expression unreadable, closed and, to someone who didn’t know him, bored. His lips tightened, creases appeared between his eyes, and his jaw clenched.
Jason was far from removed from the situation.
Her stomach fluttered, replaced immediate by a sharp pain. What if they found out about their association? Could she lose this job too? Would Jason say anything? Where were her antacids when she needed them?
The businessman stretched out his hand and shook hers. “Scott Thomas, Jason’s agent. Thanks for coming on short notice.”
“I see you have everything in hand.” Miranda smiled tightly. “Stacia, my assistant, Maggie, will be at your disposal. Let her know if you need anything. I’ll talk with you later.” She slipped out the door, with one final glance at the odd grouping in the office.
Stacia looked over to see Jason’s gaze fixed on her. The oxygen seemed to escape the room with Miranda, leaving Stacia struggling for breath. His gaze narrowed, but before he could speak, she stretched out her hand. “You must be my client. Hi, I’m Stacia Kendall.”
She couldn’t fault him for being slow. Taking her cue, he shook her hand and quickly dropped it, probably feeling the same spark of electricity she felt as they touched. Last night was no fluke. There was something here. Definitely.
She couldn’t work with him. Absolutely not.
She walked around the desk and sat in the chair. Scott and Jason took the two facing ones. She folded her hands in front of her and said, “I think it’s only fair to let you know I am only consulting initially on this case. I think it would be best to hand this off to another one of my colleagues.”
Scott looked confused. “I’m not sure I understand, Ms. Kendall. Your boss led us to believe you have no prior engagements and accepted this role. Is there another—?” A look of horror crossed his face and he turned to Jason, his face turning red. “Can I speak with you for a moment?”
“No, no. Nothing like you’re thinking.” She crossed her fingers under the desk and prayed she could hide the lie on her face. “I just finished a grueling campaign with a representative, crisscrossing the state and I’m worn out. I don’t think it would be right for me to take this job on when I’m running on fumes.”
Scott look mollified while Jason stared at the wall, his expression unreadable. “Actually, I think you might be perfect. As Ms. Callahan probably explained, we’re not looking for a lot of publicity, quite the opposite in fact. A few well-placed stories, a few interviews, some coaching guidance. You’d hardly have to travel at all.”
Her smile froze but she persevered. “I can’t take your money for such an easy job. I’m sure Mr. Friar can handle himself.”
“Mr. Friar is the reason we’re in this predicament and an image consultant is a condition of his contract, so he actually has no choice in the matter.” Another man spoke from the doorway and, judging by the sudden burst of anger crossing Jason’s face then quickly masked, not a welcome addition to the discussion. “I know Ms. Callahan spoke with you, Ms. Kendall, but I would like to be very clear on the contract and what we need you to do with Mr. Friar. I’m Cole Hammonds, the team general manager and responsible for this contract.”
Stacia struggled to hide her surprise. Contract terms? Image issues? “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Hammonds. I confess you have me at a disadvantage. The details of the contract were not relayed to me prior to this appointment. I’ll need to assess the situation and determine if I am the best fit.”
Jason leaned forward and looked intently at her, eyes willing her to back down. “Ms. Kendall, I’m not happy about this either, but you were recommended to me by a highly reputable person and I feel obligated to use his suggestion.”
She froze in her seat, her mind scanning through her mental list of people who may have recommended her. The only explanation
Jason was far from removed from the situation.
Her stomach fluttered, replaced immediate by a sharp pain. What if they found out about their association? Could she lose this job too? Would Jason say anything? Where were her antacids when she needed them?
The businessman stretched out his hand and shook hers. “Scott Thomas, Jason’s agent. Thanks for coming on short notice.”
“I see you have everything in hand.” Miranda smiled tightly. “Stacia, my assistant, Maggie, will be at your disposal. Let her know if you need anything. I’ll talk with you later.” She slipped out the door, with one final glance at the odd grouping in the office.
Stacia looked over to see Jason’s gaze fixed on her. The oxygen seemed to escape the room with Miranda, leaving Stacia struggling for breath. His gaze narrowed, but before he could speak, she stretched out her hand. “You must be my client. Hi, I’m Stacia Kendall.”
She couldn’t fault him for being slow. Taking her cue, he shook her hand and quickly dropped it, probably feeling the same spark of electricity she felt as they touched. Last night was no fluke. There was something here. Definitely.
She couldn’t work with him. Absolutely not.
She walked around the desk and sat in the chair. Scott and Jason took the two facing ones. She folded her hands in front of her and said, “I think it’s only fair to let you know I am only consulting initially on this case. I think it would be best to hand this off to another one of my colleagues.”
Scott looked confused. “I’m not sure I understand, Ms. Kendall. Your boss led us to believe you have no prior engagements and accepted this role. Is there another—?” A look of horror crossed his face and he turned to Jason, his face turning red. “Can I speak with you for a moment?”
“No, no. Nothing like you’re thinking.” She crossed her fingers under the desk and prayed she could hide the lie on her face. “I just finished a grueling campaign with a representative, crisscrossing the state and I’m worn out. I don’t think it would be right for me to take this job on when I’m running on fumes.”
Scott look mollified while Jason stared at the wall, his expression unreadable. “Actually, I think you might be perfect. As Ms. Callahan probably explained, we’re not looking for a lot of publicity, quite the opposite in fact. A few well-placed stories, a few interviews, some coaching guidance. You’d hardly have to travel at all.”
Her smile froze but she persevered. “I can’t take your money for such an easy job. I’m sure Mr. Friar can handle himself.”
“Mr. Friar is the reason we’re in this predicament and an image consultant is a condition of his contract, so he actually has no choice in the matter.” Another man spoke from the doorway and, judging by the sudden burst of anger crossing Jason’s face then quickly masked, not a welcome addition to the discussion. “I know Ms. Callahan spoke with you, Ms. Kendall, but I would like to be very clear on the contract and what we need you to do with Mr. Friar. I’m Cole Hammonds, the team general manager and responsible for this contract.”
Stacia struggled to hide her surprise. Contract terms? Image issues? “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Hammonds. I confess you have me at a disadvantage. The details of the contract were not relayed to me prior to this appointment. I’ll need to assess the situation and determine if I am the best fit.”
Jason leaned forward and looked intently at her, eyes willing her to back down. “Ms. Kendall, I’m not happy about this either, but you were recommended to me by a highly reputable person and I feel obligated to use his suggestion.”
She froze in her seat, her mind scanning through her mental list of people who may have recommended her. The only explanation
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