Page 52 of Playing For Keeps
“Completely, you’re looking at number seventeen for Seattle.”
“Seventeen?” she said lifting an eyebrow.
“Seventeen baby—you know why I picked that number don’t you?”
“It was our number; it took you seventeen weeks to tell me you loved me…”
“Seventeen months for you to be completely mine, and I messed it up but this way I’ll always remember where we started and where we’re going. Cee, please let me back in baby. I swear I won’t hurt you this time.”
“You promise on my mom’s grave?”
“I promise baby,” he said lowering his lips to hers. “I will never hurt you again. You mean everything to me.”
“And you’re really staying?”
“I’m staying Cee, hoping you’ll let me move in with you until I can find somewhere we both love and convince you to move with me.”
“I think I can deal with having you around,” she said with a smile.
“We might want to set a few ground rules for your friend Emma though, don’t want her walking in on us doing anything,” he teased wiggling his eyebrow making her laugh.
“Okay, what’s so funny you two?” Emma asked sliding over to them. “You’ve been creating buzz all around the room.”
“Nothing, Jake just thinks we need to set some ground rules for you popping in unexpectedly since he’s moving in with me.”
“What?” she asked as her eyes grew big and a smile spread across her face.
“I’m staying in Seattle, can’t lose this girl now that I’ve finally wormed my way back in. Don’t worry I’ve already swore on a stack of bibles that I’m not going to hurt her.”
“You’d better not. So is our team gonna finally have a shot at winning?” she couldn’t resist asking.
“With Cee in my life I sure as hell plan on it,” he agreed.
“Well, it looks like you’ve been enjoying yourself,” Beau said as he and several of his old teammates headed his way. “Hear you’re planning on doing a lot more of it…”
“You all heard?” he asked.
“And I take it by the grin on the lovely Stacey’s face that she now knows too?” Dan asked. “Damn girl, I just might give up my cushy position too for you.”
“You do know all of New England’s fans are going to be after her blood, don’t you?” Moses added to Jake.
“I think I can handle it,” she said pointedly.
“Yeah, you probably can, do we take it congratulations are in order and the invites are in the mail?” Beau questioned.
“You’re getting a little ahead of yourselves,” she stated.
“I’ve got my foot in the door and she’s not slamming it closed on it, give me a couple months to work on her.”
“You’ve got a lot to make up for Jake,” she teased as she leaned into him.
“I know but I’ll do it.”
“Is it true?” Walker asked reaching them with his date trailing behind. “You’re really moving?” he added to her.
“Me? No Walker, I’m staying in Seattle.”
“But so am I,” Jake stated. “If I’d known you and Cee dated, I might not have stopped by to see if you all wanted to help.”
