The sweat dripped from my brow. I wiped it away with the back of my hand. The pitch was hotter than the rest of the stadium, but I played on. This was our last practice until the tournament started tomorrow.

We were lucky we got to play in Rio. Some of the other teams had to travel hours away for their matches.

I dodged to the ground as a ball came toward me. I held it forward and kicked it toward centerfield. If the guys played like this, we’d never score. They hadn’t gotten one past me yet.

I’d like to think it was because I was that damn good, but I knew the other side of that was that our offense needed work.

I grabbed the net between my fingers and plucked at the rope, watching the action at the other end of the field. No one was getting anything out of this scrimmage.

For the past few days, I had done everything Aspen advised. I made statements after each practice, taking extra time for the press. I went to lunch with the guys. I signed autographs and posed for pictures with kids lining the sidewalks. I did all the things I hated doing. All the things I never had time to do before.

Before Aspen took the reins and convinced me she was the expert in public relations. The girl knew her shit. I stuck to football. She stuck to the optics.

It was a hell of a deal we had.

I showered after practice, and changed into the suit Aspen had bought for me. I pushed the tie close to my neck. The woman had taste.

“Looking brilliant, Lach.” Taylor held his bag over his shoulder.

“Thanks,” I grumbled. I didn’t feel comfortable in the clothes. I preferred my jeans and T-shirts.

“You’ve had a good week,” he added. He was hanging back from the rest of the team.

“It’s been all right.” The truth was it had been better than all right, but I didn’t know Taylor well enough to divulge my personal life.

“Glad to see you’re on the team and that lawsuit blew over. That’s all I wanted to say.”

“Thanks.”

If it hadn’t been for Aspen, none of it would have vanished. I would have continued to spin out of control. I was a different man five days ago.

“I guess we better get out of here. Big day tomorrow.”

I followed him into the tunnel. We emerged into the sunlight to the rows of reporters. The heat wave was supposed to break tomorrow. I’d be glad to wear the suit without sweating.

“What do you think about facing Germany tomorrow?”

“Who on the team are you worried about the most?”

Taylor looked at me and smiled. “Do want to take that one?”

I shrugged and answered the crowd. “We aren’t worried about any one player. Germany has a strong team. We’ll focus on what we do best.”

“What about you, Lach? Do you think they’ll get any by you?”

“I don’t see that happening.”

Taylor slung an arm around my shoulder. “We’re confident we have the best keeper in the world.”

It was nice to hear, but I didn’t need him to stroke my ego. But I took notes. Taylor Dirks was popular with the fans and possibly more popular with the press. He gave them time. He smiled. He always complimented his mates. He gave them sound bites like that one.

I looked over the crowd and spotted Aspen leaning against a car. She was scrolling through her phone, but glanced up and smiled.

It hit me out of nowhere, but I felt something twinge beneath my ribs when I locked eyes on her. Fuck.

What in the hell was happening?

I saw her standing there and all I could think about was walking over there and taking her in my arms. I wanted to kiss the hell out of her in front of all the reporters.

It was a moment I couldn’t explain or describe. I didn’t know if it was her hair or the way she absently smiled at me, but there was something in her eyes that hooked me. I almost stumbled with the realization.

No other woman made me react like this. No other woman lasted more than a day.

Taylor answered another question, but it was just background noise. I stepped around them, making my way to the most beautiful woman in Rio.

“Hi.”

“I can tell it’s going well. You are finally trending for something other than a scandal.” She smiled. “You look good with the press.” I could tell it made her happy.

I couldn’t help it. I snaked my arms around her waist, drawing her to me. “I look good with you,” I growled before planting a hungry kiss on her mouth.

She moaned a little before making some space between us. She looked up, trying to read my eyes.

“Sometimes I don’t know about you, Lachlan.”

“What do you mean?”

She looked at the pavement. “It’s nothing.”

I tilted her chin upward. “Tell me.”

“It’s just—sometimes I think this is all real.” She lowered her eyes. “You make it seem so real. Sometimes I forget.”

Was it fucking real? Was that why my chest seized when I saw her? Was that why my arms ached to hold her? Did we make reality out of a fake relationship?

I pulled the sunglasses from my face. “Does it matter?” I asked.

She shook her head. “No. We have an arrangement. I shouldn’t have said anything. Only two weeks left, right? Then you can go back to England.”

My hand landed on her elbow as she turned for the car door. “No, wait, Aspen. I was thinking the same—”

But before I could finish my sentence, the paps were on my back. I felt the shove as they swarmed us. I tried to shield Aspen, but I was too late. One of the photographers lunged forward to get a close up of her and knocked her into the side of the car.

The rage almost split me in half. I didn’t think. My fists reacted before I could control them.. I came out swinging, hitting more than the guy who had knocked Aspen over. I roared with anger as the first punch landed. I could hear Aspen screaming behind me, trying to jerk my arm into compliance, but the fury was fierce.

“Stop, Lachlan. Stop!” she screamed, and then Taylor was on top of me, pulling me from the photographer.

“Hold on, mate. Let go.”

I reluctantly released my grasp on the wanker’s collar and stood on my feet.

“Are you okay?” I turned to check on Aspen, but the horror was all over her face.

“We need to go.” She pressed her lips together. “Now. Get in the car, Lachlan.”

I saw the rip in her skirt. It must have gotten caught on the car. I felt the anger spring forward again, but I backed off. Taylor had made a barrier between the press and me.

“Get out of here,” he urged. “Take care of her and I’ll handle this.”

I wanted to stay and explain. I wanted everyone here to know why I had been caught up in the rampage. The asshole pushed her. She didn’t deserve that. And for what? A picture? Something he could have easily taken if he had just asked.

I hung my head and walked to the other side of the car and ducked inside.

Aspen fastened the seatbelt and leaned into the leather.

“How? Why?” She looked straight ahead at the headrest in front of her while the driver pulled away from the curb.

“Aspen, are you okay?” I ran my hand over the tear in her skirt.

She nodded, but I saw a tear spill over her cheek. Shit.

“I’m sorry. I was just trying to protect you. He shoved you and I lost my shit.”

“When? When did this happen? I didn’t see this coming.” She spoke as if I weren’t in the car with her.

“Love, I didn’t know what else to do. He shoved you.”

“I get it. I do.” Her voice was quiet.

“Then why are you crying?”

“Because what are we going to do now?”

I threaded my fingers through hers. “You’ll come up with something brilliant, love. You always do. I’ll do charity work or something. Maybe an exclusive interview with one of your American stations.”

She shook her head. “That’s not what I’m talking about.”

“Then what?”

Her blue eyes sparkled with tears. “Lachlan, I can’t fake this anymore.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I have to break up with you.”

“Because I punched someone?” This was bloody absurd. I felt the pang of desperation twist in my chest.

“No, because I wanted you to. Because I liked it. Because you protected me. Because I felt like a girlfriend being honored and defended by her boyfriend. And then I had to go into optics mode instead of falling into your arms like I wanted to. I can’t do the deal anymore. It’s too real. If I let it go on for another two weeks, I’m going to leave here without my heart. I know it’s selfish. I know it wasn’t supposed to happen. But—”

I couldn’t let her utter another word. I couldn’t let her think for another second that she was alone in this.

I leaned over, dragging her lips against mine with urgent pressure. She sighed as her lips parted and I slipped my tongue along hers, dancing and twisting.

“I want to take you back to the hotel.”

“I feel like an idiot. I just made this huge confession and nothing has changed. You want sex. And God help me, I don’t want to tell you no.”

“You need rest for the game tomorrow,” she protested.

“You think I’m going to play like anything but shit if I don’t have you?”

She giggled. “Maybe it will make your game better if I resist.”

“Don’t even think about it, love.” I slid my hand up her skirt, strumming my fingers between her legs until she opened them for me.

“Ohh,” she murmured as I stroked her gently. The no panties rule had been in effect since our first dinner date and it was fucking hot.

I was scared as hell to say it, but if I didn’t, she wouldn’t know the truth. She wouldn’t know what the last week with her had done to me. She wouldn’t know that she had silenced my demons. She had made me a better man. A man who defended the woman he wanted. I wasn’t lashing out anymore, and drinking the darkness away.

“Aspen…” I cradled her head in my hands as my lips trailed over her throat.

“Mmmhmm.”

“It’s real for me too. I can’t believe I’m fucking saying it. But it’s real.”

She opened her eyes. “Are you screwing with me?”

“No, love. I want more than Rio. I want more than two more weeks with you. After the Olympics are over and the torch goes out, I want you.”

Her eyes widened. “Holy shit.”

I laughed. “You could say that.”