“This is the one? Are you sure?”

Jax nodded at Stacey, his smile widening. “Yep, I’m sure. It just feels like home, doesn’t it?”

She grinned. “It’s not about what I think …”

“I value your opinion.”

“Well … I think it has a real warmth to it. I could imagine living here. Well, maybe in my wildest dreams. And only if I’d managed to steal it from its rightful owners and lock them in the basement.” She chuckled, then saw the concerned look on Jax’s face. “Sorry. I forget some people aren’t used to my twisted sense of humor.”

He laughed. “I was just thinking that I’ve never met a woman with the same wacky sense of humor as me. I’m always trying to hold my tongue so I don’t offend people, but you just come out and say it. I can’t tell you how refreshing that is.”

Stacey’s heart swelled. She didn’t usually get that response – most of the time people seemed put off by her humor. “So does this mean you want to make an offer? Er … on the house, I mean.”

“Yes, it does. I don’t have much time before I have to get back to Atlanta and I want to have the purchase underway before I go.”

Stacey called the owner and gave them Jax’s offer. By the time she was done, Jax had wandered into the backyard. The oak tree he’d wanted was there, remnants of an old rope swing still hanging from one of the long, low branches. He looked sad – and thin. Had he not been eating, or were all pro athletes thin in person? She couldn’t say, since he was the only professional athlete she knew.

Nervously, she walked out to join him. Something about him drew her in like a moth to a flame, and she had to fight it. She was a professional and he was her first real client. She wasn’t about to throw herself at him – imagine what it would do to her reputation if it was discovered she dated her clients. “Are you doing okay?”

He glanced at her with a sad smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

“How are you coping with everything?”

He crossed his arms. “As well as I can, I guess. I just wish I could have a bit more space to mourn. Some privacy, you know?”

She nodded. “I get it. It must be so hard to go through something personal while everyone’s clamoring for your attention.”

“I think you were right about the press – they just wanted a sound bite. Maybe they’ll leave me alone now. But those women follow me everywhere. I’ve seen the same ones at the grocery store, in the street, around the house. They just won’t take no for an answer.”

“Hey, does your mom still have that old cabin up in the mountains?” she asked suddenly.

Jax studied her, looking thoughtful. “I guess. Why?”

“Do you remember how we used to go up there sometimes in high school? We fished, swam, toasted marshmallows … it was great. And very private.”

He smiled. “That’s true. I don’t know what kind of state it’s in – Dad inherited it from his dad, so it’s old as the hills. We haven’t been there in ages. In fact, Dad wanted to take me there last spring and I blew him off …”

“Maybe you could go up there now – remember your dad, have some fun, get away from all the attention …”

He laughed sardonically. “I don’t know. I hate to leave Mom on her own so soon after everything. But I’ll talk to her. See what she thinks.”

“Okay. Well, just let me know.”

Jax grabbed her arms, and Stacey tried to ignore that his touch sent her hormones into overdrive. Maybe it would be good for him to take a trip to the cabin, to let her clear her head.

Brad and Jax sat at a small table in a café Brad frequented. “So Stacey helped you find a house, huh?” Brad sounded as though he wasn’t sure he believed it.

Jax chuckled. “Yes, she did. You seem surprised.”

Brad shook his head. “No, no … well, maybe a little. She’s got the ability to be a great realtor, but she’s always fought the idea. So here’s to new beginnings, new houses and sisters who finally begin to live up to their potential.” He raised his glass of sweet tea.

Jax clinked his own against it. He couldn’t express how much Brad’s friendship meant to him, even if they hadn’t seen as much of each other in recent years. “What do you mean she’s fought the idea? Didn’t she want to be a realtor?”

Brad almost choked on a mouthful of tea, and Jax patted him on the back. “No, she hated the idea. I asked her to join me, because I could see she was floundering after she didn’t get into Duke.”

“I didn’t know she wanted to go there.”

Brad nodded slowly. “Yep. Engineering. She doesn’t tell people because she’s afraid of what they’ll think. At least, that’s what I assume, since she keeps it all to herself. But she’s really smart and energetic.”

“Why didn’t she go to another college?” Jax’s brow furrowed.

“She had her heart set on Duke – there was no second option for her. But her grades as a senior weren’t high enough – Dad was gone, Mom started drinking most of the time, and I basically disappeared – I couldn’t cope with it all. Stacey was trying to take care of Mom and everything else. She should’ve kept applying, or just gone to community college. But after Duke turned her down she just gave up. No one except me ever told her she could do it, so I guess she didn’t really think she could.”

Brad rubbed his face and sighed. “So I thought she should work with me, but to her that felt like abandoning her dreams, and she didn’t want to do that. I guess she’s finally ready to accept her life as it is. But I think she’ll do really well in real estate. Sometimes we have to take what’s in front of us and run with it.”

Jax studied his glass. He hadn’t known that about Stacey. She’d taken care of the mother who, from what he’d seen, had never really taken care of her – and given up so much because of it. She hid all the pain, heartache, grief so well behind that bewitching smile of hers. He shook his head, realizing there was a depth to her he’d just begun to recognize. He scanned the room. The coffee shop wasn’t full, but busy enough that the faint swell of music and the din of conversation required him and Brad to raise their voices to be heard.

A woman spied Jax and sashayed his way. He fixed his eyes on the glass in front of him and shook his head.

“What’s wrong?” asked Brad.

“I’ve been spotted.” Jax wasn’t usually so anxious about being seen. He knew what it meant to be a football star and had willingly embraced it. Back in Atlanta he’d pose for photographs with fans. When the team traveled for a game, he knew it meant the spotlight, interviews, attention from the crowd. But being in his hometown, mourning his dad’s sudden passing, he needed to be left alone. He wanted to take some time to remember his father, to be with his loved ones, to nurse his aching heart, not be chased by women looking for a date with a celebrity.

“Hi,” said the woman with a red-lipped smile.

Jax sighed and turned his chair and faced her, not returning the smile. “Hi.”

“You’re Jax Green.”

Brad arched an eyebrow and sipped his drink. Jax guessed he was on his own. “Uh, yes. I am.”

“I’m Sandee. It’s nice to meet you.” He shook the hand she offered him, then dropped it. Disappointment flashed across her tanned face. Her denim miniskirt hovered dangerously close to his leg and she leaned forward, her eyes fixed on his. “Would you like to get my number?”

It was amazing to him how his celebrity status drew people right out of their shells that way. And she was beautiful, but not his type. He preferred confident women who respected themselves enough not to give their digits to strangers. “Your number? Uh … no, thank you.”

She was already reaching for a napkin, pen in hand, and froze. “What?”

He hated to hurt people’s feelings. Still, she should have more respect for herself – and him. “I’m sorry, Sandee. It’s no reflection on you – I just need some time to myself right now.”

Her blue eyes widened and she stiffened as if he’d insulted her. “Time to yourself? Well …”

“And I’m actually taken,” he quickly added, trying to let Sandee down easy. “So there’s that as well.” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Brad shift in his seat and stare at him in surprise.

“You are?” She returned to being friendly as she stepped away. “Well, good for you. Hope it works out.” And off she went.

Brad watched her go with his arms crossed and his head tipped to one side. “I can’t believe you just turned down Sandee Haverstrom. Every single male in the county hates you right now – me included.”

Jax laughed, reached for his sweet tea and took a sip. “Not my type.”

“Not your type? She’s beautiful – what more do you need?”

Jax rolled his eyes. “You know me well enough not to ask that.”

“True. You want someone sweet, sincere, caring and probably bakes pies for church fundraisers.” Brad’s voice dripped with cynicism

Jax took a deep breath. “When did you get so jaded?”

“Sorry.” Brad shook his head. “I guess I’m just sick of hearing from Stacey about her ideal man. He has to share her faith, not drink every night, good job, kind, gentle, yada yada yada – a list of requirements as long as her arm. I keep telling her she’ll need to lose some of those restrictions if she ever wants to meet someone real. But it’s like with Duke – either perfection or nothing for her.”

Jax considered his words. Stacey hadn’t attended church when they were teenagers. It surprised him to think of her as a woman of faith with a long list of things she was looking for in a man. He never wanted to settle, either – not in football or in love. “Sounds like you’re bitter at the church about something.”

His friend didn’t reply, instead he turned away. Jax wouldn’t push it. If Brad wanted to talk, he’d open up when he was ready.

Jax finished his drink and suggested they head home. He was driving, so he took Brad back to his place first. He pulled up to the curb in front of the apartment building and rested his hands on the steering wheel. Brad hadn’t said a word the entire ride home. “I’m sorry if I upset you.”

“No, you’re right. I am bitter at the church, I guess.”

Jax waited quietly for Brad to continue. Sometimes people just needed space to share what was burning a hole deep down inside.

“I know it’s not fair, but I blame the church for Dad. The way he was with us and how everything fell apart after he died. He used to tell people he was a Christian, but we never saw any evidence of it. Not that I know much about faith besides what Stacey’s told me over the past couple of years. But whenever he beat Mom or lashed out at us, then left and didn’t come back for days, I guess I held it against the church. Or against God. Not sure which.”

Jax nodded. “I can understand that.”

“I mean, the man barely set foot in a church building my entire life, but he told people he loved God, then never showed us even an ounce of love …” Brad covered his face with his hands, then shook his head. “I know – not your fault, not God’s fault, not the church’s. But people believed what Dad told them. They thought he was a good man, a believer just like them. And …” He threw up his hands.

“I’m sorry, man.”

Brad met his gaze, his eyes full of pain. “Thanks. Sorry I cut the evening short. We don’t get to see each other much these days.”

“Forget it. We’ll catch up more up at the cabin. Are you and Stacey still coming?”

Brad’s frown dissolved into a smile. “I can’t wait. We haven’t been to that place for years – good memories.”

“I wasn’t sure if we should go at all, but when I mentioned it to Mom, she insisted I go and take June with me. She said she could do with some alone time.

Brad nodded. “That makes sense. I guess we won’t be swimming at this time of year, but maybe we can do some hiking.”

“You can swim if you want, but I won’t be joining you.”

Brad laughed. “If I remember rightly there were a few times when you didn’t get a choice in the matter.”

Jax recalled an image of him standing on the dock and being pushed from behind.

“Yeah, well, if I go in this time, you won’t be far behind me – I can promise you that. You used to be bigger and heavier than me, but I beat you on both counts these days.”

Brad’s eyebrows rose high over sparkling eyes. “That is true. I guess I’d better behave myself. Hey, I’ve got a casserole dish for you to take back home with you. I know you guys were flooded with meals, but please thank your mom for sharing – it was delicious. And any day I don’t have to cook for myself or eat out is a good day.” He chuckled.

“I’ll tell her.”

“Just give me a minute and I’ll bring it down for you.”

“Never mind, I’ll come get it. I need the exercise. I’ve started running again every morning, but Coach is going to kick my rear when I get back to training.” Jax jumped out of the car and shut the door behind him. His breath fogged the air in front of him and he breathed into his hands to warm them.

Upstairs the apartment was dark. Brad flicked on a light, revealing a huddled figure lying on the couch, a blanket tucked up beneath her chin. Stacey. Jax’s breath caught in his throat. She looked so peaceful there, her hair fanned out around her, dark curls stark against the gray fabric. She was beautiful, vulnerable, even happy, smiling slightly in her sleep.

“Whoops, sorry.” Brad turned the light back off again and padded through the darkness to the kitchen. “I forgot she was there. We’ll have to leave the light off – she’s a bear if you wake her.”

Jax found himself wishing he could watch her some more, but pushed the thought from his mind. There was no way he could act on that impulse. She was Brad’s sister, completely off limits. He couldn’t risk their friendship – Brad was one of the few people left in his life who’d cared about him before he became famous. He knew he could trust Brad, something he couldn’t say about many other people in his life.

He took the casserole dish, waved a silent goodbye, then let himself out and jogged back to his car in the cool night air. It wouldn’t be long before he was no longer officially Stacey’s client. But even when the house sale went through, she’d still be Brad’s baby sister. And that was one line a friend didn’t cross.