by Claire Adams
If nothing else, she had to move in with me soon. I hated her living across town in an apartment all by herself. It was depressing for her and worried me.
I picked up the phone as I forced myself to finish getting dressed. "Hey. Make sure you wear something nice."
She laughed. "For pictures? Not this again, right?"
I smiled. "You might want to take a few photos, but that'll be up to you."
"I do like having your handsome face on my phone."
"Alright, tease. I'll see you shortly." I reached for a tie and decided against it, knowing my mom would give me hell if she were still around, but if I were being entirely honest, half the reason I didn't wear the damn gray tie was to get a rise out of her.
It’s what guys did to their mothers.
I drove over to Maddie's place and got out, walking to the door and popping my key in the lock. I walked in to find her in white lacy bra and panties, leaning over to slip sandals on her feet.
"Where is your dress, beautiful?" I walked toward her and slid my hands up her back to cup her shoulders as she stood.
"On the bed. I was trying to figure out which one I wanted to wear." She pressed her back to my chest, rolling her hips and playing with my dick. "Or maybe we could just skip dinner and make love all over my apartment."
"We did that last night." I moved back and popped her ass. "How about you wear the dress that requires you to not wear panties? I like those dresses best." I walked toward her room with her following me, her laughter causing me to smile.
"You're corrupt. Just like the women you date." She moved past me, and I reached out, grabbing her wrist and tugging her back.
She crashed into me with a soft yelp and pressed her hands against my chest.
"You're the only woman I date." I leaned down and kissed her a few times. "And if you don't hurry up, we're going to miss our reservations."
"And if I'd rather seduce you?"
"Not going to fall for it tonight, sweetheart." I kissed the tip of her nose and walked around her to sit down on the edge of the bed. "Now, get ready."
"So bossy!" She huffed and reached for a strapless blue dress that reminded me of the colors of spring. "I don't know any other man who would pass up the opportunity to have his girlfriend bend over and work him from 10 different angles. You're just wrong, Gavin Hayward."
"Ten different angles?" I lifted and eyebrow and glanced down at my watch. "We might actually have time for that." I let out a loud huff as she smacked me in the chest and gave me a look.
"Nope. You didn't want it."
"I'll always want it, Maddie. Now, stop talking and get dressed." I stood up and walked to the door, pausing for a second to look back at my beautiful girl. "Or no spankings for you."
She flipped me off and worked her dress over her head. She was rowdy and a little rough around the edges, but she sure as fuck was mine.
"No, you didn't." She slid her hand into mine as I pulled up to the hibachi restaurant I'd taken her to a few weeks back and proposed the first time. Though it was all planned and staged, it felt real to me at the moment, and still did now.
"I did." I gripped her hand tightly and walked toward the door. "Let's get something to eat and then I have a gift for you."
"Is it what I think it is?" Her smile lifted her lips so much it had to hurt. I loved it.
"No. It's not half a million dollars. Jeez." I reached out and held the door as she walked in and glanced over to give me a look. "Too soon?"
"Way too soon." She shook her head and moved up to the hostess stand. "Two."
"We actually have the whole restaurant again." I took my place beside her and wrapped an arm around her slender shoulders.
"Show off," she whispered and glanced up at me, her words a little airy.
She liked me spending my money, and if it impressed her, I didn't mind so much. From the lessons I'd learned, you couldn't take it with you anyway. Better to use it to enjoy various parts of life that were hard without it.
We followed the hostess to our table and sat down, ordering sake and a few appetizers. We chatted throughout dinner, laughing about some of the things we had done and said during our fake proposal and wedding.
"It was a beautiful ceremony, though." She smiled and glanced down to her hands as they lay in her lap.
"Yeah. I've been thinking a lot about that." I reached out and took her hand. "I've been thinking about a lot of things you said."
"You have?" She scooted closer to me, brushing her knee by mine.
I took a quick breath and pulled the ring from my pocket. Her ring. I moved to my knees between the chairs and took her hand fully in mine.
"I realized something."
"Gavin. What are you doing?" She glanced around and back down at me as she paled. "You don't have to—"
I ignored her. "I know you talked about wanting to start over and doing things differently this time, but I'm not sure I'm good with that."
"No?" she whispered, her pretty eyes growing wide.
"No." I pulled her hand up to my mouth and kissed her knuckles as her breathing got a little off kilter. "I want to pick up where we left off and keep going. We'll sign the papers down at the courthouse and get them over to the pastor that married us. Let's don't start over. I wouldn't want to go through another wedding without my mom there. Not unless you want to so that your parents—"
"They already think we're married, remember? I never told them the truth. The only people that know are me, you, and Ron."
"Is that a yes?" I lifted the ring toward her. "Will you be my wife, baby? For real this time. We can grow old together, have babies."
"Make babies?" She lifted her eyebrow and I fell in love with the naughty girl all over again.
"Absolutely. Practice makes perfect." I slipped the ring onto the tip of her finger and looked up into her eyes. She loved me. I had no doubt. "Say yes, Maddie. Make me the happiest man in the world tonight."
"I would never deny you anything." She pressed her finger into the ring and leaned forward to kiss me, mumbling “yes” against my lips.
Life would never be the same. It would be better than good. She was mine, and this time, I wasn't letting go. No matter what.
Epilogue
Two Years Later
Maddie
The sound of Gavin and my parents laughing filled up my ears as I walked out of the back door onto the patio. They were lounging around after dinner, just enjoying each other's company. I'd offered to clean the kitchen after the meal and shoved them all outside.
I needed to think through what I was going to say to my husband. He'd been so stressed over the last few months wrapping up his first novel and working with a publisher to set up promotions and signings. He was losing sleep over the what-ifs, but I kept telling him it was going to be great.
We didn't need the money. He had enough to last us a lifetime, and being the incredible man he was, he'd gotten my mom and dad out of debt and hired them a financial adviser a year after we signed the papers on our marriage license.
That was a year passed, and they were doing great. I was impressed and beyond grateful.
My modeling career never took off, namely because I gave up on it. I didn't need followers and fans. I had family and friends. Fame could take up someone else's emotional space.
"There she is." My mom beamed. "You look so pretty, Maddie. Did I tell you that already? Is it a new bronzer you're using? Your skin is so clear and healthy looking."
Gavin extended his hand as he sat in a chair beside my Dad. I took it and sat down in his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck.
"It's called being happy. And in love." I leaned down and kissed him quickly on the lips. We had a relationship much like my mom and dad. Much like his mom and dad did.
"Well, I'm glad you guys have found the secret. Just make sure you cling to it, and remember, never let the sun go down angry at each other." My father reached out and took my mom's hand. "It's worked for us for a long time, right,
dear?"
"It has." She glanced over at me. "You kids get out of here. I want some time with your father."
Gavin laughed and helped me up before wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Mom. Dad. It's been fun."
I loved that he referred to them like they were his parents.
"Love you." I pulled each of them into a hug before walking to the car with my guy. I snuggled up against him and got in the car, holding my breath as he got into his side.
"What's up? You were pretty quiet tonight."
"I don't know. Just have a lot on my mind." I shrugged and reached for his hand. "Would you be okay with us taking the boat out for an hour or so? I love watching the sunset on it."
"Anything for my girl." He winked over at me, took my hand and used his free one to pull out of my parent's driveway. We rode in silence to the docks and made small talk as he worked to get the boat out into the water.
I turned my back to him and scooted over in front of him, wanting him to hold me. He knew exactly what I was asking, and wrapped his strong arms around my shoulders.
"What's going on, Maddie? I know you, baby. Something is up."
I wiggled a little, and his hand dropped to my hips. I reached down and grabbed his hands, pulling them up to the small bump in my lower stomach.
"I love you so much." I glanced back at him. "And I want to honor your mom."
"Oh yeah." I leaned down and kissed the side of my mouth, captivating me with his strength, his scent, his dominance. "And how would you like to do that."
"By naming our baby girl after her."
"Our what?" He jerked back, and I turned around, worried that he might not be happy about me being pregnant.
"Our—"
"I heard you." His voice broke a little as he reached for me and pulled me into his arms. "You're pregnant."
I beamed. "A little under five months. I didn't know. My periods have always been weird. I finally decided to go to the doctor, and she told me we were pregnant."
"And it's a little girl?" His eyes filled with love.
I nodded as tears blurred my vision. "And she's going to love you just like I do."
"I'm so happy. You have no idea how much this means to me." He leaned down and kissed me softly, as if he might hurt me. "We can name her after mom. She would love that. She had wanted grandkids before she passed." He chuckled, the sound warming me. "I told her a wedding was more than enough."
"A fake wedding that became the real one." I smiled and touched the side of his face. We might have started out our relationship the wrong way, but we overcame every obstacle that got in our way, and we would continue to... together.
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CONTRACT
By Claire Adams
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2016 Claire Adams
CONTRACT VOLUME I
Chapter One
August 2014
Dax
“Ladies and gentlemen, after a long and arduous process, it is my pleasure and honor to welcome the newest member of the NFL family into the fold tonight,” Commissioner Goodell said as he scanned the room of high-level executives, club owners, and athletes. “It’s taken more than two years to get to this point, but it’s been time well spent! Please join me in welcoming Dax Connor, the new owner of the Chicago Storm!”
The crowd went wild as I turned and high-fived my best friend, Finn O’Brien, then walked across the stage and accepted a number 0 jersey with the Storm logo on the front and my name across the shoulders. I smiled as I shook Goodall’s hand and then raised my arms over my head in a victory salute to all the members of the NFL Owners’ Club who had supported my application and then worked to convince the holdouts that I deserved the franchise.
“Thank you all,” I said leaning into the microphone. “I know there’s been a lot of talk about what it means to finally have two NFL teams in Chicago, and that there’s no way any team could compete with the Bears, but I promise that we will all work to bring you the best possible team we can, and that we’ll strive to make sure the Storm players are the best of the best in the NFL!”
The crowd was on its feet clapping and cheering as I held up the jersey and pumped my fist a few times for good measure. The flashes from thousands of cameras lit up the room as the press joined the frenzied action and tried to get shots of everyone in the room. From where I stood, I could see several people gathered in a tight knot at the edge of the room, throwing skeptical glances my way, and I knew they were the holdouts who’d been strong-armed into agreeing to award me the franchise. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Finn shooting me a thumb’s up before turning slightly and flipping the bird to the group in the corner with a wide grin.
“Screw it,” I muttered as I smiled back and shook the hands of those who were cheering my success. “Those old bastards can rot in hell for all I care.”
“Great, isn’t it?” Goodell said, smiling as we descended the stairs from the stage and the roar of the crowed swelled.
“Just fuckin’ awesome,” I said dryly, but he didn’t hear the distain in my voice because he was swallowed up by the crowd as we hit the bottom of the stairs. I smiled and shook hands as I worked my way across the room. I knew that at least half of these people hated me for having done what had once been deemed impossible, and the other half were looking for a way to worm their way into my new organization.
I didn’t trust a single one of them, but I knew better than to publicly voice my thoughts. Instead, I smiled and made inane small talk with the drunken has-beens and wannabes, and flirted with the women who rested their hands on my arm as they spoke. I knew what they wanted, and while the idea of taking one of these gorgeous and well-manicured ladies to my bed appeared to be a good idea, I knew better than to give in to the siren call of wealth and power. I’d worked way too hard to squander this all for a quickie that would likely result in bad press for the team when their rich husbands found out and sought revenge.
I scanned the room looking for Finn in the crowd, but he’d disappeared again. This whole night was the result of a bet we’d made several years ago when we’d sold the online gambling company we’d created. We were two poor-but-smart kids from Back of the Yards Chicago who’d done the impossible: made a fortune and gotten out. We’d sold the company for almost $10 billion and split the profits equally between us, thinking now we’d kick back and take it easy, but we’d spent our whole lives hustling on the South Side, and it wasn’t long before we were both itching for a new challenge.
Finn was a multitasker, and as a result he always had side deals going, but I was more of a single-issue hustler in love with the thrill of risk-taking. Finn always came up with the wildest ideas, and I’d calculate the risk involved as well as the potential payout, then we’d make a bet and I’d get to work. More often than not, I won the bets. Partly because I was far more patient about long-term payoffs, but as we got older, I found that I needed bigger and bigger bets in order to feel the thrill that accompanied winning. Finn was more than happy to supply me with ideas.
Acquiring the franchise that allowed me to create the Chicago Storm was the culmination of a bet that Finn and I made the week after we’d sold the business. Tonight, we’d celebrate my win, and Finn would pay the wager of $5 million. The money was nothing to either of us. It was the honor of winning the bet that mattered most, and even when he lost, Finn still acted like he’d won. Some things never changed.
> I headed for the bar to get a refill on my scotch before I went looking for my date, who had somehow disappeared into the throng of people. I’d brought Gram with me since she’d been the one who’d raised me and encouraged me and Finn to push beyond the limits of what other people imagined we could do. Plus, she was a huge Chicago Bears fan, and she wanted to meet the players.
“You seen my grandmother?” I asked one of the security guys hanging around the bar. “Small, older woman with red hair dressed head to toe in blue and green?”
“Over there,” the mountain of a man said as he pointed toward the circle of Bears players gathered around a corner table. I nodded and headed toward the table, but a tall, dark-haired woman wearing a black evening gown that looked like it had been made out of ace-bandages intercepted me.
“Congratulations,” she said unenthusiastically.
Thank you, Mrs. Lasky,” I said staring at her without blinking. She was beautiful in a severe way that made me think of ice or the sharp edge of a knife. Her shiny, black hair and blood red lipstick gave her an otherworldly appearance, but I knew she very much of this world of football since, as the sole heir to the Halas legacy, she owned the Bears.
“I guess it’ll be good for the league to have both of our teams playing,” she said as she took a sip of champagne from the thin flute in her hand, leaving a crimson print on the rim of the glass that matched the color of her pointed nails. There was nothing soft about Joanna Halas Lasky.
“I guess it will be,” I nodded, wondering why she’d stopped me. She’d been the biggest detractor, but now she seemed downright friendly — for her.
“Mr. Connor, it’s no secret that I don’t like you or your team,” she said staring at me without smiling. “I didn’t want you here, nor do I think you are what the NFL wants in terms of an owner, but the deed is done, so we must all live with this colossal mistake.”