Tempting the Crown (The Crown 1)

“We don’t have much time to get our action plan started. I like to work quickly.”

Linc cleared his throat. “I understand this meeting is required by ownership, but I want to say on behalf of Luke, before we go any further, that the accusations that were presented yesterday are completely false.”

She lifted her long eyelashes. “I don’t care whether they are true or not. The only thing that matters is whether we can keep the rumor from leaking. Because at this point, the public is going to believe anything she says.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but Linc cut me off.

“That’s ridiculous. It’s a lie. Making Luke jump through hoops like this when he should be in the weight room or on the field is a waste of a million-dollar arm. This is bad business all around. I thought I could count on Mr. McCade to at least make a sound business decision.”

I could tell that irritated her. She pressed her lips together in a straight line. She was pretty in that business kind of way. She had an incredible body combined with dark hair and striking green eyes. If she wasn’t wearing a suit and lodged behind a laptop she might be a different girl altogether. But that wasn’t the reality. She wasn’t dressed in tight jeans, waiting for some guy to buy her a drink in a bar. No, Miss Maine was sitting in the McCade conference room and held every ounce of power the old man had given her. She was ready to bust my balls for every mistake I’d made up until to this very moment.

“I’ve been hired to clean up your image. And that’s what I’m going to do.”

I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms together. My image? It was a fucking joke. It was beyond salvation. Everyone knew who Luke Canton really was. I didn’t pretend. I didn’t hide behind press statements.

Her nails clicked on the keyboard and she twirled her screen around to face us.

“Let’s talk about this.” She pointed at a headline from the hospital gala. It must have been the same one Linc read this morning.

“What about it?” I asked.

“We need more of this. All the time. You did an excellent job last night. Perfect.”

“It wasn’t my idea,” I grumbled.

Her eyebrows rose. “It doesn’t have to be. I’ll take care of those things, but from here on out everything you do is scripted. The events. The donations. Signing autographs for kids after the games. Who you hang out with. Everything.”

I felt the vise clamping down on me. I wasn’t the team pet. And I sure as hell wasn’t going to let this girl tell me who I could see. Linc needed to get her pretty white teeth off my ass.

“So you’re going to tell him he can’t continue to see Lexi Wilde?” Linc threw, what he thought was a touchdown, in her face.

Linc’s question had the same effect as a bomb going off in the room. Charlie was stunned, and I had to wait for the smoke to clear to decide if I was going to punch my brother.

“Lexi Wilde?” Charlie’s eyes lit. “The Lexi Wilde? You two are actually together?”

“No. It’s nothing.” I shook off the insinuation. “Linc is screwing around.”

“Now, that is interesting.” She typed into the laptop again and whispered whatever was on the screen. I was busy threatening my fucking brother with my eyes.

“Yes. Yes. She’s in town the rest of today. She posted something on her Instagram this morning. Perfect.” Charlie’s attention turned to me. “I was going to present a list of suitable Austin bachelorettes, but this works even better. We need a woman to clean up your image. I have to say I’m impressed.”

“Hold on. I only met Alexa last night. I don’t want to drag her into this. It has nothing to do with her. What does she have to do with football?”

“Doesn’t matter.” Charlie didn’t give a shit. She operated like a guy that way. “She is your ticket to redemption.”

“That’s not a ticket I’m buying.” My jaw clenched.

Alexa had her own problems. I knew that without knowing the details on what they were. She didn’t show up on my doorstep last night because she had everything she wanted. She showed up because I could give her something she was missing.

“I want you to meet her at the hospital. Take her flowers. Do something sweet. I can help you with that part. Oh, and visit the kids. Try to make it a joint appearance. Completely unplanned and authentic looking.

“And I don’t care how or when, but I want the press to see you kiss her. Plain as day. Nothing blurry—not one of those interpretive pictures. I need a full-on lip-lock that is going to meltdown the internet. I want everyone talking about you two.”

Charlie’s cheeks flushed and her emerald eyes glowed. She was getting off on this. I’d seen the same look in the coaches’ eyes when they came up with a game-winning play. Or on the sideline when I ran a reverse route no one saw coming.

“You have got to be fucking with me,” I growled.

She flattened her palms on the table. “I never fuck around, Luke. Never.”