I wasn’t a pacer. I never paced. But this morning it was all I could do. The edges of my high heels dug into the cheap carpet behind the desk. If I kept up this speed I would wear a track on one side of the office.

Candy poked her head inside the door. "Can I get you some more coffee?" She asked.

“No.” I shook my head "I think I've had plenty of coffee for one morning. Another cup and I might have to sprint around here.”

“All right. If you need something let me know. And by the way, Isaac Price is here to see you."

My heart fluttered and my stomach flipped. "He is?" Was he here because he was the one? Had Steve appointed him as my fiancé?

Candy nodded. "Yes, he said you to had set up a meeting for this morning. That you wanted to go over some player issues together."

I felt disappointed. I remembered we had scheduled another meeting. "Oh. Ok send him in.”

At least the meeting gave me a reason to stop pacing like a caged tiger. And then there was last night. I had imagined him touching me, licking me, staring at my naked body. I felt the heat course between my legs. I had to get a grip.

I looked up when he entered the room. He looked different than yesterday. More gorgeous if that was possible. I could smell his cologne. And his hair still looked wet as if he had just stepped from the shower.

“Good morning.” I smiled.

“Good morning, Vanessa. Are you ready for our meeting? I brought player notes. It’s all in one place instead of all the guys bombarding you throughout the day.”

I nodded my head. I wasn't ready for anything. I knew there was a sudden sadness inside me, knowing he was here only to talk business. It was silly. I was supposed to be a businesswoman now. I was the owner of a multibillion-dollar franchise. I was powerful and in command. But all I felt was scared and vulnerable. I didn't know what I was doing. Being near Isaac even for a brief second made me feel safe and protected. As if I could siphon off some of his strength and confidence. He was the kind of man who knew what he wanted. And this was his world. He loved football. He lived it and breathed it. It practically seeped from his pores.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

“I just didn't get much sleep last night,” I explained. I wasn’t about to go into the details of my fantasy with Dylan.

“Would it have anything to do with Steve Drucker’s campaign?”

I felt the horror of my embarrassment. My eyes flashed to his. “You know about that?”

He nodded. “Don't worry. I signed an NDA. All the guys did.”

“All?”

“Yeah. There were a group of us who were candidates. I guess that's what you would call us. The unmarried unattached guys.”

I reached for the corner of my desk to steady myself, but I missed. Instead I ended up tumbling forward and landing in Isaac’s arms. I looked up into his eyes as his hands wrapped around my waist. I felt tiny and small. I didn't want to move. I wanted to say there while he held me as the warmth of his hands spread through the fabric of my silky thin shirt.

“Gotcha.”

“I-I can't believe that happened. I’m mortified. How many? How many of the players were there?” I hadn’t thought about how I would feel if other people knew the plan. It was worse than I could have imagined. What had Steve gotten me into? My reputation as a professional woman was ruined with these guys.

Isaac didn't let me go. In fact, his grip grew tighter. His fingers circled around my waist, winding until they locked at the small of my back.

“Don’t worry about the number.”

I shook my head. “I’m so humiliated.”

“Don’t be,” he whispered.

I was lost in the dark smolder of his eyes. I should protest. I should demand he release me.

“What are you doing?” I asked without much force. I was content to be wrapped against him. It felt good. He felt good.

His lips parted. I realized I had been too focused on his eyes. His lips were firm and shaped like a bow. They suddenly looked completely edible.

“There is something I want before I watch you be engaged to another man for the entire season.”

“There is?” I asked softly.

“Hell yes.”

I didn't ask him what it was. I didn’t have a chance. Isaac’s lips crashed into mine, taking complete control of my mouth.

I’d never fallen into a kiss like this. His tongue twisted along mine, sliding and grinding, claiming my lips and my mouth. I felt the roughness of his stubble graze over my skin as he pressed harder, burning my lips with pressure and delicious possession. His hand slid along my chin, turning my face upward. I groaned as he bit tenderly on my lower lip.

The flames started to kindle in my core. I could feel them smoldering between my legs as his lips moved along my throat. He kissed my neck. Behind my ear. His hands coasted over my body, grazing my breasts through my blouse. I sighed when he cupped my bottom with a rough squeeze before working his way back up my spine.

He found my lips again. This time his tongue plunged in my mouth with hunger. I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t breathe. All I could do was inhale this man. A man who was everything masculine and strong. A man who could hold me and kiss me until I was senseless. Until I forgot I was ownership. Until I forgot he was a player. My player.

My eyes opened.

“Why? Why did you do that?” I blinked, trying to catch my breath. My heart pounded. My veins pulsed with electricity. My lips burned.

“What do you mean?” Isaac smiled. He didn't look like he regretted a single second of that kiss.

“Why do you think you have the right to kiss me? You can't do that. That’s not appropriate work place behavior.” I stumbled for words to make me sound like I had an ounce of authority.

“I can’t kiss you? You're getting ready to take on a fake fiancé. I don't think you're the one who should be handing out moral codes,” he mocked.

I was irritated. Annoyed that I liked the kiss so much, and furious that I wanted another one. I wanted to lock the door and pretend I didn’t have a mountain of problems waiting for me on the other side.

“Well, it can't happen again. There are boundaries. And you can't cross that one.”

Isaac crossed his arms, his biceps bulging. “I got the message. I also got what I wanted.”

“Maybe we should cancel our meeting,” I suggested. I was rattled and heated at the same time. The tingling in my core hadn’t evaporated.

I wanted to hide behind my desk. I wanted to shrink behind the computer. I was embarrassed that he knew so much about the engagement, and he knew how much I enjoyed his lips melting into mine.

He shook his head. “Oh no. We need to have this meeting. There's a lot at stake for the team. I promised them I would bring their concerns to you. I’m not the kind of man to go back on my word. Besides, I think you'll like your fiancé.”

My eyes lifted to his. “Does that mean you know who he is?”

He nodded. “I do.”

“Are you going to tell me?”

He shrugged his massive shoulders. “It depends. Are you going to cancel the meeting, Vanessa?”

I thought about the options. I thought about how dangerous it was having Isaac in my office. The nearness of him drove me crazy. But my curiosity was at an all-time high.

“Just tell me. Tell me who it is.” I exhaled, grimacing at the shameless way I begged for information.

“It’s Dylan.”

Oh my God. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe him. Was he messing with me? Was he trying to get a reaction from me?

“Dylan James? You can't be serious.”

“I am. He's yours for the rest of the season. Or maybe it's the other way around.”

My eyes cut quickly. “What does that mean?”

“Exactly what I said. Which way is it?” He folded his arms and watched me.

“I can’t believe you would ask me that. I have no idea how this is going to work. But I don't belong to anyone, Isaac.” I felt the fire in my stare. I wasn’t property.

“Got it. I’ll stay out of it. I got what I wanted.” He smirked. It was annoying how much sexier he was now that I knew all the things his tongue could do.

“The kiss?”

“I wanted to taste you. I wanted to hear how you would moan.”

There was an undeniable quiver in my belly. I was afraid my knees would give way.

He leaned in closer. I could feel the heat of his breath over my cheek. “I don't care how fake the relationship is, I’m not going to help you cheat on my best friend. If you belong to him then you're off-limits to me.”

“I just finished telling you that I don't belong to anyone.” I realized I was making the argument that I was available. That somehow he shouldn't worry about the arrangement with Dylan. The kiss had me upside down.

“I live by a code, Vanessa. I’m not going to break it.”

My chest heaved. Did the fact that he was telling me there would be no more kisses make me want more? I wanted to grab his hands and put them on my ass. I wanted to press my body into him. I wanted to feel his tongue again.

“And that kiss was within the code?” I was trying to understand.

He rubbed the scruff on his jaw. “Your engagement hasn’t been announced. I figured I had a little time until you were someone else’s woman.” He winked.

I didn’t know whether to be furious or grateful. Whether to throw him out of my office or ask him to throw me on the desk.

I also didn’t know how I was going to make it through this meeting without thinking about all of that. Isaac Price was dangerous.