Page 75 of Hard to Hold

“Always. That’s what big sisters are for, right?”

This time I roll my eyes in response.

“He’s just your type, you know. How are you going to manage that when you’re working side by side with him? When you’re trying to tell—”

“What do you mean he’s just my type?” I laugh, thankful to have the house to myself right now. All I need is for her to know we’re sleeping in the same house on the heels of that question, and she’ll know the truth.

“He’s edgy, unapproachable, good-looking, and a little rebellious. Add to that the fact that he’s only here for a short while and that’s your dream.”

“That’s such bullshit.” I laugh, but she remains serious as she studies me. “What?”

“Name the last guy you dated who you knew would be around longer than a few months.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Bradly. That’s who I’m talking about. Remember the torrid affair you had with him when you knew you’d be trading him to the other side of the United States? Then there was Hiro, who was leaving to play baseball in Japan. All your men have time limits on them, Lenn. All of them. So see? Rush is the perfect plaything for you since he’ll have to return home soon.”

Jesus, am I really that predictable? Do I really actually do this?

“What’s your point, Brex?”

“My point is don’t fuck the clients.” She laughs. “And don’t fuck potential clients either.”

“Did you tell Dekker that when she was sleeping with and recruiting Hunter?” I ask like the impetuous, little sister that I am.

“Please tell me you’re not asking for justification?”

But there is no justification needed because the other night has replayed in my head like a fantasy over and over again. Rush. His dominance. The way he made me feel. The way I want to feel again.

“I can’t force him to switch to KSM,” I say.

“Agreed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t show him how his agent isn’t doing his job. I mean, Finn’s blatant incompetence might cost him his career. That should count for something.”

“Incompetence?” I ask.

“He’s a prick who’s out for himself and always has been. We both know that.” She takes a sip of her coffee and looks at me. “Vic was there, you know.”

“Where?” I ask, suddenly surprised at her change of topic and out-of-the-blue mention of her fellow agent-friend, Vicktor Malachi.

“At the conference in Vegas. He watched Finn’s whole made-for-movie show to humiliate you in front of the other agents.”

My shoulders sag and I hate that tears fill my eyes, but it’s almost as if it’s worse having someone I love know how I was humiliated.

“It’s no big deal,” I say, forcing a smile to pretend it didn’t cause the tears it did. The subsequent questions about my actual abilities. “I got the last laugh in the end though. I got the contract with MLS when he thought it was nonexistent.”

“He’s an asshole and we all know it. Just watch your back, because I don’t trust Cannon and Finn for a second.” When I don’t speak, she continues. “Rush would be a great add-on to the KSM team, but more than anything, we’d love to have him aboard simply to fuck with Finn.”

“Good to see you have an order of importance.”

“We may bicker like hell, but we always have each other’s backs.” And there’s something in the way she says it that makes me smile and miss them, when I didn’t think I did.

“I’ve heard he’s a real bastard, you know. Great to the fans but a prick to his agents, teammates, the like.”

“Who are we talking about?”

“McKenzie,” she says.

“Rush?”