“Fine, but I know what I want.”
“What do you want?” I ask.
He presses a sweet kiss to my lips. “You.”
In an incredible show of athleticism and strength, Nico rolls off the bed with me in his arms and carries me inside to the shower. He takes his time, washing me from head to toe with such tenderness I could cry. Then he dries me off and carries me to bed.
I’m asleep in seconds with Nico’s arms wrapped around my waist and a complete sense of contentment.
Coming back to him was the best decision. I just hope my sister can find it in her heart to forgive me and understand that Nico isn’t the same man she once knew.
Nico’s not the bad boy everyone thinks he is. He is a good man. And he’s mine.
The buzz in the Evaders’ family lounge is electric. Everyone is chatting and laughing as some of the players’ children run around in their cute little jerseys. As directed, I’m waiting here for Nico while he showers and does a quick post-game interview.
I expect to be waiting for a while.
The team had an amazing game, coming from behind to win 8-5 against the Cincinnati Cobras. Nico hit the winning home run atthe bottom of the seventh inning, so everyone is going to want to talk to him.
My mind drifts back to the moment he hit the ball clean over the fence. Like last time, he traced the S on his shirt and looked right up at the box where I was sitting. I can’t describe the emotion that zipped through me as anything other than love as I watched him rounding the bases.
“How are you holding up?” Talia asks as she takes a seat and hands me a water bottle.
I glance around the room. It’s filled to the brim with a wide variety of friends and family. Wives and girlfriends. I was worried I wouldn’t fit in, but everyone I’ve met tonight has been so kind and welcoming. It helped that Talia was here to introduce me to everyone.
“I’m okay. It’s different from what I thought it would be.”
Grace barks a laugh as she takes the other seat beside me. We hit it off right away. She’s a kindergarten teacher, and I can see why. She’s smart and sweet as pie.
“What were you expecting, a den of vipers?” she asks.
“I mean…” I wince.
“Being a wife or girlfriend isn’t as glamorous as TV makes it out to be,” she says.
Grace would know. She’s been married to Heath Erikson, the second baseman, for years. They met in college and have been together ever since. The memory of my teasing Nico about Heath pops into my head, making me laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Grace asks.
“I just remembered, before Nico and I got together, to annoy him, I told him Heath was my favorite Evader because he was hot.”
Grace and Talia burst into a fit of laughter.
“Oh, I bet my brother loved that.”
I laugh, thinking about the scowl Nico gave me.
“What’s going on here?”Speak of the handsome devil.Nico lifts me up and takes my seat, placing me onhis lap.
“Hey.” I wrap my arms around his neck, running my fingers through his damp hair. “You were quick.”
He shrugs and wraps his arms around my waist. “I rushed.”
A bark of rumbly laughter draws my attention. Heath Erikson beams at me as he replaces Grace in her seat and puts her on his lap. He really is a gorgeous mountain of a man with his dimpled chin, wavy hair, and rich brown eyes. “He didn’t just rush. He told the reporters, no questions. Then gave a three-sentence response and left the room.”
“In his defense, he’s been ruder in the past,” Cam interjects. He’s sitting with Talia on his lap as well. Guess this is a thing these men do.
Three more guys approach, and holy freaking hotness. Reed McKay, Blake Jensen, and Lance Taylor are standing here, smiling down at me. My fangirl rears her head. These guys make up the best team in the league.
