Chapter 26 #2
His Adam’s apple bobbed. “He basically threatened to ruin your reputation.”
Oh, just wonderful. My credibility and reputation were about to go out the window.
This was exactly what Daphene warned me about when I promised to keep things quiet until after the interview was printed.
Now, every article that had my name attached to it would be put into question.
I let that sink in for a moment, allowing that simmering anger to build.
We could put a statement out and put our spin on it, but that would only make us look guilty as hell once he told his side of the story. There had to be a way out of this.
Maybe we could lie and say that the rumors about us were exaggerated, but that picture would be worth a thousand words.
As much as I hated that idea, I detested the idea of being known as the reporter who slept her way to get access to a player even more. Even though I did nothing wrong, I would never be taken seriously again.
And Brian knew this. He was counting on it. He assumed we would panic, and Nate would pay him off.
God, when did my life turn into a PR nightmare?
“We’re fucked, aren’t we?”
He folded his arms across his chest. “I honestly don’t know. I’m trying to find a way around this and keep you as far away from this mess as I can. Your boss told you to keep it quiet until the article was published. I’m pissed that you’re getting dragged into this.”
The man was so stubborn. It was that same stubbornness that made him push through that injury.
I grabbed his face. “Well, that doesn’t really matter at this point. This is our mess now. We’ll figure out a solution together.”
I was irritated that someone was using our private moment as leverage to get money from him. But the longer I stared at the man in front of me, the harder it was to hold on to that anger.
Nate looked exhausted, and I was worried that he had finally reached the point where holding it together was taking more effort than he had left to give.
“Becca, I’m so sorry.” His throat moved slowly before brushing his thumb across my cheek. “You shouldn’t have to deal with this. I should have figured out a way to handle this mess way before it got anywhere near you.”
The guilt in his voice was heavy. I couldn’t let him believe that this was entirely his fault.
“Nate, you don’t need to apologize. The guy to blame is the one threatening your career and holding our relationship over your head.”
He closed his eyes as if he didn’t believe me. “You risked your career and reputation to be with me.”
I feathered my hands through his hair. “I knew the risks. It was my decision, so stop blaming yourself.”
He was acting like he had to carry this burden alone, and I hated that.
I was a reporter. I knew how fast rumors spread.
I made the decision to be with him, knowing it could complicate my life.
I wasn’t naive or an innocent victim in all this.
If there was one villain in the scenario, it was his ex-agent.
He squeezed my hand gently like he was searching for comfort but didn’t know how to ask. “You should walk away from me.”
I laughed. “That’s not happening.”
“I don’t deserve you.”
“Yes, you do. So, stop it,” I said, trying to ease some of his worry. “Now, why don’t you stop convincing yourself that you’re not enough and let me show you why you are.”
“Becca.” He rested his forehead against mine. “You say stuff like that, and it makes me want things I stopped believing I could have.”
“What things?”
He brushed a piece of hair off my face. “Peace and stability. I’ve gotten so used to people wanting something from me that I stopped expecting someone to care about me without strings attached.”
My eyes filled instantly. “You don’t give yourself enough credit. You deserve to have someone give it all back to you, and I hate that you think those things are out of reach for you. I wish you could see yourself that way that I do.”
“I don’t want this touching your career.”
I wanted to argue with him, but I knew how his brain worked. Protecting people felt like second nature to him. It was easy for him to carry the burden alone, rather than risking someone else getting hurt.
That still didn’t make this right.
“My career matters to me, but so do you. I appreciate you trying to protect me, but I am a grown woman. I knew what I was stepping into.”
He shook his head. “You keep acting like this isn’t a big deal, but I know what being with me could cost you.” He brought his hand up to my face. “And do you know what surprises me the most, even though it shouldn’t?”
“What’s that?”
“The fact that you got a hell of a lot more fight in you than half the guys on my team.”
I leaned into his touch with a soft chuckle. “This isn’t about showing you how tough and strong I am. This is about standing beside the person I care about when things get hard.”
His hand slid around my waist, pulling me closer until there wasn’t any space left between us.
“I appreciate you. More than you know. You are willing to fight for me, even knowing you could get hurt. That says a lot about you as a person.” He tightened his hold.
“Don’t get me wrong, you drive me crazy sometimes, and you’re as stubborn as hell, but the fact that you’re willing to stay and fight this bullshit with me means everything. ”
He slipped his hand around the side of my neck, pulling my mouth to his. I sighed into him, allowing my body to get lost in the warmth of him. This was the kind of kiss that felt like a reassurance that everything would be okay.
I slid my hands down his chest, forcing myself out of the comfort of his arms. Even though every single part of me wanted to stay right where I was.
Nate frowned when I walked over to the couch to grab my laptop.
“What are you doing?”
“What I do best. I’m going to dig up some dirt on your sleezy ex-agent.” I flipped my laptop open, determined to reach out to anyone who had heard stories or had any bad interactions with him. “If he wants to play dirty, then we show him we can play dirtier.”
If there was one thing I was good at, it was investigating. I wasn’t going to sit back and let him win. Not when he had his own skeletons rattling in his closet.
I knew how to ask the right questions, and I wasn’t afraid of the little weasel. I was more afraid of what would happen if we didn’t stop him.
You couldn’t let a guy like that stay in control. So, I would dig until I had enough dirt to bury that son of a bitch with.