“The Diamond Girls and the media and the shit that no one thinks about.I’ve seen my closest teammates’ girls deal with it, but they endured it because they loved their guys.It would be different for us.And I’m not sure…”
“I understand.”
“That means you move in here.”
Her head rears back.“I appreciate the offer, but I’m good.”
“It’s not a choice.You want me to marry you, you move in here.You’re my wife.I would never allow my wife to not live with me.End of story.”
“They don’t know that.”She flicks her hand toward the world outside.
“I don’t care.And yeah, if Tanner is mine, I need a nanny I can trust.”
She blows out a breath, her head dropping back to the cushion and her gaze fixing on the ceiling.“If I agree, it’s a deal then?”
“Yes.”I tighten my arms across my chest, trying to keep myself as centered as I can, still surprised I’m even entertaining this arrangement.
“So, you marry me and stay married for a year as long as I move in here and watch your kid?”
I dip my chin.
“And if the paternity test comes back and you aren’t the father?What happens then?”
The paternity test is a formality at this point.Sure, my mind likes to do the what-if scenarios, but I know that Tanner is mine.I’m almost certain.
“I’ll still help you.”
“Why?”she asks as though it’s such a foreign concept for her.
“I’m a nice guy.”I can’t stop the cocky smirk on my face.“You know that.”
“You always did make sure that I got mine before you got yours.”
“What’s with using the past tense?”
She lets out a short laugh under her breath.“If we agree to this arrangement, sex might have to be off the table.”
I cross the room in two strides and sit on the couch by her.“Why?We’ve always been good at keeping feelings out of it.I don’t see that changing.And if we’re going to be married, I should make you a happy wife and fuck you.”
She shakes her head, a laugh bubbling out of her.“Jeez, you really are the cockiest guy I’ve ever known.”
“Why?”I shift closer, crowding her space just enough.She doesn’t push me away.“Because you know how good we fuck.We’ll have to find a way to keep it down now with the baby, but it’s doable.”
I should pull away from her, but I can’t stop myself.I nuzzle my head into her neck, placing soft kisses on her skin.Fuck, my dick twitches in my pants.This entire week has been torture, and all I want is a few moments to lose myself in her.
“I think it’s a bad idea.”But she doesn’t push me away.
“Come on,wife, don’t you want to make your husband happy?”
She pushes me away, which I expected.I have a sister and a lot of cousins who would’ve punched me in the junk for that comment.
“Are we crazy?”She was so certain earlier, but now her eyes are wide and unsure.
“High probability.”
Her teeth bite her bottom lip.It turns me on—my dick wants to go full salute.
“It’ll be fun.”I push off the couch, knowing we’re not going to be hooking up tonight.I drag my shirt over my head since there’s a stain on it.
