All Anna James wants for her fortieth birthday is a ladies2527 night out, her plans stalled when she ends up stuck in her griffin costume. As the mascot for the Alexandria Griffins, she never expects to be rescued by the star of her midnight fantasies, quarterback Kyran Black. Dubbed “The Rebel” by the press because of his long hair, tattoos, and playboy stats off the field, he2527s everything she should avoid…but still craves and Anna agrees to celebrate her birthday with him.
Certain she2527s too old for him, she intends to guard her heart, but he blitzes her defenses, proving to be so much more than a legendary athlete with a media-driven reputation. But when their romantic weekend evolves into love, a blast from his bad boy past returns with a vengeance, threatening to tear their worlds apart.
Can their love overcome the pressures of living in the spotlight, or will they lose the future they2527ve only begun to build?
Excerpt
Checking his phone, he noticed a text from Dallas letting him know the coast was clear. Good, one less thing to worry about. Sending a text asking his friend to bring his duffel bag to the hallway outside the women2527s locker room, he hoped he wouldn2527t need to go into an explanation. When he got an okay emoji in response, he relaxed and put the phone next to Anna2527s purse.
He2527d just withdrawn his hand when a terrible scream sent him running toward the shower room that wasn2527t much different than the men2527s.
“Anna,” he called out over the sound of water, steam flooding the whole room, her yips and yelps making his heart race like a jackrabbit. Sliding to a halt when he reached the last stall, he slid open the curtain only to panic when he realized he couldn2527t even see her.
“No, don2527t come in here. It2527s too hot and I can2527t reach the faucet to shut off the water.”
“Fuck that,” he growled, charging forward, the water pelting his shoulders making him hiss. “Shit!”
At last, he found the knob, requiring three turns before the water shut off. Waving at the steam, he found Anna sitting in the corner of the stall, hugging herself, her head bowed, the skin on her shoulders bright pink. Hating to see her that way, he sat down next to her, his back against the wall, his knees bent.
“Go home, Kyran, I2527m sure you2527ve a thousand things to do after a game.” “The only thing I need to take care of right now is you,” he assured, meaning it. “Can I get you anything, first aid cream, aloe? I2527m an excellent masseuse.”
“That2527s kind of you, but unnecessary. It was weird, you know? The warm water suddenly went cold and when I tried to turn the knob, it became way too hot and I panicked. I2527m sorry to have frightened you.”
“That is weird and I2527m going to take it up with stadium management ASAP. That should not happen, Anna.”
“You can2527t do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because they2527ll ask how you knew about the hot water mix up.”“Trust me, I can inform them of the fault in the plumbing without bringing your name into it. I sure as hell can2527t let anyone else use this shower until it2527s been checked. Come on, let me see if you2527ve been burned.”
“Um, I2527m naked.”
“That2527s okay, most people take showers without clothes on.” “And, there2527s still shampoo in my hair. This was the last straw in a day from hell and all I want is to curl up in bed, watch a movie that2527ll make me cry, and eat a gallon of rocky road ice cream,” she grumbled, her panicked breaths muffled when she dropped her head onto her forearm and cried.
“Don2527t cry. Please don2527t, that2527ll kill me,” he urged, getting nowhere. Didn2527t matter that his ass was sitting in water that was still too hot for comfort. All he could do was turn to her, take her elbow and tug, next thing he knew, she2527d crawled onto his lap, snuggling up against him. God have mercy, she was the sweetest thing he2527d ever known, felt. His need for her more than physical, it was down deep, refusing to let him so much as look at another woman since they2527d met.
My love for storytelling began when I created my first fictional characters in kindergarten, convincing my family and friends that Red Henry and Green Henry were identical twin brothers in my school. They were mischievous, rarely did their homework, and even had girlfriends! Years later, I started to write, completing my first manuscript in middle school. I confess the heroine was a cross between a contemporary Laura Ingalls Wilder and Nancy Drew, who2527d been dating one of the Hardy Boys, but when I wrote “the end” I2527d known I had more stories to tell.
To learn more about me, my books, and what2527s coming next, check out my new website and blog: https://francesstocktonauthor.com/
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