"Just play some damn ball. Enough with the circus show," Bud grumbled behind us.
But I didn't let him ruin the moment. I watched as Wes ran onto the field, waving to the fans, smiling that gorgeous smile of his, and my heart clenched in my chest. He was mine. Millions of fans could cheer. And his parents could sing his praises. The cheerleaders could do somersaults all day for him, but Wes Blakefield was all mine.
I waited outside the locker room with Bud and Gloria after the game. I stood behind them, knowing this was part of their game ritual with their son. Bud made sure I knew they belonged here and I was just along for the ride.
He explained to me that Wes would have to finish up with the team, then a press conference, and then wrap with the coaches before he would see us. He also told me he knew every coach and trainer on the team, pressing the point he had been a part of this machine a lot longer than I had.
Wes walked through the door, freshly showered, in a dark suit and tie. God, I loved how sexy he looked like that. But before I could throw my arms around him and congratulate him, his mom kissed him on the cheek, leaving a big lipstick mark. It wasn't something I really wanted to follow.
"You missed three receivers out there, son."
"Hey, Mom." He kissed her on the opposite cheek and ignored his father. "I guess y'all met Lennon."
I tried to act cool. This wasn't the time to berate him. Bud would cover that enough for me.
"Oh yeah, we met her." Bud pushed in front of me. "Who was calling the plays today? Why didn't you run the route we talked about?"
Gloria and I followed behind them. I was annoyed that I didn't get so much as a hug.
"Are you and Bud driving back to Austin tonight?" I asked.
"Yes. We only come up for the games. We travel to every one of them."
"Every one?" I hoped my voice didn't sound as squeaky as I thought it did.
"What about you, honey? Will we see you in D.C. next weekend?"
I hadn't thought about it. Wes hadn't invited me, and we were still taking things one day at a time, even though I felt like this was some kind of time bubble we both lived in.
"Playoffs are his busiest time of the year. If you think you're going to see him at all, you might want to make some other plans," she warned. "Traveling with the team might be your best bet."
Oh God, his mother was giving me advice on how to see him. This was getting worse and worse. I overhead Wes and his dad arguing about a call on the field. The conversation was getting heated, so I decided to butt in.
"Wes, I've got that early surgery tomorrow, so maybe we could get going?" I wrapped my hand through the crook of his elbow, not giving Bud any choice but to step back.
"Oh, that's right." He smiled at me. "You know, Lennon's a surgeon."
"She told us all about it." Gloria gripped her Wranglers purse. "We need to get on the road anyway. It's hard for Bud to drive when it gets dark."
"That's not true," he grumbled.
"Thanks for coming up for the game." Wes hugged his parents.
"It was nice meeting you both." Gloria wrapped me in a hug before I knew what hit me.
"Maybe we'll see you next week, honey."
"Maybe."
They headed to the reserved parking lot while Wes and I stood in the tunnel and watched them walk away.
"So, how'd you like my parents?" He smiled wickedly.
"Oh, you are so making this up to me." I crossed my arms.
"Is that a promise?" He waggled his eyebrows.
I rubbed the lipstick off his cheek. "I'd hate to interfere with your concentration for the playoffs."
"Baby, I'm taking you home right now."
I looked around to see if there was a reason he had grabbed my hand and started to run. "What's going on?"
"We're celebrating. The Wranglers are in the playoffs, you successfully survived meeting the Blakefields, and we are both getting laid."
I laughed at his last statement. "Sounds like a lot for a Sunday night."
He started the ignition. "Good thing I drive fast."
Nineteen
Wes
I locked the bathroom door and unlatched the cabinet. I retrieved one of the syringes Dr. Jones had given me and tapped the top before jamming it into my thigh. I pushed the plunger all the way to the end, trying not to tense up at the stinging heat that shot through my leg. Only a couple more, and I'd be done with the injections.
"Hey, I'm headed to work." Lennon knocked on the door.
"I'll be in film review all day. See you tonight." I wrapped the syringe in a wad of tissue and threw it in the trashcan. I pulled open the door.
"Oh, hey."
"Hey." I grinned at her.
"I guess this is the part where we won't get to see each other much. Maybe I should just stay at my place this week. Would that be easier?"
"No. That would not be easier. Even if I get in at midnight, I can still curl up to your naked body."
"Who said I'm going to be naked?"
I tilted her chin toward me. "I want you naked and waiting for me when I get home."
Her eyes flared. "And you think I'll do that? Wait around for you with nothing on? Completely stripped? My skin clinging to your sheets?" She bit on her lower lip, and I knew she was teasing me.
"You know the rules in this room." I growled in her ear, my cock hardening at the thought of her crawling in my bed naked. Her perfect ass bare. Her tits exposed. My hand slid under her shirt, working up under her bra.
She sighed as I rubbed her nipple with the pad of my thumb. It peaked under my touch. "You're killing me, Doc. I need you. Now," I growled.
"I have a surgery this morning. You have to stop." She backed away and straightened her shirt.
"And I have hours of film to watch." I hung my head, fighting off the need to take her. She was irresistible. She was like a drug. One touch wasn't enough. One kiss wasn't enough.
"Can't promise I'll be up when you get home, but I do promise to be naked." She kissed me, and I slapped her on the ass.
"See you tonight, then."
"Forgot my coffee," she mumbled and rushed to the kitchen.
I followed her. "Hey, Lennon. I wanted to ask you something."
She pulled a thermal cup from the cabinet. "What is it?"
I scratched the back of my head. As if last Sunday wasn't enough of a first with my parents, this was going to be another zinger. "I want you to fly up to D.C. with me for the game Sunday."
She fastened the lid and spun to look at me. "You want me to go to the playoff game?"
I'd never taken a woman on the road. I'd never wanted to. Never needed to. There were always women in whatever city we played. But looking ahead to Sunday, I didn't want to leave Lennon behind. I wanted her with me wherever I was.
"Yeah, thought it'd be fun."
"But your mom said you couldn't be distracted. And besides, they're going. I don't think your dad is my biggest fan."
"Don't worry about them. You already knew my dad was an ass. I want you there with me. We'll have our own suite."
"But don't you have to stay with the team?"
"Well, yeah. Team hotel, but it's not like I have a roommate. I'm the QB. I promise you'll love it. I'll fly you up on Saturday."
She did that nervous thing where she clicked her fingers against the counter. "You sure? D.C.?"
"I'm positive. I want you there. I liked having you in my box."
"All right. I'd love to go." She picked up her keys. "I've gotta go. I'm late."
"Bye."
I walked over to the coffee pot and poured myself a cup. When had I become this man? I was so fucking crazy about her, I couldn't think straight. I didn't want another woman. I didn't care about the poker games anymore. Nothing mattered to me other than football and Lennon.
I leaned against the kitchen counter. Maybe it was all the drugs pumping through my system, or maybe this was the side effect of falling for Dr. Ashworth.
Twenty
Lennon
We would be landing in D.C. in twenty minutes. I fidgeted with my cocktail napkin and looked out the window as the plane began to descend. I should have told him. I thought about it all week. And what Gloria had said was true. Playoffs were a time we'd never see each other.
He crawled into bed so late I didn't know what time it was, and it wasn't really the right time to tell him I'd left an ex of a live-in relationship behind in the city we were traveling to. Besides, would Wes even care? He'd never asked about my past. It was as if we had some unspoken rule about talking about our previous lives.
I tried to push Ben out of my head. D.C. was a huge city and there was no reason to see him or relive the hurtful memories. I was happy with Wes.
I pulled my luggage behind me down the jetway and looked for the sign with my name. Wes liked to arrange cars for me.
But when I saw the driver holding this one, my jaw dropped.