Page 16 of He Has Charm

“Then it’s all set,” Jett says, “except for one thing.” He aims a cold stare at me as if he’s the one in charge and I guess he is. That’s how fucked-up things are when my agent is calling the shots because he’s just bailed me out of a career-ending hole. The owner of the NOLA team would have benched me and not renewed my contract if he couldn’t have traded me. Then I’d have been damaged goods—even more damaged than I already am—when it came to shopping me for next year. The bad boy who may not be serious enough about hockey to compete after all.

“What’s that?” I bite.

“You keep your fucking hands and all other body parts away from Harper. She’s off-limits to you. She’s like kryptonite. If I find out you’ve sneezed wrong near her, I will destroy you.” He tosses a deadly glare at me before easing up. “Are we cool?”

“Frigid,” I say, shuddering. It’s truer than I’d like because I believe him. I have the distinct impression that Harper is universally liked and respected here, and Jett may even think of her as family, the way he also likes to treat his clients. Which explains him acting protective enough to give me real shit.

One more reason to keep my hands, mouth, and dick away from her. Far away.

Ham’s face changes to all business. “In the meantime, seems you’ve even managed to offend your sponsor Mama Regina’s Pizza, and they want to drop you.”

“Shit.”

“I’ll talk to them,” Harper says, “see if I can convince them to reconsider and explain the circumstances.” She doesn’t meet my eyes, but I see her tension and the flash of desperation in her green eyes. There must be some damn compelling reason why she needs this promotion and I wonder what that’s all about. Money? Does she need money that much?

Nah. She can’t be that desperate. A girl who wears designer shoes can’t be desperate for money. Except she did seem awful upset about breaking that heel.

As the size of the crowd grows, I feel the stares become less surreptitious and more like pinpricks of conscience, accusations whether they are or not. But I rally against the discomfort and stand as tall as my spine will stretch, shoulders back, and smile at whatever flickering looks I can catch.

We join O’Rourke and Lemaire, who are buying drinks for their wives at the bar. Jett shakes their hands and I’m introduced to the two women. O’Rourke’s wife, Zoey, gives me a baldly curious stare and Rafe’s wife gives me a knowing, almost understanding look.

“You look familiar,” I say. Rafe wraps a possessive arm around her and points a deadly stare at me.

“She was once a supermodel. Now she’s a mother, coach, and runs a foundation that benefits disadvantaged children.” I raise my brows, duly impressed, and she elbows her husband with a chuckle.

“You’re so adorably ridiculous, Rafe.” She kisses his temple, almost as tall as he is, and I can see the supermodel still in her. She’s comfortable being stared at. “You’ll have to come to our event next week,” she says. “Both you and Harper.”

Harper pulls out her phone out and scrolls.

“When is it and where? You know I love supporting your cause.”

“It’s a celebrity volleyball game in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It’s on the team’s night off after the road trip.”

“We’ll be there,” Harper says, and I nod. Zoey gives me a speculative look.

“You’re a tall guy, Maddox. Play any volleyball? How about if you join the team? We can always use another player.” I grin wide.

“If you’re looking for a ringer, you’ve just found one.” Harper turns her green eyes on me.

“Is there anything you’re not good at?”

“I make a terrible porn star. Can’t keep up the reputation. Pun intended.” She shakes her head as the others snicker, but I don’t miss the tug of a smile. “On a different note, any idea where we can find a two-bedroom apartment quick?.”

“The Brawlers’ townhouse on Beacon Hill would be perfect,” Zoey says, her face lighting up. “We’d be neighbors.” She looks pleased, but Rafe and the others give me a darker look.

“We?” O’Rourke says. His eyes flick between me and Harper, so I know he knows who I mean by we. And I know he doesn’t like it. A surge of resentment hits me because the distrust is misplaced. They understand the sex video was at least partly bad luck and the kind of thing that probably could have happened to most of them when they were single. Sure, I may be a baller, but I never fooled with anyone who didn’t want to fool back, who didn’t know what they were getting into, or more like not getting into because they knew it was always fun-only.

“Yes,” I say. “Harper and I will be living together. Because she’s my handler and—”

“It’s a strictly professional arrangement,” Harper adds quickly. Finn snorts and O’Rourke’s expression remains tight with concern. “I’ll look into the Brawlers’ town house if it has plenty of room.” Harper says, looking to Zoey for reassurance.

“Absolutely,” Zoey says.

“I admit I don’t know you very well,” Ryan says to me, “but what I know makes me question your moral character when it comes to women. So I just want to make sure you understand that we consider Harper a good friend, and the kind of woman who deserves respect and a far better man than—”

“Don’t worry about Knight,” Harper scoffs as my blood boils, even though I half agree with him because when it comes to Harper I seem to have trouble keeping my head. Besides, if the shoe were on the other foot, I’d be more forceful about it than he’s being. Although from the disconcerted look on his wife’s face, I’d say she’s the influence for his toned-down lecture. “He’s been nothing but a gentleman,” she says. “Sex video and man-whore status notwithstanding, he’s perfectly trustworthy.” Even I look askance at her confident statement.

“You make sure Harper’s faith in you isn’t misplaced,” Ryan says. “Rafe’s big fists will make sure you regret it if you step out of line. Even a little.”