Bad Boy’s Baby(35)

It worked, but it wasn’t the counting that steadied me.

It was her.

Leah’s chocolate eyes studied me from across the field, and the tug of her smile chased the adrenaline from my veins. She gave me a cute little wave, as though she didn’t know what her place was or why she was there for me. She cupped her hands over her tummy and cheered me on.

And holy hell, I never saw anything greater.

I lined myself under center again. No whistle yet. I took it as a good sign and scouted the defense. They lined up to trick me, but I read through it. I grunted the snap-count to lure the line off-sides—a particular specialty of mine.

It worked.

The corner jumped, and he didn’t make it across the line before the snap.

I expected Coach Thompson to whistle and bitch him out. So did my center. He was slow to rise and even slower to block. But the play didn’t stop, and the defensive line roared over my men in a wave of testosterone—violent and angry and looking to prove how big their dicks were before the end of camp.

I dropped back, but the center got in my way. I saw it happening. There wasn’t a goddamned thing I could do about it. I clenched my jaw for the sack.

The defense rode over the line. I grunted as I slammed into the ground. My leg planted.

Twisted.

Popped.

I felt nothing but pain.

Then shock.

The field silenced as my agonized shout ripped through every single man, woman, and child in earshot.

I fell on my back, but I couldn’t have risen again if I wanted. My leg screamed with pain, not broken but something equally bad. My knee instantly swelled.

And I knew right then I was fucked.

My vison blurred into pained halos as the trainers sprinted onto the field. My offense crowded tight around me, trying to help. Nothing they could do. Not now.

It couldn’t end like this.

Terror cracked through me. I had to get up. I had to walk it off. I had to—

Pain. Blinding, frustrating, enraging pain.

I rolled. The trainers rushed to my side, ripping off my helmet and shoulder pads. Did it really matter if I was hot? The knee injury laced my body in a chilled dread. I’d be lucky if I didn’t puke.

Now there was a headline.

“Gotta get you to the locker room, Jack.” The red-headed trainer who had once helped Leah stared at me, her eyes wide with worry. I didn’t like that look. I hated even more that she prevented me from rising up. “Wait for the cart.”

“No, no, no.” Now I was dizzy. The pain had me nauseous. “No cart. I can walk.”

“No, you really can’t.”

“I’m not getting in the cart.”

“Jack—”

“Fuck off, I’m not getting in the cart!”

Everyone heard that. Figured. I was lucky I didn’t blaspheme every Abrahamic religion when I went down. The team parted, and I figured it was because of Coach Thompson.

It wasn’t. His ass hadn’t moved from the bench.

But Leah ran to my side—something profoundly stupid for a woman in her condition. She was already weepy with hormones. This would be worse than the empty peanut butter jar fiasco.

“Jack, are you okay?” Her voice wavered.

She wasn’t supposed to be on the field, but no one was moving her. She took my hand, her eyes welling with tears. God damn. She was really upset. Honestly worried for me.

My chest tightened. I couldn’t deal with that thought, not when I wanted to rip my own leg off. I hated that I couldn’t comfort her, even as I writhed in pain.

“I’ll be fine.” I lied. My knee looked like a softball grew out of it. “Just gotta get up.”

“Why won’t you get in the cart?”

Oh, she was cute when she only studied enough football to release a press statement. I called for my guys to help me to my feet. The trainers protested. I ignored them. Bryon and someone else could help me walk to the locker room. I didn’t need a cart.

“Jack.” Leah flittered at my side. I wasn’t used to a feminine voice on the field, much less her beautiful whisper. “Listen to the trainers. Get on the cart.”

“Kiss, get off the field.”

“I’m going with you! Just take the ride.”

“It’s not a ride.” I stared at her, snapping at a woman who didn’t deserve my anger. “It’s the cart. You don’t understand.”

“Then tell me. Please.”

Fine. Plain and simple. Her favorite language.

“You only get on the cart if it’s a season-ending injury.” The pain cracked my voice. The fear took the rest. “I just fucked my chances of playing this year.”





Chapter Eighteen – Leah



Jack’s injury tortured him beyond the pain of a sprained knee. It stole his purpose in life.

It broke my heart to see him so upset, frustrated, and panicked. I couldn’t even help.

I never felt more helpless than watching when his teammates had picked him up off the field. The pain overwhelmed him by the time he reached the locker room. He’d rested on the exam table, hands covering his face during the assessment.

And what scared me the most?

He didn’t fight when they immediately sent him to the hospital.

Fortunately, he’d suffered only a sprain. Unfortunately, it would force him onto crutches and off the field for the rest of training camp.

Not a good way to start the season.

But he was still working his ass off, even when the doctors and I told him to take it easy. He couldn’t run the drills, but he trained his upper body in the weight room, studied the playbook, and helped to call the plays at practice to assist the team.

Jack was full of surprises.

His car pulled into the garage, but it took him longer to move now. I stood as he limped into the kitchen. He aimed for the den, but he gave up after only one step downstairs. His fingers curled into the bannister, and I darted to his side to help before he did something stupid.

“Can I get you anything?” I pointed to the fridge. “I made some dinner…but the baby didn’t like the smell of chicken tonight. I can pop it into the oven for you though. It’ll be ready in twenty. Can I get you something more comfortable to wear than the suit? Sweats okay?”

Jack set his jaw. His duffle bag crashed at his feet. “I don’t wear sweats unless I’m sick. I’m not sick. I’ll find my workout stuff.”

I took the step instead of him, pressing my hands into his chest. I wasn’t eye-level to him, not even close. And I wasn’t anywhere near intimidating, especially with my tummy swelling enough to be noticeable under the tank top, but he would listen to me. I’d make him.

“Jack Carson, go sit on the couch and rest.”

“Not in the mood to rest.”

“It’s only been a week. You can’t rush healing. Stop moping, sit down, and rest your knee.”

Jack’s eyes narrowed. I never thought I’d miss his condescending smile. This welling anger wasn’t him. The moody, irritable, disheartened man wasn’t the same one who could charm with a whisper and delight with a kiss.

It wasn’t just the injury, it was everything. The coaching staff riding him. The media. The pain.

Me.

How could I bring him back?

He tried to push past. “I should do some core work.”

“You’re not working out now.”

“I have to, Kiss.” His words were too sharp. He apologized. “Look, the team is depending on me. They need me to be healthy. I have to keep training on whatever I can or else…”

He spoke so painfully, and his expression twisted.

God, he was guilty.

Jack was guilty for getting hurt.

And everyone accused him of being selfish. Including me. How wrong was I about this man?

I brushed my hands along his face, touching his hardened jaw line and the angles of his cheeks. Nothing on Jack was ever soft—not his body, never his cock—but, for once, I saw something that was.

His heart.

I caressed him, forcing those deep, steel blue eyes to look at me. “Jack, you’re going to be fine. Stay off that leg so you can go back to the team—”

“I’m missing camp. I’m missing pre-season games.”

“But you’ll be ready for the regular season. Game one, starting under center. I promise. You just need to relax.”

His lips thinned into a frustrated line. “I don’t know how to relax without…”

“Without what?”

“Going out. Getting a drink. Having a night with my friends.” He shrugged. “Can’t do that after that bar fight…”

I hoped it wasn’t just the bar fight keeping him well-behaved.

I hoped it was me and the baby and the work we did on the nursery after he came home from practice, aching and bruised but eager to build mobiles and bouncers.

I hoped it was the prospect of a nice dinner, a quiet night, a mocha milkshake with a handful of cranberries. If nothing else, Jack tolerated the weird pregnancy cravings better than I did.

But I doubted anything could truly change him. There was no reason for me to force the life I hoped he’d lead on him. Instead, I had to make home just as interesting as heading out for a night of trouble and fun.

I could do fun while pregnant.

And I could certainly do his brand of trouble…

I tugged on his hand, biting my lip just to capture his attention. “Come with me, Mr. Carson.”

He resisted my first tug, but he could never resist the shimmying promise of my hips. God only knew how much longer I could use my wiles. Soon I’d have to exploit my swelling tummy.