Page 8

Chapter eight

Kade

When Shane pulls up in front of my apartment, I hesitate to get out. Even though I was certain I didn't want to explain any further to him about my plans, now I'm thinking that he and Janae might be my best allies in this.

As my hand hits the door, I turn toward him, giving him my best pleading eyes. "Will you help me win Sam over?"

"Is this something you really want?" he asks me.

"Of course. Sam is amazing."

Shane nods his head, narrowing his eyes at the same time. "For real, though. Tell me what is going on?"

"After talking with Coach, I want to see where this goes?" I say.

"I'll help you, but promise me you won't hurt her."

"I won't hurt her."

"Great," he says cheerfully, like he might have been waiting for this. "Let's all go out to dinner tonight. I'll make sure Sam shows up."

"Thanks. I owe you one." Giving him a wink, I climb out of the car and make my way toward the apartment building.

It only takes me a few minutes before I'm walking into my apartment. My place of solitude. A modern condo dressed in white marble, black paint, and silver accents—the colors of my precious team.

Some people, like some of my teammates, might say that my apartment is douchey, but I call it loyalty. I've only ever played for the Vipers, and they are the only team I plan to play for, if possible.

Placing my keys into the bowl by my front door, I walk into the living room. In my condo, you can see every spot from the living room, like one giant room. One side of the room is wall to wall windows giving me the view of downtown Vegas. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it.

My body buzzes with restlessness, needing to know if my plan would work out.

Pacing back and forth, I try to convince myself that I should wait until Shane is able to bring Sam to the restaurant for dinner.

I know all the reasons why I should wait, but all I can think about is getting to her and convincing her that this is the best for both of us.

Shaking my head, I mutter to myself, "Nope. I need to have patience."

Needing more of a distraction, I decide to go for a run. Looking at the clock, I see that it's early enough that I could possibly run on the Strip. Yeah, that's what I'll do.

It takes only a few more minutes before I’m ready and reaching for my trusty cap, I create my small disguise. Once I’m ready, I place my earbuds in and make my way down to the street. Turning on my favorite 'pump me up' playlist, I start with a moderate pace, getting lost in the music.

Just like my apartment and having my place of solitude, running helps me to keep my head on straight. Being a kid of divorce and being neglected because each parent was trying to one up each other, I was forced to create coping habits.

I’m lost in my thoughts when suddenly I slam into another body and hear, "Oh shit!"

And right before my eyes, I see a woman teeter, starting to fall.

Reacting on instinct, I shoot my arm out, reaching for her.

My fingers wrap around her waist pulling her body into me.

I’m not sure who this woman is, but it's as if my body recognizes hers.

Righting the both of us on the sidewalk, I finally am able to get a good look at the woman's face—holy shit, it's Sam.

The woman I've been thinking about all morning happens to land right in my arms. I can feel a smile spread across my face looking at her, but it vanishes as I watch her features morph from surprise to sadness, causing my stomach to drop.

"Are you okay?" I ask, hoping to distract her.

Sam steps away from me, brushing imaginary something off her dress.

That's when I realize what she's wearing—a tight black cocktail dress that shows off every curve she has.

My mouth waters when I see her pale thick thighs peeking from the dress, along with the perfect black heels that emphasize her calves.

"I'm fine," she snaps, pulling my attention from her rocking body, demanding, "You need to stop looking at me like that."

"Look at you like how?" I ask, trying to look as innocent as possible. That's when I notice it.

Sam's gaze lingers down my body and onto my legs.

When she makes it back up to my face, I can see the heat in her eyes but only for a split second.

That is all I need to know before the smile from before makes its way back to my face.

Just knowing that this lady is as attracted to me as I am her.

Maybe this one-year marriage will work .

"What are you doing here?" she asks, snapping me out of my thoughts of marriage.

"I was running. What about you?" I ask. That's when it dawns on me. "Are you working tonight?"

Sam pushes her beautiful straight, strawberry blonde hair back over her shoulders, straightening her back. I can see her assessing me before she answers, "Someone called in today and they need me."

My heart drops. If she's working, that means she's probably not going to go to dinner and my chance of convincing her to stay married might be walking out the window this very moment.

It feels as if everything just slows down and I watch as Sam starts to walk away from me and I can't let that happen. I need to do something.

"Sam?" I blurt out and she freezes. My mind goes blank the moment her chocolate eyes clash with mine, raising one of her eyebrows, but I know that I need to come up with something and quick.

I don't like being vulnerable and usually I try my hardest to not put myself in any position that lets me be that way, but something deep within tells me that this time I just need to open up.

"Will you have dinner with me tonight?"

"Why would I do that?"

"I know that last night didn't end up like we wanted, but I think we should talk about it."

"The only thing we need to talk about is where I should sign to annul this sham of a marriage," she snaps.

Something dark washes over me, not liking the idea of her refusing our marriage.

Even if that’s what I had been doing before, now I need to show her that she’s mine.

I take a step toward her, invading her space.

Since Sam is stubborn as hell, she doesn't move.

Pushing my hand through her hair, I cup the nape of her neck, bringing her in closer to me.

Our breaths mingle with each other, when I warn her, "It doesn't matter how we got here, but you are my wife now.

And I won't be allowing you to just shrug it off like it means nothing. "

The look on her face shows me how stunned she is by my words, giving me a buzzed feeling. I let go of her, taking a step back and give her a wink. "I'll text you later about dinner."

I finish my run, not sure what came over me, but one thing is for sure—Sam is my wife and though I never thought I wanted to get married, it doesn't feel as bad as I thought it would.