Page 46 of Fumbled Love

I picked up my fork and pointed it at her. “That. Wasn’t. Funny.”

She laughed, and we fell into a comfortable silence. I noticed she’d barely touched her risotto but had been eyeing my steak and twice-baked potato with hungry eyes throughout the meal.

“Would you like a bite?” I asked, holding a piece out for her to grab.

“I’m fine.” She dropped her fork and averted her eyes.

“Kinley, why aren’t you eating your meal?”

“Maybe I’m not hungry,” she said, but it lacked conviction. There was no way that flimsy salad filled her up.

“I’m not buying it.” I moved the candle to the side to see her face better. “From what I can remember, which I know isn’t much, you love a good filet.”

“People change, Maverick. I’m not a young teenager anymore that can eat whatever she wants. Especially, since I’m already planning on being as big as a house in a few months.”

My fork fell from my hand and clattered onto my plate. “Kinley, you don’t need to preach to me about healthy eating. If I want to play football and make money, I need to stay fit, but there is nothing wrong with eating a juicy steak or enjoying a bowl of pesto risotto every once in a while. And last time I checked, you had an office job that doesn’t require you to follow a strict diet.”

She puffed out a breath. “Like I’ve told you, I’ve seen your social media pictures.”

I leaned back in my seat and narrowed my eyes into slits. “I don’t think I like where this conversation is going?”

“The women you’re seen with look like they eat celery for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It won’t be long before someone finds out about me. You must read the comments online and know how vicious people can be when they are behind a keyboard.”

“First off, there is nothing wrong with the way you look. Not now, not ever. Second, you’re carrying my kid. I don’t care how big your stomach gets. By the way, I am a big guy so there is a good chance the kid will be big. The bigger, the better.”

She kicked my leg under the table. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the kind of foot foreplay I was hoping for. “Will you stop saying the word big.”

“Babe, listen to me.” Her eyes widened at the endearment. It slipped out, but I wasn’t in a hurry to take it back. “I can’t promise that there won’t be media ready to attack. That’s a downfall to the business. It sucks. I can, however, guarantee that if anyone targets you in any way, I will handle it, and it won’t be pretty.” I reached across the table, grabbed her plate, and swapped it with mine. “Now, quit worrying about shit that doesn’t matter and eat the damn steak. It’s your last meal of the year.”

She glared at me, but it was a playful glare—I think.

She picked up a piece of tenderloin and started chewing away. “Now, this will be worth the apple I’ll have for breakfast tomorrow.” She moaned, and I turned my head to make sure no one else heard it because that sound belonged to me.

* * *

“I can’t believe you did all this,” Kinley said, her eyes landing on the table I had my housekeeper set up while we were on our date. “You really are trying to get me fat, aren’t you?”

“You burned a few calories tonight. You earned that blueberry cheesecake.”

“I still can’t believe you scheduled a private tour at the College Football Hall of Fame.” She licked her lips while studying all the desserts taking up space on the table. She looked like she was debating which one to try first. There was tiramisu, red velvet cake, a fruit tart, and blueberry cheesecake.

I swiped my finger through the heaping of whipped cream. “You have the VIP All-Access pass to prove it,” I said, pointing to the lanyard around her neck.

She slipped off her shoes and did a little dance. “And don’t forget, I completed the forty-yard dash.”

I laughed. “My coach would be impressed. Maybe you should consider trying out for the team.”

Kinley and I spent two hours exploring all the interactive games. She timed me on how fast I could run, and I challenged her on how high she could jump. She pretended to interview me, and for the first time, I got to say whatever the hell I wanted without worrying about getting my ass chewed out. She got to kick a field goal, and I got to walk her through my favorite section, where I was the virtual quarterback, throwing passes to my receivers. She accused me of being a show-off, but I’d say she had a great time with how hard she laughed.

I walked up and snaked my hands around her. “Speaking of impressed, are you amazed by my talents yet?”

She smoothed her hand over mine that was resting along her stomach. “Maverick, you don’t need to take me to a museum that has a display of your signed helmet and championship jersey. While I think it’s great that they recognize your accomplishments,” she let out a slow breath and turned around in my arms, “the things that impress me the most are how you lead your team, by setting good examples. You treat your friends with kindness and take care of your family. It’s your actions off the field that impress me more than any trophy you could win.”

Everything I always wanted but convinced myself I’d never find was standing right in front of me. This woman didn’t care how much money I banked, and the fame that attracted most people didn’t even faze her. Kinley was perfection in every way. From her spunky personality to her witty sense of humor. Sure, she was beautiful, but she was also kind and caring, and she brought out a side to me that not many people got to see. All those things that went unnoticed in my younger years could be felt with a force that scared me because Kinley Roberts slipped through the cracks and landed in a place where no one had ever been. And after spending the last two weeks with her, I felt everything, and I wasn’t sure how I would let her get on that plane tomorrow.

“I want to kiss you after that little speech,” I said, noticing her lip gloss was faded, yet I still had the sudden urge to pullher mouth tomine.

“Really?” Her mouth parted open with a sigh. “What kind of kiss?”

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