As Shawn sat on a chair in the locker room, dressed in everything but his jersey and helmet, I knelt in front of him and said, “Are you ready to go out there and fucking demolish the Dolphins?”

He ground his hands together, straightening his fingers and then tightening them into a fist. “Yes.”

“Do you feel healthy?”

He stared straight ahead, never making eye contact, with his lips spread apart and his teeth bared. “Yes.”

“Do you feel prepared?”

“Yes.”

“Then, are you going to go out there and win yourself a goddamn Super Bowl?”

His fist punched the palm of his other hand. “Fuck yes.”

That was the answer I wanted.

I patted him on the shoulder. “Get your jersey and your helmet on. Then, get your ass on that field, and go bring home a championship.”

He finally glanced at me, the look in his eyes showing how ready he was. “You’ve got it.”

I pounded his chest with the back of my hand, waiting for the glare to fade, for the intensity to break just a little.

It never did.

Nothing I could say would crack his concentration, so I knew he really was ready, and it was time for me to leave.

“Demolish them,” I repeated.

With his jaw clenched, his eyes still so fucking fierce, I walked out and went upstairs to the VIP lounge where my partners were hanging out.

“How’s he doing?” Max asked as I joined them at their table.

I responded, “Whom are you asking about? Vince or Shawn?”

The three of them laughed.

“Well, whom did you just meet with?” Scarlett asked. “Or did you visit both?”

“I started with Shawn,” I said. “It felt wrong to go from one right to the other, so I’ll visit with Vince in a little bit.”

“Two clients on opposing teams, both playing in the Super Bowl. Now, isn’t that some shit?” Brett said.

This wasn’t the first time that had happened. The same scenario had occurred one year during the NBA championship and also the World Series.

In cases like this, I had to stay neutral, especially at the game. The last fucking thing I needed was a cameraman to catch me rooting for one team over another and pissing off one of my clients.

But, deep down, I always had a favorite.

And, since Vince already had a ring, I really wanted to see Shawn take this win.

“I assume Shawn’s family is here?” Max asked.

I nodded, resting my elbows on the high-top table. “There’s so many of them, they rented a box.”

“Do you plan on going to see them?”

I checked my watch. The players didn’t have to hit the field for another forty-five minutes. That gave me plenty of time to go talk to Shawn’s family and then head to Vince’s locker room.

“Yeah, and I’m thinking I should go now,” I said.

“I’ll go with you,” Brett responded. “I’d like to congratulate them.”

“I think we all would,” Scarlett said.

Max nodded.

I stepped back from the table. “Follow me.”

I led them through the lounge and out a back hallway where we took the elevator to the suite level of the stadium. After showing our passes to the security officers, we walked halfway around the building until we reached their suite.

I knocked on the door, and I extended my hand when Shawn’s father’s was the one to open it. “Mr. Cole.”

“Jack, welcome. Come on in.”

I waited for him to release me before I pointed behind me. “I brought my business partners. They’d like to meet you and your family.”

“The more, the merrier.”

I introduced him to Scarlett, Max, and Brett, and then we made our way inside the suite. I was surprised as hell to see how many people were in here. Yesterday morning, Shawn had told me there would be at least twenty, but I was sure there had to be over thirty. A good percentage was family members I’d met over the years at Shawn’s games.

But the one face I looked for and couldn’t find was Samantha’s.

I hadn’t seen her since the morning after the NFL draft when I kissed her forehead and left for my flight. If she’d attended any of Shawn’s games, they weren’t the ones I had been at.

I’d thought about her several times after I returned to LA and cut things off between us. But I never asked Shawn about her, he never brought her up, and I never searched for her online.

My client’s sister was off-fucking-limits.

Ending things between us was the best thing for the both of us.

“Jack, have you spoken to our boy?” Shawn’s father asked.

The room quieted, and I felt lots of eyes on me.

“I just saw him a few minutes ago,” I said. “He’s feeling prepared, and he’s ready to go.”

“How’s his hamstring?” one of his sisters asked.

“Fully healed,” I answered, feeling confident in my answer after an extensive conversion with the team doctor this morning. “Don’t be concerned. He’s healthy.”

“And the rest of the team? Are they ready?” his mother asked.

“I watched their walk-through yesterday,” I said. “The team looked strong and focused. They’re ready—all of them.”

“I hope we’ll be seeing you at the after-party,” another one of his sisters said.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” I responded, feeling like it was a good time to make our exit. I stepped toward Shawn’s father and shook his hand again. “I’ll see you after the game.”

“Hopefully, it’s down on the field,” he said.

I smiled, giving a quick hug to Shawn’s mother, and moved to the door. I knew the guys and Scarlett were right behind me, so I twisted the handle and went out into the hallway.

That was when I saw her approaching the suite.

When my stare traveled up that perfect fucking body and eventually stopped on her gorgeous face.

When my mouth opened, remembering the way hers had tasted.

When not a single goddamn word came out of me because I was far too busy taking her in.