“I mean, maybe?” Jones turned beet red.
I narrowed my eyes. “Should I be worried about this? You know you’re mine, right?”
“Oh, Charlie, yes, I do, and I love you so much. Besides, Maverick is married to a hockey player, and he’s kind of scary. He has a son who’s dating Noel’s younger brother, Leo. Did you know that Leo is a driver, too?” Jones was off the couch again, smiling and rambling about his new friends and how excited he was.
I couldn’t stop the smile that spread over my face. Seeing Jones this happy made me happy. He had been so worried about signing with Brooks Racing. About Watts and Holt. But now he was envisioning a future with new friends. Even if that meant a friendship with a guy he had a little crush on.
“Jonesy.” He spun around to look at me. “Come here, please.” I wiggled a finger at him and watched as he scrambled up onto my lap. “I love seeing you like this. You’re a fucking sight.”
He beamed. “I’m so darn happy right now, baby.”
“I know, and it makes you even more beautiful. I don’t know how that’s possible, but it is.” I smoothed the hair down on the side of his head.
Jones leaned forward to slide his lips over mine. “Everything is so perfect.”
“Just like you.”
“Like us.”
My heart thumped against my chest as I surged forward to kiss him, our lips colliding. Jones groaned as our tongues slicked together, and I flipped him onto his back on the couch so I could stare down at him, his fingers digging into my shoulders. He smiled at me, his hazel eyes searching my face.
“I love you so much,” I whispered.
Jones nipped at my chin. “I love you more.”
“Impossible,” I teased, then grew serious. “Do I have to worry about you leaving me for Maverick Frost? Don’t make me chain you up, Bashful, because I will. I don’t have a problem with you being friends with him, but I won’t let him steal you from me.”
He gasped. “Charlie, baby, no!” Jones shook his head. “How could you... I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you. The moment I saw you, that was it. No one else would ever do.”
“Is that so?” I nuzzled his neck and inhaled the scent of his lavender bodywash. The one we shared.
He hummed in agreement. “Yes, it’s always been you.”
“And it’s always been you for me, Jonesy.”
Jones
I twisted my hands together nervously. I wasn’t sure I was ready for this. I mean, sure, I liked being part of the WAGs enough. Texting with them, laughing and joking about anything and everything. It was fun. It made me feel like I was part of something. But now I was about to meet the rest of them. And there was a heck of a lot of them to meet.
“Relax, Bashful, you have nothing to worry about. They already love you,” Charlie assured me. “Are you going to knock on the door, or do you want me to?”
Right. We were standing outside the Olson house. Maverick Frost lived here. Well, Maverick Olson now, but he would always be Maverick Frost to me. He seemed so kind on the phone. Funny. Friendly. But what if he wasn’t? What if he didn’t like me? What if—
“Jones, I am so excited to see you!” a soft feminine voice exclaimed just before I was engulfed in a tight hug. The sweet intoxicating scent of cinnamon hit my senses as Ezra Carey, Carson’s husband, held me tightly, giggling into my ear. “I can’t wait for you to meet my besties. They’re going to love you and then we’re all going to be besties.”
I grimaced. “I’m not so sure about that.”
“What? Nonsense, boo.” Ezra hooked an arm through mine and turned to look up at Charlie. “I’m going to borrow your hubby for a few.”
He didn’t even wait for an answer, just ushered me inside the house where the sound of voices carried through the air. We passed through the kitchen, down a hallway, and then out through another door out onto a deck where itappeared most of the WAGs and their significant others were. I recognized all of them, including Maverick, who was sitting on his husband Jackson’s lap.
Maverick immediately climbed to his feet, walked over to where I stood with Ezra, and stared at me with wide green eyes. His gaze traveled over my face, down my body, and back again before he broke into a big grin, wrapping his arms around me. He was strong for a small guy, and despite the layers of clothing, he felt cool to the touch.
“Welcome to our home,” Maverick cooed as he pulled back, his eyes moving behind me. “Both of you. We’re so happy you could finally come by. I already feel like we’re good friends.”
Charlie’s hands landed on my shoulder. “Thank you for having us.”
“Grab a seat and make yourself comfortable.” Maverick smiled as he waved his arms in the air. Then he went back to his husband’s lap.
