“Um, this is the cutest dog I’ve ever seen,” Tae says as she kneels beside me and joins in giving Ranger his favorite pastime.
“Do you want pets one day?” I ask her.
“As many as we can fit in our house. I was never able to have any growing up, and I’ve always been so jealous of Ryan because she has two dogs and her nana’s house has a stable with horses she got to ride pretty much whenever she wanted growing up.”
“Then it’s settled, I’ll get you however many pets you want,” I tell her. “Consider that one of my future vows.”
My eyes widen at what I’ve just let slip.
Taevin either doesn’t register what I said, or she takes it in stride. Shit, now I hope she did realize what I meant by that.
She looks over at me with a radiant smile. “Then we better live on a big plot of land so I can fill it up with all the chickens, cats, dogs, and goats my heart desires.”
“Goats?”
“Yeah, I feel like they’d be fun for our kids to chase around some day,” she says wistfully.
I know I’ve got the dopiest smile on my face right now as warmth spreads throughout my chest. “I’m going to take our bags down to our room quickly. Do you want to check it out or stay up here with the group?” I ask, hoping like hell she’ll agree to get away with me before I have my way with her right here and now.
Standing, I offer my hand out to help her up. “I’d love it if you gave me a tour.”
“One grand tour coming right up.”
Our grand tour is unfortunately postponed when the guys pull me into a conversation just as the girls whisk Taevin into the kitchen to do a welcome shot.
The draft is all Carson, Griff, and Bennett want to talk to me about, and after a while I can see it’s making Taevin anxious when she catches snippets of our conversation, even though she won’t admit it. I wish I had known she was hesitant about living in Minnesota after college.
I meant what I said when I told her I’d do everything in my power to sign somewhere else after my rookie contract. Hell, I was serious when I said I’d quit if it was in her best interest for her to pursue her dreams. I’m pretty sure that scared her more than anything, so I dropped it for the time being.
When it comes to how I feel about her, I want Taevin to have no reservations or confusion. I want her to be sure of what we have and secure in my love for her. I intend to do that, no matter what it takes.
20
Then
Two days full of wakeboarding, boating, beach volleyball, paddle boarding, singing by the bonfire, and fireworks with our friends means I haven’t had nearly enough alone time with Taevin as I’d like.
Thankfully that’s about to change. I pull my T-shirt on just as Tae walks out of the bathroom in a pair of cutoff jean shorts, a white tank top, and black vans. The simplest of outfits does it for me every time, and she knows it. Especially when she catches me checking her out with a heated stare I’m sure could sear her skin.
“Change of plans. We’re actually not leaving this room,” I tell her, wrapping my arms around her waist.
She giggles as I pepper kisses across her face. “Jax! You promised we could ride the ferris wheel here so I could check it off my list.”
“Did I? I mean, we don’t have to leave for you to ride something . . .”
Before she can even attempt to swat at me, I slide my hands under her butt and lift her up. She wraps her legs around me,and I take a moment to run my hands over the smooth skin of her thighs.
“I believe I already rode what you’re referring to this morning. Now it’s time for you to take me to this fair I’ve heard so much about.”
Throwing my head back, I let out a defeated groan. “Fine.”
She’s right, I can’t go back on my promise. Especially considering the surprise I have up my sleeve for her.
Last night was the Fourth of July, and before the fireworks, Taevin and I played around the bonfire for our friends. I ate up every rightfully-deserved awestruck stare aimed my girl’s way. After Kenna and Katie told Taevin about the nearby fair, I smiled at the plan I’d been formulating to help check off a few items off Tae’s list of things to do before college officially was set in motion.
Ever since she told me her dad agreed to let her come up here, I’d been working on a covert mission behind the scenes. Thanks to Kenna and Katie’s help, I’m pretty sure Taevin has no clue what I’m up to. I convinced her we had to go under the guise of checking off her riding the ferris wheel, but that won’t be the only thing she checks off her list . . . or at least I hope not.
It takes us about a half hour to drive to the fair and find parking for Bennett’s truck I borrowed. Part of the reason it took us longer was because I packed the truck bed full of pillows and blankets in case the stars are out tonight.
