Page 34 of The Hooker
“Don’t tear down my dreams, darling.”
“Sorry, sorry. I look forward to it.” Her eyes close, and I scan her face slowly, taking in the strands of hair escaping her almost completely unraveled bun, the freckles decorating her nose, and her breathing already deepening as sleep takes her.
I couldn’t be more in love with her if I tried. And now I don’t have to worry about anything else. I can enjoy being with her, feel her warm body against mine, and wake up beside her.
Westley trots into the room and launches himself on the bed and noses around the sheets until he curls up at the foot of the bed.
Nothing else matters but them. I can get through the injury, through retiring, through anything, with Daisy and her puppy by my side.
My own little family.
I kiss Daisy’s nose and close my eyes.
CHAPTERELEVEN
Daisy
Three months later
I drop the box on the hardwood floor in the lounge and groan. I lean forward to crack my back, and it gives a satisfying crunch. When I stand straight, arms loop around my waist and pull me back into a chest. I tilt my head to receive the kiss I know is about to come over my shoulder. I smile tiredly at him when he pulls away.
“Back sore?” Jamie asks.
“A little.”
Jamie shifts his hands to my back and starts massaging the muscles, sore from carrying boxes from my house to his all day. I thought moving day would be simple since we only live a few houses away. I was wrong.
I sigh when I look around the lounge. Boxes cover the floor and clothes and coat hangers are strewn over the couch.
But we’re here. Together.
I’m finally moving into his villa now that the season’s over after the Northern Tour. Jamie recovered from his injury to play the last two games and shocked the team after they won the last game by announcing his retirement.
While he was recovering, it was all he could talk about. If he should retire. He’s lucky he didn’t have many injuries in his career and recovered beautifully from the dislocation, but he decided he didn’t want to risk himself anymore so late in his career. Wanted to go out with a great season and retire with his body still intact. He’s still deciding what he wants to do now.
“I’m going to miss you when the season starts.” I turn and sling my arms around him, resting my head on his chest.
“I am too. But now I can pick you up, and we can come home together. We don’t need to wait to see each other at work.” He kisses my forehead, and I smile.
“It’ll be hard leaving you, but I’m glad I get to come home to you now.” I’m dreading next season. So many international games away from Jamie and Westley, but I’m not ready to leave the game yet. Maybe after the World Cup in a few years I’ll start my own practice, but until then, I’ll dream of coming home to him.
There was a minor scandal when I ran onto the field when he was injured, but it mostly blew over. Weirdly, his injury helped since he didn’t play for six weeks. It gave everyone some distance. Our relationship wasn’t a surprise to anyone we knew personally, to both our surprise and chagrin, and we were lucky with how quickly the public got used to it. PR pulled through for us big time. And now we don’t need to worry about any of that.
“Are there any more boxes?”
I scan the room, attempting to count, but lose track quickly. “I don’t think so? I don’t have to be out of the house until Friday, so we have time.” I pout at him. “Let’s order pizza and ignore the boxes.”
“Already ordered.”
I brighten and the fatigue melts away with the promise of melted cheese and a spot to curl up on the couch. Once I move all the clothes. “That’s why I love you.”
He grins. “Because I order pizza?”
“Because you’re thoughtful and have a fantastic ass.” My hands drift down and I give him a playful squeeze.
“I love you too.” He clears his throat and suddenly looks nervous and shifty. He takes a large breath, and my eyes narrow as he grabs my hands. “Daisy, I’ve loved you for years, as a friend, as a partner, and I want to marry you.” His eyes slam shut, and his nose scrunches as he laughs shakily. “Fuck. Shit. I said it wrong. Hold on, let me do this right.”
I giggle and grin at him so hard I can see my cheeks in my peripheral vision. Jamie tucks a shaking hand in his pocket and gets on his knee.
“Daisy, will you marry me?”
I fall to my knees in front of him and fling my arms around him. “Yes.”
I turn his head to kiss him messily. He grabs my left hand and slips the ring on with shaking fingers. He misses my finger, and I have to hold both our hands steady to get the ring on. But we get it on, and I’m never taking it off.
We finish unpacking with a ring on my finger and Westley darting between our legs.
