Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
“I still think this is a bad idea,” Cree said as she punched in the code that would get them into the underground parking lot of Tristan’s apartment complex.
Since he only lived a few blocks from the condo that they’d just toured, he had walked there. That ended up being a good decision once he talked Cree into giving him a ride home. Not only that, he suggested they review the offers while she was there.
“Why is it a bad idea?” Tristan taunted from the passenger seat.
He could get used to her chauffeuring him around, even if she did threaten to put him out a couple of times.
“Are you afraid you won’t be able to keep your hands off me?
I can understand that. I am irresistible,” he teased and cracked up when she rolled her eyes at him.
“Just stop dreaming and tell me where to park.”
He directed her to the second row and to one of three of his parking spaces. She pulled in next to his Aston Martin, and it was a good thing too. The longer he sat beside her in this car, the more he wanted her.
It started back at the condo. Every touch and accidental brush of her body against his had been like an electrical charge shooting through his body.
His desire for her was off the charts. It didn’t matter that he had just seen her a couple of days ago.
Each time in her presence made it harder to keep his hands and his mouth off her.
Tristan wanted to kiss her, and all he had to do was reach over the center console, pull her close, and capture her mouth in a searing kiss. Then if that went well, he could carry her off to his bedroom and make mad, passionate love to her all night long.
Yeah, that wouldn’t be happening any time soon. But one day she’d be his again because there was no doubt in his mind that he was still in love with Cree Priestly. He never stopped loving her, and he just had to stay the course and win her back.
After Cree parked, she turned to him. “When we get inside, don’t even think about trying any funny stuff,” she said and narrowed her eyes at him. “Because I’m on to you. I know this is all a ploy to get me alone.”
Tristan knew she was dead serious, yet he couldn’t help but laugh. He laughed even harder when she punched him in the shoulder.
To most people, Cree was a total badass who moved around this world like she owned it.
She also spoke her mind. Not that she was currently showing it, but so many people didn’t get to see the other side of her.
She was one of the most generous people he knew—with her money and her time—especially if she liked you.
She might look like a beauty queen with her gorgeous hourglass figure, but she was also domestic.
Cleaning, cooking, and she knew how to take care of her man.
God, he missed her.
“You laugh, but I’m serious, Tristan. There’s no going back. So if you think you’re wearing me down, think again. Like I said, I’m on to you. We have a business agreement, nothing else. Are we clear?”
“Yes! Now can we go inside?”
Tristan didn’t bother waiting for her response. He hurried out of the car, then opened the driver’s side door for her. Today she wasn’t wearing a suit. No, instead, she had on a navy-blue wrap dress with a deep neckline, and the material hugged her sexy figure to perfection.
She used to hate working out, but clearly, she was doing something to stay in shape. The moment she stepped out of the car, the dress opened slightly to show a smooth, shapely thigh, and Tristan swallowed hard.
Yeah, he couldn’t wait to be reacquainted with her. The woman was cover-girl beautiful, wicked smart, and self-confident in everything she did. She was truly the complete package. A package he looked forward to unwrapping again. Hopefully, before Christmas.
He wanted his wife back.
No other woman twisted him up inside or made him feel alive and desired in the way she looked at him when she was checking him out. After today, there was no doubt they were still attracted to one another, but he wanted more. He wanted her to fall in love with him again.
When he unlocked the door to his apartment, Cree strolled inside. He stood back as she glanced around, and he wondered what she thought of the place. When she moved over to the huge built-in bookcases, Tristan’s chest puffed out as she took in his awards and trophies.
Playing football had been his lifelong dreams, and his career had given him everything he ever dreamed of and more. Except one thing. Cree. Without her to share the highs and even the lows with, his life hadn’t been complete.
She slowly moved around the large space, taking in the leather furniture, oversize television mounted on the wall, and views of the city.
As apartments went, this one was nice and grand in the eyes of most people.
Yet, he typically lived in places grander and more lavishly decorated.
Though he wasn’t planning on staying there long, he liked how comfortable it was despite downtown’s congestion.
“A piano?” she asked and approached the baby grand that he had purchased years ago. It sat in the corner near the window, so when he was playing, he could stare out into the city.
“Yeah, I started taking piano lessons during the off season. I always wanted to learn to play, and now I find playing relaxes my mind.”
She stared at him with an expression he couldn’t decipher, but there was no doubt she was shocked by the revelation. Outside of his family and close friends, very few people knew he played.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Cree.”
“Clearly,” she murmured, and he was sure there were things he didn’t know about her, but he planned on changing that.
“Would you like a tour?” Tristan asked, noting she was still taking in the living room-kitchen combo. At twenty-five hundred square feet, the place was way smaller than he was accustomed to, but it worked for his current needs.
“No. I won’t be here long. I just want to go over these offers with you,” she said, patting the side of her large bag. “Where do you want to talk?”
“In the kitchen. I’m starving. Do you want anything to eat or drink?”
After rinsing his hands in the sink, Tristan pulled out the leftover lasagna he made the day before, along with garlic bread and the fixings for a salad.
“Water would be great,” she said and sat at the island on one of the leather bar stools. She pulled the documents from her bag and sat them on the counter next to her.
Tristan grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator, twisted the top and handed it to her.
Once his food was ready, he set everything on the counter and glanced at Cree. She was eyeing his lasagna, and he tried not to smile. It was his specialty and a dish he knew she loved. Instead of asking her again if she wanted something to eat, he shoveled a fork full of lasagna into his mouth.
“Okay, which offer do you want to start with?” he asked, not missing how she kept stealing glances at his meal.
“I can’t believe you’re eating in front of me like that,” she snapped. “Can’t you wait until I leave?”
“No. I can’t. I’m a big man. I need to fuel this body every couple of hours.”
She slowly let her gaze travel the length of him, and the appreciation he saw in her eyes made him want to flex his muscles.
It wasn’t the first time he had caught her checking him out today.
The way she was looking at him right now, he was tempted to take off his shirt and really give her something to look at.
The twenty-one-year-old body she’d seen years ago had morphed into a well-oiled machine with five percent body fat.
“It looks good,” she said, licking her lips, and he groaned. He wanted to be the one licking her lips.
Needing to get his mind off her mouth, he asked, “You talkin’ about me or the food?”
“The food. Definitely the food.”
Tristan smirked. Not sure if she’d accept his offer, he loaded the fork up with food and brought it to her mouth.
Cree’s left brow lifted, and she stared at him, but then she shocked the hell out of him when she opened for him. She held his gaze as he fed her, and his dick twitched at the way she slowly chewed the food. As if savoring every single spice.
If she was trying to turn him on, it was working. Hell, it didn’t take much since he’d been sporting a semi-erection since the moment he saw her outside of the condo. But when she moaned and closed her eyes while chewing, he almost lost it. Now she was just messing with him.
“Cree,” he said in a low growl, and her eyes popped open.
“What?” She covered her mouth slightly with her hand as she continued chewing. “I can’t help it if it’s good, and it’s sooo good. Can I have some more?”
Tristan shook his head and chuckled. “I thought you didn’t want anything to eat,” he said as he fed her more.
“That was before I knew you made lasagna.”
As he continued feeding them both, Cree started going over the offers. He had time to think about the coaching offers, but he needed to make decisions regarding the endorsement deals. Cree gave suggestions and made notes as they talked.
Tristan knew his worth when it came to being a star running back with the NFL, but it was mind-boggling to see companies offering him millions to endorse their brands and products.
He had come a long way from growing up on the Southside of Chicago in one of the roughest neighborhoods.
Back then, his parents, each working two jobs, had barely made enough to keep food on the table and a roof over his and his siblings’ heads.
Now he made more in a year than most people made in a lifetime.
“I’m not sure how thoroughly you went through this document,” she said, lifting a page for him to see it was the one from a popular, sports apparel company. “But they want to film several campaigns at once, which would explain the amount of money they’re offering. And they want to film in Atlanta.”