Excerpt
Kelley avoids eye contact with me as he says, “I kind of asked Brady to take over as my agent when the time comes.”
Ah. Weirdly, that hurts, even though it makes so much sense. If he was going to pick an intern, it could’ve been me, but again, I’ve treated him like dirt since we’ve been banished to this cabin in the middle of nowhere, so why would he ask me?
“Brady is a good choice,” I relent. “He’s going to take over the company one day. No doubt about it.”
“It’s not that I wouldn’t want you, but—”
“Kell, it’s okay. It makes complete sense. Besides, I’m thinking I shouldn’t represent baseball clients anyway. I’m sure you’re not the only one who will have the stats and rookie career I would kill for. And you’re smart to get in with Brady before his client roster becomes too big and he can’t take on any other clients.”
It’s weird that I’m unhealthily jealous of Kelley when Brady is the one who’s actually doing my job better than me and getting ahead already, but at the same time, I wouldn’t want the kind of pressure that Brady has on his shoulders.
He’s the nephew of the boss. He has famous dads and basically lives in the shadow of his NFL quarterback brother. When I say he’s the next big sports agent, it’s because he has to be.
When I played baseball, I was happy I wasn’t the best of the best. The best had way too much pressure on them. I’d strive for a happy middle, and I think that’s what I want from this job too.
But maybe this is why I never made it in baseball. All the athletes I know have that competitive edge. That need to be the best. I don’t have that. I want to be good, and I want to prove myself, and I loved being on a team that was number one. But that competitiveness? I only had it when it came to winning. Not me. The whole team.
“I went and made things weird again, didn’t I?” Kelley asks. He shifts uncomfortably.
“No. You didn’t. You just made me realize something is all.”
“That you really do hate me?”
“No. And I’m sorry I ever made you feel that way. I’m realizing that to do this job, I’m going to need my clients to know that while I’m not the hotshot that Brady is, I do know how to put in the work and get them the deal that’s right for them. I don’t need to be the best. I only have to be the person they need, and I like that.”
Kelley finishes off his hot cocoa. “That is a really healthy way to look at your position because I have no doubt that the intern bullpen is full of eager guys willing to stomp all over the others to get ahead.”
“I might have been eager to do that with baseball, but not this.”
Kelley blinks at me, as if he’s trying to figure out if I’m being serious or not.
“Don’t worry. I never kneecapped a bitch with a baseball bat. Even if I did, I think I’d have to kneecap about an entire team’s worth if I even wanted to qualify for Triple-A baseball.”
“Good to know. Even if I’m now a little scared of you.”
I finish off my drink, too, and then stand and offer to take his mug back into the kitchen. “Just the way I like it.”
I move to the sink and start rinsing the cups when Kelley follows me into the kitchen.
“You are intimidating, you know.” He leans against the entryway, arms folded. “That might be something you could work on.”
“I’m intimidating?” I put on an angelic smile.
“Argh. No. When you smile, you’re plain scary. But the scowl is what I found intimidating the most.”
I slump. “Okay, so I can’t smile. Or scowl. And that leaves me with …”
“Maybe you could be an over-the-phone agent.”
I’m trying really hard not to laugh. “Is Kelley Afton calling me … ugly?”
“No. Shit. The opposite. You’re too hot to even be able to concentrate, and—” His eyes almost bulge out of his head. “Holy hell, that’s inappropriate. I didn’t mean—well, I did mean. You’re hot as fuck, but I meant that … oh my God, I’m gonna go to bed and pray an avalanche hits me.” He turns to leave, but I’m hot on his heel. And hot everywhere, it seems.
At least in the eyes of Kelley Afton.
I knew he was checking me out. “Why are you running off so fast?”
“To die of embarrassment.”
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Just because you find me so incredibly hot and attractive. Soooo irresistible. But not when I smile. Or scowl.”
He stops and turns his head toward me, almost hesitating before saying, “No. The scowl is very hot. But … intimidating.”
Even though he thinks my smile is scary, it’s hard not to at that.
“Fucking hell,” he mutters. “Your genuine smile is hot too. Can you go back to being an asshole to me so I don’t find you this attractive?”
I move closer to him. “But where’s the fun in that?”
Kelley’s tongue darts out to wet his lips, and the urge to lean in and cover his mouth with mine is almost unbearable.
Telling him I’m going to be more professional and then trying to kiss him really could get me fired. But … it’s not like he’s my actual client. I’m not his agent; I never will be his agent. So, is it really that wrong?
Apparently, it is.
Kelley steps back. “I should … go to bed.”
“We both should,” I agree.
There go those deep brown eyes again, trying to pop out of his head.
I smother my amusement. “Separately. Of course.”
Kelley swallows so hard I see his Adam’s apple bounce. “Yes. Separately. That is also what I thought you meant.”
“Good night, Kelley.”
“Good night,” he whispers.
Before he can disappear inside his room, I stop him for one last thing. “Thank you again, by the way. Not only for forgiving me for being a dick but for actually giving me some good advice.”
“Anytime.”
I might take him up on that.
