on rice.”
His brows rocket up his forehead. “For real?”
I nod. “Oh yeah.”
And just like that, his entire attitude to our task changes. Within the hour, he’s got it all figured out like the pro he is.
He smiles proudly as we sit in the plastic chairs, playing a round of Snap while we wait for the dryers to finish. “You should have led with ‘chicks dig dudes who do laundry,’ and I wouldn’t have bitched so much,” he says, looking at the cards in his hand.
“You’re right.” I nod. “I ought to have known everything is about your dick—even laundry.”
“Lennon, I’ve got Mary-Jane Curtis on line one for you,” Clay tells me through the intercom, and I push aside the contract I’ve been working on.
“Thanks, Clay,” I respond, a massive smile on my face. I’ve been courting this chick for months. She’s a young, up-and-coming tennis player who needs better representation, and I’m just the woman for the job.
I pick up the handset and click over to her call. “Mary-Jane, how’s it going, girl?”
“Hey, Lennon, not too bad. I missed a call from you,” she says.
“Yeah, what are you doing Friday night?” I ask.
She chuckles. “As in tomorrow?”
“Yep,” I say, popping the P.
“Umm, I don’t have any exciting plans. Why?”
I grin. “Because I have a party you need to be seen at. I’ll send a car for you. We’ll do a late lunch then go dress shopping and get ready at my place.” Taking a client to my apartment isn’t usually my M.O., but Mary-Jane and I have forged a friendship over the last few months, so I feel like I can be a little less formal with her.
“As amazing as that sounds, I can’t really afford a new dress right now. I just spent a ridiculous amount of money on training equipment,” she says.
“Oh, honey, no.” I frown. This is why she needs me. “You shouldn’t be buying your own gear. That’s what sponsors are for, babe. And tomorrow’s on me. I’m going to show you how your agent should be treating you, and what one is supposed to be doing for your career.”
She chokes. “Are you freaking serious?”
My grin widens. “I don’t speak because I like the sound of my own voice, MJ. Of course, I’m serious.”
“Umm, well, okay then,” she says. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Great. I’ll have the car pick you up at one.” I end the call then press the intercom button. “Clay, I need you to book a car to pick up Mary-Jane tomorrow at one, then make a reservation at Alberto’s for one-thirty. Oh, and please block the rest of that afternoon for me, too. I’ll be out of the office for the remainder of the day.”
I go back to the contract proposal I drafted for Mary-Jane and make a few notes. Her career has the potential to be huge, but she needs to be rubbing shoulders with the right people as well as keeping up her amazing winning streak.
Her current agent isn’t looking after her best interests, and that pisses me the hell off. I clench my jaw, annoyed that he made her fork out for her own training equipment when he should have had that all covered by a sponsor by now.
“Whoa, what’s with that face?” Archer’s voice hits my ears, and I straighten.
How does he keep doing that? Sneaking in here like a freaking ninja and scaring the crap out of me. I lift my gaze to him, careful to keep my expression neutral and not give away the fact that he looks mouthwateringly hot. “I don’t have you booked in today. What’s up?”
He drops into the chair across from me, spreading his jean-clad legs wide and lacing his fingers behind his head. “Not much.” He shrugs. “I was in the area. Thought I’d stop by and see if you’d eaten lunch yet?”
I shift my focus away from his killer biceps and back to his face. But that doesn’t help slow my racing pulse. Damnit, why does he have to be so attractive? His eyes are a pale shade of ice-blue and, I swear, can see right through me. I swallow then shake my head, clearing my thoughts. “Seeing as it’s almost five o’clock, I’m going to go ahead and say that’s not why you’re here,” I tell him with an arched brow.
His lips curve into a smirk, and he drops his hands from behind his head. “You’re right. That was a lame excuse, even for me.”
“So, what are you