Chapter 8
MAVERICK
“She’s meant to be your girlfriend. You can’t act like a fucking robot.”
Colin continues pacing in front of me while I sip coffee on my couch, trying to tune him out and failing. I know he’s right, I was too stiff yesterday, too caught up in my own fucking head.
I wasn’t ready for her to climb out of that car looking like a fucking pinup girl.
Gone were the frumpy clothes that hid everything.
Hell, she didn’t even have those glasses on.
Instead, it was curves for days, held in by a tiny pair of jean shorts and a tank top that showed a hell of a lot more skin than I was expecting to see.
I’m not blind. I thought Sadie was pretty the second I saw her in the stairwell at the hospital.
But I also dismissed that notion really fucking fast. I don’t do relationships, and she’s not the kind of woman to hook up with a guy like me one night and be done with it.
She’s the kind of woman that wants to get to know a guy, have feelings and shit. And that will never be me.
So I overcompensated. I tamped down the wave of goddamn lust I felt when I saw her and put a wall between us to make sure she didn’t realize how I was affected.
Apparently, that wall was noticeable to everyone but her.
“Okay, I get it,” I grumble, draining the rest of my coffee from the cup. “What do we have to do next?”
Colin drops down into the chair across from me and fixes me with a hard stare.
“Another date. This time, you gotta play it up more. I’m not saying sleep with her…
” He drops his head in his hands, shaking it from side to side.
“In fact, please, for the love of God, don’t sleep with her.
But you need to make everyone else think you’re intimate with her.
We need you smiling, hugging, looking like you actually want to be around her. ”
I heave a sigh and let my head fall back against the couch. “This is bullshit. Serious fucking bullshit. I don’t understand why me appearing to date some do-gooder is gonna be the key to making everyone believe I’m not just an asshole who gets in fights.”
“And crashes cars in street races,” Colin adds wryly. “Don’t forget that.”
I sit up and glare at him. “As if I could.”
My phone vibrates on the table between us. We both see the name, and I’m not fast enough to grab it before he does.
“What the hell does he want now?” Colin growls, opening the text from Eli.
“Don’t fucking read my messages, asshole,” I say, moving swiftly to try and take it from him. But even though I’m the pro athlete, not him, he moves fast enough to dodge me.
“For fuck’s sake, Mav. How often does he text you asking for money?” Colin’s voice is dripping with rage. “Tell me you don’t still give it to him. You know what he wants it for.”
I grind my teeth together, refusing to answer.
“Holy shit, you do.” Colin tosses my phone down on the couch.
“This is why you’re stuck. This is why everyone thinks you’re an asshole.
Because you refuse to believe you can be anything more.
Because he’s got you trapped, thinking all of his shit is your fault and it’s fucking not.
You’re enabling his habits, Mav. You’re not helping him, you’re making it worse. ”
“Enough!” I roar, my fists tight at my sides.
The pain in my shoulder is welcome, fueling my anger.
This isn’t the first time we’ve had this fight and it won’t be the last. “I’m doing what you asked.
I’m pretending to date Sadie. I’m staying out of trouble.
Now you go do your fucking job and make sure my career is safe. ”
We stare at each other for a long minute. He breaks first, shaking his head at me one more time. “Fine. I’ll email the two of you details for tonight. Make it believable, brother.”
I give him a brusque nod, staying where I stand until my door closes behind him. Only then do I exhale sharply. I know he is doing his job. Just as I know there’s no one else I’d trust to have my back. But fuck.
Swiping my phone off the couch, I open the message from Eli. Sure enough, he’s asking for money. Never mind that he still hasn’t checked to see if I’m okay after the fucking car crash that I got in because of him.
I drop the phone back down and head to the bathroom instead, turning on the shower as hot as it can go.
I’m due at the stadium for a physical therapy session in just over an hour, and I know Lark, the trainer who’s working on my rehab, isn’t going to take it easy on me.
Not with my return to the field hinging on how the next couple of weeks go.
And I need to get back on the field.
Which means I need to make sure my future with the Tridents is safe. If making the world think I’m dating Sadie is the key to that, then I’ll do whatever it fucking takes. Colin wants it to be believable? I’ll show him.
Just have to remember, this can’t ever be real, and that means making sure she knows it’s all for show.
When she pulls up at the restaurant where we’re having dinner tonight, I walk over to her car, mentally preparing myself for seeing her dressed up. I open her door and have to choke back a frustrated laugh.
Gone is the sexy-girl-next-door look from yesterday. We’re back to frumpy librarian, it seems.
“Hey,” I say, intentionally leaving off the Specs. She says she doesn’t like it, but I see the way her eyes flare when I say it, and I call bullshit. Sure enough, her pert lips tip down ever so slightly. She steps out of her car and her hands twist around the strap of her bag.
“Hi.”
The dress she’s wearing swallows her whole. Those luscious curves are hidden under way too much fabric. The glasses are back in place, as is the bun.
We walk to the front of the restaurant without saying anything else.
It’s awkward, just like yesterday, and Colin’s voice is in my head, reminding me to do better.
I reach to open the door, my hand falling to her lower back as we walk inside.
It’s easy for him to say do better, he’s at least been in a relationship or two.
Me, I’ve got no fucking clue how to act on a goddamn date, even if it is all just pretend.
“Have you eaten here before?” Sadie asks in a nervous whisper as we’re guided to our table.
I’m guessing she’s noticed the furtive looks we’re getting from other patrons, and the way we’re seated by the front window is intentional on Colin’s part.
I hold her chair out, and once she’s seated, I take my own seat and answer her.
“No. Colin booked it. Something about this being the hot place to be seen.”
“That’s such a weird concept. Planning where to eat based on visibility.”
“Welcome to public relations, I guess. It’s all a fucking game.” My wry response has her tilting her head to the side and I brace myself for the incoming questions.
“You don’t like the media attention, I’m guessing.”
There’s no judgment in her tone, and I find myself wanting to answer as honestly as I can.
“The press has a habit of being particularly shitty with how they spin things. I think they give us all an identity that meets their needs, no matter how far off base it is. I got the label of being the bad boy because I didn’t want to cooperate with their bullshit.
So, no. I don’t like the media. But it’s a necessary evil. ”
I can see her fighting back a smile, which doesn’t make sense since none of what I just said was funny. “What?” I ask gruffly.
“It’s just, I think that’s the most words you’ve ever said to me at one time.” Now her smile breaks free as she giggles, and to my surprise, I feel my own mouth curving up in response.
“Don’t get used to it, Specs.”
Her eyes are dancing, and fuck, she’s pretty. Even in that god-awful dress. There’s something about her that shines no matter what she’s wearing. And goddamn it, I grudgingly admit, I like seeing her smile.
The moment is broken by the arrival of a waiter.
And as soon as her eyes aren’t on me, I miss them.
That’s fucking dangerous. I inhale deeply, taking the minute while she’s placing her order to remind myself, I can’t let the lines be blurred.
No matter what. I have to play the part of infatuated boyfriend, but I have to make it damn clear she knows that’s not reality.
The waiter leaves, and Sadie leans forward. “You know, if we’re going to pull this off, it would really help if I knew some more about you. Like, now I know you hate the press. What else is there to Maverick King?”
Mentally, I groan. I don’t want to get to know her, and I sure as shit don’t want her to get to know me. But once again, I hear my brother lecturing me about being believable. Which means I can’t be silent the entire meal.
“What do you want to know?”
Sadie looks pleased by my question, as she should. Little minx is getting her way. “We could start with the basics. What’s your favourite food?”
“Burgers.”
“Okay, favourite place to visit?”
“Don’t know.”
Her lips turn down in a slight frown. “You’ve never gone on vacation?”
I lift my good shoulder in a shrug. “Nope.”
She lets out a frustrated huff. “Do you always answer your date’s questions in one-word answers?”
“Don’t know is two words,” I fire back, and she purses her lips, trying to hide a smile.
“Fine.”
But instead of asking another question, Sadie slumps back in her chair. And I find myself leaning forward instead. “I don’t go on dates. I occasionally find women to have sex, but there’s no hand holding, no farmer’s markets, and no get-to-know-you questions. Just orgasms.”
Her mouth falls open, and before I can stop myself, my hand is reaching out and one finger is pushing gently on her chin to close it.
“Relax, Specs. Your virtue is safe with me.” I ignore the flash of disappointment that crosses her face.
“But you’re right. We do have to make this look real.
My brother pointed out that some of the photos from yesterday didn’t look all that believable.
I’ve been instructed to step it up in the acting department. ”
Sadie sips her wine slowly, and when she sets it down, her eyes meet mine. “Which means what, exactly?”
For once in my life, I pause and think before I answer her. “Which means we need to make it look convincing. Colin says we need a little more affection and a little less scowling from me.”
Her short burst of laughter is deserved. “He’s not wrong.”
I didn’t even realize I wanted to see her relax until I notice her shoulders drop down ever so slightly.
The thing is, I don’t know how to act. I don’t know what couples do on dates like this.
I’ve never been in this position before, and I fucking hate it.
But I’m not the only one with something at stake, which means I need to man the fuck up.
“Tell me about your ex.”
Sadie’s eyes widen in confusion. “Why?”
“Because. He’s the reason you’re here, isn’t he? Seems I should know about the jackass I’m showing up.”
She takes another sip of her wine, sets it down, and stares at the glass. “We were together a few years. Looking back now, I don’t know why I actually thought he could be the one, but when I was in it, I guess I was blind. Couldn’t see that I could do better.”
Her voice is harsh, unkind, and directed at herself if I’m not mistaken. It makes my jaw clench.
“I walked in on him and his paralegal having sex in our bed. Well. His bed.” She lets out a sharp laugh, even though there’s nothing funny about what she just said.
“He made me get rid of my furniture when I moved in, insisting his was better quality. God, he was so arrogant, and I just went along with it like an idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot. Men like him don’t deserve to fucking walk this earth,” I growl, and her eyes shoot up to meet mine. “He’s an asshole. A fucking stupid asshole.”
“Th-thank you,” she whispers.
Our dinner arrives and thank fuck, Sadie drops the questions. In fact, she barely says another word the entire meal. It leaves me thinking I’m in for another fucking lecture from Colin.
When we’re done, we leave the restaurant, my hand on her lower back again. I know we haven’t done enough. Even with my complete ignorance of how to date, I know tonight didn’t go well. Then we reach her car, and something out of the corner of my eye has me looking to the side.
There.
A fucking camera.
My lips are on hers in an instant, turning so her back is to the photographer. My hands are on her, one in the curve above her ass and one at the base of her neck. Holding her tightly.
She’s stiff underneath me at first, and I’m thinking this was a fucking huge mistake.
I should have said something, but no. In typical Maverick fashion, I acted first and thought later.
That approach has landed me in trouble more times than I can count, and for all I know, it’s fucking things up now, too.
But then Sadie lets out a little moan, and suddenly, she’s pressing into me, too, not to push me away, but to get closer. Her arms come around my neck, and she gives in to the kiss.
My ribs are screaming at me, but I ignore them. The pain is worth it.
We break apart and reality hits me when I see the dazed look on her face. Shit. This is why I’ve been giving her whiplash, as she called it. Because girls like Sadie don’t know how to keep feelings apart from the physical.
“What was that for?” she asks, reaching her hand up to brush across her lips.
“Photographer behind the tree,” I say sharply, and the dazed look falls away immediately.
“Oh.”
Her tongue darts out to swipe her lips, and fucking hell if I don’t want to kiss her again. But we gave the pap his shot, and that’s all this is for.
A photo op. Nothing more.