take head shots for the firm’s new ad. She said that he showed up and the photographer was some drab, unkempt woman who was too focused on her personal drama than to take a decent head shot. I really think I knew who she had been talking about before I even asked her, but I couldn’t believe he would do something like that. So when she said All of Creation Studios, I immediately made an excuse for us to leave. Lucas confirmed with Caleb, and isn’t really on speaking terms with him right now.”
I think my jaw literally hits the floor by the time she finishes her story. Of all the incredibly juvenile, outrageously stupid,....ugh. I’m so mad I don’t know what to say.
“DAPHNE!” I yell, not minding the fact that there is a family in the waiting room.
She looks like she could breathe fire, too, when she walks in the room.
“You should see the audacity of some people-“ she starts but stops as soon as she sees my face.
“You need to hear this,” I tell her as I reach for my desk phone. I dial the number I know by heart and wait for him to pick up.
“This is Stephen.”
“I need you. Now.”
Chapter Four
~Stephen~
She sounds pissed and I immediately try to think of what I could have possibly done wrong in the forty-eight hours we’ve been a couple.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, trying my best to not sound guilty.
“I need you in an official capacity. Do you think you might be able to swing by the office?” she asks, obviously trying to unsuccessfully calm herself down.
“Of course, may I ask what this is in relation to?” I ask, trying not to push her buttons.
“We’ve been having some problems with clients cancelling their sessions. Turns out that it could be Caleb behind it.”
My blood starts to boil at the sound of his name. The idiot just can’t take a hint can he?
“I’ll be over this afternoon. Are you okay?”
“I will be. I just need to get this moron out of my life for good.”
“I’ll see what I can do about that.” I smirk and I can hear her relax a little. “Just breathe, babe. Everything will be okay. I’ll be there just as soon as I can.”
“Okay, thank you.” She hangs up and I turn back to my locker. Grady and I just got our butts handed to us by the guys from medical malpractice, but the game was a great distraction from what I really wanted to do today. I don’t think Jessie would have gotten anything done if I was camped out on the couch in her office all day.
“Good game, Cahill.” Cooper and the rest of the malpractice guys walk out of the locker room, duffle bags in hand, freshly showered.
Grady comes around the corner in his boxers with a towel hanging from his broad, dark shoulders, rubbing the back of his razor shaved black head.
“Hey, I may need your help with something this afternoon if you don’t have anything going on.” I pull my pale blue dress shirt on and start working the buttons.
“Actually I have a couple meetings today, but I’m free for dinner. Wanna grab something at Larry’s?” he asks as he pulls his pants on.
“No, I’ve got dinner plans already.” I smirk, thinking about my drop dead gorgeous date, who currently is stewing in anger over her ex-boyfriend. I pull my slacks up and button them with a little more speed.
“Plans? You have plans?” he scoffs.
“Don’t look so surprised.” I cock an eyebrow at him as I tie my Gucci lace-ups.
“Oh, I’m surprised. She finally gave into your whiny ass?”
“I don’t whine,” I say, pulling my charcoal vest over my shoulders.
“Dude, you haven’t stopped whining since her birthday. I was just about to tell you to get over yourself. But good for you. I’m happy for you, man.” He shoots a genuine smile in my direction before shrugging. “Although that explains your crappy game today.”
“It’s not my game that’s crappy, buddy.”
“What you think that you’re an actual white boy who can jump?”
“That’s a little prejudicial even
Richard Ellis Preston Jr.