Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Roan tried not to laugh as he hoisted Carrie up onto his hip. “You need to listen to your mother, baby girl,” he said sternly. Then he dropped his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Lucas and Foster are already asleep, which means they’ll get up before you, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they eat all the ice cream.”
I snorted, remembering the last time their three-and-a-half-year-old twin boys were left alone with a carton of ice cream. When Roan returned to the kitchen a few minutes later, they’d not only devoured the entire carton but also covered themselves in ice cream.
Carrie heaved a long, dramatic sigh. “Okay, Daddy.” Then she reached for Ava, who carried her inside the house.
“Oh, the joys of parenthood,” Roan muttered with a twinkle in his eyes. He loved every minute of being a dad, and honestly, I was a little jealous. I couldn’t wait for Talia to grow round with our baby and become a family—midnight feedings, stinky diapers, and all.
“Bady!” a little voice screamed. I turned and crouched just in time to catch Sienna, Skye and Dempsey’s eighteen-month-old.
“Hey there, sugar,” I greeted as I stood, dangling her legs in front of me. I swung her around, and she shrieked happily, then I settled her on my hip. “Sienna,” I said as I turned toward Talia. “This is my girl, Talia.”
The soft expression on Talia’s face as she observed me with the little girl had heat stirring in my gut. Tonight, I was going to fill her pussy over and over until I made certain she was pregnant.
“Hi, Tali!” Sienna said brightly as she waved.
“Hey there, pretty girl,” Talia replied, beaming.
“Will you swing me?” Sienna asked with a hopeful grin.
Talia laughed. “You’re a little too big for me to do that. How about I push you on that swing set over there instead?”
Sienna clapped and wiggled for me to let her down. When I set her on her feet, she grabbed Talia’s hand and all but dragged her across the yard. I couldn’t take my eyes off my woman’s gorgeous face, especially with the radiance effervescing from her as she spent time with the sweet little girl.
“Looks like you found yourself a good one,” Lennox said as he came to stand by my side. His eyes were glued to his very pregnant wife, Brielle, sitting in a chair. She was watching her son, Baylor, swing while chatting with Talia.
“Good doesn’t come anywhere in the stratosphere of what Talia is,” I grunted. “She’s fucking amazing.”
Lennox turned to me and cocked his head to the side, drawing my eyes away from Talia. “You know you earned the QB spot solely on your performance, right?”
I nodded.
“I would never judge a player’s ability on the field by his personal life unless he was a fucking disaster, and it showed in his performance. However…” I raised an eyebrow, and he grinned. “It’s nice to see you putting down roots. That does factor into contract negotiations because I want to know my players are invested in the team. And it doesn’t hurt that the guys in relationships seem to play their best when their significant other is at the game.” He laughed and clapped me on the back before walking toward his wife.
I went down the steps, intent on being near Talia.
“Well, that was convenient.”
I stopped and glanced to my right. Trent, the other quarterback vying for Prentice’s position, leaned against the wooden slats around the deck, watching me with narrowed eyes.
He stared at Lennox’s retreating form for a moment, then turned his icy gaze to my face, and I shifted around so I didn’t have my back to him.
“Convenient?” I asked.
He nodded as he straightened and sauntered to stand before me. His eyes darted over my shoulder again, and something flashed across his face, but it was gone before I could figure out the emotion. “Yeah. It seems like a big fucking coincidence that you suddenly got yourself a girlfriend right when they were picking Prentice’s replacement.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and kept my expression neutral when I responded, “Talia had nothing to do with how I earned that spot.”
Trent rolled his eyes. “Bullshit, Summers. You think I didn’t figure out that you found someone to play your girlfriend to get an edge over me? We both know I’m the superior player.”
I almost laughed, but Trent had clearly had a few beers, and I didn’t want to cause a scene. “When you were eavesdropping on my conversation with Lennox, did you miss the part about earning that spot on my merits?”
Trent snorted. “I damn sure heard him basically assure you of a new contract if you kept dating this chick. I was surprised you brought her today. I figured you’d dump her once you were chosen.” His eyes slid over my shoulder, and the corners of his mouth turned up. “Does she know you’re dragging out this fake relationship so you can get a better contract? I’d be careful not to let her fall in love with you just to get her heart broken when you cast her aside.”