Page 81 of Dirty Player

And that I lied to them as well.

Payton started talking and didn’t stop defending Kaylee, as I should have done, while I ran after her. That in itself is a loud statement of what’s really important to me. I didn’t stop to explain or wait for their reaction when I saw her face.

“Payton I swear to god, stay out of it.” Knox growls and I turn and find him and Payton behind us.

Goddamn it.

Why can’t they stay out of this?

“No. They love each other, but because of your stupid Montgomery family pride, he won’t tell her.”

Kaylee’s gaze moves from Payton to me.

She’s waiting for me to respond.

“She cheated on him,” Knox says, and I feel my jaw grind.

“I don’t care.” I say roughly into Kaylee’s eyes as tears fall down her cheeks. I brush them away, moving her body closer to mine. “I don’t care. I do love you. I’ve tried hard not to, but Kaylee, I fucking love you.”

She hiccups and simply watches me.

I can see the pain and distrust in her eyes.

“Say a word and I’ll render you incapable of creating any more children, Knox Montgomery.” Payton threatens.

“What happened toas if I’d seriously date a woman like her?” Kaylee asks.

“Ignore him. He was being stubborn,” Payton interjects.

I turn and glare at them. “Knox, get your fucking wife out of here.”

“No. She stays,” Kaylee replies. “You say you love me but keep me hidden from your family and friends for months.A woman like her.What does that mean? What kind of woman am I like?”

Fuck.

“It’s just shit talk. It doesn’t mean anything,” I reply, wishing I had a better answer.

“You shit talk about the woman you supposedly love?” Kaylee shakes her head.

My heart pounds as I watch her pain.

I wish I could take back those words.

I wish I hadn’t cared so much about what my family thought. My damn fucking pride.

I can’t lose her

“I’ve always loved you, Kaylee. From almost the moment I met you, I think I loved you,” I say, cupping the side of her face. “Twenty-one and in love. It scared me. Then I saw you and Colby and figured that’s why you were with me.”

Kaylee’s eyes drop.

“I angrily told my family what had happened, and their loyalty kicked in. We wrongly accused you of being one of those women just wanting to date a professional athlete.”

“Then I prove you right by dating him.” Her eyes lift to mine once more.

“Yes.” I nod softly.

“Which you did,” Knox says from behind us.

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