The Bet (Addison #2) Read Free Page A

clicks her long lavender nails on her desk.
    “This is big, Addi!” She squeals and motions for me to come behind her desk to look at her computer screen. It’s a guy riding a bull. As a matter of fact, it looks like the same picture of the guy who added me on Facebook.
    “Who is he? And why is this a big deal?” I ask, not knowing who in the world he is aside from the fact he sent me a friend request on Facebook last night. Shelly opens up a new tab and types ‘Lucas Boyd professional bull rider’ into the search bar.
    “Do you know him? I figure you would since you’re from Iowa!” Shelly exclaims.
    I don’t know him, but I feel like I have to, somehow.
    “No. I have no idea who he is. Show me what you were going to show me.” Shelly pulls up an online album of bull riding pictures and some professional modeling photos.
    “So what do you want me to do?” I fold my arms across my body, hoping to hide my nervous hands. I don’t even know why I’m nervous, he’s just entirely too good looking and if I have to do any work with him…I might faint.
    “He’s John’s nephew. Lucas is a professional bull rider, model, and he’s going to be starring in a movie soon. You, Addison, are his publicist.”
    “What do you mean publicist? Since when did we start working with individuals and not companies? I don’t know anything about bull riding really, or modeling, or acting.”
    “Calm down. It’s just John’s nephew. He obviously approved of it. We have the resources to do this and if it works out well, we’ll start branching out and hiring on more publicists.
    “Well, I know this is John’s company and all…but, this is just bullshit. It’s going to be a flop.” I throw my arms in the air.
    “You’ll be meeting him tomorrow afternoon.” Shelly smiles and turns in her chair to face me completely. She hands me a file with all of Lucas’s information. I snatch it out of her hands and power walk out of her office. This is bullshit. Why would I, of all people, get stuck with this? She’s so fucking happy about it I don’t know why she isn’t his publicist. I walk down to the employee break room and dig through the cabinets to find Garrett’s stash of coffee. I can’t deal with the instant shit today. I finally discover it and a coffee filter out of another cabinet. As I’m opening the coffee bag, a warm body embraces me from behind. Startled, I jump and spill the bag of coffee all over the counter and floor. It’s Garrett.
    “What the fuck, Garret!” I shout. He laughs hysterically, grabs a paper towel, and wets it down to help me clean up the mess.
    “Maybe you should stick to your instant coffee—I don’t know, but I’d say you owe me a coffee date now.” A devilish smirk rises on his face. I reach into the closet and pull out the vacuum.
    “Oh, you’re really smooth,” I say sarcastically and roll my eyes.
    “Fuck, Addison. It’s just coffee. Get off your high horse already.” Garrett throws the paper towel in the trashcan and approaches me.
    “I was just joking, Garrett.”
    “No, you weren’t. You know you weren’t.” He inches closer to me. I suddenly feel a desire to kiss him, but I can’t. I just can’t.
    “I’ll go have coffee with you. When do you want to go?” I take a step back. He steps forward and places his hand on mine, holding the vacuum handle. I turn the vacuum on and it startles him.
    “Jesus, Addi!” He moves out of my way so I can vacuum up the mess. I place the vacuum back in the closet and walk over to the vending machine to get Hilton her Butterfinger.
    “Are you going to answer me?” I ask. Garrett grabs a newspaper from the stand in the corner of the room. He wanders back over to me, his confidence screaming. He brushes my hair away from my neck and pulls me closer, his lips barely touching my ear.
    “Tonight, I’ll pick you up at eight.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
     
    Hilton drops me off at home just after 5:30 p.m.