“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.