Page 67 of My Secret Bandit

After scrubbing away the sex and left-over chocolate, we returned to the bed cuddling together.

“Jameson. I more than love you. Like way fucking more,” he said, repeating his phrase from the day he asked me to be his girlfriend, only changing that one important word.

I snuggled in further, my body relaxing into him as he held me. I smiled up at him, cupping my hand against his jaw and brushing my thumb over his cheek.

“I more than love you too.” I smiled as I repeated my response to him. Knowing deep down I officially gave my entire being, my entire heart and soul to him.

Backinthecomfortof my Tampa office, Jeffrey stopped by. Frustration framed his features. Having to hear about the flight and my near press box breakdown from Suzanne wasn’t sitting well with him. I knew I should’ve been the one to tell him but I didn’t want any more pity being thrown my way. This weekend had provided plenty. He forgot his worries when I told him how Suzanne single-handedly saved my career, though.

“Are you blushing?” I grinned, pinching his tan cheek.

“Stop it.” He tried to hold back a laugh as he swatted my hand away and failed. Miserably.

“I knew you were a romantic.” I gave a light pat to his shoulder.

Still smiling, his cheeks grew more flushed. “I can’t help it, the woman is a saint. Okay? And I came in here to be serious, damn it.” He feigned frustration, lifting from his seat on the corner of my desk and yanking the sleeves of his shirt down over his wrists. “How’s Mateo?”

I sat back in my chair and swiveled around to see my phone. Hitting the screen, I looked for a new notification.

Still nothing.

I let out a long sigh before answering. “He’s okay. Doctor Baker said he’ll be good to play this week.”

“That’s good. Now, how are you?” His fatherly stare told me he already knew how I was but needed verbal confirmation.

“You saw the article?” I asked nervously.

“Yep,” he said with a pop of his lips. “I talked to someone over at the piece of shit they call a publication this morning. They agreed to get it down by the end of the day.”

Relief ran through me. “What do you mean? Xander tried getting it down and no one would budge.”

“Cleary, I’m a little scarier than Pretty Boy. I know who wrote itandwho the source was. I threatened to release information on both unless it got taken down before my head hit the pillow tonight.”

Overwhelmed, I hugged him. He wrapped his arms around my ribcage and squeezed tight. I felt a huge weight fall off my shoulders.

“I know most of the damage is already done, but I couldn’t stomach the thought of it lingering on the internet forever,” he said while still hugging me.

“Thank you, Jeffrey,” I said, smiling so hard my cheeks ached. I moved back toward my phone, picking it up to message Mateo. “So who was it?” I asked.

“Ariel. Hateful shrew. You know, her parents would’ve been better off naming her Ursula.”

Of course! The ex-wife.

Given our Jeffrey connection and vastly different opinions of him, I did best to avoid the woman and the toxic trail of venom she left behind as she sneered in my direction.

“Apparently she and Kyle use game days and practices to share their frustrations concerning you and me.”

“You’re not serious!” My voice jumped an octave as anger replaced joy. Anger geared toward Kyle. Ariel. Even myself.

My mind went back to the night Mateo met my friends. When they all found out I was dating him. When Kyle had to force his fist open to manage something as simple as a fucking handshake.

He’d also been at practices where Mateo and I shared conversations and looks that were more intimate than professional. But never in a million years did I think he’d be shitty enough to air my personal business for public consumption.

“Where is he?” I asked, my sight turning red around the edges as my feet moved on their own to the door.

“He’s not here. He’s still with his family.” Jeffrey held onto my shoulders, looking me in the eye. “When he gets back, I’m firing him.”

As he spoke, the redness faded, and I shook my head. “You can’t.”

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