“Deal,” I whispered.
His tongue entered my mouth again, and all the talk went out the window. We never broke our kiss, and we tangled tongues as Gunner slid inside me. Each slow thrust brought me closer to the edge until I tumbled, calling his name as he whispered, I love you.
Epilogue
Delilah—A Couple of Months Later
Smoke floated through the air off the barbecue pits set up in the truck beds. People were camped in lawn chairs underneath tents, hiding from the sun. It was late March and the chilly days of winter were long gone. Spring was here, but in Texas, that felt like the beginning of summer.
Everyone we passed was decked out in purple and silver jerseys and baseball hats. I had on a purple jersey with Gunner’s number and name on the back. Tuck was wearing the jersey he’d gotten the day of Gunner’s press conference.
It was opening day and, just as Gunner had predicted, Tuck and I were here. Jenna was with us and looking better with every day that passed. I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. I’d let Tuck play hooky from school, and we were spending the whole day at the ballpark.
I turned into the parking lot that held the underground entrance for players and their families, taking my badge out of the cupholder. I rolled down my window as I made it to the security guard. “Hi. Delilah Moreland,” I said and flashed the badge Gunner had given me.
“Gunner told me to expect a pretty lady coming for him, but you’re gorgeous.” The security guard peeked around me. “You must be Tuck. Gunner said you’re going to be the greatest ballplayer to ever live.”
“That’s right,” said Tuck and puffed up his chest. Tuck had been living it up since we’d moved in with Gunner, and we’d gone to visit him every weekend we could at Spring Training. Gunner had taken quickly to his new team and locker room. Mr. Owings hadn’t lied that day; they valued family above all else—and they were a family.
“And how are you feeling, Mrs. Gentry?”
“Great, thanks. I see my boy has been chatting with everyone.”
“He’s one proud son of a gun,” he said.
Jenna had finished her last round of chemo and had been in high spirits. She was in remission, but she had to report to the hospital every six months for the next five years to do a full-body scan and full workup. She’d battled the cancer hard. There were many days that weren’t easy and, as she was finishing chemo, there’d been two hospital stays while Gunner was away. It was hard on him but I stayed with Jenna, and Tuck always kept her smiling.
I pulled into the underground lot and parked. As we walked toward the doors, Gunner came out to greet us in full uniform. This wasn’t the first time I’d seen him like this, but my heart still stopped in my chest. The tight white pants showcased everything. Everything. And the purple jersey highlighted his eyes. I bit my lip and tried to compose myself, but knew I hadn’t when I saw his grin.
He swept me up into his arms and kissed me. “I told you you’d be here on opening day.”
I gave him one more peck and then slid down his body. Tucker had his eyes covered. “Is it over yet?”
Gunner laughed and flicked the bill of Tuck’s hat. “Yeah, bud.”
I was working on officially adopting Tuck. As soon as my day before the judge came, we were sealing the deal. I knew Gunner wanted to be his adoptive dad, but that would come later. We had to be married first. That paper wouldn’t change anything. He was ours.
Gunner hugged each of us before leading us inside and walking through the underground tunnels and back passageways that led to player- and family-only areas. He dropped us off at the family suite and went back to the locker room.
I was nervous throughout the game, but I was glued to the edge of my seat each time he came up to bat or a ball flew to his part of the field. His head swiveled toward the family suite when he trotted around the bases after a home run and the sold-out crowd cheered, welcoming him to his new home stadium.
Tuck was bouncing off the walls by the time the game was over, and he ran down the tunnels to the spot where we were meeting Gunner. He came out of the locker room, still in his uniform. And still sweaty. His cheeks were red, and his blue eyes were shining.
Gunner grabbed a running Tuck and swung him around as Tuck cheered. “You won!”
“I think y’all are my good luck charms,” Gunner said and kissed the tip of my nose. “Come on, I want to show y’all something.”
Gunner grabbed my hand as Tuck trotted alongside us and Jenna took up residence on my other side. He opened a door and the sun burst through, leading us onto the outfield.
The stadium lights were still shining, highlighting the vibrant grass. I looked around the empty stadium as workers cleaned it and couldn’t believe that, not long ago, this place was packed and cheering.
Gunner stopped walking and faced me, wrapping his arms around my hips and placing a soft kiss against my lips. “My life revolved around a little white ball with red stitches. Everything I’d ever dreamed of was going to happen on a baseball field. My wildest imagination couldn’t have dreamed you up though. When we were here for my press conference and I saw you and Tuck walking on the field, I knew I needed you forever. I knew you had eclipsed the game for me, becoming the thing I love most.”
Gunner sank to one knee right in front of me. My hand covered my mouth as I gasped. We’d moved in together, but I hadn’t expected this so soon.
“Make all my dreams come true. Marry me, Delilah. I’ll spend every moment of forever making sure all your dreams come true and giving you anything you want. I’ll never stop stealing cookies off the cooling racks, but I’ll also never stop loving you. Or Tuck. Will you marry me, buttercup?”
I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and whispering in his ear the only possible answer to that question. “Yes.”
Gunner
“Surprise!”
Delilah’s back straightened against my chest. I leaned down, kissing her exposed shoulder. “Surprised, baby?”
“How in the hell did you already pull this off?” she asked, grabbing my head, looking up at me with a bright smile.
“It’s been planned. I knew I was proposing today, and I knew you would say yes. I wanted all of our friends and family here to celebrate after the game.”
Her eyebrow arched, but she hadn’t been able to wipe the smile off her face since she’d made me the happiest man on the fucking planet, so her mock scowl didn’t make an impression. “You knew I’d say yes.”
I leaned down, kissing her and skimming my hand over her hip, encased in tight jeans. Fuck. I was so damn lucky. “Yeah, I knew. And if you didn’t, I’d keep asking until you said yes.”
“You’re lucky I love you.”
“Yeah, I am.”
She melted against me, and I couldn’t resist kissing her again. Our tongues clashed together as I deepened the kiss, forgetting where we were.
“Uh, guys,” Makenna said. “You’re in front of your whole party.”
“Tell me when it’s over,” Tuck called, and I knew he was covering his eyes. Delilah and I laughed and entered the party. It was at a local restaurant, in one of their reserved rooms. It was completely blocked off from the restaurant, making it feel intimate, with just our family and friends.