Page 136 of Kiss Me Tonight

I love you,I mouth to him, hoping the fire is bright enough that he’ll notice what I’ve said.

He smiles, a soft, boyish grin that warms my heart.Love you, Mom.

It’s what I need.AllI need.

My team around me, Topher, Dominic.

If this is what true happiness feels like, then I never want to leave this camp.

“Come with me,” Dominic urges quietly, his hands already tugging me up onto my feet. “I gotta show you something.”

“Are you sure we should leave?”

“Gloria and Meredith can handle the kids,” he says, leading me toward the cabins we’ve rented for the weekend. “And if they can’t, Brien will step in.”

I laugh at that. “Adam hasn’t even left his car since he got here earlier.”

“He doesn’t do bugs.”

“What a pansy.”

A hard palm swats my butt, and I jump. Twirling around, I put up my hands. “Whoa now, mister—”

“You asked for a bear.”

“Not even once. Remember, I fear them.”

“You don’t fear me.”

I cock my head, staring up at him as I walk backward. “Should I?”

“Yes.”

And then he’s looped an arm around my thighs and I’m over his shoulder—again—as he breaks into a light jog.

“Dominic.” I pound a fist on his hard butt cheek. There’s barely any give.So unfair.“Dominic, you have to put me down.”

“Negative, Coach.” He doesn’t even sound winded as he cuts across the dark field to where the staff cabin is located. “I haveto show you something.”

I stare down at the grass as it passes me by, his sneakers churning up dirt. “You’re going to offer to show me your penis, aren’t you?”

His husky laughter is music to my ears. “Ye of little faith, baby.”

Only once we reach the cabin does he drop me from his shoulder, righting me again on my feet. The world goes topsy-turvy from being upside down to right side up, but then Dominic is backing me up into the dark cabin. He flicks the switch by the front door, flooding the interior with light.

When I booked these cabins, it was with the money the team made from the calendar. It sold thousands of copies. Quite literally, thousands. Even more surprising was when high school football teams across the country began shooting their own calendars.

It’s a blessing and a curse.

Every time we spot another calendar gain viral traction online, Dominic buys fifty copies. His house—the one he doesn’t even live in anymore—has become a storage unit for football calendars of teams he doesn’t even know.

Leaning into him, I kiss his arm. “I love you, you know.”

The grin he gives me is nothing but desire and adoration. “I loveyou.”

Then he drops his mouth to mine, and I’m gone, as I always am, when he kisses me. I arch into him, my palms splayed over his rib cage. The kiss feels like hope and promise and love, and I give into it completely, hopping up into Dominic’s arms and knowing he’ll catch me no matter what.

Sure enough, he does, with his hands hooked under my ass and a masculine chuckle easing between us. “Here I thought I’d have to romance you a little or at least swear that no one is gonna come in here.”

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