It’sone of those late August nights where the warmth of the sun still warms your skin long after it dips down behind the trees. Daphne and I ate outside on the blue stone patio. The vaulted roof, and sheer white curtains blowing in the breeze give an extra air of privacy to the space, and with that, an extra layer of comfort to the evening. A bottle of wine and a plate of cupcakes sit between us, thanks in part, to my sisters.
Getting rid of the family earlier was difficult enough.
Making sure they were gone in time for me to have this gorgeous woman to myself, without giving them any hint I had other plans, was what I imagine a negotiator’s wet dreams are made of. Kind of appropriate because this woman has been giving me wet dreams for weeks.
Daphne kicks her shoes off and places her feet next to my legs on my chair as she sips her wine. And I just watch her. Liking that she’s comfortable in my space. Reveling in the realization that I like her in my home. “Why Start A Revolution?”
She flutters her inky-black lashes and eyes me over her wine glass. “What do you mean?”
“You’re young, and intelligent, not to mention beautiful and wealthy with a degree from a top-tier university. Why start the foundation instead of taking over the team? Why not keep the mantle of your grandfather going? I met him with my dad once or twice when I was younger. It was obvious he loved his team the way my dad loved ours.” I want to know what makes this woman tick. What pushes her? What makes her happy?
I pull her feet into my lap and run my thumbs along her arch.
She moans, and the sound makes it hard to think.
“I don’t remember ever not wanting to run the foundation. You know there was one before my grandpa died. My dad shut it down years ago, and it always bothered me. My grandpa was a big believer in giving back to the community that gave so much to him. He took me to volunteer with him when I was little. He’d put on a baseball hat and his old jacket with the little crocodile on the pocket.”
She smiles wistfully to herself, lost in the happy memories that thought must bring her. And the urge to make sure her life is filled with happiness hits me hard.
“He’d never give people his last name. We’d work for a few hours in the food bank or the animal shelter. But my favorite was always when we’d go to the Boys and Girls Club. He’d always bring stuff with him, usually sports equipment.” She rolls her pretty eyes and runs the tips of her fingers over the top of her glass. “Some of the kids were older than me, some weren’t. But they’d all get so excited when he came. They had no idea who he was. They just appreciated his time and generosity. And afterward, he’d always play with them. Throw the football. Hit a baseball. He was really bad at soccer. But he was really good at hockey.” She looks off to the side, seemingly lost in her thoughts, and I stare at her, loving this side of Daphne. Appreciating getting this piece of the puzzle that is this woman. “He made a difference, but so did those kids. I’m not sure who enjoyed those days more. Them or him.”
“You will too,” I tell her. And I mean it. “Start A Revolution is going to make a difference in a lot of kids’ lives.” And she’s going to be the heart of it.
She might even end up owning mine in the process.
Funny thing is that doesn’t scare me.
Daphne’s cheeks flush, and she places her empty glass on the table. “Tell me something about yourself.” I dig my knuckle into the arch of her foot and enjoy the responding moan. “Something I can’t find out from Philly Magazine or some internet article.”
“Been reading up on me again?” The soft breeze catches her long hair, and her delicious scent wraps around us.
She slowly shakes her head from side to side. “Nope. Why read what other people have to say when I can get it straight from the source. My friend Carys says you’re a good man. Are you? Or do you have everyone fooled?”
“Carys Murphy?” I rub my thumbs against the pad of her foot. “Yeah, I was surprised to see you with her at Kingdom. I didn’t realize you two know each other.”
Daphne hums her approval deep in her throat, and my cock jumps behind the zipper of my jeans.
“She’s been my best friend for years. And she likes you. Now, stop evading.” Her other foot gently presses against my cock as her lips tip up, daring me to ignore her.
I run my hands up her legs, kneading her smooth skin. “I guess that depends on who you ask. My family would probably say I’m a good man. I don’t know if anybody else would, and I frankly don’t give a fuck what they think anyway. They all think I’m happy to walk in my father’s shadow. To sit back and watch the company do well. And I guess a lot of people would be content with that. But I want more. I want to make my own mark on the world. I’d been actively searching for what that was going to look like when your father approached me about buying the Revolution. I’d never considered expanding into hockey, but once I started thinking about it, I realized this was exactly what I wanted to do. I’ve already been given an empire. Now I want to make my own legacy. I want the Revolution to be the greatest team in the league. Not just the best, but the greatest.”
She tilts her head and examines me. “What do you mean?”
“I want people to love coming to work. I want them to feel like they’re appreciated. I want them to know they all matter. I want my players to know we respect their skill and their health. That their value is not just how many goals they score or shots they take. Your grandfather taught you the importance of giving back. My father taught me the importance of valuing every single person within your organization. It’s the only way to win. And I don’t lose.”
She swirls her finger through the vanilla icing on the cupcake in front of her, then sucks it seductively. Then she asks coyly, “And what about me, Max? Do I get to be let in? Or am I just something to be won before you move on?”
I lean over the table and slide my finger through the icing, then hold it up to her lips. Daphne runs her tongue around the tip and sucks it into her mouth, pulling on an invisible string that’s already on the verge of snapping. “You’re already in, Daphne. You’re in further than I’ve ever let anyone before. And I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to move on.”
Innocent eyes flash back at me. “Thanks for letting me in.”
As if I had a choice.
She’s like water.
A force of nature slipping past even the strongest barriers and wearing down your walls without you even realizing it’s happening.
She stands from her chair, her pale blue eyes holding mine hostage. “Do you know your confidence is contagious?”