Page 81 of Playing Rucking Hard

“I’m studying to be an OT—an occupational therapist. I want to help people live a long and happy life. There is an aspect of dance that engages people with disability. That’s where I want to specialize, but I have to get my degree first.”

“We’re both studying.” I shake my head in disbelief. “I didn’t want to tell people at first because I didn’t want them to know if I failed.”

“And I didn’t tell anyone because I wanted them to think dance and cheer were my life without distractions. It’s the same reason why no one else knows about Sage.”

“Only a handful of people know about my brother and father. I’m sure Warner will try to use that against me.”

“We won’t let him.” Emma holds my face until all I can see is the truth in her eyes. “I don’t know how, but since we don’t haveto hide anymore, I can be there for Saxon just as much as you were there last night for Sage.”

“No more secrets.” I can’t believe I don’t have to hide Emma from the world, or Saxon and study from Emma. “I don’t have to sneak away to finish an assignment or head off to a lecture.”

“You better not.” She laughs, adding, “sux to be you, because I’m hoping you’ll proofread my assignments.”

“But how do you do it? Working, Sage, and study?” Every time I learn something new about this woman, she slays me.

“About the same as you do with Squid, league, and study.”

“I love you.” The words come out without thinking. “I wanted to tell you last night. Hell, I wanted to tell you by swan note, but I wanted to be able to look you in those beautiful eyes and say the words. I love you. I love you, Emma Russell, I love you.”

Emma is already in my lap, but when she wraps her arms around my neck, it’s as if not even air can come between us. And when she’s the first to press her lips to mine, my heart wants to leap through my chest. This. This is the kiss I’ve been waiting for since we awoke to the scandal. I’d gone into fix-it mode, and this is my reward. Emma. Passionate, inviting, demanding, and loving.Emma, my Emma.

My hands fist her hair as her hips line up against mine. Her breast, oh, her beautiful breasts are just asking to be kissed and mouthed until they wear my marks, but with two tweens likely to walk in on us, I struggle to keep my hands and kisses M-rated.

“I love you, Em,” I whisper while taking a breath. “I know we haven’t really dated, but all of those notes? Those were the real you and me getting to know each other. I love your banter and sense of humor. I love the way you love your sister. I love the way you kiss and the way we fit together …”

“Shh, you need to love giving me a chance to have an opinion,” she says, pressing two fingers to my lips and immediately losing them to kisses. “You were my Mr. Perfect that first night. Youkept asking me why I left in the middle of the night—it was because Sage was home with a sitter. She has nightmares, and I don’t like leaving her alone all night.”

“She didn’t have nightmares last night,” I say quietly.

“She has the occasional good night.” Emma swallows, adding, “The walls here are so thin that I’m just waiting for the police to be called, again.”

“One night happy and enjoying the dance with her friends, one night without nightmares, that’s not a coincidence,” I tell her, the plan coming together in my head. “What if she forgot to be scared? What if last night, she felt safe with family around her.”

Her fingers tighten around mine. “But we’re not …”

“We are,” I interrupt gently. “Maybe not in the traditional sense. But we are. Move in with me. You and Sage. I’ll pay six or twelve months rent on this place so you can have it as a safety net—or Sage can use it as a time out from living with us. But think about it. My penthouse is huge. We can extend my gym into the second living room, so you can have a dance studio. Squid has his room at the other end of the apartment, and there are still two spare bedrooms for Sage to choose from. I’ll have a spare desk set up in my office so we can study together.”

She exhales shakily, her grip like a lifeline. “Really? But what about the Mavericks? Your job? The wholeAustralia’s Favorite Bachelorcommitments. I don’t want to be competing with a thousand other women for your attention.”

I want to smother her in kisses until she doesn’t even have to ask about other women, but since we are running out of time before Squid and Sage invade us with food, I press a soft kiss to the tip of her nose. “I’m staying in Sydney. If the Mavericks’ don’t offer me a new contract that I can live with, then there are other Sydney teams. I already decided to stay here for uni and Squid, so you and Sage add to the reasons to stay. If someone else comes up with an offer, we’ll discuss it as a family.”

“But Sage has therapy sessions.”

“Family doesn’t split bills as his or hers.” I need to find a new manager, fast. Not that Hunt isn’t a great lawyer, but I need someone to set up accounts for Emma and Sage, take over payments for therapists, and arrange second opinions. Perhaps, Emma and I can convince Squid to attend a counselor. “Ifourkids need healthcare or support for their education, or sporting fees, or shoes or anything, thenwepay. It doesn’t matter whose name is on the account—Sage and Squid are our priority.”

Emma looks like she’s about to either burst into tears or turn around and straddle me. I’d be all for the straddling if our mini-invasion weren’t overdue. “I need to talk to Sage,” Emma says with the first rays of hope, “but if she’s …”

“Talk to Sage about what?” Squid asks as the front door slams open and I have to give him props for timing. He and Sage are almost hidden behind bags of food,let the food invasion begin.

Emma untangles herself from my lap to help Sage with one of her bags, setting them down on the round kitchen table. Trust Squid to find plates and start plating up burgers and potato wedges.

“So, you’ve distracted us with food. Talk.” Squid points his burger at Emma and then me. “What do you need to talk to Sage about?”

“Going into protective friend mode much?” I say with a laugh, turning to give Sage my full attention. “Sage, you might as well be the first person other than your sister to know … I love Emma. I love your sister. I should have told her before, and I should have sorted out the Mavericks before they had a chance to react, but I’m showing up for her now.”

“Knew it! Nailed it.” Squid doesn’t wait for me to finish before jumping up and almost knocking Emma off her chair in a hug. “Welcome to the squad, Em. I always wanted a sister who’s cool. Sage counts.”

Sage throws a potato wedge at him and he mock reacts, clutching his face as if he’s mortally wounded. “Unfair! If I fight back, I get canceled for hitting a girlanda sister? Brutal.”

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