Page 86 of The Bad Boy's Homecoming
She picked up the bag and reached inside to find a black square flat box.Before she opened it she looked up to find him watching her.
“Thank you,” she said.
“You don’t even know what it is yet.”
“But I know I love it, because you were being thoughtful when you got it for me.And it was nice to have you with me tonight.I know it was hard for you to come back to this city.”
He nodded.“Open your gift, babe, then you can thank me in bed.”
She laughed and flipped it open to find a dainty gold bracelet with two charms hanging from it.
“It’s a charm bracelet, one for your first gallery event, and we can add to it.”
“A paintbrush, and a heart.”She lifted it out of the box.
“The heart is to remind you that you have mine.”He took the bracelet from her and unclasped then reclasped it around her wrist.
“How did I get so lucky?”she said standing as she admired her new favorite piece of jewelry.Then she moved to stand in front of him and put both hands on his shoulders.His hands were on her hips, pulling her toward him as he sat back and she straddled his lap, causing her dress to hike up her thighs.
“I’m pretty sure I’m the lucky one, but I’m game to let you think that for as long as it takes.”
“Takes to what?Because I’m obviously already in love with you.”
“You are?When did that happen?”Levi asked.
“I think probably that morning you burst into my room and I threw a vase at your head.”
“We really should work on your aim, as long as you don’t use it against me,” he teased.
“I love you, thank you for being patient with me.”She kissed him and that was the last thing either of them could say because all the emotion and desire that they’d had to hold off on acting on lit like a bonfire covered in gasoline.They were in a frenzy to get as close to each other as possible.
“Before I forget, I love you too,” Levi said, and then carried her to bed.
EPILOGUE
Four Months Later
The announcer’s boomingvoice was the only sound in the packed stadium.Missy gripped Gran’s hand in hers as they all held their breath waiting to see what would happen next.It was the final play of the fifth game in the series that was going to determine if Levi’s team would go forward in the playoffs.She held her breath as the pitcher launched the ball to the man at bat.He swung, and missed.The fans exploded with excitement.Tampa was going to the big show, the World Series.
Missy was on her feet jumping up and down cheering as she searched the field for Levi, but then she spotted him looking up at the box seats reserved for her and his family.He pointed right at her before blowing a kiss, a ritual he started at the beginning of the season every time she went to one of his games.The Florida media started referring to him as Kissy Face instead of the Bad Boy which his publicist loved.Gran squeezed Missy tight, while Wes and Dalton hugged and high-fived.Declan and the boys were there too with big smiles.Everyone flew down for the game to cheer Levi on.The field was a crush of players and coaches, as fireworks boomed into the sky.
She had been so nervous about being Levi’s plus-one in the box at the start of the season, but the other wives and girlfriends had been really welcoming.It didn’t take long for them all to discover her artistic talents when she started to doodle in between innings.And now everyone knew she was the artist that belonged to Levi.The other wives and girlfriends were high-fiving and coming up to hug her in celebration.
Usually they would have to wait until the players talked to the press before they could see them but now the families of the players were being ushered out onto the field.
“Oh I feel like a movie star with all this fanfare,” Mrs.Hart said, as they followed the crowd into a dedicated elevator.
The players all had special hats and T-shirts to celebrate the win, and she found Levi’s blue eyes beaming as he burst out of the throng of people and swooped her into his arms.
“Little Miss Lucky Charm,” he said before kissing her.
“You don’t believe in lucky charms.”
“I changed my mind,” he said, when he finally put her down and looked to his family.
“So we have to do the trophy thing, and then we’ll meet you all at our house to celebrate?”Levi said, still holding her hand.
Wes gave Levi another big hug.“Really proud of you, little brother.Dad would be ecstatic.”They all heard Wes’s voice crack before all three brothers ended up in a big hug.
