Read Online Take Me Tonight by Roxanne St. Claire - Free Book Online Page B

us. Hell, the damned Boston Globe is killing us. We can’t give a full-page ad away, even when we have Tom Brady wearing little more than his Patriots helmet on the cover.” He waited a beat and grinned. “But the photo shoot was too much fun.”
    Eric would flip when he met Johnny. If he met Johnny. “Listen, about that website. I have one of their regular rescue guys lined up for a ‘day in the life’ sort of thing. You know, behind the scenes with—”
    “A male hooker?” He made a face. “Not big enough, Sage.”
    “It’s not just that, Eric. This is a huge trend. Women all over Boston, all over the country, are paying to be kidnapped and rescued. I’m telling you, this is the kind of story Dateline does.”
    “Let ’em.” He shrugged. “I need a cover that people can’t resist.”
    “They won’t resist this guy. And I swear, this is a good story, Eric. Just like the Mass General feature. I could do that again.”
    “Not without a source as earth-shattering as Alonzo Garron. I still can’t believe you got that doctor to talk like that.”
    “I’m good. What can I say? Trust me on this one.”
    He gave her a tight smile. “I’m sorry to tell you, Sage, but the powers that be don’t want dirt anymore. Not unless it comes wrapped in state-of-the-
art sex appeal.”
    “Perfect description of this guy.”
    “But he’s nobody. I need a celebrity. Even if they’re just a celebrity in Boston, but I need recognizable and I need hot. I need…never mind.” He looked at his watch. “The kidnapping game is interesting, but not what I want.” He pushed himself away from the table and stood. “Sorry, Sage.”
    She gripped her chair. “What about the Snow Bunnies?”
    “You mean the cheerleaders for the new basketball team?” For the first time she saw a glimmer of interest. “Maybe.”
    “They’ve used this site,” she said quickly. “Could I use that angle to get into takemetonite.com?”
    “No.” He leaned on the table and shook his head firmly. “The fantasy-site story doesn’t do it for me. What’s your in with the Bunnies?”
    She took a deep breath. “My roommate was one.”
    “Oh yeah,” he said slowly as recognition dawned. “I forgot that. The girl who committed suicide, right?” He chewed on his thin lower lip, thinking. “Okay. Maybe. The day in the life of a professional NBA cheerleader.”
    Roll over now, Mom, because journalistic integrity is taking a backseat today . “Actually, they’re dancers.”
    “Whatever. Do they fuck any of the basketball players? That might be interesting. Could we get Paula Abdul for a quote? Wasn’t she one of those girls once?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe.” Her heart squeezed. She was selling herself, and Keisha, down the river—but for the right reasons.
    Eric pulled at the goatee that trimmed his chin. “The Blizzard might be the second-class team in town now, but the Celtics are getting boring and who knows? Then they could be advertisers. I don’t want to alienate their marketing people.”
    “Mass General didn’t blacklist us,” she shot back.
    “They aren’t the potential advertisers that the New England Blizzard is.” He checked his watch again. “You want to do some research and get me a proposal?”
    “Just give me a contract, Eric,” she said. “You know my work. I’ll do whatever it takes to get you something great.”
    “You don’t do fluff.”
    “I could.” She didn’t have to like it, but she could do it. “I could get behind the scenes….” She saw him wavering. “In the locker room.” One eyebrow lifted and hope took flight in her stomach, and she went for the jugular: “Or I could take the idea to the Boston Herald weekly magazine.”
    He smirked at her. “Brat. Okay. Pick up a press pass on your way out, and Jennifer will mail you a contract. Get me a draft in three weeks and some courtside seats to the play-offs if they make it in.”
    “You got it.” She beamed in appreciation.
    She was