Romancing the Grump (Appies, #4)

by Jenny Proctor

“Alec and Nathan. There’s a new athleisure clothing company called Flex that’s looking for an endorsement. They’ve requested the two of you specifically. The company checks out, so if you’re interested, Summer will be traveling to Chicago with the team at the end of this month. The three of you will stay in the city an extra night after your game on Thursday, and she’ll accompany you to the meeting on Friday morning, then you’ll fly out that afternoon and catch up with the team in Cleveland in time for Saturday’s afternoon game.” I force myself to nod in agreement like this isn’t a big deal. Technically, it’s not. Stuff like this happens all the time, and there’s always a team representative with us, especially for those of us who don’t have agents. But this feels like a big deal anyway. An hour ago, I wasn’t even sure I would see Summer again. Now she’s here, living a mile down the road, working at the Summit, negotiating on my behalf in brand meetings. “Is that a problem for either of you?” Malik asks. “If not, we’ll get your travel plans sorted and emailed over.” “Sounds good,” I say as Alec mumbles something similar. I keep my eyes on Malik, but I sense Summer looking at me, and I wonder what she’s thinking. Normally, I only tolerate brand meetings because the extra cash is nice and the exposure is good for the Appies. It’s part of the job—part of doing what I have to do so I can play hockey and get paid to do it. But knowing Summer will be there adds a new layer. I’m ...