Roman’s eyes glittered in the annoying way of a big brother who thought he knew best. “I was thinking that you and Drake needed a little push.”
Perhaps he did know best in this instance. But that didn’t excuse his methods, because this was not a little push. This was a shove off a cliff. Killing the fly by dropping a boulder on the house.
“Putting my ex-boyfriend in a bachelor auction is not a little push,” Anna said simply.
Drake cleared his throat. “Current boyfriend. Not ex.”
“Well, now you are!” Anna threw her hands wide. “You weren’t then.”
“Let us be clear.” Roman grasped his hands behind his back and strutted forward, pacing in front of Jase who was still tied tight and getting grumpier about it by the second, given the pulse pounding in his throat and the way he glared at Roman.
“You both want to be together, and now, thanks to my help, you are together. Yeah?” Roman asked.
“Can I kick him in the nuts yet?” Anna asked Sadie.
She nodded. “I’m beginning to think procreation with him may not be the best idea after all.”
Roman flashed a grin. “Uh-huh. Tell yourself what you want, milaya."
Sadie’s expression turned soft like it always did when he used the Russian endearment. Shit. Anna had officially lost her ally.
“Where are you?” Heather screeched, throwing open the door only to pause and gape at her husband tied to the water heater while everyone else milled about.
“We’re right here,” Jase said, moving his chin from side to side. “I could use an un-tie, sugar.”
Heather scowled and marched straight toward him, undoing the knots with scary precision. “They’re bidding on Drake. Somebody needs to get out there and buy him before Babushka wins the auction.”
“We have tons of time,” Anna assured. That’s what the chairwoman had said.
Heather pulled at the ropes holding Jase, freeing him. “They started early.”
Oh no. No. No.
Drake bolted down the hallway like the athlete he was. Anna followed like the athlete she was not. Drake slid through the door to the ballroom just as “Going once… Going twice… Sold!” was broadcasted over the loudspeaker.
Anna slid right into the back of him, huffing and puffing. She raised her hand to shout that she’d pay a dollar more, but between the girdle, the dress, and the running, she couldn’t get the words out.
The room went silent as all eyes turned to Drake.
Chapter 6
Drake
* * *
The room sat in a silent shock. But no one was more shocked than Drake as Jackson Medford caught Drake’s eyes and smiled.
The man had the ecstatic look of a guy who had just signed his first draft pick and felt like the world was filled with sunny hope.
Babushka grinned wryly from beside Medford as the spotlight moved to bathe Drake in its glow.
Jackson Medford stepped toward him, holding out a hand and clapping him on the back. “I understand you and I have some business to discuss.”
The smile Drake used at these events slid into place—the one that gave the illusion of being totally comfortable in the public eye even though he wasn’t.
“Your agent asked me to make a purchase for him.” Medford smiled. “But I’m hoping it might lead to a prolonged stay in Denver for you. Turns out the team is looking for a new quarterback.”
“I, uh…” Drake ignored the blood pounding in his ears. “I’m looking to come back home. To Denver. I’d love to be considered for the position.”
Medford studied him for a long beat before saying, “Sometimes things just fall into place. I think we can make this work.”
“Yes, sir. I think we can.”
“Let’s chat this week.” Medford held out his hand to Drake.
Drake shook it.
Everything he’d been working toward stood before him in that handshake. When Anna slipped her arm around his waist, he understood fully that, yes, the team would bring him to Denver, but they weren’t his future.
His future was Anna.
“Welcome to the team,” Medford said with a final firm shake before they turned to let the cameras click.
Medford on one side, Anna on the other, and the future before him.
Drake was ready.
“Yay,” Anna whispered in his ear.
Yay, indeed. He was absolutely going to make it work in Denver. Not because of the job, but because of Anna.
About the Author
Christina Hovland lives her own version of a fairy tale—an artisan chocolatier by day and romance writer by night. Born in Colorado, Christina received a degree in journalism from Colorado State University. Before opening her chocolate company, Christina’s career spanned from the television newsroom to managing an award-winning public relations firm. She’s a recovering overachiever and perfectionist with a love of cupcakes and dinner she doesn’t have to cook herself. A 2017 Golden Heart® finalist, she lives in Colorado with her first-boyfriend-turned-husband, four children, and the sweetest dogs around.
Also by Christina Hovland
The Mile High Matched Series
Rock Hard Cowboy
Going Down on One Knee
Blow Me Away
Take It Off the Menu
Do Me a Favor
Ball Sacked
* * *
The Mile High Rocked Series
Played by the Rockstar
* * *
From Entangled Publishing
The Honeymoon Trap
Rachel, Out of Office
Enjoyed the Story?
Turn the page for chapter one of
Played by the Rockstar
A rock star walks into a bar…
* * *
Certified behavioral counselor (and former band groupie) Becca Forrester needs a break. Tired of being constantly overwhelmed, she’s formally embraced a vacation from responsibility. A leave of absence from her job, moving into the apartment over her parents’ garage, and clinching a gig waitressing at a dive bar known for bringing in big name musicians is the perfect low-stress recipe for a girl on a reality diet.
Cedric “Linx” Lincoln is a certified rock star. Ask anyone. Bassist for the hugely popular rock band, Dimefront, he’s in Denver while the band is on hiatus a-freaking-gain. He’s tired of the on again, off again work ethic of his bandmates, so he’s looking for something—anything—to keep him occupied until they can all get back to making music. He saunters into his friend’s bar and right into Becca’s life vacation.
Becca’s presence is a breath of fresh air into what has become a stale existence for Linx. The sizzle she ignites in him is precisely the push he needs to do things for himself. Plus, no-stress, no-strings are his specialty. But when things between them tip toward serious, his band implodes, and time has run out on Becca’s reality break, they’re forced to decide what their “real” lives should look like. Perhaps, there’s room for an encore…