1– Gabrielle

“I want to fuck you.”

That was the last thing I expected to hear from Kayden Alvarez, the big-time, professional hockey player I handled.

Why did a grown man need a handler? 

Because he was a toddler in a giant’s body. If it weren’t for his absolute drive to be the best of the best on the ice—plus that ridiculously pretty face—he would be nothing more than a random arrogant man on the street. 

He behaved like a spoiled child, constantly leaving massive messes in his wake while I destroyed my sanity cleaning up after him.

I had drafted more NDAs than I could count in my six months of working for him, all because he didn't know how to keep his pants zipped. I was supposed to be an elite PR professional, but the idiot was turning me into a glorified babysitter.

And now, he dared to utter those words to me? 

The nerve.

“Excuse me?” I twisted my face, making sure he didn’t miss the look of utter disgust in my eyes.

“I said, I would like to fuck you,” he repeated like a fool, incapable of reading a room.

I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening around the edges of my tablet. “You are unbelievably arrogant, Kayden.”

“Arrogant?” He laughed, a deep, rumbling sound. “I’m doing you a favor, Gabrielle. If not now, when else do you think you’d ever get the chance to be with an athlete like me?”

I jerked a brow. “An athlete like you?”

He nodded, looking too proud of himself.

I couldn’t help the sharp laugh that climbed up my throat. It was shocking how bold he could be while actively making an absolute fool of himself. 

“Have I ever given you the slightest impression that I have a desire to be intimate with an athlete?”

“You don’t have to say it,” he shrugged, leaning back. “All women want athletes. It's a fact.”

“With all due respect, Kayden—though you don’t deserve a shred of it at the moment—I do not want to be fucked by you,” I told him, making sure to enunciate every single syllable.

“Really?” He stood up from his bed, his easygoing demeanor vanishing. He stalked toward me, stopping only a pace away and locking his darkened gaze onto mine. He towered over me, clearly attempting to use his massive, broad-shouldered frame to intimidate me. As if I would ever be intimidated by a man-child.

I met him glare for glare, refusing to back down an inch. “If you have nothing more to say, I have actual work to attend to.”

“Work,” he repeated, his eyes narrowing. “What work?”

“None of your business.”

“Why are you always so stuck up?” he asked, deliberately trying to bait me into continuing this absurd conversation.

I almost fell for it. My mouth opened, a retort aching to spill out. But I caught myself, forcing my jaw shut and taking a slow breath.

“What’s the actual problem here, Gabrielle?” he questioned, his tone dropping.

My chest rose on a deep breath. “I find this incredibly insulting and highly unprofessional—”

“Oh, please.” He waved a hand nonchalantly, rolling his eyes. “There’s nothing professional about our relationship.”

I scoffed. “Is that so?”

“It is, and you know it.”

“Let me remind you, Kayden, that I work for a top-tier PR company. I am here for the sole purpose of ensuring that the messes you leave behind don't ruin your multi-million dollar career.” I exhaled a sharp breath. “Is that not professional enough for you?”

He said nothing. He just stared down at me, his brows drawn together in a deep, brooding frown, as though he truly couldn't fathom a woman speaking to him this way.

“Since we’re done here,” I said, dragging my eyes down his frame before looking back up, “I’ll see you at the rink later today.”

“There’d be no need for that,” he gritted through his teeth, unable to hide the sting of his bruised ego.

“Why not?”

“I just don’t want to be around you today.”

“Perfect.” I turned on my heel and stormed out of the room.

Minutes later, I was in my car, driving away from Kayden’s mansion while speed-dialing my best friend, Grace.

She answered on the first ring. “Girl, what’s up?”

“You won’t believe what just happened.”

“What?”

“Guess.”

“Ugh,” she groaned. “You know I’m terrible at guessing. Just tell me!”

“Kayden just told me he wants to sleep with me.” Even saying it out loud made the disgust rise right back up in my throat.

Grace let out a loud squeal on the other end, and I could hear the rustle of her sheets as she jumped out of bed. “What the hell?! Did he really say that?”

I clicked my tongue against my teeth. “Can you believe the audacity of that man?”

“Girl,” she barked out a laugh. “What did you even say to him?”

“What do you think I said?” I asked, navigating the traffic. “I shut it down immediately. Respectfully, of course.”

“Respectfully?” she laughed. “I highly doubt you used your nice words.”

“Whatever,” I rolled my eyes, swerving onto the freeway. “I’m driving right now. We’ll talk later.”

“Of course, babe. Drive safe!”

“Bye.” I ended the call and threw my phone onto the passenger seat, trying to shake off the lingering irritation.

. . .

I was on my third glass of wine later that night when Kayden’s name flashed across my phone screen.

Way to spoil a peaceful evening, I thought, letting out a heavy sigh before swiping the screen. 

I kept my voice as cool and professional as possible. “Kayden.”

“I’m outside your apartment building,” his voice came through, clipped and demanding.

I jolted upright on the couch, nearly spilling my wine. “What?”

“You have ten seconds to get down here.” The call went dead.

That absolute piece of work.

I squeezed my eyes shut, silently praying for my probation period to end so I could stop trailing this man around like a shadow. I quickly threw a silk robe over my loungewear, tied it tightly around my waist, and rushed out the door.

I took the elevator down to the lobby and stepped out into the cool night air.

Sure enough, Kayden was leaning against his sleek black sports car. For the first time, I was grateful I lived in a high-security, exclusive building. If this were a public street, a star athlete standing outside would have caused a riot.

“What are you doing here, Kayden? Do you want to come inside?” I asked, stepping closer to him.

“Why did you say no?” he shot back instantly.

I opened my mouth to launch into a speech, but he held up a hand, cutting me off. “I don’t mean it as an insult. I just genuinely want to know.”

I forced a steadying breath into my lungs. “Fine. First of all, you’re a known playboy. I don’t make a habit of sleeping with men who have already been run through by half the city.”

“Half the city is a massive stretch,” he muttered, looking offended.

“Secondly,” I continued, ignoring his interruption. “You have zero regard for people, especially women. I see the way you treat them and talk about them. It’s appalling. And thirdly, I don’t do casual hookups, especially not with a client. Are my reasons comprehensive enough for you?”

He went completely silent. His lips pressed into a tight line, his dark eyes searching my face as if he were processing my words in real-time.

Then, he took a slow step forward, narrowing the distance between us. “I understand,” he said, his voice dropping to a lower, firmer register. “But it still doesn't change my mind.”

“Good for you,” I sassed, crossing my arms over my chest.

He shook his head, the tense line of his mouth suddenly curling into a soft smile. “I’m sorry if I came off too aggressive this morning.” He swallowed hard, his eyes locked onto mine. “I guess my words came out completely wrong. Because what I actually wanted to say was... I want you to be my girlfriend.”

A dry laugh broke out of my throat, and I practically scratched my head, wondering if the wine was making me hallucinate. But Kayden didn’t laugh. He didn't even smirk.

He was serious.

He actually said those words and he seemed to be serious about it.

“What did you just say?” My voice dropped to a stunned whisper.

Kayden took another step, trapping me against the heavy air between us. “I want you to be my girlfriend. Exclusively, Gabrielle.”

“You must be out of your mind,” I ground out, casting a frantic glance around the dimly lit yard to ensure no one was watching. “Go home, Kayden. Go sleep off whatever is in your system.”

I turned around, intending to walk back into the safety of my lobby. But I barely managed two steps before his fingers curled firmly around my forearm.

He pulled me back. The force of it spun me around, sending my chest slamming into his hard, solid frame.

Before my brain could register the impact, his hand cupped the back of my neck, tilting my head up. His mouth covered mine in a fierce, breathless collision.

Kayden Alvarez was kissing me. Out in the open, under the bright glow of the street lights.

And we were exposed to the world.