Page 26 of Turn Me On
“He’s the total package,” Gunnar seconds. Then he gestures to another rock star celeb who starred in the sexy TV showUnfinished Business. “There’s Ellie Snow. She’s hilarious, but I heard she’s doing more writing these days.”
Maddox smiles, a little proudly. “She is. She’s working some deals for TV shows she’s created.”
The actress is chatting with a handsome guy I don’t recognize, but she catches Maddox’s eye and waves.
He waves back, then says to me, “She’s a good friend. But I’ll catch up with her later. And while you stargaze, I’ll get some drinks,” Maddox says.
As soon as he heads off to the bar, Gunnar turns to me, eyebrows dancing. “You didn’t mention your agent is a smoke show.”
I smile like a cocky asshole. “My new agent is a smoke show.” Then I pause to recalibrate, because I’ve got nothing to be cocky about. “And completely off-limits.”
Here at this rooftop party after dark, with the low thump of music, the mingling of bodies, and a possible deal close at hand, I desperately need the reminder.
* * *
A little later, Gunnar runs into a buddy of his on the San Diego Devils, a burly guy who’s one of the toughest backstops in the league.
“Gonna grab a few words with Trace,” he says, then nods toward the guy.
I join them for a minute. “Looking forward to beating you in the division this year,” I say, introducing myself in our native language—smack talk.
“You’ll eat your words, Archer.”
“Bet they’ll taste good,” I say.
Gunnar rolls his eyes my way, then turns to Trace. “Did you ever get that new boat you were eyeing?”
“Nah. Gotta wait till I get some contract shit sorted out. But my agent’s been MIA too often,” Trace says, a little irked.
I smile privately. Mine’s not MIA. Mine’s easy to reach, and I love that.
“That’s no good,” Gunnar says. “If you switch and want an intro to Josh, hit me up.”
“Thanks, man,” the catcher says.
As they chat more about boats and agents, I say goodbye, then steal some time with Maddox. His mind must be in the same place, since I walk over to him right as he’s walking away from Sebastian and Bryan.
“Want a drink?” he asks.
“I do.”
Maddox heads to the bar, and I follow him. After he tips the bartender, Maddox hands me my drink, and then we move away from the sparkly crowd, heading toward a corner of the patio.
Now’s my chance to snag some deets. I feel like I’ve been waiting all week for them when it’s only been a few hours. “So, what’s next with Bespoke?” I ask as we stop at the rooftop’s edge, overlooking the city of angels. “I’m dying to know.”
“It’s early days. I’ll need to give them some time to weigh my pitch and make sure it fits with their goals, which I believe it does. But I plan to meet with them in London next week.”
“About this deal?” Ah, hell. Did my voice go up? Don’t want him to hear all my nerves.
But Maddox gives me a professional smile. “Yes. I’ll be traveling to London for meetings with the London office and some of our international partners. And as for Bespoke and Priyam, yes, I’m going to see him about you. You’re my sole focus with him.” He’s reassuring but a little cool and distant as he sips his club soda.
Maddox is so…agent-y tonight.
I get it. This is his job. And I want him to do his job, but he’s put a wall up since a few days ago in Venice. I suppose I need to follow his lead, so all business it is. “What sort of deal?” I ask. “Do you know? Vance didn’t give me any specifics. He just said something was in the works.”
That sparks Maddox’s attention. He finishes his club soda and sets the glass on the railing. “I can’t make any promises, but my hope, and the way I pitched it, is that you’ll be the leading face of the brand in all their digital campaigns—they only advertise digitally.”
“Cool, because what the hell else is there but digital?” I joke, totally not pleading with the universe to make this deal happen.