The Final Score

by Jaci Burton

  Copyright (c) 2017 Jaci Burton

  Excerpt from Love Me Again copyright (c) 2017 Jaci Burton Cover photograph (c) Lukas Gojda/Shutterstock Author photograph (c) Steve Ervin

  The right of Jaci Burton to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  Published by arrangement with Berkley,

  A member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC,

  A Penguin Random House Company.

  First published in this Ebook edition in 2017

  by HEADLINE ETERNAL

  An imprint of HEADLINE PUBLISHING GROUP

  Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the publishers or, in the case of reprographic production, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.

  All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Cataloguing in Publication Data is available from the British Library eISBN 978 1 4722 4802 2

  HEADLINE PUBLISHING GROUP

  An Hachette UK Company

  Carmelite House

  50 Victoria Embankment

  London EC4Y 0DZ

  www.headlineeternal.com

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  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  About the Author

  Praise for Jaci Burton

  Also by Jaci Burton

  About the Book

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Bonus excerpt of Love Me Again

  Have you followed Jaci Burton's Play-By-Play?

  Visit a town called Hope

  Find out more about Headline Eternal

  About the Author

  Jaci Burton is a New York Times bestselling author who lives in Oklahoma with her husband and dogs. She has three grown children, who are all scattered around the country having lives of their own. A lover of sports, Jaci can often tell what season it is by what sport is being played. She watches entirely too much television, including an unhealthy amount of reality TV. When she isn't on deadline, Jaci can be found at her local casino, trying to become a millionaire (so far, no luck). She's a total romantic and loves a story with a happily ever after, which you'll find in all her books.

  Find the latest news on Jaci's books at www.jaciburton.com, and connect with her online at www.facebook.com/AuthorJaciBurton or via Twitter @jaciburton.

  Praise for Jaci Burton:

  'A wild ride' Lora Leigh, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author

  'It's the perfect combination of heat and romance that makes this series a must-read' Heroes and Heartbreakers

  'Plenty of emotion and conflict in a memorable relationship-driven story' USA Today

  'Strong characters, an exhilarating plot, and scorching sex . . . You'll be drawn so fully into her characters' world that you won't want to return to your own' Romantic Times

  'A beautiful romance that is smooth as silk . . . leaves us begging for more' Joyfully Reviewed

  'A strong plot, complex characters, sexy athletes, and non-stop passion make this book a must read' Fresh Fiction

  'Hot, hot, hot! . . . Romance at its best! Highly recommended!' Coffee Table Reviews

  'Ms Burton has a way of writing intense scenes that are both sensual and raw . . . Plenty of romance, sexy men, hot steamy loving and humor' Smexy Books

  'A wonderful contemporary erotic romance that I recommend!' The Romance Dish

  'Spy the name Jaci Burton on the spine of a novel, and you're guaranteed not just a sexy, get-the-body-humming read, but also one that melds the sensual with the all-important building of intimacy and relational dynamics between partners' Romance: B(u)y the Book

  'The characters are incredible. They are human and complex and real and perfect' Night Owl Reviews

  'One of the strongest sports romance series available' Dear Author

  'As usual, Jaci Burton delivers flawed but endearing characters, a strong romance and an engaging plot all wrapped up in one sexy package' Romance Novel News

  By Jaci Burton

  Play-by-Play Series

  The Perfect Play

  Changing The Game

  Taking A Shot

  Playing To Win

  Thrown By A Curve

  One Sweet Ride

  Holiday Games (e-novella) Melting The Ice

  Straddling The Line

  Holiday On Ice (e-novella) Quarterback Draw

  All Wound Up

  Hot Holiday Nights (e-novella) Unexpected Rush

  Rules Of Contact

  The Final Score

  Hope Series

  Hope Smoulders (e-novella) Hope Flames

  Hope Ignites

  Hope Burns

  Love After All

  Make Me Stay

  Don't Let Go

  Love Me Again

  About the Book

  Torn between his love of the game - and the love of his life . . .

  Drafted as quarterback for his famous father's former team, Nathan Riley's future is bright. When his friend Mia Cassidy moves to the same city, their years-long friendship suddenly sparks hot, reminding him of the one unforgettable night they shared.

  Like Nathan, Mia is from a sports-dynasty family and embarking on an incredible new career - as founder of her own management company. Her friendship with Nathan means everything to her, but the chemistry between them has always sizzled, and it isn't long before Mia realizes she wants more with Nathan than just late-night talks and pizza.

  Passion has a funny way of changing the rules, and soon Nathan and Mia realize that to win it all, they'll have to make an unexpected play for love.

  Want more sexy sporting romance? Don't miss the rest of this steamy series which began with The Perfect Play. And check out Jaci's gorgeously romantic Hope series beginning with Hope Flames.

  To all the readers who have loved the Play-by-Play series.

  This one's for you.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Huge thanks to my bestie, Shannon Stacey, for coming up with the title of this book and saving me hours and days and months (okay I exaggerate--a little) of anxious brain cell usage. You saved my life, as always, and I love you.

  ONE

  "SO, HERE
WE ARE, ONCE AGAIN LIVING IN THE SAME city." Mia Cassidy took a sip of her green tea and looked over at Nathan Riley. "How did that happen?"

  Nathan, the epitome of tall, dark, well-muscled and absolutely hot, leaned back in his chair and grinned at her. "Easy. You're obsessed with me so you followed me."

  She laughed. "I don't think so. You knew I was thinking of starting a business here so you decided you had to get drafted by the San Francisco Sabers."

  Nathan took a swallow of his iced tea and set the glass down. Mia tracked the movement of his hands. He had really big hands. She remembered that night several years ago in college when he'd used his hands to touch her--all over. They'd only had that one night together, but it sure had been memorable.

  Yeah, the guy had magnificent hands.

  "I've been here a year already, Mia. You just got here. So like I said, you followed me."

  Her lips quirked. "And aren't you happy to have me here?"

  "Actually, I am. Although who would have thought this kind of major shit would go down for both of us? You were going to get your PhD, and instead, you've got a start-up sports management company. I thought I'd end up in Cleveland or maybe in L.A., but not here in San Francisco, taking over as the Sabers quarterback now that my dad has retired."

  Mia clutched her glass, feeling the cloud of anxiety rain down over her. Which was why she'd asked Nathan to have lunch. His charm and humor had always been a distraction for her, and oh how she needed it today. "Big changes for both of us for sure. How is your dad? Is he okay with the decision he made to retire?"

  "He seems fine with it. The Sabers won the championship last year, and he had the knee issue that plagued him at the tail end of the season. He's thirty-seven, so he felt like it was the right time for him to step away."

  "And you don't think he did that for you, to give you a chance to play?"

  "I asked him that--more than once. He said no. Knowing my dad, he'd never walk away from football if he wasn't ready. He loves the game too much."

  Mia nodded. "Since I have three brothers who play football, I believe that. You should believe him, too."

  She knew Nathan had been worried when his dad announced his retirement at the end of last season. She also knew it added some pressure for Nathan, because he'd take over as starting quarterback this season for the Sabers. He'd had all last season to learn from him, but succeeding someone as high profile as Mick Riley wasn't going to be easy. Plus, Mick was his dad.

  Now she was doubly happy she'd made the decision to launch her company here in San Francisco. Besides being a prime location for her, she and Nathan had always been close in college. Despite their one night together--which had definitely been a mistake--they'd remained friends. It was a bonus that now they would be in the same city.

  "How's your company coming along?" Nathan asked.

  "Just getting things rolling. I told you Monique Parker came on board as my executive manager, didn't I?"

  He grinned. "Yeah. She'll make sure nothing falls through the cracks."

  "I know. She's incredibly organized, even more than me."

  "If that's possible. I've never known anyone as anal as you."

  "Hey, I'm good at everything I do."

  He waggled his brows at her. "Don't I know it."

  She laughed. "We promised we wouldn't bring up that mistaken, drunken night ever again."

  "No, you made me promise it wouldn't happen again. I thought it was amazing."

  Her body heated at his words. "It was amazing. But we're friends, Nathan."

  "And friends can't have sex?"

  "I don't know. Do you have sex with your friends?"

  He cocked his head to the side. "You know what I mean, Mia."

  "I do. But we agreed after that night it wouldn't happen again."

  "You made me agree. I wanted to keep you in bed with me the next day."

  She laughed. "We were drunk. It was a mistake. And I'd much rather have you as a friend than a lover."

  "Oh, so now you're implying the sex wasn't good enough?" He leaned over and grasped her hand, the contact instantly electrifying. "Because if that's the case, I'm calling you out for faulty drunken memory loss. If I recall, you came three times that night."

  At least he whispered that last part. And if he kept talking that way she was going to have an orgasm right there in her chair. So much for pushing those memories aside. She snatched her hand away. "That is not what I meant and you know it."

  "Fine. We're friends."

  "You need me as your friend, Nathan. Who will get you past all your training camp anxiety?"

  He frowned. "Who says I have training camp anxiety?"

  She twirled the stirrer around in her tea glass. "Don't you?"

  He leaned back in his chair again. "Maybe. Don't you have a little anxiety, too, miss big-shot business owner?"

  "Yes, I have anxiety. Like you would not believe. Which is why I'm glad we're friends. I need you, Nathan. As my friend."

  He glared at her. "Shit. Fine. You know I'm always going to be here for you."

  He had no idea how much his friendship and counsel meant to her. "Good. Now let's order lunch because I have to get back to work."

  "You're a tough woman, Mia Cassidy."

  "But I'm also your best friend, Nathan Riley. And don't ever forget it."

  These next few months were going to be critical--for both of them. They were going to need each other more than ever.

  As friends. And nothing else.

  TWO

  AFTER HAVING LUNCH WITH MIA, NATHAN DROVE TO the Sabers stadium. He felt calmer after spending some time with her.

  In many ways, Mia was right. Having her as his friend was one of the best things that had ever happened to him. They both came from sports families, so when they met in college in Texas they'd formed an instant bond. It had been a little weird for Nathan to have a female friend at first, but Mia was smart, funny and absolutely beautiful. And since she hadn't seemed at all attracted to him, she was the one he'd gone to with girlfriend issues.

  She'd always been straightforward with her advice, and it had always been helpful. When his girlfriend Sonja had broken up with him his junior year, he'd been a wreck. It was Mia who'd been there to help him pick up the pieces and move on. She'd kept him focused on football while soothing his ego about the breakup, reminding him that college romances rarely lasted anyway. After that he'd played the field without getting emotionally attached.

  Until that one night he and Mia had been at his apartment, drinking and watching one of her brothers and his dad play a game against each other on TV. They'd ordered pizza and drank a lot. After the game they'd talked sports and family and careers and what they wanted to do with their futures. It was a heavy conversation. He didn't know how it happened, but suddenly they were on the couch making out.

  Damn it had been good. He was pretty sure it had surprised both of them, but neither of them stopped once they'd started.

  Mia had been soft and pliant and the sounds she'd made had driven him crazy. She'd been receptive to his touch, and they'd moved things into the bedroom.

  They'd spent all night together, and it had been a damn good night.

  Until the next morning when Mia had told him it couldn't happen again because she valued his friendship more than anything.

  He could still remember the way her body had moved under his, could still feel the softness of her lips when they kissed, could still hear the sounds of her breathing as he moved inside of her. And now, goddammit, he had a hard-on as he sat in his car in the stadium parking lot.

  He cranked the music up loud and focused on the playbook to get Mia out of his head. When he finally got his shit together, he got out of the car.

  He bypassed the locker room and stepped onto the Sabers field. It felt like the first time. Hell, he'd been there countless times before with his dad, the famous Mick Riley. He'd watched him play the game, learned under his tutelage, picked his brain after every play, good and bad.<
br />
  Now his dad was retired and the Sabers was his team to lead. It wasn't his first time on the field as a Sabers player, of course, since he'd been drafted by the team last year, but back then he'd been nothing more than a benchwarmer. This was the first time Nathan walked the field as the Sabers starting quarterback.

  Christ, how had all this happened? It had been a goddamned whirlwind starting with his dad announcing his retirement. These past several months had been some kind of otherworldly dream, like he'd been asleep all this time and it wasn't real.

  But as his feet crunched into the turf, it all felt solid. Real. As if he belonged here, like he'd always belonged here.

  He could still remember the first time he'd walked out onto the field, after seeing his dad play. His mom and dad had just gotten together. Nathan had been fifteen at the time, and being around professional football had been new to him. This stadium seemed enormous, out of reach to a scrawny kid who had only dreamed of someday walking in shoes as big as Mick Riley's.

  And then his mom had fallen in love with and married Mick, and Mick had adopted him. He'd been one lucky sonofabitch to end up with a father who loved him as much as his dad did. He'd taught Nathan everything he knew about football. How to love and respect the game, and how to respect himself in the process.

  Nathan couldn't have asked for a better role model. And he was going to do everything he could to make his father proud of him.

  He sucked in a deep breath and walked from one end of the field to the other, cognizant of the weight that now lay on his shoulders. When the Sabers had drafted him, he'd been excited to learn the game under Mick Riley. But he didn't think he would play right away.

  In college, he had worked hard, played hard, and he'd been a damn good quarterback.

  Now he was going to have to be better.

  "Hey, Riley."

  He turned to see the coach walking onto the field. He cracked a smile and reached out to shake Tom Butterfield's hand. Tom had been hired on as head coach three years ago, and had been doing a kickass job. Nathan couldn't wait to work with him as the starting quarterback.

  "Hey, Coach."

  "Getting a feel for your turf?"

  His turf. The crush of expectation already weighed on him. "Yeah. Feels good."

  "We expect great things from you this season."

  Nathan felt that squeeze of pressure in his chest. He shook it off. This was what he'd waited his whole life for. "I'll give you everything I've got."