Page 38 of Stealing Forever

A small gasp pushes through the speaker and that sound alone has me growing hard behind my sweatpants. Spinning on my heel, I turn away from the guys even though I know they can’t see me. But on the off chance they do look over here, they don’t need to see my dick pitching a tent in my pants.

Needing to end the call before her voice alone makes me harder, my voice is far too raspy when I say, “I’ll see you when I get home, sweetheart.”

My brain should have never given her that damn term of endearment, and now I can’t imagine any other nickname for her.

“Yeah…okay. See you then.” She sounds as breathless as I am.

I want her. And I think she wants me too.

But if I’m wrong, and I mess this up, I’m not the only one whose heart will be broken. I can’t risk another woman walking away from Sailor.

But fuck if I can’t enjoy the feeling of knowing that a woman I only imagined in my dreams could want me like I want her.

Call it selfish, but for a few moments, I plan to relish in that.

Feeling on top of the world, I step onto the infield, arms open wide, and project my voice. “Who’s ready to kick some Rebel ass for opening weekend?” A round of hoots and hollers echo through the air and it fills me with pride.Excitement. “Then let’s get to work so we can get home and rest before we fly out tomorrow.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

My palms sweat as I look up the boarding stairs, heart thundering. It’s not that I’m afraid of flying, it’s just that I don’t do it often, and I’ve certainly never boarded an aircraft from the tarmac.

This isn’t your everyday commercial flight.

The Bears chartered two jets to get the team down to Southern California, and because Declan wants his daughter there, I’m about to board with about half the team, and all the coaches.

Declan walks up behind me with Sailor holding his hand, looking like a movie star in his dark wash denim jeans, short sleeve black polo shirt, Bears baseball cap, and aviator sunglasses.

“You okay?” he asks, his free hand ghosting the small of my back.

“Just a little awestruck. I’ve never ridden in a private jet,” I admit while hiking my backpack further up my shoulders.

“The ones the team charter are usually nothin’ special. Especially for this short of a distance. Come on now, let’s go find our seats.”

The hand on my back nudges softly and I climb the stairs, holding onto the railing as I ascend. At the top, a flight attendant around my age gives me a warm smile.

“Good morning,” I greet her as I pass, then my jaw slackens at the sight of the inside of the plane. Nothing special? It’s beautiful. New, plush seats in pairs of two that face each other and have small tables between them. Some have magazines, while others have unopened decks of cards. The windows are sparkling, and the flooring looks like it hasn’t been walked on.

“Is this plane new?” I ask Declan as I pick a window seat and set my backpack down beside it.

“Not to my knowledge.” He helps Sailor up into the seat next to me and fastens her lap belt before he takes off his own backpack and rifles through it, procuring her tablet a few seconds later.

Leaning over, I input the passcode for her while Declan sets up her headphones.

The moment Declan sits in the seat across from me, three of the Bears players walk onto the plane and straight to us. I recognize them from the barbecue—Gareth Fox, Austin Cooper, and Jensen Fields Jr.

“Ay! Coach’s here.” Austin beams at Declan, dropping down into the seat next to him.

“Hello, Austin,” Declan grumbles, but I’ve been around him enough to know he’s suppressing a smile.

Gareth ruffles Sailor's hair before he and Jensen take the seats across from us.

“Well, Coach. Are you ready?” Gareth asks as he gets comfortable.

“I think that’s a better question for you guys. How are you all feeling?”

While the men talk about baseball, I find myself studying Jensen. I haven’t spent much time with any of these men, butso far, Jensen has been the biggest mystery. Where Austin and Gareth are warm and inviting, Jensen is closed off and quiet. Leaning back against his seat, he stares down at his phone. He’s in a plain white T-shirt and jeans, and his Bears hat is backwards. As far as I can tell, he’s covered in tattoos. Both arms, with hints of ink peeking from beneath the collar of his shirt.

His energy givesbad boy, and I’m curious how he came to be such close friends with Austin and Gareth.

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