Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Maddox: Hotel Maddox. If you know, you know.
Zane: Gee, I hope they let me in.
Maddox: I’ll make sure of it.
“Fuck yes,” I say, all kinds of excited that he’s here. I like having an audience when I play ball. I like it double when the audience includes the guy looking out for me.
Before I turn off my phone, I send a text to my brother in Sacramento. Hey! How’s everything with my favorite brother? Give my niece a hug from her favorite person in the world. P.S. Knock wood—good things are happening in my world.
Gage replies quickly with, Good things are always happening in your world. Can’t wait to hear more! P.S. I’m your only brother, knucklehead. And my kid loves me most!
Gunnar watches me as I put my phone in my stall before we head out of the locker room together. “You don’t need to take that with you to text your Tinder hookup between innings?”
I roll my eyes. “Dude that was my brother, and before him, my new agent. He’s coming to the game and wants to take me out tonight to a rooftop pool party,” I tell him. “Take us out, if you’re up for it. Figured we can grab a Lyft post game. It’s not too far away.”
Gunnar gives an I’m there shrug. “You had me at rooftop.”
The dude is an excellent plus one. He’s easygoing and a social cat. I clap him on the back as we walk down the corridor toward the field. “And now I know the way to shut down your trash talk is to mention rooftop, dance club, or sexy British accent. Your favorite things, right?”
Gunnar whips his head toward me, his blue eyes sparkling. “Wait. Is your new agent British?”
I straighten my shoulders, growl under my breath. “No, and keep your hands off him,” I say as we bound up the steps to the dugout.
“Oh, someone is claiming the hot new agent.”
I stop in my tracks. “Wait. Did I say you could come with me to the rooftop party? Turns out I don’t have a plus-one invite after all.”
“Guess I’ll crash the party, and everyone will receive me with open arms.”
“Except Maddox,” I mutter under my breath.
We hit the field, and when the lineup is announced, I turn to the first baseline, hunting for carved cheekbones, a strong jaw, dark and wavy hair. There he is, and, hell, he’s so damn beautiful I can barely stand it. His elegance, his polish, his presence…
I tear my gaze away before I get too distracted.
Next to him is a strapping dude with golden-blond hair. They’re drinking beers and laughing.
I wonder how he knows Bryan. If they’ve been friends for a while. Whether Bryan knows what happened between Maddox and me in an elevator.
And why I want his friend to know who I am.
Maybe because I’m still a little possessive of Maddox LeGrande even though he’s not mine and never will be.
But tonight, he’s here for me. And I’m going to play my ass off for my team, and…for him.
Close game but no cigar.
After nine tense innings, we walk off the diamond with a 2-1 loss.
That sucks. But what doesn’t suck is a swanky LA party.
Gunnar and I arrive at Hotel M, where a sexy energy oozes from the chichi hotel from the moment we step into the sleek lobby. The elevator lets us out on the sixth floor. Dance music floats through the air. A pool glitters in the middle of the rooftop patio. Gorgeous servers circulate with drinks, serving them to a crowd of starlets, influencers, artists, celebrity fitness instructors, actors, dealmakers and the like.
“Sweet,” Gunnar says approvingly. “Want to hit the bar, then check out all the hot dudes?”
“Nah,” I say.
I only want to find one hot dude.
Gunnar blinks. “Whoa. You feeling okay?”
I shoot him a look. “Yes. I am.”
“If you say so. You’re usually game for anything,” he says.
That’s been true. And since Gunnar came out as bi recently, he’s been enjoying the view when we go out. More power to him, and I love being his wingman. Especially since I love sex. But tonight, I’ve got business on my mind.
And…Maddox.
I scan the crowd for him. I need to get the lowdown on this potential deal with Bespoke. Vance only gave me the broad brushstrokes, and I’m hungry for all the details—the timeframe, the terms, what it means. Maddox will give them to me.
A hand touches my arm; my skin sizzles. I catch a hint of the scent of the ocean, and I draw an intoxicating breath. It’s uncanny how my body knows him when we’ve barely touched.
I turn to Maddox and beam, hoping to hide all these lusty, sexual, very non-business-y feelings for him with my excitement and gratitude. “You’re the man!”
He smiles but waves off the compliment. “Save the praise for when I lock this up.”