Page 124 of Scored

Back at the hotel, we had a large ballroom reserved for the after-party. Aunt Rachel and I decided that our season deserved celebration no matter what the outcome of tonight’s game. Players, coaches, family, and special guests were all in attendance. Those special guests included Ashley, Zane, and Lisa and Theo Graham.

It was well after midnight when Fin and I made our exit.

Hand in hand, we walked to the elevator.

Fin hit the button for the sixteenth floor.

My smile quirked. “Are you walking me to my door?”

“No.” He leaned down and kissed me. “I’m stalking you until you give me a proper answer.”

“I better ask Virginia to sleep in her own room tonight.”

“She can have mine,” he said with a sexy grin. “I don’t plan on using it.”

Inside my hotel suite, I kicked off my shoes and wiggled my toes. “I may never wear high heels again.”

Fin laughed.

Walking to him with my shoes gone, I stared at his wide chest wearing the championship shirt and moved my gaze up. His cobalt eyes shone. I lifted my arms to his shoulders. “You scored, Fin. You scored in the Super Bowl.”

Fin nodded. “I did. But that’s not the biggest score of the night.”

“It’s not?”

“No.” He again fell to one knee and held my hand. “If I was prepared, I’d have a ring. I’m not prepared, Vee. I’m head over heels in love. I’m so fucking proud of you and of the Coopers. This night was everything I imagined and more. While standing on that presentation stage tonight was magical, going to sleep every night at your side and waking every morning with your warm, soft, sexy body beside me—that’s the real magic. It’s the magic I never want to end.”

My vision blurred.

Through the tears I saw the first man I loved. The first man I trusted. He broke my heart, but I broke his too. It was like this season. The Coopers overcame injuries and tragedies. My family made it through the fire of secrets and deceptions and came out unified. Fin Graham was always my forever. I just never thought it would happen.

I fell to my knees and palmed his cheeks.

“Yes, Fin. I want to be your wife. I want to fall asleep and wake beside you. I want to grow old with you.”

We sealed our deal with a kiss.

The next morning, Fin went back to his room and met up with the team for the plane ride back to Lexington. I met up with my family and boarded the Gulfstream. Leigh sat at my side at the table in the aft as others made their way onboard.

“Did he really propose on the field?” she asked.

My cheeks rose as I nodded. “He did. He did a better job in my suite last night.”

She wiggled her eyebrows. “Any details to share?”

Warmth climbed from my neck to my cheeks as I recalled our consummation of his proposal. Our slow and adoring lovemaking. His sandalwood scent, the warmth of his touch, the taste of his lips and skin, and the sounds that echoed throughout the suite—sounds that have been uttered for centuries.

“I love him,” I said. “I always have. It wasn’t fair to the other men I dated. No one could ever measure up.”

“Sometimes we need to taste grocery-store champagne to appreciate Dom Pérignon.”

“I’m not sad we missed those years together. I just don’t want to miss any more.”

Leigh gave me a grin. “My girl is happy.”

“I am. Sometimes I feel like I shouldn’t be, but I am. I think Dad would approve.”

Voices filled the plane as others joined us. Hayden, Lip, and Chris squeezed into the other side of the table and stared in our direction. It was Lip who spoke. “There’s a crazy viral picture on the social webs.”