Page 21 of False Start

“This isn’t up for debate,” I said. “We are doing business together.Fairbusiness. The only money I will take from you is the commission I rightfully earn after finding you the house you want. Do you understand?”

Those last three words came out the same way they did when I had to get stern with Sebastian — which wasn’t often, but enough that I had the severity of them down pat.

Kyle’s nose flared, his lips curling into a devilish smile.

Something told me helikedthat tone I used.

Something told me it sent him down memory lane the way him using my nickname had done for me.

“I understand,” he finally said. “But I have a proposal.”

I arched a brow.

“Business,” he clarified, holding his hands up in surrender before I could even aim.

I looked at my watch, then back at him. “We have thirty minutes until this next showing, which means we need to be on the road in ten. Talk fast.”

“Date me.”

My jaw might as well have been a mop, for how fast it hit the floor.

“Hear me out,” he said before I could tell him to take a hike. “I understand you wanting to take care of yourself. I know better than most people that you can do it, too,” he added. “But I haven’t seen you in years, Madelyn. Isn’t it kind of crazy that we would bump into each other on the opposite side of the country the way we did?”

I waited, not sure where he was going with this, but decided I’d let him finish before I turned him down.

He inched closer, taking up even more oxygen when he did. “I want to protect you — whether you need it or not. And I feel like I was put here to do that. If your ex is going to be in your life, he’s going to respect you.” He paused. “And Sebastian.”

Fuck.

My heart swelled, doubling in size, and no matter how I tried to tamp it down, it bucked against my resistance.

“Besides,” he added, stepping back a bit, which allowed me to take my first deep breath. “Everyone and their fucking mom on my former team is getting married, and like I told you at dinner, my teammates are like my family. I’m so fucking tired of going to these things stag.”

The admission was meant to sound grumpy. I knew because I saw it so many times when we were growing up.

But it landed flat.

It landed like he was hurt, like he was lonely.

Just like he had been back then.

“My proposal is that, from here on out, until we close on a house — you’re my girlfriend to everyone who isn’t you and me. No one else knows the truth but us.”

It wasmewho opened my mouth this time, but he held up a finger to stop me.

“I get to do my part in keeping your…” He swallowed, jaw tense, and then chose his words carefully. “Exin line. I get to keep you and Sebastian out of harm’s way. And you pretend to be my girlfriend so my friends will lay off the jokes and take me seriously for once.”

He stopped talking for a moment, and I shocked even myself when I didn’t immediately saythanks, but no thanks.

He stepped into my space again, and this time, he reached out and gently wrapped his fingers around my wrist, as if he wanted to erase the bruises with just that touch.

I closed my eyes against the sparks that ignited every cell in my body.

“Madelyn,” he pleaded, and he waited until I looked at him to continue. “This is a deal that works for both of us, and you know it. Tell me you wouldn’t sleep better at night knowing that a six-foot-seven, two-hundred-and-thirty pounds and counting professional athlete has your back.”

My heart pounded harder, faster, the sound echoing in my ears.

Was I actually considering this?