by Lea Hart
Clark walked up next to him with his helmet in his hand and stared out at the field. “We’re almost there.”
“Yeah, let’s not jinx it. Keep at it.” He saw Ana in the section that was reserved for family. He noticed that she was sitting forward and focused on the action. Maybe having her sit close was good luck. He turned, looked at Clark, and smiled. “So it all worked out with Ella?”
Shrugging, he tapped his helmet against his leg. “She’s thinking about it.”
“Is that good thinking or bad thinking?” Jack asked.
“I have no freaking idea, and it’s killing me. She hasn’t decided about coming home with me for the holidays yet, and it’s making me crazy.”
They both got the signal that they were in the next play, so they put their helmets on and jogged out to the field. They heard the play and got in position.
Jack looked at the man facing him and almost smirked. Jack had his good-luck charm in the stands, and he was pretty much untouchable today. The roar of the crowd surrounded him as the ball was put in play. He slipped out of reach of the lineman and made his way to the quarterback. It was time to see if he could get another touchdown.
********
Jack walked out of the locker room and noticed the big group of people who were there to greet him.
Ana smiled when she saw him and made her way quickly toward him. She gently put her hand on his chest and waited. “The last hit was dirty, and I hope the guy gets hit with a huge fine.” She kissed the hand that held hers and felt one hundred times better. “I think my superstitions are working out, because if I sit close to you during a game, then you win and have a good game.”
He covered her hand with his and looked down. “Let’s just say that is true of every day and not just game day. You stay close and I will always be ok.” Kissing the top of her head, his confidence soared. “I’m a little banged up, but it’s nothing that I can’t recover from. I think having you in the stands was my good-luck charm. We won and now we have a real chance at going to Super Bowl.”
She tipped her head against his chest and let out a breath. “I hope so.”
“I know so. Let’s go and celebrate with our family and friends.” He watched her lift her head and smile. “You can kiss all my bruises later on tonight and make me feel better.”
“Is that how this works?”
He held her hand and moved in the direction of the people waiting for them. “Absolutely.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Tuesday
Ana held Jack’s hand as they walked toward Rory and Max’s house. Rory had decided to make an early feast of the seven fishes. Instead of having it on Christmas Eve, she decided to have it several days before, so all of their friends could make it. It was a little bit chilly, so Ana snuggled under Jack’s arm a little farther as they made their way down the street. She felt him stop in front of Mark and Birdie’s gate and glanced up. “Honey, we’re going to the Bishops for dinner. It’s a couple of houses down.”
“I know, sweetie, but I want to ask you something before we go down there.” In his heart, he felt like she was his puzzle piece because of how well they fit together, and he hoped that she felt the same way about him. “This is the spot where I first saw you back in October, and I knew then that I wanted to get to know you. After I spoke to you at the party, I recognized that you were the woman for me and there was nothing that was going to stand in my way. So here we are three months later, and I know you are the love of my life.”
He noticed that her eyes had gotten huge, and she was taking deep breaths. Bending down, he kissed her quickly, then released one of her hands, and dug into his coat pocket. Getting down on one knee in the middle of the sidewalk, he held her hand tightly. “I would like to spend the rest of my life with you and try and make you happy every day. There will never be anyone or anything more important to me than you. Will you marry me, Dr. Ana James, and make me the happiest man in the world?” He opened the light blue box and showed her the ring that he’d chosen for her. Watching her tears spill as she flapped her hand in front of her face, made him a little nervous, and he wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing. “Sweetie, are you okay?” Standing, he gazed into her pretty face as she smiled into his. “So what do you think?”
“Yes! Jack Ellis, I will marry you, and I love you.”
He picked her up and crushed her against him as she buried her wet face against his neck.
She heard him whisper over and over that he loved her as he held her close. She pulled back and looked up. “I guess I better really learn the game of football if I’m going to be married to a player.”
He let her slip down his body and wiped her face with his hand. Pulling the ring out of the box, he held up her hand and slid the massive rock on her finger. He knew that it was big and flashy, but he didn’t care. Ronnie had tried to talk him out of it, but he didn’t want anyone to be mistaken that this woman was his. If it took a ring the size of an egg to do that, then he was fine with it. He watched her look at the ring and then at him.
“My goodness, Jack. Are you sure they didn’t have anything bigger?” She laughed at her own joke, held her hand up, and let the moonlight reflect off the surface. “You could go ice skating on this ring.”
“I know you’re making fun of me, but I don’t care. I want everyone to understand that you are my wife, and the ring sends out that message loud and clear.”
“It sure does.” She moved her hand to his face and studied the man who had stolen her heart. “I love you, and I plan on making you as happy as I can.”
“I’m already happy. You can give me a bunch of babies in a few years and stay by my side, and that will do it.”
“All right. I think I can manage that.”
He tucked her into his side and smiled down at her. “Dr. Ana James Ellis…..I love you.” He dropped his lips and swore the kiss was sweeter and more intense because she was going to be his wife. He heard someone cough, so he released her and glanced over. The couple that had witnessed their first conversation stood in front of them. Cary, Travis, and their baby girl smiled as they waited. “Hi, guys.”
Travis shook Jack’s hand and then hugged Ana.
Ana’s hand went up to Travis’s back, and Cary let out a scream. “Oh, my god. You’re engaged.”
Travis released Ana, pulled up her hand, and whistled. “Playing football must pay well.” He laughed as Cary handed him their daughter. He stepped back and let his wife give Ana a hug and inspect the ring. “When did this happen?”
Jack chuckled and stepped next to Ana. “About two minutes ago. I wanted to propose in the spot where I first saw her.”
Travis snickered and looked them both over. “I remember that. I never thought you had a chance with her.” He felt Cary hit him on the shoulder. He smiled at his wife. “I really thought she would never give him the time of day.”
Ana slipped her hand around Jack’s waist and smiled at her friends. “I tried to resist, but he kept smiling at me, and I found that I couldn’t.” She patted his chest, and her ring glimmered in the moonlight.
Cary nodded her head in understanding. “The same thing happened to me.”
Travis slipped his free arm around his wife and kissed the side of her head. “It’s true. It took me almost five months to get her to marry me.”
Cary rolled her eyes and smiled. “My poor husband; he had to wait forever.” Baby Sofia started babbling, and Cary held out her arms and hugged Sofia against her hip. “He has a wife, a baby, and a dog, and I think it all happened within two months. Good thing he’s a patient man.”
Travis shrugged his shoulder and smiled at everyone. “I’m an efficient man. What can I say?”
Ana looked down at her hand again and felt her heart beat heavily against her chest. She closed her eyes for a moment and knew that it was happiness that was making her feel this way. She felt a kiss on top of her head and squeezed Jack a little tighter.
“We’re going
to head in. We’ll see you guys in a little bit,” Travis said. He took his wife’s hand and led her down the sidewalk.
“Congratulations,” Cary called over her shoulder.
Jack turned Ana into him and wrapped her up tightly. “How are you doing, sweetie?”
“I’m happy and overwhelmed. I love you, Jack.”
“That’s a good thing, because you’re stuck with me for the next sixty years.”
“I hope so.”
“Let’s get married right away.”
“I’ll let you work it out with my mother. The woman has a vision for her only daughter, and I’m not standing in her way.”
“I hope it’s a vision that can be accomplished in a couple of months.”
Ana laughed and started walking in the direction of the Bishops’ home. “We may need to consider elopement then, because I think it will take a year for what my mother has in mind.”
He tugged her hand, so she would stop. “What do you want?”
“To stand on the beach in a comfortable dress, barefoot, and say yes to the man of my dreams.”
“I will make sure that you have what you want, so you can leave your mom to me.”
“You’re already turning out to be a good husband.”
“I will always make sure that I do my best to make sure that you have everything you desire.”
“What more could a girl want?” She leaned up and kissed the man who was making every single one of her dreams come true. Even the ones she didn’t know about. Jack Ellis was a prince disguised as a football player. Who would have guessed?
The End
INSPIRATION
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I hope you enjoyed reading the first book in my new series.
xoxox Lea
The series that started everything……
Coronado Series
Latched is the first book in the Coronado Series
It’s the story of Birdie and Mark and how they fall in love. Because they were the first characters to inhabit my brain, they will show up in some form or fashion for the rest of the series. I’ve received the comment that the end of Latched was abrupt…. but it was the only beginning. Mark and Birdie’s story keeps unraveling. Throughout the rest of the series, you’re going to meet their children and watch them as they make their way through life’s milestones.
Snatched is the second book in the series
This is Max and Rory’s story. Rory needs Max to solve a stalker problem, and Max needs Rory to fall for him. Trust me when I tell you there is never a dull moment, because these two give each other a run for their money. Rory and Max will show up in the subsequent books as well because every girl needs a best friend.
Birdie and Rory are always up to something, even though they have their hands full with husbands, children, family, and friends. They still somehow seem to find time for shenanigans.
Attached is the third book in the series
This is where we meet Cary and Travis. What happens when a woman ends up in a biker bar in the middle of the high desert in California? What happens when a retired Navy SEAL finds himself in that same bar? This is the story of a woman who desperately wants some adventure and a man who wants to protect her.
Catch is the fourth book in the series
Watch how love changes a mighty warrior…..Retired SEAL, Chris Iceman Ellis has been attracted to Rachel Miller since he met her over a year ago, and he’s done nothing about it.
Until he discovers she needs his protection. Now he has a reason to place himself in her life, and he’s going to do everything he can to make it permanent.
Watch what happens when a man falls for a woman and becomes her hero and she becomes his saving grace.
If you would like to see a summary of all of my upcoming books please visit; Lea Hart Author | Books and Inspiration