The Game (Wagered Hearts Series, #3)(10)

"If you say so," I said.

"Good, now that we've got it all agreed, I'll draft up a new contract with the changes and send it to you both for your signature," Carl added. "And I'm sure I don't have to remind you that we have a very strict confidentiality clause."

"I wouldn't expect any less," Rob said as he stood up to shake Carl's hand. Then he turned to me and smiled. "That went easier than I thought," he said.

"I hope everything else goes as smoothly," I said. "I'll have my publicist start leaking stories about us to the press now to set the foundation. We should probably start being seen together in public. How about lunch at The Vine, say next Tuesday?"

"And so it begins," he grinned. "Sounds good to me. I'll pick you up at your place."

With that, he strode to the door and stepped out the office like he didn't have a care in the world. He probably didn't at this point. I just hoped it would remain the same after our relationship went public.



***

Rob arrived on time to pick me up for our first official date. I had just put the finishing touches on my outfit when the doorbell rang. When I opened the door, Rob stood there looking dashing as ever in a pair of dark wash jeans and a white polo shirt. I shut the door behind me as I stepped out in the bright courtyard outside of my house. Rob had driven himself in one of those vintage convertibles. I frowned as I looked at the sleek little car.

"Is there a problem?" Rob asked watching me in concern.

"I hope you're planning on putting the top up. I don't want my hair to look like a rat's nest in front of the paps," I said.

"Oh! I didn't even think of that," he said. "No worries, though. Let me just pop the top on."

I stood and waited for him to attach the light canvas cover to the car, trying hard not to notice the ways his biceps flexed, or how I could see the outline of his chest through the thin fabric of his shirt.

"It's all done," he said turning back around and shooting me a devilish grin.

I didn't know how long I'd been staring or if he had caught me, but that twinkle in his eye led me to think I might have been staring longer than I should have. With a tiny shake of the head, I walked toward the passenger side door he was holding open for me and got in. The inside of the car was snug and fit only two. I'd never understood why people would waste money on old cars like this. The dash was full of knobs and dials, and the seats were cramped and uncomfortable. Give me a Beemer or Benz any day, with GPS, air conditioning, and power windows and doors.

Before we pulled up to the restaurant, I checked my reflection in the mirror one more time, reapplying my lipstick and making sure my hair was all in place. I knew what awaited us just up the road, and there was no way I was going to be caught looking anything less than perfect. We arrived at the restaurant and were greeted by a sea of paparazzi.

They swarmed our car as we pulled up to the valet. The car was flashy, and loud, and certainly announced our arrival. Perhaps that's why Rob had gotten it. Normally I'd be running for cover, but today, this was expected. Arnie had placed an anonymous tip letting them know I'd be there. We stepped out amid the flashes of the cameras, and cat calls. Rob and I did our best to look annoyed, and hurried into the restaurant where we were seated immediately.

"That was crazy," he said wiping the sweat off his forehead.

Even though it had only taken mere minutes for us to get out of the car and into the restaurant, it felt like eternity. I was used to the attention, but this was something new for Rob. I couldn't imagine what he was feeling.

"Yeah, but not unexpected," I said. "Hopefully it will be in all the papers and blogs tomorrow. How do I look?"

"Beautiful," he said.

The waitress came and took our orders, lingering a moment longer than necessary. I shot her an irritated glare and she scurried off to the kitchen. I was sure she'd sell her story to the tabloids once we left. Hell, maybe she was already doing that right now.

I scanned around the restaurant and recognized some familiar faces. The Vine was a notorious restaurant for celebrities to see and be seen. The paparazzi were a permanent fixture outside the restaurant doors, which made it the go-to place to show off my new relationship.

I normally avoided the place if I could. Too many wannabes and has-beens frequented it, but I had to suck it up and go along with the plan Charlotte and Arnie had come up with. We needed to blitz the news with my new relationship with Rob. Everyone had to see how I was in a stable, committed relationship, and above petty gossip and rumors.

Since I'd had a bit of a reputation as a wild child, my relationship with Rob would serve to ground me, and show me in a more mature and favorable light. At least that was what Arnie and Charlotte told me would happen. I still had my doubts, but I had no choice other than to go along with them. If there was any chance to help my career, I'd do it without hesitation.

"I don't know how you deal with that every day," Rob said breaking into my thoughts. I looked up at him blankly. "The paparazzi," he explained.

"I don't think you ever really get used to it, but it's all just part of the job," I said.

"You seem very tolerant of it all," he said. "I don't think I could handle all the attention."

"Like I said, it's all part of the job. I could let the press get to me and lash out, or I could use it to my advantage. I simply choose to exploit the press just as much as they exploit me. It's a win-win situation," I explained.