Again, I’m completely caught off guard, this time by his forward question.
“Um, no actually. Unfortunately, I’ve got a meeting this morning that begins shortly on the other side of the city.” I hold my cup up in front of us before reaching into my purse for my wallet. “I just have enough time to pay for my coffee. Perhaps another time?”
“Yeah, a rain check?” he asks.
“Exactly,” I say as I look around for a spot to set down my coffee so I can dig around in my wallet for some cash.
Spencer must sense what I’m trying to do because he shakes his head at me. “On the house, Scarlett.” He winks before wishing me luck at my meeting.
I thank him and hurry back to my car, cursing myself for completely losing my ability to flirt with an attractive man. Even though Spencer isn’t the type I typically go for, he’s still good-looking and seems sweet.
My game is rusty, it’s been far too long since I’ve flirted with a man. My lifestyle change hasn’t exactly left a lot of time for dating the past few years.
After setting my coffee in the cupholder, I start up my Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, grip the steering wheel, and close my eyes to take a deep, calming breath.
I’ve got this. I can do this. It’s just my first day full of official meetings with board members and management.
At a job you’re unfit for, for a sports team you know nothing about,my subconscious shouts at me as I make my way across the city to my grandfather’s office, which is right next to the arena.
I shake those negative thoughts, push my shoulders back, and move through the lobby of the building a few minutes later.
“This is going to be great,” I whisper to myself once I’m closed inside the elevator. But I can’t seem to believe my own sad excuse at pumping myself up.
This is already going horribly, unless I just heard my grandfather incorrectly.
“You can’t be serious. I don’t have any prospects, how am I supposed to do that within a year?” I ask incredulously.
“You’re the brightest light I know, Firefly. You’ll be just fine,” he tries to assure me; however, that seems like an impossible task.
There’s a tall, dark blur in my peripheral that catches my attention.
And suddenly, I realize things have just become infinitely worse.
What the hell have I done to receive this karma?
My stomach sinks to my toes as I look out the glass door of the conference room only to find my one-night stand who so rudely dismissed me over six years ago.
The square edge of his jaw is clenched and his eyes narrow suspiciously when they meet mine from his spot in the hallway, where he’s paused with his hand grasping the door handle.
But why? I can’t for the life of me understand why Bennett is looking atmelike that. If anything, I’m the one who should be upset withhimfor giving me the night of my life before promptly kicking me out of his suite the next morning.
Suddenly, Bennett’s face shifts as he opens the door, and it’s as if he slips on a mask of indifference.
“Ah, there he is. Come on in,” my grandfather turns and waves him in.
“Joseph,” Bennett says as he holds out his hand for my grandfather to shake.
How does he know my grandfather? And why in the hell is he here?
I do my best to keep a neutral expression, but I’m sincerely so fucking lost right now.
“Bennett, this is my granddaughter, Scarlett Carlisle. Scarlett, this is Bennett Wilson, the captain of the Wolverines.”
Record scratch. Come again? Did he just saycaptain?
Bennett’s jaw ticks as he holds out his hand for me to shake, and when I do, I can’t help the shiver that slips down my spine from his warm touch. Unwarranted memories from that night six years ago cloud my vision.
“One more. Come on, Scar, give me one more,” he says as he adjusts my positioning so I’m hovering just above his face. “I’m famished, Red. I’ll perish if you don’t sit down and take what you deserve from me.”
