“HOW CAN YOU BE SO CALM?” Paige asks with a little growl as Dallas gets tackled. She grabs on to me, her nails leaving half-moon marks when she lets go. “There’s only twenty-five seconds left on the clock and we’re up by seven. If there’s a turnover, then the opposing team will have a chance to not only score but tie.”

“Look at you, Ms. Football. Who would have thought that in six short months, you’d be an expert?” I say proudly.

She blinks at me. “I got that right?”

“You repeated what the announcer said right after Dallas was tackled,” I point out.

“Sue me.” She grabs hold of me again, but this time her nails don’t bite so much. “Anything could happen in less than twenty-five seconds.”

“All the Renegades have to do is run down the clock.”

She lets go of me, satisfied with my answer. I take the opportunity to wriggle over a little, enough to give us enough space that I can stick a pillow between us.

“Kingston, tell your sister that she needs to be more involved,” Paige says as the game goes to commercial during a time out.

“We’re watching from the owners’ suite. How much more do you want?” he says, coming to sit on the arm. He ruffles my hair. Something I hate, because I spent so much time making it look for perfect for the man I want to impress at his party, but won’t get to go home with because he doesn’t want that from me. And he’s not on my list anymore. “You look nice.”

I shove his hand away. “I did look nice.” With a huff, I stalk to the mirror behind the bar.

Finley is standing in front of it, leaning against the bar with her Captain American lookalike fiancé at her side.

My face flames when she smiles at me. I’ve always been a little afraid of her and the things I want—make that wanted—to do to her ex makes me even more scared.

“Is your brother bothering you?” she asks, her smile turning playful as I nod. “Does he know how hard you work to make all this hair look so good?” She makes a turning motion with her finger. Dutifully, I turn around. She is, after all, the woman responsible for my pierced ears.

“He doesn’t care about that.”

“It’s not too bad. But I’ll fire Kingston, if you want?”

Does she know about Aiden and me? Does she know I went to his room three weeks ago and stayed there long enough for something to happen? Maybe Kingston spilled the beans and she’s secretly mad, and she’ll take it out on him because there really isn’t a way to punish me.

Being still married to Joe while waiting on him to agree to the terms of our divorce is punishment enough.

I scream.

On the inside, of course, but on the outside, I’m as serene as Meghan Markle in her engagement pictures with Prince Harry.

“That’s sweet of you, but I’m sure he wouldn’t know what to do without you as his partner.” My heart pounds, and I start to nibble on the tip of my finger.

Finley tugs on my hair, which makes me laugh like a deranged chipmunk. “The only time you’re this extra is when you’re feeling guilty about something.” She spins me around to face her. “What did you do, Layton Tallulah Price?”

My mouth opens. Nothing comes out but a squeak.

Finley gets a weird but concerned look on her face. “Are you okay?”

“She’s fine.” Paige grabs me, pulling me along with her to the sofa. “Nervous about tonight’s game.”

“I thought you said she didn’t care enough?”

Paige shakes her head, blonde hair sliding over her shoulder. “No, I said she wasn’t concerned enough.”

“Uh-huh.”

Panicking, I look to Kingston for help. He doesn’t bother to hide the smile on his stupid face. How does any woman think he’s handsome? Or a catch?

“She worried because—”

I start shaking my head and waving my hands so hard in the air that Finley notices. “Go, Renegades!” I shout, then let my hands drop. “Let’s go sit down, Paige.”

“What were you saying, Kingston?”

“She’s worried that you don’t know about me going off on my own.”

“I didn’t mean to kiss Aiden,” I blurt out at the same time.

“Wait. What?”

“Game’s back on,” Paige screeches, and we surge to the outdoor seating to watch the final seconds tick away. Outdoor heaters and an overhang keep us mostly warm.

“Holy shit. They’re going for another touchdown. Up by seven isn’t enough for Aiden,” Kingston says. “Damn, he wants those endorsements.”

Finley smiles approvingly. “He’s going out with a bang, for sure.”

“A bang?” I ask, even as I direct my attention to the players on the field. From up here, they look as small as the players on a foosball table. “What do you mean?”

“He’s retiring, kid. Thought you would know that,” Kingston murmurs.

“Retiring, as in you won’t rep him anymore?” I ask.

“Not just that.”

Paige grabs my hand. “There he goes.”

I look up at the big screen to see better.

Aiden falls back, his blue eyes scanning the field. That familiar smile of his kicks up the corners of his mouth. The offensive line keeps him from being sacked.

He launches the ball into the air.

My heart jumps up in my throat.

“Please make it.” I squeeze Paige’s hand so tight that she grunts. “Please make it. Please make it.”

The ball drops out of the air, right into Dallas’s hands. He runs for it, one arm stretched wide as he dodges and weaves, jumping over the other players that come at him.

“Ten, nine...” the crowd starts to chant the countdown.

At the five-second mark, Dallas crosses the end zone.

The roar from the crowd is deafening.

There’s just enough time for a field goal.

The kicker rushes out.

The ball’s set up, and the entire team sprints as one.

Paige and I grab each other in a hug just as the ball sails through the goal.

The final second passes.

The ref throws both arms in the air.

“It’s good,” we scream.

A horn blares. The rest of the team rushes onto the field.

The stadium shakes with the force of people jumping to their feet and celebrating.

The camera cuts to Aiden, and the look on his face takes my breath away. He’s like a fierce warrior of old, like a hero out of a Judith McNaught book that I used to dream about.

Everyone in the suite starts celebrating. Kingston pops a bottle of champagne. Finley pours, but me... I can’t take my eyes off the big screen in our box because it seems like Aiden’s looking right where we are, and I want more than anything to go to him.

Confetti falls, and a reporter shoves a microphone in his face as he tears off his helmet and pulls out his mouth guard.

“You’ve just led the Renegades to a near-perfect season and a Super Bowl win. What do you have to say?”

This is the moment for him. Aiden’s not known for sharing the spotlight, but he doesn’t exactly hog it, either. According to Kingston, he doesn’t like playing interview games, and he only gives the bare bones so no one can misquote him.

“It’s been an honor to play for the Renegades. Tonight was a team effort that I will never forget.” He stares into the camera. “These guys are the best. The absolute best, and I’m going to miss being with them next season. I’m going to miss all of this.”

“He’s really retiring from football?” I ask.

Kingston and I walk inside. “Yeah, it’s pretty much been a true rumor all this season.”

“What’s he going to do after he retires?’

Kingston shrugs. “Hopefully, he’ll shoot a lot of ads, meet a nice girl, and move to his house in Aruba where he can raise a family.” He pats me on the back. “I need to do the agent thing. I’ll meet you at Aiden’s. There’s a driver waiting to take you and Paige there.”

Meet a nice girl and raise a family? “I thought the party was at the Ritz?” I ask weakly.

“That’s the second party of the night.” He winks at me before heading out into the hallway.

***

THE PARTY IS IN FULL swing by the time Paige and I arrive. She’s not with me very long at all before Dallas’s hulking form is on top of us.

“Bright Eyes, tell me you saw that TD I scored just for you.”

She nods happily. “I did, with only twenty-five seconds left on the clock.”

“Love it when you talk football to me.”

They start to make out, so I leave the lovebirds alone to grab something to eat. Everywhere I look there are friends, family, and women hanging on the unattached Renegade players.

My heart sinks when I think about Aiden hooking up with one of them, or worse, finding the love of his life here. Unlike me, she’ll be ready to promise forever with him, because she won’t have my fears or a hundred and eighty pounds of male baggage.

I spot Sam and smile at him. He’s talking to a girl with red hair and a Renegades t-shirt that’s been cut into strips with black and red ribbon woven in an intricate pattern.

He waves me over. Since I’m by myself, I join them.

“Abbie, this is Layton. Layton, this is Abbie,” Sam says. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll get both of you a drink.”

“Are you a friend of Sam’s or are you looking to be more than friends?” she says when he walks away, a genuine smile on her face. “Because, I don’t know how I’ll compete with you.”

“Oh please, you’d totally win. Besides, Sam and I are only friends.” I smile at her. “The only reason I’m here is because my brother, who’s an agent for some of the guys, invited me.”

She glances at my outfit, then back at hers. “I might be underdressed for this.”

Because she’s not vying for Aiden’s attention, I try to set her at ease. “Don’t even think that. You look amazing.”

“Thanks. It took me two hours to get it done.” She wriggles her nails at me, and I admire the manicure—a monogrammed manicure with a plaid background. “These are not scissor friendly.”

“Who cares, because they are gorgeous.” I take her hand in mine, examining them. “Mind if I snap a pic so I can copy them later?”

She laughs. “Not at all.”

I grab my phone and take a couple of pictures. “Thanks.”

“Y’all want to look at my nails, too?” Sam asks, and I feel bad for taking over.

“Sorry.” I give him a hug and take my drink. “Congrats on tonight’s win. Great to meet you, Abbie.”

“You, too.” She leans in. “Looks like you caught the attention of the quarterback. Way to go, girl.”

“What?” Spinning around, I find Aiden bearing down on me with that same fierce look on his face.

My pulse kicks up.

Blood starts to pound everywhere, and I get so breathless I can hardly speak. “Congrats. Um, so I’ve been working on the tying event and—”

Aiden picks me up, hauling me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes while the Renegades—minus Finley, thank God—catcall and cheer. He strides out of the room, a possessive hand on the small of my back, while I just hang there in shock.

Once we’re away from the crowd, he sets me down. “You still looking to get over Joe?”

“I don’t have the right answer,” I whisper.

He leans in, his arms on either side of me as his hands connect with the wall. Freshly showered, his hair’s still wet and he smells like soap. The beard is still there, but it isn’t as wild as it was before. “Season’s over, LT. I’m ready and willing to fuck you.”

“What about all or nothing?” I lick my lips. His eyes follow, like a hunter about to take a bite of the prey he’s finally caught.

“I think I sold myself short on changing your mind.”

“Pretend I’m on your street, that I’m some hoodsie you’re interested in.” My breasts grow heavy, my nipples constricting into tight points. I grow damp between my thighs. If he doesn’t touch me soon, I’ll be forced to take matters into my own hands. “Make me want to say yes, Aiden.”

His moves in closer, his sexy mouth only a hair’s breath away. “Spend the night with me, Layton.”

“Yes.”