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Round one had finally arrived. If only they could get to the competition. Ashley leaned against the buttery soft leather seat. Xavier's SUV was ten steps above her little hatchback. "I swear, if we're late because of traffic, I'm going to camp out at the Convention Center for the rest of the competition."
Xavier turned toward her. He lowered his sunglasses, expression filled with determination. "We'll make it."
The fierce sun glare had caused an accident, which made Philadelphia's usual rush hour traffic crawl look like an easy drive down the highway. As the minutes ticked by and their car advanced the merest of inches, Ashley shifted in her seat, willing the cars in front of them to move. When the accident finally cleared, arriving late seemed unavoidable.
Xavier sped down the highway, joking about their situation being practice for the beat-the-clock rush. Foot to the floor, they came off the exit too fast. He slammed on the brakes and jerked the car to the right to avoid hitting the car in front of them.
Ashley's eyes squeezed shut. She braced for impact, and then slowly relaxed when nothing came. She opened her eyes and looked at Xavier. "Are you okay?"
"Sure." With one hand palming the wheel, he whipped the car back into traffic. Ashley clutched her seatbelt and prayed they'd survive the drive.
Once parked, they hurried into the convention center and followed the brightly colored banners and signs lining the path to the Expo.
The last team to check in, they were escorted to their station by one of the producers.
Xavier dropped his box containing a few of Ashley's baking tools on the counter. "Made it with five minutes to spare."
He tugged on the apron emblazoned with the bakery logo. Aqua letters spelling out Bliss Bakery were sprinkled across a large yellow cupcake.
"You should think about a fallback career as an Indy 500 driver." Ashley adjusted her matching apron and turned in a circle. Thirteen identical stations with gleaming stainless steel appliances spread out before her, and to her left sat the large crowd and the TV crew. She savored the surreal moment. They were really here, and, for the first time, the one hundred thousand dollar prize seemed tangible.
Palms damp and pulse quickening, Ashley looked to her left and saw Andrew Blackstone from Blackstone's Bakery at the station next to theirs, talking to Tyson. Great, so her nemesis was at the station right next door.
Fabulous.
Xavier called out to his teammates and waved to a few people in the crowd.
The microphone feedback pierced the air with a sharp, shrill screech. Ashley winced as a hush fell over the crowd. Microphone in hand, the show's host introduced himself and ran through the rules. The thirteen teams would all start round one, with six teams advancing to round two, and round three would be narrowed down to three teams. The grand prize winner would be determined from there.
Then he introduced the judges. Two were stars of shows on Food TV. The third was a retired Frenzy player: a Hall of Famer and fan favorite.
While the host bantered with the judges, Xavier whispered, "Are you okay?"
"I'm more nervous than I thought I'd be." Wringing her hands together, she sneaked a glance at Blackstone's station. No matter what else happened in the competition, she had to beat him.
"Okay, bakers," the host's voice boomed. "For this round, you need to create two desserts featuring cocoa powder. One must be a cake. The other one is up to you. You'll have two hours to complete them both. Ready... And, time starts now!"
With a loud buzz, the countdown clock began. Ashley grabbed Xavier's arm. "Okay, this is good. We can make your mom's chocolate almond crinkle cookies, and my mom's favorite chocolate cake recipe."
He squinted into the distance. "I think I remember all the ingredients for the cookies. I can picture that recipe card, but..."
"Don't worry, we've got this. Grab cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, and I'll gather the rest of the ingredients."
They sprang into action. She rushed around her station and then gratefully focused her attention on the ingredients lining the counter.
The can of dark cocoa reminded her of being held in Xavier's arms, the strength of his embrace, and the chocolate-flavored kisses they'd shared when they'd baked cookies together for the first time. The memory warmed her.
She dropped butter and sugar into the mixer. Beside her, Xavier combined the cocoa, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg into a bowl, then added it to the mixer.
He moved slower than she liked, taking the time to triple-check his measurements. She couldn't fault his seriousness or attention to detail.
The host called out to Xavier and his teammates to check on their progress. They all joked back and forth, their teasing banter drawing laughs and cheers from the crowd.
Eyes on the clock, she added the chocolate chips, nuts, and raisins.
Xavier bobbled a cookie sheet, wincing as it crashed against the counter. "Sorry."
"Here, I'll prep them."
She finished preparing the cookie sheets, then in tandem, they rolled the dough into balls.
Xavier nudged her shoulder and held up one of the cookies. "How does this look?"
The memory of their time in her kitchen and how she'd shown him to roll dough flashed into her thoughts. She forced it away. "Good job."
A line formed between his brows. "Are you sure? I want it perfect."
Was he nervous? He had to be. She gently bumped her hip into his leg. "They're perfect. You've got great hands, remember?"
And a cameraman with a microphone rolled by, likely picking up her words. Heat surged into her like she'd touched a live wire.
Back to business.
She spaced the cookies exactly two inches apart. "Keep going. We need to get these into the oven. You preheated the oven to three-seventy-five, right?"
"No, five-hundred, I wanted to see what would happen." Xavier looked up from the cookies and grinned. "I'm kidding, okay? I double-checked the temperature. Looks like these are ready to go in now."
That five-hundred-degree joke nearly gave her a heart attack. She double-checked the temperature was set correctly, then handed him the oven mitts. He slid the trays into the oven.
After setting the mitts aside, he high-fived her. "Cake time. What do you need me to do?"
"Grab buttermilk and four eggs for me?" Without waiting for a response, she pre-heated the second oven to three-fifty and then prepped three round cake pans. When Xavier came back, she'd gathered the remaining ingredients and in a low voice, directed him on the order to add them.
They worked together, mixing flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in the mixer. Then adding in the buttermilk, water, oil, and vanilla. She took over mixer duty, watching until the batter turned smooth.
Xavier divided the batter evenly among the pans. Ashley hovered, hands itching to take over, but she didn't give in to the urge. This was a team event, after all. And Xavier was trying so hard.
He set the pans in the oven. "There. Thirty-five minutes on the timer."
"Right. Remember, it's done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean." She rubbed her hands on her apron. "Ready to start the frosting?"
A grin spread across his face when she pulled cream cheese from the refrigerator. "Better hide that from Everson. We can't risk any tackles or fumbles this time."
Laughing, she stopped mid-step as inspiration struck. She lobbed the package in his direction. His eyebrows winged up, and his super-fast reflexes snapped into action as he easily caught it.
The host stopped by their station. "Nice moves. Looks like you two are having fun."
"We are." Ashley grinned at him. "Sometimes, playing with your food is a good thing."
The audience laughed.
"Tell me, what are you making?"
Xavier came over. "Chocolate crinkle cookies and a cake recipe that's been in Ashley's family for years."
"What's the cream cheese for?"
"The frosting. And we better get started on it." Xavier directed the host away with practiced ease. He'd probably had lots of experience. And the confidence to back it up.
Ashley focused on what she could control, mixing the ingredients for the chocolate cream cheese buttercream frosting. Xavier helped, adding in the cocoa powder and vanilla to the butter, and then the powdered sugar a cup at a time. She drizzled in milk until they achieved a thick, but spreadable consistency.
Xavier set the bowl to chill in the fridge. "Twenty minutes to relax and clean up our station."
She handed him a towel to wipe away the smudges of cocoa and powdered sugar. "Twenty minutes to worry, too."
"No worrying. We've got this." He moved with confidence and surprisingly easy grace and he wiped down the counters. Then, he uncapped a bottle of water and pressed it into her hands. "In any game, it's important to stay hydrated. Helps keep you thinking clearly."
Taking a slow, deep breath, she nodded and raised the bottle to her lips.
In the neighboring station, Tyson looked stressed. And Blackstone looked angry. Flour and other ingredients were scattered across the counter. The bakery owner dumped a tray of cookies into the garbage and then snatched a fresh sheet from the quarterback's hands. "I'll finish this myself. Handling cookies is a much more delicate process than tossing around a football."
Hands up, Tyson backed away. "Go for it, man. I'll start on clean up."
When the cameraman came by, both men smiled, but neither held the expression for long. Then the TV host swept in. Blackstone beamed, but Tyson hung back. Xavier muttered under his breath and then edged his way over toward his teammate, joking with him to the delight and amusement of the crowd.
Ashley kept watch over the ovens. If the cookies got too dark, she couldn't serve them. Her stomach in knots, she twisted the oven mitt. Worst-case scenarios and possible ways to fix baking disasters ran through her thoughts. She gasped as strong hands landed on her shoulders.
"Relax," Xavier's low voice murmured close to her ear. "You look so tense. Don't worry. They're going to turn out fine."
"Right. Sure. No worries here. Only our first chance at the prize. Which could be our last chance if this doesn't go well."
The timer beeped, and he pulled the mitts from her grasp. After donning them, he opened the oven, releasing a blast of heat. "What do you think?"
She peered at the tray he held. "They look good. Let's get them out."
"Got it." He winced, likely at the heat slamming into his face and set the trays on top of the oven. The scent of the cookies wafted over her, as sweet and comforting as one of her mother's hugs.
Fighting off the threat of tears, she reset the timer. "We can take them off the tray in a couple of minutes."
He tossed the oven mitts aside, and his hand found its way to the back of her neck. "Our cookies look good."
Her muscles melted under his massage. "I'm happy with them. Did you see what everyone else was making?"
"Everson's team had triple chocolate cookies. Tyson and his baker have some type of chocolate mint thing. I heard the host say that someone is making macarons."
She leaned against him, drawing strength, calmness, and comfort. "The cake has fifteen minutes left on the timer."
Her nerves hadn't lessened much as she transferred the cookies to a cooling rack. Or when she and Xavier tested the cake and removed the pans from the oven. Any misstep could end in ruin, so attention and careful moves were key.
Throughout the lulls in the baking, the host kept the audience's attention on a large screen TV that showcased each Frenzy player and their foundation or the charity they were playing for. Then, they ran through the bakers. Ashley cringed as her audition video played on the screen.
Xavier slid his arm around her shoulder. "Why the grimace? It's a good video."
"You're used to seeing yourself on screen. I'm not."
He raised a brow, as though considering her statement, and then nodded. "Point taken."
She turned away from the screen. "Let's frost that cake."
Her hands shook as she worked. The host announcing the dwindling minutes added to the frantic atmosphere of the last-minute rush.
"Five... four... three... two... one... Stop your work."
Ashley dropped everything and stepped away from the counter. They'd finished on time, and the cake looked pretty good with a delicate pattern of swirls.
As the judges made the rounds to the stations, Xavier downed a bottle of water. "Waiting is the hardest part. It's like when the officials are reviewing a challenged touchdown."
Finally, the judges and host reached them. "Tell us about your desserts."
"We have for you a chocolate almond crinkle cookie and a chocolate cake with chocolate cream cheese buttercream frosting."
The first judge bit into the cookie. "The texture is perfect, but I would have liked a hint more of cinnamon."
The second judge shook her head. "I disagree on that, I think the amount of spices was perfect."
"Now, let's move on to the cake." At the host's prompting, the third judge sampled it. "This cake is moist and has the perfect crumb."
"I like it. The frosting is thick but smooth. A perfect accompaniment."
Relief rushed through Ashley. She barely resisted reaching for Xavier's hand. "Thank you, judges."
She noticed that no one joked during the deliberation period. She looked over at Xavier, concern clouding her excitement. He'd seemed to shed his nerves as the round had worn on, gaining confidence even as she'd let stress and worry take hold. And he had been incredibly sweet in trying to calm her down. The pressure would only build from here. How could she manage to make sure that they both kept it together, going forward?
The crowd hushed when the show's host came back, waving a hand. Ashley wiped her brow and nervously watched as he made his way to the front of the room. He called for silence. Her heart thudded louder in response.
"Six teams will survive to bake another day. The first team to continue on to round two is Blackstone's Bakery and quarterback Tyson Williams."
With each team name that was called out, Ashley inched closer to Xavier. With the final spot remaining, she gripped his hand, and focused all attention on the host, willing him to call out their name.
Xavier squeezed back and then he laced their fingers together. "Come on. Come on. Pick us."
"And, finally, our last team continuing on to Round Two will be... Bliss Bakery and tight end Xavier Brennan. Thank you all for your participation. As a reminder, round two starts at eight o'clock on Saturday evening. Please enjoy the festivities of the Food and Wine festival, and we'll see you back here in two days."
"We did it." Xavier's arms banded around her and he lifted her off her feet.
Heart pounding, grinning, and breathless, she held on as happiness and relief washed over her.
Xavier slowly lowered her to the floor. When he stepped back, he grinned. "Nice job."
"You too. We're one step closer." Ashley's gaze wandered over to Blackstone. He looked relaxed and happy as he spoke to some of the television crew. Frustrated with herself, she deliberately turned her back on him. It didn't matter that he'd advanced too.
She glanced down at her apron and brushed at the cocoa powder streaks across the center. From the corner of her eye, a flash of movement caught her attention. She looked up. One of the show's producers headed toward their station.
Xavier lifted a gentle hand to her face and brushed his fingers over her cheek. "They're coming over, and you've got flour right there."
Ashley held still as her nerves tingled from his touch. "Thanks."
"How do I look? Any flour? Or chocolate?" His eyes twinkled under the lights as he stepped back and raised his arms out to the side, opening himself up for her inspection.
Her fingers itched to touch him, but they had an audience. "You're lucky. Most of it stayed on the apron."
The producer, a thin, tired-looking woman with sleek brown hair and a beige sweater walked up to their station, followed by one of the cameramen. "Congratulations. My name is Liz, and this is Gary." She gestured to the balding man beside her.
Gary moved in closer. "Just look into the camera. Relax and act natural."
Ashley grinned and extended her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. We're so excited to take part in the competition."
Liz glanced from Ashley to Xavier. "How was working together?"
"Smooth sailing." Maybe they'd encountered a few waves, but all in all, not bad. Yet.
Xavier's warm hand landed on her shoulder. "She's modest. Ashley is very patient with me. I'm really happy we've survived to bake another day."
"Your teammates said that you have a side bet going?"
That was news to her. Ashley swung her gaze to Xavier.
"Oh yeah, that's true. Six of us agreed to each donate ten grand to the winning teammate's charity."
Lips pressed together, Liz studied their t-shirts. "You've got a great name and cute logo." Her voice was thoughtful. She raised her gaze to meet Gary's. He nodded.
Ashley swelled with pride. "Thanks. My mom came up with the color combination and the name. She has—had—a great eye for design."
Xavier's hand tightened on her shoulder again and then rubbed. She lifted her gaze and smiled her thanks.
"Well, good luck the rest of the way, kids." Gary boomed with a laugh. "We need to talk to the other teams who'll be joining you in Round Two."
"Yes," Liz nodded, "I'm looking forward to your creations going forward. Best of luck to you. We'll give you a few minutes to freshen up before you film your post-round interview. You're scheduled to be in Event Room A in fifteen minutes."
"We'll be there."
With a wave, Liz and Gary strolled over to Blackstone's station.
Xavier's hand finally slid away. He leaned his hip against the counter. "They liked you."
"We don't know that..." Ashley glanced around the room. The other teams were mingling with the crowd. The crew remained, laughing, joking and breaking down their equipment.
Time to leave.
The open side of their station faced the open side of Blackstone's. Wanting to avoid the awkwardness of meeting them face-to-face, she pulled out her phone. "Come on, let's get out of here."
She maneuvered her way toward the open side, keeping watch on Blackstone out of the corner of her eye. When she reached the space between their stations, she quickened her pace but sensed Xavier slowing down. Looking to her left, she winced.
He'd stopped and waited for Blackstone and Tyson.
Tyson strolled over and grabbed him in a half-hug, half-handshake. "Nice job. We're both moving on to round two. Too bad Everson didn't, but I guess he can cheer us on now."
Every atom in Ashley's body wanted to get away from Blackstone. "Yep, congratulations. Hey, Xavier, I'll see you later."
"Hold on. I'll walk out with you."
"No. It's fine."
Blackstone stepped back, gesturing for her to go ahead. "Ladies first."
She nodded her thanks and walked past, relieved when Xavier followed her. He guided her over to see Ryan and Everson.
Ryan hugged her. "You guys did great."
"Thanks. I'm so glad we were selected." Her smile beamed. But then she realized that Everson team's name hadn't been called. "I'm sorry you didn't continue on to the next round."
Everson shrugged and pulled Ryan close. "I'm not. That was too much pressure. It'll be more fun to bug the guys instead. That producer," he paused to point to Liz, "asked me to take a turn with the host's microphone during the next round. So I'll get to invade your workstations."
Xavier groaned. "Great. Better not sabotage me."
"Would I do that?"
"Maybe not you..."
Ashley caught Blackstone's gaze as the teammates bantered. Ignoring him hadn't worked so well. She resolved to do better. Winning the competition would be sweet revenge. She wouldn't let anything stand in her way.
* * *
Event room A was much quieter than the massive room that housed the competition.
Xavier soaked in the lack of constant noise. After the events of the day, he didn't mind a little time to himself to recharge and gather his thoughts before launching into the interview.
Advancing to the next round made him happy, and Ashley ecstatic. She'd seemed too stressed during the actual competition. He'd have to help her loosen up during round two.
Beside him, she rested her hand on her hip and twisted, stretching her back muscles. "I can't wait to soak in a hot bath. I think every single muscle in my body was tightened today from the stress and pressure."
The offer to give her a hand was on the tip of his tongue, but he thought of their "deal" and then how the temptation for both of them was too great.
Thankfully, the show's host arrived with Liz and Gary. "Ashley and Xavier, we'll go live with this too. Just act natural."
Xavier rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck. After years of on-camera interviews, talking directly to the camera was as easy as holding a conversation with the person behind it.
Gary got into position, and Liz gave the host the signal. He smiled a toothy grin worthy of a toothpaste commercial and began. "We're here with Xavier Brennan and Ashley Yates of Team Bliss Bakery. So, you two, congratulations on moving on to round two. But let's talk about round one for a minute. What was it like, baking live tonight?"
Ashley laughed. "In a word, stressful."
"Like I was in a no-huddle, hurry up offense all night long," Xavier added. "But Ashley's great and she kept us on task."
The host nodded. "Some teams looked a little unsteady today. How do you think you'll get along as teammates?"
Xavier opened his mouth, ready to spout off the typical athlete answer about playing as a team, but Ashley laid her hand on his forearm, stopping him.
"Xavier has already gone above and beyond as a teammate. We've spent a lot of time practicing for this competition. He's dedicated. In fact, he was on his way to New York to co-host Pro Football Daily, and stopped by the bakery to get some cupcakes for everyone who works on the show. My delivery van broke down right before he arrived. I had a huge cake that had to be delivered and no way to get there and time was running out. He insisted that we use his SUV, then rushed to catch his train. But he missed it by a minute and missed his chance to be on the show. All because he helped me."
Xavier rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. Embarrassment twisted with surprise and pleasure. "Gotta take care of your teammate, right?"
"Not everyone would do what you did." Then she shifted her gaze to the camera. "I really hope the football show producers give him another opportunity. He deserves it."
Touched, Xavier turned to her. She'd said that she'd try to make it up to him. Those cookies for him and his dog were more than enough. Hell, just her thought to even try to help him was more than enough. But to do what she did here, on live TV? Definitely a badass warrior move. "Thanks, Ash."
The host cleared his throat. "Yes, well. Moving on to performing in this competition. You mentioned to me earlier in the round that you were using family recipes?"
"We are." Xavier caught Ashley's gaze, and they shared a smile. "We both lost our moms to cancer, so using their recipes in this battle of Cakes Against Cancer, just felt right."
As Ashley spoke about the bakery being her mother's legacy, and how she got into baking, Xavier sat quietly.
"How about it, Xavier? Anything else to add?"
He quickly launched into a pitch for his foundation and ended with a plug for the upcoming 5k run. "There's still time to register for our charity 5k run this Saturday morning. As an extra incentive, Ashley will be there, and she'll have sweet treats for the finishers table."
* * *
Saturday morning came too early. Rising before six o’clock to make sure he arrived early at the event venue was tough when he’d only gotten a few hours' sleep the night before.
He and his team spoke to volunteers and vendors, and he worked his ass off to help out wherever he was needed. The bi-annual 5k raised a good amount of money for his foundation. Ensuring a positive experience for everyone involved meant that they would keep returning, and the event could keep growing, and his small way to honor his mom would contribute to helping find a cure for such a devastating disease.
The race route would take runners on a course around the sports complex, under the highway, and back again. Fun and fast, with plenty of volunteers cheering the runners along their way. The start and finish lines were in line with the giant Frenzy logo at the stadium’s top. He was grateful for the organization’s support.
Seeing Ashley set up at a table with Bliss Bakery’s sunny logo gave him an energy hit. She was flanked on her right by Shane and Leo staffing a table for the family gym, and on her left by Mario.
Xavier hadn’t spoken to his friend since their stilted conversation weeks earlier. He’d have to remedy it if he could, but not here and not now.
With all of the runners checked in, and the camera crew for one of the local news stations set up, he picked up the megaphone and hopped onto the platform serving as their temporary stage. "Thank you all for coming out and supporting our foundation. We appreciate your commitment to our cause. Thanks to you and your sponsors, we’ve raised thirteen thousand dollars."
Applause and cheers rang out from the crowd.
He hoped his mom would be proud of what he was trying to accomplish, and wondered if she somehow knew that her boys had all stuck together. He missed her advice and her hugs. At odd moments he kept wondering what she'd think of the lives they’d chosen, and if she would’ve been happy with their choices.
"As some of you know, my family lost my mom to cancer when she was far too young. Every cent of the money we raised will go to cancer research. Together, hopefully, someday soon, we’ll find a cure."
More cheers rang out, and he spotted his brothers and dad in the crowd. Then he glanced at Ashley and wondered what his mother would have thought about her.
"Okay, let’s get this race underway. Runners, on your mark. Get set. Go!"
With a cheer, the pack took off. Xavier handed off the megaphone to an assistant and joined the race. During the three-point-two miles, he laughed and joked with various runners and listened to stories from a few cancer survivors.
Too soon, the finish line came into view. He crossed it and found his family waiting by the finishers’ area. His father, Ryan, and Everson were helping the foundation’s volunteers pass out information sheets. Xavier hugged and thanked them, and continued with his rounds. He gave a quote to the news station, and then stopped to say thank you to every member of his team and the volunteers. He also posed for countless photos with runners. Running the event meant being available to everyone and anyone. He did it happily, because the cause mattered so much.
Ashley’s table was popular. She had cupcakes with pink and white frosting and cookies shaped like sneakers, decorated in pink icing and sprinkles.
Mario’s was busy as well. The cups of coffee and a tray of biscotti disappeared fast. And Shane and Leo had zero problems pulling people in. They tossed water bottles with the gym’s logo to people in the crowd.
The event wound down. When the cleanup crew took over the area, Xavier’s time freed up. A glance at the finishers' area showed tables already broken down. Ashley stood nearby, chatting with Leo and Shane. Mario was off to the side, speaking with one of the volunteers. Xavier rolled his shoulders, put a smile on his face, and headed in that direction. When he reached Mario, the volunteer had gone, and there wasn’t anyone or anything to help break the ice. "Thanks for being here today."
"What are friends for?" Sarcasm coated Mario’s words, matching the displeasure twisting his features.
Disappointment and regret and hurt folded into each other. Xavier stared at his friend and ignored the ache in his chest. "I think you know. Even if we don’t fit the description lately."
With wooden movements, his one-time friend shouldered a bag that held fliers for the café. "I need to get back to the café."
Xavier watched him go, aware of the weight of Leo and Shane’s stares. As always, they were ready to jump to his aid if needed.
Soft, cool fingers touched the back of his arm, and Ashley joined him. "What’s with that guy?"
How did he possibly explain? "We had a sort of disagreement."
"I figured as much." Her gaze was part sympathy and part worry, but she didn't say anything more. Her fingers slid down his arm, crossed his palm, and linked with his.
Xavier gripping her hand as he grasped control of his emotions. "Want to take a walk?"
At her nod, he faced his brothers. "Thanks for being here and helping today. I’ll see you back at Dad’s house."
Holding Ashley’s hand, he headed for the football stadium’s deserted steps. They climbed to the top and sat on cool concrete.
Ashley smiled at him and shivered in the cool air sliding around them like silk. Her hair danced around her face, taunting him to dive his hands in and feel the strands slither through his fingers.
Xavier slipped his arm around her shoulders. "I needed to get away from the rest of the world for a minute."
She snuggled closer and rested her hand on his thigh. "Leo and Shane are so nice. They included me in their conversation the whole morning. I appreciated that. They also told me some stories about you. I really like your family."
"I do, too."
"Most of the people I met were friendly. That Mario guy kept to himself, and that’s fine, everyone doesn’t have to be warm and fuzzy.”
Something in her tone set off his protective instincts. "Was he rude to you?”
"No.” She sighed and seemed to be choosing her words carefully. "He clearly didn’t want to talk to me or your brothers. He kept glaring at you a lot, too. And I heard Leo tell Shane a few times not go over there and start something.”
Shit.
After an intense internal debate, he decided to tell her. The connection they shared, the feeling he had whenever he was around her was deeper than anything he’d ever felt before. If they continued seeing each other, it would come up eventually. After spending so much time with her over the previous weeks, he couldn’t see her as having a hidden agenda. She was kind and amazing, and he hoped like hell that trusting his instincts wouldn’t come back to bite him in the ass. "Up until a few years ago, I blew through all of my football contract money. Some of it was due to enjoying life a little too much, but most of it went to helping the people and causes that I cared about. I didn’t think about saving anything for myself."
Her forehead crinkled and she patted his leg in comfort. "After spending time with you, I’m not surprised that you gave it all away to help others. You’re a good man."
Whether or not he succeeded, he tried to be his best self. "Football contracts aren’t guaranteed. And I’m already thirty. I know some guys are playing until their late thirties or early forties, but they seem to be the exception, not the rule. One injury could end it all. This contract might be my last one. So the money needs to last as long and stretch as far as it can. I can’t help out like I was able to do before, and some people have a hard time accepting that."
Her gaze shimmered with understanding. "Like Mario."
"Exactly. But not just Mario. It’s a little lonely when people who were supposed to be friends show that you were nothing more than a means to an end for them."
She lifted her hand to his face and gently traced a path from his temple to his chin. Then she tilted her head up and lightly kissed his jaw. "I’m sorry. I’m sure that makes it hard to trust people. When things like with Mario happen it hurts, but it also shows you the ones you can count on, who will always be there. If you focus on that, it could make the hurt, well, hurt less."
The gesture of comfort, that she'd felt the need to reassure him, moved him deeply. Xavier leaned down slowly, watching her eyes, seeing himself in the amber and gold. He paused for a moment, drawing in her scent, watching her lips part and hearing her breath catch. Moving achingly slow, he touched his lips to hers.
She wrapped her arms around him, and warmth spread through him, thawing the cold, untouched parts of his soul.
After a long moment, Ashley pulled back, her gaze searching his face. "You look so weary. Can I do anything to help?"
He drew her back against him. "You already are."
