The next two weeks of no regular work and being with Brady all day fell into a pattern that Hailey would’ve enjoyed if she wasn’t constantly worried about getting too close to Brady, what rumors William would spread next, and how the love letters from Brady’s stalker bugged him. He didn’t want to, but when Hailey asked him, he opened one and let Hailey read it. It was gushy and sickeningly sweet. The woman loved him totally and completely. Hailey didn’t blame her, as he was definitely something special, but it was bothersome and disturbing. She didn’t want anyone but her listing all of Brady’s perfect characteristics. Yet she didn’t have any more right to Brady than the stalker did. Unless she was willing to let go of her past and see if he wanted to make this a real marriage.

At least, the press conference and laying low seemed to work. There wasn’t much about her and Brady in the media anymore. They’d moved on to Rennen Bradley and Arianna Sanchez’s romance and upcoming sparring match and the speculation about Anthony Kincaid’s injury and his ability to get the job done this fall. Maybe William would give up too. A sinking feeling in her gut told her that was too much to hope for.

She and Brady worked out for several hours each morning. They’d have a late breakfast together. Then he would work on sponsorship or other paperwork and watch film that the coaches would send over. She would work on evaluating different players and what they needed for rehab or fitness. In the evening, they cooked dinner together and often swam in the pool or got together with Xavier and Izzy for cards or movies.

It was all very homey and nice. Brady didn’t push her to touch or kiss him, but he was pretty liberal with the way he would brush against her, take her hand, wrap his arm around her when they were watching a movie, or play around in the pool and toss or dunk her. And the looks he constantly gave her were making her insane. Looks that heated her up from the inside and made her want to forget she’d ever made the vow to not date a football player. Unfortunately, when she had the nightmare, it was hard to forget. Brady was a champion then too. He’d come and hold her and quite often sing lullabies to her until she calmed down and told him to go back to bed. It was pretty obvious he hated leaving her after the nightmare, but he honored her wishes. He never crossed any lines, and when he held her it wasn’t like he was trying to get more from her physically, it was like he cared for her and wanted to help her not be afraid.

Two weeks after they’d gotten home from California, Hailey fell asleep, exhausted from working out, swimming, and trying unsuccessfully to ignore the attraction she had for Brady. She knew immediately it was a dream, but she couldn’t free herself from it, and when Gage’s perfectly handsome face with the icy blue eyes and gelled blond hair appeared, she screamed on instinct, “No, Gage!”

He came closer. His blue eyes full of derision. “I know you want me, Hailey. You’re going to enjoy this.”

“Gage! Stop. No!” She thrashed and screamed as his hands surrounded her waist and he yanked her against him. His huge form overshadowed her. “No!”

“Hailey, Hailey!”

She jerked awake. The room was dimly lit by the hallway light. Brady’s large palms were wrapped around her upper arms, and he was shaking her. “Hailey!”

“I’m awake.”

“Oh, good.” Brady pushed out a breath then pulled her against his chest. And, oh, what a chest it was. He was only wearing some cut-off sweats, and Hailey had to fight the surge of desire that rushed through her. What was wrong with her? The nightmares had to be a gift so she could remember how horrible being with a football player could be, but Brady shot all of that out of the water. He was tender, kind, thoughtful, and seemed to want to do anything he could to protect and take care of her.

Hailey couldn’t resist slipping her arms around his broad back and touching the perfect muscles housed there. Oh, Brady. Why did he have to be so amazing? Could she really trust a football player to be sweet with her? She’d thought she loved and trusted Gage, and he’d not only ripped her heart out, but he had also scarred her in too many ways to think about.

Brady gently rocked her in his arms, his hands caressing her back. He smelled like that wonderful sandalwood cologne that just screamed man. Hailey inhaled his skin and sighed against it.

“You smell really good,” she said.

Brady chuckled but sobered quickly. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Are you okay now, love?” he asked.

Hailey jerked back, looking at his face. He’d never called her a term of endearment other than my beautiful wife in that teasing way. He didn’t love her, no way, but it felt good all the same. “I-I’ll be fine. Thank you.” She started to move out of his arms like she did every time she had the nightmare, but he held on.

“Could I, um …” Brady licked his lips and stared hungrily at her face.

Hailey’s stomach pooled with heat. Could he kiss her? His sweet and romantic kiss at their wedding was never far from her thoughts. If he asked, would she say yes? Probably. Yet he’d told her he would wait until she kissed him or asked, and one thing she knew about Brady already, he stood by his word.

He swallowed and whispered, “Could I stay in here and hold you tonight?”

Hailey’s eyes widened. Was he asking for more than a kiss? The answer would be a resounding no. A kiss she might be able to handle. Anything more was impossible to imagine, even with someone as kind as Brady. He was huge and muscular. He would hurt her, even if he didn’t mean to. Gage had told her that it wouldn’t hurt, but the physical pain had been almost worse than the emotional pain when he ditched her. He’d explained that she was too young and obviously wasn’t mature enough for a man like him. He’d left her sobbing and regretting she hadn’t listened to her pastor and saved herself for marriage. She’d never heard from Gage again and only saw him when the Titans played Pittsburgh. He’d ruined every image she’d had of what intimacy and love should be like.

“I just want to hold you, Hailey. It kills me when you have the nightmare. If you’re ever ready to talk about it, I’m here, but if I could just hold you and know you’re okay … It would mean a lot to me.”

Hailey’s breath caught. Against all her good sense, she was falling in love with him. How could he be so patient and tender? He was staring at her, waiting. She finally nodded. “I … I’d like that too.”

Brady’s grin came sure and swift. He was irresistible to her when he grinned. He tugged her down onto the pillows, and his arm came under the pillow and around her waist. Hailey’s head was on the pillow, but she was cuddled against him, and she rested her hand on his chest, that warm, muscular, wonderful chest. She sighed and cuddled in deeper—safe and comfortable, yet every nerve was on alert being so close to him and the delicious smell of his cologne.

His arm tightened around her. “Thank you,” he whispered huskily, making her stomach fill with warmth.

Hailey couldn’t answer. Her throat was thick with a mixture of gratitude and desire for him. She was falling head over heels for her husband, and she didn’t know how in the world to deal with that.