Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26508 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26508 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
There was no arguing with her logic when she was right. “I’m sorry.”
“It is what it is,” she sighed. “The important thing is that you guys are prepared when you go to the stadium in case you’re bombarded by the press.”
Cole flashed me a confident smile. “Don’t worry about Lorna. I’ll make sure nobody bothers her.”
“I’m counting on it,” my friend murmured.
After we said our goodbyes to Ivy, Cole and I scanned through the articles that had been published about us. Although they knew who I was, most of what was said about me wasn’t that bad. But Cole didn’t come out looking that great.
“Ugh, this is awful. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close, brushing a kiss against my temple. “You’re here, with me, all moved in. That’s what’s important. The rest of it is just outside noise. I don’t give a fuck what other people think about me as long as you’re happy.”
“No worries there.” I twisted my neck to smile up at him. “I’m deliriously happy and think you’re the best man I’ve ever met.”
“Good, because I’m the only man you’re ever gonna be with.”
When he said things like that, it sent butterflies swirling in my belly. But I didn’t give in to the urge to climb on his lap and kiss him. Instead, I asked, “Is this going to cause problems with your job?”
“I doubt it.” Cole shrugged. “It’s not the first time the media has been interested in someone connected to the Nighthawks, and it certainly won’t be the last.”
“I get that, but your boss will probably have questions about you threatening Micah’s position over me.” I narrowed my eyes as the weight of what he’d done hit me. “Hold up, did you really do that? Is your warning the reason he suddenly had to run off? Not the appointment you said he’d forgotten about?”
“Of course I did.” He flashed me a cocky grin. “A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do when he meets the woman who was meant to be his.”
A part of me wanted to be mad at him for doing something like that, but the feminine thrill I got over knowing he wanted me so much that he was willing to put his coaching position at risk was stronger. “Thanks for making the tough call and claiming me as yours.”
“Grá mo chroí thú.”
My thighs clenched, and I finally gave in to the urge to climb on his lap.
One of these days, I would get him to finally tell me what he was saying…when I wasn’t thoroughly distracted by my need for him when he talked like that. Maybe when we were old and gray.
12
COLE
“Idon’t know whether to thank you or kick your ass.”
I looked up from the documents on my desk to see Lennox lounging in the doorway to my office.
“Pardon?”
He sauntered in and unbuttoned his suit coat before taking a seat, then rested one ankle on the opposite knee before answering. “Brielle used to say no one was more possessive and overbearing when going after his woman than me. When she saw the article in the paper, she changed her mind.”
My brow furrowed, not sure if I’d just been insulted.
“But that article…damn, Cole. I should fire your ass for letting some idiot overhear you say shit like that.”
Sighing, I shook my head. “I know.”
I knew I’d have to own up to this with my boss sooner rather than later, but I was surprised he’d come to me rather than calling me to his office. Then again, if he intended to stand behind me, he was probably trying to avoid making it look as though I was being reprimanded if any press saw us meeting right after the shit had hit the fan in the media.
“You also know I won’t,” he grunted, looking a little put out. “You’re as loyal as they come and a good friend. But that only gets you one pass. If something like this happens again, you’ll be cleaning up the mess on your own, without a fucking job. Is that clear?”
“Fair enough.”
“Good. Now that was the boss lecture. As your friend, I gotta say, that took balls, brother.” He laughed and crossed his arms over his chest. “I gotta respect it, considering how I steamrolled over Brielle when we met.”
I shrugged. “I knew she was mine.”
Lennox chuckled, his mouth curved into a self-deprecating smile. “Seems like I have a habit of hiring men who think like me.”
“It’s certainly been a pretty common tale around here.”
“Well, you know I support my people. But we need to have a press conference and make it clear that you wouldn’t have followed through with your threat to Micah”—his eyes narrowed—“right?”
“Sure.”
Bullshit.
“Sure, you’ll do it or sure, you wouldn't have fired Micah?”
My answer was to stare at him in silence with a deadpan expression.