The Billion Dollar Player(14)

He reached out and guided her chin up so she had no choice but to look at him. His expression softened and he said, “Avery, you’re beautiful. Funny. Intelligent. And don’t tell my mom I said this, but you cook the best food I’ve ever eaten. How could I not want to show you off to my friends? My teammates? Hell, the entire state. I haven’t taken you anywhere because I’m a selfish son of a bitch and I haven’t wanted to share your attention with anyone else. That’s all. So can we please get back on the road before all of the good snacks are gone?”

A reluctant smile tugged at Avery’s mouth. Emotion swelled in her chest at Jase’s admission. His compliment about her cooking alone was enough to endear him to her. Falling in love with Jase Blackwell didn’t seem so far-fetched anymore. “I think at a fancy party, they’re considered hors d’oeuvres.”

“If they’re bite-sized, they’re snacks. Period. So, are we good?”

“Yes.” He caressed the line of her jaw with his thumb and Avery leaned in to the contact, letting her eyes drift shut. “We’re good.”

∗∗∗

“Damn, Blackwell. I need a good-luck charm like yours. She’s so tiny, I bet I could carry her around in my jock.”

Jase’s jaw was clenched to the point that he was pretty sure he’d taken the enamel off of his molars. Malcolm Willis was one bullshit comment away from getting coldcocked.

“Maybe if I got her on her back, I could have a killer post-season, too.”

If it wouldn’t mean suspension, he’d beat the son of a bitch to a bloody pulp right in the middle of Carson’s living room. Hell, if he could be guaranteed that he’d only be fined, Jase would pay upward of a hundred grand just to lay him out.

“Hell, I might even get to start Sunday’s game if I could get a blow job out of her.”

Jase took a step forward and Carson put a hand on his chest, urging him back. “Down, boy. The last thing you need tonight is to get into it with anyone on the team. He’s just jealous that you’re kicking ass on the field and he’s trying to rile you into doing something stupid. Don’t let him play you like that.”

Jase tore his gaze from the younger man and focused on his friend’s face. His chest heaved with labored breaths and his muscles ached with unspent adrenaline. He should have said something. Told the cocky little bastard to shut his mouth. But anger clogged his throat and Jase couldn’t force the words out no matter how hard he tried. Instead, he let Willis insult Avery behind her back while he stood there and took it like some sort of pussy. And the worst part of it was, before he’d truly gotten to know Avery, he’d considered her as nothing more than a means to an end. The lucky piece of ass he’d needed to get his game tight. Christ. He was just as big of an asshole as Willis, wasn’t he?

“Don’t even think about it,” Carson said as though sensing Jase’s thoughts. “You are not allowed to get down on yourself for being the bigger man.”

“Yeah?” The word burned his mouth like acid. He sure as hell didn’t feel like the bigger man. “Give me one decent reason why being the bigger man is a good thing right now.”

“Because if you start shit at my house, Gena will have your ass in a sling for starters.”

Gena, Carson’s wife, was a notorious ball buster and one of Jase’s favorite people. She kept Carson in line off the field and he was head over heels in love with her. Likewise, she ran a pretty tight ship and shenanigans of any kind were off-limits when you went to a party she was hosting. Jase knew better than to test her. “Willis oughta thank Gena for the fact that he’s not picking his sorry ass up off the floor, then.”

“So true,” Carson said with a laugh. “Man, I’m sorry I even said anything about Avery. If I’d had any idea how you really felt about her or that some of the guys would take it so far—”

“I know,” Jase replied. “Don’t worry about it.”

“If it’s any consolation, your girl looks like she’s doing just fine.”

Jase followed Carson’s gaze to where Avery was standing with a group of wives. He caught her eye and she flashed him a dazzling smile that made his heart clench and his gut curl up into a knot. Her expression shone like the sun, the happiness radiating from her. “I really wanted Gena to like her.” As the queen bee of the group of Cowboys wives, Gena’s approval meant that no one would give Avery an ounce of shit. Ever. Not to mention the fact that if the two women hit it off, Jase wouldn’t have to worry so much about Avery feeling as though she didn’t fit in. Truth be told, he couldn’t give a shit what anyone else thought about her. The only opinion that mattered was his.

“Hey, are you taking her to Miami?”

Jase hadn’t thought about it. She had school and work. But damn, having her there to support him during the championship would be awesome. “I don’t know.” His eyes were still glued to where she stood. He couldn’t wait to get her home and into bed. “I hadn’t really thought about it.”

“Between you and me, I think you should take her.” Carson put an arm around Jase’s shoulder. “Because if you don’t, I doubt you’ll be able to focus enough to tie your shoes, let alone catch a pass.”

“Are you saying I’m not a professional?” Jase ribbed.

“Not at all,” Carson replied. “But if the way you’re looking at her right now is any indicator, you’ll play that much better if you know she’s waiting for you at the end of the day.”

“Are you speaking from experience?”

Carson chuckled. “You know it. There’s nothing better than spending as much time as possible with the woman you love.”

“It’s only been a few weeks. Way too early for words like love.”

“Jase, you’re so far gone in love with that girl there’s no comin’ back. And the sooner you come to realize it, the better. Let’s go get another beer before Gena cuts me off for the night. I ordered a new microbrew I want you to try.”

As he followed Carson to the kitchen, Jase chanced a quick glance at Avery on his way out. Damn, she was beautiful. Smart. Independent. Funny. Not to mention sexy as all get-out. But love? Was that what this bone-deep ache in his chest was? He’d never felt this way about anyone before. Could he love her? And more importantly, could she love him back?





Chapter Ten


“Avery, will you excuse me for a second? I think we’re just about ready to eat and I want to check in with the caterers.”

“Sure. No worries.”

Never in a million years would Avery have thought that she’d hit it off with Gena. Gorgeous, well-spoken, and built like a supermodel with long blond hair and bright blue eyes, she was the type of woman who couldn’t help but project an air of self-confidence. Shorter, quieter, and a hell of a lot more introverted, it wouldn’t have been tough for Avery to just melt into the scenery in the presence of the other woman. But Gena had coaxed her out of her shell, engaged her in the conversation, and seemed to be genuinely interested in what she had to say. She was welcoming, open, and friendly. The type of woman Avery could see herself becoming friends with. Why had she been so nervous about coming here tonight? So far, she was having a blast.

“So Blackwell finally let you out of your cage, huh?”

Avery recognized the guy speaking to her from some of the other team parties, though she didn’t know his name. A smarmy grin was plastered on his face and his words were slurred. Someone had clearly had too much to drink tonight. He leaned against the wall, eyeing Avery up and down and a nervous tremor ran the length of her spine.

“I don’t think we’ve ever met.” Her voice quavered as she tried to infuse confidence into the words. She held out her hand. “I’m Avery Lockhart.”

“I know who you are,” he said with a sneer. He didn’t bother to take her hand. “You’re Blackwell’s good-luck fuck.”

A wave of nausea crested over her and Avery fought for a deep breath. “Excuse me?”

The drunken jerk leaned in and she got a strong whiff of bourbon on his breath. “You’re the talk of the locker room, sweetheart. I’m surprised the team hasn’t erected a statue in your honor. You must have a magic pussy because Blackwell’s never played so well. Maybe when he’s done with you, you’ll consider passing some of that mojo my way.”

Oh god. She was going to be sick. Avery’s heart raced, her rib cage constricting to the point of pain. It took a conscious effort to draw a deep breath, and even then it was ragged and shuddered in her chest. His words tore through her like a well-honed butcher knife, eviscerating her heart into a hunk of bloodied meat. Good-luck fuck? The term was so crass, so … disgusting that it made Avery feel dirty from head to toe.

Dark spots swam in her vision and she pushed her way past her verbal assailant and toward the foyer. “Avery?” Gena’s voice called out from behind her but she didn’t dare stop. Tears spilled over her cheeks, running in rivulets that dripped from her chin. Jase had used her and everyone on his team knew about it. Had he brought her here tonight—his lucky charm and the supposed reason for his outstanding performance the past few games—for the sole purpose of parading her around for the benefit of his buddies? Avery had never been so humiliated, so hurt in all of her life.