Falling Hard (Seattle Sabretooths 1)

Prologue

SUTTON

- Present Day -

“ M ove in with me.”

I barely manage to save the plush cream rug from my wine, the deep maroon liquid threatening to splash over the edge of my glass as I jolt upright, gaping at my friend.

Shaking my head in disbelief, the audacity of this gorgeous, insane man smacks me in the face as his abrupt request sends me reeling. There’s no way he just asked me -

“I’m sorry, what ?”

“You heard me, Farley. Move in with me.”

“That’s what I thought you said.” Filled with a rush of jittery energy and needing to do something , I swing my legs to the floor, removing myself completely from whereI’d been lounging comfortably across his lap mere seconds earlier.

“So then, what’s the issue?” His brow quirks quizzically in my direction, that damn smirk- the one that gets me every time - breaking across his gorgeous face .

“I-” Where do I even begin? “I can’t move in with you. You’re practically moving across the country!”

He deadpans, his tone as dry as the expression on his face. “I’m moving to Washington. Technically , it’s all the way across the country; there’s no ‘practically’ about it. But I doubt that’s really your biggest concern here; so, what’s your point Farley?”

Back rigid, I lean forward with jerky movements, reaching for my glass of wine once more; needing something to do with my hands.

Glancing down at my lap, self-doubt washes over me as I respond.

“You’re going into the big leagues, the pros.

You certainly don’t need my money to help with rent anymore.

I saw the stats on that contract you signed. ”

I feel a gentle pull as he tugs at the lip I was anxiously biting, and he urges my head up to look at him. “Baby Girl, of course I need you with me. You’re my girlfriend , remember?”

I want to smack the smirk right off his face as he says this, but he snorts, muttering belligerently under his breath as he continues, “and I never needed your money.”

Indignant, I glare back at him. “ Excuse me! Fake girlfriend. Fake. And that was like. . . a one-time deal. Months ago, I might add. It’s over and done with now. So, I reiterate, you don’t need me.”

Steely eyes glint back at me as he leans closer, draping an arm across my shoulders and pulling me into his side as he places a quick peck on my cheek. “That’s just it, baby. I do need you. Do you want me to beg? Because I will totally get on my knees for you.”

Before I can say anything further, he drops off the couch, sliding onto his knees in front of me on the floor, eyebrows wagging as he does so.

My heart leaps into my throat at the sight of him, my thoughts flashing back to that night.

But that was a one time thing. And as I just told him, it was months ago.

It meant nothing, right? Taking my hands in his own, he kisses the inside of my knee before batting those gorgeous eyelashes of his and giving me his best doe eyes. It’s absolutely ridiculous, how the long lashes frame his cheekbones. Such beauty is absolutely wasted on a man.

“Sutton Mae Farley, would you please do me the great honor of moving in with me? Make me the happiest tendy alive by moving across the country to live with me and continue being my fake girlfriend?”

His expression is cheesy, with an exaggerated pout on those full lips and a pleading tilt of his head.

Underneath it all though, there is sincerity, a seriousness that belies his otherwise playful tone.

Trying (and failing miserably) to maintain my composure, I can’t help the laugh as it bursts free. I never could say no to this man.

“Oh my god. You’re ridiculous. You know that, right?”

“Always, Baby Girl. But only for you.” Throwing in a wink for good measure, he sits back on his heels, waiting patiently for my response; one that he knows is basically inevitable.

With an elongated sigh, I roll my eyes, dragging out my answer as I respond.

“You know I swore off hockey players for good, right? You do remember that conversation, right? The whole ‘fake-dating’ thing that we did a few months back was supposed to be just that. Fake .” I pause for emphasis, giving him a pointed look.

“Why do you even want to keep up the ruse, anyway?”

He just shrugs, a cheesy grin once more breaking across his face stupid gorgeous.

“You know how it is, Farley. The ladies love me, gravitate towards me like moths to a flame, to say nothing of the men in my life. If I have you by my side, that will for sure keep most of the crazy puck bunnies at arms-length so I can really focus on making a name for myself during my rookie season.”

He shrugs, continuing, “Plus, with you, I have the added bonus of an easy plus-one for any formal functions that may pop up. Fundraisers, team-building events, that sort of thing; you know how much I hate them.”

An exaggerated shudder racks his body before he continues. “Besides, you’re my girl. I can’t leave you out here all alone. And you’re from that area, so you could help show me the ropes as I get settled in, right?”

He asks this as if he doesn’t already know the answer, having been back there with me on more than one occasion to deal with. . .everything.

“So, who better than my best girl to show me around the great pacific northwest while she pretends to be my doting girlfriend?”

“Doting?” Still. . . Quirking an eyebrow at him, I silently consider his words. It’s not as if I couldn’t get by on my own here in the city. But life sure would be dull without having him around all the time.

“Also, it does not go unnoticed by this sexy goalie that with you being a songwriter and all, you have the flexibility to travel wherever, whenever, for work. So, throwing your life into complete chaos with the upheaval of moving across the country to stay with me should be no biggie for you.

Not to mention,” he drags out, “you‘ll have a fucking kickass apartment in the heart of downtown Seattle to call your own - totally rent-free, I might add. And you know with me gone for a good portion of the season you’d basically have the apartment to yourself for like three-quarters of the year. Sure, you could swing living here by yourself, but would you really want to? And if you got another roommate, I guarantee any one you find is not going to be as handsome, charming, or funny as me.” Wagging his eyebrows in an exaggerated manner, I can’t help but laugh in response.

“Fine. Alright already. Jonah, I’ll move to Seattle with you.

” I shake my head as he plops ungracefully next to me on the sofa once more with a satisfied nod.

Reaching down for my legs, he pulls them back onto his lap with a gentle squeeze, resuming our previous position before he unmutes the television.

With a resigned sigh, I settle back into the cushions and quickly down the remaining half of the Cab I’d been sipping before grumbling half-heartedly under my breath, “I hate you, you know that right? Obnoxious jackass.”

“You forgot ‘Goalie Extraordinaire,” is his distracted response, his attention shifting back to the game footage on the screen.

I roll my eyes at his cocky attitude, but he must have been paying more attention than I realized because with one swift motion, I am being pulled up once more.

Arm draped casually around my shoulder, Jonah pulls me snugly into his side, the rumble of his laughter vibrating through me.

“You fucking love me, Farley. And you know it.”

Yeah, I do fucking know it. Ugh. Great. Seattle, here I come.