Chapter 31
TJ
Ijog through the underground parking structure after making sure my grandparents find their way to the exit, returning to Lucy in under five minutes.
She’s right where I left her, and I exhale a relieved breath.
I don’t know where I thought she would have gone, but I’m still getting used to having someone be here for me.
Lucy looks up from her phone, her brows creased, but her expression clears and she smiles at me. “That was fast.”
“Why do you sound surprised? I am one of the fastest men in the NFL, Lu. You saw me today.”
“I did.” Her eyes twinkle, and a warm pink hue colors her cheeks. “You’re kinda hard to miss out there. You looked good.”
“Past tense?” I grab for my heart, pretending she wounded me. “What about now?”
“Now you look like someone who’s fishing for a compliment.”
I laugh. “Pathetic?”
She considers me, fighting back a smile. “Endearing.” She stares at me while twiddling with her phone case.
“You alright?” I ask. While I like this fun, playful side of Lu, I can tell she’s got something on her mind.
She bites her lip, and I have to hold back a groan. This woman has no idea how tantalizing that sight is. It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to lean in and kiss her senseless.
When she meets my gaze again and I see the flecks of worry in her hazel eyes, all of my desires are replaced by one—to do whatever she needs me to do to take care of her and get rid of whatever is making her sad.
“It’s no big deal.” Lucy holds up her phone. “I … there’s an article online, and one of the commenters is speculating that it was me at your game, in the box with Rose.” She clicks the screen a couple times before angling her phone toward me.
I take it and scroll, guilt stacking up in my chest like cement bricks. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have invited you. I shouldn’t have made such a show of pointing at you and waving. This is all my fault.”
“TJ.” She puts her hand on my forearm and squeezes. “No, it’s not.”
I shake her off. “I was being selfish. I wanted you there. I drew attention to you. I … I should have thought more about what you wanted. You’ve told me you don’t want the attention, and I shone a light on you. I’m a fool.”
“TJ.” She takes her phone back and pockets it, returning her hands to my upper arms. I flex involuntarily. She smirks. “Are you showing off?”
“What?” I barely process her comment, but then I really look at her and she’s smiling. Her eyes are twinkling. I take a deep breath.
“These muscles? You trying to make a girl swoon?”
“I … no.” I sniff out a laugh. “But good to know that’s what does it for you.”
She grins before squeezing my arms again and turning serious.
“Listen, you asked me what was wrong, and I wanted to tell you because I like that you care. I didn’t tell you so you’d feel sorry.
There’s nothing to forgive. I chose to come to the game.
I knew the risk of being out in public, and I opened myself up to being discovered. Because I wanted to be there. For you.”
Her words coil around my heart like warm steam wafting from a mug of hot coffee on a cold morning.
She gives me a soft shake. “I promise I’m good.”
“Okay.” I nod. I want to trust her, and I need to take her at her word. But while she’s talking a big game, I can see by the way she’s chewing the inside of her cheek and the pallor of her skin that she’s not unaffected by this. “What can I do? Do you want to leave?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “I really don’t.” She stands up straighter. “I want to be here with you. To celebrate your win and to celebrate Christmas.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure. Now …” She pins me with a look, her eyes sparkling. “I believe we left off with you fishing for compliments.”
“I would never.”
She laughs, and it makes my heart beat faster. “Either way, I want to tell you that what you do out there on the field is wickedly impressive. And very attractive.”
It’s adorable how that last statement makes her face flush. What’s even more enticing is the way she’s holding my gaze. She’s self-conscious, but still putting herself out there for me, and I am here for it.
“I was showing off for you. I wanted to make it into the endzone in your honor,” I admit, and then I lean in. “But football’s just a game. Trust me, I’m even more determined when there’s something important on the line.”
She inhales. Her face is flaming, but she still holds my gaze. “What type of thing is important to you, TJ?”
“Right now? Time with you,” I say without hesitation. “Poe has a great hot tub set up.” I try to keep my tone casual, but I very much want to have her all to myself.
Lucy rolls her lips into her mouth again, considering this, and I can’t stop the audible growl that escapes from the back of my throat. Lucy’s eyes widen.
“Only if you’re comfortable with that,” I hurry to add. I’m not trying to force myself on this woman. “The hot tub would give us some privacy, and I’d really like to spend time with you.”
Lucy searches my gaze, her eyes flitting across my face. “I’d like that too. But,” she says, “we should mingle with your friends a little bit. I want to meet them, and I don’t want anyone to think I’m ignoring them.”
I smile down at her and grab her hand, placing a quick kiss on her knuckles. “Thank you for that. I’m really glad you’re here.”
“I am, too.”
Anticipation flows through my veins as I lead her into the party room. We stop so I can introduce her to Poe. He’s sitting on the floor, playing with his niece, but he stands when we approach, and his sister swoops in to watch over the young girl.
“Lu, this is the man who’s been making the Cinderella bit happen on the field.”
Poe rolls his eyes. “About that. Do you think we could do something else? Literally anything else?” He holds out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Lucy.”
“You too,” Lucy says. “Sorry this one roped you into his tomfoolery.”
I pretend to scowl. “That tomfoolery gets eaten up by our fans. I thought you liked it.” I stare down at Lucy.
She shrugs. “It’s not very original.”
“See!” Poe points at me. “We can be done. I’m picking the next routine.”
“Only if you score. That’s the deal. If I score, we’re doing Cinderella. It’s a good luck charm at this point.”
Poe scowls. Lucy surprises me when she pats him on the shoulder. “You’re a good sport for putting up with this one.”
Poe huffs. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
Lucy giggles, and a flash of jealousy pierces my core at the sight of her small hand on Poe’s muscled arm. I know that’s stupid, but it’s like seeing this woman around another man has taken me back to caveman times. Poe smirks in my direction, like he can read my mind, but I don’t even care.
I finally exhale when Lucy drops her hand and twines her fingers with mine again.
Someone calls for Poe from across the room. He looks past me. “I think my sister needs something. Make yourselves at home, and, Lucy, seriously, we all appreciate you putting up with this guy.” Poe grabs my shoulders and gives me a good-natured shake as he takes his leave.
When he’s out of earshot, Lucy rises up on her tiptoes, and I bend toward her. “For the record,” she whispers, her warm breath against the shell of my ear sending lightning through my veins, “I love the Cinderella routine. Please don’t stop.”
Before I can respond, someone calls out her name, and her attention is drawn to where Rose is standing with Anton near the door to the deck. Since the hot tub is out there, I’m more than happy to move in that direction.
“You’re never going to believe this,” Rose says when we join the pair. “Oh.” She glances at Anton and then motions to Lucy. “Anton, this is Lucy Dupree. Lucy, this is my boyfriend, Anton.”
Lucy’s face turns scarlet again, and I recall her saying that she settled in this part of the country because of Anton and Rose’s love story. The green-eyed monster in my chest roars to life again, but I try to squash it.
“Hi.” Lucy holds out her hand, and at the quiet sound of her voice, I’m immediately reminded of what she told me—about how she considers herself a lone wolf and prefers small groups of people whom she knows.
She’s here tonight, making the rounds with me and putting herself out of her comfort zone.
My respect and appreciation for her increases tenfold.
“Between Rose and TJ, I feel like we’re already best friends,” Anton says. “They’ve had nothing but good things to say about you, Lucy.”
“Oh.” Lucy laughs a little, shooting me a wide-eyed look. “That’s good, I guess.”
I roll my eyes. “Way to make me sound like I’m obsessed with her, Bates.”
“If the shoe fits,” Anton says with his too-handsome grin. “She is your Cinderella, after all.”
“Dude.” I huff out a laugh. I look over at Lucy to see if he’s freaking her out, but she smiles at me, looking bashful but happy. I squeeze her hand and she squeezes back, and my heart threatens to jackhammer itself out of my chest.
“Okay, as I was saying,” Rose cuts in. “You’re never going to guess the email I just got!”
Lucy tears her gaze from me and cocks her head to the side. “I’m listening.”
“It’s from Philomena Grace’s agent.” Rose is practically vibrating with excitement.
She glances at me. “Philomena is one of the romance author icons of our time. I mean, her and Ava Reese, but Ava doesn’t do interviews.
No one knows who she is or where she lives or anything.
Anyway, back to Philomena.” Rose sucks in a breath, and I cut a look to Lucy, who bites her lip, and when she catches my eye, she looks away quickly.
I fight a smile, committing the name Ava Reese to memory.
“Her agent, Cassie, emailed me this morning. She apologized for the holiday email, but she wanted to reach out immediately, because Philomena had an opening in her schedule for April, and she was wondering if Mood Reader would want to host her. Can you even believe that?” Rose squeals. “It’s like a Christmas miracle.”