CHANGING THE PLAYER: Charleston Pirates #1 Chance, Jacob (suggested reading .TXT) 📖

for your time. I’ll pay you ten thousand dollars for two months of being my pretend girlfriend.”

“Flynn, that’s a lot of money.”

“I can afford it.” She looks torn, so I blurt out, “I’ll pay you twenty thousand. Ten thousand per month.”

Her eyes almost bulge from their sockets. “That’s just crazy.”

“No, it’s not. Besides, you owe me.”

“How do you figure?”

“I signed with you instead of Dave Hassler. I gave you a chance because I believed in you from our first meeting.”

“I know you did. And I’ve always believed in you too. In fact, I still do. I know there’s a better solution to this problem than for me to help you carry out this charade.”

“Who’s going to look out for me more than you? You’re already emotionally and financially invested in me.”

“As your agent, I’ll always look out for your best interests.”

“I like to think at this point we’re also friends. You’ve known me since I was in college. You know me better than any other woman.”

“I doubt that’s true.”

“Do you really, though? How many relationships have I been in? How many times have you seen my family around?” She briefly met my parents once, and she knows I don’t keep women around for more than a night or two.

In the past, she’s given me shit about my “commitment phobia”. I don’t let her answer my questions before I fire off one more. “And if I ask some random woman to help me, how can I trust that she won’t spill the beans about our arrangement to the tabloids?” What I’m saying has legitimate merit. I can see the realization settling in as she frowns, so I press her some more. “You know I’m right.”

“You can be right, but that still doesn’t mean I’m going to help you. I bet we can come up with someone else,” she says. “Two brains are better than one.”

I nod, willing to give it a shot. “Okay. Who then?”

“What about the girl who works in the mail room?”

“The one who doesn’t speak to anyone?”

“Yeah, that’s her. She’s shy, but she talks to me.”

“A lot of good that would do since I’d be the one spending time with her. Whoever is going to be my fake girlfriend can’t be afraid to converse with me or people they don’t know. We’ll be in plenty of social situations where all eyes will be on us. I need someone dependable.” I stare into Nadia’s eyes pleadingly. “Can’t you do this solid for me?”

“Flynn, you’re such a selfish dick sometimes.”

I laugh. “Tell me how you really feel.”

She drags in a long, slow breath. “I’m sorry. That was very unprofessional of me to call you that name.”

“I don’t give a shit what you call me, just say you’ll be my girlfriend.”

“You’re such a romantic,” she drolls.

“If you need an academy-worthy performance, I can try my best. I’ll do whatever you need me to. Please, Nadia. I’m begging here. Did you ever think you’d see the day I’d be begging for anything?” If she says no, I’m so screwed. There’s a lot riding on me changing my image for the better. When I mentioned needing her to keep me in line, I wasn’t exaggerating. I really do.

Nadia studies me, her lips compressed into a tight line. Fuck me. She’s going to refuse and I’ll have to figure out another way to get out of this mess.

Every muscle in my body rigid, I hold my breath, waiting for her refusal but hoping for her agreement.

She walks around her desk and pauses in front of my chair. Placing her palms on the wooden surface behind her, she braces her weight, leaning backward. “I’ll give you two months and not a minute more,” she tells me.

“Yes,” I shout, pumping my fist.

“I think you meant to say thank you.”

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Nadia. You’re the best.”

“That remains to be seen. It’s possible this might be the worst idea ever and it’ll be a massive failure.”

“Way to think positive, Nadia.”

“Hey, what can I say?” She shrugs. “We need to be realistic. This is not an infallible plan.”

“Is any plan really foolproof?” I ask.

Her dark stare locks on me. “You need to be on your best behavior.”

“Or what?” I wiggle my eyebrows.

“Or you’ll be finding a new fake girlfriend,” she states firmly. Her brusque tone reminds me that I’ll need to curb my natural tendency to make a joke out of pretty much everything. As unimaginable as it may seem, the possibility of losing my place on the Pirates is very much real. She returns to the other side of the desk, sinking down into her leather chair. “Oh, and one more thing. You have to promise me that no one will ever know we’re not really dating. Not even after the two months is over. I can’t chance having that particular bit of information coming to light. My reputation needs to be protected. I’ve worked too hard to get where I am in this male dominated business.”

“I know you have. And I won’t tell a soul about our deal. Would you feel better if we shake hands on it?”

She ticks her head side to side. “Would you rather seal our deal with a kiss?” I ask, trying to be funny. Obviously I wouldn’t object if she said yes.

“That’s not going to happen,” she tells me.

“Maybe not now, but you do realize we’re going to be in the public eye together? We’ll be attending fundraisers and different functions as a couple, and couples show affection toward one another.”

“We can hold hands,” she says. “I’m fine with that.”

“Can you at least agree not to do bodily harm to me if there ever comes a time I need to kiss you in public?”

She hikes an elegant shoulder upward in a half shrug. “I guess I can agree to that.”

“I promise I won’t kiss you unless there’s a pressing need or you ask me to.”

Her lips form an amused curve. “I’m not going to ask you to kiss me,