Page 98 of Penalty Kick

Dash smiled. He was more than prepared. Talia had started talking about how she wanted a big family—someday—about a year into their relationship. He was more than willing to give her whatever she wanted, knowing that she was going to be a fantastic mother. If she were half as good with their kids as she was with the ones she worked with on the Unified team and through her speech pathology program, then she would be the best mother in the world. It was just a matter of making someday sooner rather than later.

“I am. Her dreams are not news to me.”

“I figured they weren’t.” He let out a long exhale. “I’ve been lucky enough in my life to know two great loves. Two very different women, but equally amazing in their own way. What that has taught me is to never take a moment for granted. When you find the one who owns your heart, you love her hard, every single second of every single day. I trust that when it comes to my daughter, that’s what you’re going to do.”

“That’s my plan. You know that I love her more than anything. She makes me not only want to be a better man, but actually be one.”

“You were already a pretty good one beforehand. Just maybe a little lost there for a moment. Happens to the best of us.”

Dash’s chest swelled with pride. It meant a lot to hear someone he admired as much as Gunnar say that.

“So, I have your blessing?” Dash asked, all nerves returning. Robert had given his, only after grilling Dash on his plans for the future and if he was making sure they would financially be set and so on. The call had lasted more than two hours, and Dash had been exhausted at the end of it.

“Not without actually asking,” Gunnar scoffed.

“Coach, I love Talia. She is my person. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I’d like your blessing to ask her to marry me.”

“Permission granted. Although you know she’ll have your balls if she finds out you asked permission. Tell you all about how she’s not a piece of property to be bargained for.”

“That is why I asked for your blessing rather than permission. She isn’t property, but I also know that family is important to her. Becoming a member of this family is something I will not take for granted.”

“You’ve been a member of this family since she chose you that day in the weight room,” he said, tilting his beer bottle toward Dash. Emotions rose within Dash, giving him that feeling that Talia always referred to as the warm fuzzies. “Now, all you need is a plan.”

“I believe I already have one.”

* * *

Nothing but good memories surrounded the Southland Holdings annual carnival for Talia. Whether it was beating Dash at the ring toss that first year, the bumper car battle she and Avery had taken on against the boys last year, or watching Dash, Liam, Chance, and Elliot compete in the pie-eating contest, she never failed to smile. None of those managed to compare to her and Dash’s epic first kiss, however.

The way he had paused, his lips so close, yet so far, was a feeling that Talia would never forget. Her heart still skipped a beat every time she thought about it. His kisses still took her breath away—didn't matter if it was a quick one as one of them was running out the door in the morning, or the long, drawn out ones when they were snuggled up on the couch. Every last one of them was magical, and she knew she would never get enough.

“Do I dare ask what that wild smile is all about?” Dash asked.

“Nothing in particular,” she answered, inhaling deeply, enjoying the smell of fried foods wafting through the air. Her tummy grumbled in response, her tastebuds craving a funnel cake. They hadn’t been here all that long. While their normal plan of attack was food first, the line for the Ferris wheel was short, so Dash suggested they start there. It was an activity that Talia usually liked to save until later, enjoying the buildup to recreating that special moment, but she couldn’t argue with a short line. “I was just thinking about our first kiss. The Ferris wheel will never be the same.”

“That was not our first kiss, Bonita.”

“Yes it was.”

“It was not.”

Was he crazy? Talia furrowed her brow, sure that Dash had lost his mind. She knew damn well he remembered it, since he kissed her every time they rode this ride, always claiming that “some old wives told him to.” The statement never failed to make her laugh.

“Dash, the very first time you kissed me was right here, at this carnival. When we were stopped at the top of the Ferris wheel,” she said. There was some indignance in her voice, but she didn’t care. She was borderline pissed off that he was acting like this wasn’t how it all played out.

“No, Talia,” he replied. Stepping in close, his hands landed on her hips, tugging her into him. His hard body felt so good against hers, making her want to melt right into him. “The very first time I kissed you was at Bunz, the night of the bachelor auction. You were holding ice to my face after Padre hit me. Your hazel eyes sparkled, even though they were laced with concern, and I could not help myself. You have always been the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, but in that moment, with your hand on my face…that was something else entirely. That was the moment you stole my heart.”

Oh…My…God…

Talia couldn’t breathe. All the air had been sucked out of the atmosphere, leaving her standing here, stunned by his admission. She hadn’t forgotten about the auction kiss. That kiss still fueled fantasies while Dash was away on road trips. But it was in a different category to her. They weren’t Dash and Talia at the auction. That didn’t start until the carnival, when she’d really started to see a different side to him. The moment at the bar was just a kiss—a hot as fuck kiss, but still just a kiss. The carnival had been more. So much more.

“We’re up,” Dash said, pulling her from her thoughts. Pointing to the car that was waiting for them, he smiled. “Number 5, that sounds like a lucky one.”

“What?” she asked, climbing in and buckling up. Who comments on the number on the side of the Ferris wheel cars? Who even knew there were numbers?

“Now, where were we?”

The ride started to move, slowly inching them up into the sky. The bright lights of the midway flashed around them, obscuring the stars.