Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
“Brady.” I tore my eyes off the prick and saw Prentice standing on the guy’s other side. “Let Axton handle this fucker.”
The owner of The End Zone appeared next to him and nodded at me. Axton had played ball with Prentice in college, but he was recruited into the CIA rather than going pro. He opened The End Zone almost ten years ago. According to Prentice, Axton was deadly, but it was quite the contradiction from his normal smiles and laid-back personality. However, I would glimpse the danger in him at times. As his gaze scanned the weasel I was currently choking, his expression went hard.
“Don’t fuck up your chances, man,” Axton said, his tone completely even. “I’ll take care of it.” My hand convulsed, tightening for just a beat before I shoved the guy toward Axton with a grunt of disgust.
I didn’t know what Axton meant by taking care of it, but I doubted the asshole bothering my girl would harass another woman after whatever my friend had planned for him.
Prentice watched me carefully, and I knew he was waiting for me to chill the fuck out. When his eyes darted to my side, it was like tossing a bucket of cold water over me. I didn’t want Snow White to be afraid of me. My QB seemed satisfied with whatever he saw on my face and turned to walk back to the other team members who were occupying a table near the VIP area, where some of our other teammates partied.
Hoping I hadn’t screwed my chances, I turned around to face my girl. I still had my arm around her, and I took it as a good sign that she didn’t attempt to pull away.
“Thank you,” she breathed, her head tilted almost all the way back so she could look up at my face.
I smiled. “I’d say ‘anytime,’ but I don’t want you in that situation again.” My tone was more insistent than it probably should have been, and she canted her head, watching me curiously.
“Unfortunately, it goes with being a woman. I can pretty much guarantee it will happen again.”
“Not if I can help it,” I muttered under my breath.
“Pardon?”
“Glad I could help,” I replied a little louder.
She studied me for a moment, then her mouth curved into a gorgeous smile. “Well, thank you again. I don’t know how I’ll repay you.”
A million filthy ideas flooded my mind. I shoved them back, filed away for another day.
“I’m Talia Finch,” she announced as she extricated herself from my arms and held out her hand.
I raised an eyebrow, thinking it was awfully formal for someone who’d had their tongue down her throat. But I grinned and shook her hand. “Brady Summers.”
I didn’t let her go right away, enjoying the feel of her soft skin against the roughness of my palm. Her cheeks bloomed with pink, and I debated how to draw this out and spend more time with her.
Lines formed on her forehead as she continued to stare at me thoughtfully.
“I play for the New York Nighthawks,” I informed her, guessing that she’d been trying to place where she’d heard my name before.
“Ah, that’s why your name sounded familiar,” she mused. “My uncle is a huge fan.”
“And you’re not?” I placed my hand on my chest and pretended to be insulted.
Her laughter was a musical sound befitting a fairy-tale princess, and I smiled even wider.
“I’ve never really followed football. My dad and brothers are big into hockey.”
Hearing that she didn’t know the game and barely knew who I was, an idea began to form.
“Can I ask you a question?” She peered up at me shyly.
“Anything,” I replied automatically.
“I know it’s none of my business, but what did that guy mean about messing up your chance?”
The idea fully took shape, and I took the opening she’d so perfectly handed me.
“Our starting quarterback just landed himself on the injured reserve list, and I’m vying to take his spot while he’s out.” I tilted my head toward the door that Axton had dragged the weasel through. “Causing that motherfucker the kind of damage I was thinking about could trigger the honor code clause in my contract. I don’t need one more thing holding me back from earning that spot.”
“One more thing?”
Here we go…
It wasn’t a lie if Prentice had made the suggestion, right?
“Actually, there is a way you could pay me back.”
“Oh?” She brightened, and her fresh, innocent look turned me on even more.
“The owner of the team is a family man, and he likes players who are settled down. Not just to show they are putting down roots here, but it usually keeps those players from causing scandals. And he thinks we all need the same kind of happiness. Wife, kids, house on Long Island.” I grinned.
Talia smiled back at me. “I can see why he’d want that for you.”