When his expression goes blank and it’s clear he hasn’t a clue what I’m talking about, I plod on, despite the burning in my face. “We only kissed. You kept things pretty tame when that was not your standard operating… practice. Was it because I was a virgin?” I accused him of this at Target, but we never talked about it. “Or because I told you I was a foster kid?”
He grabs my hand and rubs it between his, a pained look in his eyes. “Honestly? I wasn’t ready for you, and I think a part of me realized it. I knew if we went there, things would get serious, fast, and I wasn’t prepared for that step. In my gut, I knew you were a forever kind of girl.”
A forever kind of girl?Biting my bottom lip, I nod. “But… you’re ready now?”
“More than you know.” He kisses my forehead. “And of course it wasn’t the foster kid thing. You’ve seen my sad excuse for a home. I’d never judge where you came from.”
I smile. Deep down, I already knew this, but since we’re clearing the air, I don’t want to hang on to any reservations, however miniscule. If we have any hope of making it long term, I know we have to communicate better.
He’s leaning down for a kiss when my mind finally processes something he said a few minutes ago. “Wait. Poppy was sick? What happened?”
“She’s fine now, but she caught a bug this week, which made everything worse because she wasn’t feeling well.”
“Poor baby.” I feel terrible I didn’t talk things out sooner. “I wish I had been there for you guys. It’s just… I came over the day after our argument and… overheard something.”
His eyes soften. “You heard me talking to my dad.”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“I eventually put it all together because Tank said you came over as he was leaving for practice.”
That horrible day comes back to me, and I cringe. “Right. So…” I shift away, but he tightens his grip on my waist.
“Don’t walk away. I know what you heard, and I’m so sorry it hurt your feelings. I tried to tell him what he wanted to hear to get him off my back. Just like that damn press conference. The school’s PR person told me to keep the story simple, that I probably didn’t want to bring you into it unless you were ready to deal with the haters, and with where things stood between us, I wasn’t sure you wanted that kind of pressure.”
When I don’t look at him, he lifts my chin.
“Gabby, you know I don’t have a problem claiming you as mine, right? I love you, and I’m ready to tell the whole fucking world. You’re the only woman who’s met my crazy-ass father. You’re the only woman I want in my daughter’s life. You’re the person I want standing next to me at the draft. Do you hear me? You.”
Everything in me melts. I don’t want to cling to this anger anymore. “So I’m yours, huh?”
“One hundred and ten percent. And I’m all yours too. Starting with this.”
And he grabs my hand and places it on his heart.
75
GABBY
The steady rhythmof Rider’s heart beats beneath my palm. I slide my hands up his shoulders and stare at him as shadows from the firepit play across his face.
“I love you too, Rider. I think I have for a long time.”
“If I’m being honest, I never got over you freshman year,” he whispers. “And I’m sorry I ran. But I’m not running anymore. I’m not that freaked-out kid any longer. I’m ready for this.”
He kisses me. Deep and long and hard. Electricity shoots through me. Down my spine. Zinging lower.
And then I’m in his arms. My feet leave the ground, and I wrap them around his waist.
With a panting breath, I rip my mouth away and rub his shoulder. “Are you sore? Do you need to ice anything?” The man played four quarters of the most intense football game I’ve ever seen. Maybe I shouldn’t be scaling him like a jungle gym.
A wolfish grin tugs at his lips. “I definitely have something that needs attention,” he mutters as he grinds his enormous erection between my legs.
I chuckle and thread my fingers through his hair. “Well, we can’t have that. I should probably check for swelling.”
“And swelling you shall find.”
Laughing, I slide down his big body and gently push him down on to the bench behind him, where I stand between his splayed legs. I glance around, but the trees in the backyard block the view from his neighbors.
