Because she’d wanted to mean something to someone so badly. She’d wanted the man in her life to love her and give her the security that had been ripped away from her when her father’s other family had been revealed. She and Avery were no longer his special princesses; they shared that role with Samantha and Sienna, his other daughters. The children who didn’t get guilt-induced gifts, they got him, his presence at school events and holidays, not work-related excuses.
So she’d put her hopes on her first serious boyfriend, and not only had he cheated on her but when she’d told him she was pregnant, he’d reacted as if she’d managed the feat alone. An immaculate conception. He’d wanted nothing to do with her or the baby.
“Olivia, are you okay?” Dylan waved a hand in front of her face. “You’re pale and you aren’t answering me.”
She blinked and resettled herself in the present. “I’m okay. Sorry. I just…” She searched for a plausible explanation for her mental lapse and decided on the truth. “I have baggage, Dylan. It’s not obvious and not a lot of people know about it, but I think the notion of you being in contact with your ex put me back in that place.”
He nodded, his dark eyes wide and understanding. “We already established the fact that there are things I don’t know. And I wouldn’t push you. You’ll tell me when you’re ready.”
She ran her tongue over her dry lips. “So you’re a patient man.”
He tugged on her braid. “In some ways and about some things, yes.” Pulling her braid, he brought her face within millimeters of his. “And in other ways, about other things, not so much.”
He licked at her lips, and she melted into him.
“There you go. Just go with the flow. The rest will work itself out, okay?”
“I’m working on it,” she promised him as much as herself.
He parted his lips for a delicious kiss, one that made her forget every insecurity and issue that had been running through her brain. Until a catcall-like whistle interrupted them.
Dylan turned, and they both glanced up to see Marcus standing there with a grin on his face, making a thumbs-up sign with one hand.
“Busted,” the tight end said with a grin.
Olivia felt herself blush, knowing their secret was out. She wasn’t really worried about anyone knowing; she just wanted her professional reputation intact. But now that Big knew, it wouldn’t be long until the rest of the team did too. Which she had a hunch would give Dylan license to act on public displays of affection. And that didn’t bother her as much as she would have thought.
* * *
Olivia waited in line at the Montelucia Resort and Spa to check in. The airport had been overflowing with visitors excited for the upcoming game, and the hotel was the same, making check-in a nightmare.
Dylan had stayed back with the driver to make sure the bags were tagged appropriately, and she appreciated a break from the constant awareness she felt when he was near. The heat of the desert had nothing on the heat Dylan had generated in the seat next to her.
The four-and-a-half-hour flight had been long, his leg constantly brushing against hers—and staying there. He liked to play with her hair and spent a lot of time idly tugging on her braid, running the ends over her cheek and trailing the long tail under his nose and inhaling her scent.
She waved a hand in front of her face. She told herself the heat coming in from the open lobby was killing her, but she knew better. She’d been thinking about Dylan. Fantasizing, really. It had become a bad habit. But no man had ever been so hyper-focused on her before. He made her the center of his attention, and there was a part of her still starved for affection. That was the part she distrusted, because it led her to do stupid things and ignore important signs.
“Luggage is all taken care of,” Dylan said, joining her and taking her breath away with just a look. From his dark hair to the goatee she so adored to the toned body, thanks to working out at the stadium gym, the man was sex personified.
It didn’t help that he was smart, good at his job, and had a way with the players and upper management, getting what he needed without demanding or bullying. She’d always been a sucker for a smart, handsome guy, and Dylan was the whole package.
“Good. Thanks for handling our bags.”
“Line moving?” he asked.
“A little.” There were still a few people ahead of them.
“Where are the players?” she asked, glancing around but not catching sight of them.
“Signing autographs. One of the benefits of having the Pro Bowl in Hawaii, like we usually do, was more privacy. That changed this year. But they seem to like the attention. Only Maddox and his wife and baby will want more privacy,” he said of their married player, who had arrived earlier today with his family.
She nodded. “He travels with security when his kids are with him. It’ll be fine.”
Her cell rang and she answered. “Hello?”
“Livvy! How’s Arizona?” her younger sister, Avery, asked.
“Beautiful. Hot. And too damned crowded,” she muttered, but the line ahead of her had dwindled to two people, thank goodness.