Touchdown - Leslie North Page 0,27
her wedge heels and set her briefcase down on the long table by the front door. Maxwell paused as she shrugged off the light blazer she wore over her blouse. Things were new. He barely knew how to proceed. No, scratch that. He knew exactly how to proceed. He just didn’t want to scare her off.
“How was work?” he asked, mesmerized by the way she undid her gold watch from around her left wrist. She set it on the long table. This was her post-work routine, he knew. She liked to leave certain things by the door so she never forgot or overlooked them.
“Busy. And for some strange reason, I was dragging…”
“Hm.” He took her hand once she was ready, lacing his fingers between hers as he led her deeper into the house. “So strange. It’s almost like you didn’t get a good night’s sleep.”
“Almost,” she said, her grin ear to ear as she followed him.
“Are you hungry? Need a glass of wine?” He led her through the dining room and to the huge living room. He’d planned on them having a movie night, but now that she was home, he’d do anything she asked of him. Cook an entire meal from scratch? No problem. Run to the store and buy ice cream? Also fine.
“I ate at work. And honestly, if I drink wine I’ll pass out.”
“I’ll make sure you don’t fall asleep,” he promised.
Her laughter was all the motivation he needed. They walked through the living room into another room that was always closed off to the kids, and not often used for other reasons: the home theater.
Amber sconce lights lent the room a relaxed feel. Steps led down each side of the tiered seating area, where individual leather seats looked toward the huge screen. Near the bottom, a comfy leather couch faced the huge screen on the wall, but it wasn’t just any couch—it was practically a bed pit, lined with throw pillows, soft blankets draped along the armrests.
“Ohhh, you bust out the private theater,” she said, covering her grin with a hand. “Maxwell, are we on a date?”
“It’s the best we can manage as two working parents,” he said. At the edge of the couch pit, he gently pushed her at the hips so that she sat back on the expansive lounge area. “And I even have a baby monitor on my phone so we can hear the kids if they cry. Now, do you want popcorn?”
She laughed. “I normally get Twizzlers, but I’m not sure you have those at Smith Theaters.”
“You’re right. But I’ll go buy them if you need them.”
“No. I think this is more than enough,” she said, scooting up until her back hit a furry throw pillow. He crawled onto the couch and arranged himself beside her, bringing out his phone and the app he used to control everything: the screen, the lights, the volume. He tapped at the phone screen, dimming the lights slightly, which made her go “Ooooh.” From there, he brought up the movie options for that night and let her choose.
She sucked in a sharp breath. “Let’s go with Love and Basketball.”
He selected it from the menu and set his phone aside once the movie started playing. “You want to pick up some pointers about dating athletes, huh?”
She elbowed him. “Nobody said anything about dating.”
“We’ll see about that,” he teased, reaching for his phone to dim the lights more.
“Don’t be offended if I fall asleep halfway through the movie,” she said.
“I won’t,” he promised, once the lights were just a touch above movie theater-level dim. Then he settled into place at her side, slinging his arm around her shoulders. “Just promise me one kiss before you fall asleep.”
She looked up at him, her beautiful eyes searching his face. “Is that the price of admission?”
He nodded, bringing his free hand up to caress the curve of her cheek. “Yeah. You okay with that?”
In lieu of a response, Jill surged forward and captured his lips in a kiss. Heat spread through his chest as he welcomed her mouth. She was softness and warmth against him, their kiss feeling more like old lovers reuniting than someone new to him and his life. She pushed for another kiss, and this time, he pressed his tongue past her lips. He could taste the remnant of her mint gum, which only excited him further. He wanted to devour her. From head to toe.
Maxwell dragged his hand down the side of her neck, tracing the feminine