“Fuck, man, why didn’t you just say no comment?” Luke asks, looking at me like I’m a moron. And I am.

Why didn’t I?

“Because less than thirty seconds before that asshole pushed the mic in my face, I found a note in my locker from some fucked-up fan saying that if I don’t stop seeing Meg she’ll hurt her. I didn’t have time to talk to security, or think it through. I had to play it off like I don’t have a girlfriend because if anyone ever hurts Meg, I’ll fucking kill them, and I can’t go to prison.”

Jules frowns at me, and my brothers both narrow their eyes menacingly.

“Does she have security at her house?” Caleb asks, his voice low and pissed.

“Yeah, I had it installed last week, thank God.”

“Did you give the note to Mike?” Matt asks and pulls out his cell, dialing while he talks.

“Yes, he said he’ll take care of it.” I pace back and forth behind my car, and then move quickly to the driver’s side. “I’m going to her place. I’ll see you guys later.”

“Will, she was pretty pissed off. You might want to give her a couple days to cool down.” Nat’s big green eyes are worried, but I offer her a half smile.

“I have to apologize and grovel a bit. Hopefully she’ll understand when I explain.”

“They caught the girl,” Matt announces as he tucks his phone back in his pocket. “Some nineteen year old college student who offered one of the security guys a blow job if they’d let her in. She’s been arrested.”

“Thanks, man. Go have dinner, all of you. I’ll text you tomorrow.”

What the fuck did I do? I drive like a bat out of hell to Meg’s place. I need to see her. I need to hold her and reassure her that everything I said in that goddamn interview was a lie.

I can’t lose her.

I pull up to her house, slam the car door and stalk up to the front porch. I ring the bell.

No answer.

The lights are on. I can hear music coming from inside, but it’s not so loud that she wouldn’t be able to hear the doorbell.

I ring again.

No answer.

I try the knob on the door, and much to my surprise, it’s unlocked. She didn’t set the alarm or lock herself inside like I asked her to.

Goddamn stubborn woman!

“Meg?” I call out and let myself in. There’s no sign of her in the living area or her cute kitchen. I make my way upstairs, calling out for her as I go.

“Meg? Where are you, babe?”

I can hear the shower running in her master bathroom, so I let myself in. “Meg?”

“Ack!” She yelps in surprise and I can’t help but laugh.

“It’s just me.”

“You scared the shit out of me!” She turns off the water, whips back the shower curtain and at the sight of her soft, wet body my mouth goes dry.

Fucking hell, she’s beautiful.

She’s all soft, white skin, rosy pink nipples, soft curves. That hair of hers is some weird mixture of red and brown and blonde, and her hazel eyes undo me.

Of course, right now they’re shooting daggers into me.

“I’m sorry, but you left your front door unlocked and you didn’t set the alarm like I asked you to.”

She shrugs and reaches for a big bath towel and wraps it around herself, covering her body from my view. I want to rip it off her and take her right here against the bathroom wall, but I don’t think I’d be welcome at the moment.

“It’s not any of your business if I set the alarm, Will.” She stalks past me into the master bedroom and starts looking through her dresser for clothes.

“Of course it is. I need to know that you’re safe.”

“I’m safe.”

“You’re safer when you turn on the alarm.”

She just shrugs again, as if it’s no big deal, and pulls on a tank top and yoga pants. Jesus, even in yoga pants her ass makes me hard.

“Look, you made it quite clear tonight that the only thing you give a rats ass about is football. So stop it with the crazy I-want-you-safe-bullshit and leave. I don’t want you here.”

My stomach flips and my heart makes a beeline straight for my throat.

“Meg,” I reach out for her but she pulls back out of my reach, and panic sets in. “Meg, let me explain.”

“No need.” She shakes her head and moves past me and down the stairs to the kitchen. “I think I get it. You said what you needed to say to get through the three dates so I’d fuck you, and I was stupid enough to believe you. I won’t make the same mistake twice.”

“No.” I grip her shoulders in my hands and turn her toward me and make her look up at me. God, she’s such a tiny little thing. “No, Megan. I told you before, I’ve never fucked you. Every time I’ve been inside you has been the best damn moment of my life.”

“You announced on television that I’m nobody.” Her hazel eyes are hurt and sad, and I feel like such a fucking asshole. “Will, I won’t be your dirty little secret. I’m not someone you get to hang out with, take around your family, sleep with, but you deny my existence to the press. If you’re ashamed of me, you shouldn’t be with me. I’m pretty ashamed of you right now.”

I swallow hard and clench my eyes closed, and then stare down at her. How did she become my whole world in such a short amount of time? My God, I’d do anything for her.