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CHAPTER 1

Nate Johnston entered the private dining room at his favorite seafood restaurant and froze, his expensive Italian loafers rooted to the floor

The ghost of relationships past

Kendra didn’t need to turn around for hinize the woman he’d once shared his bed with; the mother of his six-year-old son He sensed her presence—like so beneath his skin—the instant he stepped into the room

Nate was in theprofessional football career Why would his brother invite him to dinner with the woo?

“Glad you’re here, Nate Have a seat” His brother Marcus indicated the seat next to Kendra

Nate narrowed his gaze at his brother and took the seat beside him instead “You asked me to meet you for dinner to discuss the situation”

As if Kendra and every other sports network viewer hadn’t seen the grainy cell phone footage of hi his tea they’d endured at the hands of their division rivals A devastating loss that put the brakes on the Memphis Marauders play-off run for the third year in a row

The video had been edited to make hi how his own mistakes—a dropped pass and a costly fumble—had contributed to the loss

“That’s why she’s here” Marcus’s response was terse As Nate’s sports agent, Marcus’s job had become ten ti

“Hello, Nate” Kendra’s apologetic s he didn’t

Nate’s attention was drawn to her expressive face How did she et more beautiful every time he saw her?

Head full of short, dark curls Sheen on high blast Style on point Body-hugging knit dress in his favorite color on her—Marauders blue The color perfectly contrasted the expanse of smooth brown skin exposed by the neckline of her dress