Rush: The Season (Austin Arrows Book 1)(23)

Keeping my expression masked as I pour another drink, I decide to ask exactly that. “What’s in it for me?”

“What do you want?” Spencer replies.

I shrug. I haven’t had time to give it much thought. “Depends. What does this entail? I know you said going to games and blah, blah, blah, but I already do that.” In fact, I haven’t missed a single Arrows home game in years.

“We’ll have to talk to Amber,” Spencer says.

That got my attention. “Amber who?”

“The PR chick,” Kingston adds, sounding unimpressed. “Amber North.”

My eyes widen as I flip my attention back to my brother. “Amber North? Is that the same Amber North you dated in high school?”

My brother’s eyes narrow, but he nods.

“Yep, looks as though his past popped right back up, ready to f*ck his life up for the second time,” Kingston mutters as he stares at my brother.

Holy shit. This is certainly an interesting turn of events. How did I not know that the public relations person for the Austin Arrows is none other than the girl who broke my brother’s heart by dumping him not long after he left for college? And she had the audacity to do it by voice mail.

“What’s she doing back here?” I ask, curious.

Kingston tosses out his own questions. “Yeah. Did you sit down with her yet? Chat it up over coffee?”

“It’s not important,” Spencer says with a huff.

“I have to disagree,” Kingston replies, resting his elbow on the bar.

Spencer frowns. “I don’t want to talk about it. What’s important is that my sister say yes to helping you.”

I glance between the two men. If this really is important to Spencer or to Kingston, I know I have to do it. Spencer is my brother and Kingston is a friend. That’s what friends do; they help each other out. It won’t be easy, but shit, my life hasn’t exactly been easy up to this point. Being a single mom is the hardest of all, but also so worth it.

“So, say I do agree…” I keep my attention on Spencer. “What’s the first step?”

Spencer’s eyes hold that sparkle again, the one that says he is about to get what he wants. “We’ll sit down with Amber, see what she suggests. I can’t imagine it’s much more than leaking the details to the media, letting them know Rush is in a serious relationship and he’s happy, plus backing up that claim by being out and about with him.”

That makes sense. Kind of. “You don’t think this’ll cause issues? I am your sister. Will they give him a hard time because of that?”

Spencer glances at Kingston. “Of course not. He’s a good guy. Why wouldn’t I want you and him to be together?”

Considering he was adamant about the no-sex part in the beginning, I know there is at least one reason, I just don’t know what that is. Nor am I going to ask, because I have absolutely no intention of sleeping with Kingston.

Fantasizing, sure. Actually doing it…

I’m strong enough to resist.

I hope.





8

Kingston

Watching Ellie attempt to figure out how this pretend relationship will play out is rather entertaining. I know there will be no playbook for how things go, but I appreciate the fact that she believes there will be. Hell, at this point, I don’t care what she believes, as long as she agrees to participate. Not because it’s pretend but because I hope to turn things around. And yes, I’m making an opportunity where there originally wasn’t one. It’s what I do. So what?

I have to believe that if Spencer truly didn’t want me to be with his sister, he wouldn’t have made the suggestion in the first place. He knows I would never hurt her, so he trusts me that much. And I seriously doubt I’ve been as covert with my lust for her as I’ve hoped I was. He has never said anything, so again, I believe it doesn’t bother him as much as I pretend it does.

“So…?” Noelle appears beside Ellie. She’s like a freaking fairy, popping up out of thin air. “Have y’all come to a conclusion? You and goalie boy gonna pretend to bump uglies?”

I shake my head. I like Noelle. She’s fun. However, her entertainment value isn’t making this easier for me. Especially now that Spencer is glaring my way once more. I can see the no-sex warning in his eyes, but I quickly look away.

“What part does Amber play in this?” Ellie asks Spencer.

While Ellie continues to discuss this with her brother, I can’t help staring at her again. I get lost in the way she moves, the way she smiles, the way she speaks … even the way she rolls her eyes when she finds something ridiculous. Based on how many times that has happened thus far, she’s finding my situation ludicrous.

But still I hold out hope.

“She’s gonna do it, you know?”

I look at Noelle as she fills a mug.

“Do what?” I’m a little lost.

“She’ll be your pretend girlfriend.” Noelle leans forward, lowering her voice in a conspiratorial whisper. “In fact, she’ll probably be your real girlfriend if you play your cards right.”

Once again, I shift my attention to Ellie. I like the idea of something real between us more than I’m ready to admit to myself. My fantasies over the years haven’t merely been sexual in nature. Back when Ellie found out she was pregnant, I dreamed about being the man she wanted, the one who would be honored to raise a child with her. I might’ve even endured a little bit of jealousy over the fact that another man got her pregnant. Not that I’ve ever let anyone know that.