The Billion Dollar Player(17)

She wanted to believe him. The sincerity in his eyes, his words, was unmistakable. “You want it all?” she asked in a whisper, her voice quavering.

“Sugar, I want to take you home and show you off to my family. I want to wine and dine you, buy you pretty things, take you on trips. Hell, I’ll sit in this apartment all day, every day if that’s what you want. Anything to spend time with you. Avery, I love you.”

∗∗∗

“You hurt me.” Jase’s chest tightened as his heart clenched. “Those words took away everything good I thought or felt about myself since I’d met you. You played with my emotions and decimated my heart. I appreciate that you’re sorry, Jase, and I am, too. I never should have said the things I did. I was hurt and confused but …”

No. This sounded too much like good-bye. She had to forgive him, damn it. “Avery, don’t push me away. Don’t let my stupidity ruin what was so perfect between us. Please, just give me another chance. I won’t let you down. I’ll do whatever I have to do to prove that I’m good enough for you.”

“It’s not about being good enough. How can we have an honest relationship when it was built on dishonesty?”

“Avery.” Jase pinned her with his gaze. “I never lied to you. Everything I said when we were together was the truth. And everything I felt about you—still feel about you—is real.”

“Maybe you’re just riding the high of your success. Maybe you’re afraid of what will happen if we’re not together.”

Damn it. He refused to let her make excuses to push him away. “You’re right. I’m fucking terrified to lose you, Avery. But not because of some stupid superstition. I wouldn’t give a shit if I never played another game in my entire life. Because none of it—not the money, the success, anything—would matter if I don’t have you.”

Her gaze softened. “Jase.”

He hadn’t convinced her yet. There was still too much doubt in her voice. “Please give me another chance, sugar. We can go slow, I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your trust. Just … just please don’t walk away from this. Us. You know we’re good together. I love you, Avery. And I know you love me, too.”

Avery’s eyes drifted up to meet his, bright shining emeralds against a night sky. Never in his life had Jase laid eyes on a more desirable woman. One that knew him heart and soul and had seen past his wealth and fame to the man underneath. With a feather-light touch, he brushed her hair behind her ears and cupped her face in his palms. Avery’s lips parted, her expression sad and unsure. It broke his heart all over again.

A week. Seven short days apart felt like years as he kissed her. Their bodies melted into one another, his arms encircling her waist, hers coming up to grip his shoulders. Jase savored Avery’s taste, the softness of her lips, the heat of her mouth as he kissed her. Her hands wound into the fabric of his T-shirt and she held him as though afraid he’d pull away.

“I love you, Avery,” Jase whispered against her mouth. He deepened the kiss, delving into her mouth with his tongue and stroking along her bottom lip. She pulled away and studied him. Her gaze conveyed the emotion he felt. “And I’m going to tell you every minute of every day for the rest of my life until you believe it.”

She reached up to trace his jaw with the soft pad of her finger. “Maybe not every minute. You’re going to need some of that time to play ball if you want to win a Super Bowl anytime soon.”

There had been times growing up when Jase didn’t think he’d ever have anything. But now? He had the life he wanted, the career and respect he’d worked so hard for, and most importantly, he had the girl. Avery was everything to him. Now that he had her, he knew that he’d never need anything else.

“Will you go?” he asked. She came up on her tiptoes and planted a sweet, soft kiss on his lips. “It would mean a lot to me if you were there.”

“Are you kidding?” His lips met hers once again. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”