Page 41 of Never Pucking Ending

It seems like a pointed comment, and I’m tempted to tell him he could fuck off with his shit. I’m not the one who this partnerships benefits. He must know that when he sees my tight expression, clearing his throat and grabbing amber liquid in a scotch glass he must have ordered before I got here.

“I’ll have somebody get you out a package so you can give us an answer. If you agree, there are some billboards we reserved for the summer launch in four cities—New York, San Fransico, Chicago, and Miami. We’re aiming to reach a demographic with healthier habits. People who are mindful about their diets. Then we’ll run a couple different TV ads and do some print spreads.”

How much is their budget? I’m not well versed in advertising, but this doesn’t sound cheap. Especially with the rate I usually get paid to do these gigs.

“You’re not going to make me strip down to my underwear or do something stupid, are you?” I deadpan, knowing how half of these go. It’s always about an athlete’s body, like drinking an energy drink with fourteen grams of protein will get you abs overnight.

Isaac chuckles. “No. I doubt me or the team feel like being emasculated in front of our other coworkers.”

I snort. He’s got a sense of humor which is refreshing. “Good,” is all I say. “I’ll try it and let you and Amber talk about the pay while you drill down the details. If I like the product. I’d be careful, though. That one is a shark.”

Which is exactly what I hired her.

His grin reappears. “I noticed. To be honest, I was surprised she even replied at all. Have a feeling the only reason she did is because I name dropped your stepsister.”

I don’t confirm or deny, and he doesn’t need me to. “Once I get the drinks, I’ll have Amber send you my answer.”

Not bothering to order food or a drink despite his insistence, I stand. He does too, flattening his hand along his shirt and saying, “Can I ask—” He stops himself, pressing his lips together before shaking his head. “You know what? Never mind. I appreciate you talking to me.”

I’m almost tempted to ask him what he wanted to know, but the way he studies me tells me it’s better left unspoken. It could be tickets he’s looking for. He may not have loved being dragged to my games years ago, but maybe he’s into it now. Or maybe his fiancée is. Who knows. I’d rather not be asked for things when I’d already be doing him a favor by saying yes to this.

We shake again, my grip tighter when his grip squeezes me again. I’m not sure what power play he’s trying to invoke, but he won’t win.

As I walk out, he calls out, “Tell Belle I said hello.”

My back tenses as I leave the restaurant, ignoring the flirty smile from the hostess on my way out. Usually, I don’t even see them but she all but stepped in front of me squishing her boobs together with her arms to grab my attention. I don’t know what she murmured when I told her to have a nice day, but it probably wasn’t a reciprocated answer.

The rest of the day goes by in a blur. I work out at the home gym, reply to some emails and texts, meal prep lunch for the next week, and am just stepping out of the shower when I hear the faintest knock at my bedroom door.

Wrapping a towel around me, I walk over and open it to see Belle standing on the other side. Her eyes widen when she sees me, and they quickly avert to something on the wall.

I laugh lightly. “You can look at me. I’m not naked.”

Her nose scrunches. “You practically are.”

Is she blushing? I hold back a grin as her cheeks turn a darker shade of pink. “Give me a second and I’ll put something on.”

I leave the door cracked open as I dry myself off and slide on a pair of boxers and basketball shorts that I like to lounge around the house in. I run my fingers through my hair and go back to the door where she’s waiting.

“Better?” I ask with a small smile.

She shifts. “Ummhm.”

That doesn’t sound convincing as she rakes her gaze over my bare torso. I don’t mind though. Not when she’s the one looking.

“Everything okay?” I ask. She doesn’t come to my room very often.

She snaps out of it, lifting her gaze. The pink spreads to her ears when she realizes I caught her checking me out. “Y-Yes.” She blinks, wets her lips, and then stands straighter. “Yes. Sorry. I have something to show you.”

Confusion takes over the amusement. “Okay. Why do you look like that?”

She frowns. “Like what?”

I gesture toward her pinched expression. “I don’t know. Like that. Like you’re worried about something.”

Her lips press together. “Well…” She moves from one foot to another, biting down on her thumbnail. She is nervous. “You’ll just have to see for yourself. Its downstairs.”

What the hell is ‘it’? I follow her warily down to the kitchen where there’s a cardboard box on the floor. I stop in front of it and peer down.