Chapter Fourteen
Kinsley
I’m walking JJ to his truck outside when I notice several vans parked up and down the street I live on. It’s not in the middle of town, so no one typically drives on this road, let alone parks along it, unless it’s my neighbors or a delivery driver.
“What is going on?” I quietly mutter to myself out loud, noticing several people across the street, standing around as if they’re waiting for something.
“Shit,” JJ hisses, dropping and pulling me with him. We use my car as a shield. My dogs instantly pick up on the unfamiliar noises on the other side of the gate and start barking like crazy.
“What is it? Who’s out there?”
“It’s the media. Run inside and grab your purse. I’ll hold the dogs, but try to stay low. And hurry.”
“What? Why?”
“Because some of them are crazily persistent and there’s no way I’m leaving you here to deal with it alone.”
“I can’t just leave my dogs.”
“They’re coming with us. Once you get your purse, you can hold them while I go jump in the truck and drive it closer. We can get the dogs inside, and then you, without the reporters and tabloids being able to badger you. They haven’t seen us yet.”
With a nod, I quickly run inside. I grab a clean T-shirt and a pair of cotton shorts, putting them on so fast my hair feels like it’s everywhere.
I slip on some flip flops, my favorite trucker hat, and then snatch my phone and purse on the way out.
I make sure to lock the door behind me, quickly ducking down.
I’m panting by the time I make it back to JJ, which is ridiculous, and means I seriously need to do more than my customary five squats and stretches each day.
“Jesus. You have me acting like a ninja. I swear my heart’s beating almost as fast as it was when I orgasmed.”
He laughs, leaning forward to quickly kiss my lips. “Let me have the gate key, please. You stay here until the truck is right beside your car so I can help you and the dogs.”
I nod, handing him my set of keys. He runs off while I try to quietly soothe my puppies. “It’s okay, you guys. You’ll get to go for a truck ride while we wait for these people to leave, so be excited, but not too excited. Try not to scratch up his nice leather seats, okay?”
I watch with rapt attention as JJ works to get the lock open, momentarily pocketing it and my keys, while he opens the gate wide enough that he can drive his truck inside.
The moment he’s by his truck and everyone sees him, they’re rushing across the street toward him.
They’re too slow, thankfully, as he hops in the truck and pulls it forward.
He stops his monster of a vehicle right next to my car and hops out, leaving the engine running, and opens his back door.
He jogs over to us with a grin. “It worked! Stay here, baby.”
In the next beat, he has my older Doberman, Jingle, in his arms. He hurries to the open door and sets him inside. He runs back for my female, Bells, and carries her back to the truck, easily holding her with one hand while he opens his truck door again and sets her inside.
Gah. His muscles are a thing of beauty, I swear.
He rounds the front of the truck, stopping by the passenger door.
I’m still staring as JJ waves at me, and I take off in a jog.
He opens the door as I skid to a stop and helps me safely, but quickly, climb inside.
My dogs are looking all around in the back, barking and sniffing, tongues hanging out like they don’t have a care in the world.
JJ basically jumps in on his side a beat later, flashing me a wide smile.
All this running around and trying to sneak us away, and I swear he looks excited over the prospect.
“They probably got a few pictures, but I think for the most part they weren’t expecting any of that.
The tint is too dark for them to see inside much. ”
He carefully reverses the truck, honking a million times.
In the next second, he’s back outside, closing and locking the gate.
The press and tabloids attempt to bombard him, but he takes it in stride.
He smiles and waves, telling them he has to get back to Dallas to prepare for the upcoming game.
Questions are screamed his way, but he somehow manages to get inside the truck without knocking anyone with his door.
I think someone managed to get a picture of me when he opened his door, but I had my head ducked down, and I’m wearing a hat.
I’m sure it’ll be a terrible photo. Hopefully, they can’t use it.
I don’t mind being in the media, especially with JJ by my side, but not like this.
They’re invading our privacy at my home.
This is extremely not cool, so I hope they didn’t manage to get anything they can use.
“I hate when they get like that,” he eventually says after we’ve driven off and he’s had a few minutes to catch his breath.
My heart’s still beating fast. I think I could use a milkshake from the adrenaline rush and the soon-to-be crash. However, I know my hormones will hate me for it in the long run if I cave and have him stop to order one.
“I’m sorry you have to deal with the crazy reporters. I can only imagine how stressful it all must be.”
He shrugs. “Honestly, I’ve been doing this so long, their presence is something I’ve come to expect.
It’s only extra tense right now because of the stories surrounding us at the moment.
Otherwise, they’re generally not that pushy.
You’re this big secret to them, and they’re basically vultures over getting the first interview with you. ”
I nod, glancing out my window and noticing we’re headed north. “Uh, where are we going?”
“Well, I really want you to meet my mom. I’d love to be able to take you there right now, but I guess that will have to wait.”
“Is she not home right now?”
He shakes his head, “She’s home, but I have an evening practice today. I have to get back to Dallas. I was planning on leaving earlier, but then I had to see you again, and I may’ve lost track of time.” He shoots me a sheepish expression, and my mouth drops open.
“It’s the NFL! You can’t be late for practice.”
His cheeks turn a little pink, shooting me an amused grin. “It was completely worth it.”
Then, I’m the one blushing with his words. “It was,” I easily agree, but then everything clicks. “Wait, I can’t go to Dallas. I don’t have my car, and Jingle Bells are with us.”
He chuckles. “I still think those are the best names ever. I wish you could’ve named mine. As for where they can stay, they’ll be fine at my house.”
“Wait, you haven’t told me your dog’s name yet. I’m assuming he’s a boy dog?”
He nods. “Yeah, about that. I thought I’d keep it simple.”
“Okay…”
“His name is Dude.”
“Dude?”
He nods. “I named him when my buddy, Dawson, and I had one too many adult beverages, and we thought it was great how I could say, Dude, where’s my dog? Like the movie that says, Dude, where’s my car? The poor fellow has been stuck with it ever since.”
“Hold up, you know that makes absolutely no sense. Right?”
He sighs. “Trust me, I know.”
I laugh harder because it’s ridiculous, and even he knows it. “Whoa, back up a second. Dawson, as in the Dawson Steal Riggs? The one who is about to break an NFL offensive record with his yards? And is well-known for stealing balls whenever he gets the off chance of playing defense?”
He huffs. “Of course, you’d know who he is and not me. Why am I not surprised?”
My heart squeezes as I stare at him. I know he’s muttering teasingly, but the man is an open book with me. I swear I can see that the reality of his statement truly bothers him, and it makes me feel special that he cares as much as he does about me. “Hey…”
He meets my stare, the laughter gone from his eyes. He’s all seriousness right now, and to have that look pinned on me makes me seriously think I could combust from how damn gorgeous he is. The man is lick your lips hot, like a Sports Illustrated player of the year type of hot.
“I’ll let you in on a little secret: I don’t think he’s cute. At all. I know he’s supposed to be like this, babe in football, but I don’t see it. Not like when I look at you.”
His lips tip up at the corners, the confidence back in his gaze. “Dawson will be crushed when he hears you know his stats but don’t think his face is pretty. He’s so vain.”
“Oh, Lord. Why am I not surprised to hear that? You football players are too much when you look good and can play like a beast.”
He laughs. “He’s not vain in a bad way to keep it in your face or anything. He’s just that type of guy who never misses a mirror.”
I can’t help but giggle, picturing it. I peer into the backseat, checking on my pups. They’ve lain down and gotten comfortable, as we’ve been cruising on the highway.
“Thank you for being so careful driving with Jingle and Bells. I hate it when someone is reckless and the dogs go flying everywhere. It’s not like they have full hands, so they can hold on or brace themselves.”
“I would never drive like an idiot with animals in the vehicle. I don’t drive like an idiot, period, but you get what I mean.”
I nod. I do get it. I get him, in a way I never would’ve imagined before. “Are you and your mom close?”
“I like to think so. She’s always been there for me, and I try to call her at least once a week. It usually ends up being more, though.”
“That’s great. I hope my sons will say the same about me, too.”
“How old are they? I know they’re obviously grown; I saw the pictures in the RV.”
I nod. I have several pictures of my boys, although they aren’t so young anymore. “They’re nineteen and twenty-one. Grown up, but will still be my little boys for the rest of their lives.”
“I bet you are an amazing mom. You have such a big heart.”
My chest feels all warm and gooey again. He seems to have this permanent effect on me, and it’s addicting. “Thank you, hopefully you can meet them soon. Um, what will I be doing while you have practice? Surely, I’m not allowed to watch you?”
“You can watch me sometimes, but this is a closed practice since we’re preparing for the game. I figured we’ll go back to my place, and you guys can hang out there while I take care of football stuff. After, we can have dinner. Order in or something, if you’re up for it?”
“You’re going to want me to stick around after you’re done?”
“Absolutely. I’m not ready for our time together to end, if you’re not.”
Ditto.
I want to climb this man like a tree, especially after he jumped in to protect me and keep my privacy safe. I never thought bossy JJ would be such a big turn on, but here I am, thinking about blowing him while he drives.