Page 48 of Hard to Hold

“I thought we were talking.”

“We can’t do that again.” There, it’s out there. I said what I needed to say but hell if my body is revolting against me saying it.

“That? As in incredible sex, type of that? Because if that’s the nonsense you’re talking, you can just head back out that door and forget you came in here.” He waves with his fork, his smile wide, but then it begins to fade when he meets my eyes and sees that I’m serious. “You’re not kidding, are you?”

I shrug. “It’s unprofessional of me to be working side by side with you, represent you and the league in a sense, and then . . . be sleeping with you at night.”

“According to who?” He sets his knife and fork down and crosses his arms over his chest.

“According to ethics. According to everyone who thinks I use my looks to gain clients. According to—”

“Hold up. What about using your looks to gain clients?”

“It’s a long story,” I sigh and shift on my feet. “And it doesn’t matter. What matters is this—you and me. We can’t do this anymore. We had an itch, we scratched it, and now we’re both satisfied.”

“Satisfied?” He snorts. “Speak for yourself.”

“I’m serious. I’m representing my family business while working this contract. If someone were to find out, it wouldn’t just look bad on me, but it would also look bad on Kincade Sports Management.”

“Then we won’t let anyone find out.”

“That’s easier said than—”

“Than what? Than it’s no one’s fucking business who you sleep with?” He stands and takes the few steps toward me. Every part of me reacts to his nearness, and I dislike myself for it. He lowers his voice. “Are you saying you didn’t enjoy last night, Lennox? Are you telling me that the scratch marks down my arms aren’t real? You and I both know it was good. That it would be even better next time. A little fun never hurt anyone.”

“Exactly. We had a little fun. It can only get more complicated from here and I loathe complicated. I think you’ve had more than enough complicated in the past month to last you a lifetime.” I take a step back but he takes one forward, so I gain no space between us. “I’m sorry, but my mind is made up.”

“Why? You’re not my agent, and you’re not recruiting me so—”

“Work up an appetite, did you?” a disheveled Johnny asks, striding in with his sunglasses on, hair a mess, and wearing completely mismatched clothes.

Rush glances Johnny’s way while I stand there staring at him, wondering if I was just saved by the bell.

But I know I wasn’t. This conversation still needs to be had with Rush.

“Help yourself to breakfast,” Rush says. “I really wanted some pancakes.”

“Thanks, dude,” Johnny says and then looks at us one more time, a piece of bacon stopping halfway to his mouth, as he does a double take. “Christ. Seriously?” He emits a dramatic sigh when he takes his sunglasses off and flinches from the bright sunlight. “I knew I smelled sex last night when I came home.”

“What?” I laugh the word out, cheeks heating.

Johnny looks from Rush to me and then back again. “The two of you are a pheromone blast if I’ve ever seen it. Couldn’t you guys have waited a bit?” He groans and then plops onto the barstool at the island and starts pulling food onto one of the paper plates that Rush left out. “Now it’s going to be like a rabbit den around here with you two fucking each other everywhere. This is not what I signed up for.”

I fight back a laugh. Rush doesn’t. “You’re the one who vouched for both of us so at least we chose wisely.”

“I didn’t vouch for shit.” He goes to the fridge and grabs a beer, the crack of it opening echoes around the kitchen as he sits back down. “What I do vouch for is those grins you both have on your faces.”

“There’s that,” I murmur.

“Don’t you have any shame?” he asks me.

“Says the man hungover, and probably hiding someone tangled in his sheets upstairs.”

“Her name is Heidi,” he says around a mouthful of food, “and no, she’s not in my bed. I knew if she woke up and saw Rush, that she’d dump my ass after realizing he’s way hotter. I figured I’d mitigate that awkwardness by sending her off before you guys woke.”

“Well,” Rush says, “can’t say I’d blame her for thinking that.” And he gains a glare from both Johnny and me.

“Thank you for sparing us from Rush’s big ego,” I add.