Page 91 of Force Play

“You must be exhausted. We don’t have to do that.” I shouldn’t still be shocked that he’s putting my needs first. It’s been a constant since I moved. It’s just one reason why I fall a little deeper each day. Someone else is finally taking care of me. I’ve been the lone soldier in this battle for too long, and with Dom by my side, I feel like I have a whole army at my back.

“Never too tired to spend time with you.”

“But we could do that here.” The lump in my throat tightens at the words, fighting my attempts to talk him out of this.

“Something tells me you need to get out of this apartment more than I need to sleep. Besides, I took a nap on the plane. Dean even sang me a lullaby.” Seeing the easy smile I’m so used to back on his face has my shoulders dropping away from my ears.

“He did not.”

“You’re right, it was Cruz.”

That I find a little more believable. “Fine, take your girls on a walk, you crazy man.”

He stands us up, his lips finding my neck before he goes to my fridge. “I’ll make some sandwiches. You go get ready.”

I glance at the jean shorts and t-shirt I’m wearing. Perfect for coffee, but not so practical for hiking. “Did you have a trail in mind?”

“There’s a state park about thirty minutes from here that has a nice loop that’s hard enough to take your mind off things, but still gets cell reception—just in case—and no scrambles that might re-injure that ankle.”

It’s exactly what I need. My ankle is healed, but it’s not quite ready for the strenuous mountain biking or trail running I’m used to. Swimming and sex with Dom have been good alternatives to take my mind off things when my wheels just won’t stop spinning, but I can’t deny I’m on edge. “Get out of my head,” I tease, rounding the doorframe to get changed.

“Nah, I think I like it here.” A smirk pulls up his lip as he works in the kitchen, pulling lunch meat and cheese out of the fridge to add to the selection of fruit and vegetables he already grabbed.

Dressed in a pair of spandex shorts and a sports bra, I rejoin him in the kitchen to find him packing the sandwiches and snacks into a small insulated bag.

“I thought we could use this for water and lunch,” I say, laying down the daypack that I use when I hike. “And don’t forget a bowl for Ronnie,” I add when I take a seat at the kitchen table to put on my trail runners.

He holds up one finger before producing a small bowl from the pile of stuff. “I grabbed her some treats for lunch too.”

“Seems like you thought of everything.”

“I’m more than just a good time.” He’s teasing, yet guilt sits heavy on my chest for how harshly I judged him when we first met.

Pushing up from my chair I cross the kitchen and wrap my hand around him from behind, kissing his back. “You’re so much more than that. Thank you for not giving up on us. For not being the self-centered, playboy I wanted you to be when we first met. For being my lifeline, my friend, mine.”

Pulling the cord to cinch the backpack closed, he turns in my arms. “I’m glad you made me earn it because you’re worth the fight.”

“I don’t know about that.” All my doubts about how my test results affect this future he sees between us tunnel in on me. My brows pull together and I open my mouth to tell him, but he’s already there, forcing my eyes to his and making me think twice about what I was about to say.

“It’s my job to remind you every damn day that you’re worthy of a partner who puts in the work.” Those dark eyes flick back and forth between mine until I finally nod, letting go of those destructive thoughts. “Let’s get out of here.”

Dom fills the ride with stories about the road trip and the games they played. When the sign for the park turn off comes into view, my cheeks ache and it’s hard to believe it’s been almost forty minutes already. But that’s how it is with him. His charismatic personality sucks you in. You can’t help but be happy when he’s around. Resisting is pointless. Trust me, I tried so damn hard.

He parks in a shady spot near the trailhead saying, “This trail has a really gorgeous overlook that we can have our lunch at before heading back.” Then he jumps out, opening the back door to let Ronnie out and coming around to do the same for me.

“How are you feeling about your chances at a wild card spot?” I ask when he leads us out onto the trail, Ronnie leading the way, nose in the dirt.

“With the schedule we have, and the way everyone is playing, I think we have a serious shot. We just need to stay healthy and focused.” His voice is steady and rich, filled with confidence, but when he glances to the side and scraps his teeth over his lower lip, I can tell there’s more.

“That’s amazing. What’s the ‘but’?”

“There’s no ‘but.’”

“Don’t get shy on me now. There’s something.”

“My parents are coming into town to watch the last series of the regular season.”

“That’s nice for them to be able to do that. Will your sisters be with them?”

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