Page 17 of Sideline Sweetheart (Greenville Generals #4)

Chapter Seventeen

Bryce

The flight from Greenville to Colorado Springs was smooth and uneventful. Of course, having Mackenzie beside me was a great distraction. Usually on flights, I sit next to a teammate, pop in my earbuds and listen to either a podcast or music until we land.

Mackenzie is far too curious about what she needs to know before meeting my parents.

She borders somewhere between nervous and excited, and I try my best to ease her mind as I answer her questions.

Once we land in Colorado, we exit the plane and board the charter buses waiting to take us to our hotel.

When we settle into our seats, Mackenzie reaches over and squeezes my hand, causing me to turn my focus to her.

She smiles softly as my gaze meets hers.

“Thank you,” she simply says. “I know I had a lot of questions during the flight, and I appreciate you being patient with me and answering them.” She takes a beat and glances down at our joined hands on the armrest. “It’s been a minute since I’ve met someone’s parents, so I want to be as prepared as possible. ”

A warmth creeps into my chest at her confession, and I lift her hand to my lips and place a gentle kiss on the back of her fingers. “I get it, and meeting parents has probably been even longer for me, so I’m sure I’ll be asking you all the questions when I meet your family.”

Mackenzie’s blue eyes sparkle as she smiles up at me. “And I’ll be happy to answer all of them.”

Unable to resist any longer I lean over and give her a chaste kiss before resting my forehead against hers. “Can I tell you something?”

“Of course,” she whispers.

“I’m not going to like sharing you with everyone this weekend.”

Mackenzie doesn’t bother fighting the urge to roll her eyes as she pulls back to see me clearly. “Bryce, you share me every day.”

“I know, but this is different. We’ve done a good job of keeping our relationship on the down low.

While the team has several floors reserved, the press is bound to see us together with my parents at dinner or after the game and once they latch on to the story, they will run with it.

Are you going to be okay with being front page news? ”

Mackenzie looks away as I prepare myself for her answer. “I’ll admit, I haven’t been in a public relationship before.”

“Why do I sense there’s a but coming?”

Mackenzie grins as she continues. “ But I think as long as we handle what they throw at us together, we’ll be fine.”

“I agree.”

“Good,” Mackenzie says as she holds up her pinkie.

“What are you doing?”

“We’re going to make a pinkie promise.”

My eyes narrow skeptically. “A pinkie promise?”

“Yes,” she replies on a laugh. “Hook your pinkie with mine.” I wrap my pinkie around her much more delicate one and she smiles. “Now, repeat after me. I promise to talk to you first before trying to handle any situation concerning the press on my own.”

I grin and shake my head as I do as she asks. “I promise to talk to you first before trying to handle any situation concerning the press on my own.”

She leans in and kisses me. “See that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

I chuckle and kiss her again. “No, but next time we skip the pinkies and seal the promises with a kiss.”

Mackenzie smiles at my suggestion. “Deal.”

When the bus arrives at the hotel, we are greeted by the concierge assigned to the team and directed to one of the meeting rooms on the first floor. Mackenzie and I fall in line and make our way to the table where Sylvia is passing out our room assignments.

Sylvia looks up and smiles as Mackenzie steps up to the table. “Doctor Flynn,” she says. “How was your first flight with the team?”

“It was pleasant, thank you,” Mackenzie says as Sylvia flips through the file box of envelopes to retrieve her room key. “I may have you plan all my travel from now on.”

Sylvia grins as she hands her an envelope. “Well if you ever need a break from the world of football, let me know.” Sylvia motions Mackenzie closer and the two lean in as she whispers, “I know where all the best spas are.”

“Oh, we’ll definitely be talking later,” she says as she steps off to the side and pulls out her phone while I check in.

I throw my hand over my heart as I step up to the table. “Sylvia surely you aren’t insinuating Mackenzie would need a break from me?”

“Don’t take it personally Bryce, even Owen’s wife needs a break now and then.”

Owen chuckles behind me. “She’s not wrong and Sylvia’s the only one I’d trust to book Martina’s spa trips.”

Sylvia hands me my envelope and winks. “I’ve even booked a few honeymoons.”

The grin spreads across my face before I can stop it. “If we get there, you’ll get to book one more.”

Mackenzie continues texting as I approach. “You ready to head up?”

She looks up from her phone and smiles as she puts it back in her bag. “Yeah, I was letting my parents know we landed and made it to the hotel.”

We exit the room where the team will gather for the length of our stay in Colorado Springs and head to the elevator. The doors open and I motion Mackenzie inside. I hit the button for the seventh floor and turn to ask, “What floor for you?”

“I’m on six.”

I press the button for six and wait for the doors to close before caging her against the wall. “I like the idea of you being under me.”

Her blue eyes darken with desire. “I’m kind of partial to being under you too,” she says voice soft and raspy like she’s trying to catch her breath. Her gaze drops to my mouth and her tongue peeks out to wet her lips before she continues. “Or you know, on top of you.”

All the control I maintained through the flight evaporates and I capture her mouth in a searing kiss.

My hand slides up the smooth column of her neck and into her hair positioning her perfectly as I deepen the kiss.

Our tongues do a sensual dance as my hips press against her causing a soft moan to escape.

A bell sounds within the elevator alerting us we have reached her floor.

I break the kiss and rest my forehead against hers as we try to catch our breath.

Mackenzie runs her thumb across my bottom lip as the doors slide open. “Walk me to my room?”

“Yeah.”

I step back and allow her to exit the elevator first, following closely behind to hide the effect this woman has on my body. When we reach her room, Mackenzie slides her card and opens the door, and I hold it open as we step inside. “Lucky you, you have a king size bed.”

“And I it get all to myself,” she teases as she falls back onto the mattress and then leans up on her forearms to watch me.

I stalk her like a lion tracking its prey. “Unless I sneak in later to have my way with you.”

Her teeth sink into her plump bottom lip and my cock stirs behind my zipper. “I believe you have a curfew to adhere to, whereas I do not.”

I place my knee on the bed between her legs and lean over her.

“You see baby, that’s where you’re wrong.

College boys have a curfew. I’m a grown man and as long as I show up for what’s required of me, Coach could care less where or how much I sleep.

” I lean down to claim the kiss I need as desperately as my next breath and before I can taste the sweetness of her lips, my phone rings.

My head drops to Mackenzie’s shoulder as I reach in my back pocket for my phone.

Showing her the screen I roll to my left to lie beside her on the bed as my thumb slides over the screen to take the call.

“Hi, Mom. What’s going on?”

“Hi, sweetheart. How was your flight?”

Mackenzie curls into my side and lays her head on my shoulder. “It was good. We got in a little bit ago.”

“Good, glad you all made it safely. Are we still on for dinner tonight?”

“Yes ma’am,” I answer as a knock sounds on the door.

I continue the conversation with my mom as Mackenzie climbs off the bed and walks to the door and I move closer as well.

She looks out the peephole and then opens the door where a bellman stands on the other side.

“Just the person I was hoping to see,” I hear Mackenzie say as she greets the bellman.

He smiles at her, because what idiot wouldn’t. “Doctor Flynn?”

“Yes?” Mackenzie replies.

He rolls her bag forward. “Your bag, ma’am. I hope you enjoy your stay.”

“Thank you, I’m sure I will,” she says as she hands him a tip and rolls her bag inside.

“Mom, I need to run. We’ll meet you in the lobby at six-thirty.”

“Okay, sweetheart, see you then. Love you.”

“Love you too,” I say before disconnecting the call and tucking my phone back in my pocket.

Mackenzie pulls the luggage stand out of the closet and I set her suitcase on top of it.

She smiles at me and then pops up on her toes to kiss me.

I wrap my arms around her waist as hers rest on my chest. “You okay with having dinner with my parents?”

“I can’t wait, but I do need to freshen up and change first.”

I press a soft kiss to her forehead. “Then I’ll leave you to it. I need to get to my room before they drop off my bag and do the same.” Mackenzie walks me to the door. “I’ll swing by and pick you up on my way to the lobby.”

“Sounds good,” she says as I open the door and step into the hallway. The door closes behind me and I hear her click the lock in place. I shove my hands in my pockets and make my way to the elevator and head up to my room to get ready for dinner.