I looked at her for a moment, and then reached out and took her hand squeezing it lightly before letting go.
“If that changes, let me know,” I said softly. Payton nodded silently.
She didn’t say another word until we reach the hotel, and I didn’t push her. As we pulled up in front of the hotel, she gathered her things in one arm before looking over at me and flashing a big, but very fake, smile.
“You ready for this?” she asked. “We’re headed into the mouth of the beast.”
“At least we’ve got each other,” I quipped, earning a small chuckle.
“Yeah, at least we’ve got that,” she replied as the door opened and she stepped out.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Payton
We quickly dropped our things off in the large suite Dax had arranged for us, and then headed down to the training field. As much as I’d dreaded the inevitable conflict the media attention was going to cause, I’d actually been looking forward to training camp and being around the team. There was nothing quite like the feeling of the beginning of a new football season and the way a team began to come back together after being away from the game and each other.
Dax’s attempt at offering an olive branch on the ride down to the camp had made me lower my walls a bit, and when we’d exited the Navigator in front of the hotel, the way that he’d protectively put his arm around me and guided me past the waiting photographers and reporters softened me a bit more. I knew that if we were going to be convincing, I’d have to let go of my irritation over our first night together and figure out a way to make this work. I also knew there was no way I was going to be able to keep him at arm’s length for the duration.
I wanted him and every day I felt the desire growing stronger. I watched him toss his bag on the bed and admired the way he looked in jeans and a Storm t-shirt. I blushed and looked away when he turned and caught me staring.
“See something you like?” he grinned.
“You look good in jeans and a t-shirt,” I mumbled as I opened my suitcase and pulled out a wide-brimmed hat and put it on.
“And you look pretty in that dress,” he said as he walked toward me, smiling. Standing inches away, he reached out and removed the hat as he asked, “Are you ever going to forgive me?”
“I don’t know. Maybe,” I said, grabbing the hat, but not putting it back on. I could feel his magnetism pulling me toward him as my heart began to beat faster. I looked up into his dark eyes and wondered what he was thinking.
“Payton, it’s going to be a really long season if you stay mad at me like this,” he said reaching out and lightly brushing his fingers across my cheek, sending a shiver up my spine and igniting the desire I’d so carefully buried after the first night. Dax leaned in until our lips were only millimeters apart and whispered, “I don’t want you to be mad at me anymore.”
“I don’t want to be either,” I whispered as I tipped my head up and brushed my lips against his. Dax came the rest of the way and pressed his lips firmly against mine. I moaned softly as I felt his tongue gently probing my lips, pushing them apart as the kiss deepened. I pulled back, gasping, “I want an apology.”
“For what?” he murmured as he leaned in to kiss me again.
“You know what,” I said, placing my palm against his chest and pushing him away.
“No, seriously, I have no idea,” he said backing up with a confused look. “What am I supposed to apologize for?”
“The first night I moved in!” I replied. I was taken aback that he didn’t remember what had happened or why I would be mad about it.
“You mean the night I gave you a massive orgasm and walked away with blue balls?” he asked.
“The night you took advantage of me and then left me alone!” I corrected in a raised voice. Irritation quickly replaced the desire that had been building between us, and I added, “You are such a jerk sometimes. You know that you used me and then walked away to prove a point.”
“Why on earth would I do that?” he asked, feigning innocence. I didn’t buy it. I knew what he had done only because I’d done is many times myself.
“Because you didn’t like the fact that I negotiated sex into the contract and you were mad that it wasn’t all on your terms,” I said. “Your ego was
hurt and you wanted to make a point about it.”
“Now, that seems rather foolish for me to turn down sex with a hottie like you,” he said dryly.
“Oh, be still my beating heart,” I said, rolling my eyes as I gripped the hat in my hand tightly enough to crush the brim. “You’re such a romancer, Connor!”
“Lady, I have no idea what the hell just happened here,” he said, looking genuinely confused. “We were kissing and then you went off on me for some grudge you’re holding. I don’t think it’s right or even fair.”
“And I don’t think it’s fair that you play games with me and then feign ignorance when I’m upset about it,” I said angrily. “If we’re going to make this work for the press, then you’re going to have to give a little you know.”