CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
All it takes is all you’ve got.
Ana considered the many options for Christmas lights and wondered what the best choice for Jack’s house would be. Taking a sip of her coffee, she wandered over to the freestanding selection for the front lawn and thought they might be better, considering the shape of his house.
Hearing a whistle, she turned and saw Jack walking down the aisle with a cart and thought there had never been a more appealing man. His hair was sticking up in the back, he hadn’t shaved since Wednesday and wore his practice sweats, and she was ready to jump him in front Rudolph and all his reindeer friends.
He rolled the cart next to her, looked at the large lawn ornaments that she was considering, and took his coffee cup out of her hand. “It’s only because I love you that I’m willing to come to Home Depot on Black Friday at seven in the morning.” Slinging an arm around her shoulder, he stared at the six-foot Santa and let out a long sigh.
“You can try and play the suffering partner card, but I doubt it will get you much, so you might as well give up.” Flashing him a wry grin, she stepped away and studied the reindeer set that had flashing lights. “You got lucky at five this morning and then again at six and told me you would take me wherever I wanted to go after you were able to breathe again.” She turned the box around so she could see how big it actually was and felt a theme starting to form.
“I thought you’d want to go to breakfast, not Home Depot.” He caught her hand as she moved toward the inflatable decorations. “And the way you screamed my name told everyone in a two-block radius you were lucky too.”
“I do feel lucky,” she replied, “lucky that there are not that many people interested in Christmas decorations, and we can roam around a little before we decide.” She felt him kiss her head, and she leaned into him. “This is my first holiday in Florida, and I want to make it special.”
“Sweetie, we’re not going to even be here for Christmas.”
“What are you talking about?” She turned and faced him with her hand on her hip. “I have no plans to go out of town.”
Looking down at his running shoes, he pushed one against the cart. “I’ve made a lot of plans in my head and might’ve forgotten to discuss them with you.”
“There is no ‘might’ve’ and you better tell me exactly what is going on for Christmas.”
He led her over to the garden furniture and had her sit next to him on a glider. “You know, it’s only in Florida that Christmas and umbrellas are displayed together.”
“Quit stalling.”
“Okay, here goes; I have a game in San Diego on the twentieth and thought you could fly out for it and then we could celebrate the holidays with our families. I should meet your parents, and I’d love to see my brother and Rachel while we’re there.”
Pushing back and forth on the glider, she looked out over the shoppers and thought about his idea and knew it was a good one. She’d love to see her family as well as check in on Birdie and make sure her pregnancy was going well. “Okay. I like it.”
He let out a whoop, leaned over, and kissed her with more heat that was probably appropriate for the morning crowd.
“Jack!”
“What?” he replied as he tore his mouth away from hers.
“We have an audience.” Waving to the salesperson, she gave him a sweet smile. “Hi.”
“Sorry about the interruption, but I was sent over to tell you not to make out on the garden furniture. My manager wants you to know there are a lot of children in the store and wants to keep it G-rated.”
“Of course,” Ana replied as her face heated. “Won’t happen again.”
Jack smiled. “I apologize for smooching my girlfriend and will get myself under control.”
“Thanks, man. And good luck on Sunday. I’m a big fan, and the team is going to make it all the way this year.” He nodded and then walked off toward plumbing.
Ana covered her mouth in an attempt to stifle a laugh and found it didn’t work. “We just got schooled by a seventeen-year-old.”
“He was at least eighteen,” Jack replied. “Let’s just pick the holiday decorations and get out of here.”
Not able to hold it in anymore, she doubled over in laughter. “We just got in trouble for making out in Home Depot. I bet it’ll light up the gossip sites in less than an hour.”
Giving her a disapproving look, he shook his head. “You behave, woman.”
“I’ll try but can’t make any guarantees.”
Standing, he pulled her up and then searched for their abandoned cart. “Go and pick out what you want, so we can limit our shenanigans to one news cycle.”
Clapping, she gave him a wide smile. “Does this mean I get to choose the theme for the front lawn?”
“Of course, since all decorating decisions are up to you. I’m just here to lift the heavy boxes and load them into the car.”
“I guess having a studly boyfriend has more benefits than I first imagined.” Hearing their phones buzz in unison, she looked over and laughed. “Didn’t take long.”
“It never does,” he replied. “I’m going to ignore it for now.”
“Me, too. I want to pick out stuff for the holidays before we have to face whatever is out there.” She kissed his arm as they stood in front of the many options. “How do you feel about snowmen?”
“Whatever you want is fine with me. I’m sure your taste is better than mine.”
“Clearly, since I chose you.”
Laughing, he held her hand. “Honey, I picked you and held on tight until you finally gave in.”
“Whatever,” she said as she waved her hand. “Don’t try and confuse me with the facts.”
“Said the scientist, who clings to her facts life her life depends on it.”
Turning, she looked him over slowly. “Take the win, Ellis, and be gracious.”
“Yes, dear.”
Nodding, she sashayed down the aisle and decided loving Jack was going to be a lot more fun than she anticipated.
***
“Are you absolutely sure that you didn’t sleep with her? Maybe you got drunk and don’t remember.”
He slapped his hand on the table and let out his frustration. “I can’t believe you’re saying that. Do you really think I’d do that and then lie?”
She stared across the table and crossed her arms. “I don’t know, Jack. Quit acting like I’m accusing you of larceny. You’re a twenty-six-year-old professional athlete with more opportunities to indulge your desires than the average male. You’ve dated women like this in the past, and it’s not like it’s out of the realm of possibility.” Sitting back, she crossed her arms. “In fact, I’m the exception to the rule, not the other way around.”
“You completely believed me yesterday, so what has got you doubting me now?”
“The woman has a lot of specific details about you, and her story is starting to have some teeth. I just want to make sure that I understand the situation.”
Standing abruptly, his chair scraped across the floor, and he fisted his hands at his side and let out a long breath. “Would you like some iced tea?”
“Sure, but…”
Putting up his hand, he shook his head and then walked over to the fridge, pulling out the pitcher. “I need a minute.”
“You didn’t want to use protection with me, so I figured that it’s happened before.”
“I know you understand the definition of a minute.”
“I’m sorry; it’s just the latest stuff is messing with my head.”
As he refilled their glasses, he tried to smile and act like his head wasn’t about to blow off. Seeing the doubt in her face was gutting him, and he couldn’t understand why she didn’t see that what happened between them was because they were going to get married.
Sitting, he took a sip of his drink and let out a deep breath, trying to get his thoughts to make sense. “I did not sleep with that woman, and you know that my DNA sample is at my attorney’s office, so I’m more than prepared to prove my innocence.”
“I know; it’s just that she knew about the tattoo on your hip.”
“So does every sports reporter in the United States. Most of them have seen me bare-ass naked in the locker room, so getting details about me is not that hard.”
Folding her hands, she nodded. “I didn’t think of that.”
“Are you looking for excuses to get rid of me?”
“No!”
“You know that you’re the only woman I’ve ever slept with without protection and why I wanted to do it.”
“I guess…”
“You’re the last woman I’m ever going to sleep with, and you know it, so put that information in that big brain of yours and let it compute.” Pulling his plate closer, he took a big bite of the sandwich he’d made and then pushed her plate closer. “You better eat because when we’re done with lunch, we’re putting all those decorations up on the front lawn.” He gave her a satisfied smile and took another bite of his sandwich.
“Fine.”
“You bet it’s fine.” Standing, he grabbed the bag of chips off the counter and shook some out on their plates. “Can’t have a sandwich without chips.”
“You sure have a lot of ideas about how things are going to happen between us, and I suggest you think about taking me on a date that doesn’t end up in the ER first. I’m not going to take you seriously until that happens.” She took a chip and chewed loudly. “And, by the way, this is a delicious sandwich.”
Leaning over, he kissed her cheek. “Okay, sweetie, a date, it is.”
“Good.”
“You can try and get away from me, but it’s never going to work, Ana.”
“I see that you’re comfortable enough to show me your true nature.”
“I didn’t get where I am in my career by pussyfooting around shit. It’s time you felt the full force of what has made me successful on the gridiron so you can prepare yourself.”
“What exactly are you saying?”
He took her hand and gave her a feral smile. “I’m an easygoing man and will give you the world until you try and pretend that what we have is not a blessing of incredible magnitude.”
“I know it’s a blessing, Jack, but I’m scared out of my mind because I’m so vulnerable. I’ve never felt this way about anyone in my life, and I’m freaking out because I don’t want anyone to take it away.”
Bowing his head, he nodded. “I will destroy anyone who gets between us. Turn to me, Ana; count on me and know I’ll protect what we have with my last breath.”
“Okay.”
Kissing her, he felt his heartbeat slow down. “Okay.”
“I want to go someplace fun on our date.”
“Fun, it is,” he replied as he scooted his chair closer, knowing he was going to have to stay on her just like he did the offensive tackles he went after. Easygoing Jack was gone, and Ana was going to have to deal with the man that had become the most successful defensive end in the league.
Love was a lot like football; it was one down after another until you made it to the end zone. His touchdown was going to be marrying Ana and having a family together. “Now, tell me about the plans for the front yard. Is it something that people are going to see from the street or is it just for us?”
She put down her sandwich and wiped her mouth. “I’m not sure. What do you think?”
He got up and took another sandwich off the counter. “We can figure it out after lunch. Unless you want to do something else before we get started?”
Patting his leg, she smiled. “We did that this morning, and I imagine we’ll be doing it again tonight. I want to get started on Christmas.”
“At least I have a goal to work toward for the rest of the afternoon.”
“Yes, you do, Jack. Think of it as seduction by Christmas decorating.”
“It’s not the worst idea in the world.”
“Not by a long shot.”