Page 128 of Hard to Hold

The look of shock on his face is priceless. “Here, here?”

“Yes, here, here.” I wait to see his reaction but other than the surprise in his voice, he doesn’t show it.

“That’s all you came for?”

“Maybe to catch a football match or two.”

“I hear the new team captain is incredible.”

“You have, have you?”

“Yep.” He takes a sip of my water on the table beside him. “And if you’re planning on living here, love, you need to order something stronger than this when in a pub.” He presses a kiss to my lips that makes me wish we were somewhere a little more private. “What else are you hoping to find in the UK?”

“Some absolutely horrible sex.”

His grin lights up his face. “I think I can help you find that as well.” His fingers lace with mine.

“Good thing, because I was getting desperate.”

“We can’t have that now, can we?”

I can’t believe the absolute calm I feel sitting here with him. I thought I’d be more worried or nervous, but I feel like I’m right where I belong.

“But that’s just all part of finding my crowd, I still need to chase my happiness.”

“Are you chasing after me, Kincade?” he asks with a sheepish grin.

“If you’ll let me.”

Our eyes hold and time feels like it falls still as the pub moves on around us. “There’s only one problem.”

“What’s that?”

“I’ll have to be your first client. I mean, it’s only fitting.”

“I can’t steal you away from Finn. He got you this deal. I might hate the fucker but he delivered what you wanted.”

“But he did insult my girlfriend and implied that she slept with athletes to win them over to her client roster.”

“So wouldn’t you being my client prove just that to him?” I ask, wondering which one of my sisters told Rush the backstory.

“Fuck Finn,” he murmurs against my lips.

“Fuck Finn.” I laugh.

“Besides,” he says running a hand up my thigh. “It might look odd for a woman with my last name not representing me.”

“What?” I sputter.

Rush shrugs like a mischievous little kid, gives me a slight smile, and humor owns his eyes. “Just a way off in the future thought.”

“You’re talking serious commitment here for someone who hasn’t even declared love first,” I tease. Rush’s smile falls slowly and his eyes grow more intense.

He reaches out to run the back of his hand down the side of my face. “Lennox Kincade, I’ve been a miserable sod without you. My game is off solely because you turned my life upside down and since then, I don’t think I ever want it to be set right again.” He gives a half-smile, half laugh that would have stolen my heart if it wasn’t stolen already. “I love you. I loved you before I left, but was too damn afraid to tell you. Then I got here and I was too scared to say it because I thought you had moved on . . . but I fucking love you. And now that you’re here and in front of me, you better get used to me saying it.”

“Oh my,” I murmur as I pull him into me and pour my fear and frustration from the past month into one single kiss. “I love you too, Rush McKenzie. And I’m here, ready to start whatever this is together with you. It better start with some of that horrible sex I’m fond of, and it better start real soon.”

“Thought you’d never ask,” he says and then grabs the glass of ice off the table to bring with us.