Page 39 of Falling for the Quarterback
He nods. “I had time to kill on the plane, so I gave my housekeeper a list and then I asked my chef to make up some healthy options of food you like too.” The oven beeps, signaling it’s reached four-twenty-five, and JJ automatically puts the pizza in, then sets a timer for twelve minutes.
“Hm, that’s a lot of food in the fridge. Almost like you expect me to be here more than one night.”
He blushes, and it’s positively adorable on the big guy. “Yeah, uh, I was hoping you’d want to stay longer again.”
“I can stay another night.” I meet his hopeful gaze, wearing a smirk, and grab the homemade ranch out of the fridge. I brought extra clothes just in case, since I ended up staying over longer the last time I was here. “I don’t want to wear out my welcome, though, if you need space, tell me. I don’t ever want you to feel like I’m stretching you too thin.” That would seriously suck. The last thing I want is to create stress for him after how amazing he’s been to me.
In the next beat, I’m wrapped in his arms again. “Hey,” he says quietly, staring deep into my eyes. “I want you here. All the time. It was hell not having you at my game this week. I couldn’t concentrate when all I wanted to do was be able to look up and see you in the box, cheering me on.”
“I’m sorry. I know you offered to pay for the ticket and stuff for me to go cheer you on, but I really don’t like to fly anywhere. It freaks me out so badly, we’re talking panic attacks before I step on the plane. Besides, I don’t enjoy traveling alone. Plus, I have Jingle and Bells.”
“I know, Kinsley. I get it, I respect your feelings, but I also want you to have another option in case you decide one day you do want to be at another game, it can happen.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, confused. How could I get to one of his games when they’re all over the country? I’d have to start driving like two days in advance.
“I’ve discussed it with my dog sitter; she’s one of my teammates’ sisters. Anyway, she said she loves Dobermans and would be more than happy to stay with all of our dogs here anytime we want her to. She’d stay at the house with them the entire time so they’d never be alone.”
“Aw, so nice of her. It’s hard to find people like that to trust.”
He nods, continuing, “I spoke to the team’s doctor. I told him what you said, how your doctors have never helped you with your fear of flying and heights. I explained what you said about how they’ve told you to take Benadryl and never took you seriously. He was appalled and wrote you a script for a fast-acting anxiety tablet you can take right before you fly.”
“Oh my God, seriously?” I nearly tear up. I’ve been asking for years for help so I could finally fly again, and I have gotten nowhere. This is amazing news, and I need to thank his team’s doctor.
He nods. “As for traveling alone, a few players charter a plane so their spouses can travel to games. It helps so they don’t have to worry about their safety, and the wives don’t get badgered by overzealous fans. My teammates said their women would love to have you with them. They all want to meet you already, and talk about your books.”
My teeth sink into my lip as I process everything he’s told me. I was literally thinking about how thoughtful he is moments before, and now I hear all of this, too. How did I ever get so lucky to meet this amazing human, and in a lumber store of all places? My sexy, non-mountain-mountain man. “I love you, JJ.”
His lips tip into a grin, “I love you too, sweetheart.”
I shake my head. “No, you don’t understand. No one has ever taken care of me the way you do. I-I don’t know how to act, what to think, or respond. I just hope you never think I’m taking advantage in any way or that I’m ungrateful. You’re unlike any man I’ve ever met before, and I’m scared to wake up and it not be real life. People like you don’t exist in real life.”
He kisses me, lightly resting his forehead to mine. “It’s all real, Kinsley, trust me. You make me want to do all these things for you, to make sure I’m better than all the rest, and you’re happy. I don’t thinkyouunderstand how much I truly care about you. I’m so in love with you, I can’t think straight. Now that we’re discussing our affections for each other and you feel this way…What would you think if we brought your RV here?”
My brows furrow as I back away a bit. “Here? Like to Dallas?”
“No, baby. Bring your RV here, beside the house. Maybe when we have some off time, we can take it on trips? Like, down to the coast? I’ll have a structure built, we can park the RV under to help protect it from the elements.”
“Wait a second. Are you saying you want me to stay on your property?”
“I want you to make this house into our home. I didn’t like the past week being away from you. Then, being in another state entirely, it drove me crazy. I feel like I’ve waited my entire life for you, and now you’re finally here. I don’t want to waste time with you, Kinsley. Ever. I understand marriage may not be your thing, at least not right now, but I don’t want to be apart from you like we were this last week, ever again.”
“Damn, you really went there, hm? But I have kids, I’m older than you, and there’s other stuff. I don’t want to have children, and you’re young, surely you must wantto have them?”
His expression turns serious. “First of all, age has nothing to do with this; I don’t even think about that. I like the fact that you already have kids; it shows me you know what you’re doing because I have absolutely no idea. As for getting pregnant, I would never pressure you to do that. I respect how you have a successful career, and it would take a lot out of you. The pressure it puts on a woman is insane…but, would you ever consider adoption?”
My head tilts as I take him in. Really study him and realize he’s completely serious about this. About all of it. After a few moments, I nod, “Yes, I’d consider adoption with you. I’d love that for us, maybe, when the time is right. I’d be okay without it, too, though. Would you?”
He nods. “I want to spend my life with you. The other details are things we can work out when we’re ready for them. Right now, making sure we’re together more and you’re truly happy are the main things I’m worried about.”
I reach up, smoothing his brow. “I don’t want you worrying about anything. I’ll see if one of my boys wants to stay at my place, and if not, then we’ll bring my RV here.”
His face brightens, and then he has me up in the air again, pressing a million kisses all over my face, making me giggle. We’re interrupted by the oven timer beeping, and then he’s carefully placing me back on my feet. “You’ve made me the happiest man in the world.”
I wink, “I do what I can,” I tease, making him laugh. He smacks my butt, and I can’t help but wonder what life is this? I thought mine was essentially over. I was sad, angry, bitter, and settling where men were concerned, and now I feel like I’m living my very own happily ever after.
We take turns fixing our plates, mine with two pieces of pizza, and JJ’s with a heaping pile of salad and one slice. I was right, and I smile to myself, knowing I’m already learning these little things about him.
“You’re kind of a big deal, so I’m going to need you to work off that pizza a little later after our food’s settled.”
