Bedding the Bad Boy (Bad Boys of Football Book 1) by Clementine Roux, Penelope Silva Page B

bullshit! You have a kid and get to be a favorite? Is that how it works?” I asked as it dawned on me. “You know what; he might be on to something.”
    Now, fully-dressed, Isla sat down on the sofa. “Okay, what are you talking about? Why does his life matter to you?”
    “It matters because if they’re not paying attention to him, they’ll be all over me,” I answered, already picturing the drama that would come out of this situation.
    Isla didn’t have a clue what I was talking about. Was this her first job? If she was going to play with the big boys, she better figure out how things worked. The media liked a bad boy. Bad boys made them money. If the ultimate bad dude, The Arm, was becoming a family man or making it look like he was, then, the media would need to latch onto someone else and, in all likelihood, that someone else would be me. I was the one who had a hot story going at present. Telling them I was engaged to Isla didn’t satisfy them enough, but maybe a kid would.
    “You want to have a baby?” I asked.
    “Excuse me, but have you lost your damn mind? No, I don’t want to have a baby. And, what makes you think you can spring that on someone? Did you really believe I’d agree to do it?” Isla’s green eyes narrowed at me.
    “Yeah, why not? If you had a baby, they’d finally leave me alone. I’d be a hero off the field,” I explained.

Chapter Seven – Isla
     
     
     
     
    I’ d managed to avoid him all week long. I made sure to not be in the office when he had practice. I sneaked in early, before any of the players would even think about rolling out of bed and off their latest conquest. I wrote press releases. I fielded calls and questions. I ignored all text messages, emails and phone calls from Beck. It was easier that way. He had a lot of nerve assuming I’d give up my life to have his baby and save his ass. Nope. No can do. Today, I wouldn’t be able to avoid him. The team had a charity event today -- one I’d scheduled to improve their image. Everyone had to be in attendance. Everyone, including Beck.
    It took me two hours to pick out the right outfit. It’s not like I had many to choose from, but I needed to find an outfit that wouldn’t send out the wrong message to the media or to Beck -- my fake fiancé. I had to look professional and also give off the appearance of a woman in love. Whatever that meant. So, I chose a form-fitting, gold dress with a decorative collar, low enough to give off sex appeal, but high enough to keep my tatas from popping out on camera or in front of Beck.
    “Good morning, pretty lady,” Beck’s voice purred like a lion in heat.
    Why is he here this early?
    “Good morning,” I said dryly.
    “You’ve been avoiding me,” he said.
    So he noticed?
    “I needed some time to wrap my heads around things,” I lied.
    True to form, he replied, “I have a head you can wrap something around.”
    I didn’t have time for this. I agreed to pretend to be his fiancée, but I never once agreed to do anything more. What happened between us last week was a weak moment. It had been a long time since I’d been touched by a man. I had a moment of insanity. That wouldn’t happen again. From now on, our relationship was only for the cameras. I wanted my boring life back.
    “You are a pig. Since you’re here, let me explain how things are going to work between us from now on,” I started, stopping as the corners of his mouth curled up in a sinfully sexy manner. What was he trying to do to me? Sabotage me?
    Putting his hands up in a defensive position, Beck pretended to be afraid of me. “Yes, oh mighty Nubian princess. Your wish is my command. I bow down to you.”
    I had to laugh. He was so ridiculous. “Stop. It’s not that serious. Well, it is, but this isn’t about me. Not right now anyway. This is about the children. These kids are coming to see you – the players. You and your teammates have to be friendly and engaging. And, not because there are