J. wasn’t a burden. He was a blessing.
“He’s a good kid. Well, I guess he’d not really a kid anymore.” He leaned back in his chair. He had taken J.J. under his wing and the two of them had become close.
“No, he’s not and he’ll be spending an entire year in Spain.” It had been a dream of his and she’d help him realize it. It was what family did for each other.
Howler had been a strong role model who hired her to work at the agency. Since his grandmother ran the foster home where she’d lived until she turned eighteen, he’d become an important part of her life both personally and professionally. He angled his laptop and clicked on a file folder. “Erik sent over the email. I’ll forward you the proposal. It looks pretty straightforward. The show will be filmed in two locations. Have you watched it?” he asked.
“Yes, I have.” Every episode. With Darius—oh my God, I’d have sex with him in a heartbeat—Jones as the host. Like that would ever happen. She’d never have a chance to meet him. Except, now, thanks to Erik, she would. Heart in her throat, she bit her lip. She’d be meeting Darius Jones in the flesh.
“Good, then you know how it works. One guy, twelve women, one engagement.”
“Followed by a broken engagement.” She curled her fingers into her palm, trying to ground her mind. Although she was a fan of the show, she wasn’t naïve to the fact that it wasn’t like the contestants actually found love. Who would Erik pick? He’d been hitting on her for two years and she’d never taken it seriously. Life had come at her fast and she’d been chin deep in college and bringing J.J. into her home. “Who knows, maybe this year will be different.” It would be for her. New job, more money, J.J.’s future cemented. Only one thing missing from her life, someone to share it with.
“Wow, jaded much?” he asked, one brow cocked.
“When did you turn into such a romantic?” More important, when did she become such a skeptic? She’d dismissed Erik’s invitation out of hand. Except he wasn’t serious when he’d asked her out. And he was looking for a Fiancé.
He shrugged and offered a sheepish grin. “Since I married Raina, I suppose.”
Like Erik, Howler was the guy who never wanted to grow up. Until he had. Would Erik make the same transformation on the show? A laugh escaped and she slapped her hand over her mouth, unsure why the idea was funny. “I’m still reeling over the fact that Erik is the next bachelor.”
“Yes, he blew my mind a bit but it’s a huge opportunity for him. He can’t play football forever.” Howler used to be a professional player but he’d called a halt to his athletic career early. In his words, he made a better agent than he did a player. She had to agree, at least with the agent part. He had a knack for reading people, a trait she tried to emulate.
“His goal is to be a reality TV star?” Wow, she’d read Erik completely wrong. A good thing she hadn’t given in to the impulse to say yes to his insistent badgering to go out with him. Yes, he was sure of himself, but she’d never pegged him as being shallow.
“He says he’s doing it for his charity. I think it has something to do with literacy.”
“It does.” She’d done a few google searches on him in the past. For business purposes, of course. It wasn’t hard to find things. He was a gregarious guy and took countless selfies with fans after each game. His name was also linked to a lot of women. With his looks and personality, he was a natural flirt. But this job was the culmination of all her schooling. A job and a client, everything she’d worked so hard to gain. Inhaling a deep, steadying breath, she stood. “I’ll read his file tonight and write up a plan.” To put Erik on reality TV and watch as a bunch of women vied for his attention with the inevitable outcome, a wedding proposal.
She hated to admit the truth but the show had been a guilty pleasure since the first season. The irony wasn’t lost on her. It would be hilarious if she hadn’t experienced just the tiniest bit of jealousy. He was her client now and there would be no more flirtation, no more wondering what could be. She sighed with unexpected relief because one truth was clear, fate had taken the decision from her, and created a barrier between her deep desire and her reality.
Chapter Four
“Erik, please come in.” Belle looked up from behind the sleek modern desk in her corner office. The overcast sky cast the room in a dim glow, shadowing the angles of her face.
Erik kept the smile pasted on his lips, his pulse pounding a bit more than warranted. Excitement threatened to derail his forced calm. He might like her but he didn’t want her to know how much. Juvenile, yes but they had to work together and he needed to cool it when it came to her.
She stood, and reached across the desk, taking his hand in hers, a professional gesture. The second he fitted his palm to hers, he wanted to pull her in and kiss her full lips.
Belle released his hand and resumed her seat, a slight quiver in her smile. She was as nervous as he was. Good. They’d always carried on a flirtation over the reception desk, but one on one, he had an even better view of her tall, lithe body. Damn he had it bad for her. He dropped his hand before he did something stupid.
She tucked the skirt of her red fitted dress beneath her and sat down, legs crossing, black pumps showing a hint of toe cleavage. Not that he was a foot guy but everything about Belle spoke to him on a visceral level.
“Congratulations on your promotion,” he said, sitting back in his chair.
Color dotted her cheeks and she smiled, the gap between her white front teeth another pull to his already amplified awareness of her. Shit.
“Thank you. It’s been a whirlwind few weeks. While I’m in a new position, I want to assure you that I’m well versed in the industry and will do whatever it takes to further your career along,” she said.
Whatever it takes? Now that was intriguing. Get your head out of your pants. Less than a minute in her company and he was already breaking his own rules. “Howler’s never let me down yet and if he thinks you’re the person for the job, then I trust both of you.” He meant every word.
She nodded, and picked up a folder. Opening the manila file, she pulled out a sheet of paper and pushed it across the desk to him. “This is my contact information. I’ll email it to you as well.”
He took the paper, more thrilled than he should be. She was his agent, not his girlfriend or even a potential girlfriend. Not that he wanted a girlfriend at this juncture in his life. He was young and at the height of his career and for the first time in his life, free from familial responsibility.
“I have also drafted out an agenda that takes into account your time with the team as well as the filming schedule for MFF.” From the tilt of her head, he could practically read the curiosity oozing from her. She’d missed most of the origins story he’d shared with Howler.
“They approached me for the show, not the other way around.” Why had he admitted that? Because you don’t want to come across as desperate. He could have any woman he wanted. Liar, if that were the case, he’d have gone out with Belle a long time ago. The image of her lying on his bed, stretched out on the white sheets—knock it off.
