Page 308 of By His Rule

I watch Wilder interact with the scout for a few more seconds before turning to my boyfriend.

“You did this?” I whisper. I’ve no idea why; no one else can hear me.

Kian shrugs one shoulder. “I might have spoken to Kieran, who in turn put the feelers out.”

“You…” I cut myself off from chastising him for using his connections to boost Wilder’s chances of college football. Wilder deserves this, and hell knows I couldn’t do it myself. “You are going to make his entire world, you know that right?”

“No, he’s going to do that himself. He’s a fantastic football player, Lorelei. He’d get a killer scholarship with or without our backing.”

“If you say so.”

I turn to look at Wilder again, and my eyes fill with tears.

“I love you, Kian Callahan. You are everything we were missing in our lives.”

“You are everything in my life.” Pulling me closer, he kisses me right there in the middle of the Chiefs’ family room. It’s only the ruckus of the players finally joining us that tears us apart.

We stand back and watch as Wilder takes it all in. My face hurts, my smile is so wide, and it only grows when Kieran appears and makes a beeline straight for him.

So maybe I was wrong…maybe taking the job at Callahan Enterprises wasn’t the biggest mistake of my life…

EPILOGUE

Lorelei

Istand at the edge of the box the Callahans managed to snag for the Chiefs playoff game, staring down at the field with my hands trembling and my stomach in knots.

I’m not sure I’ve ever been this nervous for someone else.

Even on the flight to San Francisco, I was anxious.

I can only imagine how Kieran must be feeling right now.

Everyone is here to support him. Micheal and Jackie, Kian’s stepmom. King and Tate, Wilder, Hendrix, and Noelle.

It’s the first time all season that we’ve all been in attendance. But it feels right. And if the Chiefs manage to secure a win tonight, then we’ll do it all over at the Super Bowl in two weeks’ time.

I feel sick just thinking about it.

I want it for them. I want it so freaking badly.

I glance over at Wilder. He looks as green as I feel.

Over the past few months, he’s struck up a friendship with Kieran. At this point, I’m pretty sure Kieran has a god-like status in Wilder’s life. But I can’t complain. For a wild child himself, Kieran’s been nothing but a good influence on my little brother. I just wish Wilder didn’t have access to Kieran’s social media to see what he gets up to off the field. I’m pretty sure Kieran’s active dating life is one of the reasons Wilder is so keen to go pro. He’s worked his way around the jersey chasers at school; he’s ready to dip his toe into a bigger pool of willing women. God help them all.

“They’re going to do it. I know they are,” Tate says confidently, cradling baby Prince against her.

My eyes drop to my godson, and I swear my heart explodes with his cuteness.

Chubby cheeks, stunning green eyes, just like his daddy.

Just another Callahan boy to steal all the ladies’ hearts. “Yeah,” Kian agrees, eagerly waiting for Kieran to emerge. But as confident as he might sound, I know he’s worried.

Kieran has been off his game a little recently. He’s missing his good luck charm, and tonight is going to be no different.

“He’s got this,” I say, twisting my fingers with his and squeezing. “He’s probably on the phone to her now.”

“Yeah.” He laughs, a smile playing on his lips as he thinks about his little brother’s pregame ritual.

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