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“You just leave you dad to me,” he said. “To hell with what anyone else thinks. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
Cassie pulled away from him embrace and looked up at him again. “Why do you care so much, Jamal?” she asked, her eyes wide and questioning.
“Because I love you,” he said simply. “And I always fight for the people I love.” Jamal hadn’t meant to say those three words that meant so much, but he couldn’t help it. He had to let her know how he felt. Be damned with what she said in return. He just hoped her feelings was in his favor.
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Oh. Em. Geee!Cassie thought. Jamal just told her he loved her. Like, right out loud. For her to hear. She was surprised her mouth didn’t drop open in shock.
“You, you what?” she stammered.
Jamal looked at her, smiled and tucked a piece of her hair that fallen out of her ponytail behind her ear. “You heard me. I love you.”
“But why?” she asked.
Jamal laughed. “Seriously, Bambi? You’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met. You’re beautiful, smart, loving, giving, funny, a great teacher and wonderful with my kid. There’s only one problem with you.”
“What’s that?” she asked, a frown on her face.
Jamal leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Well, I don’t know if you know this or not, but-” He paused dramatically, looking around the facility to make sure no one else was in the building before whispering behind his hand, “Youkindasuck at sports.”
Cassie’s eyes went wide and she furrowed her brow in a frown. “That’s so not nice!”
Jamal laughed again and the sound fluttered Cassie’s heart. “Ok, ok,” he continued, looking contrite. “I’m sorry for saying you kinda suck at sports. What I meant to say was youtotallysuck at sports.”
Cassie started to reply before rolling her eyes and shrugging her shoulders. “What can I say? You’re right. I do totally suck,” she said with a laugh. “Still think you love me, even though I can’t do anything sport-related?”
Jamal pulled her into his side and planted a kiss on the top of her head. “Even still. As long as you’ll watch me and my sports, then it isn’t a problem at all. But there isoneproblem.”
Cassie looked up at him. “What’s that?”
“I don’t know if you love me, too.”
Cassie looked up at the man staring at her like she was one of the most important people in his world. Knowing he still thought of her like that, even after what she told him, sent a surge of warmth through her body. She never knew what it felt like to be loved, to be cherished, by a man.Anyman. The fact that it was the loving, funny, kind, deliciously handsome man and terrific father whose arms she was in had her in awe.
“Well, Bambi? Now’s not the greatest time for you to go speechless on me. Don’t leave me hanging,” he said.
Cassie smiled and she felt it to the tips of her toes. “Yes. Yes, I do. I love you, Jamal. Even if I’m not your athletic equal.”
Jamal smiled, leaned down and kissed her reverently on the lips. “Oh, honey. Don’t you know? No one is.”
Cassie tilted her head back and laughed. How she was lucky enough to snag this man and his amazing family was beyond her, but she was so happy she had.
“Wanna go tell JJ?” she asked him.
Jamal looked down at her, his eyes darkening in want. “Not just yet.”
“Why not?” she replied.
“I have plans for you tonight, my dear. Plans that aren’t appropriate for my daughter to be around. Plans that involve a lot of that gross kissing she says we do.”
Cassie pulled back from him in mock horror. “Well, Mr. Jenkins, I’ll have you know I donotput out on the first date!”
Jamal immediately pulled her back into his chest, put her arms around his neck and lifted her up so they were eye to eye. “This is our firstalonedate, ma’am. We’ve been on at least seven other informal ones that I can think of off the top of my head.”
Cassie smiled. “Good thing seven is my lucky number.”
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