Read Online Here for You by KC Ann Wright - Free Book Online Page A

the company would make it seem stronger, bigger. He didn’t actually want a partner, so he used my mom’s name.” She sighs and then looks back up at me. “Can we get out of here? You have to pitch tomorrow, don’t you?”
    I nod. “Let’s go back and get your purse and then we can head out. “Will you come to the game tomorrow with Quinn?”
    “I don’t know if she’s going. We haven’t talked about it.”
    “You’re going. I’ll talk to Johnny about seats. Just go to will call before the game. There’ll be tickets under one of your names.”
    She doesn’t say anything but heads back toward the tables with me. When we walk up, she grabs her purse and we don’t sit back down at the table. She gives Quinn a long hug, and I hear her assuring Quinn she’s fine and will call her in the morning. I say goodbye to all the guys and Ashley follows me as I do. Fonz gets up to give her a hug. I stare at him.
    He gives me an innocent look and throws his hands up in the air. “Hey, I was just giving her a hug goodbye as your girl. Nothing more, I swear.”
    I motion for him to continue with his hug, and I swear the smile on his face doubles in size. Poor kid. He has no idea how out of his league Ashley is. I guess one hug can’t hurt. She seems to enjoy the attention, and I take her hand as we start to leave. I feel a hand on my arm as we’re making our way out. When I turn, I see Crystal.
    “I just wanted to say good luck tomorrow.”
    “Thanks.” I glance at Ashley, who is looking down. I know she doesn’t want to get caught between Crystal and me. I see Crystal start to pout when I don’t say anything else. This girl wants the best of both worlds, but she’s not getting it from me tonight. I turn back around and continue out with Ashley.
    As the valet brings my car around, I ask her for her address. “I can just take a cab home, Cam. I know you have to get to sleep.”
    “Ash, either you tell me where you live or I’m bringing you home with me. I’m not letting you go home in a cab.”
    “Fine.” She gives me her address and we both get in the car.
    The ride is quiet for a while, but there is nothing uncomfortable about the silence between us. It’s more comforting knowing we don’t have to be talking. Ashley finally breaks the silence.
    “I have an idea.”
    “Idea?” I give her a half-smile although something tells me this isn’t going to be as simple as a suggestion for the next restaurant we should eat at.
    “Your friends think I’ve slept with you, don’t they?”
    I hesitate before answering her. I know they absolutely do because she called me Cam. I still don’t know why I gave Cam as my name, but something inside me wanted her to call me that. I resign myself to the fact that she can read me. “Yes.”
    “Good.”
    I fail to hide my surprise. “Good?”
    “Well, maybe not good but fine. You need the guys to think you’re with someone so they get off your back about just hitting the next thing you see, correct?”
    I can’t help but laugh. “Hitting the next thing I see?”
    “Whatever term it is you guys use. You know exactly what I mean. You said so yourself, and that was a month ago. I imagine they’ve become even more relentless since then.”
    Even though she doesn’t ask a question, she looks at me waiting for an answer. “Yes, they have.”
    “Fine. I need someone in my life to help me get rid of Charlie. He’s not going to let up until he sees me with someone else. I need to have someone with me at business engagements. I can’t handle this, and I don’t want to have to file a restraining order against my ex. He’s my employee too, so that really would not be a great option. But I think he’ll stop if he sees me with someone else.”
    I have nothing to say to that, so I just nod.
    “So my suggestion is we act like we’re dating for the public. I feel like we’re friends at this point, and I think we have each determined that the other one is important. Am I