JP held up his hands to fend her off. "Trust me, boss, I know. Dominic's already read me the riot act for three days."

Her gaze was steady. "I don't know what lucky star you were born under, but having Dominic swoop in and turn you into a decent player, and then decide to retire so you have a shot at his spot, is pretty much the luckiest thing I've ever seen." She paused to make sure he understood what she was saying. "Don't blow it today. One fumble, one misstep, and everything comes crashing down. Got it?"

JP nodded respectfully. "Loud and clear. Now let's go kick some ass."

By that afternoon, her phones wouldn't slop ringing. The San Francisco Chronicle had printed an interview with Dominic about not only his past but his role in training JP. Word quickly hit the street that the Outlaws were thinking about signing him to their already full roster.

Other teams knew what this meant. A guy like Dominic DiMarco wouldn't put his reputation behind anyone who didn't have the elusive "it" that won Super Bowl rings.

Melissa had spent several years assisting her father during free-agent negotiations and she knew exactly how this game worked. The only problem was, she didn't have enough hands to take care of everything, enough phones or space in her voice mail to deal with the messages. A stack of thirty unanswered voice mails sat on her kitchen table. What she wouldn't give for an assistant.

Even though she should have been concentrating solely on JP's career, Melissa couldn't help thinking about Dominic. Had there been any backlash from the article? Was Dominic feeling vulnerable? Did he have anyone to lean on?

More than anything, she wanted to comfort him, confess her love.

But she couldn't. If she kissed him, touched him, they'd just keep playing out the same scene again and again.

Him helping her. Her resenting it.

Him declaring his love. Her not sure she believed it, with mind-blowing sex to fill in any gaps. Sex that only confused her more.

Her phone stopped ringing and in the rare silence a glimmer of realization took shape. She'd always assumed that Dominic had helped her because he didn't think she was strong enough or talented enough to handle the business on her own. But what if she'd been wrong?

When they'd worked with JP at his lakefront house, Dominic hadn't once questioned her judgment. He'd looked at her with respect, agreed with her decisions pertaining to JP's career.

Could it be that he'd helped her because he was a good man who loved her and only wanted what was best for her?

Both phones rang at the same time. Right now, business had to come first. As soon as JP's new deal was put to rest, she'd turn her entire focus to her relationship

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The following morning, Melissa's first stop was JP's house. She'd kept him abreast of negotiations throughout the previous day, and as of seven a.m. he was officially a San Francisco Outlaw.

Holding a bottle of champagne in the crook of her arm, she rang the doorbell. A woman yelled, "Coming," from behind the closed door.

The woman's voice was strangely familiar, but when her friend Alice opened the door wearing nothing but one of JP's T-shirts, Melissa couldn't contain her shocked expression. "What? How?"

Alice dragged her inside, then inspected the label on the champagne bottle.

"You have excellent taste," she proclaimed. "This is going to be yummy."

"You? JP?" Melissa was reduced to stuttering. "I don't get it."

Alice shook her head. "Me, neither. All I know is that he's funny. I've never dated a guy with a sense of humor before."

Her friend's face and eyes looked softer than Melissa remembered having seen them, and she was glowing. Amazing.

Alice leaned in close and said in a stage whisper, "And he's seriously talented in the bedroom."

Melissa held up a hand. "I don't think I can handle the details."

"I never in a million years thought I'd be having hot monkey sex with a pro football player. And that I'd like it. I thought you might not exactly approve."

Alice's words tugged at her heart. "I want you to be happy. And if JP makes you happy, then I'm happy. I'm just surprised. That's all." She pulled her friend into a hug. "You could have called and warned me, though," she teased.

"I feel really bad about not returning your phone calls. I was embarrassed at first."

JP walked into the kitchen wearing boxer shorts. "I heard that," he said to Alice, grabbing her and kissing her.

Judging by their kiss, he wasn't the least bit upset by what Alice had said about him. Maybe he wasn't cocky. Maybe he was just surprisingly secure, when all the rest of them were emotional basket cases.

"Hey, boss," he finally said. "Thanks for the killer new deal."

Still reeling, Melissa said, "Congratulations. Now don't fuck it up."

"I won't let him," Alice said with a wicked gleam in her eyes. JP pulled her into his arms and Melissa smiled at them, knowing she was already forgotten.

Maybe, she suddenly thought, love doesn't always have to make sense.

Fifteen minutes later, Melissa stepped out of a taxi in front of the McKnight Agency building. Sunbeams peeked through the tall buildings as she stood on the sidewalk and looked at the familiar scene. Busi-nesspeople rushed to work in suits and heels; a few women chatted in front of the corner coffee shop with babies in front-packs on their chests.

Everything was just as it had always been.

And yet completely different.

When she stepped into the McKnight Agency foyer, she was immediately surrounded by people shaking her hand, all talking at once. Clearly, no one knew about her scene with her father yesterday. No one seemed to know that she'd quit and walked out.

"Congratulations!"

"You've made the deal of the year."

"How'd you turn JP around so quickly?"

"I learned everything I know from you guys," she said with a wide grin.

A few minutes later, she faced the long walk to her father's office. He must have heard the commotion, but he hadn't come out to greet her. After the way she'd left his office, throwing the words I quit at him, it was up to her to make the first move.

Just like she'd need to make the first move with Dominic.

Angie was at her usual post in front of Tom's office, a rare smile on her face. "We're all so proud of you," she said softly.

In all the years they'd known each other, this was the nicest and most personal thing Angie had ever said to her.

"Go on in," Angie said. "Your father's waiting for you. And, honey"—she paused, which gave Melissa a moment to digest the very unexpected endearment— "go easy on him."

Melissa opened the door. Her father immediately stood up. Strangely, he looked nervous.

"Congratulations," he said before she could close the door. "I'm very impressed with the deal you negotiated for JP."

She swallowed back sudden tears. "All my life," she admitted, "I've wanted you to be proud of me."

"I already was," he said, with a shake of his head. "But I never knew how to tell you." He cleared his throat. "I didn't mean what I said about you and Dominic—the way I said it."

"I know you didn't, Daddy. Our relationship shouldn't have been a secret."

"You couldn't have chosen a better man."

"I know."

The next thing she knew, his arms were around her and he was hugging her, just like he used to when she was little and had skinned her knee. He'd always loved her. Now it felt good to know that he respected her, as well.