by T. K. Rapp
“Or something?” she teased. “Smooth, Tabor.”
“That’s not what I meant, but I like where your mind is going,” I answered quickly before walking toward the leather couch.
She watched as I tossed several pillows onto the floor. Abbi and Mom went overboard in decorating, despite my argument that men don’t care about pillows.
When the space was cleared, I sat down in the spot I’d worn from my vegging and reclined the seat back. I patted the open spot next to me and casually draped my arm across the back.
Dani was still standing off to the side as I turned on the TV and began flipping channels, glancing in her direction a couple of times.
“I won’t bite,” I said teasingly as I patted the seat again.
“Good to know,” she shot back. “I’m just waiting to see what you pick before I make the commitment.”
I turned away, smirking and shaking my head, never stopping on any channel. I liked the playfulness in our banter. Dani had a dry personality, but that was something that made me laugh. It was hard to tell when she was serious or joking, and that kept me guessing. Every once in a while, I’d pause on a channel only to change it again.
She finally walked over and joined me on the couch, and when she did I dropped my arm over her shoulder as if she’d always been there. I handed her the remote and laughed at her reaction.
“Wow. You play well with others?” she asked, feigning shock before handing it back to me. “You pick.”
“All right.” I shrugged, flipping the channel a few more times before stopping and angling my body toward her. “It’s too much pressure,” I laughed.
“No movies then,” she said, turning to face me so she could see my face. My finger ran lazy circles on her upper arm and I noticed a shiver as she tried to hide her reaction.
“Okay.” I smirked, leaning in to kiss her, but she pressed her hand over my mouth.
“Not that either,” she said. She gave a mocking scold and grinned. “Tell me something about you that most people don’t know.”
I leaned back and looked at the ceiling as I considered her question.
“I don’t really like talking to people,” I admitted.
Dani’s face scrunched in confusion and I smiled, shaking my head.
“I like people. But I’ve never been completely at ease in front of a crowd. I hate press conferences, but we are obligated to do them after a game.”
“Why do you hate it so much?” she asked.
I inhaled loudly and cleared my throat. “I don’t hate it, but when I was a kid, I had a bit of a stutter. I was teased when I was in first grade by the other kids and I just got to the point where I so was embarrassed that I finally stopped talking altogether.”
“Really? But I haven’t heard you stutter,” she observed, and she wasn’t wrong.
“Remember how I said my mom was a teacher?”
She nodded and I continued.
“She worked at a different school from where Abbi and I went. The speech pathologist at her school was supposed to be the best in the area, so Mom moved us there. I was in speech therapy until I was in fifth grade.”
“So you don’t stutter anymore,” she clarified.
“I still have my moments, but for the most part, I’m good. But that’s why I hate talking to people, or in public,” I said. “What about you?”
“I don’t stutter,” she quipped with a wink.
“Not that. Tell me something other people don’t know about you,” I prodded.
Dani looked deep in thought and I figured she was going to reveal a secret tattoo or odd piercing. But when she began speaking, I knew it was something deep and personal.
“You know, I’ve had a pretty easy, uneventful life. But my senior year in college, I started seeing someone. It was casual at first—no commitment—and we didn’t get serious until I graduated. Everyone loved him. My roommates thought he was perfect. He was cute and funny, nice—only he wasn’t like that when we were alone. He could be rude, mean, and terribly inconsiderate. We were together longer than we should have been, and I ended it when he hit me for the second time.”
She said her words as if they had no effect on her. I suppose she had time to get over it and move on. But my entire body burned with a rage that I only felt on the gridiron, and it was a terrifying feeling. My hand that had been touching her froze, unable to do anything at all.
“And your friends did nothing?” I seethed, disgusted that no one helped her.
“They didn’t know,” she admitted. “I was always the quiet one of my roommates and I was too embarrassed to tell them I’d let it happen. So they were disappointed when we broke up.”
“Why do they think you dumped him?” I asked, still pained at her admission.
She shrugged. “To focus on work. I didn’t want to chance falling back into a relationship like that, so haven’t dated for about a year. The girls keep trying to set me up, and I always have an excuse.”
I felt my nostrils flare as I exhaled in an attempt to quell the anger inside. I gently pulled Dani to me so she was curved into my side, wrapping an arm securely around her. Her head was leaned against my chest, and knowing that she was in my arms was the only thing to settle my erratic heartbeat. She wrapped her arm around my waist and squeezed until I relaxed.
“I’m sorry you went through that,” I admitted, kissing the top of her head.
“I’ve never told anyone that,” she finally said. “Never.”
“Why didn’t you turn him in?” I asked. “Did you ever see him again?”
She pulled away slightly and looked up at me. “I just wanted him to stay away from me. I told him if he ever came near me again, I had pictures that I would take to the police.”
“And that was enough to keep him away, huh?” I asked.
“Pretty much,” she yawned through her words. “I saw him in passing a time or two and avoided him.”
“What else do you want to know?” I asked, rubbing my hand up and down her arm. I could tell by the dismissive way she spoke that she didn’t want to continue talking about the abusive asshole ex, so I changed the subject.
“What’s your family like?” she asked, sounding miles away as her voice quieted.
“They’re great,” I started. “Similar to your family…I liked them, by the way.”
“Me, too,” she muttered sleepily and I chuckled.
“My dad was the best, but after he died, Mom had to take on the role of both. She never dated, just gave Abbi and me all of her attention. I don’t think I’d be where I am today without her.”
“That’s nice,” she responded quietly. Sleep was taking over, I could tell, but I didn’t want to wake her and I didn’t want her to leave.
“Would she approve?” she asked, soft and distant.
I didn’t answer right away, because a cute snore escaped and I squeezed her softly to me.
“She would approve, Dani,” I answered quietly, kissing the top of her head. “She just wants me to be happy.”
I reached behind me and pulled a blanket from the back of the couch, laying it over both of us. Having Dani in my arms felt right; it was where she belonged. The thought should have alarmed me, but it didn’t. I’d go at whatever pace she wanted to convince her that there was something happening between us.
I rested my cheek against her head as her breathing lulled me into my own peaceful sleep.
“Tabor,” a whisper called out in the darkness.
“Hm?” I muttered groggily.
“I should…” she began to say, but I held her firmly in my grasp until she quieted.
My eyes were closed and I thought she was asleep until I felt her inching up further on the section of the recliner we shared. Dani placed a kiss against my neck.
“Thank you,” she whispered before snuggling closer to me.
“’Night, baby,” I whispered, kissing the top of her head without thinking.
My eyes shot open at the words and I worried t
hat she’d freak out. But Dani didn’t flinch or question the sentiment, instead curling into me.
It was the best sleep I’d had in a long time.
Because Dani was in my arms.
C h a p t e r 14
D A N I
After the night at my parents’ house, Tabor and I spent as much time together as we could. It had been a month since we’d decided to make it official, dating in secret, but it worked.
He was busy making the rounds through his foundation, visiting sick kids and funding programs similar to mine. I was never one to pay attention to the news, but I found myself tuning in to catch glimpses of him in that world.
It wasn’t something I did often, because that was the persona. I wanted the guy.
I had spent much of my day organizing the new equipment provided to us by Hunter’s Heroes. My principal was excited that we had received the funding and commended me on the success. The goal was to have the program run year-round, for those kids who didn’t have any place to go in the summer.
It was a long and exhausting day, and I was grateful for the volunteers who had shown up to help. When I got home, I showered and heated up some leftovers, taking them and a glass of wine to the couch. I flipped on the evening news, wondering if I’d see Tabor’s face there because he’d been off doing his thing all day.
Reports of accidents, domestic violence, and politics led the news and I cringed. As a teacher, I should’ve been eager to stay current on all things news, but the human in me grew tired and sad by the constant bleak outlook. I muted it and opted to check my email instead.
When the sports highlights came on, I quickly turned up the volume and watched as if my existence depended on it. It reminded me of my dad and I laughed at the thought.
A video showing Tabor with a group of kids hanging all over him led the segment and I smiled at his comfort with them. He was a natural leader, and everyone rallied around his civic efforts.
“JT,” a reporter asked while he was hanging out with a group of kids.
He looked up at the reporter and smiled before giving his attention back to the kids.
“There’s a rumor going around that you’re dating a swimsuit model.”
I knew he was with me, but still there was an ache in my heart at the suggestion that he was with someone else—let alone a swimsuit model. I waited with bated breath for his response as he paused for an answer. During the last week, we had been debating about taking our relationship public. He wanted people to know about me and insisted it could be as subtle as us going out to dinner. But I was dragging my feet, wanting to remain in our bubble a little longer.
As he was opening his mouth to answer, Tabor was interrupted by one of the kids with him.
“You have a girlfriend?” a little girl asked with wide eyes before breaking out into giggles.
Tabor squatted down and whispered something in her ear, making her laugh even more. She gripped her stomach and drew the attention of the others around her. She said something to a few of the other kids, who started laughing as well while he watched with amusement.
How can I not fall for the guy? He is perfect.
“What’s so funny?” the reporter asked hopefully.
Tabor looked at him and shook his head. “Inside joke.”
“So are the rumors true?” the annoying man pushed.
“Today is about these kids here. They’re amazing, right?” Tabor countered, taking the attention off of his love life.
The reporter looked as though he’d been sucker punched and fumbled over his words. “Yeah…no, you’re right. These are great kids.”
Tabor barely spared the guy another glance, focusing on the tiny humans around him.
“How do you think the Quakes are going to do this year?” another reporter asked.
Tabor appeared to like that question better and shrugged. “We have a great team and coaching staff. We’ll just have to see how everything pans out.”
“Are you ready for training camp?”
He laughed and shook his head. “I still have a couple of weeks left, guys. Besides, I’m having too much fun with these kids here.”
The story ended and Tabor gave a wave to the reporters before going back inside with the kids that surrounded him, shouting more of their own questions at him.
There was a knock at my door and I knew it was him. We’d agreed to see each other that night because his mom and sister were supposed to visit for the weekend and he wasn’t sure how much I’d see of him.
It was strange to think that Tabor was the same guy everyone in the city admired—though it was easy to see why.
I opened the door and raised an eyebrow, blocking his entrance. “So who are you dating?”
He stepped closer and wrapped his arm around my waist, kissing me senseless.
“Good answer.” I grinned, finally allowing him to enter.
“So you saw that, huh?”
“What model are you supposedly dating?” I asked nonchalantly, though I had to admit there was a bit of jealousy swarming in the pit of my stomach. But it was hidden well.
“Candayce Evans posted something on Instagram about an upcoming photoshoot we have,” he said, following me into the living room.
Yeah. Full-on green-eyed monster threatened to emerge and I fought to keep her at bay. I took a deep breath and sat down, reaching for my glass of wine.
“Where’s the shoot?” I asked, impressed with my impassive tone.
“PB. Next weekend,” he said.
Pacific Beach! Where everyone can see you two all cozy?
It was on the tip of my tongue to shout that very thing at him, but I couldn’t. It was my idea to keep this thing between us a “secret.”
“You can come if you want,” he said, laying my legs over his lap and pressing his lips to my neck. “I can tell them you’re my PA.”
“Very funny,” I snorted, taking a leisurely sip of my wine.
“Why not?” he asked, not letting me off the hook.
“You can’t be serious.” I rolled my eyes and watched his smile disappear.
“You’re not worried, are you?”
“No,” I lied.
“Dani.” He said my name as if he were talking to a petulant child, and didn’t continue until I looked at him. “When you lie, your lips do this thing…like they’re doing right now.”
“Don’t act like you know my quirks.” I forced out a laugh.
“I just thought maybe we could go and hang out afterward…in public.”
“I think I’d rather not witness some gorgeous bombshell hanging all over you,” I admitted. In that one statement, I felt like I set the entire feminist movement back years. But I didn’t care. I needed to be honest. “Besides, I think I have something going on.”
“Yeah,” he laughed. “With me. Remember? Last week I asked you if you wanted to go to Wilson’s house with me.”
“Shit,” I muttered.
“Yep,” he laughed. “You’re free. So what do you say?”
“I really don’t want to,” I said, “but if I have to cut a bitch I’m going to blame you.”
“Aren’t you tired of being here or at my place all the time?” he asked.
“We’ve gone to my parents’ and Millie’s house,” I said.
He pulled me up so that I was straddling him and held my face in his hands. He brought my lips to his and kissed me. My arguments faded as I surrendered to his grasp, loving the way he tasted. Tabor’s hand trailed down my back, resting against my waist. When we separated, he looked into my eyes, my hands braced against his pecs, and I tried to decipher what was going through his mind.
I knew the one thing he was thinking about, but sex was something I had taken off the table. I needed to get to know him and the thing was, the more I learned, the more I loved. I’d know when the time was right with Tabor, and I wanted to make sure we knew what we were getting into.
“Please come with me to the shoot?” he pleaded and all I could do was
nod.
***
“Call you when I get home,” Tabor promised as he stepped outside.
I loved our goodnight kisses. They were filled with so much promise and I fell for him a little more every time.
“I—” It was on the tip of my tongue and I almost choked on the words that tried to escape, but I covered quickly. “I was just going to say drive safe.”
After another quick peck, I watched as his form retreated to his waiting SUV.
“Shit,” I muttered to myself, waving as he drove away.
I closed the door and found my phone that was charging in the kitchen. Millie had texted, and instead of answering, I dialed her number and waited for her to answer.
“I almost told him I loved him,” I admitted when she finally answered.
“Really?” she asked, stunned. “Is that how you feel?”
I closed my eyes and swallowed hard. “Yes.”
Millie squealed over the phone and I heard her telling Nick, who let out an unenthusiastic “yay.”
“So why don’t you tell him?” she asked.
“It’s too soon, Mill. It’s barely been a month,” I said.
“So?”
“What do you mean, so? It’ll freak him out.”
“How do you know?” she asked.
“I just know. Hell, I’m the one who feels it and I’m freaked out.”
“You’re ridiculous.” Millie snorted. “What if he feels the same way?”
“What if he doesn’t?” I said aloud, realizing that that scared me more than admitting it for myself.
“Let me ask you this: do you see a future with him?”
“I think so.”
“Do you want to continue spending time with someone who doesn’t feel the same way? Or at least isn’t moving in that direction?”
“I guess not,” I answered weakly.
“Do us all a favor and think about it. Where do you see this thing going? Is Tabor the one you want to be with in the end?”
“Millie, you’re talking big words here to someone who’s still trying to accept that she almost said something she can barely admit to herself.”
“Think about it,” she said. “And then call me tomorrow when you figure it out.”