Chapter 8

DREW

Istep off the elevator with a bouquet of daisies in my hand. I don't think I've ever given a woman flowers, except for my mom. My heart clenches at the memory of my mother. It's been three years since she died, and I still haven't gotten over the loss. I shake off the sadness. The lack of security in this building makes me snort. The apartment complex isn't nice enough for Chloe and her daughter to be living here. Nerves churn in my stomach thinking about the prior weekend. Chloe stayed until Sunday, and we spent the whole time touching. I've never spent the night with a woman before and have to admit it was stellar. Waking to have her in the middle of the night was mind blowing. By the time she met Kylie to get Freya, she had figured out how to beat me at Mario Kart. Not an easy feat. We talked every day this week, but didn't get to meet because she was busy with work. I met with the team doctor about my injuries, and I helped to set stuff up for Travis to bring his mom. I take a huge breath and blow it out as I knock on the door with my special ‘shave and a haircut' knock.

The door opens, and Chloe beams at me before she sees the flowers. The bright white and yellow blooms catch her attention. "Flowers?"

The corner of my mouth raises. "I remembered you like daisies and figured if you're making dinner, I could bring you flowers."

She raises up on her toes and kisses my cheek. "Thanks."

"De nada." I step into her apartment, glancing around. The living room is spotless, with every little thing in its place. She is so much neater than me. A bookcase in the corner of the room has an eclectic selection of books. I notice various children's books, like the ones I've seen at Cameron's place, and thick romance novels filling the shelves. The furniture isn't expensive, but it's clean and weirdly matches much better than my professionally decorated bedroom. I'd rather live here. It reminds me of what my home was like before my mom died. I turn my head into Chloe's soft, concerned eyes. It feels like she knows what I'm thinking.

"Are you okay?"

I shrug as I move farther into the room. "Do you need any help with dinner?"

"Ha. We've already discussed the fact that you don't cook."

I chuckle as I run my fingers down her cheek. "I can follow directions, and I grill. Don't forget I made you breakfast." We walk into the kitchen. "What time does Freya get home?"

"She's staying at the ranch with Lily and Phoebe. Lily wants to make up for Phoebe missing the sleepover last week. I expect to hear all about the horses."

I grab her and pull her body into mine. "Does that mean I can sleep over, too?"

"That can be arranged. Have you heard anything about the bar fight?"

"No, Lily has the attorney on it. The guy started it. Luckily the bar had video, so he won't win, but it's dragging my already sullied name through the tabloids. I hope that after a few weeks, it will die down."

She nodded. "And the team owners?"

"They aren't happy. The coach mentioned last season I was on ‘rocky ground' with my behavior." I use air quotes. "Lily spoke with the managing owner, Alex Brennan, and they scheduled a meeting for the week after next when he's back in town."

"Okay." She opens the oven door and the room fills with the heartwarming scent of fresh bread.

"Wow. Did you make that?"

"Yes. I rarely make it because I'll eat it all, and we all know it goes straight to my fat ass."

I growl. "Your ass is awesome. Don't talk about yourself like that. I like you for you, just the way you are."

Her brows raise, and she scoffs, pulling the loaf off the rack. "I hope you like steak."

"I do." I flick my head. "Where do you grill this steak?"

"I've got a barbeque on the balcony."

The arcadia door is spotless, and I step to it and stare out. I can't remember the last time I slid open an arcadia door. My parents' house had upgraded to French doors. I remember my mother yelling at me about my hands on the glass.

Chloe calls from the kitchen. "What would you like to drink?"

"Water is good."

"I've got beer."

"Nah. Training camp starts up in a few weeks. No more alcohol." Her inquisitive raised brow catches me off guard. She still thinks I've got a problem with alcohol. "Really. I don't have to drink alcohol. I told you that."

"Okay."

"I could grill those for us."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. Let me help."

She walks over the platter with the steaks and thrusts it into my hand. "The tools are already on the grill, and the barbeque should be at temperature." I take the platter and step onto the balcony, remembering Lily's conversation from earlier in the day.

"The Mustangs contacted me about trading you this morning." Lily's voice resonates around my kitchen through the speaker.

I stare at my phone. "Wait, a minute. That fight wasn't my fault."

"True, but it's the straw that broke the camel's back. You're considered the bad boy of the league right now. They're just waiting for one more thing, and they'll initiate a trade."

"I don't want to leave Dallas."

Lily's voice grates with irritation. "What you want doesn't matter at this point. You're the highest paid tight end in the league."

I interrupt. "I have the best numbers: more yards and touchdowns than anyone else."

"I get that, but your antics piss off the owners. There's a big question whether you're going to be able to perform to the same level as last year. Brennan mentioned he thinks you should go to rehab for your drinking."

Gritting my teeth as my blood boils, I blurt out. "I'm not a drunk. I've stopped drinking." Well, I have as of now. "You have to tell them I don't have a problem."

"I can't tell them anything, Drew. Your behavior is giving them all the ammunition they need. No more incidents. Please."

"I won't. I'm committed to Chloe, and I'm behaving. I promise."

Lily's voice catches. "What do you mean committed? Wait. That's none of my business." She sighs. "But if you hurt her, I'll have my husband's cousins take you out in the desert and lose you."

Shit, even my agent thinks I'm a bad guy. "I won't hurt her. I'm done doing that."

She blows out her breath, and the pause ratchets up my feelings of regret. "She told us how you treated her in high school. You're lucky she didn't smother you in your sleep when she stayed with you after your concussion."

I laugh. Apparently, she didn't tell you about what we shared last weekend. That's okay. I like that it's just between me and Chloe. "I didn't realize at the time that I hurt her. I thought she'd benefit from having someone help her with her weight. Being the chubby girl isn't easy in high school, but I added to that. She knows I'm sorry."

"Fine. Just be good, and maybe the owners will find someone else to focus on."

"Okay. Thanks Lily. Bye."

"Drew?"

I turn to Chloe's voice. "Yeah?"

"Where were you?"

"Oh. Nowhere. Just thinking about the upcoming season. Sorry."

"Okay. I like my steak medium, please." She steps up, and her scent envelops me. "How long have you lived here?" I pull her into my body, holding her back against my front, nuzzling her neck.

"I moved here when we moved to Dallas. It's close to work and the schools are great."

"When do you think you'll let me meet Freya?" Way to blurt it out. Ugh.

She spins slowly in my arms and strains to look up at my face. I bend down and take her mouth in a gentle kiss.

She breaks the kiss. "I'm not sure. I don't usually date, so there's never been a reason to introduce her to any man before."

My body stiffens at the thought of her and other men. She cringes, starting to duck her face.

"Wait. I was thinking about you and other men."

She shakes her head. "I don't have other men."

"And I can't tell you how happy that makes me." My mouth finds hers again, and she gasps. I swallow her moans, pulling her harder against me. The sizzling steaks break my concentration, and I move to the grill to flip the steaks. She leans against the balcony railing watching me. "I want to meet Freya."

Various emotions flash across her face before she settles on her typical questioning expression. "Soon."

I poke at the steaks and use the fork to place them on the clean platter she brought out. "These are ready." She leads us back into the apartment, and I place the platter on the small table by the window. Chloe has placed candles and put folded napkins on the plates. The flowers I brought her sit in a vase as the centerpiece. I guess she liked them enough to put them on the table. My heart warms. Maybe I can do this boyfriend thing.

Chloe's cocked head catches my attention. I point. "The flowers."

"Yes. Thank you again."

"I wasn't looking for you to thank me. I'm just glad you like them."

"Of course I like them. They're beautiful, and I appreciate you taking the time to get them for me. I don't remember the last time someone gave me flowers."

We sit down at the table, which is full of the sides and the fresh smelling bread. I place the napkin on my lap, imagining what it would be like to live with Chloe and her daughter in an actual home.

Chloe cuts into her steak. "Thanks. This is perfect."

I smile. "You're welcome. How's your family?"

Her hand stops moving on her second bite. She puts down her fork and frowns. "They disowned me when I got pregnant in college. It was against God that I wasn't married."

"The guy wouldn't marry you?"

The sadness covering her face pokes at my heart. "He didn't get the chance. He died before I could tell him. My parents believed I was living a life of sin, and they couldn't accept what I had done. When he died, my father insisted I give up the baby, and I wouldn't, so they told me not to come home. It was a hard time, but Freya is worth it."

My blood pressure rises as my heart races. My mother wouldn't have been happy if I'd knocked someone up without a marriage license, but she'd have accepted it and wanted her grandchild. "That's awful. No one deserves shitty people like that. I'm sorry."

She eats the bite of steak off her fork. "Thanks. I survived. I finished school and got a job. When I got laid off, I found the job with Lily. I like Dallas."

"I'm glad you're here. You deserve to be around people who like and appreciate you." I cast my eyes down and then back up. I focus on her face, trying to connect. "Have you heard from your family?"

She shakes her head, swaying it slowly back and forth. "No. I let them know we were moving to Dallas, but they never reached out. That door is closed."

I take her hand in mine and hold it, willing her sadness away. "Things happen for a reason. That's what my mom thought."

"I certainly can't disagree with that sentiment. Though I never expected this would ever happen."

My face morphs into a huge grin. "By this, do you mean us?"

The blush creeps up her neck and splays across her face like she'd been in the sun. She dips her eyes before looking back up at me. "Is this an ‘us'?" She uses air quotes and my heart picks up speed.

"Damn straight, we're an ‘us'."

Her brow peaks. "Who knew you were such a sweet talker?"

Her napkin sits atop her plate, and I move fast and sure, wrapping my arms around her to grasp her out of her seat and walk us down the hall. "I assume this is the right way to your bedroom."

Chloe tucks her head against my chest. "I wasn't expecting this. My bedroom isn't clean."

"Yeah. I'm pretty sure it is cleaner than any place in my entire apartment, even after I've had the maid over."

She giggles. "You're funny."

"You won't be laughing in a minute."