Chapter 11
RORY
No matter how often Gage told me that my position as an intern was safe, regardless of Percy's issue with front office staff fraternizing with players, I was still a bundle of nerves as I walked into the stadium for the meeting with my boss. It probably would’ve been a little less stressful if I could have ridden with Gage to Long Island, but my class schedule had made that impossible since he needed to be there for practice while I was on campus.
Even though he was busy, he’d asked me to text him when I arrived. As I walked toward Percy’s office, I pulled out my phone and typed a quick message.
Me:
I’m here. Will let you know how it goes.
I wasn’t expecting him to be waiting next to his cell, so I wasn’t surprised I didn’t get a reply before I knocked on Percy’s door.
“Come in,” he called.
I took a deep breath through my nose and let it slowly out through my mouth, hoping to calm my nerves. It wasn’t effective, but I couldn’t stand there and dawdle any longer.
Steeling my spine, I opened the door and went inside. “You wanted to see me?”
“Yes, please sit down, Rory.”
I walked over to the chair he gestured toward and perched on the edge, stroking my fingers against the strap of my purse as I placed it on my lap. “Thanks for being flexible on what time we could meet.”
“You’re welcome.” After setting his pen down in front of him, Percy rested his forearms on his desk and interlaced his fingers together. “This is going to be a delicate conversation, covering a difficult topic.”
“Um, what did you want to talk about?”
His eyes narrowed, and he pressed his lips in a flat line. “When you arrived to work the game on Sunday, it appeared to me that you’ve developed a…closeness with one of the players—Gage Ledger.”
I nodded, clearing my throat. “Yes.”
“I believe that I was fairly clear on my thoughts about inappropriate relationships between—”
I was braced for his accusation, but he didn’t get to finish his sentence before Gage came stomping into the office—still wearing his practice uniform and pads—with Cole right behind him. My boss glared at me, but he glanced down at his desk when Gage moved to place his hand on my shoulder.
Cole stood at his side, crossing his arms against his chest. “Gage brought to my attention that there might be a lack of clarity on your part about what does and does not represent prohibited conduct by the members of the Nighthawks family. Players and front office staff, including interns like Rory.”
“I understand that there isn’t a written rule regarding fraternization with the players, but I have a certain latitude when it comes to how I manage my staff,” Percy argued. “And I also have a responsibility to look out for Rory. She’s a college student, much younger than Gage. I wouldn’t want—”
“I certainly hope you’re not gearing up to accuse Gage of taking advantage of your intern.”
Percy shot to his feet, the color draining from his face. “Mr. Lennox, I’m so sorry you were brought into this.”
The owner of the team leaned his shoulder against the doorjamb. His pose was casual, but he didn’t look happy with his director of football analytics. “From what I just heard, I’m grateful that Cole let me know about this meeting.”
“I…I was just trying to say that—”
Lennox held his hand up to stem the flow of Percy’s words. “I don’t want to hear your excuses. I came down here to make it very clear that Gage’s relationship with Rory isn’t a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy.”
Gage slid his hand along my shoulder to cup the back of my neck. “It wouldn’t change anything even if it was. I love playing football, but Rory comes first.”
My breath caught in my chest at Gage’s declaration, but Lennox didn’t seem to have the same problem.
“Not surprised to hear it. Glad to see your priorities are exactly where they belong.” He flashed Gage an approving smile before shifting his attention back to my boss, all good humor wiping from his expression.
“This team—the one I own—doesn’t have a non-fraternization policy in the employee handbook for a reason.
It wasn’t an oversight. I have no problem with two consenting adults having a relationship with each other.
Nobody ever knows where they’re going to meet the love of their life.
The last thing I’d want to do is prevent a couple from getting together when they were meant for each other. ”
“And we definitely are.” I gaped up at Gage, stunned that he’d make such strong statements about our relationship to the team owner when we’d only been together for a few weeks.
He shook his head when he saw my wide eyes and parted lips.
Tugging me to my feet, he pulled me close.
“Not sure why you look so shocked, baby. I moved you into our place on Monday, and you could be knocked up with my baby already.”
Cole whistled. “Damn, you move even faster off the field than you do on it.”
“Only when it comes to falling in love with my beautiful nerd.” Gage cupped my cheeks, staring down at me with the depth of his feelings shining from his green orbs.
“You’re definitely a Nighthawk.” Lennox clapped him on the back before leaving.
Gage shook his head with a laugh. “I think he’s prouder of me declaring my love for you than he was about the championship I helped win him last year.”
“Don’t worry about him, geek.” I wrapped my fingers around his wrists, pressing my cheek deeper into his palm. “You still haven’t technically used those three little words yet, and I want to hear them.”
“Neither have you, baby.”
Percy cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable with how much our meeting had spiraled out of his control. My cheeks filled with heat as I tugged Gage’s hands down. “Did you need me for anything else?”
“No.” Percy shook his head. “I’ll just…see you at this weekend’s games, I guess.”
“Where you won’t give her a hard time,” Gage growled.
My boss’s eyes widened. “Of course not.”
“And I’ll be there to make sure of it,” Cole warned.
“Now that that’s cleared up, I guess we’ll find somewhere a little more private to finish this conversation,” Gage suggested.
“You can use my office,” Cole offered, leading us down the hall and unlocking the door.
“Thanks, man,” Gage murmured. “I appreciate it.”
“It’s the least I could do. I should’ve taken care of this mess right after you filled me in on your concern, but I thought I had the rest of this week to follow up with Percy.
” Cole shot me an apologetic smile and raked his fingers through his hair.
“And I had my hands full with an unexpected situation.”
“Anything you need help with?” Gage asked, a wrinkle popping up in the middle of his brow as he studied his friend.
“Nah, I think I have it covered.” Cole shook his head. “At least, I hope so.”
He shooed us inside before leaving, and finally, Gage and I were alone. He didn’t waste any time wrapping his arms around me and dipping his head low to capture my lips in a deep kiss. When he finally lifted his head again, he rasped, “I love you so fucking much, Rory.”
My heart swelled at his declaration. “I love you, too.”
“You better, baby.” He brushed his lips over mine again. “Because I have no doubt that you were meant to be mine, and I can’t wait for us to spend the rest of our lives together.”
I loved how he had no problem talking about our future together, but I wouldn’t be the woman he loved if I didn’t take the opportunity to tease him about his non-proposal.
Especially after I caved so quickly to his demand that I move in with him.
“I’m not sure I can agree to that until I have a ring on my finger. ”
“Then I guess it’s a good thing I already put a call into the jeweler Rhodes and Brady used when they popped the question to their women.
” He flashed me a cocky smirk. “’Cause we both know that the whole proposal thing is merely a formality.
You’re gonna marry me, even if I have to withhold orgasms from you again to get you to say yes sooner rather than later. ”
Only a couple of days later, I accepted his ring…before he finally let me have a mind-blowing orgasm.