by Melissa Blue
Why did they have to have the reception at their house? Adam had enough money to hold the reception at a hotel or a stadium. They had wanted small and intimate. Maybe twenty of their closest friends and family would attend.
Torture, because there was no reason Blaine couldn't check on the chef. Other than the fact he'd ended things. She probably didn't want to see him. If she did, she might actually pull out the nut chopper.
Or ignore him.
That reaction was likely the worse. He'd pushed her out of his life, and, maybe he'd done one hell of a job of helping her get over Andrew. Blaine was nothing in comparison.
Kent kicked the chair again and Blaine scowled in the man's direction. “What?” he snapped.
“So I went into the kitchen to steal something that would hold me over. I met the chef. It's a funny thing because I could have sworn I saw a picture of her on a magazine. Standing next to you. Leaving a hotel.”
Kent sounded like his mother—a voice of reason. Blaine narrowed his gaze.
“Adam,” Blaine muttered, “you picked the wrong best man. Yours reads gossip mags.”
Adam scoffed. “So I should have picked the one who broke a woman's heart? Did it right before my wedding when she has to cook for everyone?”
Blaine tensed. “What?”
“Apparently, Charlotte had to console her the other day. There were tears. So if my wife glares at you, that's why.”
“Alyssa was crying?” He blinked as his stomach clenched.
“Alyssa?” Kent asked. “So it was her. What were you doing sneaking her out of your hotel? You know how the press is.”
“I wanted to see her,” he threw the words at Kent.
The truth was he had needed to see her. He didn't believe in slow. He had his mother to thank for that impulse. She'd raised him to never do anything worth doing half-measure.
Though she had given him plenty of shit about ending things with Alyssa, but he hadn't wanted to hear a single word. They were done. Alyssa wasn't willing to go all-in. No use in whining over the end of an affair.
It wasn't an affair. Being with her felt like the life you could have had.
Blaine shook off the thoughts, and focused on his friend. “But she was crying?” he asked again.
Adam fixed his boutonniere on his lapel then turned to face him. “Yes. So don't fuck up my wife's day with any bullshit. If the chef walks because one of my friends did something, it's my head that's on the chopping block.”
“God,” Blaine muttered, “you're so whipped.”
“I love her,” Adam corrected him, “and I want this day to be...good. Nothing wrong with that. Maybe if you thought about someone else but yourself we wouldn't be having this conversation right now.”
“And what the hell does that mean?” There was a bite to his tone. Blaine pointed at Kent before the man could move. Maybe he did need a swift kick, but that wasn't important. “What am I not getting?”
Adam waved to Kent as he walked to the other side of the room to put on his shoes. Kent sighed. “You've been playing since grade school. You're used to everything that comes with playing ball. You don't know normal.”
He knew that. It had been his worry from the beginning. Alyssa had confirmed his fears, hadn't she? “And you do?”
“If you ignore the fact I'm close friends with people who play for the NFL, yeah. I can go grocery shopping without being mobbed. If I hold a door for a woman outside a restaurant, no one is taking a picture. There won't be a story about a mysterious woman. No one cares and I like that about my life. And I only got a taste of that insanity in college.”
“And when you had that lunch with me,” Adam added then concentrated on lacing up the black and white wing tips.
“Exactly,” Kent said and straightened on the chair. “The conversation I had to have with my wife was crazy. That was really a one-time thing and it freaked her out. Take a second and imagine what that must have been like for Alyssa. Her private life wasn't private because of the man she chose to be seen with.”
The thought had crossed his mind, but he hadn't let himself stew in it. How could he? His life, no matter how crazy, was normal for him. Sure, he knew the insanity of it could break strong men. He'd seen it over and over again. Too much of a spotlight and a man's ego could bring down an empire. He'd seen women so hungry for the flash of a camera they'd sell their souls. And what he'd liked most about Alyssa was her flippant attitude to his celebrity.
But Blaine hadn't deeply considered from every angle the idea of how overwhelming his life could be. He did now.
He'd given her warnings about the media, and living on the road. She'd experienced what it was like to see him hurt and she hadn't been able to do anything. He'd put her on a private jet to spend a few hours with him. They spent an incredible night together. The paps had swarmed them as he took her back to the plane.
Then gave her about four point five seconds to adjust and make a life-changing decision.
How was that reasonable? Or fair to her? It wasn't and for the first time in, hell, ever he'd opened himself up to a woman. She hadn't responded the way he'd needed. He'd shut her out. He literally put her on a plane to put distance between them.
Maybe Alyssa did feel the same about him, but he hadn't let her wade through that before ending them. He scrubbed a hand over his face.
“So...” Adam said and stood. “If you're going into the kitchen, and from the expression on your face, you are. Start with, 'I love you and I'm stupid.'” He clapped his hands. “All right. I'm ready to get married.”
“I love you?” Blaine's head spun a little. “The stupid part, I understand.”
Adam threw back his head and laughed, “How long have I known you?”
“Many years,” Blaine answered.
Kent said, “And I met you about a month ago, but heard about you for a while. You don't seem like the type to settle down. Or worry about a break up.”
Adam shook his head. “You do not. Did you tell your mother about her?”
Blaine had to laugh. “Yeah.”
“You told your mother about a woman you're dating. And I know your mom. You wouldn't have said something unless that woman was special to you.” Adam shook his head again. “You're holding up my wedding with your relationship issues. You can let that sink in during the ceremony. We have five minutes to get down to the beach.”
Blaine rubbed at his mouth again. Love. Could he see Alyssa at his side for the rest of his life?
No. The better question was did he want to spend the next ten minutes without her in his life? Had he ever felt that way about any woman? Shit. Had he ever spent this much time thinking about a woman and not about how to get her naked? A time or two but never like this. He'd never simply thought about a woman and that alone took his breath away, made his hands damp with nerves.
Never had he wanted to change his life for a woman.
Love.
He loved Alyssa and the thought didn't need much time to settle for the emotion to feel right. He grinned.
Kent spread his hands. “He gets it. We're going to be late, and I have my camera ready for when Adam sees Charlotte in her dress. He's going to cry.”
Adam blushed, and that's how Blaine knew, for damn sure, he was suffering from the same damn problem. He completely understood Adam's reaction.
Love. Blaine was in love.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The moment Alyssa could, she escaped to the kitchen. Blaine had kept looking at her and because she'd been looking at him, their gazes kept clashing. Every time her heart would climb into her throat and ache like a son of a bitch. Thankfully, everyone else was sniffling so she didn't stand out.
The staff moved the hell out of her way and she was grateful to be left alone. She could focus on dinner since the appetizers were ready to go the moment people came up from the ceremony.
Chicken with Portobello mushrooms were to be served over artichokes. The timing was everything. The artichokes couldn't be too
soft and the chicken too tough. She could concentrate on that instead of how handsome Blaine had looked in his tuxedo. The wind whipped his hair into shaggy waves, and his gray-blue eyes had seemed so dark.
He was breathtaking and not hers anymore. She was working and he was here as a friend for a wedding. No matter how much she wanted to make things right between them, she'd have to wait. It wasn't the time or the place.
Someone plopped onto the seat right next to the prepping area. “You can't be...Oh.” The words drifted when her gaze clashed with Blaine's. There wasn't a smile, and she missed it. Missed him.
But she hadn't prepared to see him, and words failed her.
“You were saying?” he prompted.
She swallowed down the initial happiness. He was flirting, not saying the words she wished to hear. Maybe he was bored again. “What are you doing here? You're a groomsman.”
“Left early.”
She blinked. “You walked out during the ceremony? Are you crazy?”
The tux shifted wonderfully over his broad shoulders as he shrugged. “More important things came up.”
Her heart, as always, fluttered. “Than standing beside your friend giving his vows?”
“Yes.”
She glanced at the food in her hands then brought all her focus to him. “What could have possibly been more important?” she whispered.
“You.” His gaze went to the plate in her hands.
She had a death grip on the glass but he managed to pry it away. “Charlotte's going to kill me.” Her throat felt tight with emotion.
He said, “First she's going to kill Adam. We have time to make a getaway.”
The staff milled about, trying not to look in their direction. They weren't star struck, not at this point anymore—they were nosy. Her co-workers had probably figured out Blaine was the reason for her crappy mood.
Blaine added, “But it is all Adam's fault.”
“Why?”
“He told me I should say, 'I love you and I'm stupid.'”
She held her breath then cupped his face. “You love me? I get the stupid part.”
Blaine laughed. “We're perfect for each other, because that's exactly what I said.”
Her stomach, her chest were so taut it was hard to breathe. “We just met. How can you love me?”
“Because you are the first woman that's made me this happy by being with you. For me, partying all night was fun. Staying in with a woman was fun as long as we were naked. But you, it's just you. A text, a call, seeing you laugh, breathing you in—it's you, Alyssa. My life is crazy and it's asking so much to take me on. I know this is fast.”
He was going to keep talking. She could tell. He was nervous, not cocky. He was scared, not confident.
She mattered to him. She didn't have to be anything but herself. How much she needed that and he was offering his heart with it. Her head had nothing to offer that could have been better than that.
She didn't have to think—Alyssa kissed him. A cheer went up in the kitchen. She didn't care there was an audience, an excited one. She cupped both of his cheeks and kissed him hard. He'd barreled into her life, twice, and he was the best thing that could have happened for her.
The ache in her heart melted away. She pulled back. “Tell me again.”
“I love you.”
She held his gaze and could see he meant the three words. It was easy to let go of the doubts, the worries and the fears. So easy to listen to her gut, instead of her head finally piping up to say it was too soon, too fast. And her heart completely agreed with her gut. He was hers.
“I love you, Blaine.”
A dimple peeked out. “And if I were to call you 'sweetheart'?”
She laughed. “I'll remind you that I brought my chef knives today.”
He nodded. “Yeah. I love you.”
She laughed again, feeling light and so happy. “Hold that thought.” She glanced over his shoulder. “Sous chef. Suit up. I need a five minute break.”
The man saluted.
She grabbed his tie and pulled him away from prying eyes toward the guest rooms. He happily followed behind her. He didn't need much direction anyway.
Once they were far enough away from a nosy crowd, he pushed her into a corner. “I think we should talk about what happens next, Alyssa.”
“The easy way?” She tugged his tie loose. “Tell me. In detail.”
His smile deepened. “It won't always be easy, but I promise I'll never break your heart.”
“Because you are really good at mending them?”
He shook his head. “Because yours is precious to me. I'll protect it, at all costs.”
“Oh, Blaine.”
“No, why?”
She shook her head. “You love me.”
“No doubts?”
Alyssa thought back over every conversation they had. “Grandkids?”
“My mother needs them.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “And when I close my eyes, our kids look like you. I want that. No question.”
God. Her heart couldn't take it. She tilted her head up, knowing he'd follow, knowing he would. “Your leather seats didn't stand a chance.”
“Yeah.” He laughed, and she felt the sound in her heart, her soul. “Yeah. I love you.”
BIO
Melissa Blue’s writing career started on a typewriter one month after her son was born. This would have been an idyllic situation for a writer if it had been 1985, not 2004. Eventually she upgraded to a computer. She’s still typing away on the same computer, making imaginary people fall in love.
Where to find me online:
http://www.themelissablue.com
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorOfSMR
https://twitter.com/mel_thegreat
Where to sign up for my newsletter to get updates on new releases:
http://eepurl.com/n0RR1
OTHER TITLES BY MELISSA BLUE
GRIDIRON BAD BOYS
Devil of the Gridiron
Gridiron Heartbreaker
UNDER THE KILT SERIES
Under His Kilt
Her Insatiable Scot
Kilted For Pleasure
Kilt Tease
Scot Appeal
#DIRTYSEXYGEEKS SERIES
To One Hundred
Down To Ash
1 MORE FROM THE GAME FOR LOVE WORLD
The game always changes for super-sexy, alpha athlete heroes who meet their perfect heroines in these sexy, fun and emotional romances that revolve around the world of professional sports (including but not limited to football, baseball, soccer, basketball, beach volleyball, race cars, polo, etc.). When professional linebacker Cole Taylor sets out to fulfill his grandmother's dying wish, he finds his perfect and innocent match, Anna Davis, in the most unlikely of places, and the love that develops between Cole and Anna leaves them irrevocably altered. Whose game will change next?
Start with the original book by Bella Andre:
Game for Love
Then move on to these amazing reads from the Game for Love Kindle World:
A Cowboy Kind of Love ~ Melissa Storm
Best Laid Plans ~ Taige Crenshaw
Blitzed ~ Desiree Holt
Delay of Game ~ Aaliyah Burke
Game On, Baby ~ Yvette Hines
Gridiron Heartbreaker ~ Melissa Blue
Out of the Game ~ Peggy Bird
Winter Heat ~ Tasha Black
All the Right Moves ~ Marquita Valentine
Devil of the Gridiron ~ Melissa Blue
Game Changer ~ Lori Ryan
Game Maker ~ Lori Ryan
Game Clincher ~ Lori Ryan
Game for You ~ Jami Davenport
Game On ~ Cat Johnson
Love Games ~ Mara Jacobs
Not in the Game ~ Jasmine Haynes
Out of Bounds ~ Lynn Raye Harris
SEAL’s Goal ~ Sharon Hamilton
Worlds Novella) (Gridiron Bad Boys Book 2)