I pull open the door and step out. He stops a few feet away from me, his brown shoes nearly brushing the edge of my voluminous skirt.
“Hi, Dad.” I hate that my voice trembles as if I’m a scared little five-year-old.
“I heard about this nonsense from your mother and have come to put a stop to it. I know the full details of your punishment. You are to stay away from the team. If you do not, your brother could suffer severe consequences.”
He grabs my arm to drag me away.
I jerk out of his grasp. “No, you’re wrong. The exact terms—”
He throws up a hand. “I don’t need to hear your bullshit. You’re coming with me.”
The door to the practice facility opens and closes. “Sir, please shut up and sit down, or get the hell out.”
“Knox Masters.” My father looks the dark-suited figure up and down with disdain. “You’re welcome to fuck my daughter when it doesn’t jeopardize my son’s play on the field.”
“It’s not Knox. It’s his brother, Kintyre,” I say.
Ty smiles at me and straightens his black tie. “It’s the tie, isn’t it?”
Knox has a blue one on—Warrior colors.
“I just know, Ty. You can’t pull those tricks on me.”
“You don’t know how happy I am that I can’t.” He leans in and gives me a soft kiss, then offers his arm to Riley. “May I walk you down the aisle?”
She grabs his arm, but turns back to give me a worried glance. When Jack appears, she gives a sigh of relief.
Jack takes one look at our dad and charges out. “What the hell are you doing here? You told me you wouldn’t come if the commissioner himself showed up.”
I notice for the first time that Jack stands three inches taller than Dad, and that Dad looks…small and weak.
“I thought you’d stop this farce, but I got a phone call from Masters’ parents begging me to attend, and that I would regret not seeing my only daughter get married. What I’ll regret is not saving you from your sister and her idiocy.” He straightens the bottom of his sweater. “I came to put an end to this disaster.”
“It’s not a disaster.” Jack shakes his head in disgust. “You’re the disaster. Get out. Neither of us wants anything to do with you.” Jack turns to me and puts his arm around my shoulders. “Come on, Ellie. Let’s finalize the new team. I think you made a good decision with your draft pick.”
I let him draw me away, because in front of me waits my new life. Behind us, I hear our dad sputtering, but when we get through the practice facility door, a line of broad shoulders blocks the doors. No one else will come in.
Knox’s mother comes forward. Jack stops in front of her and steps to the side. Mrs. Masters lifts a strand of pearls and hooks them around my bare neck. “Something borrowed.”
I have to swallow rapidly to keep from crying. “Thank you, Mrs. Masters.”
“Nicole, my dear. It’s Nicole.” She pats my cheek. “Or Mom.”
Then she steps away and Jack takes her place again. He draws me forward to stand next to Knox at the fifty yard line. His teammates draw close.
“I’m not supposed to have contact with the football team,” I hiss.
“There's no one here but your family. And your family to be. Amirite?” Knox asks.
“I don't see anyone else,” Jack answers. The two of them look into the crowd of navy and black suits who all turn and look behind them.
Jack turns back and shrugs. “No one here but family.”
The judge marries us. It’s all a blur for me. I say the words “I do” when prompted, but I mostly remember Knox’s strong hands holding me up the entire time.
36 Ellie
After the vows, the hugging, the back slapping, Knox hustles me outside and half carries, half drags me toward his SUV. He nearly shoves me into the passenger seat and then races around to his side of the vehicle. Climbing in, he locks the doors, starts the engine and then turns to me.
His hand comes up to cradle my skull, tilting my head toward his. “I’ve missed you, baby.”
“I missed you too.” There’s no point in pretending I don’t still love him.
He inhales deeply, his eyes shuttering closed for a second before popping open again. A half smile appears on his lips. “Three weeks seems like three years, doesn’t it?”
“It’s been endless,” I admit.
“Baby, I am so sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?” I jerk back in surprise, but Knox pulls me toward him, only to have my progress stopped by the console between us.
He curses and turns to put the SUV in reverse. “I need to get you out of this car. These victories, the past weeks…” He takes his eyes off the road for a minute to glance at me, and I see real anguish there. “None of it will be right until you’ve forgiven me and I get to hold you again.”
A sob lodges in my throat. I swallow heavily to drive it away, but it makes my voice hoarse when I reply. “I’m so sorry I lied to you about Jack. I’m sorry I kissed your brother. I’m sorry that I placed your team in jeopardy with my actions.” I cover my eyes. “If anyone needs forgiveness, it’s me.”
Knox barks out an abrupt laugh. “And I didn’t put you through the ringer with my stupid fucking test?”
“It wasn’t stupid,” I cry.
He curses again. “I wish we weren’t in this fucking car, because I need to hold you right now.”
“Where are we going?” I use the veil to wipe my tears. I hope mascara comes off tulle.
“Hotel.” He grins. “Gift from my parents.”
“I can’t believe they let you get married.”
He drapes an arm across the back of my seat and tangles his fingers in my hair. “We’re adults. I’ve always known what I wanted since I came out of the womb. They knew better than to argue.”
I suppose that’s right. He’s a bulldozer, forging forward to take what he wants. And somehow he wants me. “I love you,” I whisper.
His hand tightens in my hair and he makes a sharp right into a parking lot of a strip mall that’s apparently closed for business on Sundays, because the lot is empty. In one swift movement, he has the parking brake on and my seatbelt is off. He hauls me over the console and into his lap. It’s a tight, uncomfortable fit. The steering wheel digs into my side. My legs dangle awkwardly over the console. Knox’s seat belt hadn’t fully retracted in his haste, and it pokes into my right butt cheek.
But I’ve never felt better.
I allow my hands to roam over his gorgeous face and into his hair. It’s getting long enough to brush the collar of his suit coat. I take one deep breath after the other, filling my lungs with his scent.
My tears start falling.
“No, no, please stop,” Knox says in a panic. “What can I do?”
His hands try to brush away my tears and the sweetness of the gesture only turns up the waterworks higher. I don't make any effort to stop them or him.
“These are happy tears,” I inform him gladly. “I didn’t think I’d ever have the chance to touch you again.” I take his hands, placing them over my sweater covered breasts. Instinctively, his palms curl around the round flesh. His thumbs graze my sensitive tips. “You feel so good,” I moan. “Never stop touching me.
“I won't,” he swears. “I won't ever stop.”
He curls forward, closing the small distance between us. His mouth meets mine with so much tender love I explode in bliss. He tastes minty and male and so wonderfully familiar. His tongue snakes inside to rub against the roof of my mouth, along the ridges, setting off a riot within my taste buds. He’s the best thing on the menu, the only flavor that will ever appease my growing hunger.