Dare to Tempt - Carly Phillips Page 0,61

he yelled.

She worked her way through the family members, who she now understood had come for the proposal. She’d have time with everyone during the game. The immediate moment was for Damon. She bolted out of the box and rushed down toward the field. All the while, she heard the clapping and whistling of the Thunder Stadium spectators.

Finally, she reached the tunnel, where a security guard was waiting for her and escorted her to the field. And then she ran until Damon swooped her into his arms and spun her around.

Dizzy, happy, and in love, she grinned as he settled her on her feet and held out the open box. “So, you know I wanted to outdo Austin,” he whispered in her ear. “But I know you.”

She looked down and stared at a sapphire emerald-cut stone with small diamonds on either side. Perfect for her, and the tears she’d been holding back began to fall.

“Oh, Damon!”

He slid the ring on her finger and pumped his fist for the home crowd.

“I couldn’t think of a better way to show you I’m in it forever.”

She grasped his cheeks and pressed her lips to his. “I love you, Damon. Thank you for understanding me. Getting me. Loving me.”

“I love you, Evie.”

She grinned. “Now go play ball.”

Epilogue

Damon’s mother threw an impromptu engagement party for him and Evie at her house, squeezing in a small amount of family and friends, since Damon’s team had a bye week and didn’t have to play that weekend. The only sibling missing was Braden, who couldn’t get away from his obligations.

The celebration was at the home Christine had finally relented and allowed her children to buy for her in light of their individual successes. The five-thousand-square-foot ranch had rooms for her adult kids to stay over if they chose, a pool in the backyard, and a huge open-concept layout inside. For that reason, it was perfect for a family gathering.

Christine, who’d already won over Evie and vice versa, shocked everyone by bringing a date, Edward Madison, a businessman who she’d met at a game last year.

“Mom, Edward, this is a surprise,” Damon said, Evie by his side, holding his hand. And when he glanced down, he noticed his mother’s and Edward’s hands were also entwined.

“Well, we wanted to see what we had in common before we went public,” she explained.

“And we discovered we’re extremely compatible.” Edward, who had dark blond hair and brown eyes, smiled at Damon’s mother in a way Damon would want someone to look at her, and the twisting in his stomach eased.

Still, he had to take a mental step back and decide how he felt about his mom in a relationship after all this time and realized all he wanted was for her to be happy. Studying her glow as she looked at Edward, he approved.

“Thanks for the party,” Evie said with a bright smile. Ever since her ex had pled guilty, her entire demeanor and mood had been lighter.

“You’re welcome. It’s completely my pleasure. Welcome to the family. You’re going to fit right in. Now you two go mingle.” His mom shooed them away to enjoy their party.

Instead of finding friends or family to talk to, Damon snuck Evie into a hallway where they could have a few minutes alone.

Bracing his hands on her hips, he pulled her to him. “Don’t get me wrong. I love you in jeans and tight tanks and tee shirts, but every once in a while, seeing you in a dress and fuck-me heels works, too.”

She treated him to a sexy grin. “Kind of like the difference between me seeing you in your tight-ass jeans and your football uniform. Either view works for me.” She rose up and kissed him, but he wasn’t content with a peck on the lips.

Hooking his arm around her waist, he yanked her against him and turned her light kiss into a soul-deep melding of minds and hearts. He slid his hands into her long hair and tugged her neck into the position he wanted her. Then he tangled his tongue with hers and lost himself in everything he’d never known he wanted but now couldn’t live without. He didn’t know how long they remained hidden, making out like teenagers, and he didn’t care.

“Hey, you two. Either go to a bedroom or come hang with everyone celebrating your engagement,” Jaxon called out, deliberately walking over and interrupting them.

Damon took his time extricating himself from Evie and then stepped in front of her, giving her