Page 95 of The Game We Played

“You need to stop dating Tanner Long.”

“Excuse me. Who is this?”

“I’m Sam. I’m Tanner’s agent.”

The same agent who threatened to drop Tanner if he didn’t get his act together? The same agent who hired Belinda? And approved Belinda’s PR plan – including dating a ‘nice’ girl?”

“Stop dating Tanner? You’re the one who wanted me to date him in the first place. You’re not making any sense.”

“My ideas do not need to make sense to you, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart? Who the hell does he think he is? I have a name. Asshole.

“It’s Ms. Jackson.”

He snorts. “Whatever. Dump Tanner.”

“I’m not dumping Tanner because some sleezy agent orders me to. I decide who I date.”

He barks out a laugh. “Your relationship is fake.”

“Wrong. We agreed our relationship is no longer fake.”

“Oh, really? What are you going to do? Follow him around as he travels from game to game? Tanner is a playboy. He won’t be faithful to you.”

“You obviously don’t know Tanner,” I grit out.

There is more to Tanner than the playboy, goofball persona he presents to the world. His agent should know him better. His agent should know him. And support him. This conversation is not him being supportive.

“He has you fooled. I’m sending you a video. Watch it and then tell me you think Tanner’s not a playboy.”

“I don’t want your stupid video.”

Tanner’s been a playboy in the past. I know it. I don’t need to see the evidence.

“Too bad.”

My phone beeps with a message. It’s a video.

“I’m not going to watch it.”

“And here I thought you were a journalist and would want the scoop.”

I may have started out wanting the scoop but that was before I got to know Tanner. Before I fell in love with him.

“I—” He hangs up before I can defend myself. Jerk.

I throw my phone on the table and return my attention to my computer screen. But my gaze keeps straying back to my phone. Curiosity swamps me.

Damn it. I want Tanner to tell me what happened. Why he needed a fake relationship to repair his reputation. I don’t want to find out behind his back.

But if his agent sent me this video, he probably sent it to more people. Flying pirates! Is he going to leak it to the press? If it’s leaked, I’ll be blindsided. Unless I know what’s on it.

I snatch the phone and hit play. Tanner is in the back of a limo with a woman. She appears young, but she must be of age. Tanner wouldn’t fool around with an underage girl.

Clothes start to come off and I hit stop. I don’t want to see this.

I read the message attached to the video.