Stone

Fourth and goal isn’t a great place to be, but there are worse places, I’ll admit.

I have confidence in my team just as they have confidence in me. Being down by six, we need this touchdown and the extra point in order to win this thing. I’m trying not to think about anything except this drive, this possession.

It’s not easy.

But like every other time I’ve been right in this same position, I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.

Losing is not an option.

---

“Stone, with today’s win, you’ve clinched first place for the Wranglers. Which means next week’s game is gravy. How does that make you feel?”

“Well, for one, next week’s game is as critical as today’s game. No reason to ever think otherwise. And for me, that means the season’s not over yet.”

“Stone!”

The second I hear the voice, a bolt of rage slams into my spine, coursing outward, consuming me. I slowly scan the group until I find Devereaux.

“How does it feel to be pursued by the Wranglers for another season? Are you reconsidering your decision to ret—”

I point directly at him and move two steps closer. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll eat that question and back your ass right out of this room.”

“No need to get defensive.” Devereaux smirks as he throws his hands up in mock surrender. “It’s not like you haven’t got the cream of the crop with Ms. Andrews at your side. Was that in your plan? To hold out for more money and to—”

I get right up in Devereaux’s face. Somehow—although I’m not sure how—I manage to keep from grabbing him by the shirt and tossing him across the room.

“You will not talk about Savannah. Not a word.”

Devereaux’s eyes are wide, but I have to say, the guy has brass balls. I’ve easily got a foot on him, yet he doesn’t back down.

“So I assume it’s serious between you and…Savannah.”

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to intervene.”

My head snaps over to see Savannah standing there, her arms crossed over her chest.

I meet her gaze and take a step back, just to assure her that I’m not going to do something stupid that could get me suspended from the last game of the season.

“Mr. Devereaux.” The way she addresses him has more than a hint of condescension and Devereaux realizes it.

He’s smart enough to back away from me. “Just the person I wanted to talk to. I thought maybe you could give us a statement about your relationship with Jason Stone.”

“No comment,” she says. “And there will be no comment. If you don’t mind, I need you to come with me.”

She steps back and motions with her hand toward the door.

It’s then that I realize we’ve garnered the attention of everyone in the locker room. My teammates are all watching. A few seem to be out of the loop, others are moving to stand behind me. I might be new to this team this year, but I’ve forged friendships with these guys and I know they have my back, the same way I have theirs.

When Savannah moves back another step, I notice that she has brought security with her. Not only her brothers, but also two legit security guards.

I can’t help but smile at that.

“Please continue,” Savannah says to the others who are waiting to question me.

“Stone, what were you thinking when you were down to fourth and goal? Knowing that the play was critical to win the game?”

I turn my attention back to the reporters stacked in a line in front of me.

“I wasn’t thinking anything, to be honest. I knew what needed to be done, and I trusted my team to give everything they had. And they did.”

I glance over to see Savannah moving toward the door. She glances back at me and shoots a smile that’s so damn sweet, I feel a little lighter because of it.

“All right, how about we give this guy some breathing room?” The sharp tone of Coach Hannagan’s voice snaps through the room “You’ll have more time with him in the future.”

A few grumbles sound from the group, but they don’t outwardly argue.

While I head to the showers, I push all thoughts of Devereaux out of my head. It’s not hard to do when the only thing I can think about is getting my hands on Savannah.

In the very near future.

---

By the time I’m in my Escalade, I’ve got my phone out and I’m dialing my mother.

“You kicked some serious butt out there, honey!”

I smile at her greeting. “Thanks.”

“And I heard the interview. You…I’m so proud of you, Jason.”

“Interview?”

“Yes. With that jackhole.” She chuckles. “You maintained your cool, and they were talkin’ about how well you handled yourself.”

There’s a lump in my throat that threatens to choke me up a little. My mother has always offered her praise, for which I’m grateful. As an adult, I didn’t think I needed it as much as I did when I was a kid. I was wrong. So very wrong.

“So next week you’ve got the Cardinals. It’s the last game of the season.”

“We do,” I confirm.

“And you’re going to kick their butts, too.”

I love my mother’s optimism.

“That’s the plan.”

“So tell me about Savannah.”

I bark a laugh. “I’m not sure that’s something I can talk to you about over the phone.”

“Is it serious with her?”

I’m not going to lie to my momma. “It is. And I promise, I’ll introduce you just as soon as I can.”

“Will she be here for dinner?”

I laugh. “Probably not. I’m not sure I want to take the chance of introducing her to the family on a holiday. Plus, she probably has other plans.”

I don’t know that for sure, but I do intend to talk to her just as soon as I see her.

“Okay, okay. I can take a hint.” She laughs softly. “Just as long as you tell her she’s welcome in my home anytime.”

“So are we still on for dinner tomorrow?”

“Of course,” she says, a smile in her voice. “And Jeremy’s made all the arrangements to ensure I don’t have to…work too hard.”

I laugh.

“Y’all do know I’m onto you?” she asks. “I know my boys are scared of my cookin’.”

“We’re not…Okay, yes, we’re scared.”

Another chuckle echoes through the phone. “Fine, I’ll see you tomorrow. And be sure to extend an invitation to Savannah. I’m eager to meet her.”

“I will, Mom. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Putting the phone down, I start the engine, then glance out the window. There are still quite a few cars in the lot, and I have to wonder if one of them is Savannah’s. I didn’t get a chance to talk to her after she slipped out of the room.

My phone buzzes and I snatch it up. After hitting the talk button, I put the phone to my ear.

“Hey,” I greet.

“Where are you?”

I smile to myself. Just hearing her voice does that to me. “In my car. Where are you?”

“Heading to your place,” she says, a seductive hint to her voice. “Meet you there?”

“Absolutely.”

“Good. I’ll grab some food for us on the way. See you in a few.”

I should be tired, ready to hit the bed and sleep for the next eight to ten hours. And I am exhausted, but the thought of seeing Savannah renews my energy.

Now, I can only hope I can avoid a ticket on the way home.

Savannah

By the time I get to Stone’s he’s already home. Grabbing the food from the passenger seat, I turn to open the door. A startled scream escapes when I see a face outside my window.

It’s a familiar face, a cute one even, but it startles me enough to make me drop my purse as my heart tries to leap out of my throat.

Stone is chuckling when he opens the door. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Well, you did,” I inform him, taking a deep breath. “I thought you were a reporter.”

“A reporter?” He frowns.

I shake my head before passing over the food. No sense going into that at the moment. I don’t want to add any pressure right now, and the fact that I was questioned about my relationship with Jason Stone—not only by my father, but also by a slew of reporters after I interrupted Luke Devereaux’s attempt to bring Stone down a few notches—isn’t something I want to get into right now.

“Something wrong?” Stone asks when I’m out of my car.

“No,” I lie easily. “Nothin’s wrong.”

He turns to face me, obviously hearing something in my voice to tell him otherwise. “What is it, Savannah?”

I shrug, then move past him toward the door. “Nothing serious.”

He stops me again. “Did you not get the hint the other night?”

“What hint?”

“The one that said there’s nothing you can hide from me, nothing that’s going to send me running the other way.”

Crap. I really didn’t want to get into this with him. I was hoping to come over and relax, enjoy a little bit of time with him. Not talk about all the crap that’s going on.

“You did great,” I say, hoping to deflect the questioning. “Handling yourself tonight.”

He reaches around me and pushes the front door open. “I know what’s at risk. I don’t tend to go off half-cocked.”

I laugh, but I can’t think of anything to say to that. I should’ve known that was where his head was at. The man won’t do anything to harm the team. It’s one of the reasons I admire him so much.

Stone lays out the food on the dining room table while I set my purse on the counter in the kitchen.

“Congrats on the win tonight,” I say, wanting to keep the subject light and easy. I’ve been thinking about everything that’s going on and the best way to get Stone some stress-free evenings, time to focus on what’s important to him.

And I think I’ve figured out what’s important to him in the time I’ve spent with him.

His family and football. Those seem to be where he focuses his time and energy.

“All right, spill it, Andrews,” Stone says firmly when I join him at the table. “What’s on your mind?”

I lift my eyes to meet his. “Nothing. I’m just…What’re you doing for Christmas?”

I was trying not to make a big deal out of the fact that tomorrow is Christmas and I don’t have any plans. My brothers will be sharing their meals with their in-laws and my father informed me tonight that he’s going to be traveling.

I know that last part’s a lie. My father is going to see my mother, and he doesn’t want me to know. I’ve never been scared to tell him how I really feel, and I’ve never been worried about hurting my mother’s feelings either.

On my way over, I called Allison to see what her plans are and found out that she’s in Houston with her grandparents already.

Looks as though I’m on my own for Christmas.

“Well,” Stone says, leaning in close, his heated gaze pinning me in place. “The first thing I intend to do for Christmas is you.”

My belly flutters with heat. “Is that so?”

“Absolutely.”

“And after that?”

“Well, I’ll probably do you again.” He grins, the move sexy and mischievous. “And after that, I’m going to my mother’s for dinner. She promised not to cook.”

I smile, remembering what he told me about her lack of skills in the kitchen. She’s not alone. I’m not that great in the kitchen either.

“Will your brother be there?”

Stone nods, but he isn’t eating. I know he’s waiting for something, but honestly, I have nothing else. I’m just making small talk.

“What are you doin’ for Christmas, Savannah?”

“Well, I guess I’ll be doin’ you,” I say, keeping a flirtatious grin on my face.

“Most definitely. But after?”

I give a half-shrug.

“Will you go to my mother’s with me?”

My eyes widen. “You want me to meet your mother?”

His dark eyebrows dart down. “Of course. I was just trying not to rush things. But she’s already asking about you.”

“She is?” Wait. I frown. “How does she know about me?” Crap. “Did she see Devereaux’s segment?”

“Yes, but…” He smiles. “I told her about you before tonight.”

“You did?”

“Let’s put it this way. My mother is very nosy. She asks tons of questions. Jeremy and I learned long ago that we can’t keep much from her.”

I smile.

“So what’ll it be, Andrews? You up for some Christmas sex with me tonight, then maybe some turkey and dressing tomorrow evening?”

The lump in my throat swells and my heart flutters a little bit. “I…” Unable to answer, I nod.

“Good.” Stone glances down at the food. “Now eat up. You’re gonna need your energy.”