Page 54 of Scoring with the Coach's Daughter

I’m kinda getting into the fact that I love a man who isn’t afraid to take charge. I’m used to being alone and in control all the time. But it’s refreshing when Jake takes the lead.

He’s unbuttoning my capris as I tug his athletic jersey over his head.

Thank goodness Ellie is still at camp.

I’m barefoot in the kitchen, walking around as I crunch on the bacon. I pull iced tea from the fridge.

“Do you ever sit down?” he asks. He’s sitting at the counter, and I know his eyes are following me. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to the fact that Jake wants to make love to me at the drop of a pin. I turn, looking at him briefly and I catch him giving me the once-over.

“Down boy,” I tease.

He growls in response.

“We need to leave soon. Ellie would be disappointed if we’re not there before camp is dismissed.”

He glances at his phone on the counter. “You’re right. I need to pop in so the kids can say goodbye. I admit I’m going to miss the little rugrats.”

“What? Rug rats?” I raise an eyebrow.

“The littles, the kids,” he smirks. “I’m sure Ellie will be wired on all that junk food and sugar.”

He finishes his sandwich. Then, he carries his plate to the sink where he washes all the dishes that I left sitting in the sink. “She’s fine. Besides, it’s every kid's rite of passage. If you never let her have a cheat day, I’d seriously have to rethink our relationship.”

“Relationship, eh?” I wrap my arms around him and stare into his blue eyes that remind me of the ocean. I could get lost in them for days on end.

“I take co-parenting seriously,” he breaks my trance and places the last plate in the drainboard.

“You do, do you? You’re the funny one.”

“Not all the time. I can be tough.”

“Right,” I tease. Jake is tough on the gridiron, but I’m not sure he can be that tough with Ellie. She’s a precocious little girl with the sweetest face and she’s resourceful.

He dries his hands before he pulls me into his chest. “I’m really glad your father told me about the Doc down here. For what it’s worth, I honestly think your father wanted me to look you up when I got here.”

“Really?” That’s interesting.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Mom kinda alluded to something like that. About Dad being all weirded out over the fact that I don’t have a man in my life and then when I do, he’s weird over the fact there is aman in my life. Sometimes, I can’t make him happy no matter what I do,” I sigh.

“Your mother is on your side regardless.” His lips curl into a smile and I couldn’t be happier.

“Maybe.”

He kisses my lips and trails them down my neck and it causes me to giggle like a schoolgirl. “We need to go, or we’ll miss the festivities,” he says, breaking away.

Damn it—I’m disappointed when his arms fall away. Did he have to choose now to be a responsible grownup?

“Right. And Ellie will never let us live it down,” I state, burying my frustration.

“Exactly.” He walks to the kitchen counter and grabs his keys. “She’s a lot like you.”

“What does that mean?” I ask, following him out of the house.

“You two are sticklers for keeping your word, that’s all.” I’m sure he’s being gentle with his words. He knows we’re all about following the rules. Or, at the least, I am.

“You keep your word too,” I add as he opens the door of the truck for me.

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