Page 10 of Risky Game

“And for the next twelve to fourteen weeks, you’ll be doing half of the weekends alone. You said you moved to Nashville to get your finances in order, right? Won’t this help?”

I wasn’t above manipulating her. Jassen had told me the same thing and she had too. I prepared to see what Jassen called her independence rise to the surface as she inhaled deeply, but my gaze was drawn to her breasts as they rose and fell.

My hands were itching to squeeze them, and my mouth watered at wondering how she’d taste.

Shit. It’d been way too long since I had sex. That was the problem.

She was going to be my daughter’s nanny—hopefully.

“It would help, for sure,” she muttered, looking uncertain. Unwilling.

“It’s what I would offer anyone in this scenario, but you’d really be helping me out. I don’t like the idea of leaving Amelia with a stranger when I’m going to be gone so much.”

“I am a stranger.”

“You’re Jassen’s sister. That tells me all I need to know.”

He was straitlaced, solid, and loyal. He loved his wife and his kids and was always an encouragement on the field. His position kept him separated from the majority of the fold, and it could have made him isolated, but he wasn’t. When our team was on the sidelines, he was always walking up and down, encouraging everyone. Constantly praising them and getting them fired up.

“Yeah, well, Jassen’s a saint,” she huffed again. Chuckled a little bit. “Perfect, really.”

She seemed pretty damn perfect to me. I kept my mouth shut. Gave her time to think, but with every passing second, fear swirled.

If she said no, I had no idea what I’d do. I’d called a nanny service, but I was hesitant to hire any of them. All the older women wore pinched expressions like they’d be irritated too easily and the thought of a younger woman in my home, someone I didn’t know at all, was an immediate no. I didn’t care if the person the service management found for me to call was used to catering to wealthy people or celebrities, or if some traveled with music stars while on tour with their families.

The thought of leaving Amelia in this home? In a new state I was barely getting comfortable in and then leaving her with a stranger… someone who could do anything with her… hard pass. Which reminded me I needed to get security cameras set up.

I couldn’t be too cautious, even if Ruby agreed.

I leaned forward and settled my forearms on my thighs. Attraction to this young woman aside—I could avoid that—I needed her too much in other ways.

Ruby glanced around the house. I’d had a designer order basic furniture, enough to get me started. I told her I wanted it warm and comfortable, so everything was a shade of cream or other neutrals. Personally, it was boring as hell and bland, but I didn’t really care what I sat my ass on to watch television alone, late at night.

I’d put up pictures of Amelia, though, and even a couple with her and Vanessa so she could see her mom when she came to visit. There were photos of her with my parents too, who were itching to get their claws in Vanessa for doing this to me.

My parents already had a vacation planned to check in on me next month, make sure I was doing okay with Amelia. They would have rushed right out if I’d asked. It didn’t matter I was thirty-six. My mom was always there if I needed her.

It’d taken me hours to convince them it’d be fine, that I had things handled. I was a grown man capable of taking care of my own kid and life, but I was still looking forward to their visit.

And it’d give Ruby some time off if she wanted it.

I had no idea what Ruby saw when she kept looking around, sucking her bottom lip into her teeth and nibbling on it before she refocused on me.

“What do you think?” I asked. My palms were sweaty. My heart was racing.

If she said no….

She grinned, and goddamn, it was a beautiful smile. “I think you should give me a tour so I can start getting comfortable here.”

“Yes! That is how we do this!” I was flapping my arms, throwing fist pumps into the air while I practically jumped onto every offensive player jogging off the field.

We were winning, and it was an incredible feeling.

“Whatever you did with Damien this week worked a miracle,” I said to Cole. He was standing next to me, ankle booted, but he was still positive he’d be back by week one.

“He’s a quick learner and intent on being the best he can be. He’ll be great once the rest of his jitters wear off, that’s all. He needs the confidence.”

He was certainly getting it now, with a twenty-yard pass under heavy coverage that fell perfectly into Dawson Butler’s hands in the end zone.

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