Chapter 13
Gage pulled his silver crew-cab truck into the four-car garage as he and Jonathan returned home Saturday morning after reviewing the tape of the previous night’s game. He turned to his son. “Don’t run off. I have something to talk to you about.”
“Okay,” Jonathan replied as the truck came to a stop, and he reached for the door handle. “Can I go put my things up first?”
“Sure, meet me back in the kitchen in a few. I’ll make us a couple of sandwiches.” Gage nodded and hit the button to shut the garage bay door then slid out of his seat, anxious to get the coming conversation with his son started.
Following behind through the door and the short hall leading into the house, Gage’s chest grew tight at the thought Jonathan might object to what he needed to ask. He’d never allowed any of the women he’d gone out with before to be around when Jonathan was with him. He’d never allowed that part of his life to intrude upon his time with his son, especially as an impressionable teenager. But there was something different about Carly. Although he’d only kissed her twice, there was already a connection with her he’d never felt with anyone else. He hoped she was feeling the same.
While he placed a couple of pastrami and Swiss cheese sandwiches on plates, Gage thought about all the years he’d missed with his son. He and Julie had found out quickly they weren’t meant for each other and had never married. Gage tried to be involved with his son as much as he could, but his professional football career had often gotten in the way. Julie had done a good job raising their son to be a polite, respectful kid, and he hoped he’d be able to live up to her standards as Jonathan’s sole parent. Another reason he was allowing thoughts of possibly settling down with Carly to swirl in his head.
“So, what did you want to talk about,” Jonathan asked from the other side of the breakfast bar. Shaking his head slightly, Gage cleared his wayward thoughts of the pretty, brown-eyed teacher springing up in his mind and turned around.
“What do you think of Ms. Owens?” Gage questioned, setting both plates down on the bar. Jonathan ducked his head but not before Gage caught the sly grin on his son’s lips. Gage froze for a brief second, wondering how much he already knew.
“I like her fine. She’s a good teacher. Why do you ask?” Jonathan replied as he took a big bite of the sandwich.
Gage looked sideways at his son and took a deep breath and decided to not skirt around the topic of dating Carly.
“Because she’s coming over tonight. I want to make sure you’re going to be okay with it,” Gage answered before taking a bite.
Jonathan mumbled around the food in his mouth, “It’s about time.”
Gage grinned then swallowed. “Is it that obvious?”
“I saw the way you looked at her the day we helped carry her things to her classroom. Plus, I’ve noticed you going to your room or out on the patio a lot to use your phone. That’s who you’ve been calling and texting, isn’t it?” Jonathan smirked as he shoved a handful of chips in his mouth.
“Yeah, it is.” Gage shook his head at his son’s perception and obvious humor at the situation.
“So, why is she coming over here instead of y’all going out on a date?” Jonathan questioned through the mouth full of chips he was still chewing.
“That’s the other thing we need to talk about,” Gage answered, wiping his mouth with one of the paper napkins he’d sat out.
While they finished eating, Gage explained to Jonathan about Carly’s ex-husband and why they needed to keep things quiet.
***
Gage stepped onto Carly’s porch, pushing a hand through his shorter locks to smooth any wayward strands back under control. Even though they were only going back to his house for dinner, he wanted to make sure it felt like a real date and had insisted on picking her up. Most of the women he’d been seen with over the last few years were either friends of a friend or someone his publicist had set him up with. He’d never formed a real connection with any of them. He’d never thought seriously about anyone before, but with the pressure of playing pro ball and constantly being in the spotlight, he found himself longing for someone to share his life with. Letting out a breath, he pushed the small button mounted in the white door frame and stepped back, his heart racing as never before.
At the sound of the doorbell chime and a bevy of sharp barks behind the wooden door, he grinned, remembering Carly said she had a dog. As the door opened and Carly came into view, Gage sucked in a breath as he drank in the sight of the soft waves of her hair highlighting the beauty of her face. Warmth filled his veins as he lowered his gaze to the swell of her full breasts exposed by the scooped neck of the pink and purple top she had on. His dick hardened as his mind wondered whether those luscious globes had delicate pink tips or dark rosy ones. He ran his tongue over his bottom lip and his eyes dropped to where the pink and purple fabric dipped in at her waist then flared out over the soft curve of her jean-clad hips. Regret he hadn’t sent Jonathan to his grandparents for the night crossed his mind as he slowly slid his gaze back up her enticing body.
A cough behind Carly’s right shoulder and a low bark from the dog at Carly’s feet broke Gage from his wayward thoughts. With a wave of heat tinging the tips of his ears, he cleared his throat and croaked out, “Hey.”
Gage relaxed as Carly giggled and answered, “Hey,” back, glad she wasn’t offended by his perusal of her body. He bent down on one knee to pet the shaggy bundle of black and white wiggling at his feet. He smiled as the dog rolled over on the porch in front of him, looking for a belly rub. Chuckling, Gage happily obliged.
“All right, Max. That’s enough.” Carly laughed as she bent down and playfully slapped the dog’s behind. “Go on back inside.”
While he watched the obedient dog trot back inside, Gage nodded at Rachel and Sophie lurking in the entry then turned back to Carly. “Ready?”
“Just let me grab my purse,” she answered, smiling shyly before ducking back inside then reappearing with a leather bag slung over her shoulder.
A warm feeling filled Gage’s chest as he waved over his shoulder at the “Goodbye” and “Have fun!” tossed from the open door and led Carly to his truck.