Page 106 of Verdict

Ava froze and slowly lifted her eyes to mine. "You bought a house?"

I smiled and nodded proudly, "I did."

She glanced back down at the paper. "In Primrose Hill?"

"Yup."

"Why? We both work in Austin."

I took the folder from her hands and placed it on the couch. Then I pulled her into my lap, brushing a few strands of her hair that had escaped from her braid away from her face. "Because I want Ellie to grow up surrounded by family. I want her to have sleepovers with her grandparents. I want her to learn from all of her badass aunts. I want her to see her Uncle Walk get his ass kicked by her Uncle West. I want her to run around the barn and play in the dirt with her cousins. I want her to ride horses like her mom. I want her to grow up the way you did. I never had that, and I never realized how much I wanted that for her until I spent more time around your loud, chaotic, absolutely insane… incredible family."

Ava let out a laugh-sob.

I brushed my thumb across her cheek and continued. "My career isn't forever. I'm retiring after this contract is up. The Aviators allow the front office staff to work hybrid, and with the office having an on-site daycare, that makes it even easier. I'll keep this penthouse in the city for times we don't want to commute, but I want our home base to be in Primrose Hill. With our family."

Tears formed in her eyes. "Our family," she echoed back before wrapping her arms around my neck in a tight hug.

Ellie squealed, dragging our attention to her, where she had pulled herself up against the couch. She had the folder containing the house listing grasped in her little hand, gnawing on the corner.

Ava laughed, taking the folder from Ellie and then placed her in her lap, nestling her between us. I used to think my world was baseball—that it always would be. Now my entire world fit into my lap.

Ten years ago, I met Ava James in Walker's penthouse over pizza. Now we were sitting on our couch with our daughter, planning a life together. Through all the uncertainty and fear, somewhere along the way, I built the life I actually wanted. It was crazy to think just a few weeks ago I’d been staring at a contract worth a hundred and thirty-five million dollars, wondering if walking away from it would be the biggest mistake of my career, when now I knew without a shadow of doubt walking away from her would have been the biggest mistake of my life.

I watched Ava tickle Ellie, making her giggle uncontrollably.

Yeah. Pretty sure I’d made the right call.

Chapter 31

Ava

With Ellie down for the night and Cohen coming home late from practice, I felt like surprising him—something about being back in this kitchen made me think of that first night. The night it all started.

I sat on the kitchen island, the quartz countertop like ice against my bare skin as I waited for his arrival. I had his jersey unbuttoned and draped over my shoulders—nothing but a navy lace bra and panties underneath. His Aviators hat sat backward on my head, my long hair hanging loosely down my back.

The elevator chimed softly around the corner. He was home.

The minute Cohen entered the kitchen, he stopped dead. His eyes widened before turning dark as he drank me in slowly. His Adam's apple bobbed as he struggled to swallow. His hand dragged down his face as he blew out a strangled breath, “Fuck, you’re trouble.”

I’d always thought the nickname was fitting.

A grin tugged at the corner of my mouth. But I remained silent.

He stalked toward me, stopping short when I held my hand up to stop him. “No, sir. Stop right there.” I pushed myself further back on the island. I leaned back on my hands, bending my knees to plant my feet onto the cold surface. “Get on your knees, Jordan.” I looked down at the ground, where I wanted him.

He bit down on his bottom lip, debating whether he was going to obey or not. He slowly began to sink down onto his knees. “My jersey sure looks good on you, baby,” he rasped. “This is feeling oddly reminiscent of a very familiar night.”

“Well, you know what they say. Wear the hat, ride the ball player,” I teased, throwing the line he used our first time together back at him.

In one smooth motion, Cohen reached behind his back and pulled his shirt up over his head, tossing it to the side. I licked my lips at the sight of him on his knees. Thick arms, broad chest, and a look in his eye like he wanted to devour me.

Holding his gaze, I slipped my panties off before slowly sliding my legs apart, baring myself to him. “Do you want to touch me, Jordan?” My voice low, almost taunting.

He nodded eagerly. “Yes, baby.” He was practically panting in anticipation. “Fuck, can I touch you?”

“No. You can crawl to me…and you can watch.” I trailed my hand down my stomach and toward my pussy. I slowly circled my clit, dropping my head back on a soft sigh. When I looked back down at him, he was crawling toward me on his knees, mouth hanging open, unable to tear his eyes away from my hand. I slipped a finger inside and Cohen nearly came undone, a desperate sound escaped his throat. I added another finger and began to feel the sweet pressure build low. My thighs began to shake, my body began to tremble as I climbed closer to the edge.

“Just like that, baby. Keep going, you’re almost there,” his voice, gravel. “Are you imagining those are my fingers working you over, that it’s my hands that are on you?”