“You that impatient to get me alone, Doc?” I tease. She rests her hands on the back of my neck, lightly scratching through my hair, making me shudder.
“And you aren’t?” she asks, one eyebrow cocked. The light is back in her eyes, and I grin widely. “What’s that look for?”
I shake my head with a shrug. “I’m just so damn happy. I love you.”
Audrey giggles lightly. “I love you too. Now hop to it, QB. Let’s get this auction over with.”
She stands, and I marvel at how beautiful she is. “This dress was made for you. It’s stunning.”
“Thank you,” she says quietly as I get to my feet. Leaning in, I kiss her again, then we’re interrupted when she’s yanked away from me. “What? Mom! What the heck are you doing?”
Her mother is trembling with anger, an expression of sheer violence covering her tight face. “Do you have any idea what our friends are saying about you, Audrey? You have made this family a laughing stock again!”
Audrey puts her hands on her hips, rolling her eyes. “Please. Preston got a DUI last week, and Paige’s husband got another woman pregnant. Me kissing a quarterback in public is the least of your worries.”
Mrs. Carrington gasps in horror, throwing a hand up to cover her mouth. I see when her eyes change, a calculated and savage look filling her gaze. Her hand flies forward, striking Audrey’s cheek quicker than I can step in to block.
“You deceitful cow. You are a disgrace, Audrey Michelle. The only one in our family we’re disappointed in is you,” she growls. The hatred emanating from this woman is appalling, and I step forward, pushing Audrey behind me.
“That’s enough.”
Mrs. Carrington laughs haughtily. “I don’t think so. An athlete won’t tell me how to treat my daughter. Do you have any idea who you’re dealing with?”
I raise an eyebrow at her. “Do you have any idea who I am?”
“Does it really matter? A quarterback. A nothing. My family could destroy you.”
I chuckle. “So you don’t know who I am. Cool.”
She scoffs, and Audrey peeks around my side. “Don’t antagonize her. It’s not worth it. My mother is petty and cruel, and she’ll try to take you down.”
“She couldn’t if she tried.” I look at Audrey’s mother with a sinister grin. “Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer. Audrey, did you know your parent’s company was just partnered with another real estate firm?”
“Uh, I didn’t know that.”
I watch as Mrs. Carrington begins to put two-and-two together as I continue. “I may be ‘just an athlete,’ but this athlete happens to own multiple businesses across the country, one of which is Pinnacle Asset Management. You see, Audrey, Real Estate Consultants hasn’t been doing well for quite some time. And since they’ve regularly had to bail your brother out of a variety of bad decisions, REC is losing money fast. It was mere coincidence that my team began speaking to them about working together to salvage REC around the same time I met you. And as soon as you began to tell me about how awful your parents are, my plans for REC changed.”
“What are you planning to do?” her mother whispers.
I sigh cheerfully. “Systematically disassemble your precious company until there’s nothing left, of course. It’s already in motion.”
“What about all the employees? You’ll put that many people out of jobs for some personal vendetta? Audrey, how canyou allow this to happen?” Mrs. Carrington’s voice has risen comically, like a bad cartoon villain who struggles when they’re caught.
“Mother, you would throw every single person under the boat if it kept you afloat. And I didn’t let anything happen. This is the first time I’m hearing anything about Jamie’s business ventures.” Audrey’s voice is calm, but when she peers up at me, I see her eyes are sparkling with mirth. “And here I thought you were only good at doing two things.”
“Jack of all trades,” I answer. “But I’m intrigued. What are the two things?”
“Well, football, of course.”
“Obviously,” I reply, chuckling as I pull her into my side. “And the other thing I’m good at doing?”
She smiles devilishly. “Me.”
I lean down and kiss her cheek gently, right over the reddening skin. I wish I’d realized what Mrs. Carrington planned to do ten seconds quicker than I did, so I could have protected Audrey. “That is my favorite thing to do. It turns out, I’m proficient at quite a few things, and one of them is making money. Did you know I’m actually a billionaire?”
Her eyes widen. “You’re joking.”
“Nope.”
