On the Sideline (BSU Football Book 3)

by JB Salsbury

  “He’s great with the horses and pigs, even chickens.” She swipes at the water and misses. “Aw hell.”

  Bex giggles and releases her salamander. “He’s come a long way with my snakes. He no longer insists on staying six feet away from their enclosures at all times.”

  “As much fun as this is to sit here and listen to my two favorite women discuss my weaknesses, I think I’ll go help dad scrape chicken shit off the coops.”

  My mom’s eyes widen. “Language, son.”

  “Mom, you just said hell—”

  “Loren.”

  I sigh. “I apologize. Chicken poop.”

  Bex pushes up her glasses to hide her smile and I can’t wait to get her alone to kiss her. The whole point of bringing her out to the lake was to get her alone, but my mom was so excited about the idea of herping she invited herself along.

  I was right when I told Bex my family was going to love her. From the moment we walked in the door my parents haven’t left her alone, both have been fighting for her time, and frankly, I’m feeling they like her more than me. And I don’t blame them one bit. She’s as loveable as they come.

  “Your dad said I should be able to find a rat snake around the barn.” Bex makes another scoop and pulls a black salamander from the water. “Oh, he’s cute.”

  “Lemme see.” My mom and Bex lean in together to fawn over the thing.

  “You ladies and your reptiles.”

  “Amphibians.” Bex smiles at me so sweetly, yeah… I’m gonna need to kiss her now. “Not reptiles—whoa, what are you doing?”

  I’m calf deep in pond water and I pull her into my arms, amphibian and all, and kiss her softly. “I’m kissing my girl.”

  Her eyes shift to my mom and my grin widens. “Momma, I’m gonna be kissing my girl for a bit. You don’t mind, do you?”

  “You go right ahead.” She swipes at the water and brings up a salamander. “I’m going to name you Sharon.”

  I gently pluck the salamander from Bex’s hand and release him.

  “You touched him,” she says in awe.

  I wipe my hand on my jeans and grip her hips to bring her close. “The things I’d do to get at those lips.”

  Her hands slide up and lock behind my neck. “I really love it here.”

  “I can see that. The country suits you.” I push loose hair off her face. “Could you see yourself growing old here?”

  Her expression falls and her lips part.

  “With me?”

  “I…” She shakes her head, not as if she’s saying no but as if she’s trying to shake things up in order to understand my meaning.

  “Don’t freak out.”

  “I’m not freaking out.” She’s totally freaking out.

  “Just something to think about. No pressure.”

  She licks her lips and takes a deep breath. “Do you see yourself here, you know, after you graduate?”

  I brush my lips against hers. “I see myself wherever you are. And seeing you here just feels good. Feels right.”

  “It does, doesn’t it?”

  “My whole life feels right with you.” I kiss her slowly, making love to her mouth right there in a lake surrounded by God knows what. “I love you.”

  “I love you too,” she says in a way that makes me want to carry her back to my bedroom and keep her there until morning. “Can you take me...”

  …to bed.

  “…to the barn to hunt for snakes?”

  I burst out laughing and kiss her one last time before I take her to the barn and help her look for snakes.

  The things I do for love.

  Also by JB Salsbury

  The Fighting Series

  Fighting for Flight

  Fighting to Forgive

  Fighting to Forget

  Fighting the Fall

  A Father’s Fight

  Fighting for Forever

  Fighting Fate

  Fighting for Honor

  The Final Fight

  Uncaged: A Fighting for Flight Short

  Jack & Sadie

  The Mercy Series

  Ghostgirl

  Saint

  Standalone Novels

  Split

  Wrecked

  Love, Hate, & Rock-n-Roll Series

  Playing by Heart

  Skipped a Beat

  Face the Music

  Strike a Chord

  BSU Football Series

  Breaking Defenses

  Hail Mary

  About the Author

  JB Salsbury is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, two sassy daughters, and her boxer dogs.

  Her love of good storytelling led her to earn a degree in Media Communications. With her journalistic background, writing has always been at the forefront, and her love of romance propelled her career as an author.

  She spends the majority of her day behind the computer where a world of battling alphas, budding romance, and impossible obstacles claws away at her subconscious and begs to be released to the page.

  For more information on

  her books, or just to say hello, visit JB on her website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

  http://www.jbsalsbury.com/