Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
But he couldn’t.
Not when he would sell his soul to marry her.
Not when he’d kissed the face off her that afternoon.
“It’s not some . . . sneaky affair. It’s not like that. She’s my best friend. She’s . . .”
“They won’t care, Sig.”
He was terrified to ask his next question, but he needed to get out of there. Now. Needed to get to Chloe—and he wanted to get the full picture first so he knew what they were dealing with. “Give me the bottom line, please.”
“I can’t force you to do the right thing, especially in your personal life—”
“The right thing?”
“Yes.” Her voice raised slightly. “You’ve been caught in an improper relationship. The press could blow this up at any moment. And this organization wants to have your back. We’ll deny it, spin it, laugh it off. Whatever it takes. But only if we’re being truthful.”
“In other words . . .”
“Back off. Reset the boundaries of that relationship. No more Pink Jersey at the games. Live as though you’re being watched, because you obviously are—and that scrutiny will only increase. You want to be the captain and make a fat salary? You must be above reproach.”
Reset the boundaries.
No more Pink Jersey.
His world was eroding around him, the thing Sig loved most being dragged out of his reach. Her. There was no backing off from what they had. That would kill him.
“We have two weeks to offer you a formal contract, before you become a free agent.” She nodded at the laptop screen. “I need to see what you’re going to do about this before I can pull the trigger. We need to kill the story. I’m not sure how to do that if you continue to be seen with her. If you keep the status quo.” A line formed between Reese’s eyebrows and again, he caught a touch of sympathy in her tone. “I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to make a choice. Hockey. Or her.”
Chapter Sixteen
Chloe was on the floor of her bedroom rubbing Pierre’s belly and repeatedly calling him a g’boy when her phone started ringing. When she saw it was Grace calling, she hopped to her feet and cleared her throat, wanting to be alert and professional for the conversation.
The one where she informed her mentor she was going to give her all to the harp.
No more getting by on natural talent. She was ready for the hard work—the kind it would take to step in and occupy first chair once it had been vacated by Grace. Honestly, Chloe had expected to be terrified knowing the grueling practice that lay ahead, but now that she’d made the decision to swing for the fences, something inside of her had settled. Locked into focus. The strong sense of purpose in her bones, her fingertips, made Chloe wonder if she’d been putting off something she secretly wanted for a long time.
Greatness on her own terms. Not just a showpiece or an object to gloat about . . . but a member of a company. This was her chance to find out what she could achieve on her own.
Well. Almost on her own. Her mentor was going to play a huge role.
“Hi, Grace,” Chloe answered, standing in the middle of the living room now. “I’m so glad you called. I’ve made my decision—”
“Have you been getting busy with your stepbrother? Yes or no.”
The room started to spin, black bleeding into the edges of her vision.
A weight pressed down on the center of her chest, growing heavier, heavier, until she had to struggle to breathe. “What?”
“Yes or no.”
“No.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Chloe melted down to the floor, ending in a cross-legged position, one arm strapped tightly over her middle to keep the contents from spilling out. “I-I . . . I’m sorry, I don’t understand where this is coming from.”
“Someone sent me a Globe article titled ‘Stepsister Goes Above and Beyond?’” Wind started to rush in Chloe’s ears, her mind flashing back to the most recent home game. The reporter. The way he’d questioned her about her relationship with Sig. How had she forgotten about him? “There is a lot of snark in that question mark, by the way. Not to mention meaning. And these two pictures of you giving him googly eyes? Goddamn it, Chloe. I can’t be attached to this kind of thing.”
The floor had dropped out from beneath her. She was free-falling. “It’s not what it seems. We’re not . . .” What? In love? Planning to spend the night in bed, finally giving in to the plague of constant lust? How could she deny something that was very clearly true? Outwardly and inwardly. Her attention locked on the door, begging Sig to walk through it. Help me. “Our parents are getting married in two months. We’re realistic about what that means . . . for us.”