Running Back to You (Harris Entertainment #1)

Chapter 1

Dean

Dean walked into the meeting with a confident strut, wearing an impeccably tailored black Gucci suit. He had an astonishing, sometimes intimidating, air of self-confidence. So yes, he tended to strut. But then, when you’re the highest-grossing DJ in the world, you've earned that swagger.

“Okay, folks!” He plopped into a leather chair in front of his production team. “My new album and single drop in six weeks. We need ideas for a video to promote the first single, ‘C’mon’.”

Dean, who performs under the stage name DJ DVLN, has already amassed some of the biggest dance and electronic music hits of all time.

For ten years, Dean busted his ass to get where he is now.

He knew that, in order to be successful in the music industry, he had to use every tool in his toolbox, including his handsome face and fit, muscular body.

And it’s something that has worked extremely well.

He had millions of fans and followers on his social media platforms, all eagerly awaiting his next thirst trap or hint of new music.

But just because he had a pretty face and a banging body, didn't mean that Dean was stupid. Quite the opposite-he's building an empire and, as it's ruler, that means he's hands-on with all aspects of his music. Hence, the reason of leading today's meeting.

The meeting was in one of the smaller conference rooms at Harris Entertainment.

This particular space had no table, but rather several comfy swivel chairs surrounding a small oval coffee table, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the view of the San Francisco Bay.

Dean preferred this conference room to the other larger, more serious spaces, with their standard set up because it felt warmer, more cozy, and far less stuffy.

“So, what d’ya got? Dazzle me.” Dean urged his team, while gesturing with jazz hands.

Dean’s production manager, Thom, had decades of experience in the music industry and had been with Dean since his first number one single. He leaned forward in his chair. “We could create a compilation video of your previous live performances.”

“Nope, we’ve already done that…several times.” Dean sighed. "Next?"

Sven, Dean’s choreographer, chimed in. “How about a video of you working out?” As his name might suggest, he had strong Nordic features with blonde hair and blue eyes, a tall frame, and skinny as a rail.

Dean rolled his eyes. “No…been there, done that.”

Dean’s marketing and publicity manager, Terri, a thirty-year-old woman with jet-black hair who fully embodied that typical San Francisco, hippie-chick vibe chimed in.

“Maybe you driving down the coast in a convertible?”

“Hmmm, that’s not bad. But it doesn’t really fit the song,” Dean muttered.

Thom crossed his legs and opened his hands in a presentational gesture. “Okay, get this…a spaceship in outer space, with aliens dancing to your song.”

Dean squinted and furrowed his brow. “Thom, I love you but why the hell would we do that?”

Thom slumped into his chair, pouting a little.

Dean slapped his thigh in frustration. “Okay, guys. Come on. We need fresh ideas. This album is fire. It’s my best work to date.

We need to be creative and innovative. ‘C’mon’ is all about pushing your limits, breaking boundaries, never settling for just one hundred percent, and never giving up.

Think about that as you’re coming up with ideas. ”

Gina, the newest member of the team, timidly raised her hand at the back of the room.

Dean smiled. Aside from him, there were only five people in the room. It was cute that she raised her hand.

“Yes, Gina?”

“Well, um…” Gina stammered and adjusted her waifish body in her chair, nervously twisting her brown hair. Dean usually sucked most of the oxygen out of a room, and it’s intimidating to some folks. Gina was one of those folks.

“It’s okay, Gina. Go ahead.”

“Well, I listened to the song, and I was thinking…college athletes…maybe track and field?”

Dean leaned forward in his chair. “Hmmm, athletes…” He gently bit his bottom lip as the wheels turned in his brain. “It fits the theme of the song perfectly. Athletes could be a really interesting angle for the video,” he muttered, thinking out loud. “And athletes are fucking hot!”

Dean smacked his knee and pointed at Gina. “I like it! Nice job, Gina!”

Gina smiled and exhaled as ideas began flowing through the room at her suggestion.

“We could go to Cal Berkeley or Stanford, for their Track and Field.”

“Or maybe Olympic athletes, at the training center in Colorado.”

“How about a wrestling team?”

“Or a rowing team?”

“Or swimming and diving?”

“Or volleyball?”

Gina chimed in again. “We are in San Francisco, after all. How about the Niners? It’s pre-season, so maybe we can film during their practice, even get some players to perform in the video?”

Dean’s ears perked up and his eyes danced. “Now, that I like!” Dean put his chin in his hand and muttered out loud. “Yeah, NFL players would be really cool.” He sat back in his chair and clapped his hands. “That’s the one! Awesome job, Gina!”

Gina timidly smiled again and blushed at the praise.

Dean turned to his personal assistant. “Jordan, can you research the Niners? Find out who we need to contact to make this happen, and what we need to do, and if it’s even possible.”

“On it,” Jordan replied, head already in his tablet as he turned on his heel and left the room.

Jordan had been Dean’s personal assistant for almost six years. He was a younger, slightly smaller version of Dean, with wavy brown hair, an attractive, angular face, a trim athletic build, and was as sassy as the day is long. Together, they were a dynamic duo and they got shit done.

At Jordan's exit, the production team gathered their things and began exiting the conference room.

Alone in the office, Dean contemplated the new video and stared out across the bay.

He really enjoyed watching the NFL. He’d been a fan of football—and the Niners specifically—for a while. As a gay man, the first thing that had drawn him to the game was the hot boys in tight pants.

Sitting in his tiny studio apartment when he'd first moved to San Francisco, Dean had been mindlessly flipping through channels and happened to stop on a football game.

The camera focused on the quarterback, a gorgeous young man with brown hair, brown eyes, and a butt that caused Dean to drop the remote.

The tight pants, the butts, the bulges…oh yeah, Dean was hooked!

Over time, he’d learned more about the game—offensive and defensive formations, offensive play calling, and strategy—and developed a deeper appreciation and love for the sport itself.

But it was the hot boys in tight pants that kept him coming back.

The Niners were always in the championship conversation, and they had the sexiest players in the NFL, at least, in Dean’s opinion.

For Dean, there was no sexier player than Colton Merrick, the team's star running back. He'd had a banner year, poised to break several team and league records. He led the league in rushing and scrimmage yards and was in the center of the MVP conversation each week.

And, to top it all off, he was absolutely fucking gorgeous…beautiful blond hair, square, chiseled jaw, and piercing ice-blue eyes. If he wasn’t a star athlete, he would most likely be a leading man in Hollywood.

But sadly, Colton was straight and engaged to supermodel Sophie Carroll, one of the most sought-after print and runway models of the moment. She was a stunning beauty and they were one of the most stylish, most photographed couples in the world.

Still, he could admire and appreciate the beautiful man from afar.

Just the thought of meeting Colton set Dean's heart to racing.

Man, I hope we can make this happen. It would be cool as fuck to have Colton Merrick in my video.

Jordan wasted no time and much to Dean’s surprise, the 49ers responded within hours of their request. They were very enthusiastic about the idea and Coach Shepherd promised to speak with the team during practice that day, to find out which players would want to be in the video.