Page 49 of Fumbled Love

A soft smile played on his lips. “I guess we’ll just have to keep going at it then until it’s perfect.”

My hand ran lazily up and down his spine. “I think we’re pretty close.”

“That’s because I’m learning all your signs?”

“My signs?”

“Yep, I’m paying attention to every sound, every expression. It’s a force of habit with my profession.” He shifted me on the couch so I was on top of him. “I learn to execute every skill and position. I’m good at reading people and memorizing.”

I rested my chin on his chest. “You’re also pretty good with your hands, too.”

“You’re good for my ego.” He kissed the top of my nose. “I thought about you after that night,” he said into the quiet of the room. “I wanted to find you, but I had no idea who you were.”

I lifted up, supporting my weight on one arm. “I’m sorry I lied to you about who I was.”

He reached up, placing his palm along the back of my head. He pulled my face to his. “I understand why you did.”

“Can I ask you a question?” I chewed on my bottom lip.

He turned us sideways so we were facing each other. “You can ask me anything.”

I started playing with the hair on his chest. “Would you have slept with me if you knew who I was?”

It was the one question I’d asked myself a thousand times but was always too chicken to bring it up.

“Kinley, I was attracted to you since the moment I laid eyes on you in that airport terminal. When I stumbled into the bar later that night, I knew it was fate. It wouldn’t have mattered to me. I wanted you. It was as simple as that. If anything, we could have been doing this sooner because I would have known how to find you.” He played with my hair. “Is that what you’ve been worried about?”

“Yes,” I answered honestly. There was no point in lying or playing games at this point.

He smiled softly. “You don’t have to wonder about anything anymore. This changes everything.” My heart skipped a beat at his words. “I don’t know exactly what yet, but I know I don’t want to be with anyone else. I want to see where this leads.”

I just stared across the room, feeling caught off guard. We needed to have a serious conversation. We couldn’t keep putting it off. If we were smart, we would get it done and out of the way instead of worrying about applying labels and complications.

We were both quiet, and I thought he had fallen asleep until he said, “I’m scared too, you know.”

My body went still. “About what?”

His palm slid along my side. “Of getting hurt.”

“You think I would hurt you?” I searched his face to see if he was serious.

He brought me closer to his chest. “Not intentionally, but I’m developing feelings for you. I might not be an expert on relationships, but I know that they take work. My biggest fear is that I’ll do something to piss you off and you’ll realize I’m not worth it.”

I reached for the blanket off the back of the couch and wrapped it around us. “I can assure you that there will never come a day where you won’t be worth it. Don’t forget, I’m the girl who crushed on you at fourteen. You are the man I compared every relationship with. You’re the reason they all came up short. I know it sounds silly because I was so young at the time, but you were always special to me.”

He sighed heavily. “That’s just it. I’m afraid you’ve built me up in your head and put me on this pedestal. And I’m scared to death that I will disappoint you and it will be a long fall to the bottom.”

I’ve never seen this side of him. In fact, I was sure not many people have. This was the real Maverick. Not the playful jock he pretended to be.

A spark of protectiveness bloomed in my chest. It made me want to wrap him up and shield him from the outside world. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t do anything for him. And as I looked into his eyes for a long moment, I knew he would do the same for me.

I guess this was what love felt like.

CHAPTER18

MAVERICK

Wakingup alone for the past seven days has been depressing. That’s how long it’s been since I’ve seen her. I have yet to have a minute to spare between team meetings, reviewing film, physical therapy, and a few PR obligations.

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