Impossible To Resist (BWWM Romance Book 1)(20)

**

“I can’t believe you did all of that today.” A.J. lounged on Jared’s couch, freshly showered and dressed in lounge pants and a t-shirt. “Those kids were thrilled; you should have heard them on the way back to the hospital.”

“Yeah, it was fun,” Jared admitted as he re-entered the room with two bottles of beer. “And I bet that rec center has never been cleaner.”

“I think my sister has a crush on you now,” A.J. teased, “don’t go breaking her heart.”

“Your sister is amazing,” Jared beamed, “and she is a hell of an athlete.”

“Funny, she said the same thing about you.” A.J. shifted to make room for him. “You two looked like you were having fun.”

“We totally schooled Jack and Caden in air hockey by the grace of Jaida’s shot. It was awesome,” Jared admitted and settled on the couch opposite her.

A.J. chuckled and accepted the cold bottle. “I don’t want to know how much it cost to prep that place for today or how you got the doctors to sign off.”

“Doesn’t really matter, does it?” Jared shrugged. He’d maxed out two credit cards to cover the cost and promised to support the next three fundraisers but it was the only way to make it happen and keep it secret.

“Max said you’ve been avoiding your agent’s calls.” A.J. approached the subject cautiously.

“Just so I could get through today,” Jared argued. “I just wanted to focus on the kids. I told Max the same thing. I’ll call Derek tomorrow.”

“Are you second-guessing things?” A.J. pressed. “You’re ready to play, Jared. Sure you could use a little more muscle toning, but you can play.”

“I know.” Jared took a drink from his bottle and avoided her gaze. “Like I said, I’ll call tomorrow and get back into things.”

“Don’t lie to me,” A.J. warned. “You’ve been avoiding things for a while and Dr. R said you asked him to keep quiet that he released you for play. What’s up?”

“Nothing. I just want to make sure I’m in tip top shape before I go back,” Jared promised and then turned it back on her. “Are you that eager to get rid of me?”

A.J. playfully kicked him. “No, stupid. I just don’t want you throwing your life away. You love football. Don’t walk away from it like this.”

“I’m not walking away.” Jared pushed off the couch. “I’ll go back. I just need more time.”

“For what?” A.J. asked.

“Do you really have to ask?” Jared challenged. “After all of this? The time we’ve spent together?”

“I would never ask you to give up football,” A.J. said softly.

“I know that!” Jared exclaimed. “But you hate the press and the minute I go back there….”

“I see.” A.J. frowned, her eyes filled with worry and something more that Jared couldn’t figure out.

“I’m going back, I just wanted to make sure we work stuff out first,” Jared explained. “I just met Jaida and I thought we were in a good place, so sue me if I’m not ready to blow that all up.”

“I’m not asking you to,” A.J. said quietly. “I just worry about what happens if you keep avoiding them. If you don’t give them something, they’re gonna come looking for you.”

Jared hadn’t considered that. “You don’t think they’d really come here, do you?”

“Um, yeah.” A.J. looked at him like he was an idiot. “You hadn’t considered that?”

“No.” Jared sunk back on the couch. “Shit.”

“Don’t beat yourself up, just call tomorrow,” A.J. advised and nudged him with her bare toes.

“I promise, I will.” Jared feigned crossing his heart. “Can we talk about something a little less depressing?”

“Of course, like what?” A.J. asked expectantly.

Jared’s expression changed. “Like how sexy you looked in that jersey today.”

A.J. shook her head. “That’s what you lead with?”

“Why not? It’s true,” Jared teased.

“Lame.” A.J. kicked him playfully but let her foot come to rest on his thigh.

“Lame?” Jared taunted. He set his beer on the table and crept up her body until he covered her. “You’re calling me lame?” He breathed into her ear as he cupped her left breast with one hand and plucked her beer from the other to set it on the floor.

“Yes, very lame,” A.J. whispered.

Jared slid his hand down her side and up her shirt. She hadn’t put a bra on, how in the hell did he miss that? Jared went from slightly aroused to raging hard-on in a split second. He adjusted so she could feel his appreciation. Jared kissed along A.J.’s neckline while his hand kneaded her supple breast. A.J. hissed as his thumb brushed over her nipple.

“Still lame?” he rasped in her ear.

“No,” A.J. breathed and reached for his hair, her fingers twirled in his growing curls. Jared maneuvered A.J.’s shirt over her head and toyed at the right nipple with his tongue until it hardened in his mouth. He could smell her arousal through the lightweight lounge pants and knew she was already wet and ready for him. Jared shifted his weight so he could attend to her left nipple and A.J. shuddered beneath him, a soft moan escaped her lips.