Page 41 of The Bad Boy’s Homecoming (The Southern Hart Brothers #2)

Four Months Later

T he announcer’s booming voice was the only sound in the packed stadium.

Missy gripped Gran’s hand in hers as they all held their breath waiting to see what would happen next.

It was the final play of the fifth game in the series that was going to determine if Levi’s team would go forward in the playoffs.

She held her breath as the pitcher launched the ball to the man at bat.

He swung, and missed. The fans exploded with excitement.

Tampa was going to the big show, the World Series.

Missy was on her feet jumping up and down cheering as she searched the field for Levi, but then she spotted him looking up at the box seats reserved for her and his family.

He pointed right at her before blowing a kiss, a ritual he started at the beginning of the season every time she went to one of his games.

The Florida media started referring to him as Kissy Face instead of the Bad Boy which his publicist loved.

Gran squeezed Missy tight, while Wes and Dalton hugged and high-fived.

Declan and the boys were there too with big smiles.

Everyone flew down for the game to cheer Levi on.

The field was a crush of players and coaches, as fireworks boomed into the sky.

She had been so nervous about being Levi’s plus-one in the box at the start of the season, but the other wives and girlfriends had been really welcoming.

It didn’t take long for them all to discover her artistic talents when she started to doodle in between innings.

And now everyone knew she was the artist that belonged to Levi.

The other wives and girlfriends were high-fiving and coming up to hug her in celebration.

Usually they would have to wait until the players talked to the press before they could see them but now the families of the players were being ushered out onto the field.

“Oh I feel like a movie star with all this fanfare,” Mrs. Hart said, as they followed the crowd into a dedicated elevator.

The players all had special hats and T-shirts to celebrate the win, and she found Levi’s blue eyes beaming as he burst out of the throng of people and swooped her into his arms.

“Little Miss Lucky Charm,” he said before kissing her.

“You don’t believe in lucky charms.”

“I changed my mind,” he said, when he finally put her down and looked to his family.

“So we have to do the trophy thing, and then we’ll meet you all at our house to celebrate?” Levi said, still holding her hand.

Wes gave Levi another big hug. “Really proud of you, little brother. Dad would be ecstatic.” They all heard Wes’s voice crack before all three brothers ended up in a big hug.

Levi swiped at his eyes. “Great, now they’re going to call me Crybaby and Kissy Face.”

Then the coaches were calling Levi to get on the stage.

“I’ll see you at home,” she said.

“No chance, you’re staying with me.” Levi squeezed her hand tight, pulling her with him up on stage.

Looking around she realized there were several other all-star players and their wives.

“Levi, I don’t think I’m supposed to be up here.”

He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Yes you are, and if you will agree to marry me then we can make it official.”

Missy felt her heart beat a mile a minute, and then realized Levi was sinking down on one knee.

“What better place to ask you than in front of all our family, and biggest fans. Missy Shaw, will you marry me? I promise to honor you every day for the rest of my life.”

He had a gold band with a yellow diamond hovering in front of her ring finger as he waited for her answer.

The crowd had gone quiet and there were cameras trained on them, but Missy didn’t care.

She’d known for a while that a life with Levi was the only future she wanted.

She nodded with tears brimming her eyes, as he slid the ring onto her finger, then she bent down and kissed him over and over.

“You’re mine, Kissy Face, forever,” she breathed. “I love you.”

“I love you more, and I’m so happy you’re going to be my wife. Forever.”

The End