Page 101 of Lowering His Guard

“They’re not real, silly.” I tug him toward the game. “I bet I can beat you.”

He bristles. “I’m a professional football player.”

“And I’m a professional surfer.”

“Football requires coordination.”

I snort. “And surfing doesn’t?”

“Huh. You may have a point.”

“I always have a point.” The point may be to drive someone crazy, but there is always a point.

Brock reaches for his wallet but I slap his wrist. “I’m paying.”

His nostrils flare. “You aren’t paying.”

“Giant,” I mutter.

“Pint-sized,” he throws back at me.

“Fine!” I throw my arms in the air. “You can pay the five dollars for the game. But I’m paying for dinner.”

A muscle in his jaw ticks. “You are not paying for dinner.”

“Why not? I have money. I’m not destitute. I don’t need the big, famous football player to pay for me.”

He palms my neck and yanks me close until our bodies collide. “I know you have money. I know you’re not destitute. But I want to pay. This is a date. I pay for our dates.”

“Forever?” I tease.

He nods. “Forever.”

My breath catches in my throat. I was teasing, but Brock isn’t. He’s dead serious. Smoking smugglers surfing in a storm! Is he serious about me? About us? About our future?

Warmth hits my chest before spreading to every inch of my body. I want a future with Brock. I’ve never wanted anything more. A family with the man I love.

The warmth disappears. I can’t have a family with Brock. He has his son Jace, but I can’t give him more children.

I’m a chicken shit. I need to tell him I can’t have children. But I don’t want our relationship to end before it begins.

Because losing this man is going to break my heart into a million pieces.

Chapter 31

Rule #14: Love isn't the finish line. It's where the real work begins.

Brock

“You want to come in?” May waggles her eyebrows at me.

I respond by pressing my hand into her stomach to move her backwards until we’re both inside her toy house.

She laughs. “I was joking. You need to get home to Jace.”

“Jace is staying with a friend tonight.”

Her eyes sparkle and I notice gold specks buried in the deep brown color. Naturally, my sunshine has gold specks in her eyes.