“Evie!” Damon called out her name and she flew out of her seat and into his arms. “Jesus, what happened?” he asked as he ran a hand over her hair, then pulled her in front of him to inspect her and make sure she was really okay.
She couldn’t control the grin that lifted her lips. “I kicked John’s ass, that’s what. I saw him and pulled my gun. He grabbed my wrist and I outsmarted him. I dropped the gun, took him off guard, and tossed my hot coffee in his face.”
“He’s still in booking crying,” Mack muttered. “Claims she nailed him in the balls, too, but there’s nobody willing to corroborate his story.” He winked at his sister.
Evie grinned wider.
Damon shook his head, a proud expression on his face. “You’re pressing charges?”
“Damn straight.”
“I’m telling you she attacked me!” John’s voice sounded loudly around the room.
She turned to see a uniformed police officer escorting John from the back room. He dove toward her and the cop yanked him into place beside him. “Sorry, folks. Taking him to a holding cell.”
Damon walked away from Evie and strode over to her ex. The holding officer’s eyes opened wide. “You’re Damon Prescott. I’m a huge fan, as is my son. Can I get an autograph for him?” the cop asked.
“You got it. Before you take this prick, can I have a word?”
The officer nodded and discreetly looked away, keeping a hold on John, who was in cuffs.
John’s eyes were huge with a touch of fear, and Evie got a lot of satisfaction from his panic.
“You touched my girl,” Damon said, stepping into John’s personal space. But he didn’t speak low. “Listen good. If you ever go near her again, if you look at her again, if you so much as blink her way, you won’t see me coming. But you will regret it.”
Damon glanced at the officer. “Thanks, man. I’ll leave an autograph for your son and a phone number. I’ll get you set up with tickets to a game, too.”
“Hey, thanks!” The officer grinned. “Let’s go,” he said in a commanding voice to his prisoner.
“He threatened me!” John yelled.
“I didn’t hear a damn thing, buddy. Now move it.” He gave John a shove and herded him across the room and through a door leading, she assumed, to holding cells. She didn’t care as long as he was out of her life, and she’d do whatever she had to in order to make sure he didn’t get another deal. Given how he’d lost his status since the last arrest, she was hoping there wouldn’t be an issue and he’d go away for a while this time.
Damon and Mack waited while she gave her statement to the officer. Both men refused to leave, and out of respect for Mack’s position and Damon being who he was, they let them stay with her while she was questioned.
Unsure how much time had passed, they walked out of the police station and back into the Florida sunshine.
Mack put an arm around her shoulder. “You okay?”
She looked up at her big brother and smiled. “Better than I’ve been in a long time.”
Nodding, he sighed in relief. “Then I’m leaving you in good hands,” he said, glancing at Damon. “You’ve got this?”
“Of course.”
“See you guys later.” Mack nodded his head and strode off, headed to his car.
Left alone with Damon, she realized that with his case resolved and John finally behind bars, the main reasons for them being together had been wrapped up. Her need to stay with him was finished. Their short-term, this is fun fling? Probably over, too.
Except she recalled what he’d said to John. And she wasn’t ready to say goodbye, which was the antithesis of what she should be feeling. What every wall she’d built around her heart told her she should be feeling. But this was Damon, the man who’d been by her side every step of the way in dealing with John. Who’d supported her. Who seemed to show her he cared.
She turned to him, ignoring the people rushing by on the sidewalk, and met his gaze. Drawing on the bravery that had gotten her this far today and the words he’d said when he’d confronted John, she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Did you call me your girl?”
His hands slid to her waist and he pulled her against him. “You know it. You can fight it all you want, Evie, but you’re mine.”
She had insecurities and questions that went along with that statement, but for now, she rose to her tiptoes and sealed her mouth over his. He speared his tongue between her lips and kissed her senseless on the sidewalk in front of the police station.
“Hey, take it inside,” a female voice said.
Blushing, Evie pulled back to find a woman rushing by with her little boy. “Sorry!” she called after her but the mother ignored her.
Damon looked at her and grinned. “I say we take this to the bedroom.”
“Umm, my car’s at the coffee shop parking lot,” she said. “I was brought here by the police.”
He shook his head. “We’ll come back for it later.”
She nodded, wanting this time with him and knowing they needed to talk.
She slid her hand into his. “Lead the way.”
* * *
If Damon could freeze this moment in time, he would. Buried inside Evie’s warm body, knowing she was safe, that his life was almost back on track thanks to her, well, it was perfection. She was perfection. Now if he could just find a way to keep her here.
A little while later, he lay sated, Evie curled in his arms. He could almost hear the gears turning in her brain. “Just this once I’m going to let you overthink things. What’s going on in that head of yours?” he asked, tangling his fingers through her hair.
She sighed. “Okay, well, your case is almost finished. At least my part in it is.”
He nodded.
“And my situation is resolved. No need to hide out here for protection.”
“Nope. You no longer have to be here,” he agreed. “But there’s been more to us than just those two things.”
“Right. We’ve been having fun and enjoying the moment,” she said.
Which was the crux of the problem. He’d agreed to what amounted to an affair because he knew she’d never admit to wanting more. But now he was ready to push and push hard. He knew how happy she’d been that he’d called her his girl. He just had to get her to see that he was all in.
“Except we turned into something more and you don’t want to face it.” Calling her out on her fears was the first step.
She froze in his arms.
“Are you going to deny it?” he asked.
She shook her head and pressed her lips against his chest.
“Good, because I know how I feel about you. I love you, Evie Wolfe.”
Obviously startled, she sat up in the bed, pulling the sheet up to cover her breasts. “You love me?”
“I love you and I want a life with you.” He held his breath as she absorbed his words.
The color drained from her face. “I … I didn’t see this coming.”
“Because you didn’t want to see. But we’re good together. We click on every level, so why can’t we give a serious relationship a shot?” God knows he’d been doing it for almost the entire time they’d been together.
Her fingers curled around the sheet. “I’m scared. You’ll be reinstated any day, and your life will go back to full-time football.”
She licked her lower lip and he stifled a groan. “So?”
“So, you won’t have time for a girlfriend, and let’s face it, you’ve never wanted or tried a relationship before. Now add the pressure of a contract year? It’s a recipe for disaster.”
She went to slide out of bed, but he stopped her, grasping her wrist. “I get that you’re scared. John didn’t give you a reason to believe in relationships or men in general. You want to push me away before I hurt you but I’m not going to let you.”
“No?”
He heard the hope in her voice. “No. Now listen to me.
I may not have a
ton of time during the season, but you’d be my priority when I’m not working. And you don’t strike me as a needy type that would resent my job.” He raised his eyebrow. “Unless I’ve read you all wrong?”
She shook her head, happy tears in her eyes. “No. You didn’t read me wrong. I’m just such a mess since John and suddenly it’s over. And I can look ahead.”
“And what do you see?” he asked gruffly.
“I know what I want to see. Us.”
He couldn’t stop the grin that took hold. “Yeah? And why’s that?”
She slid back across the bed and pulled herself on top of him. Her warm skin seeped into his pores. “Because I love you, too.”
No sooner had she spoken than she found herself on her back, Damon buried deep inside her once more, and this time, when he moved, she opened her heart and let him in.
* * *
I love you, too. Evie couldn’t believe she’d said the words out loud. She’d barely admitted them to herself, but they were true, and she’d been pushing aside her feelings for Damon for weeks, coming up with excuses to keep him at a distance. Although she had to admit she was worried about him maintaining a relationship during the season, especially since he’d never attempted one before.
“I have a solution to your concern.” Damon lay back, one arm propped behind his head.
Rolling to the side, her own elbow propping her up, she replied, “What’s that?”
“Move in with me for good. That way, when I’m here, you’re here. Let’s just do this thing, because there’s no other way I can prove to you that I’m all in.”
Move in? As in give up her apartment? Pack up all her things and—
“This is one of those times I won’t let you overthink. You’re already here. Just stay. And yes, we can pick up more of your things. As much or as little as you want. And when you’re ready, you can sublet your apartment.”
Evie told herself not to hyperventilate. This man had already proven himself to her. All she needed to do was trust in herself and take the leap. “Okay.”
“Yes!” He pumped his fist and pulled her on top of him and into a kiss. “I love you and I’m going to show you what a great life we can have.”
She smiled and kissed him back. “I believe you.”
* * *
Evie strode into the Miami Thunder Stadium beside Quinn and Austin. The rest of the Prescotts met them in the box, Bri with Macy, Jaxon was now in his post-season and free to attend, and Christine Prescott, along with Paul and Ron.
Also joining them were various Dare couples and some of their kids. Since Evie had been coming to every home game for the last three months, she’d met all sides of the Dare-Prescott family. From Robert Dare’s legitimate children and their spouses to his other children, Evie was getting to know them all well. Even Ian, who alternated between the owner’s box and the family one.
Evie sat up front, waiting for the team to do their run out onto the field. She was early for game nine, a week before a bye – a day off – next weekend.
As they’d hoped, Damon had been cleared to play before game one. Doc and Emerson’s father had been arrested on an array of charges along with those responsible for scheduling Damon’s “random” drug test.
As for John, though his lawyer had wanted him to plead insanity, John himself had all but given up. He’d agreed to plead guilty and had been sentenced to ten years in prison as it hadn’t been his first offense. Without the need to testify at trial, Evie was free of him.
Quinn joined her, pulling up a chair by the glass in front of them.
“Is it me or is it more crowded than usual in here tonight?” Evie asked, looking around at Damon’s family crowding the room.
Ian’s siblings congregated in various groups, the kids tugged on their parents’ arms, begging for food, and Jaxon stood with Bri and Macy, his gaze on the beautiful blonde.
As Evie had learned in the last couple of months, Jaxon was a bad boy and a partier but a solid man and brother. Despite his age, he was an amazing pitcher for the Miami Eagles and a devoted brother. According to Austin, at twenty-eight, with surgery behind him, Jaxon was nearing the end of his career on the field. Something he refused to acknowledge or face.
The man was also an extreme flirt with anyone in a skirt. Or jeans, in the case of Macy Walker, who was laughing at something Jaxon had said, but it was obvious she didn’t take him seriously. If she didn’t read the tabloids, no doubt she knew his reputation from Bri.
“I guess everyone wants to see the game.” Quinn answered Evie’s question, grinning when she looked Evie over. “Nice shirt.”
“Hey, I have to represent,” Evie said, turning to show her friend Damon’s number eleven on the back of Evie’s jersey and the name Prescott across her shoulders.
Quinn, who had left Jenny at home with her niece/babysitter because of the ungodly noise in the stadium, merely laughed. “That’s a far cry from the woman who was running away even when you were living with the man.”
“Hey, pot, kettle,” Evie said, calling out Quinn for doing the same thing, trying to keep Austin at an emotional distance even after she’d moved in to help him with Jenny.
“Well, it all worked out for me.” Quinn held up her hand and admired her ring, which was freaking gorgeous but too big for Evie’s taste. Something more simple would suit her… Wait. What the hell was she thinking?
Life was great now. She’d never left Damon’s and had been living with him ever since. Over the last three months, they had moved almost all of her clothing and personal items into his house. They’d even brought over some other favorite pieces of furniture that Damon could fit into the SUV he’d purchased. He’d given up using their small cars after one too many trips in a day.
He’d been correct. Living with Damon meant he could spend his free time with Evie. True, he didn’t sleep at home the night before Miami games when the team stayed in a hotel or when they had away games. And his schedule was insane. But she kept plenty busy. Thanks to her work on Damon’s case, her name had been mentioned around the NFL, and she had bigger clients now. And Damon worked hard to allay any fears she’d had about him not adjusting to a relationship.
And he liked her just as she was. She glanced down at her scuffed black boots beneath her jeans. He complained when she overdid makeup, thinking she needed to impress him in any way. He loved her. Period.
Warmth filled her and she couldn’t help but smile.
She heard familiar voices and turned to see her brothers and parents making their way toward her. She jumped up from her seat. “What are you all doing here?”
Before they could answer, music sounded, coming from the field, and she spun back in a rush, not wanting to miss the team’s charge. To her surprise, all she could see was one man in the center of the field. Suddenly every screen above the stands lit up and she realized it was Damon.
She could see him up close, and then she heard his voice over the microphone. “Indulge me, everyone.”
“What’s happening?” Evie looked around the room to find all eyes shifting from Damon to her. She glanced back at the screen to see him grinning. “Have you figured it out yet, Evie?”
She narrowed her gaze, her heart pumping in her chest.
“In case you haven’t…” He took out a ring box and got down on one knee. “Remember when you were worried I would change my mind about wanting a relationship with you? That football would get in the way of us? I think we’ve had enough time for you to see nothing will get in our way.”
Behind her, her mother squealed.
Beside her, Quinn looked at her with tears in her eyes and happiness on her face. The same expression Evie probably had had when Austin proposed to Quinn.
“These Prescott men have a flare for the dramatic, don’t they?” she asked, cheeks burning, her eyes also filling.
“Marry me, Evie Wolfe.”
Leave it to Damon not to ask but to state what he wanted.
The crowd erupted in a ro
ar.
“Yes!” She waved from the box, which was caught on the screen.
“Get down here!” he yelled.
She worked her way through the family members, who she now understood had come for the proposal. She’d have time with everyone during the game. The immediate moment was for Damon. She bolted out of the box and rushed down toward the field. All the while, she heard the clapping and whistling of the Thunder Stadium spectators.
Finally, she reached the tunnel, where a security guard was waiting for her and escorted her to the field. And then she ran until Damon swooped her into his arms and spun her around.
Dizzy, happy, and in love, she grinned as he settled her on her feet and held out the open box. “So, you know I wanted to outdo Austin,” he whispered in her ear. “But I know you.”
She looked down and stared at a sapphire emerald-cut stone with small diamonds on either side. Perfect for her, and the tears she’d been holding back began to fall.
“Oh, Damon!”
He slid the ring on her finger and pumped his fist for the home crowd.
“I couldn’t think of a better way to show you I’m in it forever.”
She grasped his cheeks and pressed her lips to his. “I love you, Damon. Thank you for understanding me. Getting me. Loving me.”
“I love you, Evie.”
She grinned. “Now go play ball.”
Epilogue
Damon’s mother threw an impromptu engagement party for him and Evie at her house, squeezing in a small amount of family and friends, since Damon’s team had a bye week and didn’t have to play that weekend. The only sibling missing was Braden, who couldn’t get away from his obligations.
The celebration was at the home Christine had finally relented and allowed her children to buy for her in light of their individual successes. The five-thousand-square-foot ranch had rooms for her adult kids to stay over if they chose, a pool in the backyard, and a huge open-concept layout inside. For that reason, it was perfect for a family gathering.
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