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“Maybe I’ll be more comfortable by the postseason,” I joke, knowing fully well Shawn and I won’t be faking a relationship when February comes around.
That ship will have sailed and we’ll have gone our separate ways, both getting what we want out of this quick holiday fling.
I wonder if he’ll still want me to come to the Titans’ games. I wonder if he’ll be dating someone new, and I wonder if he’ll fly her out to the Super Bowl if the team makes it that far. There’s a twist in my gut when I picture him with his arm around a leggy blonde at the press conference after the big win.
“Lacey? Are you okay?” January asks, and I smile.
“I’m fine. It’s been a long day with Thanksgiving, then the game.” I lean forward and pinch Lilah’s cheeks. “I’m going to miss my new buddy. How long are you in town for?”
“Only until Sunday. I go back to work on Monday, and as much as I’d like to stay, having a toddler isn’t cheap.” She laughs and kisses Lilah’s head. “If you ever find yourself in Georgia, my door is always open. It’s a small door, with toys on the floor and a crib shoved in the corner of my bedroom, but it’s open.”
“Hey.” I give her a gentle nudge. “A home isn’t measured by the size of the structure. It’s measured by what’s inside. And I can tell your home has a lot of love.”
“It does.” January looks down at her daughter and smiles. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“There are my favorite girls.” Dallas walks out of the locker room in his suit and tie with outstretched arms. Lilah squeals and wiggles, trying to get closer to her uncle. He takes her from January’s hold and spins her around. “Lilah Bug. I missed you while I was playing.”
“Hey, Dal,” January says.
“Hey, sis.” He kisses her cheek then turns to me and grins. “My third favorite girl. I shouldn’t let Coach hear me say that, though. He might give me extra laps.”
“Shawn can share,” I joke. “Great game tonight. You all played well.”
“12-0, baby,” Dallas calls out, and Lilah screams with delight. “We’re going to the championship.”
“We’ve got some more games to win before that happens,” a deep, rumbly voice says, and I turn around to find Shawn watching us with a smile on his face. “And I did hear you, Lansfield. You should plan to show up to practice early on Saturday.”
“Dammit,” the kicker groans.
“Dammit,” Lilah repeats, and we all burst out laughing.
“Such a bad influence, Uncle Dallas,” January tuts, and she takes her daughter back. “It was great to meet you, Lacey. You have my number, right?”
“I do. If you’re ever back in town, let me know. I’d love to get dinner,” I say.
“Me too.” She peers over my shoulder and looks at Shawn. “You’ve got a good one here.”
His eyes meet mine, and his gaze is soft. “I do, don’t I? Come here, sweetheart,” he says, and,gosh, I like how nice that word sounds coming from him. I want to wrap it up in a bow and keep it for myself.
I bite my bottom lip and shuffle toward him. He slides his arm around my waist and pulls me close. He drums his fingers against my hip, and I shiver at the contact. I didn’t wear his jersey tonight, opting to keep on my clothes from lunch instead. There’s a small sliver of space between the start of my skirt and the hem of my shirt, and his pinky grazes across my skin.
It's maddening, and I kind of want to tug him into the supply closet to our right and see how his fingers feel on other parts of my body. Especially when he does it a second time, a slow drag that has my back arching and my toes curling.
I think the bastard is doing it on purpose, and I hate him for it.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” I blurt out, and Shawn chuckles into the top of my head. “Get home safe.”
The Lansfields leave, and I turn to swat Shawn’s arm. He grins at me and cocks his head to the side.
“Something wrong, Daniels?”
“No,” I huff, and I put my hands on my hips. “I’m fine.”
“You look a little worked up.”
“No thanks to you,” I mumble, and his attention bounces to the hollow of my throat. “Do you want to go to the diner? You’re probably exhausted, aren’t you?”
“We can’t break tradition,” he says, and his voice is hoarse. He coughs and lets go of me, taking a step back. “A milkshake is exactly what I need right now.”
