The Player

by Aliyah Burke

  “She won’t talk to me.”

  “Why won’t my mother talk to you?”

  His fridge opened and he looked over his shoulder to watch Mitchell pull out the orange juice and drink it straight from the container. Like he’d done in college.

  “No, not Ms. Sandy. My sister.”

  He braced himself against the sink and watched Faye’s brother. God, the man was a tank. “Oh, you mean, my girlfriend.”

  Two hot lasers sliced into him before Mitchell belched and tossed the container in the trash. “I mean my sister.”

  “I can’t make her talk to you, Mitchell. You were an ass to her. Apologize.” He shrugged. “What the fuck do you want from me?”

  “I want you and your STD ridden dick to keep away from my sister.”

  “Why is that? And the only ones I have of those are from you, asshat. What is so wrong about the idea of me and Faye? Christ, we all grew up together. That’s the female I’ve known the longest in my life aside from our mothers and if that were the issue at hand, I would need therapy.”

  Mitchell tossed his arms up, an exasperated sound falling from his mouth. “Because, you’re a manwhore and that’s my baby sister.”

  “I’ve not thought of a single woman since dating your sister, Mitchell. Surely you think a bit better than me than that.”

  “You know what I think?” Mitchell glared, arms crossed and looking every bit the pass rusher he was, and a damn good one. “I think I remember multiple women in one night. I remember, the strip clubs and the whores that would drop to your knees to blow you, even in a restaurant or a movie.”

  He gripped the counter, relishing how the edge bit into his palms. “Because you were right beside me having the same fucking thing done!” His tone rose.

  “But I’m not dating my sister, or yours if you had one!” His roar rattled the dishes.

  “And since your sister showed up at my place, have you seen me with anyone?” Kaeden struggled to get his voice even once more. He got where her brother was coming from, he did, but dammit, why did he have to convince the man who was supposed to be his best friend? “Well?”

  “No.” Mitchell shook his head. “But it’s just a matter of time and you’re going to hurt her. I love you like a brother, Kaeden, but when you do, I will pick my sister over you, no matter if she’s talking to me or not.” Without another word, Mitchell walked out.

  Kaeden dialed a number on his phone. “I need to see you.” Those were the only five words he uttered when his call was answered.

  Lannie sighed and leaned back in her chair, watching him over the desk separating them.

  “What is going on, Kaeden?”

  He wasn’t thrown, Lannie didn’t coddle and she didn’t baby her people. He understood he had a bit more leeway because he gave her a chance when no other football player in the league would. Sure many wanted to fuck her, but they drew the line at having a woman represent them. Not Kaeden, he’d been around strong women all his life and this woman had impressed him from the jump. Either way, he had a tiny bit of flexibility, not a lot.

  “It’s not going to work.”

  She twirled the pencil in her fingers as her green eyes held his gaze. “I know you’re talking about this thing with Ms. Reynolds. So, I want to know why you believe this.”

  “She’s driving me crazy. Her brother is driving me crazy. Our families are driving me fucking batty. No one thinks I’m good enough for her.”

  “You’re not.”

  “I thought you were my agent and on my side.” Why it hurt so much for that to even come from Lannie, he didn’t know.

  “I am. But I’m also the one who is just as quick to tell you shit stinks and not tell you it smells like roses. Faye Reynolds is an amazing woman and you, Kaeden have the potential to be amazing both on and off the field. Right now, you are on the field. Not off. That’s what got you into the fucked up situation that led you out here to the Storm.”

  He flexed his hands around the arms of her chair, knowing he had to sit here and take it, even if he didn’t fucking want to hear it.

  “Faye Reynolds is a woman that is busting her ass to make her way in the world. She’s not relying on her brother’s name or his money to do that for her. All the while she runs her own business, she putting herself through school to get her MBA.”

  “You admire her.” Hearing her goals didn’t surprise him, for Mitchell had told her already, what did was the amount of respect from Lannie. The woman was a hard ass.

  “Fuck yes I do.” She put the pencil down and leaned forward, resting her arms on her desk. “Listen to me, Kaeden. Do you trust me to do what’s in the best interest of your career?”

  “Absolutely.”

  She held his gaze a bit before nodding. “Then trust me when I say, this is what you need. It’s not like you’re lying to her, all of what is happening here was laid out for her and she agreed. Let her do her part and help you. Hell, it’s already working.” She picked up the paper to her left and tossed it at him.

  He caught it out of reflex. Flattening it on his leg, he stared at the shot of him and Faye at last night’s party. His heart lurched in his chest. The headline: Has the star tight-end finally been tamed? It looks to be the case. He skimmed the article, smiling when the man put down that looks like was shared between them couldn’t be faked.

  Personally, he had to agree.

  “Like looking at your life from a window isn’t it?”

  He blinked and looked back to Lannie who watched him with a knowing expression. “Management has already made a comment on how much they are pleased with your behavior as you’ve settled down.”

  He grunted and handed the paper back. In truth, he wanted to keep it, just for the photo alone. Hell, even he could see the passion between them as they stared into each other’s eyes.

  “Look, Kaeden. I know this isn’t easy for you, but you’re doing great. I’m going to need you to be at the one tonight as well. A bit more upscale.”

  Kaeden shook his head. “This wasn’t on the schedule.”

  “I got notification today. I accepted on your behalf.”

  “She may not be able to make it.”

  “I need you there.” There it was, the deadly glare from his cutthroat agent.

  “I’ll let her know. Shoot me the details.”

  “Already to your phone.” She pushed up and looked at him, he took the hint and rose as well. “Keep this up, Kaeden and with the season you’re having, you’ll have you pick of teams to go to.”

  But would he still have Faye?

  He left her a message about the time he expected her there, a bit upset she didn’t pick up, but figuring she would be at school.

  His phone rang as he drove back home.

  The smile he had when he saw her name couldn’t be stopped. “Hey,” he answered.

  “What is this thing you’re talking about tonight?”

  “Another fundraiser.”

  A low mutter before she cleared her throat.

  “Where are you, Faye?”

  “Lunch.”

  He slowed for the light that turned red. “With who?”

  “Trevor.”

  Jealousy raced through his veins like it had been dumped in. “The fucking rugby player?”

  “That’s him. I’m sorry, Kaeden, I can’t come tonight.”

  Cars honked behind him and he cursed as he punched the gas. “You mean you won’t. Already reneging on your agreement?”

  “Fuck you, Kaeden. This is something that you just sprung on me last minute. I’m not changing my plans for you. I put down all those incessant things you needed me to attend but I’m not giving up my life. I have plans. Go without me and do try to keep your cock to yourself.”

  She hung up.

  His SUV overflowed with his roar of anger. Brushing him off and out to lunch with a fucking rugby player.

  And Lannie thought this was a good idea.

  αβ

  Faye smiled as she overlooke
d the small group of gathered adults. A folding table had been set up and there were chairs all around it. Drinks and snacks dotted the table as well as her seven people worked on learning to read.

  She didn’t give a lick of thought to how pissed Kaeden was, she’d readjusted enough things to accommodate him. No way in hell she gave this up and stopped them. It had been hard enough to get some to come initially.

  Her phone vibrated against her ass cheek and she pulled it free, putting it up to her ear as she checked the time on her wrist. Almost ten at night.

  “Hello?”

  “Why are you whispering?”

  Kaeden.

  “What do you need?” She backed up a bit more, not wanting to interrupt those gathered.

  “I’m at your place, why aren’t you answering the door to let me in.”

  “Because I’m not there.”

  A low grumble left him and she was fairly certain it settled in her clit.

  “Where the fuck are you, Faye?”

  “Mind your tone and if you must know I’m at the shop.”

  “Stay there.” He hung up as if she were an unruly child who needed to wait for their punishment.

  A flash of heat slammed her as she thought of him punishing her. Tying her up so he could do whatever he wished.

  Shaking her head, she brushed that thought off. She didn’t need to be walking around with soaked panties for something that wasn’t going to happen. Remaining out of the limelight, she busied herself with working on some of the newest books she’d had turned in today.

  A flash of headlights swiped the storefront and she exhaled with far more calm than she felt at the recognition of Kaeden’s sports car. Hurrying to the door so he wouldn’t bang on it like the asshole he could be, she unlocked it and swung it open then stepped outside, not letting him in.

  He stormed up from his car looking like some fucking avenging angel or god. There was no saving her lady parts now, they were all in an uproar and demanding personal one on one attention from him. His tuxedo fit him like a dream, draping over those impossibly wide shoulders.

  The cut, perfection. Instead of having a hint of the color of her dress when she’d been with him, this one was strictly black and white.

  “You can’t honestly tell me that being at your fucking store is more important than doing what you said you were going to do. I was there by myself, Faye.”

  He towered over her but she didn’t feel the slightest bit of fear. Not for her safety, never had when it came to this man. He could be as pissed as anything, but she never doubted he wouldn’t lay a hand on her in anger.

  She stepped forward and jabbed her finger into his chest. Fuck, it was like poking a granite statue. “I told you already, Kaeden. I have a life and I’m not dropping everything to run to your side because you and your agent decided that you should attend something else. We’re pretending to date, not pretending that I can’t live without you or function as a human without you near. I’m not living up your ass and putting my life on hold to follow you around like the little fucking bunnies do that trail you to your games and hotels.”

  His nose flared and he moved into her punctuating finger. “Just keep pushing, Faye.”

  “What else do you want from me? I agreed to fucking help you. I took that entire list of things your agent gave to you and rearranged my schedule to help you. I can’t honestly believe you’re pissed because you had to go somewhere by yourself.”

  “Tell me what was more important than being by my side at that fundraiser.”

  He didn’t get it.

  No, that wasn’t true, he didn’t want to see it.

  He moved to the door and she blocked him. Kaeden turned the full force of his disapproving glare right back at her. “Hiding Trevor in there?”

  A bark of disbelief escaped. “Right, that’s what I’m doing which is why I told you exactly where I was.” She rubbed her forehead. “I don’t understand what’s going on with you right now.”

  “Are you out with someone else?”

  “There are others in there but I’m not on a date, if that’s what you’re trying to imply. I agreed to help you, Kaeden. And unlike other women you associate with, and I use that term lightly, I don’t lie. I have no need.”

  “Then let me in.” She hesitated and his scowl grew. “This isn’t going to work if there are secrets that can come out and bite me in the ass.”

  Faye smacked him in the chest. “Not everything is about you. Fine. You want to see, we’ll go in but I swear to you right here and now, Kaeden Beauregard Archer, if you say or do anything to embarrass those there, I will fucking geld you. Are we clear?”

  He held her gaze, dark brown brows raised. No change in the heat there, but it no longer only existed with anger, there was a healthy dose of challenge. “You know you’d actually have to touch my cock to do that.”

  Without warning, she cupped him through his pants, and oh shit, her imagination had nothing on the real thing. Long. Thick. And rapidly getting harder beneath her palm. His eyes locked on hers and, dear Jesus, the heat in his stare.

  “Don’t test me, Kaeden.”

  The world she was in shrank to him and her. He moved closer, forcing her to tip her head back further in order to maintain eye contact. Kaeden curled his strong hand around the nape of her neck, holding her there. Possessive.

  “If you don’t want to give whoever is in there a show, let go, Faye. I’ve not had a woman’s touch in a while and the fact it’s you, is fucking driving me insane.”

  She released him without a word, throat being too dry to form any. Together they went to the door, his hand still claiming her neck as he reached around her with the other to open it. She led him over to the counter and he lifted her up when he saw her about to jump.

  Faye touched a finger to her lips, and he just tipped his head to the side. It didn’t take long for him to figure out what was going on. He slipped between her thighs, settling his hands against her hips.

  Oh, this has to be some sort of payback for my behavior earlier. She didn’t know how he smelled so good. That perfect amount of cologne and his scent.

  “You teach adults to read?” The question was whispered in her ear.

  “No.” Her tone as low as his had been. “I set it up and will help if they need it, but JadaLei is running it.”

  His fingers continued to skim along her skin, somehow having gotten below her shirt. How the hell that happened, she didn’t have a clue.

  “JadaLei.” He tested the name out. “She runs your café, doesn’t she?”

  “Yes.” She gripped his wrists. “Will you cut that out?” Her question ended up at a higher note than when it began.

  His lips twitched. Bastard. He knew exactly how much he got to her and what he was doing. Even if she didn’t.

  “Why?”

  She’d been mesmerized by his lips. That bottom one she wanted to sink her teeth into. All she’d have to do is stretch up a the tiniest of fractions and…

  Faye blinked. “Why what?”

  “Why should I stop touching my girlfriend?” Kaeden lowered his face until they were nose to nose. “I’m tactile. Extremely.”

  A shudder worked over her entire body at that mental image. If only this weren’t a game. A low growl slid from his throat.

  “Stop that.”

  She didn’t understand. “Stop what?”

  “Biting your lip. Christ, Faye, you have no idea what that does to me.”

  “Faye, we’re— Oh, I didn’t know you had anyone here.” JadaLei’s words were a splash of ice water.

  Kaeden wouldn’t release her. He kissed the tip of her nose and pulled her so she settled against his chest. All that hard, not an ounce of fat, well defined chest that she loved watching on the practice field.

  “Sorry,” he said, without a doubt turning on the charm. “I missed my girl and she said I could swing by so long as we were quiet and didn’t disturb you.” He rubbed her back.

  He was good. Faye did
n’t need to look up at him to see he’d turned on the megawatt smile and JadaLei had fallen for it. Hook, line, and sinker.

  “No, no. I’m sure that’s fine. You may have some fans in here who would love an autograph.”

  Bile rose only to settle when Kaeden replied to her. “I’m happy to, but that’s not why I’m here. I don’t want to take attention from what you’re doing here.”

  Moments later some of the others walked around the corner and it was over. They’d discovered him. Faye released him, slid off the counter and aside as he worked his magic on those gathered. She was shocked. He praised the hell out of them for having the courage to learn to read as an adult, encouraged them to keep it up. He took photos and said they could post if they wanted to. What shocked her the most was when they asked her to take one of the group with everyone’s camera, and everyone uploaded it to social media with hashtags revolving around learning to read and supporting literacy.

  Okay, that bit there may have kicked her ovaries into high gear.

  “He’s incredible.” JadaLei held her wrist as people filed out.

  “He’s something,” she conceded.

  “I didn’t know you were dating him. I thought it was a fluke when he stopped by.” Her friend slapped a hand over her mouth and shook her head. “I didn’t mean it like that, Faye. I’m so sorry.”

  Ignoring the flash of pain that no one saw her as capable of catching the attention of a star player expect as a favor to someone else, she smiled instead. “You’re fine, girl. I know what you mean. This is different, we’ve known each other most of our lives.”

  Kaeden took that moment to look at them and send a grin which made her weak in the knees.

  “You were four. Adorable as hell but a pain in our asses.” This grin didn’t hurt but made hers grow in response.

  “He grew up next door to us. I was the third wheel, following them around.”

  After he locked the door, Kaeden rejoined them at the café where they all took a seat and finished up the pastries that had been down.