Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Leon
I’m itching to get my Erika fix and inhale her sweet, familiar scent.
She smells like home.
And mine.
After Sage’s unexpected and unwelcome return this morning, followed by driving my parents to the airport, I’m finally sitting in a monthly roundup meeting with my core team of advisors and department heads at my house, reviewing last-minute details before I leave for Bora Bora on Monday.
I was delayed in traffic on the way back from the airport and hurried into my team meeting, so I haven’t spoken much to Erika since my parents caught us kissing at the bottom of the stairs before we left.
Of course, as soon as we waved Erika goodbye and jumped into my truck, my mom started firing a million questions my way.
The squeal of excitement she let out was loud enough to pierce both mine and Dad’s eardrums when I told her we’d decided to be a couple.
When she lovingly laid a hand on my thigh as I was driving and gave it a gentle squeeze, she didn’t need to say anything more.
“One last thing,” Sutton says, staring at the agenda in front of her, and I groan because there is nothing else on the agenda to discuss.
Usually full of enthusiasm, my mind is already on vacation.
Watching Erika swim laps in my pool through the large glass windows of my office for the past hour, dressed in a pink and white polka dot bikini, is driving me crazy.
Three hours away from her has felt more like ten today.
She’s so close and yet so far away.
I wish my team would wrap this up so I can join her.
Naked preferably.
That’s not taking things slow, I remind myself.
What the hell made me suggest that?
Oh yeah, because I was trying to be a gentleman.
“What’s the one last thing, Sutton?” I ask, exhaling in annoyance, resting back in my chair.
“This evening’s dinner,” she replies, looking excited about something I know nothing about.
Clueless, I ask, “What dinner?”
“The one I booked last night and am only mentioning to you now.” If I’m reading her body language correctly, she seems to have stars in her eyes and is looking at me longingly as she licks her lips and twirls a lock of hair around her finger.
It’s a look I’ve seen before, and I need to put an end to it. I have never been interested in Sutton, nor do I mix business with pleasure. Dating staff is a strict line I will not cross.
“Why did you book dinner for tonight?” I had plans to order from Dooley’s, Erika’s favorite pizzeria, then eat it in front of the television while watching her favorite movie, Eight Below, about sled dogs stranded in Antarctica.
Having watched it over a hundred times, she would never admit why it’s her favorite film to anyone, but I know it’s because the huskies in the film remind her of her beautiful husky, Oscar, who died a few years ago, and she spent days crying over.
He was a loyal and faithful dog, and I miss him too.
His crystal blue eyes looked like a portal to Antarctica itself. “I have plans tonight.”
Sutton fires back quickly, “Well, cancel them because you’re having dinner with Hunter King, his wife, Eden, and their daughter, Hope, instead.”
“But Hunter King has an agent.” I run my hand down my face in frustration. It’s a waste of my time. Time I planned to spend with my girl.
My girl. Fuck, I have a girlfriend. Not just any girlfriend, but Erika.
The woman I would jump off a cliff with no parachute for if she asked me to.
“Hunter isn’t looking for an agent; he’s looking for one for his daughter and he’s only in town for one night.”
Damn. I actually like Hunter and met him a few times briefly. As a pro golfer, he’s won hundreds of championships around the world. Semi-retired, he’s a sports icon.
“Tell me more.” I realize I have to change my plans for tonight.
Sutton reads through Hope’s credentials, and I make mental bullet points.
Figure-skater.
Selected to represent Scotland at the Olympics two years ago and won gold.
Hope has a new coach and is relocating from Scotland to Canada.
Her dad wants me to represent her because I’m the best.
Obviously.
I mentally note everything else about sponsorships… negotiating her contract for the television show Blades on Ice during the off-season, brand deals, magazine exclusives… Consider it done. I’m made for this shit.
“What time and where?” I ask Sutton reluctantly.
“Avante at seven thirty.” Great choice. It’s a popular spot for celebrities because the food is excellent and the atmosphere is relaxed and private. “And I’ll be joining you as your plus one,” she adds, her eagerness evident, her voice bright and buoyant.
Eh, no, she won’t be.
“Sorry, Sutton, but I’ll be taking my girlfriend.” Erika will hate me for springing this on her, but I have contacts and can get hundreds of dresses delivered here in under an hour if she needs one.
Ten sets of eyes land on me, completely shocked by my surprise announcement.
“Girlfriend?” Sutton scoffs, sounding offended, as if the word is poisonous.
“Yes, Erika.” I point to her through the window, hoping Sutton receives the message loud and clear.
Looking disgusted at my news, Sutton snaps her attention to Erika, who is pulling herself out of the pool, then, with all the grace of a swan, picks up her towel to dry off, dabbing her chest, then her stomach.
I would sell my soul to the devil to be that towel so I could wrap myself around her right now.
My eyes drop down Erika’s body and back up. Fuck me, those legs. The sooner they are wrapped around my ears, the better. My cock twitches in my pants.
Shit, not now.
I return my attention to my team and shake my head to clear the inappropriate, dirty thoughts from my mind.
“But... but...” Sutton stammers as the rest of the team congratulates me. “She was with Huck. And... and... she was supposed to marry him... and...”
“She didn’t love him.” There’s no simpler way to say it. I pause for a moment.
Mark, my legal advisor, slaps his hand against the table in approval. “It’s about damn time.”
“You two finally saw the light.” Sadie, my social media manager, shapes her hands around her mouth and lets out an almighty woo-hoo, causing us all to erupt into laughter.
Nigel, my head of marketing, who is sitting next to me, pats me on the shoulder. “Happy for you, man.”
“Took me long enough to get my shit together,” I admit, feeling my cheeks heat from the attention. “Took longer for Ash to give me the green light,” I mumble through the side of my mouth meant only for him.
“So, this is it?” he asks. Nigel has been with me from the beginning, and he’s asked me more than once why Erika and I weren’t together. It was obvious to everyone how crazy we were about each other.
Everyone but Sutton, it would appear.
Smiling, I nod, and he throws me a wink of approval. Once everyone settles down, I wrap up the meeting and thank everyone for spending their valuable Saturday with me, while Sutton sits at the opposite end of the table, glaring at me and grinding her teeth.
She’ll hate me even more when I ask, “Can you call Laura Banner and ask her to be on standby to send as many dresses as she has in sizes four and six to here for Erika, please?” Erika may have something in her suitcase, but if she doesn’t, at least I have a backup plan in place.
Sutton nods in agreement and mumbles, “Consider it done.” She’s already frantically typing on her phone, which I assume she’s emailing Laura, my personal stylist.
“Well, if that’s everything, then I guess, after tonight, I’m officially on vacation.”
My team wishes me well as they pack up their things, and they all poke fun, laughing at me when I inform them I will be turning my phone off when I am away. Unplugging myself from my job is the one thing I never do. I’m always on the clock and available to all of my clients.
I’ve already set a reminder for Monday morning to forward my calls to Sutton while I’m away. I put in a lot of effort this week by finalizing contracts, closing sponsorship deals for clients, and holding meetings well past dinner because I don’t plan to check emails while I’m away.
“I like this new you,” Nigel says with humor and admiration.
He glances at Erika through the window, waves to her, and she responds with a big smile.
“Have a great time, Leon. And don’t screw it up.
” Nigel throws his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of Erika, who is perched on the edge of the pool with her neck arched, bathing in the sunshine.
She’s so beautiful, and I really am lovestruck by her.
“I won’t.”
Just as everyone is about to leave, I ask Sutton to stay behind for a minute and instruct the last person to exit to close the door behind them.
Nervously, Sutton tightens her grip around the straps of her backpack, which she never seems to be without, and I move closer to her end of the table, then sit down on it.
She looks up at me with so much hope in her eyes that I almost look away, as I hate what I am about to do.
“You’ve worked as my assistant now for four years, Sutton.”
“I have,” she confirms.
“But that’s what you are to me, my assistant. Nothing more.”
“I know that.” She sounds bratty and annoyed, giving her young age away.
Just to clarify, I say, “I don’t fraternize with staff.” Or clients. When it comes to work, I am professional, and that’s what makes me the top sports agent in North America.
“Why are you telling me this?” she mumbles.
I ignore her question and instead say, “It’s in your contract that there are to be no relationships between staff members or clients.” I’m annoyed that I have to remind her of that and have this conversation.
She rolls her eyes and sighs like I am wasting her time. “I know that, Leon.”
“Good, then may I remind you to never ask me out on a date again or add yourself as my plus one. I am your boss. You work for me. Is that clear?”
She drops her head and slips one of the straps of her backpack onto her shoulder. “Crystal. And relax, you’re not even my type.” When she lifts her chin, she shoots me a fake smile, but her sharp tone gives her away.
I know she’s lying and desperately trying to cover her tracks. She’s made it more than evident on numerous occasions that she’s attracted to me.
“Are we done then, Leon?”
“Yes, you may leave.”
“Great.” Quicker than a blink, she pushes her chair back, gets to her feet, and rushes toward the front door. “See you when you get back from vacation,” she calls out, then mutters something under her breath that sounds a lot like I hope you both get sunstroke, which makes me laugh.
A salty Sutton is a nasty one. She’s like a fucking Gremlin once you rile her up: don’t feed after midnight.
But she’s great at her job, and I’d be lost without her.
“Keep your phone on, and I’ll let you know if we need those dresses.” I pay her twenty-four seven for emergencies and hiccups.
“Yeah, yeah.” I can almost imagine her giving me the stink-eye, the loud bang of the door telling me she’s gone.
Like a magnet, my eyes are drawn to Erika, who is still tanning outside, looking the happiest I have seen her in years.
Knowing I’m the reason she feels good fills my chest with pride.
As if sensing me, she looks my way, pushing her sunglasses onto her head. When she focuses on me, squinting to see better, her lips curve into a sensual smile—the one made just for me—before she signals me to join her.
Time to spend some quality time with my girl.
My girl.
Will I ever get used to that?