Page 30 of Secret Love (The Single Dad Playbook #2)

CHAPTER THIRTY

FOREPLAY TIGHTS

TRU

The school year has come to an end, and I can finally breathe a little bit. It's been really hectic, but things are good.

My mom loves Silver Hills as much as I do. She sees Clara and Lane at least once a week, and she fits right in around here. She loves Sadie and Elle and Calista. Honestly, I think she knows more people than I do at this point. She’s working at Rose & Thorn, the elegant restaurant on Jupiter Lane, and I’m shocked by the amount she makes in tips.

I love seeing her happy.

My dad is not so happy.

He hasn’t come out here…yet…but he’s started calling me regularly, wanting me to put in a good word for him with Mom. I tell him he’s on his own there and that I hope she never goes back to him because she’s doing so much better without him. That never goes over well. He hung up on me the last time.

Mom is obsessed with Henley. She says she’s never met anyone like him and that I should hold onto a man who looks at me the way he does. She spoils him rotten every time he comes over and then goes to bed around eight thirty to give us time to ourselves, despite us telling her she doesn't need to rush off. He’s spent the night occasionally, usually on the weekends, but I usually go to his place.

Things with Henley are…well, I can’t even think about him without my heart flip-flopping, so I think it’s safe to say that my feelings are only growing for the man. I’m ready for things to be out in the open soon—I’ve been the one still holding things back. If it had been up to him, the whole world would know by now, but I just needed to get through this school year for Cassidy's sake. She's doing amazing. Her reading has improved dramatically, and things are great between us, which has made me afraid to mess anything up.

But I think we’ll be okay. I hope we will.

Henley wants to tell the girls tonight. His approach has been to not bring it up unless they did, while we’ve been exploring things between us, but we’re past that point now. It’s time to come out with it.

Sadie invited me to go with her and Caleb to see the Mustangs practice this afternoon, and I’ll ride home with Henley. My mom’s working the lunch shift today, so she can’t go, but she hopes to make it another time. She gets downright swoony when she sees the five football players together.

“That’s a lot of testosterone heaven right there,” she says.

I’m watching when Sadie pulls into the driveway and I kiss Earl on the nose and set him down. He’s gotten so big.

“I’ll see you soon. Protect the fort for me, okay?”

Benson Boone is blasting when I get in Sadie’s SUV. Caleb’s little head is bopping. He waves excitedly when I see him, but it’s nothing like the reaction I’ve seen him make when he sees Henley.

“Hi, Caleb!” I wave back, and say hello to Sadie.

“Are you ready for this?” she asks.

“I think so. Should I be nervous?”

“No, this is pretty chill. Some of the players’ wives and girlfriends aren’t as awesome, but there are enough that are.” She looks over and smiles when she sees my outfit. I’m wearing a white cargo dress with teal wedges.

“Is this okay?” I ask, bringing my hair over my shoulder so it doesn’t get smooshed. “I have a hard time doing casual.”

“You always look stunning,” she says.

“Thank you. So do you!”

“Thank you, but any style I have is thanks to my girls in Landmark Mountain.”

“I love them.” I met Felicity’s sisters-in-law about a month ago and adored every single one of them. I wish they lived here, but they’re near Felicity in Landmark Mountain.

“Right? You don’t need any help in the style department, but I sure do. The media gave me a ton of crap about it in the beginning with Weston.”

I stare at her. “Are you serious?” I look down at my outfit with new eyes.

“You’ll be fine. They’re going to love you, you hot little thing. And you and Henley have been so hush-hush that you’re not even on their radar yet.” She smirks over at me. “So, are you ready for everyone to know you’re Henley Ward’s girlfriend?”

I grin just hearing those words. I haven’t really thought them or said them out loud, but I know that’s how Henley thinks of me.

“I’m nervous but ready. I really only care about how the girls feel about it, and I don’t know what we’ll do if they’re not happy.” I make a face and look out the window.

I feel her hand on my shoulder. “Hey, don’t worry. They love you. I saw the way they lit up when they saw you at the Pixie Pop-Up Market the other day.”

“I hope you’re right.”

We get to the training facility and there are more people than I expected. I knew that this practice was open to the public too, but still…it’s crowded .

We find seats up close and my heart ping-pongs around in my body when I spot Henley. Number forty-nine…when I asked him why he chose that one, he said he just really likes that number. Now I feel like I see the number everywhere and it symbolizes him.

Caleb loses his mind when he sees his dad and all his favorite boys. They all run by and wave, Weston coming over to kiss Sadie and Caleb, and Caleb jumps up and down. When Henley waves, Caleb yells, “UNCA HEN” at the top of his lungs, and my insides are exhibiting that same level of excitement at seeing him out on the field.

Henley pauses when he sees me. I can see him mouth the word fuck as he looks me over and I know the feeling because I’m in love with football tights. Pants. Whatever. Those tight things highlight the most perfect ass I’ve ever seen and I can’t even look at him head-on without my eyes wandering down to his bulge. I’ve gotten to know my way around his body and it still takes my breath away, but seeing it showcased in this way does something to me.

I fan my face and Sadie laughs at me.

“Have you seen him in his uniform before?” she asks.

“No. And I should have asked for a preview instead of this being my first time.”

She cracks up. “Little secret for you. I can’t believe I didn’t tell you before now, but you’ve got time to get one before the season starts. Wear his jersey to a game, and magical things will happen for you.”

“I will get right on that,” I assure her.

And then for the next couple of hours, both of us are spellbound by the men in front of us. I can’t believe how much stamina Henley has. He’s shockingly fast for how huge he is, and he catches every ball Weston throws his way. They work like clockwork together. I don’t even know the game, but I can tell that Henley is really, really good.

He texts after he’s run off the field.

Henley

I loved seeing you out there. Do you mind if I take fifteen to shower?

Sure, take your time. It’s a beautiful day and I’ve got a book.

I help Sadie and Caleb get to their vehicle and then go sit near the door Henley said he’d be exiting. He saunters out with Penn and Bowie flanking either side of him. I can just imagine my mom saying her testosterone heaven line. It’s true. I’ve never seen men in real life who look like these guys, but Henley…he just does it all for me.

He’s wearing grey sweats and a white T-shirt, and it’s a close second to the football tights. My mouth waters, and from the way he’s smiling at me, I think it must show.

“Damn, tiny dancer,” he says when he gets near me. “You look so fucking sexy, I didn’t think I was going to be able to play with you sitting out there like that.”

My cheeks burn. He doesn’t normally say things like that around anyone else, but today his eyes are practically burning with lust.

Penn and Bowie laugh.

“So this is why you fumbled a few times at the beginning of practice,” Penn says.

“Yeah, I couldn’t take my eyes off of this woman right here.”

Bowie grins at me. “Good to see you, Tru.”

“You too.” I smile back.

“I personally love seeing Henley all out of sorts over you.” Bowie pounds Henley on the back. “You’re the only woman I’ve ever seen make him lose his cool.”

“Shush, both of you,” Henley says to them, but his eyes never leave mine. “Let’s get out of here.”

He stalks toward me and Penn whistles. They’re still laughing as we walk away. Henley leads me toward the parking garage and when we’re in his SUV, he turns to look at me.

“Can I take you to a place near here? It’s beautiful, and I need my hands on you.”

“Please,” I whisper.

He drives about ten minutes into the foothills then turns and drives through a path lined with trees. When we get to the end, there’s a lookout point and the view is beautiful.

“Is this where you come to make out with girls, Mr. Football Player?”

He grins, leaning over and unbuckling my seat belt. “Actually, no. I’ve been up here a few times, but I’ve never brought anyone.””

“Well, I’m honored.” I giggle like a kid and then suck in a breath when he lifts me into his lap.

“You wore the perfect thing.” His fingers are deftly lifting my dress.

“I didn’t plan on doing this exactly, but it does feel providential.”

He grins. I stroke the length of him over his pants.

“There’s a condom in my pocket. Can you get it?”

I take it out of his pocket and tug his pants down, sliding the condom over him. He nudges my panties to the side and lifts me over him.

“So wet,” he whispers.

“Watching you play was perfect preparation.”

“Yeah?”

I nod, leaning my forehead onto his. “The tights are like foreplay, I swear.”

He chokes back a laugh and leans in to bite my lower lip.

I sink lower and he hisses.

“God, you are exactly what I need,” he says against my mouth. “Everything I want.” He pulls back to meet my eyes. “Do you know that I’m in love with you?”

I freeze and stare at him. “You are?” My voice trembles.

“I didn’t think I was doing a very good job at keeping it a secret.”

I run my fingers over his lips and he kisses them.

“I’m in love with you too,” I whisper.

He lets out a long breath and for a second we just sit there, holding each other, with him so deep, I don’t know where he ends and I begin.

He leans in to kiss me, and we kiss until our lips are swollen. When we start to move with each other, it’s excruciatingly good. The kind of good that is so right it’s almost painful.

His fingers tease me at the perfect tempo until I’m writhing against him, and as I start to crest over the edge, he hits deep in me with tiny stabs that help me fall the rest of the way.

“I love you, I love you,” I pant.

He makes a sound somewhere between pain and elation, and his thrusts get wilder.

“Say it again,” he says between thrusts.

“I love you, Henley.” My eyes roll back with the sensation my words unleash from him. He hammers into me and it sends me flying.

Wave after wave, we both fall into the abyss together, and it is the best feeling in the world.

A loud chirp sounds near us and our lips break apart. I hear a car door slam and my mouth drops. Henley turns and curses.

“Sorry, baby.” He lifts me off of him and I scramble to get back in my seat while he tucks himself into his pants.

An officer knocks on the window and Henley lowers it.

“Evening. Everything okay?” the officer asks. His brows gather and his eyes light in recognition. “Henley Ward, I’ll be damned.”

“Good evening, Officer. We’re just enjoying the beautiful view.”

The officer looks over at me and nods briskly. “It’s a beautiful spot. But we get a lot of kids out here—they keep us busy, if you know what I mean.”

“I can only imagine,” Henley says. “We’ll be on our way. I think we’ve seen our fill.”

I fight the urge to laugh.

“You have a good night.” The officer taps on the roof of the SUV.

“You too,” Henley says.

When the window is up, we start laughing and can’t stop the whole ride home.