Page 121 of Defending her Heart

“I’m not sure. It depends if Dani needs me to stay.”

And this is why I didn’t ask her to watch Paisley for me. Kendall spends more of her time giving to others and being there for them than she takes for herself.

“I love you for that.” I mean it more along the lines ofI love that about you,but it is another reason I love her. Instead of making the moment too emotional, I kiss the tip of her nose and intercept Paisley in the hallway. “Grab your coat, Sweet Pea. We’re taking Kendall back home.”

“I don’t want her to leave.”

Me either, kid. I head out to the garage for Kendall’s overnight bag, even though I’d much rather have her wear my clothes.

Paisley whines the entire drive to Kendall’s house, but finally lightens up when Kendall promises to have a cookie baking day tomorrow.

“I’ll be right back,” I say to Paisley as I walk Kendall to the door.

“Don’t let her get to you. We’ve been hogging a lot of your time lately. She’ll see you tomorrow when I leave for practice. Spend the evening with your family.”

I kiss her gently, not wanting to give my daughter or Kendall’s mother a show.

“Thank you.” She smiles sweetly at me. When she has her hand on the doorknob and starts to push it open, she looks over her shoulder at me. “And by the way, I love you too.”

Kendall rushes inside and closes the door before I can respond.

She loves me too.

I’m fucking shocked and glowing as I grin like a stupid love-struck idiot at the closed door. I barely remember making my way back to the truck or the rest of the day with Paisley.

Kendall loves me.

Kendall fucking loves me too.

EPILOGUE

NASH

It sucked losing the AFC Championship game, but hanging out with my teammates and my fiancé in Walker and Riley’s game room to watch the Superbowl isn’t so bad.

Fiancé.

I still can’t believe I had the balls to propose so soon. The second Kendall admitted to loving me, there was no more taking it slow.

By Christmas, Kendall stopped being shy about saying those three wonderful words.

By mid-January, since she was spending five nights a week at the house, I asked her to move in with us. Permanently. Dani was having a hard time with separation anxiety, so we have her over for dinner at least once a week, and Kendall and Paisley plan hangout sessions together.

By the end of January, after the last game of the season, I met with my lawyer and went jewelry shopping. I thought about planning an elaborate proposal. Whisking Kendall off to a tropical island and dropping to one knee, but the diamond burned a hole in my pocket and I saw no point in waiting.

Last week, after Paisley went to bed, I piled the couch cushions and blankets in front of the fire in the living room and proposed. After Kendall got over the initial shock, the tears fell and I panicked that I’d rushed her.

When her mouth opened into the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen and she nodded her head, I cupped her face and kissed her long and deep until we were gasping for air. It wasn’t until I gave her a handful of orgasms and filled her with my cock that we realized the ring was still in the box.

“Fucking blinding man.” Buck holds his hand in front of his face and blinks at theblindinglight. “Is that rock supposed to compensate for your small dick or something?”

“No complaints in that department.” I smirk across the room as my fiancé bends over the pool table and takes a shot. “It’s to ward off pricks like you so you know she’s taken.”

“No worries there.” Declan drops into the recliner next to me and hands me another beer. “Any guy in a ten-mile radius can see the way you’re fucking glued to her side. Obsessive much?”

“I’m not glued to her side.” I pop open my beer and take a glug.

“Your eyes fucking are.”

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