Love on the Highlight Reel (Connecticut Kings Book 2) (20 page)

“Yes.”

What the hell was wrong with me, that it physically
hurt
just to be honest with him about my feelings? That one little word, a simple
yes,
ripped me in half. And if that wasn’t bad enough… the kiss he gave me after I said it seemed like it was putting me back together.

I pushed myself up on my toes, trying to get closer. Jordan’s warm laughter vibrated against my mouth as I looped my arms around his neck and hooked a thigh around his waist, literally climbing him.

We were both laughing by the time he pressed me against the cool, stone-tiled wall of his shower. I closed my eyes, basking in how right it felt to be with him like this, hot water streaming over us as he buried himself between my legs.

This is how you end up falling in love.

As we made love, that nagging thought worked its way into my mind, and wouldn’t leave me alone.

Fourteen

“Flash Jordan. I see you made time to come see a legend.”

I chuckled at the greeting I received from the man who was, before me, the Kings’ last star wide receiver. “I don’t know about
legend
, but I guess you did aiight, all those years ago.”

He grinned. “Whatever youngin’. Come on in.”

I shook hands with Tariq Evans – former professional footballer, currently the man who handled all my money – then dropped into a seat across from his desk. Even though I couldn’t play in the game that would be happening later in the night, I’d flown up with the team anyway, just to make this meeting happen.

“Come on out with it man,” he said as he sat down. “Your money is doing just fine, and I know you’re not just here to say hello. So what is it? Another overpriced luxury car on your mind?”

I chuckled at the reference to the last time I’m met him in his actual office, well over a year ago, when he’d talked me out of buying a car I really couldn’t afford with the contract I was on. “Nah, not a car this time.”

“The Kings finally ready to pay you some real money? You got your new contract worked out?”

I shook my head. “Nah, not that yet either. But soon, I hope. I actually just need some advice.”

Tariq sat back, hands clasped, with a thoughtful expression. “Okay. What can I do for you? Trouble with the team? Trouble with a woman?”

“Bingo,” I said, scratching my chin. “That second one.”

Tariq wasn’t too much older than me – just twelve years – but he seemed to have worked out a good trajectory for his life. We’d started as simply service provider and client, but over the last three years of working together, his advice had dipped beyond finances. He’d texted me after games to give me things I needed to work on, advised me on taking certain endorsement deals, scolded me on my dealings with the media, and even given me tips on my relationship with my father – since my father was more interested in putting me down than anything else.

Long story short, I trusted Tariq enough to know that he wouldn’t lead me wrong, and he was the only person besides Trent I could talk to about this. My other homeboys would either give stupid advice or run their mouths, and Trent needed to be focused on the game –
not
my drama. So, Tariq it was.

“So who is she?” Tariq asked, in a tone that let me know he was already expecting something crazy.

I pushed out a deep sigh, then tossed my head against the back of the chair. “Nicole Richardson.”

Tariq narrowed his eyes. “Nicole Richardson, as in Eli Richardson’s daughter? As in, the daughter of the owner of the Kings? As in, your boss’ daughter?”

“Yep. That’s her.”

“Are you
trying
to get your ass kicked, dude?”

I laughed. “What? Nah, it’s not like that man. It’s not a fling, nothing like that. It’s serious… or at least, I hope it could be.”

“Oh,
shit
,” Tariq said, sitting up a little further. “You really like little Cole, huh?”

“Well, I don’t think of her as little Cole, but yeah. I do.”

He shrugged. “So what’s the problem? Is she anti-athlete?”

“Not exactly. But we dated before, and then broke up, and now… I’m trying to pull it together again. I think we could really have something, but she’s… skittish about it.”

Tariq nodded. “Yeah… you know I have some experience with that.”

“I remember you telling me a little about that. That’s why I was hoping you would be able to tell me what I can do. If there’s something I can do.”

Tariq laughed. “Man, if you have a situation like Kora and I on your hands… you’ve got your work cut out for you. We dated as kids – young twenties. Shit happened, we broke up, but stayed friends. Stayed
great
friends. Maybe too good, but that’s here nor there. I loved her. I’d always loved her, and the feeling was mutual. But instead of just being together, doing what made sense… we skirted around it. Dated other people. Drove them
and
ourselves nuts.”

“But you’re together now. That’s your
wife,
” I mused. “So… what happened?”

Tariq lifted his shoulders, and shook his head. “Man… I was just waiting to hear that it was possible. That was all I needed, was the
possibility
that she was down to give it another shot. Once I got through that wall she’d put up, and I saw that I had a chance, I just made the decision. Nothing was standing in my way. You know Steph, right?”

I nodded. “Yeah. He just married Nubia Perry not too long ago, right?”

“Right. He had to go the same route. Cole grew up under Eli. She’s a tough girl. Just like Nubia, just like Kora, but in a different way. I’m telling you man… if she’s showing you that she’s interested, that she’s willing to go there again, all you have to do is get her to face it head on. I’m not saying do some shit that’s gonna get you arrested, or scare her, but sometimes…. You have to just force the issue. You’ll either get smacked, or you’ll get your girl.”

“I don’t know man,” I said, chuckling a little. “I mean, that sounds good, but I’m trying to keep in mind that she feels guilty about how we broke up. I don’t want her to feel like she owes me anything. Like being with me is… penance.”

Tariq nodded. “I can understand that. But
you
have to understand that’s not your problem. That’s hers. All you’re doing is making it plain.”

I was about to respond when the door to his office opened, and Tariq’s – fine ass – wife Kora walked in, holding a little girl who couldn’t have been more than a year old, with thick coily hair pulled into two puffs on top of her head.

“Oh!” Kora said, stopping with her free hand on the door handle. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were with – Jordan?!”

I grinned. “Hey beautiful,” I said as I stood, closing the short distance to give her and baby girl a hug.

“Hey, chill with that shit,” Tariq warned behind me.

I laughed. “I was talking to Serenity though.” I winked at Kora, then extended my hands as a request, which Kora granted, shifting Serenity from her arms to mine. “Hey pretty girl,” I said, smiling down at her. She looked just like her mother – same nose, same dark copper skin, and thick lashes framing big, inquisitive brown eyes. She grinned at me, showing me a couple of tiny white teeth. The sight set off an odd feeling in my chest.

“You know she should have been mine, right?” I said to Kora, joking to deflect my thoughts away from whatever was happening in my head.

“Jordan…” Tariq growled.

Kora giggled, then looked past me at Tariq, who’d risen from his seat. “You’d better stop, before he bursts a blood vessel over there.”

Tariq grunted. “Before I bust his damn head.”

“Oh hush,” Kora purred, waving him off. “I must say though Jordan, you
do
look good with a little chocolate baby in your arms.”

I damn near choked on my tongue. “That’s my cue, Serenity,” I said, and she wiggled in my arms as she cooed back in response. “I’ve gotta give you back.”

Tariq and Kora both laughed, and Tariq was the one to take the baby from me. “I don’t know why he’s bugging,” he told her in a singsong voice. “When he has a baby with Cole, she’s gonna be a pretty little chocolate drop just like you.”

Kora’s head snapped in my direction. “Cole? Eli Richardson’s daughter?!”

“Damn, Tariq! It’s supposed to be on the low!”

He shrugged. “My bad. Kora isn’t gonna tell anybody but Nubia.”

“And maybe Blake,” Kora added. “And Chloe.”

“
Not
Chloe!” I shook my head. “She’s my publicist.”

Kora raised an eyebrow. “That’s even more reason for her to know. She keeps your business out of the streets as a profession.”

“Still… please just don’t say anything to anybody. Nicki is already edgy about the whole thing, and I don’t want anything scaring her off.”

“Oh no, what’s wrong?” Kora asked.

“Cole is uncertain about the relationship, because they dated before and it didn’t work out, so Jordan is having to chase her,” Tariq blurted, before I could get a word out.

Kora smiled at him. “Oh, we know all about that, don’t we?” She met my eyes, her expression serious. “You’re going to have to lay down the law. Cole is a strong –spirited woman. She needs that.”

“I know,” I agreed. “That’s how I’ve  always had to deal with her, I’m just not sure it’s the right approach for
this
.”

“Oh it definitely is,” Kora giggled. “Trust me. Force the issue. She’ll either smack the shit out of you, or be yours forever.”

“Ayyye!” Tariq stepped forward, hand raised to give his wife a high-five. “I told him the same thing,” he said as they slapped hands.

Kora playfully rolled her eyes. “Oh, so
now
you know?”

“Experience is the best teacher, baby.”

I couldn’t help smiling as he looped the arm that wasn’t holding Serenity around his wife, tugging her against his body. The two of them together, with their child… it painted a nice ass picture.

One that set off that crazy feeling in my chest again.

“Advice received,” I said, then stepped forward to hug them again. I accepted the mandatory slobbery kiss from Serenity, then headed for the door.

“Hey, does Dawn know you’re in town?” Kora asked, as I wrapped my hand around the door handle.

I shook my head. “Nah, I didn’t call because I thought she was out on the west coast. Is she here?”

“She is, and I know she’d want to see you before you leave.”

“Aiight, I’ll make it happen.”

I said my final goodbyes and then headed out, pulling my phone from my pocket as I stepped onto the elevator. I would get up with Dawn – Kora’s daughter – before I left town, but I had something else to handle first.

“I can’t wait to get my mouth on you again. Should have kept my ass in Connecticut. – J. Johnson.”

“I’m at work…don’t start.”

“Oh, so you’re at your desk? Are you wearing a skirt today? – J. Johnson.”

“
Yes… why?”

“Easy access. I could kneel right there in that little space, pull your panties down… eat you while you try to keep your face calm. – J. Johnson.”