“Shh.” He kissed the spot right below my ear. I shivered. My knees shook. I’d be melted onto the floor in no time. “You’re all I think about. Every second of every day.”
I moaned when he tightened his grip around my waist and bit down on my ear. He chuckled and continued pressing light kisses down my face. “I…I don’t understand.”
“It’s been you. Only you.” He lifted my face, so he could look at me. I gulped. “Life has been black and white for me for quite some time. Then you came along and added all these damn colors and thoughts. I want to be with you all the time. You make me happier than I deserve to be. That woman, God, I’m sorry, Grace. She was my sister’s best friend. There’s nothing there, and I didn’t even think how it would come across.” He pressed his lips on my forehead, resting his against mine for a few seconds. “I’ve almost crossed the line a million times, and I’ve waited for this moment so damn long.”
“Why not make a move then, huh?” I tried pushing at him a bit, needing a little distance to digest his words. His wonderfully warm words that sent tingles all over my body.
“I had to be sure.”
“Be sure of what? That you had feelings or sure that it wouldn’t affect your job? Why keep me at a distance this whole time when we could’ve been more.” My throat dried up, and my voice came out all scratchy.
He pulled me into his strong arms, gripping the back of my head. “It’s been hard as hell not to do anything about this the past four months. It wasn’t about my job at all, Grace. I know what this internship means to you, and I wouldn’t forgive myself if I did anything to jeopardize it.
My heart melted. My eyes stung.
But he kept going, taking pieces of me I would never get back. “I submitted the evaluation. It’s over. We can be together now.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
I had never beenin such a predicament in my entire life. The team lost that night. The sobering mood caused frowns and some tears from the players. They wouldn’t make it to the Rose Bowl. In December, they would play in a less recognized championship game, but I wouldn’t be around by then. I gulped, aware it was my last night in the stadium. I wouldn’t be back on Monday, and it depressed me. I watched the players head into the locker rooms for the last time as I finished icing Q. My eyes stung again.
My stomach clenched at the sadness and anxiety over saying goodbye. I left the locker room area and found myself heading toward Brock’s office for a finalsomething. We didn’t make explicit plans, but he asked if he could give me a ride home, and it would be a lie if I hadn’t thought about that kiss a million times. We hadn’t had time to be together since the supply closet, but now there was an uncertainty in the air.
Approaching his doorway and seeing Brock leaning against the door to his office with his damn pullover stretched tight across his chest took my breath away. “Hi.”
“Ready to head out?”
“Is there anything else we need to do?” I looked around, hoping for something to keep us there. Nerves danced in my stomach. I had never been this nervous in my entire life. He smiled at me.
“No. Come on, Grace.”
“Okay.” I gulped, and he placed my hand in his. “Is this okay?”
“I don’t give a shit. You have no ties here anymore, and I am not your boss.” He kissed the back of my hand, my belly swooping. “I’ve been waiting pretty damn long for this.”
We walked toward the parking lot, still holding hands, and not one person seemed to pay any attention to us. It was relieving, but my palms sweat because we hadn’t talked about that kiss at all.
“Wh-what are we doing?”
“No idea.” He laughed. “What do you want to do?”
I had no clue. Did we make out like teenagers? Did we go on a date? Did we talk? Did we go at it like rabbits? “Um, well—”
“Grace, calm down.” He opened his passenger door and lowered his face to mine. “I can see your brain smoking from overthinking. We won’t do anything you don’t want to. I just want to hang out with you without pretending I don’t love you.”
He shut the door.
My world spun. What? What did he say? Helovedme? No. I gripped the handle of the door and took a long breath. Then, my heart danced. He loved me!
When he got into the car on his side, I flung myself at him without a care that we were still in the parking lot of the stadium where anyone could see us. He laughed and caught me, placing my legs over his lap. Those blue eyes were my favorite blue. “I didn’t scare you saying that?”
“No.” I grabbed his stubble-covered chin and kissed him. “Not at all.”
He tightened his grip on me, digging those fingers into my skin with his eyes burning. I bit my lip the longer he stared. He nipped at it with his teeth, and I giggled. Flirty Brock was my all-time favorite. Our kisses were sloppy and hurried, and I broke our embrace for a second to catch my breath.
“Say it again, Brock.”
He traced my bottom lip with his thumb, causing my entire body to tremble. Then he said, “I love you. Ifuckinglove you, Grace. It’s ridiculous, honestly. I didn’t want to.”
