I spritz my cologne and straighten my shirt, giving my hair one final little tousle. I’ve never put so much effort into my appearance for a business meeting before.

Not that it’s a normal business meeting. This is the first time I’ll see Farrah since our site walk on Monday. I’ve resisted texting her. I’m trying to respect her wishes and treat this as a professional relationship.

Still, my bed feels cold without her. I miss her touch and the feeling of her soft body in my arms. I miss her smile, and the way her hair smells.

She was with me for just one night, but it left a permanent impression on my life.

And now I’m supposed to pretend she’s just some other financial manager?! Some other investor?!

Impossible.

But I’ll try. I have to. Otherwise, I won’t be able to see her at all.

It feels pathetic, in a way. I’m chasing after my brother’s ex. Jordan was right—I should be drowning in pussy right now, but I don’t want to be. I know what I want, and if it means I have to wait until she recovers from her breakup, then I’ll wait.

When Farrah walks into the conference room, I almost choke on my coffee again. This time, I knew she was coming, and she still takes my breath away. Her dress is perfectly form-fitting. It’s mottled grey and it has long sleeves. I can’t see much of her skin, but I can picture her body in perfect detail.

She smiles at me, and warmth spreads through the base of my spine.

“Afternoon, Jesse,” she says. “Thanks for coming in.”

“Anytime,” I reply, and I mean it. I’d come to this office every single day if she asked me to. I clear my throat and turn to my stack of papers. “You’ve had a look over our revised quote?”

“I have,” she replies. “The fit-out numbers look a lot more reasonable, and I’m glad to see the lighting and girls’ change room included.”

The Football School is going to be a lot bigger than I’d anticipated, but excitement is building in the pit of my stomach. Farrah’s eyes flick to mine, and then to my lips. Her pupils dilate. My heart does a backflip. I can see her hand twitching, and I know she wants me as much as I want her.

Farrah clears her throat, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear in that familiar movement I’ve come to love. Her cheeks are a gorgeous pink color. She looks down at the papers and flicks through them, and I can’t keep my eyes off the soft curve of her neck. My gaze drifts down to her chest, where her breasts strain against the fabric of her dress.

When she glances at me, it’s my turn to flush. But she holds my gaze, and we sit there in silence for a few moments. She clears her throat and looks back at the papers in front of us.

“Well,” she says, taking a deep breath. “I’m excited to tell you that Angel Investments would like to offer you a contract.”

Her eyes are shining when looks back at me. She’s smiling. It sends a jolt of energy through my whole body and I can’t help but grin in response.

“Yeah?”

“Yep.”

I jump out of my chair and around to her side of the table. I wrap my arms around her and squeeze her in a hug, laughing into her shoulder as she hugs me back.

When I pull away, there’s an awkward moment. I straighten my clothes as Farrah smooths her dress down. She looks perfect. She glances at me, a blush staining her cheeks and a smile twitching at her lips.

“I was worried that you wouldn’t want to invest,” I explain. “Sorry about that. I got excited.”

“No need to apologize,” she says warmly. “I… enjoyed it.”

We do that staring thing for a few more moments until I turn back to my chair and sit down.

“So,” I grin. “Where do I sign?”

Farrah laughs, pushing the stack of papers towards me. “I’ll email these through to you as well. You should have a lawyer look them over, obviously. If there are any issues, you can email me directly. We’re hoping to start construction as soon as the weather warms up, so your engineers will need to have the construction drawings ready.”

“They’re ready,” I say. “It’s all ready.” I’ve even got a list of potential leads for my first class of students. Word has started to spread about the school, and the fact that it’s going to be a reality is almost surreal.

“Good. So we’re aiming for an early March start date, with the whole thing hopefully up and running by the end of August. You should be able to have your first students walking on-field in six or seven months.”

She’s beaming. I don’t know what makes me feel better—the fact that my new project is going to become a reality, or the fact that Farrah is looking at me like that. She extends her hand towards me, and I take it in mine to shake it.

Her fingers feel so delicate, and her arm looks so slender next to my big, muscular one. She shakes it firmly and her eyes glint.

I try to ignore the throbbing between my legs that happens every time we touch. Finally, we finish up the meeting and I watch Farrah’s perfect ass sway back and forth back towards her office.

It’s happening.

The Football School is being built, and I’ll be able to help kids live out their football dreams just as I have done. But maybe more exciting is the fact that I’ll be able to work alongside Farrah for the next six or seven months. She’ll be there with me during the construction and opening of the school. She’s representing an important investor, and I’ll have no choice but to keep in close contact with her to keep her engaged.

It’s the perfect excuse to spend more time with her.

Maybe, when this is all built, she’ll be ready to look at me as something more than a client, more than her ex’s brother. Maybe by then, that tremor in her hand and the shine in her eye will push her to act. I know she feels the way I do, but I also know she’s scared.

I just need to be patient.

Right now, I’ll be as patient as a saint. I’ll be busy with construction and with designing the Football School’s programs, not to mention my own off-season training.

When I walk out of Farrah’s building, the cold Boston air rips right through my jacket. I pull it closer to me, burying my chin in my chest. Even the cold wind can’t dampen my spirits, though.

Things might just work out.

I walk back towards my car and all I can see is Farrah’s face. She looked proud of me, and I’ll do anything to make sure it stays that way.