Dare to Desire (Dare to Love 2)

She ducked, and the nurse grasped her arm, leading her out of the room.

Shaking, hurt, and upset, Madison leaned against the wall in the hallway.

“I’m sorry,” Sharon, the middle-aged nurse, said. “This often happens more during the adjustment period. Give it some time, and she’ll settle in.

Madison swallowed hard. “I hope so. Please call if you need me.”

“We will.” Sharon patted her on the shoulder.

Madison left the home, depression surrounding her like a shroud. She climbed into her car and started the motor, resting her head on the steering wheel before starting her drive.

If she were smart

, she’d drive home and go straight to bed. But she needed a shoulder to cry on. Riley was pregnant and sick, busy with her new husband and life. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t rely on Alex, but his shoulder was the only one she wanted.

And he was the only person she had in her life who she could imagine turning to.

FIVE

Alex hit the gym on the top floor of his building. He might not play football any longer, but he refused to let himself get soft. Ian gave him access to the gym at the stadium, but working out with the Thunder players still felt like being surrounded by the opposition. It helped in his new job that he practiced what he preached, but he kept fit for himself. He finished his workout and wiped the sweat from his face with a towel.

After gathering his things, he checked his phone and saw a number he didn’t recognize. Whoever it was had left a message. He waited for the elevator and hit play.

“Hi, Alex. It’s Rachel Bradley.” His college girlfriend.

The one he’d thought he’d been in love with. Before she’d hurt him badly. “I know it’s been a while, but I have something to discuss with you. I think you’ll find it worth your while to call me back.” He ended the message without waiting for more, memories of his time with Rachel coming back to him.

They’d hooked up early on at UF, and they’d stayed together for four years. He’d thought they had a future. She’d never had any intention of marrying a football player or living a life that involved long stretches out of town and female fans flocking around him. Of course it would’ve been nice if she’d told him that at any point during their time together when he’d brought up the future. She hadn’t. But she had broken up with him after graduation.

The Rachel he remembered hadn’t been a mean girl. She hadn’t used people to her advantage. She’d just never worked up the courage to tell him he wanted more than she did. And he’d felt like an ass for exposing his heart to someone who hadn’t wanted it at all.

He shook his head, not even curious about why she’d be calling him now. She’d done enough damage and taught him the one solid lesson he’d kept with him ever since, setting the stage for the non-relationships that had come after her. Since Rachel, he’d never been tempted to let anyone in.

Until Madison.

He shook his head, knowing revisiting the past would only work him into a frustrated state. He’d grown up enough, been through enough women to trust that Madison wasn’t the type to hide her feelings from him. She said what she meant and meant what she said. He understood who she was and why. He was going out of his comfort zone to pursue her despite knowing how heavily she was trying to resist him. He didn’t need messages from Rachel screwing with his head, he thought, and hit delete on the call.

He took the elevator to his apartment, surprised to find Madison leaning against his door.

“Madison?”

She raised tear-filled eyes to his.

“Hey.” He held out his arms, and she stepped inside his embrace.

He had no idea what had brought her here and hated seeing her upset, but the fact that she’d come to him opened up a world of hope he hadn’t been feeling. He was sweaty, and he probably smelled from his workout, but she didn’t seem to mind as she burrowed in close, her head against his chest.

His heart ached as he held her, telling him these feelings he had for her were only getting stronger. That he wanted to ride them out and not run said a lot for the changes that damned injury had wrought. He wrapped her into him and let her release whatever she’d bottled up inside until eventually her quiet sniffling eased.

“Come inside,” he said, letting them into the apartment.

She nodded. “I’m sorry to just show up and then fall apart like this.”

“It’s not a problem.” He locked the door behind them and tossed his keys onto the nearest counter.

She followed him into the kitchen, where he grabbed a cold bottle of vitamin water from the fridge. “Iced tea?” he asked, gesturing to the bottled brand she liked.

She nodded and he poured her a glass.