Page 10 of The Problem with Playboys

“But this card game Marcus got caught up in just happened. That doesn’t make sense.” This theory of Parker’s was intriguing, but it was a dangerous idea to pursue. In her experience, chasing after the source of a rumor never accomplished anything good. “And if you want Marcus’s name cleared, you need to stop digging. Now.”

Parker let out a dismissive grunt. “If you tell me I can’t do something, it only makes me that much more determined to do it.”

“I’m serious. Leave it alone. You’re going to make more problems that you could possibly ever solve.”

He held up his hands in surrender. “Fine.”

“You promise?”

A distinct frown crossed Parker’s lips. “I swear.”

“Please. Let’s go through the plan.” She pointed to his copy of the proposal she’d written that afternoon. “I think we go simple. From everything you’ve said, Marcus doesn’t have skeletons in his closet. So let’s shine a light on the good. I’d like to go down to Miami and oversee several high-profile interviews and photo shoots. We’ll show off that stunning waterfront mansion he bought after he was drafted. We’ll share his workout routine with a cover story in a men’s fitness magazine. And we’ll show off his softer side with a heart-to-heart interview with one of the premier cable news shows. We’ll let him explain what happened that night at the card game. And he can talk about his family.”

Parker flipped through the pages and tossed it back on the table. “That’s it? I’m paying you a lot of money and that’s all we get?”

“Excuse me? We’re talking about positive publicity worth millions of dollars. It’s the difference between some of his corporate sponsors dropping him and him picking up some new ones. Plus, I’ve already pulled huge favors with editors. They don’t like snapping to attention just because I want something. Most important, it’ll get him back in the good graces of the Bratt family. From what I understand, that is no small feat.”

“I’m not sure it’s worth what I’m paying you. I probably could’ve done that on my own. Make a few phone calls.”

“The retainer also includes my time and travel down to Miami.”

“You’ll be there?” He popped another sushi roll into his mouth and wiped the corners of his lips with a napkin.

“Of course. I need to make sure everything goes perfectly, and I’ll be on hand in case there are any problems.”

“And you really think this will work? Is it really that simple?”

“For Marcus, it should be. People want to love him. We just need to push them back in that direction.”

“Okay, then. We’re going to Miami.”

“We?” Chloe shook her head and a nervous laugh leaked out of her mouth. “You don’t need to be there. You’re paying me to take care of it. That’s what I do.”

He knocked back another swig of his beer. “No way I’m not going to be there. Marcus is in crisis. He needs to know that he’s my number one priority. Where you go, I go.” He pointed at her with the bottle.

Chloe sighed. She really preferred to work alone. Plus, she needed to have as little involvement with Parker as possible. She could tell her mom that she wasn’t working for Parker so much as she was working for Marcus, but that argument only worked if she and Parker weren’t spending time together. “You were just complaining about how much money you’re paying me. You should let me do my job.”

“And you should extend me the same consideration. Marcus is my top client right now, but he’s young and still a little impressionable. If I’m not there for him through this bumpy patch, a lot could fall apart. My whole business.”

That was when Chloe realized just how much was on the line for Parker. And she implicitly understood what it was like to want to defend everything you’d built. “Okay. Fine. As I said, I’ve already laid the groundwork with the publications, so I just need to tie a few things up, but we should be down there by lunch on Wednesday. Forrest will book my flight tomorrow morning. I’ll let you know what time I’m arriving. As for hotel, I typically stay at the Mandarin, but you should do whatever you want.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“Which part?”

“The flights and the hotel.”

“Unless you’ve discovered a way to teleport to Miami, we’re going to need to get on a plane. And I do like to sleep, so I’ll need somewhere for that, too.”

“I have a company jet. We’ll take that. And Marcus has an incredible guesthouse. I’ve already stayed in it. Plenty of room for two.”

“As in two bedrooms? Because I’m not sharing.”

A devilish smile crossed Parker’s tempting lips. “Actually, I believe it has four bedrooms. But I like how you’re telling me up-front that you don’t want to spend any time with me and you’re definitely not ending up in the same bed as me.”

“You’re my client and technically my stepbrother. We are not sleeping together. Ever.”

“You’re the one who kept saying that youaren’tmy sister. Plus, that won’t be a problem after tomorrow anyway.”