Free Game For Love: All The Right Moves (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Marquita Valentine Page B

taking a step back.
    “I’ve been traded to Atlanta. I’m their new tight end.”
    “But that’s Ryan’s position.” Oh crap. She shouldn’t have said Ryan’s name. Now, Dean would be suspicious, or worse, figure out they were dating.
    “It was his position, and now it’s mine.”
    “But you play for The Outlaws . In San Francisco.” Last year, after Dean’s trade to the franchise, her brothers had almost stopped being fans.
    Dean shook his head , and then took her hands in his. “I know you don’t understand sports, Ash, but when players are traded, that means one stays and the other goes. Ryan’s leaving.”
    “But no one to ld me,” she whispered.
    “I’m sure he has his reasons.”
    Dean knew. Somehow, he knew about her and Ryan. She yanked her hands away. “What are you doing here?”
    “Thought I’d stop by and see what you were up to.”
    “Now that you’ve seen me, you can leave,” she said, determined to not say another word about Ryan or show how she felt right now.
    “You don’t look so good, babe.” He smirked, his green eyes roving over her. “But I guess Ryan likes my leftovers.” Dean glanced at her house. “Oh, look, it’s the house you always wanted.”
    She balled up her hand, thumb resting against her pointer finger. “Dean?” she called softly.
    “Yeah, babe?” He turned to face her.
    “Get the hell off my property.” Then, she let her fist fly.
    It landed with a satisfactory crunch against his nose. His hands flew up, as blood went everywhere.
    “What’s wrong with you, you crazy bitch?” He leaned his head back, moaning and groaning against his hands.
    “Wow, Dean, you don’t look so good.”
    His eyes widened in response.
    “Let me help you to your car.” She opened the door, managing to smack his knee with it.
    “Fuck!”
    “I’m so sorry, Dean. You remember how clumsy I am.”
    “Not really,” he said, folding himself into the driver’s seat.
    “Then let me remind you,” she said, swinging the door shut on his leg.
    He let out another howl of pain.
    Finally, she broke down and let her anger out, “That’s for leaving me on our wedding day, you selfish pig!” She threw her body against the car door, making it bounce off his already hurt leg. “And that’s for assuming you knew what I wanted without asking me.”
    “I’m sorry,” Dean shouted . “Jesus, Ashley. Stop .”
    “You really are sorry, and I hope the Avengers lose every game that you play in,” she said , dusting off her hands. “Now, unless you want to go another round, I suggest you leave.”
    Dean couldn’t shut his door fast enough. His tires smoked and left marks in her driveway, as he sped out of there.
    “God , that felt good,” she said to herself.
    Suddenly, it hit her. Ryan was leaving, and he hadn’t told her a damn thing about it. Just like Dean.
     
    ***
     
    Ryan paid for his purchases and walked the couple of blocks to his apartment building. Tonight, he would ask Ashley to come with him to Dallas. And if she said yes to that, then he was going to ask her to come with him as his wife.
    In his opinion, it was a win-win. She could bring Bluebelle and every design she had with her, while he played for his dream team.
    The doorman touched his cap. “Ms. Mitchell beat you home, sir.”
    Damn it. He handed the flowers to Larry. “Thanks. Please take these to your wife and say they’re from you.”
    “She’d like it better if I said they were from you,” Larry said with a big grin.
    Ryan clapped the man on the shoulder. “Whatever makes her happy.”
    Double -checking to make sure the engagement ring he’d had made for Ashley was securely in his pocket, he set off in the direction of the elevators and took the first available one to his floor.
    Victory , like the first time he won the Super Bowl, flowed through him. He was assured a victory tonight. There was no way he could lose.
    As soon as he explained all the reasons why she should come to Dallas with