Royal Bastard (38 page)

“What are you doing?” she hissed as I tightened my arm around her waist.

“April! Was it love at first sight?”

“Did you steal Connor away to ruin Crystal’s wedding?”

“Aren’t you worried he’ll dump you too?”

“That’s all folks,” I said, holding up my hand. “See ya’ll later.”

There was a chorus of questions as I forced April to walk away, waiting until we were inside the garage and away from prying eyes before I released her waist. “What the hell was that? Who said I was your girlfriend?” she asked, whirling around to face me. There was no anger in her expression, but there was hurt, and I didn’t understand. Didn’t she understand what I had done for us?

I pulled her close, my hand rubbing circles on her lower back. “Do you not want to be my girlfriend?”

“I, of course, but we still have things to figure out,” she stammered, something akin to softness appearing in her eyes.

“And we will. I know I screwed up. But I will do anything to have you with me. I need you by my side, April.”

“Are you sure?”

“About what? About us? I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life,” I said, kissing her gently and trying to show her I meant every word. She sighed against my mouth and I knew I had won the first round. One more round to go. “Now, I owe you a tour. Ready to go to the stadium?”

She nodded and I released her, seeing the blush steal across her cheeks. The thought of making her happy bloomed inside of me, making me feel like fucking Superman. That had been the plan. I had no intentions of letting her go.

I
gave
the guys a smile as they all came up to greet Connor, releasing his hand so he could shake theirs. True to his promise, he had given me a tour of the facility, even snagging me a jersey that had his name emblazoned on the back, along with his number. Guess I was a Lions fan now.

They were all so friendly, a couple of them even coming up to me and apologizing again for the seedy bet they’d concocted. But they were all big teddy-bears at heart, most of them with wives and girlfriends themselves, and encouraging me—and not so quietly either—to give Connor a second chance.

I was also still dizzy from his earlier stunt with the reporters; he’d all but made a claim that I was his girlfriend. It wasn’t love, but it was commitment and I couldn’t believe it. He had done it so publicly, and by the end of the day, I was sure the video was going to play on all the entertainment sites. It wasn’t that I was disappointed by any means. He had just told the world that he intended on making this work, and I was beyond over the moon about it. I was already calculating on how I was going to tell him that I loved him tonight and hoped (fingers crossed) that he felt the same way about me. Even if he didn’t express it, I was willing to wait. He was worth waiting for despite his faults.

Connor grabbed my hand and squeeze it, his grinning face turning toward me. “Ready? We have one more stop to make.”

“Sure,” I replied, giving him a smile. “Lead on.” I waved goodbye to the guys and he led me out of the locker room, then through the tunnel to the field, devoid of anyone else. It looked so big from this vantage point, and I couldn’t imagine being Connor as he ran out onto the field to a roaring crowd. It had to be exhilarating.

“Come on,” he said, tugging on my hand. “You’ve got to see it from the fifty. There’s nothing like it.” With a laugh I followed him onto the dazzling green field, reveling in the fact that I was dating a football player. Not just any football player, but a quarterback in the professional league. And I was going to do all I could to get him back to the game he loved.

We reached the fifty-yard line and he released my hand, looking all around the stadium. “I love this place every time I come here,” he replied, his voice belying his emotion. “I couldn’t imagine loving anything like I love playing football. It’s in my blood now.”

I laid a hand on his chest, my heart aching for him. “You will be back better than ever. I have no doubt about that.”

Connor looked down at me and clasped his hand over mine, his thumb stroking the skin on the back of my hand. “I thought football was my only real love, but then I met you. Girl, you turned my damn life upside down the first night you stormed into that club and threw that drink in my face.”

“Not my finest moment,” I said slowly, the blood rushing to my ears. He chuckled and shook his head, a tender expression coming over his face. “It was the best damn thing to ever happen to me, April. After all of the examples of love in my life, I thought I would never truly feel it. Hell, I didn’t even think it was real.” To my surprise and complete shock he knelt down before me, holding my hand in his. “I love you, April Matthews. I have never said it to anyone else, and I actually mean it. You have stolen my heart and I don’t want you to give it back.”

“Connor,” I breathed, tears gathering in my eyes. He loved me. I could see it in his eyes shining up at me, I could feel it in my chest. He wasn’t just saying the words, he was feeling the words and there was no doubt in my mind they were coming from somewhere deep down inside. I had my own words to say and I wasn’t going to hold them back any longer. “I love you too.”

“Thank god for that,” he said with a smile. “I don’t know why you do, but I will never take that for granted, April. I know my track record isn’t the greatest but it ends with you.” I reached down and framed his face with my hands, tears streaming down my cheeks. “I don’t care. I’m just glad I have you now. Just don’t you ever lie to me again.”

“I promise.” His smile was tender as he released my hand and reached into his pocket, producing a small box. I gasped as he opened the lid, a sparkling princess cut diamond ring catching my eye. “I know we haven’t known each other long, but I feel that I can’t live without you by my side. Will you do me the biggest honor and become my wife?”

I nodded immediately, unable to speak as he pulled the ring out of the box and slipped it on my finger before rising to gather me against him. Boisterous applause broke out and I looked over my shoulder at the sideline, seeing the entire team clapping and cheering. “Did they know you were going to do this?” I whispered as he kissed my neck.

“Of course,” he whispered back, his lips grazing my ear. “Who do you think approved the ring? Hell, I thought they were going to spoil the surprise.” I laughed then, unbelievably happy in the moment. Connor loved me, he wanted to marry me. It was beyond my wildest dreams. “I love you so much,” I said, gripping him tightly.

“I love you too, babe,” he replied, his lips pressing into my hair. “Thank you for giving me a chance to steal your heart. I won’t ever let you down again.” He released me and grabbed my hand. “But I’m not done yet, we’ve got one more stop to make.”

* * *

I got April to pull the car over into a parking lot on a popular street in town, grinning as I caught a glimpse of the massive diamond on her finger. When I thought I would start to feel that pull of panic in my chest, I actually felt light and fucking happy. The love I had for her was scary and exciting at the same time and I just hoped I could be worthy of her.

“So… where are we at?” she asked, the flush on her face making me even more excited.

“We are somewhere,” I answered cryptically, opening the door with my good hand. “Come on, get out.” I climbed out of the car and waited for her to round it before I grabbed her hand, guiding her to an impressive but quaint storefront near the car.

“Before I show you why I brought you here, I want you to know that I know you aren’t in this relationship for my wealth or what you can squeeze out me. I know you aren’t like that.”

“Oookay... ”

“But at the same time, I wanted to make your dreams come true. So here’s your engagement present, babe.” I spun her around to face the building.

She looked at the storefront and then at me, not connecting the dots at first. Then, realization dawned in her expression and she brought a shaky hand up to her mouth, tears forming in her eyes.

“I know I ruined your career and your dreams by dumping Crystal and not allowing everyone to see your talent,” I said softly as she stared at the storefront. “And I want to make it up to you. This is yours if you care to take it on. I would be perfectly fucking happy to have you do nothing, but something tells me that’s just not you.”

I leaned down and brushed a tear away that was escaping down her cheek, my gut twisting. I hoped I hadn’t overstepped my boundaries, but after hearing her dreams, I knew I had been the major key player in her losing her job—hell, she’d told me as much how many goddamn times. And while we had worked out what we were to each other romantically, I would still regret ruining her professional career.

The day I bought her the ring, I purchased the building as well, in hopes that even if she turned my ass down with the ring, she would still have a pretty sweet parting gift. But I wasn’t going to let her get away that easy… I would fight for her till I had no more breath to give.

“Oh my god,” she breathed, looking up at me. “Connor, I don’t know what to say.”

“Just say ‘yes’ and ‘thank you’,” I grinned. “And before you say anything, I fully intend for you to pay me back one day… in kisses.” She laughed and brushed my fingers over her cheek before threading them through her hand. “Come on, let’s go inside.”

“You know, this really puts the pressure on me to get you a gift now,” she said, the shock still in her voice as we approached the building.

I produced the key and pressed it into her palm with a satisfied grin on my face. “Babe, I already have all I need in you.”

I
took a deep breath
, wishing I didn’t have this sick feeling in my stomach on this beautiful day. Today of all days!

“Are you okay, April? You look a little pale.”

Pasting on a smile, I turned to Polly, reaching out to rub her protruding belly. “I’m fine. What about you, do you need to sit down?”

She shook her head, her hand touching her stomach protectively. “I’m good, the baby is doing summersaults, but I’ll be okay.” In three months she had become a dear friend to me as well as Jay. When they had announced that they were expecting and asked if we would be the godparents, I thought Connor was going to burst with pride, already plotting on how he was going to help raise the little football player.

Jay had argued that it could be a girl but Connor had given that handsome grin of his and predicted it was going to be a boy. In the end, he was right. Little Lucas would make an appearance right before spring practice was to start.

Realizing she was still looking at me with concern on her face, I sighed, fidgeting with the end of my long veil. “It’s just that this day is so unbelievably perfect, I don’t want anything to ruin it.”

“You’re afraid he’s not going to be here, aren’t you?” she asked gently, laying a hand on my arm. “Honey, I promise you, he will be there. Not even the Super Bowl could keep him away.”

I shook my head. “It’s not that. I’m not worried about him running. He’s going to be there waiting for me at the end of the aisle,” I said with a confident smile. After all we’d been through, I had absolutely no doubts about that whatsoever.

Polly raised an eyebrow, “Then what is it?”

I turned back to the dressing table, and looked at her through the reflection of the mirror, trying to keep control of the smile that wanted to escape. I felt like I was about to burst. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

My eyes trailed down my neck to the dress I had so carefully picked out for my wedding day. It was still hard to believe that I was about to be married to Connor. The last three months had been some of the best of my life, spending my days working on promoting my business and working with some pretty high society clients, including Connor’s own ex-fiancée, who was marrying some rich baseball player in a few months.

We had buried the hatchet per se and I knew she wasn’t worried about me stealing that groom away from her at least. My love for Connor was written all over my face, today and every day. I loved the man to distraction. He had been working hard to get his shoulder up to snuff for the next season and I was looking forward to seeing him in his suit without his sling. We’d gotten pretty creative with our sex life around his shoulder injury.

With a grin on my face, I turned back to Polly. “I think I’m ready.”

She gave me a quick hug and exited the room, leaving me to have a few moments to myself. I’d been surprised when Connor had suggested we get married in the same church my parents had, thinking that he would want some crazy Hollywood affair like before. It spoke volumes of the significance of having my own wedding day here, feeling my parents’ spirits with me as I had gotten ready. “Wish you both could be here, but I’ve really found him, like you always said I would,” I said softly to the empty room. “And I’m not giving him back.”

Connor was the soulmate I had been looking for and no one could have predicted the way I would have found him. He was my everything and in my heart, I knew he felt the same. Connor told me every day that he loved me, showed me in more ways than one. It was in his grin when he kissed me, his longing stare, and most of all in the way he made love to me with so much tenderness that I thought my heart would explode if the feelings got any stronger.

I took an encouraging breath and steadied myself against the vanity, imagining my dad beside me. His spirit would give me the strength I needed to take this final step, to give all my love to Connor.

The music drifted into the room and I picked up the bouquet of flowers, stepping to the door.

This was it.

* * *

Fuck.

This was it.

The music swelled and I cleared my throat, feeling the rush of emotion well up in my chest as I waited to see April.

My April, who was about to be my wife.

It still was a surprise. The last three months hadn’t been like anything I had ever experienced before. I thought the
honeymoon
had been great, but nothing could have prepared me for living day to day with the love of my life.

And more times than not I had found myself reaching for her in my sleep, so scared that it wasn’t reality. But every morning she greeted me with love in her eyes, and I couldn’t have ever asked for anything else. I loved her even more than football!

When I had suggested this little church chapel that her parents had gotten married in, right down to the sun reflecting off the lake like she had planned before, I thought she would never stop crying, but it had warmed my heart to see her so happy. Everything about her perfect wedding was about to happen, except the groom was different and it was a man who loved her so damn much it scared the shit out of him.

I couldn’t even imagine my life without her in it, and I would do anything to make her happy, anything at all. She was never going to feel anything but love from me, though maybe a little bit of irritation as well. I could be a dumbass from time to time. But at least it would make for great make-up sex!

The doors opened and my breath caught in my throat as she started down the aisle. I didn’t think it was possible but a tear formed in my eye at the sight of her.

She was breathtaking, dressed in a white gown that was covered in lace, two straps the only things on her lickable shoulders. Her veil was long, her hair down framing her face, and I laughed as I noticed the pair of white sneakers peeking out from under her dress.

She had balked at heels, saying she hadn’t wanted to make an ass of herself in front of the cameras. I still couldn’t believe April wanted them; it had been all her idea, though I would’ve been perfectly content to have the day completely our own. But it was a thought she’d had, one that took flight and had actually worked out pretty damn well. Inviting some select media to join us on our special day got rid of all the party crashing and we had received some pretty sweet perks by having them there.

Tonight we would fly back to the place where it all started, compliments of one of the magazines we had picked to run a full spread on our wedding and the reception to follow. The guys on the team were also all in attendance in the small church, the coach just a few feet away giving me a wink. Jay was at my side, the only man I wanted to have stand up with me since he had been a major key player in this relationship. I couldn’t believe he was going to be a father soon but I couldn’t wait to see little Lucas in a few months. Hell, I couldn’t wait to start making my own kids.

April reached my side and I fought the urge to take her into my arms. She looked so damn beautiful and I couldn’t believe that she was about to be mine, all mine. Me, Mr. ‘unable to commit to a proper adult relationship’ was about to throw down the gauntlet and jump off the cliff… and straight into April’s arms.

The officiant started his words but I couldn’t take my eyes off her, giving her a grin as she looked at me expectantly. “I was right. You didn’t run,” she whispered.

“Hell no, not a chance,” I answered, taking her hand in mine. “And I will never run, ever again.”

The officiant cleared his throat and we both looked at him sheepishly, the entire church bursting out into laughter. “May I continue or would you like to say your vows another day?”

“Sorry,” I said with a laugh, looking back at April’s shining eyes. “Please, make me this woman’s husband and pronto.” She giggled and I felt that burst of pride in my chest.

This was all I needed in life. She was all I needed.