Chapter 7
Quinn had to admit Knox’s parents were amazing.
Taylor was definitely America’s Sweetheart turned America’s favorite mom.
She had played a few roles being a badass mother, but now she was mostly directing movies.
However, none of that famous person glamour was present as they walked to the lounge to retrieve the laptop then to the family area to wait for Knox.
Taylor was incredibly easy to talk to and told Quinn all about Holt’s wedding and how excited she was to now have a daughter in her family.
“You will love Annaleigh,” Taylor said to her as they waited with some other families for the players.
Several women came up and Taylor knew them all by name, knew all about their husbands, their children, their pets, their jobs . . . it was quite impressive.
“How do you remember all that?”
“I had to memorize scripts. Family information is easy. And that’s how we think of our players—they’re family. Trey looks after the guys, and I look after the wives and girlfriends.” It was clear they loved her too.
The doors began to open and players came out. Some headed out without stopping. Other wrapped loved ones up in hugs. Knox and his father headed out after the first wave of players.
Quinn very much felt out of place. She wasn’t a wife or girlfriend. She knew she looked good and felt confident overall, but she was also very much aware she did not look like the other WAGs. Combined, it all made her feel a bit like a fraud who didn’t belong.
Taylor went to say something, but her husband, Trey, swooped in to kiss her. “Come on, wife. Let Knox and Quinn have some time.” Trey looked at Quinn and gave her a gentle smile. “We’ll see you at dinner.”
Trey had his arm around Taylor and scooted her out of there before she could invite them along with them. Something Quinn suspected Taylor would do.
“Did you enjoy the game?” Knox asked when they were finally alone.
“I did. I never went to any of the games in college and now I wish I had. I had no idea they could be so exciting.”
Knox reached out and took the strap of her computer bag off her shoulder.
He placed it on his before placing his large hand at the small of her back to guide her through the crowd of players and family.
“I feel the same way when the crowd is like it was today. It really gives us players the extra energy we need to close out a game. Did you drive here?”
Quinn shook her head as Knox led her through the underbelly of the stadium. “No. I walked.”
“Good. Then I can drive you to dinner and then drop you off at home later.”
“So, the chef at the restaurant is a coach’s husband?
Is that why you go there?” Quinn asked as a security guard opened the exit door and they walked out into the chilly night air.
It hadn’t been this cold when she’d walked over in the warm sunlight.
Quinn gave a little shiver as she waited for Knox to answer.
“For someone so smart this has been a hard concept for you to learn,” Knox said, stopping outside the stadium.
Quinn had no idea what he was talking about until he lowered her computer bag and took off the suit jacket he wore and draped it over her shoulders.
Déjà vu hit her and she laughed at herself for repeatedly forgetting jackets.
“I hope you put my sweatshirt to good use.”
“Um, yeah, and you’re not ever getting that back. It’s the most comfortable sweatshirt I have.”
Knox’s eyes heated. She saw them in the glow of the parking lot lighting, and it made her catch her breath. “You still wear it?”
Quinn felt the warmth of his suit coat, the smell of his cologne, and it reminded her of that night he gave her the sweatshirt.
She hadn’t washed it for a month because it had smelled of him.
Did she still wear it? Yeah, weekly. And did she think of him when she did?
Yeah, she did. She’d put it away when she’d been with Karson since it somehow felt wrong to wear it and think of another man when she was with him.
But the second they broke up, she changed right back into it and ate a pint of ice cream and instantly felt better.
“I do. But this jacket isn’t really my style so I won’t be stealing it.”
“Q, you can steal my clothes anytime. There is nothing sexier than seeing my clothes on you. Why do you think I never asked for it back and then made sure to give it to you when you begrudgingly handed it to me one night?” Knox unlocked his car, a spotless white SUV, and opened the door for her.
“I thought you gave it back because I’d worn it out,” Quinn answered honestly.
“Nope. That sweatshirt was the one I held up on signing day. It was important to me, but it was more important to me that you had it.”
“This doesn’t happen to girls like me,” Quinn muttered shaking her head as she tried to grasp what all this meant and if it was even still relevant today.
“What doesn’t happen?” Knox asked, started the SUV.
“Football stars wanting computer geeks to notice them. I guarantee none of your teammates met their wives or girlfriends through tutoring.”
“True. Deon met his wife in the grocery store when he turned up an aisle and accidentally hit her with a shopping cart. Several of the men are married to their high school sweethearts. Jaylen, well, we won’t count Jaylen since he has a revolving door of girlfriends.”
“That’s a fun meet-cute,” Quinn admitted thinking about Deon. “However, how many are Instagram models and influencers? And then there’s me. A curvy computer gal who plays video games and reads romance novels.”
“Thank goodness,” Knox replied instantly.
“Now I have someone to play games with. I beat everyone on the team, but I have a feeling you’ll give me a run for my money.
And you already know I’m a computer guy too.
I have invested in several tech companies as a way to stay active in the field when I don’t have time to do it for a living.
As for your curves,” Knox eyed her up and down, his eyes taking their time to soak her in during a red light.
“I love them and have dreamed of them ever since I met you.”
Knox drove a short distance past the restaurant and pulled into an open space on the street.
“We’ll have to walk. Parking is an issue downtown.
I got sidetracked telling you how sexy I find you to answer your question about the restaurant.
Landon Davies is the owner and the head chef.
His family is from Keeneston like I am and there are enough Davies there to populate a small country.
They’re our best friends. His uncle Cy is my mom’s surrogate father.
The Davies cousins are like our own cousins.
Landon is married to Kate, who is my QB coach and passing game coordinator.
She’s usually up in the booth working with the offensive coordinator to give me play calls.
“Wow, I can’t wait to meet her. I read all about her when I moved here. The first woman coach in that high a position for a professional team. It’s very impressive.”
“Then let’s go meet her.” Knox opened his door and hurried around to open hers.
Quinn was grateful for the coat as they had to walk a couple of blocks to the restaurant.
They were shown inside and ushered through the crowded dining room into a private room.
Everyone from the suite was there and a few more faces she hadn’t yet met.
Kate was easy to spot. She was in Thoroughbreds gear that matched the other coaches. She was talking to someone Quinn actually knew—Bette. Knox navigated her straight toward the women. Bette saw her first and smiled.
“Quinn, what are you . . .?” Bette’s eyes dropped to where Knox’s hand was at the small of her back. Her eyes widened and her smile widened even more. “Knox, can you show us how good you are with your hands and get us ladies some drinks?”
Knox chuckled, his thumb rubbing little circles on her back that were sending lightning strikes straight to Quinn’s core. “You already have a drink, Bette.”
Bette tossed back the drink like she was at a frat party, and then handed him the empty glass. “And now I don’t. Don’t worry, Knox. I’ll take care of your . . . date.”
“Oh we’re,” Quinn began to say, but then suddenly Knox’s lips were on her temple giving her a soft, sweet kiss.
“Thanks, Bette. Kate, do you want a water or maybe a tea?”
“Tea, please. Two sugars,” the coach answered.
The women were silent as Knox walked away. Then they both turned on her. “You’re dating Knox Everett and you didn’t tell me!” Bette exclaimed before looking to Kate. “Kate, Quinn. Quinn, Kate.”
“Are you the girl he talked to the press about?” Kate asked, clearly interested.
“I am. And we’re not dating.”
Kate and Bette looked at each other and rolled their eyes before laughing. “You sweet, innocent girl,” Bette said as she shook her head. “That man all but publicly declared he wants you.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure that interview was a public declaration,” Kate put in, as she agreed with Bette.
“True,” Bette admitted. “So, it might not be official, but for all intents and purposes you’re dating.”
“Really, we’re not. We haven’t seen each other since college. We don’t even know each other that well.”
“Q, you still like lemon drops, right?” Knox asked as he handed her a drink.
Bette and Kate leaned forward waiting for her to answer. “Yes, I do.”
“Great. I’ll be back with drinks for you two in just a moment.” Knox turned back around and headed back to the small private bar.
Bette raised an eyebrow and Quinn blushed. “Okay, so he remembered my favorite drink.”
“I love this for both of you,” Kate told her, smiling big.
“So, when are you due?” Quinn was desperate to change topics.
“February,” Kate told her. “I’m excited to meet him or her, but we have games to win first. Tell us about yourself. Bette apparently already knows, but I don’t.”