Page 122 of Lowering His Guard

“Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. You’re building a gym on Smuggler’s Hideaway? Why? This isn’t where you live. You live in Steel City. You play football for the Seals. I’m confused.”

He steps closer, and his hand lifts toward me but he grunts and lets it drop again. Disappointment slams into me. I want him to touch me. I want to feel his hands on me. His skin on mine.

“I’m retiring after this season. And then Jace and I are moving to Smuggler’s Hideaway.”

Butterflies explode in my stomach. He’s moving here? Where I live?

But we’re not together. I’ll be forced to bump into the man I love on a regular occasion. Maybe I’ll become a hermit. Do hermits surf?

“Pint-sized.” He palms my cheeks. “I’m moving here to be with you.”

My heart slams into my chest. “But I can’t give you a family.”

“I’m not asking you to give me a family. I’m asking you to join the one I already have.”

My eyes swell with tears. He’s offering me everything I ever wanted, but I’m scared. Is this real?

“You’re serious?”

He wipes away the tears that escape my eyes. “I’m serious.” He presses his mouth to mine before stepping back and grasping my hand. “Let me show you.”

He motions to the sticks on the ground. “This is the layout of the house.” He points to each room. “Kitchen. Living room. Half bath. Dining room. Primary bedroom with bathroom. Jace’s room.”

There’s one room he doesn’t mention. “What’s that room?”

“It’s a spare room.”

My stomach falls to the ground with disappointment. He says he’s okay with not having more children and then this. “Brock, is this supposed to be a nursery?”

He shrugs. “Can be. If we adopt or use a surrogate. We don’t have to do either. Maybe Jace is the only kid I ever have. I don’t know.” He takes my face in his hands. “But I do know I don’t need you to give me a family, pint-sized. You already did.”

“I did? No, I didn’t.” I think I would know if I gave the football player a family.

“You did. You gave me a home. A community. Your parents. Smuggler’s Hideaway. A place where Jace belongs.”

Tears burst from my eyes. Whoever thought the grumpy giant could be sweet? “You’re sure?”

“I fucking love you, my pint-sized surfer. I’m not giving you up.”

“I love you, too, giant.”

His lips crash down on mine and I moan as his flavor hits me. I thought I lost this. Lost him. I didn’t. It was just a hiccup in the road.

“Dad! Stop making out with May. Grandma and Grandpa want to meet her!”

I tear my lips from Brock’s. “Did Jace say grandma and grandpa? As in your parents?” He nods and I squeak. “They’re here?”

“And they’re going to love you.” He kisses my nose before lacing his fingers through mine. “Let’s go meet them.”

I’m too stunned to protest. Brock wasn’t kidding when he said I’m his family now. He bought a cannery, is building a house, and now I’m meeting his parents.

The man doesn’t fool around when he knows what he wants. And I’m what he wants.

Which is super handy because he’s what I want. Forever.

Chapter 37

Rule #16: You can have it all. You just have to know what ‘all’ means.