“That was years ago.”
“Then why do you still have the earrings he gave you?”
She touched the earrings. “Because I like them.”
“Or because you still care.”
“Oh, my God, are you seriously going to be that guy?” She pushed around him and marched into her living area.
His footsteps followed. “What are you talking about?”
She dropped her purse on the couch and spun to glare at him. “Are you going to be jealous because I still have earrings from a guy I dated years ago?”
She crossed her arms and raised her chin. They were just earrings, and she didn’t even think about her ex when she wore them. Only when people asked her where she got them from did she bring up that they were a gift. His history with Christy was completely screwed up, but that didn’t mean she would pay for that woman’s mistakes. If they were in this, he’d have to trust her.
What if he never does?
The tension left his body. Not in a quick rush, but what appeared to be a slow and deliberate manner. “No. I’m not that guy.”
She nodded, but the tightness of his voice didn’t really reinforce the words. Changing the subject to something else was their best bet. “I was going to heat up a frozen meal for dinner, but I can order something, instead. If you planned to stick around. Unless you’re too pissed at me now?”
This time when he relaxed it looked natural. He crossed the room, put his hands on her hips and easily lifted her. “I want to kiss you, not argue.”
He kissed her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. All her frustration melted away and the smallest glimmer of optimism filled her again. But when he put her down, his gaze strayed to the earrings again.
* * *
Lying in bed naked with Danielle running her fingers across his chest, Jacobe felt he could stay there indefinitely. He’d felt that way a few times hanging with her in college, even when they’d bickered. He’d sometimes think they needed to get past the bull and just admit they wanted each other.
Except he hadn’t because he’d been with Christy. He thought about the earrings and the guy who’d given them to her.
He squeezed her shoulder and she tilted her head back to look into his eyes. “Are you still in love with him?”
Her brows drew together and her fingers froze on his chest. “Who?”
“The ex that gave you the earrings.”
She sighed and tried to sit up. “Are you still on that?”
He stopped her from leaving his embrace. “It’s a fair question.”
“What Christy did was reprehensible, but I’m not her.”
“I know that. Believe me I do, but I won’t get involved with you if you still have feelings for someone else. You two were together for three years. I know it’s been a while since you broke up, but I just want to know if anything is still there.”
Danielle flipped over until her chest rested on top of his. He dropped his hand to cup her backside, then tried to focus on the conversation and not how tempting she was.
“We were together a long time. Yes, at the time, we thought we were in love.”
“What happened?”
“He was offered an amazing opportunity in another state. We tried for a little bit, but things didn’t work out.”
“If his opportunity was so amazing, why didn’t you go with him?”
Danielle dropped her eyes to his chest. “The original plan was for me to go, but, like I said, it didn’t work out.”
“He left you behind.” Debra’s warning stuck in his head.
“I wouldn’t view it like that. We wanted different things. Even if he’d asked I doubt we would have made it. Too many demands on his end to expect him to have the time for a relationship.”
He didn’t need to be in her bed right now, but he was. He should be at home resting for tomorrow’s practice. “When you really want to be with someone you find the time to make it work.”
She smiled and her eyes sparkled like chocolate diamonds. “I appreciate that. But you have a demanding career, too. You should understand.”
“Does he play sports?”
She nodded. “He does.”
“Professionally?”
“Yeah.” His body stiffened. She must have sensed his thoughts because she shook her head. “Not basketball. He’s a football player.”
“Who?”
“Does it matter? You two probably don’t know each other.”
“The world of professional sports is small. I probably do know him. I could guess if I think of the guys who were drafted from our school.”
“Luke Kinard,” she said.
He did know Luke. He was a friend of Isaiah’s and would probably come to a few games if they made the play-offs. Definitely any parties. He wished he hated the guy, but he didn’t. It was hard to dislike Luke. He was one of those all-around good guys, and he was very passionate when it came to being eco-friendly. Just the type of guy Danielle would be with.
“He’s a nice guy,” he said simply.
“He is.”
He had a dozen other questions. Questions that would make him sound paranoid. He was done playing paranoid in relationships. Danielle wasn’t Christy. He would have to try to trust her.
“Was there anyone else after Christy?” she asked softly.
He snorted and rubbed his forehead. How could he explain to her that he’d thoroughly enjoyed his love-’em-and-leave-’em life after breaking up with Christy without sounding like a pig? He couldn’t.
“No.”
She was silent for a few seconds. “How did your parents take the situation?”
“My dad died when I was thirteen. Killed by his husband’s lover.”
Danielle sucked in a breath. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I thought he was this great guy. He had been great to us. That’s one of the reasons I never cheated on Christy. I saw firsthand the trouble that could come from cheating.” He ran a hand over his face. Danielle was quiet while he let the hurt and anger from that time die down before speaking again. “My mom took what Christy did hard. When I had Jake she said he was the best thing to come from me. When we found out he wasn’t mine, she blamed me for not checking his paternity sooner. We don’t talk much. The only other person who would have cared about how I felt was my granddad, but he’d died the year before. I really wished he would have been there then.”
“Why?”
“After my dad died, my granddad would take me bowling every Wednesday night. After a couple of sodas, a basket of cheese fries, and a game or two he’d ask me how I was doing, say I could always come to him, but never pushed me to talk. He knew I was spiraling. Those bowling nights reminded me I had someone who cared. My mom was so angry after my dad was killed, she couldn’t deal with me. I couldn’t understand her anger until after Christy cheated.”
Though he never would have taken his anger out on Jake. He wouldn’t let any kid of his think they were a burden. If he ever had kids again.
He glanced at Danielle. The empathy in her eyes was more comforting than any words she could speak. There was nothing anyone could say that would make what happened in his past any easier. Talking to Danielle about it was easier than he’d imagined.
Her small hand rested on his chest right over his heart. “You’re the man in my life now. If a part of me wanted anyone else I wouldn’t have let you in last night. I promise you my fidelity while we’re together. If you promise me the same.”
He ran the back of his hand across her cheek. “You’ve already got that. I’ve turned down every woman that’s approached me here and on the road since reconnecting with you.”
Her brow rose and her lip twisted. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“Actually, it is. I haven’t found a woman that I wanted to trust e
nough to be monogamous with. I’m willing to do that while we’re together.”
The twist to her lips softened to a small smile. He pulled her up by her waist until her body was completely on top of his. “Now kiss me before I have to get up and go.”
“You’re not staying the night?”
He was tempted, but even if he didn’t have practice tomorrow, he wasn’t ready to jump into a relationship with overnight stays. “Practice early.”
Her smile wavered. He flipped her over onto her back. She giggled, the second of sadness erased from her face. Her laugh and smile made his stomach tighten. He hoped he was right to trust her. He liked her too much to handle being lied to again, which meant he couldn’t let Danielle know how much of his heart she already had in her hands.
Chapter 12
Jacobe faked left, and the player guarding him fell for it. Stepping back, he shot the basketball toward the goal from the three-point line. Time slowed to an earthworm crawl as he watched the ball travel. It swooshed through the hoop a millisecond before the game-ending buzzer sounded.
Several seconds passed before the rush of adrenaline and excitement infiltrated his bloodstream. Jacobe jumped up and pumped his fist. His teammates hurried over and the crowd in the stadium went crazy with cheers. With that shot, he’d just secured the Gators’ place in the play-offs.
He looked over the heads of the people celebrating around him on the court to the seats behind the bench. Danielle and Debra were both there, jumping up and down and clapping. A month in and he automatically looked for her behind the bench. The high rushing through his system couldn’t be topped. They won, were going to the play-offs, and his girl was there watching.
He moved with the wave to the side of the court. More hugs and hand slaps with Kevin, Isaiah and the rest of the team. Coach Simpson came over and slapped Jacobe on the back.
“That’s how you do it!” Coach screamed.
Jacobe went through the quick interviews with the reporters on the side of the court before going back into the locker room. Champagne popped, and people laughed and talked big about how they were going to go all the way in the play-offs.
“We’re here, but that doesn’t mean we’re guaranteed the championship,” Coach Simpson said. “We’ve built a championship-level team here, let’s keep up the momentum and bring that trophy home.” He looked at Jacobe. “Then come back next year and do it again.”
Brian and a few other owners had come into the locker room. Brian came over and held out his hand to Jacobe, who was too stoked not to take it.
“I didn’t think you were committed to the Gators,” Brian said. “I didn’t think you wanted to be in Jacksonville. But the work you’re doing with the River Watchers and how you’re leading this team to the play-offs is changing my mind. If you want to come back I won’t oppose your re-signing.”
“I appreciate that, Brian. We’ll worry about next season when we get through the play-offs.”
“Fair enough.” Brian shook his hand again, then went on to talk to the other members of the team.
Looked like the team owners were over their concerns about his behavior.
He glanced around the locker room at his teammates. Even though the Gators had been able to win during his suspension, when he’d returned to play he’d increased their shot percentage and the point spread of their wins. Between that and the extra press he got for his endeavors to improve the community, he had no doubts they would want him to re-sign next year. The work they’d done to build up the team and win games filled him with pride. He’d always dreamed big. Would always be proud of what they accomplished.
Isaiah, Will and Kevin walked over. They were showered and dressed for the postgame interviews, Isaiah in his signature bow tie, Will in a designer T-shirt and jeans, and Kevin in a tailored suit that allowed his arm and neck tattoos to peek out.
Kevin watched him suspiciously. “What’s up with that look?”
Jacobe stood. He too was dressed and ready for the interviews. “What look?”
“The look I haven’t seen since the last game of high school or college. The ‘I’ll miss this’ look.”
“Nah, man, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jacobe hid his guilt behind a grin. Those were where his thoughts were going. A year ago he wouldn’t have cared if his teammates knew he was looking to sign elsewhere. A year ago he hadn’t cared much about what the guys thought. Now he did, and he didn’t want to give them a reason to doubt his commitment before the play-offs.
He’d texted Danielle earlier and asked her to hang around to wait for him. He pulled out his phone to text her again.
Shower done. Now postgame interviews. Can you still stick around?
A few seconds later, his phone chimed.
If you want me to I will.
You know I want you to. I’ll make it quick.
J
The smiley face she sent back made his lips curve upward. That was the other good thing about being in Jacksonville: having Danielle at the games. If he did make that move, what would she say? He’d left her once and she’d understood the reasons. Would she understand this, or would she just compare him to Luke? Both thoughts felt wrong.
The postgame interviews were full of the expected questions: “How do you feel?” and “Congratulations on making that shot.” The effort he took to not look at his watch and hurry things along was staggering. He wanted to get out of there with Danielle.
“Jacobe, not only are you conquering the court,” one reporter said, “but you’re also trying to conquer the environment. Are you turning into a tree hugger?”
Jacobe laughed and shook his head. “I’ve recently had my eyes opened to a lot of the challenges threatening the river. I live and work here. All I’m trying to do is make the world a better place where I can.”
“Does this have anything to do with Danielle Stewart? Are the reports that you two are dating true?”
His relationship with Danielle didn’t have a damn thing to do with the results of tonight’s game or the play-offs. He didn’t comment on his personal life and wouldn’t start now. “Danielle and I are cool. I’ve known and respected her for years. I’m just happy to work with her to protect the river.”
Another reporter caught his attention. “You’re a free agent next year. After leading the Gators to the play-offs, a lot of teams are going to be interested in you. There are rumors of the creation of a superteam in Phoenix and that you’re on the short list of possible recruits. Do you want to confirm or deny?”
His agent must be doing a good job talking him up to Phoenix. From the comments Jacobe had gotten tonight, the word was getting out that he was considering leaving. “Hey, man, I’m just trying to get through this season. I’ll worry about what happens in the off-season after we win the championship.”
His prediction earned few laughs. Many in the crowd didn’t look convinced. Let them wonder. Until he got through this season and thought things out, he wasn’t making any hard decisions.
The interviews finally ended and Jacobe hurried out of the pressroom and back to the court, where Danielle would be waiting for him. She didn’t like hanging out near the locker room, which he could understand. She also preferred to stay away from the media, which made him more comfortable, especially since the press were starting to ask questions about their relationship. His cell phone rang. One glance at his agent’s number and he stopped to take the call.
“Eric, what’s up?”
“What’s up is that you’re the number-one trend on Twitter right now.” Eric’s voice was excited.
“I don’t care about that.”
“You should. There are so many people sharing that final shot that I’m afraid the internet will implode, which is good for you and here’s why. I just got off the phone with the Phoenix front office.”
“I thought we were keeping that quie
t. I’m getting asked questions about it. Questions I don’t need right now. I’m trying to get to the finals here.”
“As you should, but are you telling me you don’t want to hear what they have to say?”
He couldn’t say that. “What did they say?”
“They want you. Bad. They realize you’ve got to get through this season, but they’ve already secured Warren Hackley and Charles Johnson.”
“Shit, for real?” Warren and Charles were two of the best players in the league. Combined with himself, the league might as well give them the trophy every year.
“Would I call you with this if I were lying? Listen, they know you can’t promise anything yet, but they’re already throwing out offers.”
“How much?” Eric told him and Jacobe had to cock his head to the side and ask him to repeat. He’d been in the league for years and made his share of millions, but even this was an offer damn near impossible to refuse.
“Now, do you want me to tell them to shove off?”
“No. Tell them I’m interested. If that’s their offer and they’re willing to wait until this season is over, then we’ll talk more. I owe all of my focus to the Gators right now.”
“Of course. You’re a good man, but also a smart man. I’ll let you know if anything changes, okay.”
“Okay.”
“And good game.”
He thanked Eric and ended the call. The remainder of the walk to meet Danielle was a blur. He liked what he had here, but, damn, you didn’t just say no to millions of dollars because you liked an area. He’d have to put the offer out of his mind until the play-offs were over. But if they actually won the finals, Phoenix might want him even more, which would only make contract negotiations easier. He was finally getting what he wanted—to be recognized as an elite player on an elite team.
Danielle was sitting in an aisle seat right near the entrance into the stadium. She was scrolling through her phone with one hand and toying with the end of her hair with the other. No cute cardigan, but she was still sexy in her Gators T-shirt and tight jeans. She looked up when he came in. She jumped up from the chair and hurried over. He gripped her waist and hoisted her up for a kiss.
One More Night Page 27