Page 76 of Blind Date with a #FORMERPLAYER
My heart lurches with hope. “I know, but I struggled a lot growing up. A lot of the girls were not nice to me and if it weren’t for Chloe’s visits to stay with her Nana, I don’t know where I would be. The day before you came over, Chloe and I were Christmas shopping and ran into two women that have done and said some really mean things to me. Because of them, I really struggled with my self-confidence.”
“Layla, you’re incredible, don’t let anyone tell you different.”
“It wasn’t that. They were talking about you, asking why you were with me and saying they could get you to change your mind. They put it in my head that you would go back to baseball and leave me behind.”
“That’s not true. I asked you to come with meand you said no.”
Sighing, I nod. “Yeah, I did because I need to be there for my mom and my brother. Plus, my career is important to me, but I don’t want to take advantage of you like other people have in the past. I want us to be on even ground in our relationship…if we have one. But I really don’t want to lose you, Levi. If you give me a chance, I could come visit and we could be together during the off-season. Not just the off-season, but…”
“But we could figure it out,” he finishes.
“Yeah,” I answer, hopeful.
“I really don’t want to give up on us, Layla.”
My heart lurches as I suck in a lungful of air, trying not to cry. “Me neither. I love you, Levi.”
He gasps, his eyes flaring. “What did you just say?”
“I said I love you, Levi.”
“Can you come a little closer? I’m having trouble hearing you from all the way over there.”
I giggle, feeling like the weight of the world is being lifted from my shoulders. Crossing the living room, I stand in front of him seated in the chair. Staring into his eyes, I leave my heart open and vulnerable and reiterate, “I love you, Levi.”
A smile curves his lips and he pulls me into his lap, making me squeal. “Good because I love you too, Layla.” His forehead falls to mine and he whispers, “So damn much.” He presses his mouth to mine and kisses me. Sweeping his tongue inside, ours meet, tangling together in a slow dance with my heart full.
Chapter 39
Levi
“You’re buying me flowers now?” I give her a crooked smile, looking down at her standing in my doorway, holding a white bouquet between us.
“Well, someone I love once told me that lilies mean forgiveness and although you said you forgave me, it’s important to me that you know I’m serious about asking you for it.”
A lump forms in my throat and I swiftly clear it, tamping down my emotions. “Smart man,” I tease, smirking.
“I never said anything about the person being a man,” she claims, not able to keep a straight face.
Laughing, I pick her up and spin her around, taking her inside with me and kicking the door shut. “Now you’re in trouble.”
“Levi, the flowers,” she squeals.
Moving back enough to remove the floral barrier between us, I set them on the table and swing her right back into my chest. “No more flowers. Just me and you.”
My palm goes to her cheek, and my thumb glides over her full lips a moment before my mouth crashes down on hers. The laughterinstantly dissipates, replaced with pure desire. Her mouth falls open with a breathy moan and my tongue immediately sweeps inside, tangling with hers.
We quickly get lost in each other. My hands roam, gliding over her clothes, her pert nipples straining to break through. Our mouths move in tandem kissing, licking, nibbling, and sucking.
Her hand skates over my chest, down to my hard cock, pushing against the zipper of my jeans, desperate to escape.
Her phone rings, and she breaks the kiss, reaching for it. Inhaling her floral scent, I press my face into her neck as she answers. “Hello?” Pausing, she listens to the caller, while my tongue licks behind her ear.
Grinning, she leans away from me, attempting to focus on the call. “Okay. That’s perfect. Thanks!” Disconnecting her phone, she puts it in her pocket and playfully swats at me, giggling. “That was my brother.”
“Oh, sorry, about that.” I kiss her on the neck again.
She laughs. “No, you’re not, but I’m still making you stop.”
