Bad Boy's Bridesmaid (30 page)

“Let me guess.”
Jack wasn’t intimidated. Did anything ever bother him? “He’s disappointed.” He
held up a hand and started counting on his fingers. “He’s panicking that I’m
hurt. He’s demanding that I stay out of the spotlight. Wants me to drop the
lifestyle. He’s pissed about the women, about the wreck, about the late night.
He won’t say a damn thing about the teammates who actually invited me out. The
blame rests solely on me.”

Finn nodded.
“You left out most of the profanity.”

He gestured to
me. “The ladies have delicate sensibilities.”

I declined to
respond to the asshole.

It was only
eight AM and already Finn loosened his tie. “Jack, you are the leader of the
Rivets. On the field and off.”

“Bullshit,” he
said.

“That’s your
responsibility, Jack.”

“Last year, I
broke
two
single season records and tied for another three. That’s where
my leadership lies. My nightlife doesn’t matter, only if I can get the team to
the championship. And I
did
.”

“And you lost.”

Finn said what
we all thought, but it was nothing Jack wanted to hear. The chair toppled as he
stood. He loomed over us with a dark scowl that made the tattoos on his arms
darken in the artificial light of the conference room.

I knew he didn’t
belong trapped indoors like this. A man like Jack needed to vent his
frustration on the field, in the gym, or in the bed of a beautiful woman.

Or three of
them, apparently.

It was easier to
judge the manwhore when I wasn’t imagining what he’d do to the lucky woman.

Jack extended
his arms, tightening his muscles. Broad. Powerful. “I’m paying all of you a
shit ton of money to represent me. So fucking
represent
me. You want to
pretend I’m some beacon of moral responsibility, fucking
tell
people I’m
a damn saint. Earn your salaries like I do every goddamned Sunday. Until then,
I’m out of here.”

“Jack…” I called
to him before he reached the door. The phone rang as he grabbed the knob. “The
League is calling. You have to talk to President Bennett.”

“Son of a—”

Jolene answered
the call and pressed her fingers to her lips. She plastered on a twenty dollar
smile and greeted the president as if they were old buddies instead of the
monthly target of Frank Bennett’s rage against Jack.

“Frank…how are
you?” Jolene immediately flinched against a hail of profanity from both the
phone and Jack slamming into his seat. “We’ve been waiting for your call. I
have you on speaker with Finn Smith, Mr. Carson’s agent, and my assistant, Leah
Williams.”

“I remember.”

Frank didn’t
mince words. He also didn’t greet us because he had no reason to say hello. We
had hardly hung up the phone since the last conversation. This scandal would
result in the same meeting as before. Just like the last call. And the call
before that. And the meeting before that…

Every
conversation had the same concerns: booze, women, and bad decisions.

It was easier to
represent players who were actually in trouble with the law. At least the
public could believe they were legitimately remorseful when they got caught
with the cookie jar. Jack had his hand up too many skirts to look like anything
but an unrepentant womanizer.

“Carson there?”
Frank’s voice bit over his name.

Jolene pretended
not to notice, though she raised her eyebrow at me. “Yes, he is, sir.”

“Hungover?”

Jack snorted. “I
wasn’t drinking last night.”

Frank laughed,
cold. “Well, what
restraint
, Carson. Should we hold a parade in your
honor?”

This wouldn’t be
a pleasant call. Frank Bennett wasn’t intimidated by Jack’s abilities or
successes. The new league president didn’t care about ratings. It was our luck
that he was committed to bringing
professionalism
back to the league
after countless problems with drugs, domestic abuse, and allegations of
interleague cheating.

“I suppose you
heard the news,” Jolene said. “We’re pleased to report that Mr. Carson is not
injured and neither were the other passengers in his car.”

“
Passengers
?”
Frank spat the word. “I think that’s more respect than those
whores
deserve. Please tell me you didn’t pay for their company, Carson.”

Jack’s hand
curled into a fist, but he forced a smile. The smirk didn’t make him friendly. 
“I’m man enough to earn my women, Frank.”

“You man enough
to own up to this mistake?”

“That van driver
was at fault, the police said—”

“I don’t give a
damn what the
police
said, Carson!
You
were in the accident.
You
were photographed bleeding. The other car doesn’t matter. They weren’t the
multi-million dollar quarterback more concerned with what’s in his pants than
his surroundings.”

“Do you want me
out of my pants…or would you prefer I crawl up your ass, Frank?” Jack lost his
temper. Already. “I’m the one who got in the accident. I’m the one who totaled
a very expensive, very
rare
car. Where’s my
are you okay, Jack?
Or
Are you hurt?
”

“Now you listen
here you little punk—”

Finn nervously
spoke. “Let’s focus on the issue at hand.”

“This issue?”
Frank practically snarled into the phone. “The
issue
is that the star
quarterback for one of the most prestigious teams in the league is out every
damn night picking up women, getting into trouble, and now recklessly driving
and wrecking his car—”

Jack gripped his
chair. He’d either break the arms or his fingers. “The accident wasn’t my
fault—”

“Yes.
This
accident wasn’t your fault, but who knows what will happen next! You are worth
millions of dollars—not just to yourself or your city, but to the
league
!
What happens when those women sue you for damages? Or worse? What happens if
one day a woman alleges you forced yourself on her?”

“Whoa!” Jack
nearly ripped the phone from the table. “Let’s get something straight. I don’t
have to
force
myself on anyone. Those women are
begging
me—”

“Yes, I’m sure
that’s the case.” Jolene interrupted before Jack revealed too many of his
exploits. “But, from a PR standpoint, the media will begin to spin Jack’s
nights on the town as an aggressive male on the prowl for women. While many of
his lady friends are…” She cleared her throat. “…
charmed
, by Mr. Carson,
our surveys have shown an unfavorable opinion of his reputation.”

“My concern
isn’t with his
reputation
, it’s with the league!” Frank must have
pounded on his desk. “And I will not let Carson make a fool out of the entire,
national
organization because he chooses indecency over his responsibilities to his
team.”

Jack was pissed
enough to list his accomplishments. “I hold the single season passing record.”

Frank didn’t
listen. “I can’t abide by this sort of behavior. He’s jeopardizing not only the
league’s image—”

“And the single
season touchdown record—”

“—But he’s also
endangering himself to a personal liability—”

“—The team
record for completions in a season—”

Frank’s voice
rose, silencing everyone. “These instances of misconduct
will
come to an
end. Fining him has done nothing in the past, so I have no other recourse.”

Finn waved a
hand to silence Jack. “Mr. Bennett, what are you planning?”

“A four game
suspension for now. I’m arranging an internal investigation and pursuing a
contract termination and expulsion from the league.”

My heart sank.
Jack nearly launched from the conference room.

“It’s the
off-season!
”
He yelled. “Christ, training camp begins in two weeks. You’re going to expel me
for doing absolutely
nothing
wrong eight weeks before the season
starts?”

Finn frowned.
“Mr. Bennett, I was on the phone with Coach Thompson…he didn’t mention anything
about an expulsion—”

“Christ, I
should have cracked my head through the windshield,” Jack said. “Maybe you
wanted to see more blood.”

“I don’t take
this decision lightly, Carson. And you should be grateful I don’t talk to Coach
Thompson and recommend he cut you now and let you flounder while we sort out
the details.”

Jack sneered.
“Like a dozen other teams wouldn’t piss themselves to sign me.”

“Not if I
introduce a good-conduct clause into all league contracts—starting this season.
I’ll force you to behave or the entire team will be fined for your
delinquency.”

“You can’t do
that.”

“The preliminary
language is with the player’s union now.” Frank paused. “No one will take a
chance on you, Carson. You’re a risk and a liability and a PR nightmare. One
day, you’ll pick the wrong fight or take home the wrong girl, and you won’t be
as lucky as you are today.” He scoffed. “
Three
women last night, Jack?”

Jack couldn’t
charm and rage at the same time. He threatened instead. “This is bullshit. I
was giving those women a ride home.”

I braved a
chance to jump into the conversation. “Mr. Bennett, a suspension or expulsion
will only punish the Rivets and place Mr. Carson in the spotlight. If you feel
discipline is the best course of action, we wouldn’t argue with you, but
forcing more attention onto this issue will publicize the scandal.”

Frank exhaled.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Williams, but Carson’s image hurts everyone. He is no
role-model for the younger fans, and he does not project an impression of
respect, decorum, or responsibility.”

Jack simmered,
ready to blow. “How am I supposed to
look
responsible? Pick up litter in
the park? Herd a family of ducklings across the road?”

Frank didn’t
care for his tone. “How about presenting yourself as a functional member of
society? Show up to practice, go home at night, and act like a reasonable
adult. Find yourself
one
woman and settle your ass down!”

Just the words
Jack didn’t want to hear, and yet…

His eyebrows
arched.

He stared at me,
lips curling into one of the smiles that would spell ruin for any woman he
chased.

I never trusted
Jack before, and I certainly didn’t now.

“You think
people want me in a committed
relationship?” Jack’s voice changed,
suddenly excited. Thoughtful.
Scheming
.

Frank didn’t
hesitate. “Yes. It would show you’ve matured. Grown. Become a wholesome, trustworthy
man.”

“Well…” Jack’s
smile grew, though he steadied his voice into a mockery of respectability. “As
nice as that sounds for me...my girl deserves better than getting tossed to the
media sharks.”

I frowned.

“
Your girl
?”
Frank repeated.

“Why should I
have to parade my girlfriend around to prove my behavior is honest?”

“Your…” Frank
shared a moment of utter confusion with the rest of the room. “You have a
girlfriend
?”

Jack’s eyes
darted to mine.

I silently
mouthed to him. “
What are you doing
?”

He grinned. That
was a bad sign. Jack was just getting started. He savored the attention and
that meant everyone was in trouble.

“Yeah, I have a
girlfriend. Long term. Which is why this whole issue is insulting to both of
us.”

Jolene and Finn
shared a puzzled look.  They asked Jack the question at the same time.

“Who’s your
girlfriend?”

His dimples
flashed at me.

My stomach
flipped. Twisted. Rebelled.

No way. He
wasn’t about to drag me into this. He wouldn’t
lie
to save his own ass.

Would he?

I chilled in
rage and warmed in indignation. The penetrating and undeniably fierce gaze of a
prowling Jack Carson focused on me.

Yes, he would.

He would totally
lie, and he would drag my reputation down with him.

He was going to
use me to get out of trouble!

“We haven’t made
it public…” Jack said.

His smile would
slay me. My heart crashed against my ribs.

Don’t you dare
.

He shrugged. “I
suppose it wouldn’t hurt to let everyone know.”

He wouldn’t.

“Kiss, you know
I’m crazy about you.”

I saw red. I’d
never count to ten without exploding, so I tried in different languages, only
making it to
tres
,
trois
, and
drei
before Jolene freaked
out.

“You’re…you’re
dating
Leah
?” She squealed.