The commissioner and her father approached her with a trophy-like statue in the shape of a player catching a ball. Madi took it, shook the commissioner’s hand, and thanked him then hugged her father. She turned with the trophy and held it up, getting a round of applause that roared through the crowd.
Soon, the trophy was being taken from her to be cleaned—it would go on display at the complex. People began to separate into groups, talking, dancing, and milling around the beautifully decorated banquet hall with ribbons, bows, and drapes of crimson and gold.
Madi moved to speak to her girls, Brooke, Val and Sky, who oohed and aahed over her dress and her speech. Having them there made her heart happy; their friendship meant the world to her. After more drinks and talking, she was pulled into a dance with Travis, then Linc, TJ, Pax and finally Lang. She was starting to get tired and eager to exit the hall, especially when Langley’s hand came up to cup her cheek.
“You look amazing tonight, Madi,” he murmured as his big brown eyes gazed into hers.
“Th—thank you.”
“You do. I hate that we have to have this party under these circumstances, but I’m glad to have an excuse to see you in a dress like this.”
Madi glanced up at him sharply.
“Sorry, but it’s true. You’re a very beautiful woman, Madison.” His eyes, usually puppy-dog like and playful, were now roving her flesh—more bare than cloaked at the moment—in unabashed approval; it gave her the creeps.
Madi gulped. How much had Langley had to drink? She looked around. Where was Brett?
“Madi, I’m gonna be forward for a minute: I’m here for you. I know you’re lonely without Hunter.” Langley’s hand moved down Madi’s uncovered arm, and she shivered, feeling her gut tighten in alarm. “Given the chance, I can make all of you shiver, angel. A woman like you doesn’t need to be alone. You need a man, a man with only your pleasure in mind.”
Madi cringed as Langley’s hand began to move down her waist. She glanced sharply around. Where the hell was Brett—or Travis? Or Linc? Trepidation inched up her body, seizing her heart as Lang’s plump lips hovered at her ear.
“It’s no surprise that I want you, baby girl. Let me show you.”
Oh my God! She could feel the head of his erection poking into her thigh and attempted to pull back. Her eyes caught Brett’s suddenly, and they said everything without her speaking a word.
Zeus moved through the crowd quickly, a stealthy QB breaking through the line of defense. His eyes held hers and darkened as he took in the scene before him.
“Is there a problem here, Lang?” he growled, taking charge and jerking Madi away from Langley’s surprised grasp.
“Uh no, man. We were just talkin’.” Lang looked to Madi with a smirk. “Everything’s good here.” He winked and briskly walked away.
Brett gently pulled Madi to him, attempting to keep the order and not make a bigger scene than he already had. Her hands moved up and around his neck, and she stared back into the green pools of solace that eased her heart in that moment. She loved the feel of his big arms around her as he held her, the power of his presence. He was larger than life and had always had a formidable force about him. He wasn’t the biggest man on the team, nor the tallest, but he was the captain, the alpha, the backbone of the bunch; and he’d shoved his dominance in Lang’s face tonight. It had been relieving and—to her surprise—arousing all at once.
“Madi, what did he say? What did he do?” Brett’s lips curled angrily.
Madi’s head reeled as she tried to calm her breathing. If she told him, Brett might literally kill Langley. “He’s just had too much to drink, I think. Let it go, Cap. Let’s enjoy the dance.”
Brett’s snarl reverberated through her ears. “I don’t like other men touching you… gazing at you like he was.”
Her eyes snapped up to his once again, and he held her gaze, realizing what he’d just said.
He softened the fierceness on his face and leaned his head down next to hers, his nose running the length of her jawline. She shivered. “He’ll never get that chance again, I promise you, Sunflower.”
She gasped as she sought his eyes—emerald spheres that held hers in limbo. They were full of promise, and she gaped up at him. What was he saying? Her world spun. She’d had too much bubbly tonight—that or her emotions were just getting the best of her. Hope filled her but dread also; she feared more heartache coming her way. She’d always loved him, but couldn’t take rejection from him again.
“Take me home now, Brett.”
He nodded and did as she asked, taking her back to his house.
The next morning Madi had a dozen missed calls and thirty text messages on her phone, but it was the call she got from her sister that woke her up.
“Are you up?” Brooke hastily said.
“I am now, thanks to you.” Madi grumbled and tried to orient herself as she sat up in the guest bed of Brett’s house.
“Don’t turn the news on or check Facebook. In fact—don’t even look at your phone right now!”
“Why?” Madi
