Chapter 35
THIRTY-FIVE
kendra
“Instagram official, too?” I asked. His confident smirk ripped away my ability to complain.
That thud in my chest was my heart, the thing I usually protected a lot better than this, but instead I’d just handed it to him on a platter.
Not lost on me was the fact that it was likely safer with him than in my own hands.
We stood in line to walk the short red carpet, and I yearned for the day when I could slip in the door without attracting any attention.
“Mr. Crosby, who is your date?” One of the local sportscasters was in the pool of press waiting to see who would show up.
Jonathan looked at me and gestured for me to answer. I squeezed his hand in silent thanks. I couldn’t even begin to describe how much that small gesture meant to me.
I gave my name, his actions yet another sign that he saw us in this relationship as equals, no matter what our social or work status said.
“Your new shortstop has arrived just ahead of you two. Are there any other team members planning to show up tonight? Is Kendra any relation to Kelsey? Will Sam be here?”
I barely heard the barrage of questions, and the statement, “Your new shortstop has arrived,” replayed repeatedly in my mind.
Assuming the press had caused my panic, Jonathan leaned in and reminded me to breathe. “Ignore the vultures; we’re almost done here.”
I doubted Tucker would approach me if I were with Jonathan, but I couldn’t stay glued to his side all night. He’ll need to socialize at some point, and I have never been the shy little wallflower.
“Sam is already in Florida. Pitchers and catchers left for spring training at the beginning of the week.”
I gritted my teeth and fought through the panic. Damnit. At least when they announced signing him, I had been mentally prepared for him to be in my space. To think I was worried about meeting Jonathan’s grandmother earlier today.
I caught Colby’s attention, and she waved us over. It was then that I noticed a tiny woman who had commanded the entire group’s attention.
“JJ, come here. Let me meet your friend.”
He kissed her cheek before stepping back and introducing me. “Nonna, meet Kendra.”
“Colby told me all about you. You’ll have to join us for family dinner tomorrow. As happy as I am to finally meet you, this isn’t the place to get to know you.”
I looked at Jonathan, and he nodded. “Sure, we’d love to go to dinner tomorrow.”
“Would you like a drink?”
“I’ll have what you’re having,” I said, leaving it up to him whether we drank tonight or not. I stayed behind, listening to his grandmother and Colby chat about the auction items and planning my bids accordingly.
When Jonathan returned with a champagne flute for us, I thanked him and took a sip. And my eyes met Tucker’s across the room. What the fuck, why was he coming over to us?
Jonathan’s hand rested possessively on my lower back when he realized Tucker was coming over to us.
“I thought that was you. Long time no see, huh, Kendra?” He ignored everyone around us, or maybe it just felt like I was his prey.
“Tucker.” I could barely speak, and it took everything I had to act unbothered in front of him and the rest of the group. “You know, Jonathan, I mean, Mr. Crosby.”
Jonathan took the cue and asserted himself into the conversation as I excused myself and slipped away to talk to Colby.
“That guy is a fucking creep,” she said under her breath.
“For real.”
“Oh, don’t look now, but Giada is here, and staring daggers at my brother.”
“Where?”
“She’s directly behind you and making her way over.”
“Is Tucker gone?”
“All clear. Claim your man. Or save him.”
Giada and I approached Jonathan at the same time. I pretended not to notice her as I leaned into him, his arm wrapping around me and resting on my hip. He glanced over at her as an afterthought.
“Oh, hi,” she said.
“Giada.” Jonathan’s reaction was stiff, but polite. “This is Kendra, my girlfriend.”
Giada and I both started with his labeling me as his girlfriend. While we had officially launched the relationship, it was the first time he’d used the descriptor.
I reached my hand out to shake her hand, and she reached out, her hand limp. Her attention went back to Jonathan, and she seemed to be waiting for him to say something.
“Looks like Garrett is looking for you. You might want to catch up with him.”
Damn, boy. That was an icy dismissal. We’d barely been there half an hour and had already had to brush off two exes. His fingers interlaced with mine, and he focused on me. “This sucks. I can’t wait to get you back home.”
“I don’t know if you noticed, but Giada is sucking down wine to prepare for going home with Garrett. I don’t think she’s very happy in that relationship.”
“I’ve given up enough of my time worrying about her happiness. I care about your happiness. So, tell me, what would make you happy right now?”
“You do. It’s that simple.”
“Kendra, part of me feels like I’m fucked in the head or something. But when I’m with you, I can see everything so clearly. Everywhere I look, it’s you. You make events like this worth going to. You make it easy to face my demons and fears and make me want to push through.”
Here we were, in a crowded room, having a moment, and Jonathan brings up facing his demons when my actual demon just finished staring me down. And while yes, Tucker is a constant reminder of my trauma, Jonathan is real and grounding me in the future I want.
Fuck. I loved him.
“Is it possible that someday you could see yourself falling in love with me?” I hated the way my voice shook when I asked the question. I didn’t do vulnerable.
“Someday? How about yesterday? I already do.”
I stared at him, every nerve in my body firing. “This is an awkward place to have a moment. Do you know of a coat closet or private bathroom somewhere? I need you. Now.”
His eyes flashed with excitement, and he nodded. “I know a place. I’m going to walk ahead, and you follow about ten seconds behind me.”
I watched as he slipped out of the ballroom and drifted behind him, doing my best to avoid anyone who might try to talk to me. I watched him slip in through a door at the end of a quiet hallway and followed.
I knocked, and the door opened, his arm dragging me inside before he slammed my back up against the door. His mouth was on mine, bruising and desperate. Jonathan had my gown at my waist in seconds, and my hands went to his belt. I heard the tear of fabric and laughed against his mouth.
“I love when you’re desperate enough to rip my clothes off me.”
“I love everything about you, baby. Legs up.”
I wrapped my legs around him. His stiff cock bobbed between us as he reached down to guide it into me. My breath caught once he was fully seated inside me. I took his face in my hands and stared into his eyes. “I love you, too.”
His cocky grin met mine. “I know. We’ve got less than ten minutes before the auction. Hold on.”
He unleashed inside me. My back was hitting the door with every thrust, and his mouth covered mine to hide my cries.
I bit his lip as I came hard, the emotions of the night, the intensity of my need for him, the forbiddenness of fucking in a barely hidden bathroom, sending me over the edge fast and hard. He finished right after me.
Jonathan found the box of tissues on the back of the toilet and pulled one out to clean up our mess.
“I’m feeling charitable tonight. Bid whatever the fuck you want on anything you want. Okay?”
“For charity?”
“Yeah. But maybe I feel like throwing my dick around and seeing what else I can win tonight. Because right now, I’m on top of the world, baby.”
I heard a soft knock on the door as we adjusted our clothes. Opening the door, I came face-to-face with Colby.
She smirked. “You guys are lucky I’m not one to get squirrelly about my brother’s sex life. But you’d better get back. Nonna’s noticed your disappearance, and she’s going to be pissed if you’re not back soon.”