Page 46 of Mr. Arrogant

“They are.”

“Okay, Sandi. Y’all can continue this chat later. I want to show her around a bit. Is there anything pressing that needs my attention?”

“Oh, okay, and no, there isn’t.” Sandi’s smile dropped. She gave Sofie another hug. “Now don’t be a stranger. I can tell you plenty of stories about this one here.”

“I look forward to hearing about Jaxon.” Sofie winked at her.

“Sofie knows me well enough,” he muttered. He guided Sofie away amidst their giggles. He held back a smile himself. Sandi would never speak ill of him or his brother. They were like the two nephews she’d never had. “Let me introduce you to the rest of the office.”

“Are you serious? They are offering him how much money?” Sofie leaned forward in shock, staring at the computer screen. She was just blown away by what she was learning from Jaxon about his job. She knew that as a sports agent he dealt with a butt-load of money, but she didn’t know it was like this.

“One hundred and fifty million dollars for five years,” Jaxon replied. He kept his arm around her waist as she sat atop of his lap.

She had a hard time concentrating while he explained how the teams were able to offer up so much money, all the players had to pay, and what they would be left with afterwards.

She hadn’t realized how much went into the business of professional sports. She had heard of numbers before that were thrown out on the news when stories broke. But she didn’t know what was going on behind the scenes. There were a lot of people involved in these deals, and they all had to be paid.

“Now I see why they go and get endorsement deals to make extra money. I just thought they were being greedy.” She chuckled.

“There’s nothing wrong with getting paid for your talent.” He pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder.

She glanced down at him and took in his steamy gaze. Her core clenched at the desire burning in his eyes.

“Unfortunately,” he said, “being able to play for years can take a toll on one’s body. So pursuing endorsement deals are smart.”

“Do you ever miss it? Being on the other side?” she asked softly.

She couldn’t help it. She wanted to feel his hair between her fingers. She lifted a hand and raked them through his thick, dark hair. The strands were soft and parted easily for her. Jaxon blinked and for a moment grew eerily silent. She wasn’t sure if he was going to answer the question.

“Sometimes I do. I remember what it was like being on the road, staying in hotels, hearing my name called out from fans. The adrenaline of a win is like nothing I ever experience until…” His voice drifted off.

“Until what?”

“Until I met you,” he replied. “My heart races from the moment I know I’m about to see you until you are standing in my arms. There’s no better feeling than being able to kiss you and hold you.”

“Jaxon, are you trying to make me fall for you?” she whispered. Her heart was racing at the moment. She couldn’t believe it, but she felt in her heart that she was. It was too soon.

Wasn’t it?

She reached up and cupped his face in her hand. He leaned into her palm, his gray eyes holding hers.

“Please tell me it’s working,” he whispered.

Sofie had never seen him so vulnerable before. Cocky? Sure. A jokester? All the time.

All of his emotions laid out before her?

She never thought she would see the day.

“Oh, it’s working, Mr. Keith.” Why was she fighting this? Hadn’t she been ready to jump into online dating? Why not jump feet-first into whatever this was with Jaxon?

Sofie was done fighting.

She was head over heels in love with Jaxon Keith. Her stomach grew into knots just thinking of leaving him and going back to Cleveland. He was trying his best to prove that he was no longer the person she had thought he was.

Sofie leaned down and brushed his lips with hers.

“So I need to keep working on it?” he asked. His hands settled on her waist, and he lifted her off his lap and turned her to face him.

---