Be Mine (Jackson Boys 2)

My dick grows hard as it always does when I think of her, and this time I don’t will my hard-on away. I took Charlie’s advice at first because I wanted to focus on the team. She was right that I couldn’t play with a single mom—at least not Lainey who worked so hard to keep a roof over her kid’s head and food on her kid’s table.

But, now, I’m thinking I might be ready for more than just a casual fling. I really do love Cassidy. The idea of being a dad isn’t as scary today as it was a few months ago. There are plenty of dads on the team and they go hard—maybe harder because they have someone to play for.

I think it’s okay for me to pursue Lainey. We’ll all get what we want. Cass gets a daddy. Lainey gets someone to shoulder her burdens and me? I get sweet, delectable Lainey under my body whenever I want.

Chapter Six

Lainey

I knew Nick was dangerous, but I didn’t realize how potent he was until last night at the laundromat. It is nearly light out when he wakes me up. The clothes are all dried and folded—although, while he did an okay job with the towels, sheets, and diapers, the shirts are a jumbled mess. My heart squeezes so tight I feel like I’m having a heart attack.

“Did I do okay?” he says, as if he isn’t currently the sexiest thing on two legs.

I nod because I can’t be trusted to say a word. I’m afraid if I open my mouth, I’ll start bawling or I may push him down on top of the sorting table and try to mount him as if he’s a wild stallion I’m trying to tame. I’m not used to this kindness. I’m sure I don’t deserve it.

“Do you work tonight?” He hitches the laundry basket on his hip and holds the door open for me.

“Yes, but I get off at nine.”

“Good. I’ll bring dinner over for you and Cass.”

“She’ll be in bed by then.”

“She can have the leftovers for breakfast.”

“Okay.” I acquiesce without more argument because I want to see him again even though I know I shouldn’t. My experience with Chip should have me running in the opposite direction from Nick. He’s got everything that made Chip attractive and none of the negative traits. Nick is successful, rich, the quarterback on a professional football team, but he also folded Cassidy’s diapers and let me sleep for two hours straight.

How am I to defend myself against that?

He finds a close parking space on the street and helps me lug the laundry up to my third-floor apartment, not complaining at all about the rickety stairs or the weight of the clothes. He’s never said one bad thing about my place. Never made me feel low or poor or embarrassed.

I guess that’s why I let him in while I pay the babysitter. She wiggles her eyebrows at me as Nick sets the laundry on the sofa.

“Nice,” she mouths.

“I know,” I mouth back because what else is there to say?

When the babysitter leaves, Nick and I go into my bedroom. Cassidy’s in her crib, clutching a teddy bear to her chest. Nick sighs.

“What is it?” I ask him after we back out of the room.

“I wanted to hold her, but I can’t because she’s sleeping.” He looks adorably frustrated.

Before I think about what I’m doing, I reach up and brush the lock of hair out of his eyes. He catches my hand and swings me hard against him.

My internal temp goes from hot to raging inferno.

“Lainey,” he mutters. His tongue comes out and snakes across the bottom of his lip as if he’s imagining the taste of me there.

I freeze for a second as the unmistakable evidence of a hard-on presses against my stomach. My own sex clenches in response. Butterflies swirl in my stomach and all the nerve endings in my body light up. It’s been so long since I’ve felt the touch of a man, so long since I wanted someone to touch me.

After Chip, sex became something dirty and shameful. No matter how many times I told myself his opinion didn’t matter, the word slut waved above my head like a banner.

“Nick, I…”

“It’s okay,” he says. He closes his eyes and tilts his head back. I can see his jaw work as he gathers control over himself.

He takes a step back and then another until there’s space between us. Too much space. I sway toward him.

He holds up a hand. “No. I’m on the edge here and I’m afraid if you show me the slightest positive signal, I might jump and ruin things. It’s okay that you’re not ready. There’s no rush.” The corner of his mouth tips up. “I’m not going anywhere.” He raises our still-clasped hands up to his chest. “As long as I know I’ve got a chance. That’s all that matters.”