“Trust me, you’re not the only one surprised. I guess they want an unlikable asshole to rile people up. Cause some controversy and boost ratings.”
“Well, they’ve found the right man.”
“I’m not doing it.”
“Probably a smart decision.”
“My agent has been persistent.” Probably because he didn’t get paid unless Cal was working.
“Just say no. To drugs and ESPN,” I teased.
“I have. He still wants to meet.”
“Why would you need me to pretend to be your date just to watch you tell your agent no?” What was I missing?
“I don’t meet with him alone.”
I blinked. “Huh?”
“I don’t meet with my agent alone.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. I’ve never met with him alone. It’s a lesson my father taught me.”
The mention of his father made my body tense. “He’s your agent. Doesn’t he work on your behalf?”
“He negotiates on my behalf. So I always have a witness for our conversations.”
“That’s . . .” Sad.
Cal really didn’t trust anyone, did he? Not even those who should be on his side. Or maybe he’d trusted them and he’d been betrayed one too many times. Either way, my heart twisted.
“When I lived in Nashville, my assistant would go with me,” he said. “But I don’t have an assistant here. I’d ask Pierce but—”
“No.” Shit. Cal knew I wouldn’t make Pierce go to a dinner that I was perfectly capable of attending myself.
“It’s one dinner, Nellie.”
“Say please.”
“Please.” He said it without a grumble or grimace, meaning he was desperate.
“Fine.” I shot him a glare when he grinned. “When?”
“Tonight.”
“Tonight? What if I had plans?”
“Do you?”
I wanted to say yes. I wanted to tell him I had a hot date, simply to see how he’d react. But he’d see through a lie. “What time?”
“I’ll pick you up at quarter to six. We’re meeting at a steakhouse out of town. It’ll take fifteen minutes to get there.”
“Quarter to six. Anything else?”
He scanned me up and down, his gaze lingering as it caressed my tank top and leggings. His hungry gaze devoured me whole.
A pulse drummed low in my belly. A wave of heat spread through my limbs.
This feeling and that look on his face usually landed me in trouble, so I took a step away before turning and striding for the house.
“Nellie?” he called.
I slowed, looking back, but I didn’t stop moving. Not until we had a locked door between us. “What?”
“Thank you.”
It was genuine. Cal was rarely genuine.
It made me want him that much more.
“Go away, Stark.”
-
Dear Diary,
* * *
Not the best Friday. I missed two questions on my US history test today. That sucked. We had to run the mile in gym and I got the worst side ache ever. That sucked. Then I passed Cal in the hallway after seventh period. Triple suck. I went a whole four days without seeing him but I guess that’s the limit. He wouldn’t even look at me. Just walked by with his blank face. He acts like I’m so beneath him. Asshole. I’m so glad it’s the weekend. Mom said if she got good tips, we could go out to dinner tomorrow. I hope she gets good tips because I really, really want Chinese food.
* * *
Nellie
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CAL
I rang Nellie’s doorbell at exactly five forty-five. It took her four minutes to answer.
Four minutes, where I stood outside under the sun, knowing that she was probably sitting on the couch, watching the seconds tick by on a clock before she’d finally deemed my penance complete.
“It’s about damn time,” I clipped as she opened the door.
“You could have waited in the car.” She met my scowl with her own.
Her body was encased in a little black dress. The fabric molded to her figure, wrapping around her hips as it tapered toward her knees. The square neckline showed a sliver of cleavage. She’d strapped sexy-as-fuck heels to her ankles, and her hair was twisted in a knot, showcasing the silver hoops in her ears. Her green eyes were lined with black, making her irises pop, and she had on that goddamn red lipstick.
She was a living, breathing fantasy.
“You’re not wearing that.”
She glanced at her outfit. “Excuse me?”
“Change. Now,” I ordered as my cock twitched.
“You know what?” She shook her head. “Go to dinner alone. Good luck.”
My hand shot out and stopped the door as she attempted to slam it in my face. “Just change. Please.”
I’d hit my quota of pleases for the day, but apparently, it worked because Nellie dropped her hand.
“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing? I thought we were going to a steakhouse.”
“You look . . .” Incredible. Alluring. Magnificent, as always. “If you wear that dress, my agent will hit on you. And he’ll stare at your tits all night.”
If it was any other woman, I’d let him ogle my date. But not her. I didn’t love Wade, but I wasn’t ready to fire him either. If he crossed a line with Nellie, I’d not only can his ass, but there was a chance I’d punch him in the face.
“Fine.” She huffed and strode through the living room, her ass swaying with every angry step.
Yeah, she had to change. Not just for Wade. But because I needed to get through this dinner and if she stayed in that dress, I’d strip her down before we even made it to the restaurant.
I stepped inside, closed the door and went to the couch. There was a new television on the stand in front of me. “So much for not wanting a TV, huh?”
“Changed my mind,” she said as her footsteps sounded on the stairs.
“This woman,” I muttered, then paced the room as I waited for her to change. It took less time than I’d expected for her to return, except she hadn’t really fixed the problem.
She’d traded the dress for a pair of black pants with a slim fit that stopped at her ankles. The damn heels were the same. Her top was a sleeveless black turtleneck, and yeah, there was no cleavage, but it begged to be torn from her torso.
“You’re fucking killing me.” I pinched the bridge of my nose and willed the swelling behind my zipper to stop.
“It’s this outfit or you can forget my company.” She planted her hands on her hips. “You have three seconds.”
“Let’s go.” I strode out the door, not bothering to wait for her to lock up.
Didn’t she have a garbage sack or a tent she could put on? Some shapeless, boring number that disguised her curves? But hell, this was Nellie. I knew exactly what she looked like beneath her clothes, so she could be wearing a burlap sack and I’d find it sexy.
I had the car running and the air-conditioning cranked by the time she slid into the passenger seat. Her perfume filled the cab instantly. With her hair up, I didn’t dare roll down the windows—one of my mother’s lessons about preserving an updo at all costs. So I was forced to breathe Nellie in as I steered us out of town.