Part 43 (1/2)
”I a.s.sist clients who need help either boosting their image or changing it.”
”That must be an interesting job.”
”I love my work. To have a positive impact on people's lives is very rewarding.”
He grinned. ”Good for you.”
”And what about your job, Cole?”
”I've played football since I was a kid. To be able to do this for a living? It's a dream come true. I'm very grateful.”
He was poised, confident and polite. Why didn't he come across like this in interviews? Why was he portrayed in such a negative light? There was more to Cole Riley than what she'd read about in his file.
”Would you like a drink, Savannah?”
”No, I'm fine with the sparkling water, thank you.”
”Okay. You still haven't told me what you're doing at this s.h.i.+ndig.”
”I'm meeting a new client.”
His eyes widened. ”Yeah? About to redo someone's image?”
”As a matter of fact, I am.”
”Huh. I wonder who screwed up and needs a makeover.” He looked around the room, studying all the players in attendance. ”Couldn't be our star quarterback. He eats, drinks and p.i.s.ses charm.”
She resisted the laugh. It wouldn't be appropriate.
He looked at her, then around the room again, zeroing in on a group of players cl.u.s.tered in the middle of the room. ”It's Moose Clements, isn't it? That guy couldn't give a decent interview if you gave him a personality implant. Or maybe Kenny Lawton, the Traders other wide receiver. You want to talk about att.i.tude issues? That guy has serious problems. He's your new client, isn't he?”
She stood, smoothed out her dress. ”Unfortunately, it's time for me to go. It was very nice meeting you, Cole.”
”You're leaving?”
”I'm afraid so.”
He grabbed her hand. ”Wait.”
She paused.
”I want to see you again.”
”Oh, you will.” She smiled as she walked out of the room. This was going to be very interesting.
COLE WATCHED SAVANNAH WALK AWAY, STRUCK BY HER elegant beauty. Definitely no stick up her a.s.s. She walked with a slight sway to her hips-nothing obvious or attention grabbing about her, but she was all woman.
And dammit, he'd just stood there like a tongue-tied teenager and let her get away.
He should have gotten her number, or asked her out. Instead, he'd acted brain dead.
That wasn't his style. He moved to go after her, but a hand on his arm stopped him. He turned to see his agent, Elizabeth Darnell, looking up at him.
He frowned. ”Liz. What are you doing here?”
”We need to talk.”
He frowned and looked at the door. ”Not now.”
”Definitely now. Did you forget the meeting we agreed to?”
He might have forgotten, or maybe ignored Liz's edict that they had some important business to talk about tonight. Since he'd signed with her a few months ago, there'd been a lot of orders. He didn't like being given orders.
”Come on, Liz. We're at a party.”
”You have plenty of time to party. And we had an agreement when I signed you,” she said, giving him that steely eyed gaze. ”Remember?”
”Yeah, yeah. I remember.”
”Good. Then let's go.”
”We're leaving?”