Page 33

Paige

U ntil next time. I’ll be thinking of you.

It’s been over twenty-four hours and I’m still smiling about Easton’s note. So much so that Dad gives me a strange look when he arrives at the bar to meet me, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

“Sorry I’m late. We finally appointed a new GM, and I got the fun job of announcing it to the team management. But that’s not important. What or who made you smile like that?”

“What? No idea. And that is important,” I change the subject back to him. “What happened?”

“We appointed a guy from Tampa and not everyone is happy about it. Apparently, it’s my fault that Wes Johnson, a past player on the team, didn’t accept my offer, even after I begged.”

“God, I’m sorry. Want me to talk to—” Shit . I cut myself off and smile. “Keeley?”

“Keeley?” Dad frowns and his brows furrow. “She knows.”

“I just mean that maybe I can ask if she’ll talk to the guys and tell them you tried.”

“Thanks, but it’s okay. I’m a big boy. I can handle it. I just wish they’d realize I’m doing all that I can for the team. I’m working with them. Not against them.”

“They will. It just takes time. The old GM had been there for most of the guys’ careers.”

Dad’s eyes widen before he laughs. “Who are you and what have you done with my daughter?”

“What?”

“Since when do you know about the team?” Oh. Shit .

“Since I started hanging out with Keeley and the wives. They seem to know a lot about the game.”

“Not everyone despises sports like you do.” Dad laughs at his own joke.

“I don’t think I do anymore.” I shrug. “It’s growing on me.”

Dad eyes me curiously and I internally tense. “Just the sport? Or… is there something else?”

“Just the sport.” For now.

Dad nods before waving for a server and ordering our drinks. As I take my first sip, I decide it’s my turn to share now that his stress has lifted a little. And because I’m so far out of my depth that I’m drowning.

“I need to talk to you about something.”

Dad’s gaze shifts to mine, and he nods before leaning back in his chair.

“Remember when I told you about Mom and Christian’s dad?”

“Unfortunately, yes.” He groans, making me laugh.

“It gets worse.”

“Jesus, she’s not having a baby, is she?”

“What. Ew. Dad. No.” Dad smiles and I laugh. “Funny. But I’m being serious.”

“Sorry. Go ahead.”

I look around to make sure no one is listening and lean in, waiting for Dad to do the same. “I think the Mikklesons are extorting money from clients, and I’m worried she’s involved.”

“What?”

“I—”

“Wait. Should we be having this conversation in my apartment?”

Jesus . Should we? I’ve been so careful up until now, never talking about it, except with Austin. “Good idea.”

We finish our drinks, and Dad pays the check before guiding me to the exit. We’re both quiet in the elevator, but the second we get inside and the door closes, Dad turns my way. “Tell me what you know.”

After forcing him to sit down at the dining table, I fill him in on the conversation I overheard between Jill Mikkleson and her sister. I tell him about Christian’s apparent naivety and about hiring Austin. When I get to the threats, I pause. He’s going to lose his mind and that won’t be helpful for anyone, but I promised him the truth. I’ll just have to sugarcoat a little.

“They know I know something. But they don’t know what. So they’ve kind of been threatening to out me in the media.”

“Out you?” He stands up, his fists clenched by his sides. “For what? What are they doing?”

I open my mouth to answer but he cuts me off. “Wait. Does this have anything to do with that article about your games with Christian?”

Ugh. I cringe, since I was really hoping he hadn’t seen that headline. “Yes. That was a message to me. To get me to tell them what I know.”

“And did you?”

“Hell, no. I’m not giving in before I’ve found what I need to destroy them.”

Dad wants to be angry, but he can’t hide the proud expression lighting up his face. “I always knew you were tough, but this is next-level, Paige.”

“Thank you.”

“Does Austin have anything? And how did you manage to convince him not to tell me about it?”

“What? You know Austin?”

“Well, I assume you found him through your lawyer who is also my lawyer.”

“Right. Of course. Well, I assumed you found a different lawyer after divorcing Mom.”

“Nope. One and the same.”

“I guess Austin’s a professional. He never even mentioned you.”

“Good. I like that he’s treating you like he’d treat everyone else. So what’s he got?”

“Nothing yet.” I drop my head to the table, defeated.

“I see.” Dad sits down again and taps his fingers against the wood. “Has he tried posing as a potential client?”

“What?” My eyes flash to his. I never would have thought of that.

“We could give him some funds to play with, and I’m sure he’d know how to get some fake accreditations drawn up so that he looks legit. Then he approaches them and we see what happens.”

“That seems risky.”

“It is. But it’s worth a try. If anything, it might get him a meeting and he can check them out.”

“Okay. Yes. I’ll ask Austin what he thinks.”

I reach for my phone to text him but Dad grabs my wrist. “Mind if I do it? If it all goes wrong, I’d rather you weren’t involved.”

“I’m already involved, Dad.”

“I know. But now that I have the details, I can’t let you continue. It’s my job to protect you.”

“It’s not. I…” I trail off as I think about Easton and Isaac. I know without a doubt that Easton would do anything to protect Isaac, so how can I deny my dad the same? “Okay. But you have to keep me in the loop. If you don’t, I can’t be held responsible if I do something stupid.”

Dad groans before his lips purse. “You are going to be the death of me, Paige.”

I smile. “Thank you. I love you too, Dad.”

He shakes his head but curls his lips into a warm smile and I'm not sure I've said that allowed to him for a while, even in jest. “On another note," he changes the subject. "You're not going home for Thanksgiving, are you?”

I cringe because I hadn’t decided yet, but Mom’s been asking. “I…ah…”

“Your mom called me.”

“What?” My jaw drops. “Is that the first time you’ve spoken since…” I trail off because he knows what I mean.

He laughs out loud. “No. We used to talk all the time. But only about you kids.”

“Oh. Okay. And?”

“She asked if I’d convince you to go home for a few days. In return for her letting me have Christmas.”

“Letting you? Like I’m a kid that has no say in the matter?”

“Pretty much.” He shrugs. “I get that she misses you. A lot. And I was going to help her. But given the new information I have…”

All I hear is the part about Mom missing me and I feel guilty again. “Maybe I should go. Can I take your jet?”

“My what?” His brows furrow, making me laugh as I think about my call with Easton last week.

“Never mind. You convinced me. I’m going to go home.”

“What? No. I said I didn’t want you to go.”

“I know, but you also made me feel guilty about Mom missing me. I’ll tell her you helped and you’ll get brownie points.”

Dad rolls his eyes as he groans. “You’re killing me, Paige. It better be a short visit.”

I spend an hour with Dad, and when I get home in the early evening, I change into more comfortable attire before dropping to the couch, ready for a night of TV. I’ve just found the remote when Easton texts.

Easton: Isaac’s not getting home for another hour

I bark out a laugh as my body heats.

Paige: Are you booty-texting me, East? Is that how this is going to go now?

Easton: So what if I am? Got a problem with that?

Paige: Definitely not. I’m impressed. What time will you be here?

I assume that he’s coming to me since it’s not a Wednesday, but when the three dots appear and disappear a few times, I second-guess myself before he finally responds.

Easton: Five minutes

Five minutes? Jesus. I stare down at my yoga pants and oversized hoodie. In the past, I would have spent that five minutes racing around the house, putting something sexy on, freshening up, ensuring I look my best. I would have taken the time to be perfect. But with Easton, I pause. He’s not like the other guys I’ve been with. He doesn’t expect perfection. We’ve been together after a sweaty workout. And I don’t want to be someone I’m not when around him. Instead, I remove my yoga pants and use the rest of the time to rehydrate instead. I’ve just finished a glass of water when he knocks on the door, and my chest tightens with a new kind of euphoria. Not that I allow myself to process it.

“I’m coming,” I call out as I make my way to the door, picturing Easton’s smile at my choice of words.

“Hi,” I say as I open up, my next words getting caught in my throat. “You—”

Easton’s leaning against the wall opposite my door, his ankles and arms crossed, his hat pulled low and a wicked smirk plastered on his face. When he sees me, he stands tall and strides toward me in two quick moves, pinning me to the door as his lips crash to mine.

He wraps a hand around my neck before running his finger across my cheek, slipping it between our lips, breaking the kiss.

“I’ve got an hour, and I’ve got plans for you, but I need to know…bedroom or kitchen?” He raises an eyebrow and I laugh.

“Bedroom. I’ve got a full-length mirror and I want to watch while you worship me.”

“Christ, Paige. You really are everything and more.”

“Only for you.” I push him away and slap his ass as I walk past, loving his growl as he stills.

“Are you coming?” I ask, walking backward as I slip the hoodie over my head, revealing that I’m completely naked underneath.

“Fuuck, you drive me crazy, Paige.”

“Maybe so, but you love it.”

F or the next week, Easton and I see each other any chance we get, stealing moments, borrowing time. And while it’s fun, it’s also making things more complicated than I would have liked.

I haven’t heard from Dad yet, but I have a feeling his plan is going to work. It’s a great plan. It has to. But that means I’m one step closer to my world being blown apart. Because make no mistake, the Mikklesons are not going to go down without a fight, with me being the target of their firing line.

And that’s not going to be good for Easton and me.