Free All In: Playing to Win (Gambling With Love Book 5) by Lane Hart Page B

breath. It's okay. It's just money."
    "Ha!" she exclaims. “Just money? It’s enough to buy a house!”
    "You're a football fan, so you probably know that I'm the fourth highest paid quarterback in the league, right? I have a five year, eighty million dollar contract with the Wildcats. And that doesn't include the millions I make from sponsors for shoes, boxer-briefs, razors, sports drinks, and appearances."
    "So you're saying that two hundred thousand dollars for you is like what, two hundred dollars is to me?"
    "No, I understand and appreciate that it's a lot of money, but I also know that I've still got plenty of it left."
    "I feel a little sick," she says, and when I glance over again she's rubbing her hand over her stomach. I think she is actually physically ill at the idea of me spending that much money.
    "I shouldn't have told you, because it doesn't matter. It's for the sick kids, woman!"
    "I'm glad you're helping the sick kids, I really am, and it's amazing of you, but new rule," she says. "You can't spend more than a hundred dollars, not thousands, but one hundred dollars total per date on our remaining dates."
    "What the hell kind of dates will they be?" I look over and ask indignantly when we come up on a stoplight. "Dinner at a fast food drive-thru and admission to the Rinky Dink ?"
    "Ha! That would be hilarious...to see you...at the Rinky Dink ...on skates. I think that might actually be...worth a hundred thousand dollars to see," she throws her head back against the seat and laughs. For the first time in three days she actually looks happy. There's something in those sad, jade eyes of hers that always appear cautious or worried, even when she's smiling. But right this second, she looks carefree and...astonishingly beautiful.
    A honking horn alerts me that the light turned green and I didn't even notice. I accelerate again and make the final turn into Chemistry , the club hosting the event.
    "Wow, that’s...that's a lot of cameras," Natalie mutters softly when we pull up to the busy entrance.
    "We just have to stand still for a couple of pictures and then we can go inside, okay?"
    "I should've dressed up more. I'm not...are you sure you want to be seen out in public with me?" she asks.
    I look over at her to judge her sincerity, to see if she's just fishing for a compliment. I know right away that the panic on her face is genuine. She really doesn't know how beautiful she is. How is that possible? If I have to be seen out in public with the same woman for weeks, I want it to be Natalie.
    "Why wouldn't I want to be seen with you? Do you own a mirror?" I ask, putting the car in park.
    "Even all dressed up I'm still just average compared to all the women you're usually seen with."
    "I thought we went through all that yesterday," I say, blowing out my breath in frustration. She’s also getting too close for comfort in the whole reason we’re going out. She is different, she's not a gold-digging slut. "All right, from now on whenever you make a self-deprecating statement I'm going to spank you. Please, keep it up so I can get my hands on your very fine ass. Understood?"
    "Uh-huh," she mutters, looking out the window at the roped off group of paparazzi like she's going to be sick. 
    "Natalie," I say, reaching for her hand and intertwining her tiny, childlike fingers with mine to reassure her. "You look absolutely gorgeous, so please stop worrying."
    "Thank you," she replies softly, lowering her eyes.
    "Ready?" I ask after giving her another minute, and she finally nods.
    Letting her hand go, I climb out of the car. Before I can give my keys to the valet and go around to open Natalie's door, she's already stepping out of course. Her eyes are wide, and she's biting her bottom lip nervously.
    "Just keep thinking about me skating circles around you at the Rinky Dink . All six feet, five inches trying to balance on a pair of four tiny wheels," I whisper against her ear, while guiding her forward with a hand on the