“You were gone longer than I expected,” Mom says as I grab another coffee mug and pour her a cup.

“I went to check on Chase.”

“Oh, that’s right. He lives in New York now, due to some woman?”

“Not just some woman—the only woman he’s ever loved.”

The gleam in Mom’s eyes from seeing me starts to fade away. “If he found someone he feels that way about, then I’m glad he’s pursuing her.”

I grab my coffee and follow her to the kitchen table. “What about you? Do you think it’s time you finally get out there and explore what the world has to offer?”

She starts to frown, but I cut her off before she can say anything.

“Bridgett’s not a kid anymore, or at least that’s what the two of you like to tell me these days. You don’t even need to be working, so maybe it’s time for you to get back out in the game of life again.”

“I appreciate your concern, Jakey, but I’m very happy living my boring life, waiting for the day my kids settle down and make me a grandmother.”

“Mom, seriously, you can’t—”

“Jake,” she snaps, cutting me off. “When you find a love like I had with your father, you don’t get over it. I tried once, and the only good thing that came from it was your sister.”

I agonize over what to say to her. I love and admire what she shared with my father, but she’s lived over twenty years without a partner. A few months ago—hell, even a few weeks ago—I didn’t think twice about how lonely she must be, but after two weeks with Lacey…everything seems different.

“I remember the first time I met your father.” She shakes her head with a carefree smile I haven’t seen on her face in years. “We were measurably different. We were actually in line to vote when we somehow started talking about who we were voting for, which was not the same candidate. I was so determined to change your father’s opinion in a matter of only minutes that he didn’t get a word in, and when he didn’t agree to change who he was voting for, I stormed off.”

I smile from the sight of her obvious happiness, but at the same time, sorrow I haven’t felt in years from losing my dad creeps its way back into my mind. “I don’t think I’ve heard this story before.”

“You were so young when he died, and honestly, it’s only been in the last few years I’ve learned to think about him without becoming a hot mess. At times, your dad and I couldn’t have been more different if we tried, but there was something between us. I felt it the moment I saw him. I just ignored that spark when I became repulsed by who he was voting for.”

I laugh, picturing my parents arguing, especially over an election. “I always remember you two getting along.”

“We did.” She pats my hand. “You don’t have to agree with everything your spouse does to be happy. Not to mention, I learned that sometimes it just takes the right person to balance your life.”

If I didn’t know better, I’d say someone called my mother and told her exactly how I spent the last two weeks: arguing with a woman who drives me insane. A woman no one else seems to hold a candle to. Hearing my mom’s story only confirms what I already knew—that Lacey Davis is the woman for me. Now I just have to prove the same thing to her.

“You promise if life becomes too dull for you, you’ll at least consider going out on a damn date?”

Mom laughs and shakes her head. “Maybe once you settle down I’ll think about it.”

I laugh inwardly, knowing I’m closer to that goal than my mother could possibly know.

“I’m actually taking a date with me to the game this Sunday.”

Her eyes widen in shock. “You’re taking a woman with you to the Super Bowl? Wow…”

“Oh, come on. You’re acting like I’ve never dated anyone before.”

“You haven’t, at least no one I’ve met since Alicia.”

“Right, but I have taken a woman out on a date.”

“Jake, when you go almost nine years without asking a woman out, it’s like starting over. It becomes a big deal. That’s one of the reasons I have no desire. I know for me it won’t go anywhere, but you have your whole life left to live, so I hope whoever you asked to go with you is someone you’re willing to give a chance.”

“She is,” I quickly state.

“Good. I can’t wait to meet her.”

Oh, shit.

Of course the Super Bowl is in the same town my family lives in. When I first heard this year’s game would be played at Qualcomm Stadium, I was excited as hell. The Chargers were my dad’s favorite team. When I dreamed of playing professional ball, I was always playing for the Chargers, but that’s not how my dream played out. I thought playing here, in the Super Bowl, would give me the last piece of accomplishment I needed to make my dad proud, and when our chances slowly faded, I felt a hit to my heart, one I didn’t tell anyone about.

Now, instead of playing in the game, I’m bringing a woman I suddenly fell for, and that in itself feels unbelievable. I might be ready for whatever Lacey is offering, but I have an uneasy feeling about how she’ll react if I ask her to meet my family.

“Who is this woman and what does she mean to you?” Jack Harvey crosses his arms over his chest, attempting to appear like a badass, but I’m not buying this song and dance for a second.

“Her name’s Lacey Davis. She’s an attorney who lives in New York, not that you need to know shit. She’s a part of my personal life. I pay you to manage the business side of my career.”

“Everything you do is my business, Jake.” He narrows his eyes. “Do you really think anyone willing to pay you the kind of money you make wants a player on his team who marries a woman with a shady background?”

“I’m bringing her to a fucking game. I never said anything about marrying her.”

“I happen to know you pretty damn well, Girard, and you’d never consider asking someone you weren’t seriously involved with.”

“I’ve only known her a couple of weeks, so you can back the fuck off.”

Harvey glares at me but doesn’t say another word.

“You wanted to talk about my contract, so let’s get to it.”

With a huff and head shake, he gives up. “I think Steel wants to see how you and Kruse get along. If the two of you have a solid relationship, then the rest of the team will follow your lead.”

“I like Kruse. I even believe he’ll make for a good QB, but that doesn’t mean we’re friends. If Steel thinks I’m suddenly going to have the same relationship with Kruse that I had with Adams, then he has another thing coming.”

“No one said you have to be best friends with the man; he just wants to make sure you have a solid connection with him.”

“And if he decides to replace Kruse with someone else, does he expect me to do the same, because this isn’t my job. I didn’t sign on to be the team’s fucking leader.”

“Yet you are, Jake.”

I glance around the coffee shop Harvey asked me to meet him at, trying not to blow up.

“Bring this woman, make sure you impress Steel, and this contract will be yours.”

I turn back to Harvey. “What if I want to look into other offers?”

His face goes red seconds before he comes unglued. “Are you fucking kidding me right now, Girard. You threatened to fire my ass if I didn’t get you this deal with the Cards. That’s exactly what I’m doing.”

“I know, but things are different now.”

Harvey watches me for some kind of a clue, one he must see written on my face. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. You’re rethinking shit because of this woman?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“But you’re not denying it, either.”

I straighten in my chair with a triumphant smile on my face. “I pay you to do a job. I pay you quite well actually…therefore, I don’t have to justify my actions to you. If I want to look into other contracts, then you’re going to show me every offer you’ve received, and you’ll do it with a fucking smile on your face.”

I stand up, beyond annoyed that I have to justify anything to a man who makes millions off of me.

“I’ll see you Sunday.”

I walk out to my truck and pull out my phone to send Lacey a text.

I put my truck in drive, already dreading walking into my mom’s empty house. I wish I hadn’t left New York as soon as I did. I thought if I gave Lacey space, she’d come to realize she wants me in her life, but now that we’re thousands of miles apart, my original concern that she’ll long forget about me creeps its way back into my mind. Before I have the chance to pull out onto the street, my phone buzzes with a text.

Tension starts to drain from my body knowing she hasn’t changed her mind. I wanted to book her a flight for Friday, but she told me she couldn’t get out of court in time. Instead, I booked her on the earliest flight I could get on Saturday.

Normally, when I’m home in the offseason, I fill my nights with old friends, wild parties, and random women, but that’s not how this year has played out. All I want now, is for this week to fly by so I can set my sights on a woman who’s starting to consume my every thought.

I arrived at the crowded airport much earlier than I needed to. My excitement to see Lacey wouldn’t allow me to sit around my mom’s house and do nothing.

A voice booms next to me. “You’re Jake Girard.”

I turn to the person who said my name much louder than necessary, only to find a guy probably close to my age smiling from ear to ear.

“Yes, I am.” I extend my hand to shake his.

“Holy shit. This is so awesome.”

The man picks up a kid who looks young enough to still shit his pants. “This is my son. He sits with me every Sunday during football season. We never miss a Cardinal’s game.”

“Nice to meet you, little guy.” I grin as the little boy laughs in his dad’s arms.

“I’m Brady, and this is my son Dylan. I’m originally from Phoenix. We moved out here two years ago, but we still root for the Cards.”

“San Diego is a beautiful place to live. This is actually my hometown.”

“This is so cool. Can I get your autograph?”

Brady puts his son down and starts digging in what looks like a diaper bag. “Oh good. I found something.” He hands me a wadded-up receipt and a pen that looks like it’s been rolled around in cookie crumbs. “Sorry,” he bashfully says, rubbing the pen on his shirt.

“No problem at all.” I quickly sign my name and hand him back his belongings when I hear my name again, only this time, it comes from the sweetest voice possible.

“You didn’t have to pay someone to pretend to know who you were just on my account.”

I turn to Lacey, and all I can do is smile. I’m surprised she’s here. I invited her. I arranged for her flight. I drove to the fucking airport to pick her up, yet I’m still surprised she actually followed through and came. I refused to look at my phone most of the morning in fear I’d find a text saying she wasn’t coming. When one never arrived, the uncertainty of her coming still danced around in my head, but now she’s here, and she looks amazing. Tight, dark jeans, boots, a cream-colored sweater, and she left her black hair down.

“I’m glad you made it.”

Lacey smirks. “Did you think I was going to back out? I don’t make promises I can’t keep, Girard.”

I reach out and pull her into me. Without a word, I lower my mouth to hers. Within seconds, our kiss isn’t suitable for a public setting. Using all my willpower, I pull away.

When she peers up at me, I swear I can see a dreamy look in her eyes, but knowing me and my sudden change of character, it’s probably wishful thinking.

“You ready?”

She blinks a few times before wordlessly nodding. I lace my hand with hers and pick up her suitcase. “I rented us a beachfront suite not too far from the stadium.”

“Why aren’t we staying at your place?”

“Because I don’t see the point in owning a house here. When I’m home, I stay at my mom’s house, but I didn’t think she would appreciate hearing what I have planned to do with you.”

She wrinkles her nose in disgust. “Good call.”

Thirty minutes later, the two of us are walking into the suite I rented at the Emporium, a five-star hotel my sister constantly talks about. The room is suffused with sunlight, thanks to a wall of glass that delivers a fantastic view of the Pacific Ocean. A table in the middle of the formal living area holds a magnificent arrangement of flowers. A door to the left is open, showcasing a massive master bedroom. I’m impressed, but if Lacey is, she doesn’t act like it.

“Well, you got me all the way out here. What’s the plan?” She bites her lips as her blue eyes darken with lust.

“I’d like to show you around. Give you an idea of how beautiful this city is, but that will interfere with the amount of time I’d like to spend inside your amazing body.”

“I think option two sounds like the better way for us to spend the weekend.”

I can’t help but smile. “I’m glad we’re on the same page.” I close the distance between us, my cock already painfully hard as I take her mouth in a deep, passionate kiss. I pull away to work on unbuttoning her jeans.

“Geez, someone is in a hurry.”

“Lacey, my dick has waited ten days for this.”

Her eyes flitter around the room before she looks up at me. “You haven’t been with anyone else since you returned home?”

“Fuck no,” I growl. “And if you tell me someone has touched you, I might come unglued.”

“No,” she answers quickly, and for whatever reason, I instantly believe her.

“Lacey, I want a relationship with you. I was serious when I said that, so unless you tell me to fuck off because you never plan to see me again, then my dick isn’t going near another woman.”

Her response seems to take forever, adding undue stress that causes my muscles to tighten and ache. After what feels like an eternity, her features soften. “Okay. I believe you.”

“I won’t lie, cheat, or purposely hurt you.” I tilt her head back, forcing her eyes to mine. In them, I search for any indication she truly believes me, but the only emotion I can clearly identify is fear. “Give me time. Give us time, and I’ll prove to you I’m different.”

“Okay, Jake.”

Jake.

I relax even more hearing her call me by my first name.

“But I think I’m ready for you to show me just how much you missed me.”

“I’d be happy to, sweetheart.”