Page 115 of The Way We Score

“Stretch marks and all?”

“Come here.” He pulls me close, turning my back to his chest again and wrapping his arms around me. “We should try that class again. I was skeptical, but I think it’s helping us already. For starters, you were the most beautiful woman there. They’ll want you for the publicity photos.”

A laugh snorts through my nose, and I tuck my nose against his jaw. “Compliments will get you everywhere.”

“Will they get me in your pants?”

“You’ve never had to worry about that.”

“I’m ready to take you to that guest cottage and remind you how hard you make me.”

Warm lips cover mine, and while anxiety still twists in my chest, while I’m still terrified my body will never be the same, I’m a little less terrified it’s the end of our sex life.

At least not when Garrett lifts me out of the water andcarries me to the pretty little house on the edge of the premises overlooking the bay, and proceeds to make me scream.

“I thoughtyour mom said no more chickens.” Garrett’s voice greets me as he crosses the backyard to where I’m standing right outside the henhouse, introducing Henny to her new baby chick.

It’s been longer than twenty-one days, but she doesn’t seem to care. She’s making soft little clucks and doing her best to scoot the little chick under her body.

“It’s called chicken math.” I keep my voice low and calm. “If Mom didn’t want it to happen, she shouldn’t have left.”

Garrett stands just outside the perimeter watching as Henny guides her baby around. Every time the baby black silkie tries to come to me, she clucks over to it, lightly touching it with her beak.

I put a handful of chicken feed in the small cup Henny’s been using, and she shows the baby chick how to eat. The little black puff ball runs over, and she nuzzles it with her beak.

“Look how happy she is,” I coo, sliding my finger down the soft feathers beside her neck to her back. “She has a baby girl now, just like our… Gina Grace? Gigi?”

Garrett’s brows furrow as he thinks about this, then he rests his hand on the roof of the henhouse, leaning attractively as he watches me. “I like it.”

“Miss Gina has always been like a sweet grandmother to you and your siblings, and your real grandmother is no longer with us…”

“I think Gigi’s a good name.” He’s grinning now. “I even like Gina and Grace alone, if she wants to be more traditional when she gets bigger.”

“I don’t know if Mom will be annoyed. I didn’t name her Persimmon or some other fruit.”

“I don’t care for Persimmon.”

I go to where he’s standing, watching me in a way that lights all my nerve endings. He’s watching me like he wants to put his mouth all over my body, and I’d let him.

“What are you thinking?” My voice is suddenly shy.

“Just you, worrying about that silly bird.”

“She’s not silly.” I pretend to pout, which makes him laugh. “I’m also a little worried about you.”

“What?” He frowns.

“You haven’t watched a single football game since you got here. It’s always been such a huge part of your life and your family. Don’t you miss it?”

“Not really.” He lowers his hand, standing straighter. “I guess it seems strange to watch the games when I’m not playing anymore.”

“But you love football.”

His voice drops, turning softer. “I love you.”

Energy floods my body as he takes my hand. We’ve said similar things to each other, more and more lately, but this is the first time he’s saying it in a way that feels like he’s saying something more.

I meet his possessive gaze. “You do?”

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