She shook her head. “You don’t understand. They’ll think you’re serious about me when we know the truth. I know the truth.”
“Do you always overthink things? It’s a simple dinner with your parents. They’ll love me,” he said with a charming chuckle.
About that she had no doubt.
* * *
Damon finished lightweight lifting and exercise at the gym where Jimmy O’Roarke worked out when not with the team. He wished he could press weights harder and be ready sooner even if he couldn’t play. Now that he was back home, his anger had returned and he growled his frustration.
“Time will pass,” Jimmy said, clearly reading his mood.
He tossed Damon a towel and he wiped his forehead, but there wasn’t much sweat to be found. Light workout meant taking it easy. His head felt fine and he had no residual effects from the concussion. That was good news at least.
This morning, when he’d told Evie where he was headed, she informed him she had errands of her own to run. It had taken everything in him not to forbid her from going out alone, but he didn’t have the right to issue orders. Worse, if he expressed his objections, she would think he didn’t trust her to take care of herself. Instead, he’d reminded her to take her gun, watch her back, and check in before ending his mini rant with a long, distracting kiss that, had they not been in a rush to go, would have ended up in bed.
“Hey. Where’d your mind go?” Jimmy asked.
Damon groaned and forced himself to think of more immediate concerns. “What’s your take on Emerson?” he asked his trainer.
Picking up a tumbler with water inside, Damon took a large sip. He didn’t want to put any negative thoughts in Jimmy’s head. All he wanted was the man’s take on the backup quarterback. Jimmy had been a trainer in the league for over ten years and had been around all sorts of players and personalities. Damon wanted his opinion on the man soon to take the field in his place.
Jimmy leaned on a piece of equipment and met Damon’s gaze. “I know you’re pissed you tested positive and can’t start the season. I’m not sure how Greg will perform under pressure, but I know he’s going to try his best to make you proud. The kid looks up to you, you know.”
“You noticed.”
Jimmy chuckled. “Everyone sees it. But I think as shitty as the situation is for you, it’s good for him. He’ll see what he’s capable of.” Jimmy put a hand on Damon’s shoulder. “And you’ll be back leading the offense before you know it.”
“Thanks.” He paused then decided fuck it. He wanted to know. “Did Emerson ever mention to you that his father knew Doc back in college?”
Jimmy blinked. “No. That’s an odd connection. Huh.”
He didn’t wonder why Damon had asked and he didn’t want to talk smack about Emerson when all he had thus far was coincidence. Two men who’d gone to college together. Frat brothers. But Damon wished he had answers.
His cell rang and he glanced down and grinned. “Gotta take this, Jimmy. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He hit the accept button. “Braden!” He yelled his brother’s name. Braden, Bri’s twin, had been out of touch for too long. “Hang on. Let me go somewhere private.”
Tucking the phone between his shoulder and cheek, he scooped up his things and headed out for the privacy inside his car. He didn’t need a rabid reporter overhearing anything if he spoke in the parking lot.
“Hang on,” he said, climbing into the car. He turned on the ignition so the AC would ease the sweating just from walking from the gym to the vehicle. Damn Florida heat. He waited until the phone connected to the car microphone. “Hey, bro.”
“Hey! Sorry I’ve been out of touch. You know I’m in Venezuela, and we’re now helping people in Sao Paulo who don’t have access to vaccines.”
“Just be careful,” Damon warned.
“Always,” Braden said. “Anyway, I spoke to Bri this morning,” he said of his twin. “I’m sorry for what you’re going through and that I haven’t been there for you.”
Damon rested one hand on the steering wheel. “It’s okay. You’re out saving the world. I understand.”
“But I missed your concussion. Austin’s engagement. And I haven’t met the baby.” He sounded truly upset.
“Are you homesick? Thinking of coming back? You already met your commitment time, so no one would have a problem with you leaving.” Damon hoped Braden was finished running.
Though Damon understood why Braden had wanted to get away and live life on terms that had nothing to do with sports, their father had been gone for a long time now, and Braden had nothing more to prove to anyone. Not that he ever had.
“Yes. No. I don’t know, okay? I have ties here,” Braden said.
Now that was new. “What kind of ties? Colleagues? Patients?”
“Girlfriend.”
Damon let out a low whistle. “Is it serious?”
“It’s … something,” Braden said, obviously vague on purpose.
“Okay, fine. You don’t want to discuss it yet.”
Braden laughed. “Do you want to talk about the fact that you have a woman living with you?”
“Fucking Bri,” Damon muttered. “She’s such a gossip.”
“Actually, the information came from Mom first.”
He shook his head. “Yeah I’ve got a woman staying with me. She has some safety issues and I want her where I can keep an eye on her.”
“So, you’re doing her a favor and the favor actually gets her where you want her,” Braden said, guessing the exact nature of the situation.
“You’d like her, man. She’s smart and savvy. Not to mention sexy,” Damon said.
“And you’ve got it bad.” The connection suddenly sounded gritty.
Damon dipped his head and admitted the truth. “Yeah. I really do.”
“Does she?” he asked over light crackling on the line.
Shit. Damon hoped they didn’t get disconnected. “She has trust issues I’m working on fixing. An ex who has her afraid to trust, and my past with women isn’t stellar. But I’m working on showing her over time.” By just being there day after day and proving to her he had staying power.
“Good for you. I have faith you’ll get the girl,” his brother said.
“And you?”
“Just not ready to share yet,” Braden said, making Damon wonder if it was serious or not.
Braden always kept things close. Maybe Bri knew more. They were twins and had a special bond. “Well, I’m really glad you called. And I, for one, hope you come home soon.”
Because he really missed his levelheaded sibling.
Chapter Nine
Evie dressed up and drove to the new Miami Thunder Stadium that had recently been constructed, anticipation building inside her. She’d obtained some very interesting information on the team doctor from her computer guru and had put two and two together, knowing the conclusion was good for Damon.
But she hadn’t filled him in. She hadn’t wanted to get his hopes up in case it was a dead end. Instead she’d called Austin, who’d gotten in touch with Ian. And when the team owner had heard her information, he’d agreed to a joint discussion with Gregory Emerson, the backup quarterback.
She gave her name at security, and a man directed her where to park. She made her way through the parking lot, the summer heat baking down on her, and she could admit to herself she was relieved to be rid of the jacket. Revealing her insecurity in the form of the scar to Damon had given her the courage to walk around without covering it anymore. Did the red line still remind her of her mistakes? Yes. But she needed to learn to live with her past. And maybe she was getting closer to acceptance.
She found her way to Ian’s office and she walked up to his assistant’s desk. “I have an appointment? Evie Wolfe.”
The attractive woman with brown bobbed hair smiled at her. “Of course. One moment, Ms. Wolfe.”
Evie waited while the other woman rose from her seat and knocked on Ian’s door. “Mr. Dare? Ms. Wolfe is here to
see you.”
She returned to her chair just as Ian stepped out of his office, formidable in his well-cut suit, a black pin-striped jacket, white dress shirt, and a red tie.
As good-looking as he was, and though he shared the Dare gene for those blue eyes, Evie preferred her men more rugged than polished. Still, there was no denying his dominating presence and sex appeal.
“Evie, good to see you.” Ian stepped forward and she extended her hand.
A grin pulled at his lips as he shook it. “How is Damon?” He gestured her to proceed him into his office.
“He’s dealing.” Her gaze immediately went to the photos on his desk, turned, enabling her to catch a glimpse of his beautiful wife and three young children, two adorable girls and a little boy. “Gorgeous family,” she said.
“Thank you. I’m a lucky man.”
She settled into a chair across from his desk and eased her legs to one side. She wasn’t used to the office-dress look she’d chosen, but she understood her audience. She wouldn’t show up here looking like a grungy PI.
“Austin told me about your theory that Gregory Emerson used his connections between his father and our team doctor to drug Damon so Emerson would have the opportunity to prove himself.” Ian’s stern face was enough to intimidate anyone, but she held her own.
She’d also discovered motive and the connection to make her hunch possible. “Yes, and this morning I found out that Dr. Jonas had IRS issues. He couldn’t pay taxes and owed a lot of money. About a month ago, he wrote them a huge check. Some digging into Emerson’s father showed he had the same amount going out of his bank account on that same day. Can’t be coincidence.”
“Son of a bitch. So Emerson’s father paid off Doc’s debts in exchange for Doc dosing Damon?”
Evie sighed. “That’s my theory. Because Damon didn’t take drugs. Someone doped him somehow.”
Ian studied her intently. “I believe that, too, or I wouldn’t even entertain this notion. You’ve got good connections, Ms. Wolfe.”
She grinned. “I manage.”
“Look, I don’t want to believe Emerson would stoop that low. The kid is diligent, focused, and he works hard. I’d like to speak to him. Handle it my way. I just don’t want him to feel like he’s being cornered. I’ve dealt with my share of sports families, and I have my own ideas on how this went down.”
She nodded. “However you want to handle it is fine.” She was just grateful Ian was being proactive on Damon’s behalf.
A knock sounded on the door. “Mr. Dare? Gregory Emerson is here,” his assistant said.
“Send him in, Dana.”
As Emerson entered, he smiled for his boss, then the grin slid off his face as he realized they weren’t alone. “Evie. What are you doing here?” he asked, obviously confused.
“Come sit,” Ian said.
“I don’t understand.” Emerson looked from Evie to Ian and back again.
“Greg, Evie’s a private investigator. She’s working for Damon to help prove he didn’t knowingly take PEDs.”
Through narrowed eyes, Emerson asked, “And what does this have to do with me?”
Ian clasped his hands together and leaned forward at his desk. “Did you know your father and Dr. Jonas were frat brothers at Duke?”
“Yes.” Emerson let out a slow breath, shoulders slumping. “But I never wanted to get anywhere in my career by nepotism or favoritism, so I don’t discuss it. Never told anyone. Ever. As far as I’m concerned, it has nothing to do with me.” He ran a hand over his face. “Why is this coming up now? Are you accusing me of something?” He clenched his fists at his sides.
“Not accusing. Asking you flat out. Are you working with Doc to drug Damon so you have a shot to prove yourself?”
“Fuck no!” Emerson slammed his hand on the arms of the chair and propelled himself out of his seat. “And if you think that, fuck you. I won’t be disrespected like that.” He started for the door.
“Sit,” Ian said in his commanding voice. “I believe you.” He glanced at Evie. “I’ve always relied on my gut and this is no different.”
Her stomach twisted, feeling like it was plummeting to the floor. “But Damon—”
Ian held up a hand and waited.
Finally, Emerson turned around and met his boss’s gaze. “I don’t think Damon took PEDs, either.”
“Then what do you think happened?” Ian held the other man’s stare and, along with Evie, waited for him to reply.
The clock seemed to tick as they sat in silence.
“My father has high expectations,” Emerson finally said, shoulders slumped.
Ian rose and walked around his desk, sitting on the corner near Emerson. “And how far would he go for you to meet those expectations?” he asked, his voice deep and low, as if they were the only two in the room.
Emerson swallowed hard. “I guess I need to find out.” He looked up at Ian then and glanced over, including Evie. “If my father did anything, not only didn’t I know, I don’t approve. And I’d gladly step down and give the captain back his starting position on game day.”
Suddenly Evie could see why Ian had provided the man the benefit of the doubt. He might be the puppy dog who looked up to Damon, but he was also a man with pride, and he’d grow into himself as an athlete on the team. On his own merits.
“Evie, let me speak to Greg alone. We’ll get this sorted out and tell Damon I’ll be in touch.”
Evie nodded, her mood somber despite being so close to clearing Damon she could taste victory.
On her way home, Ian called to let her know Emerson was going to confront his father and get them all some answers.
* * *
Damon had just stepped out of the shower, towel wrapped around his waist, when Evie arrived home. One look at her in a slim black skirt that ended at the knee, a white camisole top, and those red heels he loved so much and his cock perked up, telling him his shower had been a waste of water and time.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
She grinned, sitting down on the bed and kicking off her shoes. “Why do women like these things?” she asked with a groan.
“Because they show off those long legs and make me think dirty thoughts.” He strode toward her, ignoring the towel when it unhooked from his waist and fell to the floor.
Her gaze locked on his erection that grew more solid the longer she stared. And when she licked her lips, he let out a low growl.
Stepping between her legs, he urged her to lie back on the bed.
“Don’t you want to know where I’ve been?” she asked, breathless, but from the gleam in her eyes, she obviously had something to tell him.
He rose and pulled her up. “Talk while you strip.”
She rolled her eyes and pulled off her top. “This morning my computer guy came up with huge news.”
He listened as she explained about her meeting with Ian and Emerson and Doc’s debts and the check written to him that same day he paid off the IRS. “Jesus. I can’t believe he sold me out for cash. Drugged me. Fucked with my career.”
“If it’s any consolation, Ian and I don’t believe Greg knew about it. He was pissed and he’s going to confront his father.”
Damon lowered himself onto the bed next to her, sex forgotten for the moment. “I know what it’s like to have a father who pushes and pushes. If Emerson didn’t break under the pressure, he’s strong.”
Evie placed a hand on his shoulder. “Just like you.”
He dipped his head. “I hate to say it, but I can imagine Jesse behaving the same way just to see his sons succeed.” He actually felt sorry for the kid.
“Once Emerson hears it from his father, he’s going to need understanding. Sounds like you’ve got plenty of that to offer.”
“As team captain, it’s part of my job.” He glanced at Evie. “I just want the truth to come out. I know it’s going to suck for Emerson, but I need my career back and my reputation restored.”
She cupped his cheek in her palm. “I thi
nk you’ll have that soon.”
“Thanks to you.” This woman had inserted herself into his life and turned it and him upside down in all the best ways.
He hadn’t thought they had anything in common, only to find they completed each other in every way.
She stood, shimmied out of her skirt and undies, leaving her only in a bra, which she quickly unhooked. His gaze settled on her heavy breasts and his mouth watered. With one hand on his chest, she pushed him down on the bed, and he maneuvered back to give them more room.
She straddled his hips, knees on either side of him. “You need a condom,” she said, rocking her hips and rubbing her sex over his aching dick.
With a groan, he said, “Drawer on my side of the bed.” Because the other side belonged to her. Whether she acknowledged that truth or not.
She left him briefly to grab a condom, then returned, ripped it open and rolling it over him. He watched her work diligently, making sure she covered his cock until finally he jerked his hips up.
“Enough. Ride me or I’m going to lose my mind,” he said through clenched teeth.
“My pleasure.” She lifted her hips and held on to his cock, lowering herself onto his straining shaft.
She slid down and cushioned him in warm, wet heat, causing him to groan. She was heaven and he never wanted to separate from her again.
She began to glide up and down, squeezing her inner muscles tight around him, and the way his body reacted, he wouldn’t last long. Thank God she let out a long moan, letting him know she was close, too.
He braced his hands on her hips and began to lift her up and slam her down, grinding them together until his balls drew up tight and he came hard and fast, lost completely. His climax triggered hers, and she spasmed around him, prolonging his ride.
* * *
The Wolfe family dinner went as well as could be expected considering Evie sat beside him strung tight. As he sat at the table, her four brothers eyed Damon with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity. He assumed their wariness was a heightened normal after what had happened with John, and he didn’t blame them. It showed him where Evie got her distrust from, but still, he had to admit he and his brothers would treat any guy that Bri brought home the same way, especially if the meeting was after she’d been hurt.
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