Bonus Epilogue
ROYCE
ONE YEAR LATER
“You promised we could stay home,” Kinsley whines as I drag her down the hall to the field of the sports complex.
“I know and I apologized. Twice,” I state as I tighten my grip on her hand. I can’t afford to have her double back toward the car when we’re so close.
“Who forgets that they booked an interview in the postseason after they promised we could just be naked in our apartment for the next month straight?”
“It was an oversight.”
“Hell of an oversight, Royce.”
“I know, Kins.”
“And it’s almost Christmas! Who the hell schedules an interview right before Christmas?”
“It’s going to be quick,” I promise, my heart thundering in my chest as the doors come into view.
“You better not be quick later; that’s all I have to say.” The words are said under her breath but my body is wired and I just need a taste.
Spinning on her, I drop her hand before burying both of mine in her hair and crashing my lips over hers. She gasps in surprise before melting against me, her body toned and sexy and God I can’t wait for this woman to be mine.
“I promise to make it up to you when we get home,” I tell her, pecking a quick kiss to her nose before resuming our walk and pushing open the door to the fieldhouse.
“But it’s not the same.” She harrumphs, her cheeks flushed as I bite back my smile. “You made me put on makeup and acceptable athletic wear.”
“And you’ll thank me in however many months when this article publishes and you’re not wearing one of your never to see the light of day shirts that for some ungodly reason you can’t part with.”
“The holes add character”—she pinches my side making me yelp—“and they’re soft.”
“Stop that,” I hiss and she smirks as we walk onto the field where there are four soccer balls lined up parallel to the goal. “Why don’t you take a couple of shots for old times’ sake?”
“You gettin’ in the goal, Roy?”
“Will it make you nicer answering questions?” I taunt, already moving toward the goal.
“You’re sassy today, Roy, and I don’t think I like it.”
“Yeah?” Facing her down, I spread my arms wide. “What are you gonna do about it?”
She scoffs and kicks the first ball. I barely have time to move out of the way before it slams me in the chest. But I’m not focused on the ball. I’m focused on her.
“Roy, what are you…”
Her voice trails off as she stares at the ground where a single white circle was pinned under the ball currently in the goal.
One word.
Will…
KINSLEY
The snarky remark dies on my tongue as I look at the ground and then back to Royce still standing in the goal like he already knows what’s about to happen.
Will.
Son of a…
“Kick the next one.”
It’s a challenge, and damn him for knowing how much that turns me on. Lining up on the next ball, I take a breath and then kick it only to reveal a second white circle with a new word.
You.
“Royce.”
“Again, Kins.”
I can barely see through the tears now clouding my eyes as I fire off the next ball.
Marry.
And then the last.
Me?
“Royce?”
His name leaves me on a strangled cry, but he’s already jogging toward me, the biggest, dopiest smile on his adorable face.
Dropping to one knee, he takes my hand, the touch not nearly enough as I fall to the ground and wrap him in a hug.
“You’re supposed to stay standing,” he murmurs, his arms coming around me in a tight embrace.
“You’re not supposed to be able to surprise me.”
“Says who? I’m great at surprises,” he says, pulling back and wiping at the tears streaming down my face, his caramel-colored eyes bright and so full of love and adoration. “And it was totally worth having to drag you kicking and screaming the whole way here.”
“I was not that bad.”
“You were,” he says with a sly grin, “but you can make it up to me.”
“Yeah? And how’s that?”
“Marry me, Kins.”
“Do I have to take your last name? Because if I do, I’ll be Kinsley Oakden—KO—and I don’t know how my coaches are going to feel about that.”
“Want me to take yours?” he says, leaning close and stopping just before his lips brush against mine. “We could probably negotiate that.”
“Or maybe we can hyphenate.”
“I’m sure we could find a lesson on that.”
“I think you’re right.”
“Kins.”
“Yes, Roy?”
“Will you marry me?”
“Today, tomorrow, a thousand times yes.”
With a shaking hand, he slides the ring on my finger before taking my mouth in a wildly indecent kiss—the best kind.
Because Royce Oakden will always be my favorite lesson.
He’s forever.
THE END