Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
“No, I'm fine. Well, I mean, I hate alcohol. I'm swearing it off. But that's not why I'm frustrated.”
“What's going on?”
“I just feel... guilty.”
“Why would you feel guilty? You haven't done anything wrong.”
“No, I have. The Badgers are finally getting the recognition they deserve and it's because of a lie. Notorious bad boy bachelor finds a girlfriend. It's a great headline. Certainly news for the thirsty, but it's not true. All those followers we gained won't stay unless they're given the same kind of content.”
“Ah,” I say, nodding. I see. “So give it to them.”
“What?”
“Give it to them,” I say again.
“I suppose I could ask some of the players who are in relationships if they wouldn't mind if I got some behind-the-scenes interviews with them—”
I step a little closer to her, drawing her out of the thought she's in. “You could do that,” I say. “Or you could just give them what they want. Which is us, right?”
If there is any way I can help her, I sure as hell want to.
“What are you saying?”
“I'm saying use it,” I continue. “Use me.”
“You're not making any sense.”
“Sure, I am.” I smirk down at her. “I'm saying exactly what you would say if you weren't too much of a baby to ask me yourself.”
She gapes up at me, fire churning in those beautiful eyes of hers. “I’m not a baby.”
I give her a look that suggests otherwise. “Then ask me.”
She huffs out a laugh, folding her arms over her chest.
“You're saying you'd willingly play this role?” she asks. “Pretend to be my boyfriend for videos, go to events with me, parties, that sort of thing?”
“Yeah, why not? If it gets us more deals and exposure, it can't hurt anything.”
And I for one would take any endorsement deals I could get. I had a nice contract, but I have family responsibilities, one being my dad is currently on his second round of chemo. Big contracts are all well and good until medical bills are threatening to kick my parents out of their home. I made sure that wouldn't happen, but every extra dollar I can earn is a bonus.
“It could hurt,” she counters. “If someone figures out we’re lying.”
“Look, Reese,” I say, wanting to ease her worries. “Like I said last night, you and I run in the same circles. We're even inching closer to being friends. We're at the same parties and events anyway. Besides, half of social media content is more story than truth. It's about entertainment. About giving the followers exactly what they want. There's no harm in that. I can pretend if you can.”
“You're serious? This isn't some joke you're going to play on me? Lure me to an event under the guise of pretending to be my boyfriend and then do something horrific?”
“Ouch.” I splay my hand over the center of my chest. “Is that what you think of me?”
Reese visibly swallows, flashing me an apologetic look. “No,” she says. “That has nothing to do with you. Past trauma. It slips out sometimes.”
“Who hurt you?” I ask, unable to keep the primal dominance out of my tone. Don't know where that sneaky fucker popped out of, but for some reason I feel incredibly protective over this girl.
“Nobody worth mentioning,” she says, her eyes trailing me up and down. “You really want to do this?”
“Will it help you?” I ask. “You and the page and the team?”
“Yes.”
“Then yes.”
Reese blows out a breath, starting up another little pace right in front of me. I can't help but grin down at her, absolutely fascinated by the way her mind and body seem to sync up and operate at top speeds.
“If this is going to work, we're going to have to lay out some ground rules,” she says finally glancing back up at me.
“Oh, this should be fun,” I say. “Hit me with it.”
“Rule number one, no falling in love. Rule number two, no sex. We can look like we're in love and we can act like we want to have sex but neither of those things will be happening.”
I cock a brow at her. “The first one is easy,” I say. “The second one? I can't make any promises. If you ask for it, I'm giving it.”
Pink dusts her cheeks as she shakes her head. “I will not be asking.”
“We'll see,” I say. “Anything else?”
“We'll have to figure out safe boundaries,” she says. “Like how much PDA you'll be comfortable with.”
“How about I let you take the reins on that? I'll follow your lead.”
“You're going to give me free rein?” she asks, and I nod. “So you're saying that I could climb into your lap and kiss you like no one is watching, even though the camera is on?”
Heat bolts straight to my cock, twitching at just the thought of having her supple body atop mine, a camera rolling to capture every delicious inch.