Page 150 of The Thing About My Prince

Chase freaking Cooper.

Of course I knew Oliver was friends with these people, but who wouldn’t be bowled over to be in the presence of Hollywood’s famously swoony sweetheart?

And it seems he really is exactly as delightful as everyone says. Having been a journalist for such a long time, I assume all image is PR. But not with this dude. First impressions say he is indeed as approachable and quick-witted as he is talented in the acting department.

It makes me wonder if he has some secret flaw. The media’s obsessed with him being single for such a long time.

“Oliver will be less depressed about a loss now that he has you to keep that famous British smile on his face.” Miller Malone gives him a friendly pat on the back.

He’s the only one of the other three owners I hadn’t heard of before it was my job to research Oliver. But he’s a well-known figure in Boston due to all the big luxury apartments he builds.

“Yup. I’ve never seen him this relaxed,” says Leo Johanssen ofLions’ Deninvestor reality show fame.

“You’ve worked some magic there, Lexi,” says Amelia, the four guys’ executive assistant at the club.

Leo, the multibillionaire famous for his poker face on the show, looks down at her and, if I’m not mistaken, his mouth turns up slightly at the corners.

“Shame about the book being scrapped, pal,” Miller says to Oliver.

“Yeah, I was gutted at first,” he replies.

“I wasn’t,” I add, to chuckles from the others.

“I thought it was the only way I could ever get a paycheck,” Oliver says. “But being around this one inspired a much better idea I would never have come up with otherwise.” He puts his arm around me and kisses that familiar spot just above my ear. “Chase’s contract lawyer helped us broker a deal, and I can’t believe we’re about to start filming our first documentary series.”

“Could not be happier for you,” Miller says. “Meanwhile, amid all you guys’ showbiz glamour, I have to drive twodonkeys to their new forever home tomorrow because our regular transport guy is busy.”

He might be Boston’s condo king, but Miller also helps out at his fiancée’s family’s donkey sanctuary in a small town in Upstate New York.

“No showbiz glamour for me either,” Leo says. “I’m clearing out a storage unit I’ve had for years tomorrow.”

“Do you need help?” Amelia pipes up. “You know I’m good at making you get rid of junk in the office.”

“Oh.” He shuffles a little on the spot and runs his finger inside the neck of his black turtleneck. “Um. Actually, you know, yes.” Are his cheeks a little pinker than they were a second ago? “That would be great.”

“Just don’t ask her to bring you more than one drink at a time or they’ll get mixed up,” Chase says.

“Hey,” Amelia says. “I can quit moonlighting as your private server in the owners’ box anytime you like.”

“How’re things going with the new movie prep, Chase?” Leo asks, changing the subject.

“Good. I think. Hard to tell when it’s my first time executive producing. I’m crossing my fingers it works out.”

“If you want to get out of the acting game, you could retire to a tropical island right now and put your feet up for the rest of your life,” Oliver says.

Chase shakes his head. “I’d be bored rigid. I don’t want to leave the industry completely, just want to get out from in front of the camera. Then maybe I’ll get more privacy.”

“So who’s going to be in the movie?” Miller asks.

“I’ve got a meeting in LA next week to discuss who to cast as the female lead,” Chase says. “I need someone cheap. So no big names. The studio isn’t exactly throwing cash at my first project.”

“Nice that you’re going with a soccer theme,” Leo says.

“Oh, what’s it about?” I ask.

“It’s a bit like a remake ofBend It Like Beckham. But with adults, not teenagers,” Chase says.

“So you need an actress who can play soccer?” Leo says.

“Yup.” Chase heads toward the box exit where Dane and Cole are stationed. “We don’t have the time or budget to train someone. So a complete beginner would be a disaster.”

We all gather up our things and follow Chase’s lead.

As we wend our way out of the box and down the stadium’s concrete hallway, Cole and Dane falling in step behind us, Oliver puts his arm around my waist. “But then, when I met you, I thought you were going to be a disaster.”

“Not as much of a disaster as I thoughtyou’dbe,” I say, giving the love of my life a peck on the lips as we walk along. “But look at us now.”

If it would be a disaster for the lead in Chase’s movie not to be able to play soccer, imagine how much worse it would be if the studio has secretly cast the high school sweetheart who shattered Chase’s heart…and who couldn’t find a soccer goal if you drew her a map…