if she is your blood. Dawn is Jude’s daughter, and you will not take his child from him. Do you understand?”
“Perfectly.” He opened the envelope. “Where will you go?”
“I was offered a specialized position at Ironfield Regional—more pay, better hours. Your program didn’t compensate its talent well.” I arched my eyebrow. “Though, from what I hear…it won’t be your program for much longer.”
“You’re fortunate I don’t sue you for recording a private conversation.”
“And you’re lucky I don’t leap over this desk and beat you senseless for putting Jude in such danger.” I shrugged. “However, I’ve learned a great deal about remaining professional through this fellowship. I thank you for all the faith you had in me.”
“You are a good doctor.”
“I’m a great doctor, no thanks to your efforts. Good luck with the future league investigations, Clayton. You’re going to need it.”
I didn’t let him answer, though I did do a celebratory dance once I slammed the door behind me.
Was I allowed to feel good about that?
Vindicated? A little proud?
Yes and yes.
It was a moment to close a chapter on my life. I thought he had scarred me for life. Instead, I was given the greatest gift of all.
A family.
I returned home to find Jude and Dawn on the couch. Sports Nation was muted on the TV, but his attention focused on the little baby asleep on his chest. He grinned and let me take Dawn.
“How’d it go?” he asked.
“Clayton won’t be a problem.” I patted her back. “Did she eat?”
“Had a bottle.”
Never thought I’d be grateful for the weird pumping apparatuses that came from the baby shower, but they were a damn life saver. Jude needed time to bond with his daughter, and they both loved the time dinner time while resting in her daddy’s arms.
I took Dawn into her room, resting her in her crib. If Jude had his way, she’d sleep on him all day and all night. Even Phillip followed us, crashing under the crib and taking up his watchful post.
Jude followed me, grinning like a fool.
“Got some good news of my own,” he said.
“What’s that?”
“You’re looking at the Rivets’ new assistant offensive coordinator.”
I spun, shocked. “What?”
“Amazing, right?”
“You…you went in to get a job as the running back coach!”
He shrugged. “They fired Thompson, and Coach Vine took his spot. They needed to fill the offensive coordinator position, so they juggled inside the administration. They wanted me to help with the overall offense.”
“That’s amazing, Jude!”
He wrapped me into his arms, but the heat of his hands immediately shifted into something a little more daring than just a hug. With a wicked smirk, he led me into the bedroom.
“Seems like we have a bit of celebrating to do,” he said.
“I suppose so.”
His kiss was quick, layering a shivered heat over my lips, my neck, my shoulder. He tugged me to the bed.
Our bed.
It amazed me to finally fall onto the mattress with him over me, without worrying about smooshing tummies or kicking babies.
As it had happened so many times before, our clothes fell away, and our bodies heated in a quick and furious passion. Within minutes, he filled me, and our quiet and amazing desire overwhelmed us both.
How had our one crazy mistake and ridiculous plan become something so wonderful?
We rested in each other’s arms, listening to the sound of Dawn’s quiet breathing over the monitor. I cuddled against Jude’s chest.
“I have something for you,” he whispered.
“You already gave it to me, All-Star.”
“Plenty more where that came from, Doc.” He shifted and rolled from me, rooting through the nightstand. He returned with a velvet-lined box tucked in his hand. “Rory…”
He didn’t have to say it. The ring glistened, beautiful and perfect.
“Will you marry me?” He whispered. “No more pretending. No more lies. Just you and me and the baby. Together.” He took a breath. “I know it won’t be easy. And I know I have a long way to go until my head is screwed on right…if it ever get fixed at all. But you and Dawn are the reasons I’m going to recover from this injury. I want to spend my life with you, and if I happen to forget a couple moments here or there…” He shrugged. “At least reliving them with you will be a constant joy.”
“If you only knew how many times I’ve imagined you asking me this…” I grinned at him. “You’d think I was crazy.”
“No. I’d think you were perfect. I hate that I never saw in you back then what I do