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In fact, the night before I was moving to Miami to start football camp for the new season, my whole world was turned upside down.
Due to his high paying career, my mother was a pro at looking the other way toward his indiscretions. As a result, we lived in a huge house in a wealthy neighborhood where we never wanted for anything. Buying our affection helped ease his guilt of being a shitty father and husband.
A lot of the time it was just my mom, me, and the staff who helped with the daily management of our house. My mother drowned her sorrows with wine and her friends from the country club while I was being raised by my football coaches. I was the only child, and I saw our housekeeper, Miss Carlisee, more than I saw my parents since she started working for us when I was nine-years-old.
Anytime I thought about that house, though, I couldn’t help but remember her daughter Sophie, and how she wasn’t the first or last woman I’d fucked over. However, sometimes it felt like Sophie got back at me years later. I tried not to think about how she could have been the one who got away.
Whatever the hell that meant.
“Yes, that’s right,” Autumn declared, tearing me away from my reckless thoughts while she sat in one of the chairs in front of my desk. “But I’m not going to lie you, I definitely have my work cut out for me when it comes to you, Jax Colton.”
“Why are you talking to me like you don’t know me?”
“Because in this sense I don’t. I know you as the guy who pisses off my brother every chance he gets.”
“The feeling is very much mutual, sweetheart.”
“Oh, I know. You both act like children when it comes to Kinley.”
I chuckled despite feeling like the walls were caving in on me. I hated not being in control, especially when it came down to what was being printed about me for the whole world to read.
“But I’m not here to talk about you and my brother’s friendship.”
“Or lack of.”
She smiled. “I’m here to make sure Mr. Greatest of All Time stays that way.”
“You don’t need to kiss my ass, Autumn, so let’s not waste any more time and get right down to business. What are you going to do for me, Red?”
She leaned forward on my desk, resting her elbows on the edge before stating, “Now you’re speaking my language. I’m here to do what I do best, and that’s making the world fall in love with you again.”
“Like you did for your husband?”
“If I can change Julian’s public persona to a family man, trust me, you’re child’s play.”
She was the woman who was able to accomplish what many had tried and failed, completely changing Julian’s image to the world. In a month he went from being a cutthroat, broody entrepreneur to a family man. The woman could move mountains just based on him alone.
“I’m hearing a lot of talk and no action,” I argued. “What’s your pitch?”
“Alright.” She smiled wider. “I’ll batter up.”
I never expected what would come out of her mouth next. Never in a million years did I predict the words…
“We need to find you a wife.”
* * *
To ever be directed at me.
TWO
JAX
“Your solution to my scandal is to ball and chain me?” I asked, completely thrown off with where this conversation had suddenly turned. Looking over at Caleb, I questioned, “This is what you call the best?”
“Don’t talk about me like I’m not in the room, Jax.”
With my eyes once again focused on her, I replied, “Don’t patronize me like you know what’s best for me, Autumn.”
