Page 139 of The Score We Never Settled

“We’ll need a nanny then. Part-time because I know you.”

My immediate answer is no, but…sacrifices. “Okay.”

“I’ll quit the moment you say?—”

“I know you will. But I won’t. I think I’ll like this. Travelin’ to all these cities. I’ve never been out of Magnolia Ridge much and?—”

“What about the bakery?”

“I’ll go back.” He opens his mouth, but I beat him with, “And I’ll come back. You can go a few days without me.”

His hips press forward, and I feel his hard length against my thighs. “Not so sure about that, Layla Jean. I just wanna live inside you.”

I roll my eyes, and that’s when one of his hands drops, and he’s guiding himself against my entrance, pushing himself slowly inside.

My lips press together, suppressing a moan as my head tilts back in pleasure.

“I’ll make you a deal,” he tries to bargain, unhurriedly shoving his cock deeper inside me. “I won’t quit without talking to you first. I’ll let you go back to Magnolia Ridge if you come back and fuck me for as many days as you were gone. And…I want sappy text messages about how much you miss me. And sexy texts, I need those, too.”

“You’re high maintenance.”

“No, I have abandonment issues and a hot fuckin’ wife. I’m only human.”

“Then I want flowers when I come back.”

“Done.”

He bottoms out and keeps himself seated there for several seconds.

“And a dessert.”

“Easy.”

His hips begin moving, fucking me to a steady and torturous rhythm. How he’s having a conversation with me is beyond my comprehension.

“And how much you thought about me.”

“That should be a given. But I can do that, too. What else?”

“Ask me when we’re done.” I cup the back of his head to bring him closer. “I just wanna come.”

He smiles, big and wide, so authentic and beautiful that it takes my breath away. “For you, Layla Jean, anything for you.”

EPILOGUE

BRIGGS

A little over a year later…

It’s early as hell.

I’ve been up for almost a full twenty-four hours—celebrating, screaming, hugging, talking, and, most importantly, fucking Layla Jean Melrose.

After years of work, rebuilding, restructuring, and a lot of mental and physical strain, the Tennessee Tornadoes have finally won the World Series.

Last year was a taste; we suffered disappointment but came back determined as all hell to take it this year, and with Layla traveling and supporting me, it felt different.

It felt full.