Tangled with the Tight End (Evergreen Lake: Under the Mistletoe)

Chapter 46

forty-six

GAbrIEL

One Month Later

The atmosphere of the playoff game is electric. The crowd stomps, claps, and chants in unison in the freezing cold, with plumbs of steam rising above their heads. It looks bone-chilling, but I don’t feel anything as every ounce of my awareness is focused on Gunner as he calls the play.

His face is as serious as I’ve ever seen it but that’s not unusual. He’s the ultimate competitor and we’re on the biggest stage–at least the biggest stage to date for the season. If we make this play, we’ll be making an appearance in two weeks for the championship game.

There are fifteen seconds left, and we’re on our opponents’ 35-yard line.

Gunner claps me on the back. “Bro, it’s do-or-die time.”

“Yes, it is.”

I line up and glance back at Gunner who’s in the shotgun position, ready for the snap. The game has been a clash of wills with our opponent chasing back to go in front of us each time we’d willed our way ahead.

But there’s no time left. We either score here, or we go home. In another time, I’d be devastated at the thought of another year done. Endless days wasted waiting for pre-season. This year, I have something to look forward to.

Not that my competitive edge is gone. It’s only been honed by Norah being in the suite, watching and cheering me on. She’s been featured on the jumbotron more than once with the other wives and family members. The sight of her with her hair piled high on her head, wearing my jersey, still makes my chest ache.

“Hut!” Gunner yells, and center snaps the ball to him. A clashing of colors flashes in front of me as the offensive and defensive lines charge into each other. Tony and Jeremy sprint down the sideline, with Devin taking the outside, and I cut in front of the safety on my way to the endzone.

The sounds and smells of the stadium disappear. I don’t hear the crowd or smell the lingering scent of BBQ, popcorn, and spilled beer. It was just me and the safety, who spun around when I went past him, crossing the plane and watching as the football zings in the air.

The corner jumps as the ball nears, but I jump higher, snatching the ball into my hands, and tumble toward the ground. I ignore the impending pain and crash onto the frozen ground. Jarring pain flashes through my body from my hip to my shoulder, but I grip tighter as the defender falls down on top of me. My bones bark as the air is knocked out of my lungs.

Slowly, the crowd around me reappears. Gunner and Tony are yelling something as they drag me to my feet with my hand held high above my head. The ball remains steadily in my grasp. Holy shit. I toss the ball into the air as I’m swarmed by the rest of the team. We won.

Fuck, yes. We won. The crowd screams and chants to the victory music piping through the overhead speakers.

The chaos continues as interviewers shove their microphones in my face and ask about the last play. My head is pounding by the time I step through the crowd and smile. There she is. Her eyes shine brightly as she launches into my embrace. “Amazing job, baby. I’m so proud of you.”

I hold her tighter as my throat closes with emotion. My entire world has changed in this football season. I was injured and didn’t know if I’d ever return to the field. My son was dropped off on my front step, forcing me to learn to be a father and a better man, and I met this amazing woman. I swallow hard and clasp her face. “I love you so much.”

“I love you.” Lights flash around us as the reporters and their film crews get their first pictures of us since our engagement was announced. She’s right. Life can’t keep getting better. She places her hand over her mouth and whispers into my ear, “I’m pregnant.”

My head snaps back as I gape at her. Holy shit. I laugh and lift her feet off the ground, kissing her soundly on the lips. I’ve got to stop thinking life can’t get any better because, at some point, I’m going to explode with happiness.

Thirty minutes later, my agent catches me as I’m coming out of the dressing room. I didn’t intend to take this long, but Gunner doused us in champagne before launching into a speech about our mission not concluding yet.

“Hell of a game.” Hudson claps my back.

“Thank you.” My damp hair curls around my ears.

He shoves his phone in front of my face. Two years for 34 million dollars. I snap my mouth shut and blink. “Are you serious?”

“Yes, I’m serious.”

I lick my lips. That’s more money than I hoped for, but where is the offer from? I scan the rest of the message. Mr. Welker, the owner. Thank God. Not that it wouldn’t be nice to be closer to Norah, but I don’t have any intention of moving to another team. Learning a new system. Getting into a rhythm with another offense. Two years for 34 million dollars here at this stadium. Life can’t–nope. Not saying it. I clap Hudson’s back. “Do it.”

“Yes, Sir.” He winks, slaps my back again, and disappears into the crowd.

When I see Norah, I grab her hand, lead her down the hallway and into a small breakroom that the coaches use for all-night planning sessions. It keeps getting shoved off the renovation list, but it’s not like they care if the place only has beaten-down furniture and an espresso machine. By the time they break from an intense meeting, all they want is a nap to recharge before starting back in again or driving home.

I snap the door closed. First things first. I rest my hand on her flat belly. “You’re pregnant?”

“Yes.” Her hand splays over mine. “I found out this morning but didn’t want to distract you during the game.”

“I can’t believe it.” I shake my head.

She gives me a wicked grin. “Remind me to stay away from you the next time I’m ovulating. I’d like a break between pregnancies.”

I laugh and lift her off her feet, swinging her in a circle. She has a point, though. Sloane got pregnant with one non-try on my part, and Norah likely got pregnant over Christmas. We’ll need to be careful.

“I have some good news.”

She arches an eyebrow but remains inside my embrace. “Besides winning the game for the team and getting me pregnant?”

“Yes, besides those things. Hudson is finalizing a two-year, 34-million-dollar deal.”

Her mouth drops open as she steps back to see my face. “For you?”

“Shit, Norah.” I laugh at her incredulous look. “You’re great for my ego.”

“Stop.” She swats my chest. “I’m just shocked we were thinking thirty for two years.”

“I know. But–” I step back and flex my arms, my muscles budge under my jersey. She crosses her arms over her chest.

“You’re too full of yourself.”

I stalk toward her. “I’d rather you were too full of me.”

Heat flashes across her cheeks as she surveys the room. “Here?”

“What better place?” I cage her against the door. “You’re here. I’m here.” I drop my hand to the knob and twist the lock. “And the door is locked.”

She bites her bottom lip. “Well, when you put it like that, who am I to deny you? You’re about to be worth thirty-four million dollars.”

I strip her bare faster than I’ve ever removed her clothes as she unfastens the laces of my pants and unleashes my cock. Her eyes glow as she wraps her hand around my flesh and pumps while I stroke between her thighs, reveling in her wetness.

“I want you. Here. Anywhere,” I growl, lifting her up and sheathing myself inside of her in one stroke. She gasps and digs her heels into my back.

Our movements are fast and furious as our ragged breaths and moans fill the space around us. My thighs shake from the exertion of warmups, four quarters of a game, and holding her up as I drive into her, but it doesn’t matter. Nothing matters as long as she’s looking at me with lust-filled eyes.

She screams my name into my mouth as her body tightens and spasms uncontrollably.

I suck down her breath and shatter inside of her.

For several seconds, I hold her, worshiping the feel of her around me. Until my thighs quiver. “Shit.”

“Don’t drop me.” She giggles and slides her feet to the floor. “That was….” She tilts her head. “That was a 34-million-dollar performance both on the field and in here.”

“Do you think I should tell Hudson about your grading system? Maybe I could finagle more money from him.”

She rolls her eyes. “Not unless you were inviting him in here for a demonstration.”

I purse my lips. “Marco has been eyeing a commercial range for the restaurant. I could use a little more money. I believe he’ll have big eyes when it comes to this project of ours.”

“Luckily, your grandma has deep pockets, because I have a feeling if you offered to show him your skillset you might lose the entire contract.”

I clutch my chest. “Woman, you wound me. Who doesn’t want to be tangled up with this tight end?”

“Clearly….” She stands on her tiptoes. “Not me.”

Seriousness settles over me as I lay my hand on her belly. “I can’t believe we’re having a baby.”

Now, for the longest wait of my life.