Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
“It’s ridiculous,” Dad said. “We need him out of the company.”
I’d found Dad dead on the floor less than three weeks later, and my life had spiraled down into a balancing act, where I was just trying to tread water.
I knew I couldn’t work for a man who had Cutmore’s opinions. But in the days after Dad’s death, I could barely remember how to breathe.
So when he told me, now, that Veronica was the “good kind” of client, I hated every last implication that was laced beneath his words.
“You don’t have to worry about Storm Rosling,” I told him, though I’d already said it to him half a dozen times this week. “I’ve got a handle on it.”
But do I?
And do I even want to, just to keep a person like you pleased?
It all started to fall apart a few days later.
“We’re really impressed,” Tad Williams, one of the brand execs at Racks superstores, told me as he stood up and shook my hand. We were in the Fixer Brothers offices, and we’d just had the first in-person meeting with Racks. “I’ll be in touch over the next few days after speaking with a few of my colleagues.”
I was hopped up on way too many shots of espresso, and I hoped to hell that Tad couldn’t feel the jitter in my hand as we shook.
When was the last time I’d actually been that nervous for a brand meeting? These days, I could conduct most business meetings in my sleep, let alone easy, preliminary, get-to-know-you meetings like today’s.
But as usual, the Racks and Fixer Brothers deal was anything but typical.
“I had no idea how dedicated Racks was to young athletes,” Shawn told him, standing and shaking Tad’s hand. “Ten percent of all proceeds going to underprivileged kids sports programs… that would be a dream for us.”
“And Storm Rosling may as well be the poster boy for that,” Nathan said with a smile. “He came from poverty, and now he’s a superstar.”
I winced internally.
We’d managed to make it the whole meeting without bringing up Storm, but I knew it would have to come up sometime.
Tad clicked his tongue. “Didn’t I hear Storm Rosling got into a bar fight a couple of weeks ago? Something like that?”
“Not a fight,” I quickly said. “Nothing like that. It was just an exchange of words.”
“I could exchange some words right now, if you’d like,” a voice came from behind me, toward the open glass doors of the conference room.
A bolt went down my spine.
I knew that velvety voice, by now.
I turned to see Storm leaning in the doorframe, giving his signature smile to Tad.
“Storm! There’s the man himself,” Nathan said. “Didn’t know you were coming by the offices today.”
Storm nodded. “Sawyer had contacted me about going over some initial backyard landscaping ideas, and I said I’d be happy to swing by.”
I’d never seen Storm dressed like he was today. He was in a fitted, light grey-blue button-up shirt and nice dark slacks. His hair was still a bit ruffled on top, and the sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to expose his forearms. But with the nice clothing, he looked every bit like a movie star off duty.
He looked great.
“Wow, what a surprise,” Tad said, walking over to introduce himself. “You seem even taller in person. I must admit, Storm, you helped me win my fantasy football league last year while you were still playing in Texas.”
“Glad to hear it,” he said. “I didn’t love everything about living in Texas while I was on the team, but I always tried to play my heart out.”
Tad frowned. “Oh, no? They’re my team. I have a winter home out in Texas. Love the land, love the people.”
My mind was like a repeating loop.
Storm, for the love of God. Don’t. Say. Anything bad about Texas.
“Winter home, huh?” Storm said, and I could see something flash behind his eyes.
Fuck. Don’t say anything bad about rich people, either, please?
“Oh, yes,” Tad continued. “Texas is beautiful in winter.”
“More of a summer guy myself, but I know what you mean,” Storm finally said. “There definitely is a lot of beauty in the land there.”
I felt like I’d just gone up and down a roller coaster about six times in a row. The excess caffeine was still coursing through me, and I couldn’t take it anymore.
Storm looked over at me and caught my eyes, giving me a look up and down that made me molten at the core.
Happy now? his look said, as if he’d given me some gift by not picking a fight with Tad.
“Well, my second favorite team is of course the Ferals,” Tad said with a polite smile. “I’ll always be rooting for you guys as long as you’re not up against Texas.”
He chuckled and Storm smiled. “Pleasure to meet you, Tad. I should go find Sawyer now.”