She didn't know what to say. What to do. She didn't want him to be angry at her. Didn't he know how much she loved him? How much she'd always loved him?
"I know I've screwed up countless times," he continued in a raw voice. "I didn't recognize real love when it was right in front of me the whole time. I didn't see the real, amazing woman you are--but I'm not blind anymore."
Melissa's brain shouted the words I love you but she couldn't get her mouth to say them. Something inside her, some wounded part of her that had more questions than answers, held the words back.
Dominic hated to watch her leave. He desperately wanted to fix everything. He wanted to call her father, tell him that he seduced Melissa, not the other way around. He wanted to pull Melissa into his arms and kiss her until she saw reason. He wanted to be there for her emotionally and professionally, to assist her in the exhausting work of managing a player like JP.
But he couldn't do any of those things. Not if he wanted there to be a snowball's chance in hell for Melissa to realize that he could change, that he could back off and let her take the wheel.
And that she loved him, too.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
As she drove down the winding freeway to San Francisco, Melissa felt thirteen years old again, terrified about bringing home a B on her report card, praying that her father never found out about the one and only biology class she'd ever skipped--but knowing that he would--and that she'd be grounded for a month for the transgression.
Fortunately, the four-hour drive gave her plenty of time to think. Time to realize that she no longer needed his praise to feel good about herself.
Somewhere during the past week, she'd turned a corner. Partly because of Dominic, but mostly because she'd finally started to value her own worth, she had finally looked up and realized that she was capable of doing amazing things, both professionally and personally.
From here on out, she was going to live her life on her own terms. She was going to figure out what she wanted, and then she was going to go out and get it.
The only question that remained was what to do about Dominic. She loved him, yet the chasm between them was wider than ever.
The next morning, Melissa walked into her father's office at eight o'clock sharp. His face looked like thunder.
"You have betrayed me and you have betrayed my agency with your thoughtless actions. I can hardly stand to look at you."
She stood her ground. "I'm not a kid anymore. I can date whomever I want and I can love whomever I want."
"My players are off-limits. If Dominic leaves my agency, it'll be your fault."
"I understand your concern. And that's why I've already severed the relationship."
He looked surprised, but still furious. "You should never have gotten involved with him. Never."
She nodded. "You're right. I shouldn't have, but not for the reason you think. I made the mistake of falling in love with one of the best men I've ever known. Unfortunately, he's not the right guy for me. One day, I hope I can forgive you for putting money above your own daughter's happiness."
His mouth opened, then shut. By his silence, she knew how deeply she'd hurt him with her accusation. She turned to leave his office, then realized she'd left out one very important thing.
"I quit."
She walked out and rode down the elevator with her head held high. All her life she'd wanted her father's approval, an outward display of his love. Now, even though she knew she'd done the right thing, the divide between them was too deep. Her hopes for a stronger relationship with her father could never come to pass.
She checked her voice mail, and the sound of Dominic's voice sent chills up her spine. He had set up a meeting for JP with the Outlaws' general manager.
God, how she wanted to call him and confide all her fears and doubts to him. She wanted him to hold her in his arms and tell her that he loved her, that everything was going to be okay.
She was also worried about him. He was probably sitting down with the reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle right now, telling him everything. It was going to be a big story; there was no way around that. She desperately wanted to be there for him, holding his hand, letting him know that he was loved and lovable, no matter what mistakes he'd made as an adolescent.
By the time she met JP in front of the Outlaws' headquarters, she had a raging headache.
"I take it things didn't work out between you and Dom?" he said when he looked at her.
What was the point of denying everything? Dominic was brave enough to face his dirty laundry. She'd face up to hers.
"No. They didn't."
JP shook his head. "That sad sack of shit. I was sure he was going to tell you he loved you."
She chewed the inside of her lip. "He did."
JP looked at her like she was a crazy woman. "1 truly don't get women. At least think about giving him a chance, okay? I know he's old and beaten up, but he's a pretty good guy underneath."
She took a deep breath. "Forget my love life. It's time to focus on football. Here's the deal: You shouldn't even have this chance. Any other player would have been filling out applications for a real job by now."
JP held up his hands to fend her off. "Trust me, boss, I know. Dominic's already read me the riot act for three days."
Her gaze was steady. "I don't know what lucky star you were born under, but having Dominic swoop in and turn you into a decent player, and then decide to retire so you have a shot at his spot, is pretty much the luckiest thing I've ever seen." She paused to make sure he understood what she was saying. "Don't blow it today. One fumble, one misstep, and everything comes crashing down. Got it?"
JP nodded respectfully. "Loud and clear. Now let's go kick some ass."
By that afternoon, her phones wouldn't stop ringing. The San Francisco Chronicle had printed an interview with Dominic about not only his past but his role in training JP. Word quickly hit the street that the Outlaws were thinking about signing him to their already full roster.
Other teams knew what this meant. A guy like Dominic DiMarco wouldn't put his reputation behind anyone who didn't have the elusive "it" that won Super Bowl rings.
Melissa had spent several years assisting her father during free-agent negotiations and she knew exactly how this game worked. The only problem was, she didn't have enough hands to take care of everything, enough phones or space in her voice mail to deal with the messages. A stack of thirty unanswered voice mails sat on her kitchen table. What she wouldn't give for an assistant.
Even though she should have been concentrating solely on JP's career, Melissa couldn't help thinking about Dominic. Had there been any backlash from the article? Was Dominic feeling vulnerable? Did he have anyone to lean on?
More than anything, she wanted to comfort him, confess her love.
But she couldn't. If she kissed him, touched him, they'd just keep playing out the same scene again and again.
Him helping her. Her resenting it.
Him declaring his love. Her not sure she believed it, with mind-blowing sex to fill in any gaps. Sex that only confused her more.
Her phone stopped ringing and in the rare silence a glimmer of realization took shape. She'd always assumed that Dominic had helped her because he didn't think she was strong enough or talented enough to handle the business on her own. But what if she'd been wrong?
When they'd worked with JP at his lakefront house, Dominic hadn't once questioned her judgment. He'd looked at her with respect, agreed with her decisions pertaining to JP's career.
Could it be that he'd helped her because he was a good man who loved her and only wanted what was best for her?
Both phones rang at the same time. Right now, business had to come first. As soon as JP's new deal was put to rest, she'd turn her entire focus to her relationship with Dominic.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The following morning, Melissa's first stop was JP's house. She'd kept him abreast of negotiations throughout the previous d
ay, and as of seven a.m. he was officially a San Francisco Outlaw.
Holding a bottle of champagne in the crook of her arm, she rang the doorbell. A woman yelled, "Coming," from behind the closed door.
The woman's voice was strangely familiar, but when her friend Alice opened the door wearing nothing but one of JP's T-shirts, Melissa couldn't contain her shocked expression. "What? How?"
Alice dragged her inside, then inspected the label on the champagne bottle.
"You have excellent taste," she proclaimed. "This is going to be yummy."
"You? JP?" Melissa was reduced to stuttering. "I don't get it."
Alice shook her head. "Me, neither. All I know is that he's funny. I've never dated a guy with a sense of humor before."
Her friend's face and eyes looked softer than Melissa remembered having seen them, and she was glowing. Amazing.
Alice leaned in close and said in a stage whisper, "And he's seriously talented in the bedroom."
Melissa held up a hand. "I don't think I can handle the details."
"I never in a million years thought I'd be having hot monkey sex with a pro football player. And that I'd like it. I thought you might not exactly approve."
Alice's words tugged at her heart. "I want you to be happy. And if JP makes you happy, then I'm happy. I'm just surprised. That's all." She pulled her friend into a hug. "You could have called and warned me, though," she teased.
"I feel really bad about not returning your phone calls. I was embarrassed at first."
JP walked into the kitchen wearing boxer shorts. "I heard that," he said to Alice, grabbing her and kissing her.
Judging by their kiss, he wasn't the least bit upset by what Alice had said about him. Maybe he wasn't cocky. Maybe he was just surprisingly secure, when all the rest of them were emotional basket cases.
"Hey, boss," he finally said. "Thanks for the killer new deal."
Still reeling, Melissa said, "Congratulations. Now don't fuck it up."
"I won't let him," Alice said with a wicked gleam in her eyes. JP pulled her into his arms and Melissa smiled at them, knowing she was already forgotten.
Maybe, she suddenly thought, love doesn't always have to make sense.
Fifteen minutes later, Melissa stepped out of a taxi in front of the McKnight Agency building. Sunbeams peeked through the tall buildings as she stood on the sidewalk and looked at the familiar scene. Busi-nesspeople rushed to work in suits and heels; a few women chatted in front of the corner coffee shop with babies in front-packs on their chests.
Everything was just as it had always been.
And yet completely different.
When she stepped into the McKnight Agency foyer, she was immediately surrounded by people shaking her hand, all talking at once. Clearly, no one knew about her scene with her father yesterday. No one seemed to know that she'd quit and walked out.
"Congratulations!"
"You've made the deal of the year."
"How'd you turn JP around so quickly?"
"I learned everything I know from you guys," she said with a wide grin.
A few minutes later, she faced the long walk to her father's office. He must have heard the commotion, but he hadn't come out to greet her. After the way she'd left his office, throwing the words I quit at him, it was up to her to make the first move.
Just like she'd need to make the first move with Dominic.
Angie was at her usual post in front of Tom's office, a rare smile on her face. "We're all so proud of you," she said softly.
In all the years they'd known each other, this was the nicest and most personal thing Angie had ever said to her.
"Go on in," Angie said. "Your father's waiting for you. And, honey"--she paused, which gave Melissa a moment to digest the very unexpected endearment-- "go easy on him."
Melissa opened the door. Her father immediately stood up. Strangely, he looked nervous.
"Congratulations," he said before she could close the door. "I'm very impressed with the deal you negotiated for JP."
She swallowed back sudden tears. "All my life," she admitted, "I've wanted you to be proud of me."
"I already was," he said, with a shake of his head. "But I never knew how to tell you." He cleared his throat. "I didn't mean what I said about you and Dominic--the way I said it."
"I know you didn't, Daddy. Our relationship shouldn't have been a secret."
"You couldn't have chosen a better man."
"I know."
The next thing she knew, his arms were around her and he was hugging her, just like he used to when she was little and had skinned her knee. He'd always loved her. Now it felt good to know that he respected her, as well.
Many moments later, she bit her lip. "Speaking of Dominic, I was hoping I could ask for the advice of the top agent in the business?"
Pleasure lit her father's eyes. "If you mean me, of course."
They sat on the couch. "I can't represent Dominic and be in a relationship with him, too."
"But I thought you said you weren't seeing each other anymore?" Her father actually looked hopeful at the thought of things working out between her and Dominic.
She shook her head. "We're not. But I've been thinking a lot about things. I want to try to work things out."
Her father squeezed her hand. "Your mother and I are there for you. Anytime. For any reason."
Something warm and solid bloomed in her chest and she nodded, unable to speak. Finally, she turned the focus back to Dominic's career. "So--any great agents you can recommend for my star player? Someone who has experience with great players? Who knows the business better than anyone else?"
"Are you saying you'd like me to work with him again?" her father asked.
She nodded and her father beamed with pleasure. "I can only accept if you'll consider rejoining the agency."
She hugged him again. "Thank you. For everything."
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Fifteen minutes later, Melissa stood silently in Dominic's hallway. A little more than a week ago, he had carried her over his shoulder out of a bar and into his life. But she'd been so full of hopes and dreams and insecurities that she'd turned her back on the love of the greatest man she'd ever known.
And then Dominic had told her his painful story and she'd finally realized that neither of them was perfect.
They didn't need to be perfect. The situation didn't need to be perfect.
All that mattered was the way they felt about each other.
She rang the doorbell, finally understanding what it meant to have one's heart in one's hands. Her arms trembled and so did her legs. But this time, she wasn't going to run. She was going to face her fears one by one until she'd conquered them all. She was going to look Dominic straight in the eye and tell him she loved him.
Dominic opened the door and she stood just looking at him, mesmerized by his beauty, his grace. "May I come in?"
He moved aside to let her in and she could barely wait for the door to click shut. "I came here to tell you..." The words caught in her throat.
Dominic took her hands, and his touch was so strong, so warm. "Go ahead," he said softly. "I'm listening."
She looked up into his eyes, praying her words would come out right. "I've been in love with you for a long time, Dominic. As long as I can remember."
He smiled. "I know."
"I thought you never noticed me," she said softly. "You were so much older, so much more experienced. I never thought you'd look at me like this, never thought you'd hold me."
"You always were a sweet kid," he agreed, "until you weren't a kid anymore."
"But I wasn't your type," she protested.
"I made sure of that," he replied. "How do you think I felt, lusting after my agent's daughter? You were legal, but that didn't mean you weren't off-limits." He closed the space between them one inch at a time. "But that's not why I pushed you away."
"Then why?" she whispered. He pulled her against him and lowered his mouth, capturi
ng her lips in a kiss that left her breathless. "You make me feel things I never wanted to feel again." His voice was rough with emotion. "When I'm with you, I lose control. Over my body. My mind." He found her mouth again and warmth spread through her body from her head to her toes. "Especially my heart."
"I do, too," she admitted, "but it's different than how I imagined. Better, because it's real. You're real. I'd spent so many years dreaming of you, but the truth is, until this week I hardly knew you at all."
"And now that you know everything, have your feelings changed?"
"They have," she said softly. "Because your wild teenage years, the bad things you've done, the innate power you work so hard to control, the way you make decisions for people whether they like it or not--all of that makes you the man I love today... and the man I'll love forever."
He picked her up and carried her down the hall to his bedroom. "For twenty years, I've punished myself for what I did when I was in high school. I've kept my distance from everyone, especially you-- because I knew I could love you. I knew I wanted to have a home with you, children with you, the rest of my life with you." He captured her mouth in another hot kiss. "But I can't live without you, so I'm going to have to learn to live with myself and my past.
"I've never loved you properly," he murmured as he laid her down on his bed.
She sank into the soft down duvet. "Yes, you have. Every time."
Dominic pulled his Outlaws T-shirt up over his head. The sight of his bare chest, his tanned skin and rippling muscles, took her breath away, just as it always had.
Just as it always would.
"Am I ever going to get used to looking at you?" she asked with a smile.
Dominic's eyes were hot as he gazed down at her. "I've been asking myself the same question about you."
And Melissa truly felt like the most beautiful woman in the world.
He dropped his jeans to the floor, and as she lay against plush pillows, she allowed herself to fully appreciate the gorgeous man who had just offered her his heart.