face her. “Gianni’s Pizza?” he said with the enthusiasm of a slug. “Are you serious?”
“I know it’s not Reliant, but—”
“But nothing,” he said. “Look, there’s something you need to keep in mind, Payton. I’m one of the premier running backs in the National Football League. There are first-year rookies who wouldn’t stoop so low as to endorse a neighborhood pizza joint.”
“They are not just a pizza joint! Gianni’s is a legend in this city. Every New Yorker has had a slice of their pizza at least once in their lifetime.”
“How would you know? You told me you’ve been here less than a year.”
“The owner assured me,” Payton stated. “Come on, Cedric. They’re going to take a couple of pictures for their advertisements and you’ll sign a few autographs. This is a good start.”
He still didn’t look convinced, but then a corner of his mouth lifted with a reluctant smile. “To be honest, I’m kind of impressed. No agent is expected to land an endorsement deal this quickly.”
Payton allowed herself to enjoy his praise for a moment before dropping the other shoe. “Okay,” she continued. “So, this isn’t exactly your normal endorsement deal.”
He eyed her with a curious stare. “What isn’t exactly normal about it?”
“Well, with most endorsement deals you get paid.”
“Oh, come on, Payton,” he groused.
She held her hands out, pleading for understanding. “Gianni’s Harlem location sponsors the touch football team at the Linden Avenue rec center. The owner was there when I went to talk to the center’s director about the mini-football camp and when he heard you would be there, he was beyond excited. They can’t afford to hire a big-time celebrity to endorse their restaurants, and he’s your biggest fan.”
“Of course he is,” Cedric drawled.
“Is it really such a hardship? You’ve been such a sport about this so far. I thought partnering with another company who helps out the rec center would add to the good press you’ll get for participating in the mini-camp.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask, is the date for the camp set in stone?”
“Yes,” she said. “I talked to the center’s director this morning. Permission slips went out to all the kids today. Is there something wrong with the date?”
He shrugged. “It’s just that a bunch of the players usually spend the bye weekend in Atlantic City.”
Payton threw her hands up in the air. “Atlantic City? Seriously? After everything we discussed about keeping you out of trouble, you make plans to spend your weekend off in Atlantic City? Do you honestly think you’ll go there and stay out of trouble, Cedric?”
It was when she paused to take a breath that Payton noticed the smile edging his lips. “You’re lying,” she accused, ready to slap the smile from his all-too-handsome face. She pointed a finger at him. “Another rule, no rattling your agent just to get a rise out of her.”
His shoulders shook with laughter. “You make it so easy. And enjoyable. It doesn’t take much to imagine you battling some lawyer in court.”
“I studied contract law. I was hardly ever in court,” she said. She cracked a mischievous grin. “I have been told I’m pretty scary when it comes to negotiations, though.”
“Perfect trait for an agent,” he said.
His dark brown eyes crinkled at the corners, and her pulse quickened with a sudden burst of awareness. She wasn’t sure when he’d come to stand so close. Just as she wasn’t certain of when the corridor had become so quiet. The absence of noise only intensified the sound of their breathing.
“So you’ll be at Gianni’s on Wednesday, right?” she asked, taking a step back.
Cedric stared at her for several long moments, the gleam in his eyes telling Payton he found her retreat amusing. “If my agent says I need to be at Gianni’s on Wednesday, that’s where I’ll be.”
Payton was about to respond when movement over his shoulder
“I know it’s not Reliant, but—”
“But nothing,” he said. “Look, there’s something you need to keep in mind, Payton. I’m one of the premier running backs in the National Football League. There are first-year rookies who wouldn’t stoop so low as to endorse a neighborhood pizza joint.”
“They are not just a pizza joint! Gianni’s is a legend in this city. Every New Yorker has had a slice of their pizza at least once in their lifetime.”
“How would you know? You told me you’ve been here less than a year.”
“The owner assured me,” Payton stated. “Come on, Cedric. They’re going to take a couple of pictures for their advertisements and you’ll sign a few autographs. This is a good start.”
He still didn’t look convinced, but then a corner of his mouth lifted with a reluctant smile. “To be honest, I’m kind of impressed. No agent is expected to land an endorsement deal this quickly.”
Payton allowed herself to enjoy his praise for a moment before dropping the other shoe. “Okay,” she continued. “So, this isn’t exactly your normal endorsement deal.”
He eyed her with a curious stare. “What isn’t exactly normal about it?”
“Well, with most endorsement deals you get paid.”
“Oh, come on, Payton,” he groused.
She held her hands out, pleading for understanding. “Gianni’s Harlem location sponsors the touch football team at the Linden Avenue rec center. The owner was there when I went to talk to the center’s director about the mini-football camp and when he heard you would be there, he was beyond excited. They can’t afford to hire a big-time celebrity to endorse their restaurants, and he’s your biggest fan.”
“Of course he is,” Cedric drawled.
“Is it really such a hardship? You’ve been such a sport about this so far. I thought partnering with another company who helps out the rec center would add to the good press you’ll get for participating in the mini-camp.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask, is the date for the camp set in stone?”
“Yes,” she said. “I talked to the center’s director this morning. Permission slips went out to all the kids today. Is there something wrong with the date?”
He shrugged. “It’s just that a bunch of the players usually spend the bye weekend in Atlantic City.”
Payton threw her hands up in the air. “Atlantic City? Seriously? After everything we discussed about keeping you out of trouble, you make plans to spend your weekend off in Atlantic City? Do you honestly think you’ll go there and stay out of trouble, Cedric?”
It was when she paused to take a breath that Payton noticed the smile edging his lips. “You’re lying,” she accused, ready to slap the smile from his all-too-handsome face. She pointed a finger at him. “Another rule, no rattling your agent just to get a rise out of her.”
His shoulders shook with laughter. “You make it so easy. And enjoyable. It doesn’t take much to imagine you battling some lawyer in court.”
“I studied contract law. I was hardly ever in court,” she said. She cracked a mischievous grin. “I have been told I’m pretty scary when it comes to negotiations, though.”
“Perfect trait for an agent,” he said.
His dark brown eyes crinkled at the corners, and her pulse quickened with a sudden burst of awareness. She wasn’t sure when he’d come to stand so close. Just as she wasn’t certain of when the corridor had become so quiet. The absence of noise only intensified the sound of their breathing.
“So you’ll be at Gianni’s on Wednesday, right?” she asked, taking a step back.
Cedric stared at her for several long moments, the gleam in his eyes telling Payton he found her retreat amusing. “If my agent says I need to be at Gianni’s on Wednesday, that’s where I’ll be.”
Payton was about to respond when movement over his shoulder
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