Hard Love_A BWWM Sports Romance

by Peyton Banks

  “What if the price gets up there?” she asked, turning to Trissa.

  “Believe me, with the contract he signed last year, he can afford it.” Trissa patted her on her knee. “Now make sure you bid on your man.”

  “He’s not my man. We’ve only met twice,” she mumbled. Her heart fluttered with the thought of how his body had felt pressed up against hers at the bar. She clenched her thighs together with the memory of him in that tuxedo. He was only asking her to do this favor to save him as he’d rescued her.

  “Well, the way he was looking at you had me searching for a fan. He wants you, girlie. I doubt you’ll be leaving here without those digits.” Trissa threw a slick smile her way.

  “Whatever.” Jada tucked her hair behind her ear, trying to keep a smile from spreading on her lips. She turned her attention to the stage.

  There was a runway that the people being auctioned off could walk down. Jada and Trissa were in the second row located in front of the runway. The MC of the event strolled over to the podium and welcomed the audience.

  And the auction begins.

  She swallowed hard as she watched the first football player march out on the runway. The crowd clapped, and women whistled. Jada turned to look at some of the women.

  This was for charity, right? Some of these women were acting as if they were in a strip club. If she didn’t know any better, they were deep in their cups and should have been cut off from the bar a while ago. If they were acting like this with the first guy, she was sure they would be crazy by the time Reiner came out.

  “This is outrageous,” she whispered to Trissa.

  “Tell me about it. These women are acting like they are going to get more than just a date.” Trissa chuckled, showing her the program. “Your boy is the main event. According to the program, he’s going last.”

  “How many people are being auctioned off?” Jada asked, leaning over so that she could see the paper.

  “Seven,” Trissa replied as they read it together.

  She turned back and blew out a deep breath. Her heart slammed as time moved on. The price of the men was going high. The last player went for more than twenty grand.

  A waiter walked around with the complimentary champagne for bidders. Jada waved him down and snagged a couple of flutes for her and Trissa. If she was going to partake in a fierce bidding war, she needed something to help her nerves.

  Time seemed to creep by as she waited for Reiner to come out on the auction block. She watched the woman who’d won the auction for the man whose name was listed on the program before him rush the stage so she could claim her prize. He must have been someone big because he went for a hot thirty grand.

  “This is getting up there,” Jada murmured, knocking back the last of her drink in the flute. She placed the empty glass on the floor next to her feet as the energy in the room grew.

  “He’s up next.” Trissa danced in her chair with a wide grin. “Have fun. You’re getting to spend someone else’s money.”

  “Ladies and gentlemen. I think you have patiently waited for the next player who decided at the last minute to enter the auction to raise money for our worthy cause. This is his first time ever entering the auction.”

  Jada jumped from the screams that echoed around the room. She narrowed her eyes on the stage and tightened her grip on her bidding paddle.

  She would win this.

  Reiner would be leaving with her.

  She sat on the edge of her seat and waited.

  “Ladies, get your check books out. It’s an honor to introduce our very own league MVP three years in a row, three-time Super Bowl champ… Reiner ‘The General’ Strickland!”

  * * *

  Reiner blew out a deep breath hearing his name called. He had faced down the largest linebackers head-on, but that was nothing compared to the nerves he was experiencing at the moment. He walked from behind the curtain and gave the crowd his winning smile. He paused midway and posed as if he were throwing a football. The audience went wild. He continued to the mark at the end of the runway. Cameras flashed as the photographers fought to get the perfect picture of him.

  He searched the crowd and finally found the object of his desire.

  Jada.

  His eyes locked with hers, and his mouth broke out into a large grin. He threw a wink her way before he walked over to Tom Churns, the local news anchor who was the MC for the event.

  “Reiner,” Tom greeted him with an outstretched hand.

  “Tom.” Reiner shook the anchorman’s hand.

  “I hear you changed your mind at the last minute about being auctioned off. What changed your mind?” Tom asked, pointing his microphone at Reiner.

  “Well, Tom, a few of my buddies informed me of the charity that the money was going to, and I felt that I could really help out by putting myself up for auction.”

  “I love you, Reiner!” a female screamed.

  He turned and smiled in the direction of the screamer.

  “So what are you planning to do with the winner of the auction?”

  Reiner glanced at the audience again. “Well, Tom, maybe dinner and then whatever the winner would like.”

  “I know what we can do, General!” another woman hollered from the crowd.

  He held back his cringe and sent up a prayer that God would ensure that Jada won the auction. He didn’t care how high the bid went for, he had to win himself.

  He and the audience laughed at the screamers. He smiled one of his winning smiles in their direction.

  “Well, I don’t want to hold up the auction. Good luck, man.” Tom held out his hand again.

  “Thanks, Tom.” Reiner shook it again before turning to stand in the middle of the runway. The excitement in the room was deafening from all the chatter. He could see by the looks of the audience that they were ready to spend money.

  He had instructed Jada to bid away to ensure that she won the auction. That was the only thing that calmed his nerves, knowing that Jada would be his backup bidder.

  His gaze met the wide stare of Jada, and he nodded to her.

  “All right. The auction you all have been waiting for. Let’s start the bid at one thousand dollars.”

  “Five thousand dollars.” A woman waved the number eighty-five in the air.

  He nodded.

  Not bad.

  “Six thousand,” a small, familiar voice announced, waving her bidding number sixty-nine.

  He glanced over and held back a chuckle. Of course Jada’s paddle number would be sixty-nine. Just the number alone brought some interesting images of him and his Jada to his mind.

  His Jada?

  Christ, this was the second time he’d met her, and she’d already become his?

  “Ten thousand—”

  “Twenty thousand,” a voice yelled out, the woman waving paddle number thirty.

  “That was fast! Twenty thousand dollars,” Tom’s voice came over the speaker.

  “Twenty-five thousand dollars.” Jada’s voice grew a little stronger, the number sixty-nine waving in the air.

  He kept a smile on his face as the bids grew. He didn’t care how much it cost him. This would be a tax write-off for him. The last woman who bid sounded awfully similar to the one who’d shouted out about what they could do before the bidding began.

  “Forty thousand dollars.” Number Thirty waved her paddle.

  He walked toward the edge of the runway so his eyes could meet those of the bidders. He let a small smile linger on his lips as he waited for Jada to bid. He could see that she was nervous with the amount of the money that was getting thrown around.

  “Fifty thousand dollars.” Jada waved her paddle.

  “Wow! This is definitely a record amount for a bid on any of our star players.” Tom’s laugh came through the speaker. “Any takers want to go higher than fifty thousand dollars?”

  Murmurs grew around the room. Reiner was satisfied with fifty thousand dollars. He would write the check the minute he got off the stage.<
br />
  “Going once.” Tom paused. “Going twice—”

  “Seventy-five thousand dollars!”

  Gasps echoed through the air at the bid. Reiner locked his eyes on Jada, and he nodded as he looked away. He didn’t want her to give up on him. Yes, it was a lot of money, but he refused to have to take out the obviously drunk Number Thirty.

  “Oh, my goodness! The bidding is quiet serious tonight!” Tom’s excited voice broke through the silence.

  Come on, Jada. Don’t let me down, he pleaded in his mind. If she didn’t know who he was, she wouldn’t know the type of money he made. His one-year contract for this upcoming season topped twenty-nine million dollars. He hoped her friend was educating her fast.

  His heart skipped a beat when she stood from her chair. She tossed her long, dark hair over her shoulders, and he could see the confidence in her eyes.

  “One hundred thousand dollars,” she announced, waving her paddle in the air.

  He wanted to jump for joy at the crushed look on the face of Number Thirty.

  “Holy— This has been record-breaking! This money will certainly go to a good use. One hundred thousand dollars. Going once…” Tom’s excited voice rang out over the speakers.

  Reiner smiled at Jada as she stood there waiting. Her sassiness was breaking through her shy demeanor. He didn’t know how many drinks she’d had, but she’d certainly broken out of her shell.

  “Going twice.” Tom paused for that dramatic effect.

  Reiner glanced around the room to the guests who were in awe that the bidding had jumped up as high as it had. He placed his hands in his pockets, waiting to hear those magical words.

  “Sold! Come claim your football player,” Tom excitedly announced.

  The room cheered while Jada moved toward the stage. Reiner locked his eyes on the swell of her hips as she sashayed over to the stage. A security guard, who had been sitting in the front row, stood and helped her up the stairs.

  Reiner took a few steps toward her and gripped her hand in his. He brought her body flush with his, laughing at the sound of the crowd cheering them on.

  “Wow.” She pulled back, her wide eyes. “That gave me an amazing rush.”

  “Really? Well, let me make sure you get your money’s worth.” Unable to resist, he tilted her chin up and covered her mouth with his.

  Jada was on cloud nine walking behind Reiner as they left the stage to the roar of the crowd. He had definitely taken her by surprise. She was in shock that he’d kissed her in front of the entire room. Her lips still tingled from where he’d pressed his against hers. Their entwined fingers kept them connected.

  There were plenty of people bustling around them, but everyone ignored them. Reiner led her to a quiet corner.

  “Jada, I can’t thank you enough,” he breathed, pulling her close to him.

  “You’re welcome. I hope I didn’t go too high. I’ve never spent that kind of money anywhere on anything.” She laughed nervously.

  “Don’t worry about it.” He waved her off as if she didn’t just spend one hundred thousand dollars of his money. She could barely catch her breath from the rush of participating in the auction.

  “Don’t worry about it? I practically shit my pants!” She rested the back of her hand to her forehead.

  “I think I’m worth it,” he murmured.

  “Are you?” She cocked an eyebrow at him. “I haven’t seen you in action yet so I wouldn’t know.”

  “Really?”

  He smirked at her, and it sent a shiver down her spine. She was mesmerized by the intensity in his eyes as they locked on her. She could see the competitor in him come forth at her unspoken challenge.

  “I mean…I hear you’re a superstar but I’ve never heard of you?” She tilted her head to the side and knew she was playing with fire.

  The corners of his lips tilted in a cocky smile.

  “Okay. Let’s cash in the money I spent for you to win me,” he offered.

  His voice dropped low, pulling her toward him. No longer was there any room between them. Her body molded perfectly against his, causing her heart to race.

  “What do you have in mind?” she whispered. She was beginning to think that she was way out her league. She was a salon owner, she wasn’t used to dealing with famous sports celebrities who didn’t bat an eyelash at dropping a hundred grand. Trissa had told her that his contract for the upcoming year was for twenty-nine million dollars!

  For. One. Fucking. Season.

  “First, let’s start with your phone number. I refuse to let you out of my sight without us exchanging numbers. I could have kicked myself last week as you drove off from me.”

  Her heart seemed to lodge itself in her throat at his words.

  “I kicked myself, too, for being too shy to ask you for yours,” she admitted, brushing an imaginary piece of lint from his jacket.

  A growl escaped from the back of his throat. His hand tightened around hers as she stared into his eyes. “So after getting my number, then what?”

  “Well, I would have you clear your schedule for a day and whisk you away for a fun-filled date.”

  Her eyes widened at the thought of being whisked away anywhere. The last few dates she’d been on included a cheap dinner, movie, and never hearing from the guy again.

  Yes, she was clearly out of her league.

  “Oh.” That was all she could muster as a response.

  “So, will you?” he asked, his eyes searching hers.

  She swallowed hard as she returned his gaze.

  “You did spend one hundred thousand dollars of my money to win me. Go out with me.”

  She looked around and saw that no one was paying them any attention. It was just them in their own little corner of the world.

  “I wouldn’t want you to waste your money.” She smiled up at him. How could she say no? That kiss alone out on stage had her knees weak. What the hell would happen if they were to go further? “Yes, Reiner. I’ll go out with you.”

  * * *

  The sound of Reiner’s cell phone filled the air as he entered the back door of his house. He had figured he would get up early on the quiet Sunday morning. Even though it was reserved as a personal day, he still took advantage and went for a run.

  Sweat poured down his face and bare chest. He picked up a small hand towel off the counter and rubbed his face and body down. He reached for his cell phone, finding his publicist’s name displayed as the caller.

  “Kennedy, how are you?” he greeted her. He walked over to the fridge and pulled the door open.

  “Good morning, Reiner.” Kennedy Lambert had been his publicist for the last five years. Kennedy was a master at making him look good in the public eye. His image as being the country’s all-around Mr. Football was because of Kennedy. He didn’t like being in the limelight much but when he did surface, she made sure that the media treated him right.

  “How are we going to spin this?” she asked.

  Confused, he reached in the fridge and grabbed one of the ice-cold waters. He propped the phone against his shoulder as he twisted it open.

  “Spin what?” he asked, taking a long draw from the bottle. He could practically hear her roll her eyes through the phone. Kennedy’s deep sigh filled his ear.

  “What happened at the auction. My phone has been blowing up with the media asking about the mysterious woman who spent one hundred thousand dollars on my client, and get this—my client also decided to kiss said woman in front of a room full of people.”

  “Just do as you normally do. Make something up that sounds good.” He chuckled. He had every bit of confidence in Kennedy.

  “Next time you plan a publicity stunt, it would help that your publicist knows ahead of time.”

  “You’re the best, Kennedy.” He disconnected the call and walked through his oversized mansion.

  He wasn’t quite sure what he was thinking of when he’d made the purchase. It set him back a cool ten million dollars. The minute he had walked throu
gh the home, he had envisioned finding someone special to settle down with and fill it with the sounds of pitter-pattering little feet.

  He walked through the family room that had a spectacular view of the back yard. He moved to the window, knowing that this was one of the features that he’d fallen in love with.

  He imagined running outside in the yard with his own sons tossing the pigskin around. He smiled at fond memories of his father doing that same thing with him and his brother. He imagined his daughters playing in the pool while his wife lounged around on the deck.

  Images of Jada filled his head, causing his heart to slam into his chest.

  He knew he shouldn’t have kissed her in front of the audience at the charity event but he couldn’t help himself. Her golden-bronze skin called to him. Her dress displayed all the right curves, and his hands had refused to stay off her. Their single kiss made him realize one thing.

  He wanted her, and what Reiner ‘The General’ Strickland wanted, he got.

  He pushed away from the window and headed to his bedroom. He had a date to plan.

  His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his phone ringing as he arrived in his bedroom. He rolled his eyes and thought that word must have got out. Tempted to toss the phone onto his nightstand, he glanced at it first but then saw Mother displayed across the screen.

  “Hey, Ma,” he answered.

  Erna Strickland was a wonderful woman who had the privilege of raising two NFL stars and a daughter who was breaking into the world of journalism.

  “Reiner Strickland. What is this I hear about you kissing some young black woman at a charity event?” her exasperated voice came through the line.

  He chuckled as the tone of her voice reminded him of the countless times she’d yell at him and Andre.

  “She spent a lot of money. It was the least I could do,” he joked, kicking off his shoes and taking off his clothes.

  “Who was she?” Her voice held a tinge of curiosity, and he knew what that meant.

  Shit. His mother’s future daughter-in-law radar must be piqued. Erna Strickland had been hinting at Andre and him to settle down and start producing her grandchildren.