Carter

My brain fizzled. All I knew was I’d just blown a load hard into my jeans, and I wasn’t even sure I was breathing. The woman I was probably squishing under me was amazing, surprising, and passionate.

Taking some of my weight from her, I got to my elbows to look down at the woman I loved. She was smiling lazily up at me and reaching up to run her fingers softly through my hair.

A giggle escaped her. “If that’s how we are with our clothes on, then we’re going to be phenomenal naked.”

I blinked, and then threw my head back and laughed. Sitting back, I grabbed her, pulling her up to sit. I kissed her lips, her cheek, her nose, and her neck. “Damn right we will be.” I stood from the couch. “For now, I’ll have a shower and get cleaned up so I can take you on a date.”

Her eyes widened. “Like, a date, date?”

Grinning, I nodded. “It should have happened before what happened on the couch, but I couldn’t resist you.”

She winked playfully. “I guess I am a seductress.”

I tapped her nose. “Yes, you are.” Leaning back in, because I couldn’t get enough, I kissed her again before moving off into the bathroom. I stuck my head back out. “Think about where you want to go to lunch.”

“Will do, captain.” She saluted, a happy look on her face. Pride filled my chest knowing I’d helped put that look there. I closed the door again and pressed back against it.

Reagan Wild was finally mine.

Shit, my smile grew so big I glanced to the mirror and saw I looked like a madman with how happy I was.

Reagan agreed to be mine. I wasn’t sure if she knew what she was in for, but there were no take backs. I could kiss her, touch her, smile with her. Laugh with and at her for her unique antics and just love her as she was.

She was mine.

Jesus, I wanted to sing, and that wasn’t a good thing. My voice could make babies cry. Instead, I peeled off my clothes, cringing and then grinning like a fool at the stickiness in my boxers, and got in the shower so I could wash quickly and get back out to spend the day with my woman. I was damn lucky to have her family at my back, else I wouldn’t have pulled off the surprise. The look on her face was one I’d remember always. It was a mixture of shock and pure joy.

I hated that I had to fly back tonight, but I was still glad I chose to see her.

Best damned day of my life.

Even better than winning any game or award.

A knock sounded on the door. “Carter,” Reagan called out.

I shut off the shower and stepped out, wrapping a towel around my waist. I went to the door and opened it. Her eyes heated as they ran over my body.

“No taking advantage of me, woman.” I grinned.

She snorted. “I do have some restraint.”

“Uh-huh, sure you do. Which is why your eyes are eating me up right now.” I laughed when her eyes snapped up to mine and narrowed. I smirked. “Did you need something other than me?”

She blushed. “Oh, um, someone’s at the door for you.”

“Me?” That was strange.

“Yes, he said he’s from the Western Post.”

I screwed my face up, annoyed. If something was going to put a dampener on the best goddamn day, it was the paparazzi. “Shit.”

“What’s wrong?”

“He’s just a shmuck looking for some type of story. He must have got wind of me flying in and thought there’s a story behind it. Sorry, sweetheart. I’ll get dressed and get rid of him.” I slipped out of the bathroom with a swift kiss on Reagan’s cheek before I went into my room and quickly dressed.

Making my way into the living room, I saw Reagan in the kitchen; she was at the stove cooking. I went to the front door and opened it.

“Carter Anthony.” Mal, from the Western Post, smiled. “Can I get an exclusive on why you rushed home for the day?”

“Mal.” I sighed. “You know I like my private life private.”

“Who answered the door? Is that the girl from the game? Is she your girlfriend? Are you living here with her?”

Shaking my head, I said, “You’ll all find out eventually. For now, I’m asking you to leave.”

“Come on, Carter. Give me something, anything.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I narrowed my eyes. “How did you find out I was home?”

His brows raised. “Home? So this is where you’re living, and from my digging, you don’t own it but a Miss Reagan Wild does.” He grinned big. “Thanks, Carter, that’s all I needed. Unless you want to pose with your girl for a picture?”

Clenching my jaw, I clipped, “Goodbye, Mal, and if I see you lurking or if Reagan tells me you’re still around after I leave, then I’ll have to stop you.”

“Is that a threat?” he asked gleefully.

“No, Mal. It’s a warning.” With that, I slammed the door and stalked into the kitchen. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

She spun around from cooking bacon. Her brows dipped, her mouth forming a thin line. “You’re not going already, are you?”

I smiled softly, taking the steps I needed to have her in my arms. “No, Ree. Not until late tonight.”

“Phew,” she muttered and sagged into me, wrapping one arm around my waist, while the other still held a spatula.

I eyed it. “Should I be worried?”

She laughed. “Not yet at least. But what were you sorry about?”

“The reporter’s done some digging. He knows you own this house and now that I live here. He’s put two and two together and placed you as my girlfriend.”

She bit her bottom lip. Her eyes warmed. “And that’s a problem because?”

My brows shot up. “You don’t care?”

“Well, no. Should I? I mean I am, your, um, girlfriend, right?”

“Yes. Shit, yes. But being with me could mean being photographed without knowing and without your permission. Being hounded by the paparazzi at any given time. Sometimes it’s hell on earth, what they try to get out of you or what they could catch you in.”

She shrugged. Leaning up, she kissed my chin and then shifted in my arms to turn the bacon. “Then I’ll keep my mouth closed and make sure I don’t pick up any hookers for a while.”

I snorted out a laugh. Placing my hands on her hips, I aligned my body to her back. “You usually pick up hookers?”

She waved the spatula in the air. “It’s just something Brooke and I usually do every Saturday night, but we can refrain for a while. It’s bonding, you know. Talking to hookers and sharing them.”

Grinning like an idiot, I bent to kiss her neck and felt her shiver. “God, I love you and the things you say.”

“What, because I like picking up hookers with my best friend?” She glanced over her shoulder and mock glared at me. “Don’t think you can get in on the act with us. It’s girls’ time, mister.”

“I would never.”

“Good.” She kissed my cheek and turned her attention to the food. “But honestly, Carter, nothing and no one can put me off being with you. They can take photos and ask questions all they like. It won’t change how I feel about you, and it never will.”

I had no words. Instead, I wrapped her tightly in my arms and prayed it would stay that way.

Since we ate brunch Reagan cooked, we ended up heading out to do some shopping. She said she had to stock up on candy for her class because exams were approaching and she bribed her kids with treats if they got questions correct in prep for the exams.

We walked hand in hand through the shopping center. We’d received a few extra-long glances from people, which was nothing new for me. But then I spotted a guy hiding behind a tall standing potted plant with his camera raised. Mal must have spread the word.

Damn it all.

“Hey, mister.”

We stopped and turned to find a boy about five looking up at me. “Hey, kiddo. What’s happening?”

The boy’s smile all but cracked his jaw. “You Carter, the football guy?”

“I am.” I nodded, smiling down at him.

He looked at his silent mom standing just behind him. “See, Ma. I told you it was him.” He turned back to me. “I told my ma it was you and she said no. But it is you.”

I chuckled. “It is.”

“Can you sign something for me. My dad is a huge fan too.”

“I sure can. Do you have anything for me to sign?”

He looked to his mom as she searched through her bag. When she came up empty, his shoulders dropped. He glanced back up at me with tears in his eyes. “We don’t have anythin’.”

Releasing Reagan’s hand, I got to my knee in front of him. “What’s your name?”

“Josh.”

“Well, Josh, this is a shopping center so I’m sure we can find a place to grab some paper and a pen.”

“Really?”

“Sure.” I smiled. Standing, I glanced at his mom to make sure it was okay. When she nodded, I put out my hand for Josh. He looked at it like it was a new and exciting toy before he slowly put his hand in mine.

And that was another reason I loved playing ball. Besides the rush, I loved seeing the kids get excited when meeting with me. Becoming awestruck and then happy when I took time out for them. I peeked at Reagan as we made our way past her into the first store beside us. She was smiling brightly up at me. Her soft smile and warm eyes showed me she was proud.

I ran my free hand against her arm as Josh and I kept walking, Reagan and Josh’s Mom following behind us. Reagan started talking to Josh’s Mom. God, she was beautiful.

Josh leaned into me. “Is that your girlfriend?”

Looking down at him, I grinned and nodded. “She sure is.”

“Cool.”

“Hey, how come you’re not at school?”

He screwed up his nose. “I have to see the dentist.”

I winced. A dentist to me was like having to visit a torturer, and from the look on Josh’s face, he felt the same. Damn, I hated being supportive over something I also disliked. “I know it’s a pain to see the dentist, but it’s also important to make sure your teeth stay healthy and strong. That’s why I still go to them.”

He sighed and nodded. “I know.”

We stopped at the gaming counter, and I asked for some paper and a pen. The guy behind the counter looked at me weirdly, probably not knowing who I was, but that didn’t bother me. He still grabbed them for me and placed them on the counter.

“Josh, what’s your dad’s name?”

“Dad.”

I laughed. “His other name, that your mom calls him.”

“Oh, honey-lumkin.”

I burst out laughing. Josh’s Mom cleared her throat. I glanced to see her blushing. “His name’s Ben. And I’m Linda.”

“Thanks.”

Leaning over the paper, I quickly wrote a short message for both Josh and Ben, then handed it over to Josh. His hand shook taking it, and then he brought it up to his face. “To Ben and Josh. Wishes can come true. I’ve found mine, and it’s good to try and reach for yours. Carter Anthony.”

I ruffled his hair. “Great reading, Josh.”

Linda grinned proudly. “He’s at the top of his class.”

I held out my fist, and he knocked his tiny one against mine “Good work, man.”

“Thanks.”

With a quick goodbye, they left the store, and I walked up to a beaming Reagan. “That was amazing,” she said, and wrapped her arms around my waist.

“Love making kids happy.”

“I can tell.”

I glanced over her shoulder to find we still had company. “Another reporter is following us.”

She just grinned up at me. “Then we’d better make it a good show.” Threading her hands behind my neck, she pulled my head down and kissed me right there in front of everyone.

Since Reagan wasn’t fazed by the extra attention, I pushed it back in my mind and enjoyed the rest of the time out together without caring about being photographed or even when another few reporters came up to us as we were leaving after a late lunch to ask question after question. Which I ignored. Yep, things were fine, great even, until one dickhead appeared and ruined my mood. Though, I should have figured Reagan would find the upper hand and make me fall that much more in love with her.

We’d just made it to her car, being followed by at least five reporters, when a guy called out, “She’s not your usual type, Carter. She’s fat and just a school teacher.”

I started around the back of the car for him when Reagan stepped in front of me. Her hands landed on my chest. I paused and looked down at her. She winked up at me and then moved to stand at my side, facing the reporters. She laughed, then smiled, even threw in an eye roll. “Haven’t you heard having something big is better?” People laughed. “I like who I am, just the way I am. So does Carter. Please let there be no judging here. It’s no good for anyone to be that way. Lastly, I’m not just a teacher. I’m an awesome teacher helping shape young minds.” Reagan waved to a camera I hadn’t seen because I was too busy glancing down at my girlfriend in awe. “Hi, guys. Don’t forget to study. Sorry I’m not there today. I had to visit the dentist.” I wanted to laugh at her lie, an idea she must have gotten from Josh. She took my hand in hers and dragged me back to the front of the car. I dropped her hand and placed mine on the small of her back, guiding her to the passenger side while reporters yelled more questions around us. All I could do was smile down at Reagan as I opened her door and she got in. I leaned in and kissed her quickly on the lips.

“You’re perfect.”

She grinned. “Thank you.”