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  Desire and Jealousy

  Desire and Jealousy

  Daring Love Book Two

  Dawn Brower

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Epilogue

  Afterword

  About The Author

  Also by Dawn Brower

  Acknowledgments

  Excerpt: Seduction and Betryal

  Prologue

  Excerpt: Unbridled Pursuit

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Excerpt: Never Disregard a Wallflower

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Desire and Jealousy © 2021 Dawn Brower

  Cover art by Victoria Miller

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Be brave. If you love someone tell them. It might surprise you, but even if it doesn’t, at least you’ll know one way or the other. Besides it is always nice to know someone loves you…

  Prologue

  A crack of thunder echoed around Allison Duvall as she parked her car outside the apartment building. The cold rain added a chill to the air that made her shiver. It was a sleek building recently built to cater to the elite who could afford the exorbitant cost of owning one of the posh living spaces. She could never afford to live in that building, and part of her never wanted to. The people who could had always looked down their noses at her. She wouldn’t even be there if she didn’t have to. Unfortunately, her prime client had changed his residence, and had then did his damn best to ghost her.

  Paxton Kerry, the quarterback for the Seattle Starlings, had become the bane of her existence. Part of her was regretting her decision to become an agent in Vitoria Miene’s management firm. She wanted to move up, but she hated that her first client…her test…was proving to be far more difficult than she had anticipated. It had started well and then took a nosedive faster than she could blink. Paxton was determined to destroy his life, and Allison’s as well.

  She took a deep breath and stepped out of the car. Rain descended on her in droves. She flipped open her umbrella, but it did little good. Allison was soaked through and the umbrella offered little protection. She cursed and dashed to the entrance and rushed inside. Shivers rolled over her as she shook uncontrollably. Sometimes she wondered why she’d left New York and moved across country. It rained more than she liked in Seattle, but at least most of the time, as long as she planned for it, it didn’t cause any major issues. She might be currently drenched, but she could still corner Paxton.

  Allison shook her umbrella and closed it. Her teeth chattered, and a lock of her copper-gold hair fell over her eyes, blocking her line of sight. She brushed it to the side, then moved farther into the building, nodded at the man tending the desk, and then headed to the elevator. When Paxton had been more congenial, he’d given her his codes and spare key in case of an emergency. So far he had not asked for them back, but he might after this visit. He would not appreciate her calling him on his bullshit, but someone had to do it. She stabbed her finger on the button for Paxton’s floor, then leaned against the elevator wall. Allison closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It had been a long day, and it was barely morning.

  The doors dinged open, and she forced herself to move forward. Paxton was the only one on this floor, and the elevator opened to his apartment. Nothing but the best for his royal pain in the ass. The stench of alcohol stung her nose as she inched her way into the main area of the apartment. Empty liquor bottles covered almost every surface. Some were upright, but most were tipped over on their sides. By her estimation, there had to be at least a dozen bottles, maybe more. A bowl of popcorn had been spilled over on the floor and some of it had been crushed into the carpet.

  Had he had a party?

  She moved farther into the room. A man laid sprawled on the hard floor near the balcony doors. One door was slid open and sheer curtains rustled in the wind as rain soaked through the opening, leaving a small puddle on the floor. That same puddle was trailing toward the man and soaked the side of his shirt. His dark hair was disheveled and also wet. How was he still sleeping?

  Allison cursed under her breath, not for the first time that morning. She rushed over to his side and knelt before him. At least she wouldn’t have to worry too much about getting wet considering her run through the rain. She shook him. “Paxton,” she called out to him. He didn’t budge. Fuck. She placed her forefinger to the inside of his wrist and checked for a pulse, then breathed a sigh of relief when evidence of a steady heartbeat thumped evenly. Still, she had to find a way to bring him to consciousness.

  She nibbled on her lips and stared down at him. He was a handsome man, even in this state she could appreciate that. His cheekbones were perfectly chiseled and his lips tempted her in ways she didn’t want to admit. A part of her had always wondered how his kiss might taste. Of course that had been before he’d been injured and sidelined. He’d been happier, cockier, and a blaze of light that called to her soul.

  Since his injury, and through his physical therapy, that light had dimmed significantly. Her heart broke for him. She truly cared about him and wanted to help him move forward, whether that was as a quarterback for the Starlings, or something else. He shouldn’t waste his life, and she would make sure he realized he still had a future. Allison leaned over and cupped his cheek. At that moment his eyelids fluttered open and her gaze met the evergreen depths of his eyes. He blinked a few times and then groaned.

  “Good morning, sleeping beauty,” she said. Allison tried to keep her tone upbeat, but had a hard time with it. Her lips wobbled a little as she spoke. “Come on, get up, we have work to do.”

  “Go away,” he mumbled. The stench of his breath nearly bowled her over. He needed a shower and to brush his teeth. He reeked of two-day-old whiskey and stale pizza. “I don’t want you here.” His voice held the tone of a petulant child who refused to leave his warm bed and prepare for a day at school.

  Allison glanced down at him, not for the first time, and frowned. “You cannot be comfortable. You are wet and laying on marble flooring.” He rolled over to face away from her. The trail of water had gone up his back like a line of sweat after a hard workout. She placed her hand on his arm and his skin felt chilled. “Paxton quit ignoring me. Get up now.”

  He groaned again, but slowly pushed himself into a sitting position. “What are you doing here?” His green irises were rimmed with red and looked gritty either from lack of sleep, too much partying, or perhaps both… “I didn’t give you access to my apartment so you could invade my privacy.”

  She expected that. “This is a wellness check. You’ve missed three physical therapy sessions and five planning sessions with me. How long did you think you could avoid me?”

  “Has Emma been tattling on me?” He scrubbed his face with the palms of his hands. He met her gaze. “I don’t need either of you up in my business.”

  Emma Novak-Lewis had taken over Paxton’s physical therapy at the Starlings. She was married to Colt Lewis, the second string quarterback that had taken over when Paxton had been injured. She hadn’t married Colt until after both of those had happened. “Emma cares about you and wan
ts to see you back playing for the team. They currently have both of their quarterbacks sidelined. At least we are currently in the off season. You know that Colt is recovering from surgery after his car accident. Do you really want to make Emma’s life harder right now?”

  “She can handle the strain,” he replied flippantly, but his disdain didn’t reach his eyes. He cared about Emma too. They were friends and had grown close since she joined the medical team for the Starlings.

  “You can act as if you don’t care all you want, but I don’t believe you.” The rain had finally stopped and sunlight streamed through the balcony doors. She flung them open and let the light pour over him. He lifted his arm to block the light as he squinted furiously. “You’re not that dark,” she said vehemently. “Deep down in your soul, you have more to offer the world than you allow yourself to give. Some people you show it to. I’ve been lucky enough to see it. Don’t hide from the world.”

  “Fuck the world,” he spat out, then pushed himself up on to his feet. “It hasn’t exactly been kind to me of late.”

  “Sometimes you’re such a dick.” She placed her hands on her hips and glared up at him. “Get your head out of your ass and stop feeling sorry for yourself. Go shower, you reek.”

  His nostrils flared and anger sparked out of his eyes. His lips formed a thin line as he breathed in and out several times. Paxton appeared as if he wanted to say something, but he held it in. He spun on his heels and left the room. She prayed to shower and change, but she’d give him a little space for a few moments at least. If he wasn’t back in thirty minutes, she’d check on him.

  While he was gone, she retrieved a trash bag and started cleaning up. As she was tossing the last empty liquor bottle into the bag, he strolled back in. She checked the clock—twenty minutes. His hair was wet and sleeked back, and he’d changed into dark wash jeans and a green shirt the exact shade of his eyes. The result was devastating to her female libido. Damn, he was gorgeous. Too much for her to handle at times.

  “I have a maid service for that,” he told her. “Leave it for them.”

  “How can you live like this,” she replied with disgust. She reached for the bowl of popcorn, dumped what remained inside of it in the bag, then set it back down. “Do you have a broom?” She stared at the crushed kernels on the floor. “or a vacuum?” She had a feeling they wouldn’t come up easily off the carpet and they might need to be pried loose.

  Paxton crossed over to her and snatched the bag from her hand and tossed it to the side. Through gritted teeth he said, “I told you to leave it.”

  She glared at him and pursed her lips in displeasure. Allison hated messes, and it irritated her she couldn’t clean this one. “Would it really kill you to let me clean it?”

  “Yes,” he answered.

  “Why?” She lifted a brow. “Do you enjoy living in squalor?”

  “I’d hardly call this apartment squalor.” he replied dryly. Paxton shoved his hands into his pocket. “Now tell me why you are really here so you can leave.”

  “God, you’re an ass.”

  “Thanks,” he deadpanned. “I do try.”

  “I can tell.” She rolled her eyes. “I am here to check up on you. I didn’t lie. Emma said to make you go to see her. You have to keep up your therapy.”

  “I don’t want to.”

  The petulant child had returned in spades… “Too bad. You’re going.”

  “What if I convince you that I don’t need to go?”

  That was a new one. What game was he up to? “I don’t think that is possible.”

  “I bet I could.” He removed his hands from his pockets and took a step closer. “And I don’t think it would take much to convince you.”

  She swallowed hard. There was a wicked gleam in his eyes that turned her insides to jelly. Allison feared he might be right, but not for the reasons he stated. “You’re wrong,” she insisted. “Your doctors have clearly stated that injury was extensive and without therapy you’re not playing again.”

  He shrugged. “There are other games, and some just as enjoyable as throwing a football. Maybe I’ve moved on.”

  “Have you?” She furrowed her brows. “I don’t believe it. You’re in denial and it is time you snapped out of it.” Paxton closed the distance between them until there were barely inches separating them. She took a step back until she hit a wall. There was nowhere to go. He’d cornered her between a rock and a hard place, and she wanted to lean into the hard depths of his body and stroke him everywhere. “What are you doing?”

  “Proving a point,” he said huskily. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. She’d always wondered what his kiss would be like, and now she knew. It was better than she’d imagined. It was fire, longing, and desire that set her body alight with need she’d been fighting for too long. She kissed him back because it didn’t occur to her to do anything else. Why deny herself this one opportunity to have her deepest yearning.

  When logic finally sprouted inside her head, she realized her mistake and pushed him away. “Don’t,” she murmured, but wished she could have begged for more.

  He leaned down so his mouth brushed her ear. His hot breath caressed her lobe, and she nearly moaned. “I know you want me,” he said. “Why else would you be here.”

  She closed her eyes and prayed for strength. Somewhere she found it and shoved him away from her. “I’m here because you’re my client and I need you to go to your physical therapy. Now quit fighting the inevitable and trying to weasel your way out of it. I’ll call Emma and tell her to expect you.”

  Allison headed to the elevator and held her breath until she reached it, then slowly exhaled. She turned to him. “Don’t make me come back here.”

  He chuckled. “You know you want to.”

  She grimaced. “Please.” Allison shook her head. “Don’t act as if that was all for my benefit. You kissed me to entice me into doing your bidding. It won’t work.” It almost had… She pushed the button for the elevator. “I’ll call you after physical therapy to schedule our next meeting. You’re going to stop this downward spiral and improve your image. This cannot go on or you won’t have a career to lose.”

  “All right, boss.” He saluted her. “And next time we kiss…it won’t stop.”

  She left that hanging and stepped into the elevator because she feared he was right. His kisses were addicting and now she wished she’d never had that taste. Paxton Kerry might prove to be her undoing… No, he was her undoing, and it was time she admitted that. She’d fallen in love with him.

  Chapter 1

  Three months later…

  Allison rushed into the office. She’d hit traffic on her way in and was running late. It was not a good way to start off her day, and on such a huge one for her too. Tori was supposed to decide if she could handle more clients, and she’d gone and started the day off all wrong. There was no changing anything, though. She’d have to accept whatever fate decided for her.

  “There you are,” Tori said as she strolled out of her office. She held up her finger and then went over to the receptionist. “Hold all calls for me or Allison. We have a lot to discuss. No interruptions, not even from Wes.”

  “It’s that serious?” Allison asked. She didn’t think she had been that late. “Don’t you have some wedding plans to finalize?”

  “Do not remind me.” Tori blew out a breath, then brushed a stray blonde lock behind her ear. “The wedding is in less than a month and I feel as if there are still a million little things that need to be checked off of my list.” She sighed. “Wes has called five times already this morning. I gave him some items off that list to complete for me, and I’m beginning to think I should have handled it all on my own. I love him, but I swear that man is incapable of making a decision on his own.”

  “I’m sorry?” Allison didn’t know what else to say to that. It was kind of cute. Wes and Tori had a rocky start to their relationship, but they seemed to be going strong. “You still want to marry him, right?”


  “Of course,” she said and waved her hand dismissively. “I couldn’t imagine my life without him. I just need five seconds to think before he calls back, and he will call back. He’s usually not so damn needy.” She settled into her chair and leaned back. “I think he’s feeling anxious because of what happened to Colt. Watching his baby sister almost lose the love of her life has him on edge.”

  “Colt is doing all right now though.” He had been in a horrible car accident and had almost died. “The fears should lessen, shouldn’t they?”

  “You would think.” She sighed. “I get it, I do. It was shocking to us all, and there is a slight chance he’ll never play football again. He has a long recovery ahead of him.” She pulled out a folder. “Which brings us to this meeting.”

  Allison swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. This was what she had been waiting for. Managing Paxton Kerry had been her test, and she’d miraculously brought him to reality, and to finish his physical therapy. He had stopped drinking and threw himself into improving himself. Emma had declared him fit for training with the team before the next season.

  “Has Emma told you Paxton is clear to begin training with the team next month?”

  Tori nodded. “She has.” She opened the folder and pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to her. “This is from Paxton’s other therapist.”

  “I don’t understand,” Allison said as she took the paper from Tori. “What other therapist?” And why wasn’t she informed he had a second one?