I couldn’t help the wide smile that spread across my face. The sun was shining and I was with an alpha who looked at me like I mattered, that I was important. And also, the lazy fat dog was sitting at his feet, not letting him move.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying this,” Reid said.
“Me too. I never would have pegged you for a pet person.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had one. Maybe I will again someday.”
“Maybe,” I said.
“Traveling is the one thing I just don’t enjoy about the job.”
“Really? I kind of love it. I’d never be able to visit so many places otherwise. Then again, I’m sure I’ll get tired of it. Of course, for me, I have more downtime when we’re on the road. Plus, no one recognizes me.”
I settled on the bench next to Reid. The puppy brought the ball over and dropped it at his feet. He picked it up and tossed it.
“We’ll be in Detroit in a few weeks. There’s a restaurant there that I’d like to take you to. I look forward to it every time I’m in the city.”
I bit my lip to keep from smiling like a lunatic, when really I wanted to jump into the air in celebration. “I’d like that.”
“Great. It’s a date.” Reid leaned closer to me and softly kissed my lips. “I missed you all day.”
“You saw me this morning.”
“I know, but I didn’t enjoy being apart. What will it take to convince you to come back to my place with me?” He winced after he spoke the words.
“What?” I asked. I couldn’t resist reaching out and touching my hand to his thigh.
“That sounded like I wanted you to come back to my place for sex, but I truly do want to spend time with you. We can talk. You can even stay in the guest room if you prefer.”
I grinned. “I think that ship has sailed, don’t you?”
“Not at all. Just because I shared your heat with you doesn’t mean I expect anything else. I want you, there is no doubt about that. But I will follow your lead, Rowan.”
I kissed him again, then nuzzled my nose against his neck. “I want you, too,” I said.
The puppy barked, and we were forced apart with a laugh. “I guess we have to table that discussion. These two want to get moving,” Reid said.
“One of them does, anyway.” The big Doberman still lay at Reid’s feet, fast asleep. I pulled out my phone. “I’m going to let Evan know that I won’t be coming home tonight.”
Chapter 16
Reid
We were an hour into reviewing tape with the team, talking over our different strategies and plans for the upcoming games. As we got closer to mid-season, our record was good, considering I was a new coach and we had a young team, but there were definite improvements we could make. There were always improvements to make.
After I’d taken Rowan out to dinner the night before, when I dropped him off at home, Evan and I had stayed up talking strategy. Rowan had fallen asleep with his head on my thigh. I hadn’t wanted to leave him. Each day I got closer to just asking him to move in with me.
Most nights he stayed at my home, but there were times when he insisted on going back to Evan’s place so he could give me space. Not that I ever asked for it or wanted it. I was working at his pace, and all I could do was show him that I wanted to be with him all the time.
The door clicked open, and Rowan was there pushing a cart in full of drinks and snacks for the guys. They were listening to Elliot go on about a new play we had talked about. Meanwhile, I walked over to Rowan and smiled softly at him as I grabbed a drink from the tray. He reached under it, then pulled out a cup from my favorite coffee place. I smiled as I took it.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Hold up, hold up,” Derek, one of our wingers, called. “I think it’s about time we talked about this big-ass elephant in the room.”
I turned to look at room. All eyes were on Rowan and me.
“You have something you’re concerned about, Derek?” I asked.
