Chapter Twenty-Eight

The following morning, Melissa's first stop was JP's house. She'd kept him abreast of negotiations throughout the previous day, and as of seven a.m. he was officially a San Francisco Outlaw.

Holding a bottle of champagne in the crook of her arm, she rang the doorbell. A woman yelled, "Coming," from behind the closed door.

The woman's voice was strangely familiar, but when her friend Alice opened the door wearing nothing but one of JP's T-shirts, Melissa couldn't contain her shocked expression. "What? How?"

Alice dragged her inside, then inspected the label on the champagne bottle.

"You have excellent taste," she proclaimed. "This is going to be yummy."

"You? JP?" Melissa was reduced to stuttering. "I don't get it."

Alice shook her head. "Me, neither. All I know is that he's funny. I've never dated a guy with a sense of humor before."

Her friend's face and eyes looked softer than Melissa remembered having seen them, and she was glowing. Amazing.

Alice leaned in close and said in a stage whisper, "And he's seriously talented in the bedroom."

Melissa held up a hand. "I don't think I can handle the details."

"I never in a million years thought I'd be having hot monkey sex with a pro football player. And that I'd like it. I thought you might not exactly approve."

Alice's words tugged at her heart. "I want you to be happy. And if JP makes you happy, then I'm happy. I'm just surprised. That's all." She pulled her friend into a hug. "You could have called and warned me, though," she teased.

"I feel really bad about not returning your phone calls. I was embarrassed at first."

JP walked into the kitchen wearing boxer shorts. "I heard that," he said to Alice, grabbing her and kissing her.

Judging by their kiss, he wasn't the least bit upset by what Alice had said about him. Maybe he wasn't cocky. Maybe he was just surprisingly secure, when all the rest of them were emotional basket cases.

"Hey, boss," he finally said. "Thanks for the killer new deal."

Still reeling, Melissa said, "Congratulations. Now don't f**k it up."

"I won't let him," Alice said with a wicked gleam in her eyes. JP pulled her into his arms and Melissa smiled at them, knowing she was already forgotten.

Maybe, she suddenly thought, love doesn't always have to make sense.

Fifteen minutes later, Melissa stepped out of a taxi in front of the McKnight Agency building. Sunbeams peeked through the tall buildings as she stood on the sidewalk and looked at the familiar scene. Busi-nesspeople rushed to work in suits and heels; a few women chatted in front of the corner coffee shop with babies in front-packs on their chests.

Everything was just as it had always been.

And yet completely different.

When she stepped into the McKnight Agency foyer, she was immediately surrounded by people shaking her hand, all talking at once. Clearly, no one knew about her scene with her father yesterday. No one seemed to know that she'd quit and walked out.

"Congratulations!"

"You've made the deal of the year."

"How'd you turn JP around so quickly?"

"I learned everything I know from you guys," she said with a wide grin.

A few minutes later, she faced the long walk to her father's office. He must have heard the commotion, but he hadn't come out to greet her. After the way she'd left his office, throwing the words I quit at him, it was up to her to make the first move.

Just like she'd need to make the first move with Dominic.

Angie was at her usual post in front of Tom's office, a rare smile on her face. "We're all so proud of you," she said softly.

In all the years they'd known each other, this was the nicest and most personal thing Angie had ever said to her.

"Go on in," Angie said. "Your father's waiting for you. And, honey"—she paused, which gave Melissa a moment to digest the very unexpected endearment— "go easy on him."

Melissa opened the door. Her father immediately stood up. Strangely, he looked nervous.

"Congratulations," he said before she could close the door. "I'm very impressed with the deal you negotiated for JP."

She swallowed back sudden tears. "All my life," she admitted, "I've wanted you to be proud of me."

"I already was," he said, with a shake of his head. "But I never knew how to tell you." He cleared his throat. "I didn't mean what I said about you and Dominic—the way I said it."

"I know you didn't, Daddy. Our relationship shouldn't have been a secret."

"You couldn't have chosen a better man."

"I know."

The next thing she knew, his arms were around her and he was hugging her, just like he used to when she was little and had skinned her knee. He'd always loved her. Now it felt good to know that he respected her, as well.

Many moments later, she bit her lip. "Speaking of Dominic, I was hoping I could ask for the advice of the top agent in the business?"

Pleasure lit her father's eyes. "If you mean me, of course."

They sat on the couch. "I can't represent Dominic and be in a relationship with him, too."

"But I thought you said you weren't seeing each other anymore?" Her father actually looked hopeful at the thought of things working out between her and Dominic.

She shook her head. "We're not. But I've been thinking a lot about things. I want to try to work things out."

Her father squeezed her hand. "Your mother and I are there for you. Anytime. For any reason."

Something warm and solid bloomed in her chest and she nodded, unable to speak. Finally, she turned the focus back to Dominic's career. "So—any great agents you can recommend for my star player? Someone who has experience with great players? Who knows the business better than anyone else?"

"Are you saying you'd like me to work with him again?" her father asked.

She nodded and her father beamed with pleasure. "I can only accept if you'll consider rejoining the agency."

She hugged him again. "Thank you. For everything."

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Fifteen minutes later, Melissa stood silently in Dominic's hallway. A little more than a week ago, he had carried her over his shoulder out of a bar and into his life. But she'd been so full of hopes and dreams and insecurities that she'd turned her back on the love of the greatest man she'd ever known.

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