Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
“By taking her to the Bahamas?” Austin asked, his voice low and his tone grim.
Dex curled his hands into fists on his lap. “Austin, you’re my agent and a friend, but I have to ask, why the hell is this your business?”
Quinn sat in silence, uncomfortable if the squirming in her seat was any indication.
“Optics.” Bracing his arms on the table, Austin leaned forward, moving in closer for a quiet but firm conversation. “How do you think it looks if the network gets wind of the fact that you took a woman to a private home in the Bahamas on the same day she walked out on her wedding?”
Dex swallowed his anger. “After discovering the groom was not only cheating on her but planning to divorce her and take half her money? I think the sympathy vote comes down on Samantha’s side.”
“Look, she’s my cousin and I feel sorry for her but the fact is, you signed with a family network. They aren’t going to want you to be the subject of a scandal and they certainly won’t want any distraction from football so close to when their new multimillion-dollar anchor is set to go on the air.”
“This is all bullshit,” Dex muttered. “What are you asking me to do, Austin? Stay away from her? Because that’s not going to happen.” Frustration boiled in his gut at the thought. “And I expect my agent to have my back.” His voice rose as the ramifications of this conversation became clear.
“I do have your back but part of my job is telling you the truth. You have a morality clause in your contract and a lot on the line.” Austin’s decibel level matched Dex’s.
“Austin, we don’t need to give the press a story here, either.” Quinn put a hand on her husband’s arm. The gesture got his attention and his entire body relaxed.
She might have diffused her husband’s anger but Dex was still furious. “My personal life is just that. Samantha is no longer engaged and she never married, so she’s free to see whoever she wants. Tell the network that if they come to you with any complaints.”
Austin let out a slow breath and nodded. “I understand your perspective. I was just looking out for your best interest. I do think it would be best if you and Samantha kept things quiet until more time has passed. Going public so soon could have blowback. As your agent, that’s all I’m saying. As your friend and her cousin, I just want you both to be happy.”
Dex nodded, his anger leaving as quickly as it had come. “Samantha’s been through a lot lately. She doesn’t deserve the shit Jeremy put her through and I won’t make her feel like I’m hiding her. That said, we haven’t defined our relationship, so it’s premature to jump to any conclusions.”
“Understood.”
“I’d also appreciate it if you didn’t mention this conversation or your opinion on the matter to Samantha.” Dex didn’t need her backing away in some misguided attempt to protect him. She had enough reasons to be wary of relationships without adding Austin’s paranoia to the mix.
Austin narrowed his gaze. “Really? I think you’d trust my professionalism by now.”
Quinn let out a deep sigh. “Everyone’s made their point. I suggest we move on to food now,” she said in a tone that didn’t allow for argument.
Austin placed his hand over hers and Dex respected her enough to listen, too. The rest of the meeting consisted of catching up on a friendlier level and talk about the media coaching he’d done with a professional Austin had put him in contact with while in California. Between Dex’s knowledge of the sport and already being comfortable in front of the camera for all the post-game press conferences, he was ready for the job.
“What about your house on Star Island? Are you planning to sell?” Austin asked.
Dex rubbed the back of his neck. “Unsure. I do have clothing and some things there I want to go back for, but part of me wants to hang on to the property.”
“A vacation home?” Quinn asked.
“Maybe.” He could see bringing Samantha there to share what the place meant to him.
When he’d signed his first million-dollar contract, the idea of owning a huge house had been appealing, but he found his penthouse more comfortable and homey than an overly large mansion. Still, the home represented something apart from the money he’d inherited and he was proud of it.
They discussed various football teams’ potential for the year and soon, the brunch was almost over. When Austin asked what his plans were for the weekend, Dex hedged, not revealing the date he had in store for Samantha.
It was nobody’s business but theirs.
* * *
Samantha slipped into her favorite sundress, a yellow-and-white floral that hit above the knee. She was just hooking her strappy sandals when a ding on her phone alerted her that she had company coming up, and her stomach fluttered with anticipation. Though she’d heard from Dex while he was away, she’d spent the week in a heightened state of anxiety at work.