'Sweetheart that is really wonderful news,' Roger smiled, 'I have called up a colleague who specializes in corporate contracts to look through this,' Roger indicated to the contract I showed him.

'Katy honey this is absolutely amazing. I am still awestruck at the money sponsors pour into this sport,' mom studied the sponsorship figure.

'Katy at the rate you're going, you're really going to need an agent,' Roger laughed.

'Can't Jeff handle that?' I asked.

'You need somebody who is legal wise and media savvy,' Roger spoke gravely. 'And Katy, don't even verbally commit to anything whatsoever, without an attorney at your side,' Roger cautioned.

'This is becoming scary,' I complained.' All I want to do is race my car, I don't want all the buiness hassles.'

'Shall we look into getting you an agent?' Roger offered.

'Can I speak to Jeff first,' I murmured.
Heck I needed to make right with him, I'd hurt his feelings about firing him. Damn me and my big mouth.

'Honey, Jeff is a great guy, but you need somebody with legal muscle,' Roger pointed out. 'Companies that sign up brand ambassadors, create such air tight contracts, sometimes a person can't even take a step to the side to exit the contract they're tied up to.'

Yes I heard the song from Rafe already. And he's not even practicing yet, but he's already dishing out advice.

'I think I do want somebody to look after all these business aspects of things Roger, but just let me fill Jeff in on things okay.'

I saw mom smirk, at me wanting to run things by Jeff first. I don't know what's so funny. I mean it's because of Jeff that I'm racing. It's because of Jeff that I'm doing so well, even I can't believe how well.

'I'll talk to you guys just now,' I huffed, going to my room to call Jeff.

'Come on pick up Jeff, please', the phone rang continuously until it went to voicemail.

Don't try to sulk, not now Jeff.

I dialed Jeff's mobile one more time, praying he would answer and on the sixth ring, I heard his voice.

'Jeff, I __ you busy?' I asked stupidly, and was answered with silence.

'Jeff please, I'm sorry about earlier. I was out of line,' I pleaded.

Silence again.

'It's not very nice having a conversation with myself you know. I could have paced around my room, speaking to myself without calling you,' I moaned.

I heard a spontaneous laugh at the end of the line and smiled, 'you not angry with me?' I whispered.

'Nope,' I could hear there was a smile playing on his lips. 'What's up sugar?'

'My stepdad thinks I should get a professional to handle the business and legal issues.'

'Actually, I wanted to suggest that to you, seeing we're no legal eagles,' he smiled.'you know, Ally has an exceptional agent.'

He can't be all that exceptional, if Rafe had to rescue her.

'My stepdad has contacted somebody, you and I could meet with,' I informed him.

'Then I suggest we follow your step dad's sound advice. He will recommend somebody credible.'

'Jeff?'

'Yeah babe?'

'About you and the salary bit__'

'Yeah?' he questioned.

'Seeing the contracts we have are quite lucrative__, I like for you to have a salary as my manager,' I drew out.

There was a long silence on the other side, too long. What was he thinking? Why does he not say anything?

'Why do you feel the need now, to do that sugar?' he demanded.

'I__you__ we.'

Stop babbling Katy!

'You're putting a lot of time and effort in. I think you should be compensated,' I justified, hoping he would not take offense.

'Babe?'

'Yes?'

'You know I earn enough from my own gigs, as a bouncer in the night clubs, as a mechanic. So I don't need to be on my girlfriend's payroll right.'

'Jeff it's not like that,' I pleaded.

'I know you mean well sugar, but I'm good. Now we'll meet this agent tomorrow okay?'

'Yeah, okay, good night,' I whispered, hanging up.

'Katy, Katy you're not going to believe the news I have for you!' April grinned, barely containing her excitement.

Rafe wants to go out with me!

'Channing has popped the question?' I raised my eyebrows.

'What?' the smile disappeared from her face, 'are you mad girl? I'm like not even twenty. I haven't lived yet,' she battered her eyelids theatrically.

'Okay I give up then,' I threw my pen down, cupping my palm under my chin.The look on her face told me this was going to be an elaborate session.

'Somebody wants to meet you,' she sang mysteriously.

If his name is not Rafe Vega, who the hell cares?

'Umm newsflash, I am seeing Jeff.'

April cringed, wrinkling her nose, 'break up with him Katy,' she whispered, 'there is enough chemistry between you and Jeff to cover an entire postage stamp. I don't know why you're suffering in that relationship.'

Was it that obvious to everybody else as well? April's just saying that because she suspects how I feel about Rafe.

'Jeff's a good person,' I defended.

'So is my seventy year old neighbour. So is our family green grocer,' April threw at me.

'I like Jeff very much,' I stubbornly rallied on, 'we understand each other.'

'Katy, do you know Nate Jenkins?'

He was a looker. Bulky, tall with wavy hair, long, falling over his fore head. He was a player, everybody knew who Nate was. I'm sure half the senior girls have been in his bed already.

'He's on the football team right? He plays defense with Rafe?'

I remember seeing him, when I used to watch Jamie. Correction when I used to go watch Rafe.

A grin played across my face, as I recalled those wonderful memories of seeing Rafe rip off his shirt.

'So you're interested right? I can set it up,' April misunderstood the grin on my face.

'No!  __ you're mad. April I'm not interested.'

'Then what was that seductive grin about?' she asked suspiciously.

'What seductive grin? 'I laughed.

'That one,' she pointed to my face.

'Oh, I'm just remembering the guys tearing off their shirts and swopping them with their opposition, 'I smiled guiltily.

'Com on Katy, he's begging me for your number,' April pleaded.

'No,' I breathed heavily, 'and he's a player, he just wants one thing only.'

'He's not playing now Katy. He hasn't been with a girl for like the last three months.'

'Oh wow, shall we get him into the Guinness Record books?' I threw at her sarcastically.

April threw me a wounded look. She's my friend, she should be protecting me, not throwing me to the wolves, especially that wolf . I recalled one of the girls Nate dumped, had howled like a banshee at him calling him a man whore. I'd never heard such vile words spoken previously.

'April, I'm sorry,' I groaned, 'but please, I don't want another guy, especially not Nate,' I whispered.

'Er Katy__.'

'If he's standing behind me, you're dead,' I murmured ever so softly.

'He's walking towards us, about ten feet away,' she whispered back. 'Okay Katy,' April grabbed my math text book, 'so you remember the Theorem of Pythagoras?' she asked me loudly, grabbing my pencil and making imaginary lines in my book.

'What?' I glared at her.

April teaching me math? Tell me another joke. And I hope she realized she had the text book upside down!

'Hey April,' Nate sang in that nasal accent of his, as he stood between April and I.

I drew my eyes up to him, and observed that though he greeted April, the toad's eyes were trained down my shirt.

Uncomfortably, I pulled at my shirt, and looked away from the Slimeball.

'Hi Katy,' he grinned, winking one eye at me.

I looked across at April. My eyes questioning her wanting me to go out with this uncultured boar.

'Nate,' I greeted politely, but looked away when his creepy eyes had tried to hold mine to his.

'You're beautiful,' he spewed in that so unflattering tone of his.

I wanted to throw up, when his fingers slid through the loose strands of my pony tailed hair. I looked across at April appealing, my eyes begging to be rescued.

'Nate,' April began, 'Katy's seeing somebody.'

My head lowered, I prayed the slime ball would take a hike. I thought he looked repulsive.

'Katy, I can show you a good time,' his hands touched my cheek. 'How about you and I __'

'Katy sorry to keep you waiting,' Rafe squeezed in next to me,' kissing my cheek, and placing his arm around me proprietorily.

Rafe! What the hell?

I shifted to accommodate him, as I stared blankly into his eyes with confusion.

'You waiting long?' Rafe cooed, his lips lowered to capture mine, in a slow kiss.

Am I going crazy? This is Rafe kissing me! What the hell? But my brain switched off when his lips closed over mine. It felt like liquid energy began to run through my veins. My blood boiled to near danger level as it humped and pumped its way to my heart. His tongue slipped through my parted lips. I was lost to the reality around us, as Rafe deepened the kiss, my hand drew up and winded around Rafe's neck, as I breathed heavily against his luscious lips.

'Why didn't you tell me it was Rafe?' Nate's angry voice brought me back to reality.

I jumped away from Rafe, in a daze. I could still feel Rafe's lips on mine. I raised one finger over my swollen lips. I could still taste his musky scent there.

Good Lord, what the hell am I doing? What if__ if Jeff saw that?

'Something wrong buddy?' Rafe asked Nate casually, as he placed another erotic kiss on my earlobe, his arm dropped around my neck.

OMG, I'm going to self destruct any minute now.

I did not want to look at April, but at the corner of my eye, I could tell there was a glazed look plastered in her eyes. I wish she'd close her mouth before bacteria started camping inside there.

'April told me Katy was seeing somebody, I did not believe her man. I thought she was just playing hard to get, like all the other chicks do, even when they want you,' Nate grinned.

'So now you know better, keep away from her,' Rafe spoke coldly.

'Hey no hard feelings man. I got your back,' Nate stammered, staring at me.

I just kept my head down, I was trembling from head to toe from Rafe's kiss, and it was all a show. It seemed Rafe has witnessed Nate's advances, and decided to play my love interest.
It was just an act, and stupid me got carried away and responded to __to that kiss like a dog on heat. Crazy fool that I am. God I feel like an IDIOT!

'Sorry Katy__' Nate mumbled and scrambled away.

'Er, I have to meet Channing,' April grabbed her stuff and scurried off as well.

'I have to __'

'Not so fast,' Rafe gripped my wrist, holding me back.

I sunk back in my seat, slowing breathing out. What the hell does he want now? I mean the show is over, his star performance was magnificent. I dare not say this aloud, but the acting ability surely runs in the family.

'That was quiet a kiss,' Rafe murmured, his warm breath fanned against my cheek, setting my nerves on fire all over again. 'Perhaps we can do an encore__'

'It was just an act for Nate's benefit,' I lied, shifting away.

'Was it?' he challenged.

'Yes,' I dragged out, avoiding his eyes. I did not want him to see the desire still evident there.

'I don't believe you?' he taunted, in that heavy accented voice.

'Well believe it,' I glared at him angrily.

'Prove it,' he spoke, but before I could ask how, his lips were back on mine.

Am I supposed to prove it by not responding to his kiss? Oh man does butter not melt when you place it on hot toast?

'Querida,' he groaned huskily, whispering sweet endearments in his own language.

He always seemed to switch to his mother tongue when he got emotional, like when he found Cade under the tree, he could not find the English words.

Rafe's palms cupped my face, he pulled me closer, as his tongue ran gently over my lip. I silently cried out for more intimacy. I wanted his tongue inside my mouth. I wanted to rip his shirt out. I wanted to rake my fingers over his naked flesh. I wanted him.

I want you Rafe! Damn it I want you.

I tore my lips away, and jumped up. I took a huge breath gulping down some oxygen. Rafe's head was lowered, he was breathing heavily.

'You are seeing Ally!' I hurled at him, grabbed my stuff and sped away from Rafe.

-        end chapter thirteen-