Page 74 of Owned By The Cowboy

“Good. He deserves to have someone in the stands cheering for him.”

That makes my chest tight. “His father never came to his games. Not once.”

“His father’s an idiot.”

“Yeah, he is,” I reply softly.

Blayne sets his phone aside and stretches out his arm my way.

“Come here,” he says.

I don’t hesitate. I walk over to the couch and sit next to him, close enough that our thighs are touching, close enough that I can feel the heat radiating off his huge body.

“Thank you,” I say again. “For today. For everything.”

“Baby, please stop thanking me.”

I don’t let him interrupt. “You made today perfect.”

“You made it perfect. You and your kids. I just… tagged along.”

“You didn’t tag along. You were part of it. The best part.”

He reaches up and cups my face, his thumb brushing over my cheekbone. “Reggie…”

“I’m falling for you, Blayne Madison,” I interrupt, because if I don’t say it now, I might lose my nerve. “Hard. And I know we said we were just gonna see where things go, but… I’m falling for you, and my kids are falling for you. And… I need you to know that.”

“Sweetheart…”

“I’m scared!” I blurt out. “I’ve been hurt before, and I don’t know if I can handle it if we don’t work out. But I’m more scared of not trying. Of letting fear keep me from having you.”

“Are you done?” he rumbles gently, pinching my chin between his thumb and index finger. Drowning me in his blue eyes.

“I think so.”

He chuckles low and deep, making me smile. Filling my heart with so much love, I feel like it’s gonna explode. “Good. Because I need to say something too.”

“Okay,” I whisper softly, my heart beating fast.

“I’m not falling for you, Regina Mason.”

My heart drops. “Oh.”

He shakes his head, smiling, looking so fucking beautiful my heart hurts. “Already fell. A while ago. Maybe the first time I saw you in your parents’ kitchen, maybe when you measured me for that suit, maybe when I watch you with your kids. I don’t know when it happened, but it happened, sweetheart.”

“Blayne…”

“I love you, Reggie. I love your kids. I love the life you built for them. And I want to be part of it. Not just us fucking. Or the fun stuff. All of it. The sick days, the tryouts, the family fun centers. The good, the bad and everything in between.”

“Really?” my voice comes out choked.

“Really,” he replies in a low gravel.

And then he’s kissing me, soft, sweet and full of promise. When we break apart, I’m breathing hard and my heart is pounding.

“I love you too,” I whisper against his lips.

“Good,” he says with a grin. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”