Page 7 of Hello Quarterback

I glanced around just to doublecheck no one was listening. “Things aren’t good, Brock.”

Brock tensed, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees, making his dress shirt stretch dangerously around his shoulders. “What is it? If it’s that private, we can take it to my office.”

I shook my head. I knew better than to trust his office, where a team of agents worked. Here, there was music playing loudly that made it impossible to overhear the intimate conversationstaking place, and I didn’t bring business to my house. That was my place to relax and be with family. So I explained, “After the game yesterday, Trent suggested my contract may not be up for renewal.”

“What?”Brock’s eyes widened so far they would have popped out of his head if he’d been a cartoon.

I glanced up, seeing a server returning with our drinks. She passed me a frosted glass of green tea and gave Brock his espresso in a comically tiny cup. We both thanked her, and I took a sip, just to wet my lips. After she left, I explained, “Trent wants me to date his daughter or risk my spot on the team.”

“Felicity?” Brock said, looking even more confused. “What’s the problem? She’s a good-looking girl.”

I raised my eyebrows. “The problem? She’s daddy’s little girl, Brock. She gets what she wants, and apparently that’s a relationship with me. It’s all a distraction from what I should be focusing on. Winning the championship this year instead of sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else celebrate.”

He twisted his lips to the side, mulling it over. “So it’s date her or get fired?”

“Unless I have a relationship with someone else...”

“Do you?” Brock asked, just as the café door opened.

Camera flashes followed the pair walking inside. Hayden French, a famous singer my nieces adored and... My eyebrows drew together.Mia.

She looked gorgeous in a dark blue dress that cinched in at her waist and showed off her curves. Her smile came easily as she said something to the singer and they sat down in a pair of chairs near a window. As if he was putting on a fashion show, he withdrew his sunglasses and posed subtly in the reflective window, mussing his hair. Did Mia notice it?

Brock said, “Are you seeing someone, Ford?”

My mind snapped back to the conversation, “No. I have shit to do that’s bigger than a relationship.” It came out rougher than I meant it, but Brock didn’t seem to mind.

“The charity,” he said knowingly.

I nodded. Even a gulp of tea couldn’t help the tightness in my throat. “But I have about five seconds to start dating someone and make it look real. If Trent’s this serious about me going out with his daughter, imagine how it will go when it’s time to break up.”

Brock drained the rest of his espresso and then set it down. He took a long moment to wipe his lips with a napkin while he mulled over all the information. “A decision to let you go wouldnotgo over well with the fans. Maybe he’s bluffing.”

I’d considered the possibility but doubted it. If I understood one thing, it was the lengths a person would go to for their family. “Trent can spin my release in any way he likes, and I couldn’t even defend myself because of my NDA,” I returned. “And you weren’t there in his office. He wasn’t bluffing. He meant it.”

Brock swore and pressed his thick fingertips to his temples. “Give me a second to think.”

I nodded, sitting back and glancing across the café again, toward Mia. The pop star was making her switch places with him... What the hell?

She sat down with her back to the window, and sunshine passed through the glass, glancing off her blond hair. She looked like a cherub.

Now Hayden was looking past her, still mussing his hair. Did he make her change seats so he couldsee hisreflection better?

Was this a business meeting?Please let it be a business meeting and not a date.

But then I saw him reach across the table and hold her hand.

Fuck.

That wasn’t business meeting behavior, even for vapid pop stars.

I tried to read Mia, but her friendly smile gave nothing away. Didn’t she know that he didn’t deserve her? That she deserved better than someone so self-obsessed he had hardly given her a second glance despite sitting across from her? How could a person like him ever be faithful with women throwing themselves at him?

I knew it wasn’t my place to intervene. I was nothing more to her than the friend of her former boss. An acquaintance. And no matter how hot she was, I promised myself a long time ago to stay single until I had accomplished everything I wanted in life. No distractions.

Brock shifting in his seat caught my eye, and I looked back at him. He steepled his fingers, saying, “Why don’t you take Felicity out, go out with her once a week for dinner? You have to eat sometime.”

I raised my eyebrows at him. “Brock, women like that hear it’s once a week and are determined to prove you wrong.”

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