Hotshot (The Bennett Brothers 1)

Shit! There it is. Fuzzy memories now become clear, and I remember her overly aggressive behavior last night. She wants more from me. Time to end this and get out now before it gets ugly.

“I’m not into dating right now. You know that.”

“Ren, cut the shit. We’re both adults here. We’ve been hooking up for a while. I think it’s time to take the next step. I want exclusivity.”

Chills run down my spine. The word itself has me wanting to hyperventilate. We’ve hooked up a total of twice, and both are hazy, drunk memories. I’m not opposed to the idea of exclusivity, but Sasha’s not the one to get it. The girl who gets all of me is going to be someone special, someone remarkable.

She stares at me with wide eyes, waiting for my response to her absurd demand.

I throw on my shirt and shuffle my feet into my shoes, praying my keys and phone are in my pocket. I need out of here immediately. Alcohol or not, this is the last time I’ll put myself in this position with her.

I do a quick memory check. My car is at the bar, which is about eight blocks from here.

“Sasha, I’ve told you before. That’s not what this was.”

“That’s complete bullshit and you know it. We’d be perfect together. We’re both driven and ambitious. We understand each other.” She whips around and gets up, reaching for her robe at the end of the bed.

I inwardly cringe at her words. Does she really think we’re anything alike? I’ve worked my ass off for everything I have. At the age of twenty, I was faced with losing my baby brother, and it felt like my heart was breaking every single second of the day until he went into remission. My family means everything to me.

Sasha is high-maintenance, demanding, and possibly one of the most spoiled women I’ve ever met. She was given a cushy job in her family’s law firm after graduation and doesn’t know the meaning of hard work. She’s never faced a problem head on.

I start toward her door, trying to make an exit before she really blows up.

“Don’t you walk out on me! It’s time you make a choice. I’m not a two-dollar hooker that’s satisfied with a quick fuck every few weeks.”

Few weeks? More like every few months.

“I’ve never treated you like a two-dollar hooker. Pretty sure we discussed my view on getting into a relationship before we ever had sex.”

“Obviously, that’s changed since you keep coming back for more.”

I really should have thought this through better. Coming home with her was a huge mistake. She’s been blatant about her attraction to me, but I’ve held strong on my refusal of getting into any kind of relationship.

“Sasha, I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression, but you and me? Not gonna happen.”

“Wrong impression? Fucking me out of convenience when it suits you? Well, that stops now. I deserve better. What exactly is your hang up? Is it work? Because I have a goddamned job, too.”

My hang up? My hang up is that my heart doesn’t skip a beat each time I see her. She has no clue what makes me tick or lights my fire. I know it makes me a total dickhead, but there’s no feeling at all except knowing she’s an easy lay. Even then, I’ve been drunk each time we’ve fucked.

“Need to go,” I repeat and avoid looking at her.

“You’re going to regret those words, Ren Bennett. I could be the best thing that has ever happened to you!”

I practically run out of her house. Lesson learned. Even if my dick only gets release from my hand for a while, stay the fuck away from Sasha Crane.

“Get me three million and I’ll get you a contract with a signature,” I tell the rep on the other line then wait for his excuses.

As if it’s a common script, this guy spouts off the same shit I hear every day negotiating endorsement deals. Everyone wants the big names, but nobody wants to pay. This time, though, they want Nick, and I don’t budge.

This guy’s voice drones on, and my eyes start to close until my assistant, Gail, bangs on the window between our offices. She makes the motion to ‘wrap it up’ and shoots me a knowing look.

“Hate to cut this short, but a situation has come up. Call me when you get your head out of your ass. Having Nick Bennett promote your product isn’t cheap. The preseason starts in a few weeks. Don’t forget he’s got the best arm in the league right now. His defenders are protective and his receivers on fire. You want the best, you pay.” I drop the receiver and look back up to see Bizzy walking through the office in her nursing scrubs.

She stops to give Gail a hug and talks for a few seconds. Gail’s eyes slice to mine, and I go on alert. When Bizzy turns to me, I know there are about ten seconds to get her in my arms before she loses it.

I round my desk as she comes straight to me. As soon as I have her firmly in my grip, she bursts into tears. Gail brings in a bottle of water then closes my door

and initiates the privacy shades.