Scoring with the Coach’s Daughter (Maine Megalodons #3)

JAKE

The ocean stretches out before me, a deep blue expanse that shimmers under the afternoon sun. The waves roll in lazily, the salty breeze ruffling Ellie’s curls as she sprints across the sand, football clutched tightly in her arms. I can’t believe two years have passed.

“Come on, Dad!” she shouts, kicking up sand as she turns on her heel, holding the ball away like she’s protecting it from a full defensive line. “You’re getting slow!”

I smirk, hands on my hips. “Oh, slow, am I?”

Ellie nods, her brown eyes gleaming with mischief. “Super slow. Like, Grandpa slow.”

That’s all the motivation I need. I lunge toward her, but she squeals, dodging at the last second, her laughter ringing through the air as she dashes toward the water.

When we got married, we all agreed it was time to adopt Ellie. Her mother will never be forgotten, but it was time to officially give her two parents. Ellie was excited she asked for the adoption papers as soon as we were engaged and we had the final hearing after our honeymoon.

I look at Sam, sitting under the big blue beach umbrella as the sea breeze blows her hair. She’s relaxed and it makes me happy. She’s become a passive participant because she’s seven months pregnant.

I will never forget today and the way she sits with her hand resting possessively on the swell of her belly. Her eyes track Ellie and me as we wrestle in the sand, and I swear there’s something even softer in them now—no longer filled with painful yearnings for her sister to be at our family outings.

She’s complete.

“No roughhousing!” she calls, even as she laughs. “I need my husband and daughter in one piece, please!”

“Tell that to Dad!” Ellie yells, sprinting away.

I chase after her, letting her juke me out once before finally scooping her up, and spinning her around while she squeals.

“Okay, okay! I give up!” she giggles, breathless.

I set her down, ruffling her curls. “That’s what I thought. Now, how about we give your mom a break before she starts yelling at us for real?”

Ellie grins as we race to Sam. “Fine, but only because Mom’s got my baby brother in there.” Ellie leans down, pressing a small hand against Sam’s belly. “And I don’t want to wake him up.”

Sam shakes her head, laughing. “He’s wide awake, believe me. He’s already trying to play football in there. I think he might be a kicker.”

Ellie gasps, eyes wide. “What if he’s a quarterback?”

“Then I’ll have to start training him early,” I say, dropping onto the blanket beside Sam, and kissing her belly before I wrap my arm around her.

Ellie beams, bouncing on her heels. “I can help! I’ll teach him everything!”

Sam snorts. “You mean like how you ‘helped’ me make Birthday pancakes this morning?”

“Hey!” Ellie crosses her arms, pretending to be offended. “I only burned one.”

Sam smirks. “One batch.”

I laugh, tugging Ellie down to sit with us. The beach has never looked more beautiful than it does now, and with my girls beside me, our future is stretched out as far as the ocean itself.

Sam leans into me, her head resting against my shoulder. “You know, I used to avoid the beach.”

I nod, knowing the weight those words carry. “And now?”

She exhales softly, watching Ellie scoop up a handful of sand and let it slip through her fingers. “Now, I love it again. Because of you. Because of her. Because we’ve made so many new memories, there’s no room for the sad ones anymore.”

I squeeze her hand. “You deserve that.”

She tilts her head up, smiling. “We deserve it,” she murmurs and her eyes midst for a moment, filled with “happy tears” which solidified the fact that we’ve moved forward carrying only the best memories of our past with us.

Sam is tired so Ellie and I pack the truck and we head to the DragonFly Inn where we’re staying. The time traveling over rolling hills with the cool breeze at our back means summertime is here. I’ve kept my promise to bring Ellie and Sam home as often as possible. And today, we reminisce over the past two years of vacations and summers we’ve spent here. I’m happy the girls have kept their roots and I’ve become a townie as well, fitting into the landscape like I’ve lived here forever. But it’s the fact we’re together that makes every visit sublime.

The Dragonfly Inn is exactly as we left it—warm, inviting, the kind of place that wraps around you like a favorite sweater.

The smell of smoked barbecue and fresh bread greets us before we even step inside. Maggie spots us from across the room, her face breaking into a huge grin. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite family!”

Ellie runs to her instantly, throwing her arms around Maggie’s waist. “Maggie! I’m back!”

“And just in time, too,” Maggie says, ruffling Ellie’s hair. “I’ve got a whole kitchen full of people who missed their favorite helper. How was the beach?”

“Terrific!” Ellie exclaims before she rushes off shouting, “I have to say hi to everyone!” over her shoulder. And before I can blink, she’s pushed through the swing doors like she owns the place.

Sam shakes her head fondly. “She’s never coming out of there.”

Maggie grins, setting down a tray of pulled pork sandwiches at our table. “And I’m not even sorry about it. Now, sit. Eat. Tell me how my future godchild is treating his mama.”

Sam rolls her eyes but does as she’s told, sinking into the seat beside me. We both take a bite of the overstuffed sandwich, and I groan in appreciation.

“Damn, Maggie.” I wipe a bit of sauce from the corner of my mouth. “We need this on the menu at our Bistro in Maine.”

Sam samples the pork on her plate and nods enthusiastically, already reaching for another bite. “Oh, yes! The people up north don’t know what they’re missing.”

Maggie preens. “I always knew you two were smart.”

I glance at Sam, watching the way her eyes soften as she takes in the room—the same room where it all started two years ago. The family dinners, the pizza making, and, the way she put up walls up to keep me out of her heart. I didn’t have a playbook to win her over but love conquered all, and the love of a good woman is more important than the Super Bowl ring on my finger.

“Hard to believe, huh?” I murmur.

She turns to me, tilting her head. “What is?”

I gesture around us. “That it all started here.”

Her lips curve, her fingers finding mine. “And look at us now,” she purrs.

I squeeze her hand, bringing it to my lips. “Yeah, look at us now.”

Sam rests her head on my shoulder, and for the first time in my life, I know—really know—that I’ve got everything I’ll ever need.

A home.

A family.

And a love that’s only just beginning.