“I do. But I can’t promise anyone anything. You know that.”
“I know why you think that’s your only option.” He pauses. “What happened was years ago, and it wasn’t your fault. Don’t let it…”
“Stop.” My tone is sharper than I mean for it to be.
“Dyl.”
He’s pushing me, and it’s pissing me off.
“Look at my life,” I say to him. “My lifenow, not even back then. Right now, if I’m not dealing with one asshole reporter printing lies about me, then I’m canceling dinner with you and Sky because I don’t want you to have to deal with the crowd of people asking for selfies. As hard as I would try to, I couldn’t protect any woman from what comes with my job. It’s just a fact.”
“Sky would call you sexist, and you know it.” Colton grins at me.
Asshole.
But he has a point as much as I hate to admit it. “You’re saying the right woman will want to be a part of my crazy life.”
“Of course I’m saying that.” He holds up his left hand. “What this wedding ring means to me is far greater than our Super Bowl ring will, Dyl. In ten years, you’ll be retired from the game, and what will you do then? Don’t you want someone to share your life with?”
“You know I want that,” I grumble. “But right now, all I can handle is a date for the weekend. So if you’ll excuse me.”
But Colton catches me by the arm. “Even if that’s your only goal, before you approach her only to get told no again, you need a plan.”
I furrow my brow. “Like what?”
“You want the sponsor to donate to Wild 4 Kids right?”
I motion in a circle with my hand. “Obviously.” I can’t let the chance to get our biggest donation yet slip through my fingers just because the sponsor has some warped idea of me being a manwhore.
“I do, too. But Jasalie Gordon may not care about your charity. You have to find out if she needs something before you present your ask. Make this a win-win.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I’m not sure how to do that.”
Colton’s grin widens. “This is going to be fun to watch. Dylan Wild, actually having to work for a woman’s attention. Look, she already made it clear she doesn’t want your money, your fame, or your dick. So you’re going to have to actually work for this date. Talk to her. Learn about her. Be patient, man.”
* * *
Jasalie
My fake smile is about to fall off my face, and my left foot is completely asleep. Along with my brain, as the four men surrounding me cover the stock market in all its tiniest details.
“I don’t know about that fund,” says one. “I tried it for a few years and ended up having to get out of it. It wasn’t doing anything! I might as well have had the money under my pillow.”
As everyone laughs, and I unenthusiastically along with them, I spot Dylan again. This time he’s alone and he’s walking toward me. Without realizing what I’m doing, I watch him the entire time.
He walks with confidence, his head held high. His long legs and broad shoulders are relaxed. He catches my eye, and my cheeks blaze with heat.
He stops moving and beckons to me with his index finger. I go to him without so much as a word to the men I’d been standing with.
“Hey, Ms. Jasalie Gordon.” He smiles when I reach him, and his teeth are so straight and so white, I—well, I can imagine them nibbling lots of interesting places on my body.
His expression is cocky and certain. He’s clearly used to getting whatever he wants. Normally, this would turn me off. But everything about Dylan Wild just fires up my hormones more.
“Hey.” I stand awkwardly in front of him and clasp then unclasp my hands.
“Are you okay? After what my ex-teammate did to you at the party…” His eyes flash with that same vulnerability I saw the first time we met, and I hate my stomach’s happy dance about the fact that he remembers me. “I want to apologize on his behalf because he’s not enough of a man to do it himself. I went back to look for you after I escorted him out, but you were gone. Were you all right?”
I nod quickly. “Of course. I’m fine. But I do appreciate your help. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to tell you that then.”
