committed relationship card. This would really make them think I’ve changed.”
“How about instead of making them think you’ve changed, you stop getting into trouble? You take some responsibility for yourself?”
He shrugged. “Be realistic. The league likes having a scapegoat. They want to punish me. The media loves to catch me with my pants down and a girl sucking my cock. They’re looking for reasons to fuck me over. It won’t matter if I turn celibate and never leave the house. I’ll make a mistake, and they’ll use it against me. Having a baby is like…like…”
“Don’t say it.”
“Insurance.”
“You swallowed too much pool water.”
Jack grinned. “Swallowed more of you, Kiss. You’re slicker than the pool.”
“Stop.”
I avoided trapping myself within his reach. Jack’s pecs and abs still glistened from droplets of water, highlighting every chiseled definition and shadow caught in his muscles. The water ran to the V of his hips, the solid form of an athlete at his peak physical condition and then some. I’d never met a man as attractive, as deliciously gorgeous as Jack.
If I was smart, I wouldn’t meet him again.
Letting him touch me with those skilled hands and his tempting tongue was dangerous enough. Now he looked at me like a woman who needed to be fucked…and I didn’t think he meant to use protection now.
“You wanted a kid,” Jack said. “A couple. Hell, you planned to be pregnant already.”
I knew it was a bad idea to be honest with the playboy. “Yeah. I also planned to be married .”
“To the asshole that cheated on you.”
I swallowed. “Yes, I was going to marry Wyatt. Don’t insult the life I wanted. He broke my heart.”
Jack crossed his arms. His muscles flexed, but the only bulge I studied was the one between his legs. “You didn’t love him.”
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t think you loved him.”
He was right, but I’d never admit it. “You think you know me that well?”
“Love is overrated. You need passion and excitement and a night where you’re free to get into trouble. He never gave that to you.”
“No, but I never asked for it . I chose stability. Responsibility. A plan and a routine. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.”
“It’s boring.” Jack teased me with a smile. “You need more, Kiss. It’s time to take that step. So what if your plan is accomplished out of order?”
“What—”
“With me, you get a baby. You get to advance that career. Hell, you can even travel…at least to a couple different stadium cities.” He extended his arms. “So? What do you say?”
I braved a chance to face him again. I marched before his broad chest and tried to reason with a man who memorialized his every mistake with a tattoo inked into his flesh.
“Jack, you’re talking about having a baby .”
“You wanted a baby.”
“Not like this.” I stared at him, wondering why he still looked so calm, so dedicated to such a crazy proposition. “Just stop. We already have one crisis with this article coming out tomorrow. I…I’ll go back to the office. See if I can’t organize an interview or something for you to refute the allegations.”
“I’ll give you a million dollars.”
My heart stopped.
I turned, staring at him, my mouth dry.
He wasn’t serious. Was he?
“You’ll… pay me?”
“To have my baby. Yes.”
“Jack, are you—”
“Kiss, I can’t think of anyone better for it. You’re smart. You’re talented. You’re fucking beautiful. We have a good relationship. Why couldn’t we have a kid together?”
“We aren’t in love.”
“So? We could handle it.”
Was he that naïve? I didn’t speak, just took my steps backward and hoped I wouldn’t crash into anything while I rushed to the door.
Jack knew he made a mistake, but he called to me again.
“I know you want to be a partner in Jolene’s firm,” he said. “Screw her. Leave the agency, and I’ll follow. I’ll be your primary
“How about instead of making them think you’ve changed, you stop getting into trouble? You take some responsibility for yourself?”
He shrugged. “Be realistic. The league likes having a scapegoat. They want to punish me. The media loves to catch me with my pants down and a girl sucking my cock. They’re looking for reasons to fuck me over. It won’t matter if I turn celibate and never leave the house. I’ll make a mistake, and they’ll use it against me. Having a baby is like…like…”
“Don’t say it.”
“Insurance.”
“You swallowed too much pool water.”
Jack grinned. “Swallowed more of you, Kiss. You’re slicker than the pool.”
“Stop.”
I avoided trapping myself within his reach. Jack’s pecs and abs still glistened from droplets of water, highlighting every chiseled definition and shadow caught in his muscles. The water ran to the V of his hips, the solid form of an athlete at his peak physical condition and then some. I’d never met a man as attractive, as deliciously gorgeous as Jack.
If I was smart, I wouldn’t meet him again.
Letting him touch me with those skilled hands and his tempting tongue was dangerous enough. Now he looked at me like a woman who needed to be fucked…and I didn’t think he meant to use protection now.
“You wanted a kid,” Jack said. “A couple. Hell, you planned to be pregnant already.”
I knew it was a bad idea to be honest with the playboy. “Yeah. I also planned to be married .”
“To the asshole that cheated on you.”
I swallowed. “Yes, I was going to marry Wyatt. Don’t insult the life I wanted. He broke my heart.”
Jack crossed his arms. His muscles flexed, but the only bulge I studied was the one between his legs. “You didn’t love him.”
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t think you loved him.”
He was right, but I’d never admit it. “You think you know me that well?”
“Love is overrated. You need passion and excitement and a night where you’re free to get into trouble. He never gave that to you.”
“No, but I never asked for it . I chose stability. Responsibility. A plan and a routine. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.”
“It’s boring.” Jack teased me with a smile. “You need more, Kiss. It’s time to take that step. So what if your plan is accomplished out of order?”
“What—”
“With me, you get a baby. You get to advance that career. Hell, you can even travel…at least to a couple different stadium cities.” He extended his arms. “So? What do you say?”
I braved a chance to face him again. I marched before his broad chest and tried to reason with a man who memorialized his every mistake with a tattoo inked into his flesh.
“Jack, you’re talking about having a baby .”
“You wanted a baby.”
“Not like this.” I stared at him, wondering why he still looked so calm, so dedicated to such a crazy proposition. “Just stop. We already have one crisis with this article coming out tomorrow. I…I’ll go back to the office. See if I can’t organize an interview or something for you to refute the allegations.”
“I’ll give you a million dollars.”
My heart stopped.
I turned, staring at him, my mouth dry.
He wasn’t serious. Was he?
“You’ll… pay me?”
“To have my baby. Yes.”
“Jack, are you—”
“Kiss, I can’t think of anyone better for it. You’re smart. You’re talented. You’re fucking beautiful. We have a good relationship. Why couldn’t we have a kid together?”
“We aren’t in love.”
“So? We could handle it.”
Was he that naïve? I didn’t speak, just took my steps backward and hoped I wouldn’t crash into anything while I rushed to the door.
Jack knew he made a mistake, but he called to me again.
“I know you want to be a partner in Jolene’s firm,” he said. “Screw her. Leave the agency, and I’ll follow. I’ll be your primary
Similar Books
