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My stomach nearly drops to my feet.
Gabriel nods to Coach, but his eyes are still on me. “I got this, Angel. No more worrying. Okay?”
“I know you do. Only, I’m not sure I can handle watching you get hit.”
The tips of his fingers graze my cheek as his smiling eyes take me in. “Then I’ll do my best to do the hitting.”
I’ve seen enough fights to know it’s impossible. I’ll have to put on my big girl panties and be brave for him. “You got this.”
“Yeah, I do.”
One last kiss, and he nods to Rowdy. “Protect her like she’s yours,” Gabriel orders.
“With my life,” Rowdy replies.
I turn on a wink, fake bravado in full bloom. I don’t look back. I can’t. He’d see the tears in my eyes.
“You did good, darlin’.” Rowdy pulls me close as the guys flank me—Walker, Sloan, Jess, Patrick, and the new guy, Landry. Two in front, two in back, Sloan on my left with Rowdy on my right. My own personal entourage, garnering stares and curious looks as we make our way backstage to our floor seats. They make me feel special, like I’m honored and cherished, and I suppose I am. These guys are my extended family.
My immediate family is growing in my womb, and I left my other half in the dressing room, getting ready to fight for our future.
Not just for a title. But for my hand in marriage.
It seems almost archaic, of times past.
But I know the truth. I’ll marry him win or lose, for he’s already won my heart, planted a seed inside me—literally—and promised a future I can’t resist. A lifetime with him. My Big Man. My Gabriel Stone.
Loyal. Brave. True.
Let the best man win!
“YOU SAID YES, HUH?” ROWDY WHISPERSso only I can hear.
“You saw? Or you knew it was coming?”
“I saw, but suspected it was coming. You two are inevitable. Soulmates.” Rowdy’s approval brings a smile to my lips.
I like that Rowdy sees Gabriel and me as I do now. I’m no longer afraid Gabriel will break my heart because he doubts his ability to love me. He doesn’t doubt it, therefore, I don’t doubt him.
“Does everyone else know?” I check out the guys as we make our way to our seats. Their expressions are stone cold and practiced to perfection. There’s nothing like a death stare from a fighter who knows he can do damage. These guys mean business. Everyone else notices too as the crowded hall and walkway to the arena floor part, letting us pass without breaking formation.
Like Moses parting the Red Sea, only those who believe shall pass.
Only it’s Gabriel, setting into motion all the cogs that fit into place perfectly, moving as one, revealing one revelation at a time, each building on the other, moving us to an ultimate destination. I don’t know where that is, but if it means Gabriel is by my side—I’m all in.
“I don’t know.” Rowdy’s eyes scan the crowd. His cool façade slips as the palpable excitement in the room washes over us. “This is incredible.” His dimpled smile meets mine. “Thank you.”
“For what?” I have nothing to do with him being here. He’s earned his place.
“For everything. For giving me a spot on the Black Ops Team. For being my friend. For nearly being my wife.” He winks on his wife comment with a suggestive wiggle of his brow.
Men. Total Neanderthals.“Cap gave you the chance. I just agreed with him.”
“And if you hadn’t?”
I shrug. He’s right. Cap probably wouldn’t have taken him if I didn’t sign off. Cap sees something in me I don’t quite understand. I study the fighters, look at their stats and medical records, and weigh their personality as a good fit or not. It’s not magic—it’s a gut feeling supported by facts.
“You’ve earned your place. Both on the team and in my life.” I punch his arm to keep what could become a heavy topic light.
