First Down (Texas Titans #3) (25 page)

“That’s not fair,” she whispered. “All that proves is that we have incredible chemistry.”

“We have incredible chemistry because this
is
right,” he whispered. “We’re perfect for each other, and you know it.”

“No, I don’t,” she said quietly.

“I don’t believe you.”

Her head snapped up, but she looked surprised rather than annoyed.

“I saw your reaction when I showed up at your door,” he continued. “I saw the tears in your eyes. Are you telling me you weren’t happy to see me, that you hadn’t been thinking about me every goddamn day and night?”

“You’re so full of yourself.”

“Maybe, but you know I’m right.” He tugged on her hand, guiding her into his lap. “Admit it—you’ve been waiting for me to come.”

She touched his stubble as she looked into his eyes. “What took you so long?”

He dipped his head as he laughed. “I thought you hated me.”

“You thought right.” She smiled when he looked at her. “I did hate you at first, but that subsided after a while. Once I gained some perspective, I saw your side of things. I realized that even though you were dead wrong to do the things you did, you weren’t trying to hurt me.”

He closed his arms around her. He would never let her go. “Why the hell didn’t you call me?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I figured maybe you’d moved on.”

He glared at the picture on the table behind her. “I wasn’t the one who moved on. You did.”

She glanced at the picture before asking innocently, “Did I mention Jack’s being transferred to San Diego?”

He dug his fingertips into her hip. “What?”

“Yeah, he told me a couple of days ago.”

“So what? You’re going to have a long-distance relationship? See each other on the weekends and—”

“He suggested it, but I told him I didn’t see us having a future together. I told him I thought it would be best if we just parted as friends.”

“And you let me go on believing there was still something between you?” he asked, falling back into the cushions without releasing his grip on her. “I hope you’re proud of yourself. I think you shaved ten years off my life.”

“Hmm, I hope not.” She traced his lower lip with her fingertip. “I was kind of hoping you might be around for a while.”

Looking into her eyes, he saw the future he wanted, the one he was willing to fight for. “Come home with me. Move in with me.” He stopped just short of asking her to marry him. She would deem it too soon.

“I don’t think so,” she said, smirking. “My daddy may seem mellow, but he’s pretty old-fashioned. He’d have a fit if we lived together before you put a ring on my finger.”

“Then let me buy you a ring,” he said quickly, seeing that as his opening. “Anything you want. We could go now.” He glanced at his Rolex. “We should be able to find a jeweler who’s open—”

She slapped his chest gently as she giggled. “Slow down, Barrett. You’re getting way ahead of yourself. I can’t move back to Arlington with you.”

His heart sank. He’d gone from believing she might actually agree to marry him to facing the harsh reality of life without her. “Why the hell not?”

“I need a job.”

“You have a job at High Rollers.”

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. Besides you must have hired someone else to take my place.”

He kissed her, letting his tongue caress hers as he tried to convince her she belonged with him. “No one could take your place. Don’t you know that?”

“I feel the same way about you,” she said, pulling him down on top of her. “I missed you so much. I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again.”

He smiled as he pressed his lips to hers. “I’m here now. Why don’t we make the most of it?” Looking down the short hallway, he spotted two doors. “Your bedroom’s that way?”

“Not so fast,” she said, gripping his button-down shirt. “You can’t just walk in here and ask me to leave my life behind to go back to Arlington with you.”

“You belong with me.” His determination steadied him. She loved him. He could see it in her eyes.

“I’m not denying that.” She ran her hands over his back as she hooked a leg over his. “I’m just asking you to give me some time.”

“I don’t want to.” He was acting childish, but he didn’t want to wake up to an empty bed tomorrow. “I want you to come home with me. I want us to start our life together.”

“Don’t you think I want that too?” She kissed him. “I just want us to take our time. Let’s date for a while before we rush into anything.”

“Date?” The word sounded foul. He didn’t want to date her. He wanted to marry her. “Surely you’re not suggesting we go back to getting to know each other and seeing where it goes. I know where it’s going. I know how I feel about you, and I’m tired of screwing around.”

She pushed against his chest. “Get off me.”

He felt as if she’d slapped him. “Excuse me?”

“You’re doing it again, trying to dictate how I live my life. You’re trying to make all the decisions and getting angry when I don’t go along with what you want.”

Grayson felt his pulse race. If he didn’t get his act together, he would lose her… for good. He knelt on the floor in front of her. “I’m sorry. Whatever you want is fine, baby. We’ll take it slow. You can have your old apartment back. I’m renovating the building, and I think you’ll really like it.”

She sat back, folding her arms. She didn’t look impressed, but at least she hadn’t thrown him out.

“Bob decided to stay on, so your job’s waiting for you whenever you’re able to wrap things up here. If you need to give your employer notice, that’s fine. Take as long as you need. I can even take some time off to help you pack up your apartment, if you like.”

The glint of humor returned to her eyes. “I appreciate that, Grayson.”

He never thought he’d see the day he would happily yield to his woman. But then again, he never expected the woman of his dreams to be as strong-willed and determined as he was. “So we agree? I’ll stay and help you wrap things up? When you’re ready, we’ll head back to Arlington, and you can train with Bob again. I’ll get the contractors to work double-time on your apartment so it’ll be ready for you.”

She grinned and drew him closer. “I wouldn’t worry too much about that if I were you, handsome.”

“Really?” He struggled to breathe as she swirled her tongue around his ear. “Why’s that?”

“I said my daddy wouldn’t approve of us living together. He won’t have to know I sleep over nearly every night.”

He chuckled as he picked her up to carry her to the bedroom. “He sure as hell won’t hear about it from me.”

“Gray,” she said, stopping him with a hand on his chest. “I love you.”

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he savored her words. “Just don’t ever stop telling me that.”

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