They walked into the restaurant, Los Tios, near the historical section of Fort Worth with Xavier’s hand on the small of her back. Izzy’s cheeks were flushed, and her mind was whirling with the conflicting evidence she kept being handed about Xavier. Kade Kincaid had basically confirmed Xavier was a player, but Xavier had said he was someone she could trust. She wanted to trust him, and she really wanted him to keep touching her and this date to never end, but reality had to come into play, and she worried it was going to hit her hard.

The restaurant had bright yellow walls with sombreros and blankets hanging on them. The red booths and black tables provided an attractive contrast. Izzy was happy he’d brought her here. She adored Mexican food and felt an immediate connection to the bright, warm spot. Her mother would’ve loved it. The restaurant was crowded, but the young Spanish greeter immediately recognized Xavier.

“X!” He hollered.

Many patrons turned, and then it seemed like the entire restaurant was staring at them. A few teenage girls pulled out their phones and snapped pictures. Xavier released his hold on her and grasped the hand the young man offered, clapping him on the shoulder. “Antonio, what is this? You’re going to be bigger than me soon.”

The wiry teenager poked out his chest. “I’m already taller than my parents. I’ll pass Ace up by next year.”

“For sure! Great to see you, my friend.”

“You want a private table?” He winked at Izzy, and she couldn’t help but like him. It wasn’t a lewd wink, more friendly and innocent. She judged he was about seventeen and loved his smile. It reminded her of Ace Sanchez. She hadn’t formally met Ace, but he seemed like a great guy.

Xavier’s hand went to her back again, and Izzy couldn’t help but love it there.

“Izzy, this is Antonio, Ace’s little brother.”

“Not little for long. Nice to meet you, Izzy.” He stuck out his hand and shook hers. Izzy liked that his parents had taught him old-fashioned manners. He grabbed two sets of cloth-wrapped utensils and menus and hurried in front of them. “Follow me, my friends. I’ll find you a good table then let Ace and Mom know you’re here.”

“No Dad today?”

“He’ll be in soon. He’s unclogging the bathroom drain. Ace told him to call a plumber, but you know how he is.”

They threaded through tables as Antonio talked. Everyone seemed to be staring at them and whispers of “That’s Xavier Newton” were everywhere. Izzy knew it would be like this because she’d grown up around professional athletes, what with her father owning the team, but it was still unnerving to her. Did she really want to be dating someone who would always throw her in the public limelight? She scoffed at herself. It was only one date.

“My mama is the same way,” Xavier was saying. “She’ll spend hours gluing a glass back together when I’m begging her to go buy a new one.”

Antonio laughed. “Same generation. Good people though, right?” He gestured toward a corner booth where they would have a decent amount of privacy. “This all right?”

“Perfect.” Xavier waited while Izzy slid onto the vinyl bench then sat across from her. Izzy would’ve liked to stay close to him, but this was better. They could face each other and talk. Somehow it felt too intimate to sit side by side. Even though they’d kissed, they weren’t a couple, and she needed to remember that.

Antonio set their menus down and smiled at Izzy. “Have you been here before?”

“Sorry to say I haven’t.”

“Best Mexican food in Ft. Worth,” Antonio said proudly.

Xavier grinned cockily, and Izzy wanted to touch his dimples.

“Everybody will tell you to get the tamales but take it from me, beef chimichanga is the ticket. You’ll thank me.” He kind of clucked his tongue and nodded.

“Beef chimichanga, got it.”

He winked again. “I’ll go let them know you’re here.”

Xavier didn’t open his menu but studied her. “I didn’t think about this being a little overwhelming for you.”

“All the fans watching us?”

His eyes widened, and he glanced out at the crowded restaurant where most of the patrons were still staring at him. “Oh, um, no. Sorry, I’m so used to that I didn’t even think of it.”

Interesting. She supposed you would have to get used to constant scrutiny and awed looks if you were playing at Xavier’s level, but it made her feel like a fish in a tank. Amazingly, no one had approached them yet.

“I meant all the attention from Ace’s family,” he said.

“Antonio was great.”

“He is, but just you wait.”

The kitchen doors burst open, and a pretty woman with short, curly hair and black eyes rushed to their table and exclaimed, “Hola, my hijo!”

Xavier stood and wrapped her in his arms. She was probably about five five but looked teeny next to Xavier. He released her and smiled down at her. She clapped a hand on either side of his face. “Those dimples! How does anyone resist them?” She turned and arched an eyebrow at Izzy. “Am I right?”

“Unfortunately,” Izzy said then realized that probably wasn’t the positive response this lady was looking for. “Yes, you’re right, ma’am.”

“Mama Fabiana,” Xavier said. “This is Izzy Knight.”

“Nice to meet you, love.” Fabiana extended her hand. Izzy stood, and they shook quickly. “I hope you’re treating mi hijo something special. He deserves a princess.”

Izzy couldn’t contain the too-loud laugh that sputtered out. Fabiana looked offended. Xavier saved her. “I call her princess all the time.”

“Oh, I see.” She pinned Izzy with a look. “And are you treating him like royalty?”

Izzy didn’t know how to respond, so she opted for the truth. “Not usually.”

“Well, you see that you do.” She inclined her chin at Izzy, but a light sparkled mischievously in those dark eyes. “I’ll send Ace out.” She focused on Izzy again. “Try the tamales. They’re my specialty.” She kissed her fingers, waved them at Xavier and was gone.

Xavier waited for Izzy to sit back down then sank back into his side of the bench.

“I don’t think I impressed her,” Izzy said, really wishing she had. She seemed like a warm, loving woman.

“Ah, she’s just a little overprotective of me. That’s all.”

“Yes, you definitely need someone protecting you.”

Xavier laughed.

The chatter in the restaurant seemed to have resumed, and Izzy didn’t feel like everyone was staring at them quite as much. That was, until the kitchen door opened again, and Ace Sanchez strode out. He was an extremely handsome man with smooth, brown skin, a fit body, and a smile that had been plastered all over Texas, probably all over the nation.

Xavier saw him and stood, and they embraced. Izzy heard phones clicking throughout the restaurant. She stood, and Ace turned to her, grinning. “So nice to meet you, Izzy.”

“You as well.” She shook the hand he offered and tried to ignore all the pictures being taken of the exchange. When the media figured out that she and Xavier had gone on their million-dollar date it was going to get insane. The charity banquet had only allowed one professional photographer in the other night, and so except for entering and exiting, the paparazzi hadn’t had much material to go on.

Ace released her hand and inclined his chin to Xavier. “Good luck with this monstrosity. He doesn’t know how to behave.”

“Hey!” Xavier cried out. “And here Mama Fabiana was telling her to treat me like royalty.”

“Chh.” Ace made a dismissive sound with his tongue. “She hasn’t had to deal with you on the field.”

“Hey, just because my calves and biceps are more defined than yours is no reason to get salty with me.” Xavier winked at her, and she loved that he’d stolen her word.

“Salty?” Ace’s brow wrinkled.

“Crying big salty tears.”

Ace threw back his head and laughed. “I’d tell Mom to hold me while I cried if The Rising Star hadn’t just done an article and claimed my calves were the most perfect in the NFL.”

“Liar.” Xavier shook his head but was chuckling. “The Rising Star has a bunch of idiot reporters.”

“For sure.” Ace agreed. “They keep putting you on their Most Handsome Men list. Raving lunatics.”

Izzy smiled at the interchange. “You two always tease each other?”

“Pretty much.” Xavier nodded. “It’s our MO.”

“Hey, I’ve got to go cook tortillas until my dad gets here. He’s off unclogging a bathroom drain.” Ace shook his head and folded his arms across his chest. He wasn’t exaggerating about his biceps. They were impressive, but not quite as impressive as Xavier’s, at least not to her. “I keep begging them to hire more help, but they want it to stay ‘family run’ and all that.”

“You’d probably have less of a crowd if they didn’t know they might catch a glimpse of you on a Saturday,” Izzy said to Ace.

Ace quirked an eyebrow. “Good point. Everybody wants a peep at these biceps.” He flexed.

Izzy loved that he was teasing. Of course, these guys were confident, but she could tell they weren’t really that into themselves. Ace glanced out the restaurant door where a line was forming. He inclined his chin toward it. “That’s my cue to disappear. Good luck, X.”

“We’ll just hide here in our little booth.”

“Yeah, that’ll work.” Ace gave them a jaunty wave and hurried back to the kitchen.

Xavier and Izzy sank into the booth again, and Izzy really wished she could hide behind something. She glanced out at the crowded restaurant and the serious line now forming out on the sidewalk.

“Do you think people posted that you and Ace were both here and it spread that quickly?”

“I wouldn’t put anything past social media. Sorry. You okay staying?”

If her father had wanted publicity out of her date with Xavier, he was going to get it. She wanted to run and hide, but she took a breath and pasted on a brave face “Of course. I have to try the chimichangas.”

Xavier favored her with his dimpled smile. A petite twenty-something waitress with gorgeous black hair approached their table with a tray and set down big glasses of ice water, straws, a basket of chips, and a large bowl of salsa. “Hi, X.” She greeted him casually, as if he was no big deal. “The usual?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She gave him a smile and a nod. She noticed Izzy’s closed menu. “Would you like some recommendations?”

“No, Antonio said I have to try the beef chimichangas.”

“He would,” she said dryly. “Refried or black beans?”

“Black, please.”

“Sour cream and guacamole okay?”

“Wouldn’t miss them.”

She smiled. “Gotcha.” She put her pad back in her pocket and rushed away.

Izzy dipped a still-warm chip into the salsa, scooping up a big bite and putting it all in her mouth.

“Careful, that’s—” Xavier started.

“Hot!” Izzy managed to say around the bite. Her tongue was on fire and sweat broke out on her upper lip. She grabbed her glass of ice water and sucked half of it down.

Xavier chuckled.

Izzy swallowed and then drank some more water to try to soothe her tongue. “But delicious,” she said, going for another chip but not taking quite as much salsa.

“For sure.”

She couldn’t resist sneaking another glance at the crowds of people, each seeming to either be craning their necks for a peek at Xavier Newton or watching the kitchen door hoping Ace Sanchez would walk back out.

“Does it get old?” she asked, breaking a chip in half but not eating it.

Xavier nodded. “At Air Force, they tried pretty hard to not make us feel special.”

“Why’d you choose Air Force?” He could’ve played college ball anywhere.

“Close to home, good athletics program, best scholarship offer I had.” He dunked a chip and plunged it into his mouth. “It delayed me playing professionally a little bit since I was on active duty two years before I committed to the Titans.”

She imagined he would’ve been great in the military, but she couldn’t conceive of a world where he wouldn’t have been snatched up by a smart recruiter. He was one of the best players in the nation. “Are you in the reserves now?”

He nodded.

She hadn’t known that about him, but it fit. He was disciplined and hard-working and suddenly she was having all kinds of visions of him in an Air Force uniform. She fanned her face. Was it hot in here? “The salsa,” she murmured, clasping her hands together in her lap.

“Where did you go to school?” Xavier asked.

“Texas A&M.” She suddenly felt the pressure and stress again throughout high school and college. She’d worked hard. “When they offered me a tuition scholarship, I cried. I can’t imagine how great a full-ride offer would be.”

He tilted his head to study her. “I hope this isn’t offensive because you shared with me why you don’t respect your dad, but he has to be a multi-billionaire. Why did you need a scholarship?”

She looked down at the black tabletop then reluctantly met his eyes. “I hate my father, and when I turned eighteen, I moved out and refused to take a cent from him.”

His eyes widened. “Wow, that’s impressive.” He looked her over, and it seemed like he was seeing her in a new light. “Is that why you don’t want me calling you princess?”

She ate a fragment of chip, liking the light grease and thin texture. “I don’t mind it so much from you.”

The waitress returned with two drinks. “Mango lemonade for X, and I apologize, but I forgot to ask what you wanted to drink, ma’am. I brought a strawberry lemonade, but we have Coke products, Budweiser, or I can bring the wine list.”

“This is great.” Izzy reassured her, not telling her that she rarely drank anything besides water. Her little sister, Hailey, loved to tease her about how boring she was. She stirred the drink and took a small sip, pleasing the waitress who rushed off again. It was a nice mix of sweet strawberry syrup and tart lemonade and soothed her mouth that was sweltering from the delicious salsa and her dreams of Xavier in an Air Force uniform.

Xavier was staring intently at her. “If you don’t take money from your father, how did you buy me for a million dollars?”

Izzy’s neck and cheeks went hot, and she couldn’t blame it on the jalapenos much longer. “He knows how to manipulate me, and the children’s hospital is my life now. So many families can’t afford their treatments, even with insurance or governmental help. Then there’s the research for things like juvenile diabetes, cancer, AIDS, and so many diseases that need more funding all the time. We have to find cures someday.” If only they could’ve had a cure for her mother. She splayed her hands wide and tried to tease. “Do you think I sold out?”

Xavier slowly shook his head. “No. I’m trying to recalculate everything in my brain. I wasn’t sure why Knight would have you buy me and then double the bid. He must care about you a lot.”

Izzy felt a rush of familial love that she quickly extinguished. She remembered many years ago when she’d had a daddy who she’d run to when he came home from work. He’d pick her up and hug her. Now, she barely acknowledged she had a father. If it wasn’t for Dolly and Hailey, she would never have any contact with the man.

“No.” She squeaked out and quickly took another pull of her lemonade, wishing that she did drink something stronger. “You said your mama’s love language was food, well my father’s is money.” Yet sometimes, she wondered during the few times she saw him interact with Dolly and Hailey, who were obviously both very happy and very much in love with the man. Izzy would never call her stepmom or half-sister shallow because she adored them, but money seemed to be their love language too. Maybe that’s why it all worked for them, and Izzy was left out of the circle. By choice, but left out all the same.

“I’m sorry,” he said simply.

“It’s life, families. So let’s go back to how you deal with the constant fans.” She peeked out at the restaurant crowd again, and though most of the patrons inside were eating and seemed distracted, the line outside was long and intimidating.

Xavier studied her like he wasn’t ready to change subject, but he was gracious enough to not force it. He lifted his broad shoulders. “At first, I ate it up. I’d gotten attention in high school and college, then while I was in the military I was definitely nothing special.” He grinned. “Nothing could’ve prepared me for that first year in the pros. But it gets old pretty quick, and you find yourself just ignoring people, which isn’t cool, but sometimes, you have no choice if you’re going to ever get someplace on time. I can’t ever walk away from the kiddos though.”

“You were very kind to Tyson at the paintball place.” She hadn’t missed the fact that Xavier had slipped him a roll of twenties and told him to share it with his friends. She liked that a lot.

“Nice kid. They were all great to not make a big fuss about me.”

“You’re kind of fun to make a fuss about.”

Xavier’s eyes sparkled at her, and his hand reached across the table toward hers. Unfortunately, at that moment, their waitress arrived with steaming plates of food. She set them down in front of each of them and nudged them closer with her hot-pad hands. “Be careful, plates are hot. Can I get you anything else?” With narrowed eyes, she stared at their basket of chips, which was still piled high, as if they were jerks to not devour it.

Xavier looked to Izzy.

She shook her head and said, “This looks great.”

He nodded. “Thank you.”

She took off again.

“She’s in a hurry.” Izzy remarked, picking up her fork and cutting a steaming bite.

“Ace is always saying they need to hire more staff. A lot of times, you’ll see Mama Fabiana bussing the dining room floor or one of Ace’s brothers or cousins. They all work really hard.”

Izzy blew on the bite and then finally placed it in her mouth. Cheesy goodness rested there. The meat was tender steak, the rice and beans were perfectly seasoned, and the homemade tortilla and guacamole blended flawlessly. She chewed slowly, savoring it before saying, “Best Mexican food I’ve ever tasted.”

“Aw, yeah.” Xavier drawled it out, pointing his fork at her before cutting a bite of his tamale. “That means I get to choose dinner too.”

“You’re really planning on me being around for dinner?” Izzy teased. She’d been concerned at his house with the obvious implications from his teammate, Kade, that Xavier was a womanizer. She’d known that fact going into the date, but she still didn’t know how to resist him. Her mouth turned down. That was probably what every other woman felt.

“I really hope you will be.” He glanced down as if suddenly shy. She knew that couldn’t be true, but it felt like it. He met her gaze again, his dark eyes beseeching. “So far this has been the best date of my life.”

She got lost in the dark depths of his eyes, her fork clattering to the plate. “You mean the best first date?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I mean best date.”

“I still don’t kiss on the first date.” She insisted, wanting to flirt with him.

“So those first two kisses?” His voice went low and sultry, and she wasn’t hungry for the best Mexican food anymore.

“You kissed me.” She reminded him, but that wasn’t exactly true. There’d been a third kiss that she’d instigated, right after she’d cupped his face and told him how she loved his dimples. Oh, my, this food was really spicy. She took another gulp of water.

“Oh, so that’s how you work? As long as I initiate, I can plan on more of that bit of heaven?”

Dang he was smooth. She laughed. “You’ve got me. But you’re going to have to work hard for the next kiss.”

“I’ve had to work hard a few times in my life.”

Izzy smiled at the understatement. He could write a book on rising from the ashes through hard work.

“This work sounds like a lot of fun.” He winked and went back to his tamales and tostada lunch.

Izzy had a hard time focusing on cutting another bite of chimichanga as she imagined kissing him again. It wouldn’t be work for her, not at all. This date was not turning out to be anything like she’d thought it would, and she might give into another kiss … or two.