Chapter 24
“Missed you,” Gage whispered as he wrapped his arms around Carly, pressing his lips to hers, as soon as she stepped out of her SUV. Just as he swept his tongue across hers, and she parted her mouth on a sigh, an amused chuckle sounded behind him as Jonathan came into the garage from the house. Pulling away, Gage vowed as soon as the playoffs were over he’d be sending his son to one or the other set of grandparents for a long weekend visit.
Jonathan, with a sly smirk on his face, stepped up beside Gage and turned to Carly. “Did you bring Max?”
“I did,” Carly smiled, opening the back door of her Acadia.
Gage laughed as the wiggling bundle of black and white jumped out of the back seat and straight to Jonathan. As boy and dog headed to the backyard for a game of fetch, Gage turned back to the sweet face smiling up at him. Giving her a peck on the cheek, he glanced in the back seat. “Where’s the food? I’m starving.”
Carly giggled and patted the hard ridges of his abs, sending electrified zings through Gage’s exhausted body. He knew if Jonathan weren’t there, he’d forgo the BBQ Carly had stopped to pick up and take her straight to his bed. With a sly smile on her face telling him she knew what was on his mind, Carly stepped around him to go to the back and open the hatch.
Giving him the handles for two of the sacks, she grabbed the other two then led the way into his house. Following behind and watching her swaying hips in a pair of jeans that perfectly molded to her curves, Gage mentally made plans to call his mom and get those weekend plans started ASAP.
“Shouldn’t we keep things cooled down around Jonathan?” Carly asked with raised eyebrows as Gage pressed her against the marble counter as she began removing the Styrofoam containers of potato salad, beans, and coleslaw from one of the sacks.
Wrapping his arms around her from behind, Gage kissed the side of her neck and growled, “He’s a big boy, and he’s just going to have to get used to seeing us like this. I’m planning on you being around for a long time.” He gave her a smack on the ass when she rubbed herself against the growing bulge in his pants then turned to reach for the plates in an upper cabinet, putting a stop to his growing desire before he got too carried away.
Later, after they’d stuffed themselves and Jonathan had finished his tutoring session with Carly and headed upstairs, Gage tugged a giggling Carly down on the sectional beside him with an exhausted but happy Max at his feet. He wrapped one arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close to his side and kissed the top of her head.
“Have you thought about how we should do this?” he asked, his chest tightening when he felt her back stiffen for a second. He hoped she wasn’t rethinking the plans they were making to draw Daniel out.
He relaxed when she shook her head and said, “Not really, but can we take teeny tiny steps until the playoff games are over or maybe even until after Christmas, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course,” Gage agreed with her request since he would have to be gone overnight with the football team the next two weekends until the playoffs were over if they continued to win. He didn’t like the idea of leaving her vulnerable if any pictures of the two of them were to get out while he wasn’t around. He intended to be with her as much as possible until they knew for sure how her ex-husband was going to react.
“Thank you, and I want you to know I’m ready to let everyone see you’re mine. But. . .” Carly trailed off as she ran a finger through the scruff on his jaw, noting the underlying hint of jealousy in her voice, reaffirming Gage’s thought she wasn’t quite ready to trust him completely.
“But what?” he queried and took the hand she was trailing down his chest and raised it to his lips.
Sighing as he placed light kisses on her fingertips, she continued, “But I think we need to continue as we have been at school. Something’s up with Dr. Crawford, and I don’t want to give her any reason to give me a poor evaluation my first year.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll do this however you want,” Gage whispered as he nuzzled Carly’s neck underneath her ear.
She gulped as if she were swallowing past a nervous lump and pulled away, “I have something to ask you.”
“Anything. What is it?” Gage said sitting up at the intent look in her brown eyes.
“I was wondering if you would consider going to Denver with me for Christmas. Jonathan is welcome to come, too. My family is dying to meet you.” She looked at him hopefully, and his heart sank at the answer he had to give her.
Frowning, he cupped her chin. “I’m so sorry, but I can’t go.” A painful stab shot through his chest at the dejected looked on her face, and he quickly added, “Sweetheart, it’s not that I don’t want to meet them. I do. I have a prior commitment I can’t change. The Rattlers are playing a game on Christmas day, and they invited my family and me to the game for a special ceremony. They’re going to retire my number, so I have to be there.”
“I understand,” Carly sniffled, but he knew she was still hurt.
He smiled and brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear as a new thought crossed his mind. If she agreed, it might be the perfect opportunity to try and draw her ex out. “Hey, I have an idea. Do you think your family would want to come to the game? I’d love for you to be there for the ceremony.”
Carly’s face broke out in a broad grin as she wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed. “Really? They would love it!” she squealed peppering his scruffy jaw with kisses.
“Yes, really. Just tell me how many, and I’ll make the arrangements,” Gage laughed, returning the kiss Carly pressed to his lips.
“Thank you,” she said, leaning her head on his chest as she settled back down next to him. Just as he reached for the remote, he felt her stiffen once again, and he paused.
“Do you think this is a good idea?” Carly asked while pulling back to look up again.
“What do you mean?” Gage asked, letting out a long breath and running a hand through his hair. He didn’t want to push her, but he was ready to move things forward. If the two of them going out on a date or two between now and Christmas didn’t garner a reaction from her ex, then he was sure the game at Christmas would.
“Well, retiring your number is kind of a big deal which means there will be cameras following you everywhere and if I’m with you–”
“Shh,” Gage breathed, interrupting Carly before she could finish and cupped her worried face in both his hands. “How soon and how much you want to show your face is up to you, but this might be the perfect time to see if your ex will come after you if going out on a couple of dates doesn’t. There’s no way he’ll miss the game if he’s as big a fan as you say he is. He’ll surely connect you with me if he sees you and your family sitting with mine. However, there are ways to get y’all in and out without being seen if that’s what you want.”
Pressing her hands to his, she let out a breath and squared her shoulders. “You’re right. I’m so sick of worrying that he’s going to find me. With you by my side I’m ready to deal with Daniel. I’m tired of always looking over my shoulder afraid he’s found me. I just want to get my life back to normal”
Brushing his lips against hers, Gage let go of her face and gave her a nod then relaxed back on the sectional, relieved she was finally finding some courage. He wanted the situation with her ex behind them so that they could both move on to a life of happiness together.