Page 105 of Third and Ten

“I think…” I inhale sharply, deciding to go for it. “I think I love you too, JD.”

And the second I say it out loud, I absolutely know it’s true. That’s what this feeling is—the intense connection we share, this incessant need to be around him.

I’m in love with JD. Duh.

“Come again?” He rears back.

I scrunch up my nose in embarrassment. “I love you, too,” I repeat, my voice barely above a whisper.

He groans as if he’s in pain. “And I’m supposed to leave you alone now? Just hearing you say that out loud feels so good that I can’t even imagine what it would be like to show you.”

“Show me?” I squeak.

He nods slowly before bringing his lips down to my jawline. “I want to show you that I love you…without words.” His voice grows huskier as he speaks against my skin. “Even though I’ll still be using my tongue.”

Good. Night.

He literally knocks the wind out of me with that one.

“Oh,” I breathe…and breathe some more. “Uh, let’s do that some other time, though. Later, and not during prime baby time.”

He throws his head back and laughs obnoxiously, thankfully breaking the spell. “Prime baby time?”

“Shut up,” I whine. “Don’t make me take my L-word back.”

“You can’t.” He grins. “It’s too late. You totally meant it.”

I nod. “I did. And I’ve never said it and meant it this way before.”

“Mm,” he growls. “You’d better get your room key changed before tonight.”

I laugh until he brings his lips back to mine, but then there’s nothing funny about the way he’s kissing me. There is desperation, need, reverence, all of it. I’ve never imagined finding a man who could make the physical aspect of our relationship this good for me, but JD seems to be managing it just fine, even fully clothed.

He pulls back abruptly, his eyes wide, then pushes himself away from his brace against the wall. “Someone’s coming,” he pants.

“No,” I protest, attempting to collect myself but failing miserably.

His mouth turns up on one side, then he leans in for a short kiss and one last squeeze of my butt before backing away. I can hear someone approaching as laughter echoes up the stairwell, but I’m slow to move. My brain is still trying to catch up after having been kidnapped and stuffed in the back of the closet.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, babe, but you’d better get to work on that cardio.” He winks and gestures toward the next set of stairs before darting out into the hallway.

I whine again as I gaze at the stairwell. I’m not sure my heart is built for this.

CHAPTER 31

TENLEY

My mom ends our call, and I immediately begin searching for Ethan. I have to get us home before it’s too late.

I spot him on the sidelines, talking to another running back, so I quickly trek down the bleachers, stopping at the bottom. I realize there’s no easy way to make it down to him with the fence bordering the field on all sides, and there doesn’t seem to be an opening on the visitors’ side.

Crap.

How am I going to get down there fast enough to grab Ethan before the game starts? My eyes follow JD as he walks over to a couple of the other coaches, and I figure I’ll start with him, since I probably need to explain what’s going on before pulling Ethan away.

I lean over the railing and shout his name, my eyes darting around nervously as the others in the bleachers begin taking note. It probably sounds inappropriate for me to be hollering out for “JD” and not “Coach.” Of course, he doesn’t hear me, so I pull out my phone and attempt to text him. No luck—he must have his phone on silent mode.

I sigh and call out “Coach JD” one more time, and someone finally nudges JD in the shoulder and points in my direction. He turns toward me, looking confused but smiling. I guess my expression isn’t so friendly, because concern grows on his face as he hands off his clipboard and jogs over.

---