by Sosie Frost
How badly was I hurt…?
I pulled myself upright. My head didn’t like that. Neither did the tubes inserted into parts of me that never needed to be tubed before. I flinched, but the pain faded. I stared at the bassinet beside the bed.
A little bundle of pink blankets swaddled a sleeping baby.
Oh fuck.
“You had the baby,” I said.
Rory rubbed her cheek. The tears wouldn’t stop. “Yes. I had the baby while you were under.”
The fog in my head burned away, seared through by the quiver in her voice, the streaks of tears on her cheeks.
Nothing should have upset this woman.
I refused to let her cry, to be in pain, to feel anything but absolute joy.
Her baby was born.
Our baby.
And, in an instant, the haze cleared.
“Dawn,” I said.
Rory turned. “What did you say?”
“Her name is Dawn.”
Either I was wrong and Rory sobbed with disgust, or the fuzzy memories of the conversation meant my head hadn’t been right for a while. Her relief cracked in wavering sobs. I gestured for her to come closer.
“You’re okay?” Her voice was a whisper. “I knew the drugs had to wear off, and you’d be confused but—”
Aside from a headache and the ringing in my ears, I was fine. “It’s coming back. I can’t believe I missed her birth.”
“It’s okay. You’ll be there for everything else.”
I shared her grin. “I swear it. I love you, Rory. I want nothing more than to take care of you both.”
Her eyebrow arched. “I might be taking care of you for a while.”
“Am I in bad shape?”
“You’re pretty tough, but it was a rough hit.” She leaned in to kiss me. “But I’m going to fix you. I’ll put you back together, Jude Owens. You aren’t getting away from me that easily.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Doc.” I looked to the bassinet. I remembered carrying a football into an end zone, but I had never held anything so important before. “Can…do you think I…?”
Rory nodded. She cradled Dawn close to her chest. She leaned over me, careful to keep her hands on the baby as well, just in case my head decided to fog.
Never again.
Not now. I couldn’t let myself go now. Not when I held the baby in my arms.
My daughter.
“She’s mine,” I whispered. “Rory, I don’t care if she’s not my blood. She’s mine.”
“Then my last wish came true.”
Her joy would heal every last ache in my soul. I stared at Dawn, at her chubby cheeks and tiny hands and her sweet, pouty lips, just like her mom’s.
What had I almost done?
I’d got hurt. Badly. I’d walked onto the field to protect Rory and nearly destroyed myself and my chance with my baby.
Never again.
“Rory, there’s something I have to tell you,” I said. “The reason I played in the championship game.”
“I understand, Jude. You wanted the chance. The win.”
“No. I wanted to walk away.”
She frowned. “Then…why—”
“Coach Thompson threatened me. If I didn’t play, he’d tell Frolla to ruin you. They’d have destroyed your credibility with the fellowship. He wanted to strip you of your medical license. I had to play…” I grimaced. “And I have to play next season too.”
“No,” Rory said. “No, you don’t.”
“I won’t let them destroy your reputation.”
“You won’t have to. I’ll destroy theirs.”
Rory pulled her phone from her pocket. She let me listen to the devious recording she had captured. Coach Thompson’s voice was muffled but unmistakable.
“…We’re going to the championships, and Jude Owens will lead us there on a smear of his goddamned brains if that’s what it takes.”
Her eyes brightened, and she almost kissed the phone. “I recorded Thompson and Frolla. I’ve already given a copy to Leah…with a couple secrets selectively edited out. She’s distributing it to the media as soon as you’re well enough to collaborate the story. The league might not care about last year’s cheating, but they’re taking a hard line on player safety. The union won’t let this go unpunished. Coach Thompson and Clayton are done.”
I grinned. “I’m glad you have a fully functional brain to plan these things.”
“Oh, yeah?” Rory brushed her hand over Dawn’s blanket. “If I’m so smart, why did I wait twenty years to tell you how much I loved you?”
“Because it took me twenty years to get my eyes off the field to see what really mattered.” I cradled Dawn closer. “I thought football was my life, and the championship my greatest achievement. I was wrong. This is what I wanted all along. I wanted a reason to wake up. I found it.”
“I can’t promise this won’t be complicated,” she said.
“No. This is something even my head can understand.” I pulled her close for a kiss. “I’ve been a part of a team for twelve seasons. Now it’s time to be a part of a family.”
“I love you, Jude.”
“You two will be my everything.” I kissed her once more. “My career might have its ever-after…but this is the start of a beautiful fairy-tale.”
Epilogue - Rory
I tossed the manila envelope on Clayton’s desk.
“My resignation from the fellowship program.” I gave him a sweet smile. “Thank you for the opportunity, but I feel my expertise is better suited elsewhere.”
Clayton’s eyes shimmied over my body. I let him gawk. I was rocking the post-pregnancy body and looked fantastic for having a three-month-old daughter.
“Is that all I’ll find in this envelope?” he asked.
“Did you want a thank-you card as well?”
“I expected a lawsuit for paternity.”
I tilted my head. “You aren’t my child’s father.”
“Biologically—”
“Clayton, if it wasn’t for my baby, I’d have forgotten all about you. Soon enough, I will. I don’t care if she is your blood. Dawn is Jude’s daughter, and you will not take his child from him. Do you understand?”
“Perfectly.” He opened the envelope. “Where will you go?”
“I was offered a specialized position at Ironfield Regional—more pay, better hours. Your program didn’t compensate its talent well.” I arched my eyebrow. “Though, from what I hear…it won’t be your program for much longer.”
“You’re fortunate I don’t sue you for recording a private conversation.”
“And you’re lucky I don’t leap over this desk and beat you senseless for putting Jude in such danger.” I shrugged. “However, I’ve learned a great deal about remaining professional through this fellowship. I thank you for all the faith you had in me.”
“You are a good doctor.”
“I’m a great doctor, no thanks to your efforts. Good luck with the future league investigations, Clayton. You’re going to need it.”
I didn’t let him answer, though I did do a celebratory dance once I slammed the door behind me.
Was I allowed to feel good about that?
Vindicated? A little proud?
Yes and yes.
It was a moment to close a chapter on my life. I thought he had scarred me for life. Instead, I was given the greatest gift of all.
A family.
I returned home to find Jude and Dawn on the couch. Sports Nation was muted on the TV, but his attention focused on the little baby asleep on his chest. He grinned and let me take Dawn.
“How’d it go?” he asked.
“Clayton won’t be a problem.” I patted her back. “Did she eat?”
“Had a bottle.”
Never thought I’d be grateful for the weird pumping apparatuses that came from the baby shower, but they were a damn life saver. Jude needed time to bond with his daughter, and they both loved the time dinner time while resting in her daddy�
��s arms.
I took Dawn into her room, resting her in her crib. If Jude had his way, she’d sleep on him all day and all night. Even Phillip followed us, crashing under the crib and taking up his watchful post.
Jude followed me, grinning like a fool.
“Got some good news of my own,” he said.
“What’s that?”
“You’re looking at the Rivets’ new assistant offensive coordinator.”
I spun, shocked. “What?”
“Amazing, right?”
“You…you went in to get a job as the running back coach!”
He shrugged. “They fired Thompson, and Coach Vine took his spot. They needed to fill the offensive coordinator position, so they juggled inside the administration. They wanted me to help with the overall offense.”
“That’s amazing, Jude!”
He wrapped me into his arms, but the heat of his hands immediately shifted into something a little more daring than just a hug. With a wicked smirk, he led me into the bedroom.
“Seems like we have a bit of celebrating to do,” he said.
“I suppose so.”
His kiss was quick, layering a shivered heat over my lips, my neck, my shoulder. He tugged me to the bed.
Our bed.
It amazed me to finally fall onto the mattress with him over me, without worrying about smooshing tummies or kicking babies.
As it had happened so many times before, our clothes fell away, and our bodies heated in a quick and furious passion. Within minutes, he filled me, and our quiet and amazing desire overwhelmed us both.
How had our one crazy mistake and ridiculous plan become something so wonderful?
We rested in each other’s arms, listening to the sound of Dawn’s quiet breathing over the monitor. I cuddled against Jude’s chest.
“I have something for you,” he whispered.
“You already gave it to me, All-Star.”
“Plenty more where that came from, Doc.” He shifted and rolled from me, rooting through the nightstand. He returned with a velvet-lined box tucked in his hand. “Rory…”
He didn’t have to say it. The ring glistened, beautiful and perfect.
“Will you marry me?” He whispered. “No more pretending. No more lies. Just you and me and the baby. Together.” He took a breath. “I know it won’t be easy. And I know I have a long way to go until my head is screwed on right…if it ever get fixed at all. But you and Dawn are the reasons I’m going to recover from this injury. I want to spend my life with you, and if I happen to forget a couple moments here or there…” He shrugged. “At least reliving them with you will be a constant joy.”
“If you only knew how many times I’ve imagined you asking me this…” I grinned at him. “You’d think I was crazy.”
“No. I’d think you were perfect. I hate that I never saw in you back then what I do now.”
“You can always make up the time with me.”
The ring slipped onto my finger. Jude’s voice deepened to a playful growl.
“You know what, Doc?” The blankets shifted, and Jude’s kisses trailed a little lower. “You’re absolutely right. I have years of attention I need to bestow upon you.”
“Only if you’re feeling well enough.”
“I think you’re the best medicine, Rory.” His words quieted. “Hell, you’re the one who healed me.”
“And you’re the one who rescued me. Call it even?”
“Never.” Jude whispered. “I would’ve always helped you, Rory. That was never a question. But I swear…I’m going to spend the rest of our lives proving how indebted I am to you for finding me, helping me, showing me what else there is to life.”
“I don’t need your gratitude.” I leaned forward and kissed him, gently. “I just want to experience that life with you.”
“You’re the reason it’s worth living.”
I silenced him with a kiss. “No more talking. Let me show you how much I love you.”
Jude smiled, resting against the pillows. “Do I have a choice?”
“Absolutely not. You’re mine, Jude Owens. Now you’re going to sit back and enjoy this.”
“Doctor’s orders?”
I kissed him. “Doctor’s orders.”
THE END
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Remington Marshall is the kind of gorgeous who turns a smoldering glance into foreplay.
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Also by Sosie Frost
Payne Brothers Romance
Baby Daddy (Previously Babyjacked) - Free!
Boyfrenemy
Wargasm
Sixty-Nine
Roughneck
Romeo (Coming October 7th!)
Free Romances!
Unforgettable
(A Stand Alone Amnesia Romance)
Touchdowns and Tiaras Series
Beauty And The Blitz
Love At First Down
Once Upon A Half-Time
Happily Ever All-Star
Standalone Romances
Sweetest Sin - A Forbidden Priest Romance
Hard - A Step-Brother Romance
Unforgettable - An Amnesia Romance
Bad Boy’s Redemption (Previously Bad Boy’s Revenge)
Bad Boy’s Bridesmaid
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