Hello Quarterback (Hello #8)

44. Ford

44

FORD

Once we got close to the last part of my surprise, I covered Mia’s eyes. I wanted to see her reaction.

After guiding her to our destination next to the riverbank, I pulled my hands away, revealing a red gingham picnic blanket, a basket full of fresh food, and a chilled bottle of champagne.

Here in the shade with a slow breeze blowing through the leaves and the sound of the water slowly flowing by, it was pure bliss.

She covered her mouth with her hands. “Ford, this is so gorgeous. You put this all together for me?”

“I had a little help,” I admitted, going to the blanket, shucking my boots, and sitting cross-legged. When she joined me, I began pouring her a glass of champagne. Once hers was full, I poured my own. Then I held it up for a toast. “Mia, I love you, but I know actions speak louder than words. I have every intention of showing you just what I mean when I say that.”

She smiled softly at me, clinked her glass to mine. “I love you, Ford Madigan.”

We took a sip before I opened the basket to show her an assortment of vegetables, fruits, meats, and cheeses. I offered her a plate, and she picked several options, nibbling on some soft cheese first. “So good,” she hummed. “I swear everything tastes better in Cottonwood Falls.”

“This is from the dairy,” I told her. “Liv used to work there.”

“Of course it’s local.” She chuckled and wiped a crumb from the corner of her mouth. “I’m definitely having my personal shopper pay visits here.”

I smiled and admitted that I did the same with my chef. He sourced much of my protein and dairy from Cottonwood Falls, and even my fruits and vegetables in the summertime. “Once you eat homegrown food, the stuff you get at the supermarket just isn’t the same.”

She nodded. “There’s a lot that’s different here.” Her gaze held mine for a moment, and she parted her lips like she was about to say something but closed them again.

“What?” I asked.

“I just want to know... what changed? You were so against dating before.”

I lifted a corner of my mouth, admitting, “I met you.”

Her cheeks blushed as she looked down at the blanket and back to me.

“It’s not just a line,” I promised, intertwining my fingers with hers. “You’re like no woman I’ve ever met before. You have your own life, your own goals, and you showed me that I could have both.” I squeezed her hand. “I could have love and football and an impact with my charity. No one ever showed me what was possible like you did, just by being yourself.”

Her smile was liquid warmth as she leaned closer, kissing me softly. When she sat back, her gaze was on our surroundings. “Do a lot of people come out here?”

“No, it’s just us.” I paused. “Although we do throw Maya’s birthday parties out here each year. She likes to go tubing with everyone she loves.”

“My kind of girl,” Mia commented.

“Mine too.” I always had a soft spot for my oldest niece. Maybe just because I knew her first.

Mia stood up, facing the river.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

Instead of answering, she lifted her shirt over her head, revealing a lacy bra with her full chest nearly spilling over. Then she unbuttoned her jeans and slid them down her legs. Soon, she had ditched the thong and bra as well, dropping them into a pile on the picnic blanket.

With most of my blood running to my hardening cock, it was all I could do to sit there and stare.

“Care to join me for a swim?” she said with a flirty smile.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I thought, I probably shouldn’t . Slippery mud probably wasn’t a good idea. But how many times had I come out here as a kid without getting hurt?

I couldn’t miss out on this moment with Mia. Especially not when it had always been fine before.

My lips slowly formed a wolfish grin. “Try and stop me.”

My shirt was off in a second flat, but I had to watch in awe as she walked her naked body toward the stream, her ass rippling with each step, reminding me of when I was slamming into her the night before.

She waded into the cool water until it rose above her waist, just her tits skimming the water’s surface. Then she lowered herself under and rose up again, water rippling down her face, her chest, her darkened blond hair.

Her lips parted as she took a breath and shook out her mane. And fuck, it took all I had to wait to join her until I had my boots and jeans off.

Then I went to the water with her, sliding in the stream. Mud and rocks squished under my feet, and cool water swirled around me.

It was one of those moments that made me glad to be alive.

And it got even better when I took her in my arms, kissing her desperately.

She met my passion with her own, wrapping her legs around my waist and letting me hold her up as her fingers tugged at my hair. Her hard nipples pressed against my chest, contrasting all her soft curves. I dug my fingers into her thighs, loving how pliable she was under my touch, how I could feel her heat growing and building where her center pressed against my lower abs.

Breathlessly, she pulled away from me, heat glazing her blue eyes, water still beaded on her face, her shoulders.

I glanced from her eyes to her dark pink lips. “You’re so sexy,” I breathed.

She smiled, leaning in and kissing the tip of my nose. “Says the man with a twelve pack of abs and ‘football’s brightest smile.’”

I brushed her hair behind her ear. “Quoting magazine headlines at me?”

“Well, if Trending Magazine says so, then it must be true.”

I rubbed the tip of my nose against hers. “They must have caught me when I was smiling at you.” I reached one of my hands up from her hip, slowly lowering her so her feet touched the bottom, then cupped her cheek in my hands. She really was so beautiful.

“Can I tell you something?” she asked me, leaning into my touch.

I nodded.

She covered my hands on her cheeks with both of hers. “I know everyone thinks I’m this strong, savvy woman, and I am. I have to be. But I feel like I can be soft with you.”

My heart swelled, because that’s exactly what I wanted to be—her landing place, her rock. “You can, Sunflower.”

She tipped her chin up, kissing my lips, softer, slower.

And I soaked in every drop of her kiss, of this moment, just us together with the water slowly moving past us, a lazy wind rustling the trees and grass.

It might not be a flashy room or hundreds of roses or a display of fireworks flashing through the sky, but this was everything I wanted. Because I wasn’t falling into love, tossing and turning through the sky toward some unsure landing.

I was suddenly surrounded by love, encapsulated in a soft, supported bliss I’d never experienced before.

I’d never stop fighting to be the man who deserved Mia’s love.