Page 23 of Offside Secrets
“Campbell.” I press my lips together. He is not going to make this easy. “It’s not that simple.”
“Sure it is.” He flashes a smile that could probably melt the ice off the James River. “One night. I put on a suit, standnext to you, smile for the cameras, and no one bothers you. Consider it part of my job. Team loyalty.”
I open my mouth to protest at the same time Elle and Sawyer walk back over to us.
“I gotta admit,” Sawyer interjects, “we Stocktons look good in suits.”
Campbell looks at his cousin. “I’m going with her to the big gala.”
“Gala?” Sawyer’s eyebrows wiggle. “Ohhhh, nice. You can wear your Armani. I like that one.”
I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose. “This is ridiculous.”
“Shhh!” Elle laughs. “He said Armani and I’m in awe.”
“Boss Lady—” Sawyer begins.
I slice a hand through the air, cutting him off midsentence. “And please, don’t call me Boss Lady. It’s like ‘Boss Girl’ or ‘Girl Boss.’ All terms that should die.”
“Either way, none of it is ridiculous,” Campbell counters, clearly enjoying himself. “In fact, I think ridiculously perfect is what you meant to say.”
The worst part of this whole exchange? Against every ounce of common sense, a tiny part of me is actually considering it.
I shake my head, trying to stay firm. “You don’t understand. This isn’t just some casual dinner. The media’s going to be there, board members, key supporters. People already think I don’t know what I’m doing, and if I show up with one of my players?—”
Campbell tilts his head, cutting me off. “Correction: if you show up with yourcaptain.”
Elle claps her hands together. “He’s right. He can talk to all of those people, too, Sutton. It’ll make your job for the night less stressful.”
I narrow my eyes. “That’s not helping.”
“It should,” he says easily. “Because I’d be there to backyou up. Show everyone you’ve got the team’s support, inside and out.”
Sawyer whistles low, clearly enjoying this more than he should. “Wow, Campbell. That’s almost…diplomatic.”
Campbell ignores him, his gaze never leaving mine. “One night, Sutton. That’s all.”
“I don’t know.” I stare back into those mesmerizing eyes of his and shake my head. “It’s not really prudent is it?”
“Prudent?” Elle barks, slapping a hand over her mouth. “You uppity Southern woman, you, forget being prudent. You’ll show up with a younger man on your arm. That’s called being a cougar.”
“Now you aren’t helping,” I hiss.
“Sutton, please.” Campbell steps forward and plants himself in front of me, trying not to laugh as hard as Sawyer and Elle are at this minute. “I’m asking to do this for you, but also for me. I need it, too. After all of the focus on our players needing to have ‘good’ PR, I figure this will help me lift my profile, while also helping you and the team.”
“See?” Elle agrees, nodding her head so hard I want to flick it. “He’s right about that. What’s good for the players, is good for the team as a whole.”
“Thanks, Little Miss Know it All,” I manage to say through gritted teeth. Really gritted and already grinding. Oh, my TMJ. My jaw is gonna be on fire when I get up tomorrow morning.
“Oh, you’re welcome,” she responds as sassy as they come, winking. “It’s always a pleasure.”
“Seriously, Sutton,” Campbell presses on. “You don’t owe me anything after. Let me do this.”
The way he says it, so steady and confident, like it’s already decided. That rattles me more than I care to admit. My brain scrambles for every logical reason to shut him down. But logic is no match for Campbell’s grin, the one that promises trouble and salvation all at once.
I glance at Elle, silently begging for backup. She just hides a smile behind her beverage, traitor that she is.
My shoulders sag, the fight draining out of me. “Fine.” The word slips out like a sigh. “Yes. You can be my plus-one.”
