The Player Read online

Page 19


  “Exactly like that. I not only hurt her, and that kills me to know I made her cry, because all I want to do is protect her. But I also betrayed a friend. I didn’t have a lot of those when I came here, I kept myself apart. Marvin didn’t deserve that and I wish I could take it back. I know it’s little to late but I’m proud of him for facing his fear and doing what it takes to get better. He’s taking care of his business.”

  “Is that what this is, Kaeden? Are you trying to get back in the good graces of your team? To your girl?”

  “No, this is me apologizing to those I hurt. This is me, being a man and admitting I fu—screwed up. I’ve spent the past few days out in front of Faye’s bookstore with a sign telling her and others who pass why and how much I love her. If that’s what it takes to get her to realize I’m not going anywhere I’ll keep doing it. It took me losing her to accept the realization of how very much I love her.”

  Faye glanced away from the screen and stared down at the field. Kaeden stood at the edge near her. Helmet off, eyes on her.

  There was no more reason to ignore her heart. She got up and walked down the stairs to the railing.

  He moved at the same time so he was below her when she leaned over.

  “I love you, Faye.”

  She could still hear him talking to the reporter on the screen but she was focused on the flesh and blood version.

  “I love you, too, Kaeden.”

  His lips twitched and he jumped up then pulled himself over until he was on the same side as she was. Faye moved toward him at the same time and held tight when his arms closed around her.

  “Say it again.”

  She leaned her head back so she could look him in the eyes.

  “I love you.”

  Foreheads touching, he skimmed his thumb along her cheek. “Forever?”

  “For starters.”

  “Archer!” the coach hollered. “I’m not paying you to play kissy face with your woman. Get your ass back down here.”

  “Have to go to work, baby.”

  “Will you do me a favor?”

  “Anything.” His large hands rubbed her back.

  “Win.”

  Kaeden kissed her until her legs wobbled. His smirk in place when he pulled back. “I’ve already won the most important thing, Faye. You. But if you want a game ball. I’ll get you one.” Another kiss. “I’ll never stop loving you, Faye Reynolds. Thank you for giving me a second chance.”

  A brush along her skin and he was back down on the field. When she looked up at the screen once more, they were replaying her and Kaeden’s kiss. Amid the laughter and cheering, she went to rejoin her family and friends. Knowing he was hers and this time, she wasn’t letting him go.

  My next book out is going to be in honor of Sweetheart’s Day in October. His Interim Sweetheart, is a contemporary romance.

  Can they turn the interim into infinite?

  Logan Chancellor needed to find an interim girlfriend to take home to his Grams’ one hundredth birthday party. It wouldn’t do to show up alone when his ex was going to be there. He didn’t trust the women he occasionally slept with but when his friend blurts it out that he has one, he has to make this work.

  Sidni Helton is freaking fantastic…with numbers. People, not so much. When an ultimatum from her sister has her agreeing to a temporary agreement with her boss, she realizes she’s in far in over her head.

  As they play the game, both realize that there is something real that is blooming between them. But when they are back to the job and rumors fly, will he have a chance to protect her as he longs to do? Or will all he gets to keep of her, be memories of what could have been, and for a short time, what was?

  About the Author

  Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached here. She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

  She is married to a career military man. They are owned by three Borzoi. She spends her days sharing time between work, writing, and dog training.

  I hope you enjoyed reading, The Player. If you could help others to find and enjoy this book as well, I would appreciate that act of kindness. You can do this by recommending it to your friends and/or reader’s groups. Also, by reviewing it to let others know you liked it—and why, even if it’s nothing more than a line or two. Every bit helps, makes all the difference and is absolutely appreciated.

  Thank you so much for your support!!

  If you would care to be kept abreast of Aliyah Burke’s news, release information and the occasional contest, please join her newsletter. If you join you can receive a free book.

  There is also a newsletter for her cozy stories, you can join here.

  Additional Books by Aliyah Burke:

  Sensual Romance Publishing

  A Knight’s Vow

  His Purrfect Mate

  Holiday Surprise: Unwrapped

  If You Dare

  Lion of Midnight

  Raw Exposure

  Faith’s Tears

  Honest Deception

  A Little White Lie - KU Exclusive

  Code Name: Sleeper

  May You Always

  Under the Mask

  Emerald Myst

  Something Tangible

  The Player

  His Interim Sweetheart

  Megalodon Team

  Kincade’s Rose

  Harrier’s Healer

  Connelly’s Flame

  Greeley’s Spyce

  Vittano’s Willow

  Dimitri’s Moon

  O’Shea’s Love

  Chayton’s Tempest

  Forgotten Shadow (A MT Christmas Novella)

  Haikon

  A Love for Lera

  The Maddoxes

  The Detective’s Lover

  Rakes & Rogues

  What the Earl Desires

  Her Reluctant Viscount

  Her Pirate Rogue

  Cottonwood Falls -Exclusive to Kindle Unlimited

  Relentless

  Fracture

  Ravish

  Spark

  Savor

  Intensity

  Inferno

  Snake’s Salvation

  Tryst with the CEO

  Brodie’s Wish

  Operation Ball N’ Chain

  Springwood

  It Was Always You

  Drunk on You

  Belongs to You

  The Wedding Snafu

  The Billionaire’s Code

  Delay of Game

  Daring the Hard Man

  Icy Dare

  Never Knew I Needed

  Denim & Spurs

  With This Ring

  Dream Lover

  You Don’t Know Jack

  Badges of Honor

  Born to Fly

  Landing in Love

  You Save Me

  Wild As The Wind

  Winter Bliss

  Add A Little Mistletoe (Linked to Winter Bliss)

  An Unexpected Encounter (Linked to Winter Bliss)

  The Guardian’s Seduction (Linked to An Unexpected Encounter)

  Zulu Spectre

  Hearth, Holly, & Honor (3 in 1)

  It Could Happen Again

  Tungsten Protective Services

  Down Range

  All In

  His Rysk to Take

  His Pryze to Claim

  Just A Dream

  On the High Seas

  Tatra Pack

  Say You’re Mine

  Whispered Loyalties

  Red Willows

  Holiday Liaison

  Watching You

  Interwoven

  Fire Devil

  Embers of Lust

  The Right to Love

  Quad Series

  A Little Taste of Home

  Too Dangerous to Love

  Someday My Prince Good Ol’ Boy Will Come

  Black Queen

  Beyond His Contro
l

  Paranormal Felines—Kindle Unlimited Exclusive

  His Tigress

  Leopard Eyes

  Night Lion

  Caught by the Cougar

  Pursued by the Puma

  Lion’s Domain

  D.A.R.K., INC.

  Breaking All the Rules

  Trust Me

  Handling the Perks

  The Second Time Around

  Seasons

  Autumn Frost

  Winter Flame

  Spring Rain

  Summer Thunder

  Protective Truths

  Zora’s Chance

  Don’t Look Back (coming soon)

  Trapper Lakes Series—Cozy Mysteries

  Reeled Back Home

  Look Who Tuna’d Up Dead

  Murder on the Fly

  Last Call

  Tequila Smash

  Black Sand (connected to Last Call series)

  Bourbon Brûlé

  The Protetors

  The Jaguar’s Consort

  Sass This

  Learning the Rules (in the Romancing the Shifter anthology)

  Come Fly with Me (in the Moonlight anthology)

  Equality

  Undeniably, Yours

  Undeniably, Together

  Undeniably, Mine

  Totally Bound

  Preconception

  Seducing Damian

  Through the Fire

  Perfect Duet

  Heart’s Compass

  The Princess & the Marquess

  Serial

  Keeper of the Stars Pt. 1

  Keeper of the Stars Pt. 2

  Keeper of the Stars Pt. 3

  Keeper of the Stars Pt. 4

  Keeper of the Stars Pt. 5

  Astral Guardians

  Chasing the Storm

  Highlands at Dawn

  Fields of Thunder

  Branded by Frost

  Driven by Night

  Moon of Fire

  Boxset Books 1-3

  Boxset Books 4-6

  Interludes

  Temporary Home

  Alone with You

  Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore

  The Complete Boxset

  This Ain’t No Love Story (novella)

  In Aeternum

  Casanova in Training

  Harbour of Refuge

  Protected by Shadows

  Polar Opposites

  The Complete Boxset

  Code of Honour

  A Marriage of Convenience

  The Lieutenant’s Ex-Wife

  A Man Like No Other

  When Stars Collide

  The Complete Boxset

  Theta Corps

  Restitution

  Contrition

  Vindication

  The Complete Boxset

  The Edge

  Called Home to The Edge

  Straying to The Edge

  Returning to The Edge

  Cuffed at The Edge

  Boxset (Books 1-4)

  The Monroe Sisters

  Need You Now

  Let Me Go

  I Won’t Say Goodbye

  Boxset (Books 1-3)

  Entangled

  Code Name: Papa

  Her Marine Next Door

  Standalone

  Dutch & Lobo (in In the Trenches collection)

  Love Under the Endless African Sky

  Co-written with Taige Crenshaw

  Unbreakable Bonds

  Kemet Uncovered:

  Talios

  Devi

  Linc

  Saffron

  Taber

  Ashia

  Boxset Part 1: Books 1-3

  Boxset Part 2: Books 4-6

  Co-written with McKenna Jeffries

  Free Falling

  Wicked Burn

  McKingley

  All the Wright Moves

  The Best Thing Yet

  Risky Pleasures

  Pure Harmony

  Irresistible Forces

  Seductions Dance

 

 

 


    And We've Come Full Circle (A Graham Family Story Book 2) Read onlineAnd We've Come Full Circle (A Graham Family Story Book 2)The Guardian's Seduction Read onlineThe Guardian's SeductionDown Range (Tungsten Protective Services Book 1) Read onlineDown Range (Tungsten Protective Services Book 1)The Second Time Around Read onlineThe Second Time AroundPerfect Duet Read onlinePerfect DuetEmerald Myst Read onlineEmerald MystThe Princess and the Marquess Read onlineThe Princess and the MarquessWhispered Loyalties Read onlineWhispered LoyaltiesBrodie's Wish (Cottonwood Falls Book 10) Read onlineBrodie's Wish (Cottonwood Falls Book 10)Tequila Smash Read onlineTequila SmashTryst with the CEO (Cottonwood Falls Book 9) Read onlineTryst with the CEO (Cottonwood Falls Book 9)Operation Ball N' Chain (Cottonwood Falls Book 11) Read onlineOperation Ball N' Chain (Cottonwood Falls Book 11)Preconception Read onlinePreconceptionFields of Thunder Read onlineFields of ThunderMoon of Fire Read onlineMoon of FireA Little White Lie Read onlineA Little White LieThe Edge Read onlineThe EdgeA Marriage of Convenience Read onlineA Marriage of ConvenienceSassy Ever After_Sass This Read onlineSassy Ever After_Sass ThisThe Monroe Sisters Read onlineThe Monroe SistersLion of Midnight Read onlineLion of MidnightJust a Dream Read onlineJust a DreamAlone With You Read onlineAlone With YouBranded by Frost Read onlineBranded by FrostThe Player Read onlineThe PlayerThe Omega Team: His Pryze to Claim (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read onlineThe Omega Team: His Pryze to Claim (Kindle Worlds Novella)The Lei Crime Series_Black Sand Read onlineThe Lei Crime Series_Black SandRavish Read onlineRavishKeeper of the Stars: Part Three Read onlineKeeper of the Stars: Part ThreeKeeper of the Stars: Part One Read onlineKeeper of the Stars: Part OneSay You're Mine Read onlineSay You're MineDare To Love Series: Icy Dare (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read onlineDare To Love Series: Icy Dare (Kindle Worlds Novella)Dallas Fire & Rescue: Fire Devil (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read onlineDallas Fire & Rescue: Fire Devil (Kindle Worlds Novella)Four Weddings and a Fiasco_The Wedding Snafu Read onlineFour Weddings and a Fiasco_The Wedding SnafuThe Omega Team_His Pryze to Claim Read onlineThe Omega Team_His Pryze to ClaimMelody Anne's Billionaire Universe: The Billionaire's Code (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read onlineMelody Anne's Billionaire Universe: The Billionaire's Code (Kindle Worlds Novella)Dream Lover (Denim and Spurs Book 2) Read onlineDream Lover (Denim and Spurs Book 2)Keeper of the Stars: Part Five Read onlineKeeper of the Stars: Part FiveLittle White Lie Read onlineLittle White LieBrotherhood Protectors_Winter Flame Read onlineBrotherhood Protectors_Winter FlameSeducing Damian Read onlineSeducing DamianTaber Read onlineTaberHarbour of Refuge Read onlineHarbour of RefugeBeyond His Control Read onlineBeyond His ControlIntensity Read onlineIntensityBrotherhood Protectors: Autumn Frost (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read onlineBrotherhood Protectors: Autumn Frost (Kindle Worlds Novella)Labor of Love Anthology: 10 Anecdotes of Love and the Struggles Within Read onlineLabor of Love Anthology: 10 Anecdotes of Love and the Struggles WithinDriven by Night Read onlineDriven by NightWhen Stars Collide Read onlineWhen Stars CollideA Man Like No Other Read onlineA Man Like No OtherWinter Flame Read onlineWinter FlameBorn to Fly: You Save Me Read onlineBorn to Fly: You Save MeBreaking All the Rules Read onlineBreaking All the RulesHighlands at Dawn Read onlineHighlands at DawnWhat The Earl Desires (Rakes and Rogues Series) Read onlineWhat The Earl Desires (Rakes and Rogues Series)Add A Little Mistletoe Read onlineAdd A Little MistletoeLone Star Burn_Watching you Read onlineLone Star Burn_Watching youBarefoot Bay: Forever Yours (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read onlineBarefoot Bay: Forever Yours (Kindle Worlds Novella)With This Ring (Denim & Spurs Book 1) Read onlineWith This Ring (Denim & Spurs Book 1)His Rysk to Take Read onlineHis Rysk to TakeMelody Anne's Billionaire Universe_The Billionaire's Code Read onlineMelody Anne's Billionaire Universe_The Billionaire's CodeSassy Ever After: Sass This (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read onlineSassy Ever After: Sass This (Kindle Worlds Novella)Casanova In Training Read onlineCasanova In TrainingRelentless Read onlineRelentlessHot SEALs: All In Read onlineHot SEALs: All InThe Lieutenant's Ex-Wife Read onlineThe Lieutenant's Ex-WifeChayton's Tempest Read onlineChayton's TempestIt Could Happen Again (Zulu Spectre) Read onlineIt Could Happen Again (Zulu Spectre)The Omega Team: His Rysk to Take (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read onlineThe Omega Team: His Rysk to Take (Kindle Worlds Novella)Barefoot Bay_Forever Yours Read onlineBarefoot Bay_Forever YoursChasing the Storm Read onlineChasing the StormTrust Me Read onlineTrust MeKeeper of the Stars: Part Four Read onlineKeeper of the Stars: Part FourLone Star Burn: Watching you (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read onlineLone Star Burn: Watching you (Kindle Worlds Novella)Four Weddings and a Fiasco: The Wedding Snafu (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read onlineFour Weddings and a Fiasco: The Wedding Snafu (Kindle Worlds Novella)Protected by Shadows Read onlineProtected by ShadowsLinc Read onlineLincBrotherhood Protectors: Winter Flame (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read onlineBrotherhood Protectors: Winter Flame (Kindle Worlds Novella)Justice Is Always Ready (A Graham Family Story, 1) Read onlineJustice Is Always Ready (A Graham Family Story, 1)Temporary Home Read onlineTemporary HomeSpark Read onlineSparkHer Reluctant Viscount (Rakes and Rogues) Read onlineHer Reluctant Viscount (Rakes and Rogues)The Lei Crime Series: Black Sand (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read onlineThe Lei Crime Series: Black Sand (Kindle Worlds Novella)Dare To Love Series_Daring the Hard Man Read onlineDare To Love Series_Daring the Hard ManIt Was Always You Read onlineIt Was Always YouGame For Love_Delay of Game Read onlineGame For Love_Delay of GameDallas Fire & Rescue: Embers of Lust (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read onlineDallas Fire & Rescue: Embers of Lust (Kindle Worlds Novella)The Omega Team_His Rysk to Take Read onlineThe Omega Team_His Rysk to TakeSavor (Cottonwood Falls, Book 5) Read onlineSavor (Cottonwood Falls, Book 5)His Purrfect Mate Read onlineHis Purrfect MateFracture Read onlineFracture