I’m grateful for the reprieve, but this is only the start. I turn to my mother. “Sorry, Mom. I should have done better.”

  “It happens.” She smiles sympathetically. “I’m guessing you had woman trouble?”

  I blink. What is it with my parents seeing right through me? I scrub a hand along my scratchy jaw. “I don’t know,” I mutter.

  “Sounds like woman trouble, then,” my dad says sagely. Then he nudges the plate toward my mom. “Eat up before it gets cold, hon.” Dad glances at Tilly. “Want some too?”

  “You’re a doll,” Tilly says brightly.

  “Did I luck out or what? I married a man who feeds me and my friends,” Mom says.

  Dad makes another plate, and the ladies sit at the kitchen counter and tuck in. My stomach growls, and I stare forlornly at the emptying pan. There are hardly any eggs left. No pancakes either.

  But that’s okay. I glance over at my pops, the one who taught me to cook. He doesn’t have a plate either.

  “Dad, you want some? I can make some for us both,” I offer.

  He smiles proudly, as if I finally understood an assignment. “I’d love some.”

  Then I whip up a fresh batch of eggs and pancakes. At least I fixed one problem. Too bad I can’t solve the problem of bad timing with Ellie Snow as easily.

  But maybe I should start with something I can do. I need to apologize to her for how I acted last night. I can’t let her think I’m that kind of guy.

  Later, when I’m back home after a big team meeting, I pack for training camp and contemplate the best way to say, Sorry, I was a jerk.

  I toss a few more T-shirts into my duffel bag, still mulling over the question, then there’s a knock on my door.

  My heart springs. Maybe it’s Ellie.

  I hustle over and answer. On the doorstep stands Myrtle, my neighbor. I’m bummed it’s not Ellie, but I’m always happy to see my neighbor. “Hi, Myrtle.”

  “Hey, handsome. Any chance you could help me put my suitcase away?”

  “Of course,” I say. “Happy to help.”

  I shut the door and follow her to her condo. “How was the retreat?” I ask, and maybe it’s weird that I’m asking the little old lady down the hall about her kink workshop. But, you know, maybe it’s not either.

  “Oh, it was enlightening. I learned so much,” she says as we wander through her home. “New techniques. New preferences. The world is changing. Playmates like different things these days, and I need to be able to deliver for my subs.”

  Holy Shit. Myrtle’s a Dom. That’s…badass boss lady.

  “That’s awesome,” I say, grinning.

  In her bedroom, she gestures to her empty suitcase. I hoist it up and set it on the top shelf.

  Then, I dust my hands and meet her gaze. Her blue eyes are wise, crinkled at the corners, like she knows things.

  Not just things about kink—things about life, and how to behave, and how to say you’re sorry.

  “Hey, Myrtle. Can I ask your advice on something?”

  “Of course, handsome.”

  “There’s this woman,” I begin, then I lay it all out.

  When I’m done telling her the story of Ellie, she just laughs. “Young people,” she says, shaking her head.

  “What does that mean?”

  “Sometimes you miss all the clues,” she says.

  Myrtle waves me over to the kitchen counter. “Have a cup of coffee while I tell you everything you got wrong and how to make it right.”

  As we chat, I thumb through the mental Instagram of my week with Ellie.

  I got all these good, romantic, hopeful vibes from her and then suddenly, she was all Miss Independent before the party.

  The last thing I wanted when we stopped at her house was for her to turn to me with that decisive expression and tell me she just wanted to be friends or whatever, so I interrupted her.

  But she wasn’t about to go all I’ve got this on me. She was, maybe, possibly, about to tell me she felt the same way I do.

  Fuck me.

  I missed what was right in front of me.

  28

  IS THIS SEAT TAKEN?

  Ellie

  “And then she said, I’ll take ten of those heart necklaces,” Rachel says, setting down her wine glass at the bar, triumphantly.

  Delighted with her tale of saleswomanship, I raise my glass to my new friend.

  Then my old friend joins in. Maddox is here too, at Max’s Restaurant. He was finishing dinner with a client, so I insisted he join us for a post-dinner drink.

  Already, the three of us are thick as thieves, sitting around a high table near the bar.

  Maddox lifts his tumbler of amber liquid. “To being a helluva dealmaker,” he says to Rachel.

  I stretch across to pat his forearm. “And this guy knows how to ink all the deals. He’s the best in the biz,” I say, proudly.

  He waves off the compliment, then directs his attention to Rachel. “Tell me more about the boutique and what inspired you to open it,” he says.

  I sit back, enjoying the camaraderie as I get to know Rachel even better. She’s not a replacement for my New York friends. She’s her own woman, and I’m glad I have her in my life now.

  I’m glad I have Maddox too.

  Like in my TV show, friends make everything better. Friends, too, can help you through heartache.

  When Rachel is done telling the story, her brown eyes meet mine in a question. “So, your date…how did it go? You’ve been holding out all night.”

  “Yes, inquiring minds want to know,” Maddox seconds.

  My poor heart hurts too much. But keeping the story to myself won’t help me heal. “I reconnected with this guy, and we made a deal to spend the week together,” I say as Rachel leans forward, while Maddox squints off in the distance. Weird. He’s usually such a good listener, but everyone has their off days. “We had an amazing time over the last week, and I thought we were both feeling the spark of something more, but then—”

  “Excuse me. Is this seat taken?”

  I sit up straighter, my eyes widening at the smoky, sexy voice coming from behind me.

  This can’t be happening. A curl of pleasure winds down my spine. And I risk a glance over my shoulder.

  My breath catches at the sight of the man I’m crazy for. His hands are wrapped around the back of the empty seat.

  Like we mapped out on text with opening lines and all.

  My heart climbs up my throat. This has to be good. Please let this be good.

  “Now it is,” I say, giving him the next line for our strangers-at-a-bar scenario.

  But this role play is just between us, so I turn to my friends. “I’ll be fine,” I tell them. “You can go.”

  Rachel pushes back in her stool, grinning like you’d better tell me everything. Maddox squeezes my shoulder, then mouths tomorrow as he stands to go.

  In seconds they’re gone, and Gabe sits next to me. “I saw you here and I was compelled to come over and talk to you, even though I don’t know you,” he says, leaning into the role play.

  Normally, I’ve led the scenes, improvising with him following. This time, I let him tell the story. I’m still hurting over last night, but I’m also delighted that he’s here.

  “What did you want to talk about?” I ask, carefully.

  He might just be here for more sex. He might just be here to strike an arrangement.

  He blows out a deep breath. “There’s this guy I know,” he begins. “He was such a dick last night, and he needs to apologize to his woman.”

  My heart jumps, but does that mean he still wants me to be his?

  “Does he, now?” I ask, hunting for the answer in his eyes.

  His dark brown eyes are vulnerable. “He was moody and cold, and he handled everything badly. And that’s not cool,” he says, but then he winces, drags a hand over his chin. “Shit, Ellie. I’m sorry. I can’t do it like this.”

  “Like what?” I ask, alarmed that he’s backing off. Is he saying he thought he could make a go of things but now he can’t?

  He lifts a hand, cups my cheek. “I’m crazy for you. Just absolutely crazy for you, and I want you to be mine. No games, no challenges, no fake dates. All real, if you’ll have me,” he says, taking the narrative for himself and leaving the stranger play far behind.

  My lips tremble, and I’m overjoyed. By the simplicity, by the honesty, by the complete break of character. “I’m pretty wild for you too. For real,” I say, then lift my chin in a request for a kiss.

  He obliges, brushing his lips across mine with a sigh. “Fuck, baby. I fell so hard for you. I was terrified you didn’t want the same things I did.”

  Melting in his arms, I swat his broad chest. “You’re ridiculous. Of course I do,” I say.

  “I had no idea. You’re all I’ve got this and shit, and I thought there was no room for me in your life.”

  “I thought there was no room for me in your life! Your last football season and all,” I point out, and we’re both laughing and smiling and touching.

  “I want to spend my last season with you. And then whatever comes after that,” he says.

  I’m floating, and I can’t be in public with him much longer. “Me too,” I say, then I kiss him—a tender, passionate kiss that feels like a promise.

  When we break it, I say, “Hey, stranger, I better pay this bill and take you home. I have something in mind for tonight.”

  “Tell me,” he says urgently.

  “I’ll show you.”

  A minute later, we’re gone.

  29

  NEW NECKLACE

  Gabe

  She shows me all right.

  There’s no scene, though. Just my woman riding me. Her palms press hard against my chest, her hips swivel, and her breath comes hot and fast. Her expression twists in exquisite pleasure, and she’s close.

  She’s so damn close.

  I slide a hand between her thighs. Stroke her till she’s shaking. “So good,” she murmurs.

  “Because it’s you and me, baby,” I tell her as my other hand snakes up to her hair, curls around her head.

  We can play all the bedroom games we want. We can take on all the roles that suit us. We can go dirty and wild every night, but there’s only one reason it feels this good.

  Because we belong together.

  As her orgasm crashes over her, mine follows, taking me under and into this bliss.

  After, I pull her close, kiss her tenderly. Then I brush her hair off her face. “I’m falling in love with you, sweetheart.”

  She smiles. “I’m falling in love with you.”

  Later, after we clean up, we return to bed together. In seconds, the dog hops up, sliding between us. “Gigi,” I chide.

  Ellie laughs. “Gabe, there’s something I have to tell you.”

  “Yeah, what’s that?” I ask, on a yawn, content with the world.

  “She doesn’t sleep on dog beds. She sleeps with me.”

  I curl an arm around woman and dog. “You mean with us,” I correct her.

  Ellie snuggles up against us and we fall asleep like that.

  In the morning, I’m out of bed at the crack of dawn. I take Gigi for her walk, then return to Ellie’s home, where she’s padding softly out of her bedroom, stretching.

  “I need to get ready for the first day at work,” she says.

  “And I need to take off.” I look at the clock on the wall. “Training camp check-in is at two.”

  Her eyes pop. “And it’s in San Diego. You better go,” she says, shooing me toward the door.

  But not so fast. There’s one thing I have to give her before I leave. I reach into my pocket for a little white cloth bag. Myrtle gave it to me to use, reminding me a man shouldn’t apologize empty-handed.

  “I have a little something for you,” I say, then hand Ellie the bag.

  She peers inside and brightens. “I love jewelry.”

  “I know,” I say, then I fasten the chain around her neck. My Super Bowl ring dangles on the end of it. “Looks like that’s exactly where it was meant to be.”

  30

  MATCHMAKER

  Gabe

  A Few weeks later

  Best training camp ever. The guys are sharp. The rookies don’t act like privileged jackasses. Coach has me work closely with a couple of the new receivers and they learn the routes quickly, then play tight, intense football.

  The way it should be.

  By the end of training camp, we already feel like a well-oiled machine.

  As I head off the grass on our final day at the San Diego facility, Coach calls me over. “Clements, nice job the last few weeks. I appreciate you stepping it up to help the kids.”

  “Happy to do it.”

  “You bring focus and talent and you give one hundred percent to every game.”

  “That’s what the game deserves,” I say. No point in playing half-assed. Ever.

  “Are you sure this is your last season?” he asks, with a hopeful note in his voice.

  I laugh. I had a feeling he was buttering me up for something—in this case, to get me to stay beyond my last year. “I’m pretty sure.”

  “But you’ve hardly had any injuries your whole career,” he says, in a leading the witness tone. “And you’re looking sturdy and fast as a fox.”

  I peer around, hunting for wood to knock, but of course finding none. “That’s how I’d like to go out, sir. Injury free.”

  He nods, exhaling deeply, perhaps in understanding. “Fair enough. Just glad we’ve got you for the last season.”

  “Me too.”

  I trot the rest of the way off the field, catching up with Drew in the corridor. “That was a great training camp,” I remark.

  “What a difference a year makes,” he seconds. Last year at this time, he was still playing on the Los Angeles Devil Sharks. The Mercenaries traded for him right around the same time they traded for me.

  “But I sure won’t miss seeing you for the next few days,” I add as we near the locker room.

  He laughs. “Fucking won’t miss seeing you either.”

  “Don’t break the speed limit on your rush back to LA,” I joke.

  “Same to you,” he says. And it’s unsaid, but understood, why we’re both eager to return to Los Angeles. He’ll want to see his fiancée, Brooke, and I’m climbing the walls to see Ellie.

  A little later, I’m heading to my car in the parking lot at the same time he is. Even though I don’t want to waste a second before I see my woman, I also want to do something for her. I clear my throat. “So you want to grab a bite sometime when we’re back in LA? You and Brooke and Ellie and me?”

  As Drew tosses the keys to his Tesla up and down in his palm, he shoots me a cocky grin. “Aww. I thought you didn’t want to see me and now you do.”

  I roll my eyes. “It’s for Ellie, asshole. I know Ellie would like to meet Brooke. And I bet they’d hit if off.”

  Drew doesn’t give me shit this time when he says, “She will. Brooke’s awesome and so is Ellie. Let’s do it.”

  Three hours later, I’m pulling up to Ellie’s place. Before I even cut the engine, the front door flies open and my brunette beauty rushes across the lawn and out to the driveway. My heart soars, right along with my dick. Package deal, those two.

  I step out of the car and close the distance in a heartbeat, hauling her into my arms. Right where she belongs. “I missed you,” she says.

  “You have no idea how much I missed you,” I say, savoring the smell of her, the feel of her.

  We head inside. Where someone else, evidently, missed me too. In the front hallway, Gigi does the dog greeting dance, jumping up and down, shouting my name in Dog. So I pick her up and kiss her little nose.

  “You are the cutest,” Ellie says.

  Then I set down the little lady, and I spend a good long time kissing the woman I missed. The woman who was my fake real girlfriend. Now she’s mine for always and that’s exactly what I want.

  Later, after we reconnect properly—or improperly as the case may be since Ellie turned out to be a very naughty student and I had to put her over my knee as her professor—we pore over dinner options in the kitchen. Once we choose Korean, I ask her if she wants to go out with Drew and Brooke sometime.

  She lights up. “I would love that.”

  I drop a kiss to her forehead. “I had a feeling you would. I know you said you wanted to make friends in LA, and I think you and Brooke would get along.”

  “Look at you! You’re like a friend matchmaker.”

  “I just want to make you happy,” I tell her.

  She smiles. “News flash. You do.”

  31

  A COUPLE OF WORD DEVOURERS

  Ellie

  A few days later, on Sunday morning, Gabe and I walk along Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, savoring the late summer sun as we make our way to The Tree House.

  I squeeze his hand tighter. “It’s kind of wild that I’ve only been in town for a month and we’re already doing this,” I muse.

  “Having brunch on a Sunday,” he says. “Just like everyone else.”

  “Nobody would know what we did last night,” I tease.

  “Not a single soul has any idea,” he says in a dirty whisper.

  We went to a hotel along the beach. We met at the bar. I was a businesswoman in town for a conference. He happened to be going to the same conference but had to catch a late flight back to New York. We didn’t know each other. But he still had his hotel room for another hour, so he took me back to his room, tied my wrists with his tie, then bent me over the edge of the bed. Stranger sex with the man you’re crazy for is absolutely fantastic.

  But I put it out of my mind as we head into the cute café, looking for his friends.

  Gabe nods toward the booth in the corner. “There they are,” he says, a touch of excitement in his gravelly voice. It’s sweet how he wants to do this for me.