Hailey loved children and had the best time teasing and laughing with all the little boys at the camp. If only she could keep the fear of William’s threats out of her head and keep her eyes from focusing on Brady Giles over and over again. Not even seeing the cocky Kincaid brothers act like little boys around the children, or the crazy kickboxing fight between their new running back, Rennen Bradley, and Ace’s sister, Ariana Sanchez, could keep her from looking at Brady for long. Still, she’d set very strict rules for herself after one horrific experience when she was only eighteen. She’d fallen in love with Gage Tantrum, one of the Titans’ football players, a charming and handsome fakey. When Gage had revealed his true, rotten self, she’d lost her innocence and her trust in men. Now, she steered clear of any well-built man. There were plenty of other men to date, and if she could think of all of her football players as family members instead of potential suitors, it made things much more professional and easier.

The Tiny Titans camp wrapped up, and Brady disappeared without saying goodbye. One minute, she was sneaking glances at him, hoping they could talk after camp, and the next, he was gone. Disappointment filled her, but it was probably for the best. The only bad thing was now she had no clue what she would say to William next time him cornered her.

She walked into the main building for a reprieve from the sweltering Texas heat. She was chatting with the coordinator Cedar in a break room when she got the text.

Hi, sweetheart. Come see me in my office before you go home. Sooner rather than later.

That was as close to a demand as she ever received from her dad. She held up her phone. “I’ve got to run. Fabulous job on the camp.”

“Thank you.” Cedar beamed.

Hailey really hoped they hired Cedar full-time. She was efficient and friendly. She seemed like someone Hailey and her sister Izzy would love to be friends with. These days, Izzy was so busy with her new husband, X, that she and Hailey didn’t spend much time together anymore. Hailey adored both of them and couldn’t be happier though she missed being able to just drop in and eat ice cream and watch chick flicks with her sister. X and Izzy would both welcome her anytime, but she wouldn’t do that to newlyweds.

She took the ten flights of stairs up to her daddy’s office rather than the elevator. She appreciated any extra movement she could get. Bursting through the door, she called out, “The fun has arrived.” It was a standard line she used whenever she went to visit her parents or stopped by her daddy’s office.

The smile froze on her lips when she realized not only was her daddy’s lawyer, Garrett, there, Brady Giles was also gracing them all with his presence. Both of the visitors were staring at her. Brady with a slight smirk on his lips. Garrett with worry in his eyes.

Her daddy opened his arms, and she hurried in his direction and gave him a quick hug before pulling away. James Knight had adopted her at nine, shortly after he’d married her mama, and she loved him through and through. He had a craggy face that most found unappealing, but his smile melted her and her mama’s hearts time and again. He was the best father in the world in her opinion.

She turned to face Garrett and Brady. Garrett had his normal placating smile on his face. He was a true professional and did a great job. Hailey walked to him and shook his hand briefly before focusing on Brady.

Brady’s smile was a different story. He was still in his t-shirt and shorts. His bright smile lit up her world as she approached to shake his hand. Taking her much smaller hand in his, he said, “Do you always enter rooms that way?”

Hailey couldn’t ignore the warmth pulsing through her from his look and touch. “Only rooms that my daddy is in.”

He stepped a little closer and whispered, “I think you should say that anytime you come through a door.”

Hailey pulled back slightly, liking that he thought she was fun, but needing to set him straight quickly or she would break every rule she ever put in place, and her heart in the process. “Sadly for you, the fun has to stop at friendship. I don’t date football players.”

Brady released her hand and arched his eyebrows. “But you claim to be engaged to them?”

“Only to protect myself from predators.”

Brady nodded his understanding, his dark eyes soft.

Hailey released a pent-up breath and had to look away. She focused on her dad. “Did you know?”

He jerked his chin down, his brow furrowed. “I got a call from the commissioner’s office half an hour ago. What’s going on, sweetheart?”

She closed her eyes, not wanting to hurt her dad or their team in any way. “William Fonnesbeck has been semi-stalking me and insinuating that if I don’t go out with him again that he’ll make trouble for my players.” She knew William wanted much more than a simple date, but she couldn’t formulate those words in this room.

Her dad’s blue gaze sharpened. For a split second, she actually felt bad for William. “How long has this been happening?” he asked between gritted teeth.

“It’s been going on about six months, but lately, he’s been really scaring me. I was scrambling for a way to escape without bringing his wrath down on our team. I lied about being engaged. Brady was conveniently there, so I claimed we were engaged.” She glanced sheepishly at Brady. “I’m sorry. Can we just keep it on the down-low for a little while? Maybe William will give up.”

“I didn’t mind.” Brady gave her a kind smile. Instantly, Hailey felt embraced by his understanding and protection. This was a guy that would look out for others, and she was very glad that he’d been traded to her Titans, if only she really could date him. A suffocating fear filled her throat as she remembered. No. Her rule had to stay ironclad.

Her dad stepped forward. “Sweetheart. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Hailey pressed her lips together. “It started out so gradually. I thought I could handle it, but William’s gotten worse and worse with his … suggestions.” Her dad’s brows drew together. She didn’t want him to know the kinds of things William suggested to her, some much worse than her staying all night. “We both know what kind of trouble that snake can cause. The commissioner trusts him and seems to enjoy handing down penalties and suspensions as much as William does. I’m just sorry I ever let him scare me into going out with him in the first place.” If she would’ve said no that first time, would William have pursued her like this? Maybe. He seemed to be all about the challenge.

“I’d risk losing my team before I would let him hurt my girl.” Her dad’s gaze on her face was intense. She knew it was true.

Hailey bit her lip and barely resisted hugging him again. “I know, Daddy, but I love this team as much as you do.”

He grinned. “Probably more.”

Brady watched the exchange with interest.

“I understand we don’t want to get on William’s bad side,” her dad said, “but a fake engagement is pretty extreme.”

“You don’t understand, Daddy.” Hailey couldn’t hold any of their gazes, so she turned her focus to large floor to ceiling windows with the view of the stadium below and the city beyond. “The first time he asked me out I said yes because I didn’t want to upset anything with the commissioner’s office, but then it’s like he’s become obsessed with me. He shows up all the time and threatens if I don’t … do certain things with him he’s going to ruin my team.” She hoped she didn’t have to spell it out. William’s looks and veiled threats were enough to terrify her, but she didn’t know that they were enough to get any relief from the commissioner’s office. William was the commissioner’s poster child.

She glanced at Brady then. His face was taut, and his hands clenched in fists.

“We already have a huge target on our backs. The Titans have been too successful, and everybody would love to see us knocked down a notch. If I, the owner’s daughter, cry about the commissioner’s vp hitting on me, how’s that going to look?”

Her dad looked miserable, but he nodded. “I see what you’re saying, but I’ll kill that scumbag if he tries anything.”

“I know you would.” She tried to smile at him. “When he showed up today, he started right in on the threats and told me I was going to stay all night at his place or he’d hurt the team.” A shudder ran through her. “I’m not sure why I said I was engaged, but it occurred to me that might be the only way he’d leave me alone without bringing his wrath down on the Titans. Then Brady showed up, and I dragged him into it.”

Her dad’s face looked murderous now. She shouldn’t have shared about William trying to get her to stay the night. Brady looked like he could, and would, pound William into next week. It touched something deep inside of her to see that protectiveness when he didn’t even know her.

“The timing is awful what with Ace’s injury and the worry about Zeus being able to perform again,” her dad said. “But sweetheart, I don’t want you to have to fake an engagement.”

“If it will keep William away from me I’d do about anything.”

Her dad’s eyebrows shot up and he studied her for a few seconds before nodding his understanding.

Garrett cleared his throat. “I think we need to take some action here. Your idea of being engaged isn’t a bad one at all, Hailey, provided you and Brady are both willing to go through with it.”

Hailey’s eyes widened and awareness traced through her body as she glanced at Brady’s toned body and handsome face. Be engaged to him? Oh, be still my heart. Hailey dated a lot, but she’d never considered getting engaged to anyone. No one was as good a man as her daddy or kept her attention for more than a few dates.

“Umm …” Hailey stalled for time and looked to Brady for help. Surely, he wouldn’t want to fake an engagement just to get William off her back. Brady had no allegiance to her, and William would probably focus his vindictiveness on Brady if they were engaged. “Would you want to do that?”

“Want?” A flirtatious light leapt into Brady’s eyes that brought heat coursing through her abdomen. It was there and gone quickly. The tight line of his lips made her wonder what experiences he’d gone through in life. Something about being engaged had him troubled. “Actually, it might help me too.”

“Your agent told me about your stalker.” Her dad stepped forward and put a consoling hand on Brady’s shoulder.

Brady smiled his appreciation and flexed his fists. “She’s never threatened or done anything to me, but I get letters or postcards every day. It’s gone beyond annoying. It’s one of the main reasons I transferred.”

Her daddy pulled his hand away, and his brow furrowed.

“I’m thrilled to be with the Titans,” Brady hastened to say. “But New England is close to my family and I loved my teammates.”

“I understand.” Her dad nodded. “To be honest, I’d rather have a player who was happy with his former team. Those who are disgruntled tend to find fault everywhere they go. But you’re a Texas Titan now.” He dared Brady to disagree with a stern glare.

“Yes, sir, I am.” With his crisper New England accent, the yes sir sounded funny and kinda cute.

“So it would be mutually beneficial for both of you.” Garrett reaffirmed.

Brady glanced at her. “My stalker has only sent me letters and simply compliments me. I promise she’s not a threat, just an annoyance I’d like to get rid of. You’d be safe with me, and I’d be happy to help you get William off your back.” He shrugged. “I guess I’m saying that I’m in if you are.”

Hailey’s breath shortened. How far were they going to take this farce? “How far in are you?” she asked.

“Excuse me?”

Her daddy’s brow was furrowed. “Hailey,” he said.

“I mean, are we going to just claim we’re engaged and hope that gets William and your stalker to give up or what?” She just let it hang out there, wondering why she couldn’t have simply said, Okay, nice to be engaged to you. See you later. She would never marry a man like him, it was much too terrifying to imagine being with someone—her eyes swept over Brady’s well-built body—who could hurt her.

Her dad’s face was turning red, so Hailey didn’t think he was any help. Garrett stepped forward. “Has anything dissuaded your stalker at this point?” he said quietly to Brady.

Brady shook his head. “No. Not even moving two-thousand miles away. Somehow, she found my address and the notes resumed within days. The lead investigator encouraged me to get a girlfriend or a fiancée to dissuade her, but it’s not like I can just find one of those on demand.”

Hailey blushed. Apparently she’d found him on demand.

“And you are certain she wouldn’t go after my daughter?” her dad asked.

Brady nodded. “She’s never issued any kind of threat. They call her a ‘sweetheart stalker.’ She just says how much she loves me all the time.” His tanned face darkened. “But I promise you, sir, I would protect Hailey from William and anyone else. Since she works for the team, I could keep her by my side always.”

Something about being by his side always and the protective look in his dark eyes had Hailey trembling. She wasn’t sure if the trembling was from interest or fear. She hadn’t allowed a strong football player to stay by her side for the past six years for a very good reason. Was she crazy to allow this?

“Do you think claiming you’re engaged is going to keep Fonnesbeck from threatening you anymore?” Garrett turned the conversation on Hailey, probably to dissuade more concerns from her dad.

Hailey pulled the side of her lower lip between her teeth. William’s insinuations got worse every time she saw him, and she knew he would try to hurt her players if she didn’t give in to him. If she got married, especially to a hunk like Brady Giles, he would have to give up.

“My gut says William wouldn’t be dissuaded by an engagement. He’d look at it as a challenge. For some reason, I think I’m the ultimate challenge to him.” She couldn’t stop the shudder that raced through her body.

“Then we have to take it to the next level.” Garrett glanced at her dad whose craggy face was growing new lines. “Are you prepared to help them fake a marriage?”

Her dad closed his eyes as Hailey’s stomach rolled. She couldn’t help but glance at Brady. Their eyes caught and held. Warmth started in the pit of her stomach and spread. His large, muscular frame seemed to exude protection. At the same time, she’d been hiding from brawny men for six years. Now she was supposed to fake a marriage to this hunk a bunk of studly man? Holy schmolies she was in trouble.

“Hailey?” her dad asked. “Is it bad enough with William to go through with this?”

Hailey winced just thinking about William’s lewd glances, filthy mouth, and octopus hands. She focused on Brady. The bright Texas sun seemed to gleam behind him through the floor to ceiling windows. His handsome face was full of concern for her. The idea of him protecting her from William was like a soothing balm.

“It’s horrible, Daddy. William terrifies me. If I don’t give into him, he’s going to go after our team. I know it. I’m afraid this might be the only way to dissuade him.”

Her dad studied her for a few seconds before saying to Garrett, “Then I think a fake marriage might be the best course of action.” He focused on Brady. “But if there is any indication that your stalker would hurt my girl, I’ll tell the media the farce myself and deal with William Fonnesbeck in my own way.”

“Sounds good, sir.” Brady nodded.

Her dad turned to her. “Hailey? Are you certain you’re okay with all of this?”

“I can handle getting married if it’ll get William to leave me alone.” Yet her stomach was dipping and swirling. She’d dreaded becoming a bride since eighteen when she traded in her little girl fantasies for a taste of the horror marriage could hold. Now she was going to pretend to be a bride with a man she didn’t know? A man who had some psycho chick stalking him?

Her daddy gave her a soft, albeit sad smile. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

“Don’t worry about me, Daddy. You know I’m a tough Texas girl.” No one knew the truth of how wimpy she was inside. No one.

His smile grew. He turned to Brady. “I understand that you’ll have to …” He cleared his throat. “Kiss and hug my girl to make the public, your stalker, and William believe this is real.”

Hailey’s heart was beating so fast and high it felt like it was in her throat. She’d have to fake kiss him?

“But that is all you are allowed to do. If you try to push any marital … advances on my daughter, I will personally end your football career and cut off your male parts.”

Hailey would’ve laughed if this wasn’t so serious and scary.

Brady straightened and nodded solemnly. “I swear to you, sir. I will only touch your daughter in appropriate ways. Nothing beyond kissing and hugging.”

The look he was giving Hailey said he might not mind the kissing and hugging. Holy moley, what was she getting herself into? Yet she was so grateful that he wouldn’t try anything beyond that. The threat from her dad wasn’t idle, and she felt the strength of family and her father’s love wash over her. She loved him so much.

“Hailey?” Her dad turned to her. “Promise me you will let me know if there’s any inappropriate contact.”

Hailey gave them all a saucy grin. “Don’t worry, Daddy. You know I don’t date football players.”

Her dad threw back his head and laughed while Brady’s eyes lit up with a challenge. Her dad nodded to Garrett. “I still don’t love this, but I think it’s our best option at the moment.”

“Okay. I’ll get everything setup.” Garrett sat and started tapping away on his laptop.

Hailey met Brady’s steady gaze. It was interesting to feel safe and overly attracted at the same time. She’d committed to marrying a man she didn’t even know. This was seriously messed up, but she hadn’t been able to come up with any other option in the past six months, and the thought of never having William leer at her again was more than worth going through with the charade.