Page 138 of Finding Hope

Approaching slowly, Britt stops in front of me so her creamy thighs stop right in front of my eyes and her strawberry scent hugs me. Then shesquats down in front of my face, and her beautiful smile makes my heart throb.

“Hey.”

“Hey, Bambie.” Leaning forward, I lay a gentle kiss on her lips and don’t move back until she sighs.

Pulling back just an inch, she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth and savors my kiss. “How are you doing, Jack? You look exhausted.”

Groaning, I sit back. “I’m sore.”

“You’ve been working hard.” Stepping around me, she lifts her long legs and climbs into the small space between my back and the couch.

Instantly, her hands wrap around my stomach and her face rests between my shoulder blades. I’m so glad no one is home right now.

This is our quiet five minutes. This is our heaven.

“Would I sound too needy if I told you I’ve missed you?”

I chuckle and hold her joined hands.Would it be needy if I told you I love you?“No, Bambie. I’ve missed you, too.”

She sighs and presses a kiss to my back. Her presence has the tension leaving my body in an instant. “I’ve been lonely without you.”

“You should stay over tonight. I have room in my bed.”

Her fingers rub patterns against my stomach. “Maybe I will.”

“You can even climb in through my window again. That was fun. I felt like a damsel.”

Laughing, her chest bounces against my back. “Jack‘The Jackhammer’Reilly, the damsel.” Leaning back, she begins massaging the muscles in my shoulders and digs her thumbs in so hard, I want to weep. “I’m not so sure about that.”

“You make me feel safe, Bambie.”

I smile at the soft giggle and her breath bathing my neck.

“Ya know, I used to sneak Annie into my room, too. I had her for over a month in this house before Kit figured it out. I used to sneak her around, then she slept in my bed, too.”

She digs her thumbs in extra deep. “Are you comparing me to your dog?”

I laugh when Annie’s head pops up. She knows we’re talking about her, even mid-sleep. “Yeah, I am, but I love her. So it’s not a bad comparison.”

“I should be mad.” Grumbling, she continues to massage my aching muscles. “I don’t know exactly why, but I just feel like I should be mad at you.”

“Don’t be mad, Bambie. We don’t have time for being mad.”

She sighs and drops another kiss on my back. “I know. I already miss you.”

“Stay with me tonight?”

“Yeah. Okay.”

We sit in silence as I contemplate my week ahead. Kit, Bobby, Aiden, and I are headed on an eleven-city promotional tour. Eleven cities in eight days. I’m already exhausted just thinking about it.

I have to do the interviews for the press, pose for the cameras,pretendto weigh in against my opponent, though the real weigh in is still weeks away.

I have to do the shit my sponsors demand of me, even though I’d much rather be at home with Bambie.

I don’t want to train in other gyms for a week.

I prefer mine.

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