Page 42 of Over Time Advantage

Tears fill my eyes as I look up at him. “Why would you do this to me? Was this some big joke to you?”

His face immediately falls before he shakes his head. “No, just the opposite. I…I understood why you wouldn’t go out with me. I just wanted the chance to get to know you and for you to get to know me without all the other nonsense clouding things.” He licks his lips nervously. “You know this kind of stuff,” he toggles his finger between us, “has been a struggle for me. I felt something for you the night we met. You said you felt it too. Don’t leave. Please.”

“Was that real? Was any of it real?”

“All of it was real,” he says with sincerity written all over his face. “Everything except my name.”

“And your job,” I bite back.

“We never discussed our jobs,” he reminds me before motioning his hand toward the booth. “Please sit so we can talk. I’ve been looking forward to tonight for such a long time.”

I study his face. He seems heartfelt. I’m so confused. I wasn’t expecting this, but I’d be lying if I said I’m completely disappointed. At least my worries over whether or not I’d be attracted to Lloyd have been assuaged, and it’s not like Jett Jeffries hasn’t been on my mind since that party. I’ve watched every video of him in existence…over and over again.

My eyes move down his imposing frame as I take in his appearance. He’s wearing jeans that hug his body like a glove. I can practically see the muscles in his thick quads as they stretch the denim to its max. He’s so damn big. I nearly forgot how big he is. He towers over me.

His shirt is tucked into his jeans, showing his trim waist. My eyes move up to his broad chest and bulging biceps. I know what they look like under that shirt. The cowboy hat just adds to the damn fantasy.

Fuck. I’m screwed.

After a few moments of hesitation, I eventually sit, and he follows suit. He looks so nervous. It’s hard to believe that a man who looks like Jett would ever be nervous around a woman, but given everything I’ve learned about him over the past few months, I suppose it makes sense. Assuming it’s all true.

“Start talking,” I demand with a heavy dose of edge in my tone.

He nods as he removes his cowboy hat and places it on the booth next to him. He runs his fingers through his dark, slightly overgrown hair before saying, “We spent time together at that party. It was a special night for me. Something very unexpected happened. It flipped a switch in me I didn’t know still existed. I wanted to spend time with you afterward, but you turned me down. Knowing it was about my job and not me, per se, I came up with the idea that maybe if you got to know me without my job and other distractions, you might reconsider.”

I shake my head. “Jett, this is silly. Why would you go to all this trouble? You can have any woman you want.”

He tilts his head to the side. “This isn’t about getting any woman. I don’t want any woman, Fallon. I want you. Since the second I saw you, the second your body squeezed in next to mine, the second I saw your smile, you’re all I can think about.” He runs his fingers through his thick, dark hair, which is a little longer than when we met. “I know I’m coming on strong, but I don’t see the sense in pussyfooting around this anymore. It’s been long enough. My season is over. It will be months before my next one kicks into gear. Please, just allow me to spend time with you.” He reaches over and cups my cheek. “Just one chance. I’ll happily leave my job at five every day if it means getting to be with you.”

His thumb brushes over my lower lip, and I get the same thrill I felt when our bodies touched all those months ago. The attraction we share is palpable, like nothing I’ve ever experienced, even with Tanner.

“Your lips,” he continues as he stares at them, “were the first thing I noticed about you. They’re so full. Naturally full. Then you smiled at me, and I had this overwhelming need to make you smile as much as possible.” His eyes meet mine. “You are, without a single doubt, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life.” He shakes his head as the corners of his mouth curve up a little bit. “I’ve been shamelessly googling you. There’s not a picture of you in existence that I haven’t seen.”

He licks his lips. “While my initial attraction to you was physical, it’s grown to be so much more over the past few months. You’re sweet, smart, and funny. And you’re such an amazing mom. The best part of my day is getting into bed and talking to you. Please.” He takes my hand, brings it to his lips, and kisses it. “One chance. I don’t know if I’m capable of giving you everything you deserve, but I want to try. There’s something between us. A connection. It’s special. You’re special.”

I’m quiet after his little speech. I have no words. No man has ever said anything like this to me before.

He swallows nervously. “Shower?”

My eyes widen. “What?”

“When you were in the shower getting ready for tonight, were you excited?”

I nod and answer truthfully. “I was.”

“Don’t you want that feeling? I had it tonight for the first time in my life. It’s that hopeful feeling in the pit of your stomach. It gets your heart racing, and no matter what you do, you can’t stop smiling. I unnecessarily hurried through my shower because I was so damn excited to finally spend real time with you. To dance with you.” He pauses briefly as he rubs circles on my hand with his thumb. “To touch you. The possibility of kissing the lips I’ve been dreaming of. I’ve played in Super Bowls, and I can say with complete honesty that I’ve never been more excited for anything in my life than finally getting my first real date with you.”

I stare at him in shock. What am I supposed to say to all that? I’m obviously physically attracted to Jett. I’ve forged an emotional connection to Lloyd. I just didn’t realize they were the same man.

I look at him. “Is everything else true? I need to know our conversations were real. Honesty is important to me.”

He nods as he continues holding my hand.

I squeeze it in return. “Years? It’s been years for you?”

He nods again.

Tears fill my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Jett.”