Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
SAVANNAH
I place the paper on the stack and stretch my neck, trying to release some of the tension in my muscles. My gaze goes to the other stack, the one that had yet to be graded.
“Tomorrow,” I promise myself, letting my hand fall to my bump. “We’ll deal with this tomorrow, right, Munchkin?”
There is a little flutter in my belly that has me pausing as I hold my breath, waiting for something… more. But there is nothing.
I shake my head at myself; it was probably just gas.
Sighing, I gather all my things and put them in the tote for tomorrow, but instead of going to bed like I should, I grab my book and go out to the porch. Our monthly book club was soon, and between all the other things, I’ve barely had time to read. Pulling a blanket on my lap, I settle in and flip through the pages until I find the spot where I left off and start reading.
And because that’s just my luck, this month’s pick was no other than a sports romance about an injured football player who moved to a small town to heal and a feisty librarian who just happened to run into him while he was swimming in the lake. Completely naked, no less.
I bite into my cheek, pressing my thighs together as she watches him from behind the tree, the water cascading down his hard, tanned muscles.
Only a different body flashes in my mind.
This one also was built, his chest and arms covered in black ink.
The way those muscles flexed as he sunk into me…
“This book has to be really interesting if it has all of your attention.”
I let out a soft yelp in surprise, my head snapping up. My heart is beating wildly inside my chest as I find a grinning Blake watching me over the top of the book. His chest is naked, sweat glistening on his skin, one lone drop sliding down, down…
“See something you like, Blondie?”
Blake’s low baritone sends a shiver down my spine. He crosses his arms over his chest, and my head snaps up. Amusement and something else, something darker is playing on his face and making my stomach tighten as he raises his brow in a silent question.
“Wh-what…”
I lift my book, but in my hurry, it falls from my hands and onto my face.
“ Ouch. ”
Before I can react, the book is gone, and Blake’s standing there, mere inches from me. His expression is serious as he scans my face. “Are you okay?”
“You scared me!” I protest and reach for my book. “Gimmie that.”
Blake shakes his head and pulls it out of my reach. “Oh, no, I wanna see what was so interesting that you didn’t hear me coming.”
He opens the book and starts reading.
I swallow hard. Maybe he opened some random scene, maybe…
His brows rise, eyes widening the more he reads.
“Blondie.” He glances at me. “I really hope this isn’t for school.”
I jump to my feet and grab the book out of his hand. “Of course it’s not for school. It’s for my book club.”
If possible, his brows arch even higher. “This is what you discuss at book club? Smut?”
Color floods my cheeks, but I refuse to look down. “It’s a romance novel. Not smut.” I cross my arms, clutching the book to my chest. “But even if it were, I don’t see how that has anything to do with you.”
“I don’t know about that.” Blake shakes his head, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “If I knew, I might be tempted to join. I didn’t have any idea that reading could be so… educational.”
I try to imagine it. But instead of seeing Blake’s tall frame in one of the chairs at the Reading Nook as he discusses sex scenes with the ladies of Bluebonnet, a different scene pops into my mind. Blake trying to recreate one of the steamy scenes from the book. Down to the smallest of details. With me.
My mouth goes dry as heat pools in my belly.
“Savannah?”
I blink to find Blake watching me expectedly.
I shake my head, pushing the thoughts out of my mind. “What are you doing here anyway?”
“I was out for a run and saw you sitting on the porch.” His eyes scan my face. “So I figured I’d check in on you.”
“Oh…” I tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “I’m fine.”
I haven’t seen Blake in the last few days. Ever since that day. The day I fell apart at the hospital, and Blake saw it happen. Not just that, he comforted me. Held me while I cried. He kissed me. And I let him.
I’ll do whatever you need me to do. Be whoever you need me to be.
I bite into my lower lip.
I swear I could still feel his lips pressed against mine. Feel those calloused fingers on my cheeks as he cupped my face, making me feel safe and not so alone.
And now he was here.
Checking in on me.
“Savannah, look at me.”
“I’m fine.” I shake my head. “I’m not going to break?—”
“I know that.” Blake’s finger slips under my chin, and he tilts my head back, my eyes meeting his. “But it would be okay even if you broke down because I’d be there to catch you. I told you; I have your back.”
A knot forms in my throat, making it hard to breathe.
“Wanna know the truth?” Blake rubs his finger over my lower lip, so I just nod wordlessly. “I’m here because I wanted to see you. That’s the truth.”
I suck in a shaky breath, not knowing what to say to this. To him . I wished this was different. I wished he was an asshole so I could be done with this and go back to my life—just Munchkin and me—but Blake wasn’t like that at all, and I didn’t know what it meant. Where did that leave us? All I knew was that he was making me feel things I had no business feeling and making me wish for things that would never belong to me.
It scared me shitless.
He scared me shitless.
Those intense eyes bore into mine, and I swear he can see into my very soul. His gaze falls to my lips, his thumb sweeping over it before his palm slips to the back of my neck.
For a second, I wonder if he’ll kiss me again. I suck in a breath, my lips parting as he leans down, and his lips brush against my forehead.
My heart flips inside my chest as his fingers dig into my skin, holding on for a long moment before he pulls back.
He lets his hand fall and takes a step back, giving me one final glance. “Goodnight, Savannah.”
I lift my hand, rubbing at my lower lip as I watch his retreating back and wonder what the hell am I going to do about all of this.
“Slow down!” I call out, but it’s useless. The kids are running excitedly toward the football field. Practice has been the only thing they’ve talked about the whole day, and there was no stopping them.
My chest is rising and falling rapidly as I try to keep up with them when I hear my name being called. I glance toward the kids who were already on the field before turning around only to spot Mrs. Tyson and Mrs. Miller walking my way hand in hand.
“Savannah, how are you doing, my dear?”
“Good.” I glance between the two women. “What brings you ladies around?”
“The new coach’s been the talk of the town, so we came to check him out.” Mrs. Miller winks at me as they walk past me.
The new…
I follow after them, only to come to a sudden stop once we reach the field. “What in the ever lo?—”
I bite my tongue just in time and simply stare at the almost full bleachers.
Something that has never happened before. Especially not for practice. And it wasn’t even moms this time around, there were a few dads, too. To think all we needed was an ex-NFL player taking the coaching position, and suddenly everybody would be interested in peewee football. Go figure.
A few dads are gathered by the sidelines, talking to Blake. Although he’s surrounded by people, he stands out, almost a head taller than most of them, a dark purple ball cap sits on his head and throws shadows over his face.
He tilts his head to the side, nodding slowly at whatever they’re talking about, but I swear I can feel his gaze on me, his eyes running over my body. I bite the inside of my cheek as a shudder runs down my spine.
Get a grip, Sav.
I shouldn’t let him affect me, but it’s like I couldn’t help myself. He’s been on my mind since he left me standing on my porch the other night.
“You know, if you need an assistant or something, I’d be more than happy to help,” I hear one of the dads eagerly say as I move closer to the group, and it takes everything in me not to snort out loud.
There wouldn’t even be a peewee team if I hadn’t agreed to coach it in the first place because when I asked parents if they’d like to help after the old coach retired, none of them wanted to do it. They all said they didn’t have the time. You’d think I was asking them to help me and not to do something nice for their kids.
“You know, I played in college, so?—”
“That’s cool, dude.” Blake slaps him on the shoulder, effectively dismissing him. “But Miss Parker and I have it covered. Practice will start soon so you better get to your seats.”
Without waiting for an answer, his hand falls to the small of my back, and he pushes me toward the coach’s bench. “I swear if I hear one more word…”
I glance at his annoyed face and can’t help but chuckle. “Oh, you just wait for it. People here love to meddle; then again, I guess you know all about that.”
Blake’s eyes narrow. “It was just one time, and I corrected you because you were doing it wrong.”
“Mm-hmm…” I pat him on the chest. “You just think that. Although seriously, you should take one of them up on the offer and?—”
“Hell to the no.” Blake’s fingers curl around my wrist as he turns to face me. “You’re stuck with me.”
“Wh-what?” I stutter, my lips parting as the words register in my mind.
“You heard me.” Blake smirks, his fingers brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear, the corner of his mouth tipping upward in satisfaction as he leans closer, his voice dropping so only I can hear him. “You’re not getting rid of me so easily, Blondie. It’s you and me.”
He lifts his ball cap and places it on my head.
What the ? —
“There, perfect.” He winks at me and turns around, calling out loudly, “Guys, time to hustle.”
Stunned, it takes me a second to process what just happened and gather my wits about me, and by the time I do, Blake’s already leading the kids in a series of exercises and stretches.
I look around, lost. “What the hell should I do?”
For a moment, I just stand there as Blake joins the kids in running a few laps around the field. Deciding he doesn’t really need me, I let out a sigh and go toward the bleachers where the dads are sitting at the edge of their seats, cheering and tossing suggestions at Blake, while the moms were busy giggling and flipping their hair.
Lucy Donovan spots me, her eyes narrowing as she gives me a once over, snorts, and shifts her attention to the field, her mouth moving as she whispers something to her companion.
What is her problem?
I’m about to turn around when I spot the lone figure sitting a few rows behind.
Rose O’Neil.
I’ve met the woman a few times since she moved back to Bluebonnet Creek. She was Becky’s age and moved out of Bluebonnet for college, only to come back once her husband didn’t make it to the NFL. She usually brought her son Kyle to the reading group for kids in the Reading Nook, and she even joined our reading club a handful of times, but for the most part, she kept to herself.
Her shoulders are tense, hands folded in her lap as she stares out at the field.
On impulse, I decide to join her. “Hey, do you mind some company?”
Rose startles at my question but shakes her head. “No, go ahead.”
I sit next to her, my attention going to the field just as Blake has the kids line up so they can run some drills. From the corner of my eye, I can see Rose nibble at her lip.
“You okay?”
She tucks an invisible strand behind her ear and forces out a smile. “Am I that obvious?”
“Not too much.”
“I know it’s silly, it’s just peewee football, but… He’s different than the rest of the kids. I don’t want his deafness to define him or stand in his way, but at the same time, I can’t help but worry about him.”
I nod, my hand falling to my bump. “I understand that, but he’s doing really well.”
Some of that tension seeps out of her. “Is he?”
“I think so, yes. He’s made friends, and other kids are excited to make him feel included by learning some of the sign language. I’m not nearly as good as you are, though, but I figured even a little bit will help all of us, although Kyle is very good at reading lips, and I’ve even heard him speak on a few occasions.”
“I really appreciate you doing that, and I know he does as well. I’ve been really worried when they told me they won’t be able to provide him with a one-on-one teacher’s aide, but you put in so much effort in helping him…” She shakes her head. “It means the world, really.”
I place my palm on hers, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “Of course. If I notice something that might concern me, I’ll bring it up, but so far, he’s been adapting extremely well.”
“Thank you.” Rose nods, her gaze falls to my stomach, something that looks a lot like longing appearing on her face. “How far along are you?”
“Twenty-three weeks, so more than halfway there.”
It still felt surreal. The time was flying fast, and there was still so much to do. So much to figure out.
My gaze goes to the man on the field, the one who changed my life, not once, but twice now.
Blake was crouching down and explaining something to one of the kids. He looked all serious and focused and seeing him like this did something to me.
He was good with the kids.
A good dad.
The thought fills my chest with warmth, and something inside me eases a bit. It didn’t matter what happened between us; Blake would be a good dad to my baby, and that’s the only thing that mattered.
“Ugh, how can one man be so gorgeous?” The groan coming from one of the moms sitting in front of us breaks me out of my thoughts. “It shouldn’t be allowed.”
There is a chorus of agreements coming from the women sitting around her.
“What do you think the chances are he’ll take off his shirt?”
I didn’t need to look to know who said that. Lucy Donovan had no filter, but she clearly had a thing for Blake.
“I’d pay some serious money to see all that glorious skin and abs on display.”
Rose rolls her eyes and leans in, her voice dropping so only I can hear it. “Some things around here never change.”
I swallow back my snort. No, it didn’t seem like they did.
“What do you think? Does he have a six-pack or an eight-pack?” Lucy continues, her tongue darting over her lower lip as she blatantly stares at Blake.
I grind my teeth, feeling a pang of irritation at her ogling.
Is she for real?
We’re at a peewee practice, for God’s sake! Their children were right there, and they were objectifying their coach so openly?
“Lucy!” somebody chastises playfully before they all burst into giggles.
“What? It’s a legit question. It’s a hot day, after all. You can’t tell me you haven’t imagined Blake Walker without a shirt on.”
Her statement is accompanied by more giggling.
“Are we five?” I mutter to myself, but apparently not quietly enough because Rose chuckles.
“Sometimes it seems like it.”
Lucy fans herself. “That man is a piece of art, and I could lick every delicious inch of him.”
Just then, Blake blows the whistle. “Practice is over, guys.”
Before the words even leave his mouth, parents are jumping from their seats and rushing down to the field, some of the women tripping in their high heels. Why somebody would wear heels to a peewee practice, I’ll never understand.
Of course, Lucy is the first one to reach Blake and all but throws herself at him. My fingers curl into a fist as I watch her flirt with him.
There was this stupid part of me that wanted to go down there, pull her back, and tell her to get her hands off my man.
Only Blake wasn’t mine.
Not really.
Just because I was pregnant with his baby didn’t mean I had any claim on him. That I wanted to have any claim on him.
Not at all.
Rose descends the bleachers, so I follow after her.
Blake might have stolen my coaching position, but there were some traditions he couldn’t steal from me.
“Guys, I brought cookies.”
Kids cheer as I pull out a container with chocolate chip cookies I baked last night based on my Grams’ recipe. They didn’t taste exactly the same, but they were similar enough to bring back the memories of after-school snacks and baking with Grams.
Rose glances at me. “Cookies?”
“It’s a tradition I started when I took over the coaching position,” I explain as I open the container and offer it to kids so they can take a snack.
“Miss Parker, did you see how I caught that ball?” Levi flashes me a smile as he comes to a stop next to me. His cheeks are red, hair plastered to his forehead from sweat, making my fingers itch to brush it away.
“I did. You were pretty amazing out there today. You all were; good job.”
Levi’s little chest puffs out. “I did it just like Dad.”
“What did you do just like your dad?” The low voice sends a shiver running down my spine. I can feel the heat of his body radiating off of him as Blake stops behind me and looks over my shoulder. “Whatcha got here?”
“Miss Parker made cookies, Coach!” one of the kids explains.
“I can see that. The better question is, why haven’t I been invited?”
Blake grabs one of the cookies and pops it into his mouth, his eyes falling shut as he chews and lets out a soft groan.
My stomach clenches as I watch him, and I bite the inside of my cheek. There was just something about seeing a man enjoy your cooking that did it for me.
His eyes open, and he stares straight at me. “ Damn , that’s so good.”
His praise fills my chest with warmth, but I try to brush it off. “It’s just a cookie.”
“One damn good cookie,” he says, his voice coming out low, almost like a caress. I suck in a breath, the air between us sizzling with pent-up tension. A soft rumbling sound comes from Blake’s chest. “I actually had a destination in mind before you distracted me with your cookies.” Blake’s fingers skim over my back. “Wait a second.”
“Wh-what?” I tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear and look up, noticing all eyes are on me. Rose is smiling at me, while Lucy is downright glaring.
Shit.
This was the last thing I wanted. If he didn’t stop with all the touching, people would notice something was going on.
“Guys, I have a surprise for you!” Blake calls out as he goes to the bleachers and grabs bags that are lying on the side. I saw them earlier and thought it was extra balls or something, but apparently, I was wrong. Kids gather around him, their excitement matching his as he slowly opens the bag. “Wanna know what’s inside?”
“Yes!”
“Okay, so, I’ve reached out to a few people I know, and they’ve agreed to make us team jerseys!”
“What?”
My mouth falls open as Blake pulls a dark purple jersey with a bear paw—our team’s logo—on the front etched in gold.
“What do you think? Do we like them?”
Kids cheer happily around him as he hands them each one, along with a little duffel bag that contains God knows what.
As if he can feel my gaze on him, Blake looks up. “I cleared it with the principal.”
The corner of my mouth twitches upward. “I didn’t say anything.”
Blake gives me a knowing look. “I know you.”
I shake my head as he shifts his attention to the kids and continues handing out the stuff.
“That was very nice of him,” Rose comments from next to me, a bag and jersey in her hand.
“It was,” I agree.
Nice and mindful. Football stuff was expensive, and I knew a handful of kids who’d struggle to afford it. But that was who Blake was, wasn’t it?
After the kids grab their bags, most parents gather their children, and they leave for the parking lot.
Not Lucy though.
Rolling my eyes, I turn my back to them, put away the now empty container and gather around the few balls that were still left lying around.
“I could have done that, you know,” Blake comments as he joins me, picking up one ball and tossing it into a bag.
“It’s fine, I don’t mind doing it.” Straightening, I notice we’re alone. “No fans anymore?”
Blake just watches me for a second, until a smile flashes on his face. “Jealous, Blondie?”
“Wh-what?” I stutter, feeling the heat rise up my neck. “Of course not.”
His irises twinkle in amusement. “Mm-hmm…”
“I just can’t believe she’s acting that way. In front of the children, no less. You should have heard her during the practice, she was insufferable, saying all…”
The words die on my lips when I see his smug expression.
Dang it.
I should have kept my mouth shut. My tongue darts out, sliding over my lower lip as I try to get out of this mess I’ve made, when Levi joins us, saving me from further discussion. “Do you have any more of those cookies, Miss Parker?”
“No, but I’ll bake some more for our next practice.”
His face lights up. “Yes, please!”
“Levi,” Blake warns, but the boy ignores him. Instead, he beckons me closer. I crouch down so we’re at the same level, and he whispers in my ear, “Don’t tell Mrs. M., but your cookies are way better.”
I chuckle softly. “I can’t really believe that.”
“They are!” he insists.
“C’mon, Cookie Monster. Time to go.”
Levi goes to grab his backpack, and Blake uses this moment to lean down, his scent surrounds me, his lips brushing against my earlobe as he whispers so only I can hear him. “I think I like you jealous, Miss Parker.”
I close my eyes for a second as tingles run down my spine at his words, and when I look at him, I find him watching me with a self-satisfied smirk.
Damn this man.
Glaring at him, I walk toward the parking lot, the Walker boys at my heels.
Blake’s words ring in my mind all the way back home, his headlights following behind me as a silent companion.
Pulling up in front of my house, I get out of my car and glance over my shoulder, expecting to see Blake go into his house, but he murmurs something to Levi, who disappears inside, and he crosses the street, his long steps eating the distance between us.
I stop in my tracks. “Blake?”
“I have something for you.”
Have something? For me?
Blake lifts his hand, a bag dangling from his fingers.
I shake my head. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s a present. Open it,” Blake urges. “It won’t bite you.”
Tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, I feel my heart kick up a notch as I slowly reach for the bag. Our fingers brush, electricity coursing through me. “What’s inside?”
Blake shifts his weight from one foot to the other.
Is he… nervous?
I don’t know why, but something about that realization calms me.
“It won’t be a surprise if I tell you.”
Holding his gaze, I slip my fingers into a bag, a soft material brushing against my fingertips as I pull the contents out.
“What—”
My voice trails off as I pull out the material and unfold it, my mouth falling open as I stare at the tiniest onesie I’ve ever seen.
“Blake, I?—”
Just like the rest of the jerseys Blake got for the kids, this one has a golden bear paw logo on the front, and when I turn it around, I find Walker written across the back in big bold letters with the number 93 underneath it.
Blake’s number.
My lip trembles as I let my fingers go over the soft material.
“When I had the others done, I got this idea that I should have one made for our baby. We could dress him or her in it when you guys come to the game, but if you don’t like it, you don’t have to use it. It was just?—”
Before he can finish, I wrap my arms around him.
“This is…” My throat feels tight, and tears gather in my eyes.
He got a jersey.
His jersey with his name.
For our baby.
Shaking my head, I push down the knot lodged in my throat before croaking out, “Thank you.”
Blake just stands still for a moment, but before long, his arms wrap around me, holding me tightly against him.
“No thanks needed, Blondie,” he whispers, his palm sliding up and down my back.
That was where he was wrong.
To him, this might be normal, but for me, it meant everything.
Slowly, I take a step back. “I’ll see you tomorrow for the appointment?”
Blake nods. “Tomorrow.”
I start to turn around when a flicker of movement in one of the windows on Blake’s house catches my attention.
Daniel.
I can feel his glare on me for a second longer before he lets the curtain drop back in place, and this time, when my stomach clenches, there is nothing warm or fuzzy about the feeling.