Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
“Sweetie, why was that young woman on Twitter saying you anal shamed her?” Savannah asks as we’re all cleaning up after dinner.
My eyes widen, but I don’t let my reaction show. My mother never would have said the word anal to me.
“I think it’s called X now, dear,” Stan says.
“Because she offered me anal sex and I said no, Mom.”
“Well, I hope you said no, thank you. And you didn’t really shame her about it, did you?”
A corner of Dane’s mouth curves up as he meets my gaze. He’s loading clean silverware into a drawer while I wipe off the table.
“You have to be firm with puck bunnies,” he says. “I accidentally left my car unlocked in the player lot one time and there was a naked woman in my back seat after a game. She sent her clothes with a friend, so I’d look like an asshole if I just kicked her out into the cold.”
I gape at him, imagining that scene playing out. Being naked in a stranger’s car sounds hellish to me.
“What did you do?” Stan asks.
“I called security. They brought out a blanket and dragged her out of my car.”
Savannah starts loading dishes into the dishwasher, shaking her head in disbelief. “Let’s talk about something more pleasant. How did the two of you meet?”
Dane closes the drawer and turns to face me, grinning as he crosses his arms. “Josie was hired as my personal bodyguard.”
Stan frowns. “Your what now?”
I smile at him. “I’m a publicist. Dane’s team owner thought he could use some...individual oversight.”
That makes Stan laugh heartily. “I like her, Dane.”
“She’s pretty damn likable.”
Dane’s eyes are warm as he looks at me, making Monica and the promotion feel like less of a thing. Not making it to senior publicist means I’m still broke, but other than that, it doesn’t mean as much to me as I thought it would. Now that I have more in my life than just my job—so much more because of Dane—I know I’ll be okay, senior publicist or not.
“I think Josie should start her own business,” Dane says. “She’s got a great mind for it.”
“I think that’s an excellent idea,” Stan says. “Especially now.”
I shake my head. “Dane’s overestimating me. I wouldn’t know where to begin.”
“You’ve already got a top-tier client on your roster.” He winks at me.
I raise my index finger and point it at him. “Actually, I don’t. My aunt’s firm does, and I’m the employee she assigned.”
Dane considers. “A technicality. I’m sure Arnold will hire Josie Garver PR if you keep giving him the same results.”
I laugh. “So I’ll have one client that I work for around the clock? Who is also...” I can’t bring myself to say the words my boyfriend. “...more than just a client.”
“I might be able to behave myself without you for a few hours a day while you do other work.”
Savannah scoffs, amused. “Pardon my French, but grow the fuck up, son. If you want to be in an adult relationship, you have to act like an adult.”
He grins at her. “I know, Mom. I’m just teasing her. She knows I’ve got her back.” He turns to me, his expression shifting to a serious one. “I’ll provide the startup cash and help you drum up a few clients. Arnold will give you a glowing recommendation. You need to do this.”
All three of them are looking at me expectantly. I still haven’t had time to think about Monica getting the promotion and what that means for me. A little voice inside my head is telling me to wait until my assignment with Dane is finished and then reassess things. Because while I appreciate Dane believing in me, I know if I started my own publicity business, my aunt would use every resource at her disposal to see that I fail at it.
Why have I been so loyal to someone who would do that to me? Whether she’s the only family I have left or not, she doesn’t deserve it.
Savannah stifles a yawn. Dane walks over to the refrigerator and takes out two bottles of water, side-eyeing me as Mr. Darcy jumps up onto the kitchen counter.
“We’re going to head to bed,” he says. “You guys know where everything is. I have to be at the arena early for game day. You’re coming to the game, right?”
“Of course, we wouldn’t miss it,” Savannah says. “I might spend some time here tomorrow while your father is working.”
Dane hugs her and kisses her on the cheek. I like how openly affectionate he is with her.
Everyone says good night and a wave of exhaustion hits me as we walk to Dane’s bedroom, his hand on the small of my back. It’s been a hell of a day. Dane and I slept together. Several times. Our pretend relationship didn’t last long, and now we seem to be in a real one.