Page 62

The food is incredible,however, the way Taylor moans around every new dish she tries makes it nearly impossible for me not to get hard under the linen tablecloth.

“Mmmm, this is it. The Arrabbiata is the best one,” she says, pointing her fork at the plate between us. I like that she’s adventurous and has a taste for life.Literally, she wants to try everything and to be honest, it really turns me on. “What?” she asks with the fork now halfway to her mouth, and I realize I’ve been staring at her with a dopey smile on my face.

“I just like watching you.”

Her tongue runs along her teeth. “It’s giving… serial killer.”

“Okay, let me rephrase. I like watching the way you enjoy things.”

“Speaking of things we enjoy—” She twirls strands of pasta around her fork. “How are you liking coaching?”

“It’s…” I pause, really trying to think about how I feel about it. “Different.”

“Different is the word I use for things when I can’t decide if something is good or bad.”

I huff a small laugh because she’s absolutely right. “I guess I never saw myself doing anything other than playing professionally. I mean, realistically, I knew I wouldn’t be playing when I was eighty-nine, but I figured I would retire and then possibly work with the team in some capacity. I never even considered anything else.”

“Isn’t that sort of what you’re doing?”

“It is,” I say, lifting my glass.

“But it wasn’t on your terms.”

I nod. “I think that’s where I’ve been hung up. I was told I was done. It wasn’t a choice. That decision was taken from me. The day I woke up in that hospital room…” My fists clench in my lap at the memory before I shake it off. “When I got home, I was just so pissed off at the world.”

“But now?” Her legs cross under the table, and with a cheeky grin, she slowly drags the toe of her shoe up and down my shin. “How are you feeling now?”

I should tell her about my offer if only to have someone to talk to about it. Someone to help me sort out how I’m feeling, but I worry that her foot will crash so hard into that brake pedal, that we’ll be over before we even truly begin. So instead, I smile at her and lift my glass to her. “With you? I’m a lot less pissed off.”

“Do you like the kids?”

“Surprisingly.” I swallow my food. “I do. I was a little hesitant since I’ve never worked with kids before, and I’ve got who’s a little closed off, and that drives me up a fuckin’wall sometimes, but for the most part, yeah, I like it more than I anticipated.”

“He’s lucky,” she says softly, and I pause my water halfway to my mouth. “I mean, it’s obvious you care. Sometimes I think just being there is supportive enough, you know? I’m sure he’ll come around.” She flashes me that wide grin. The one so infectious you cannot help but return the smile. It’s the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I see before I fall asleep. A deep pang sparks at the possibility of that smile not being around anymore.

“You’re probably biased because you’re about as loyal as they come.” Her head flinches back slightly, like that surprised her. “I was thinking about how you told me you moved across the country and went to school all because your mate wanted to.”

She bobs her head up and down in understanding before reaching for her water. “What if I did it for selfish reasons?” she asks, taking a sip. “Maybe I couldn’t stand the idea of her leaving me behind.”

I study her face and beneath her dusting of freckles, behind the endless depth of her green eyes, for the first time, I see the girl who was abandoned. She hides her worries well, but someone wasn’t there for her and she’s never left that behind.

“Maybe it was an added bonus for you, but I don’t think that's why you did it. I think you’re more full of love than maybe even you know, and your loyalty knows no bounds.”

She studies me for a few moments, either unsure of how to respond or unsure of what I’m saying, but after a minute, I find it in me to ask her the one thing that’s been taking up a highrise amount of space in my mind.

“Are you enjoying yourself here?” The column of herthroat works as she swallows and just when I don’t think she's going to respond, her voice comes out a small whisper.

“Possibly a little too much.” The iron grip around my heart releases, and I only just barely manage to not slump with relief across the table.

The Saloonis packedto the brim tonight, but that doesn’t stop Liam from talking to someone whose breasts are practically spilling out on the bar top. Surprisingly, Liam’s focus isn’t on her at all, but rather on someone on the crowded dance floor.

“What are we doing here?” Taylor shouts over the music.

“We’re going to check a few more things off your list.” I intertwine her

fingers with mine and head to the bar.

“KB!” Liam eyes me with something I can only describe as relief. “What can I get you two?”