Page 95 of Undeniable Love

And that was officially the end of that discussion. Within minutes, they were on the ground and he was grabbing his carry-ons and joining his teammates in deplaning. They had to do everything as a team—flying and traveling to and from the airport. So once they were off the plane, it was out to the team bus. Right now, Jax would have preferred to take an Uber to his house, but he was going to abide by all the rules.

No matter how much longer they made everything take.

The entire bus ride to the stadium, he kept checking his phone for any word from Lucy. By now he thought she would have texted just to say she was on her way or to send him pictures from the private plane.

If I’d have taken a private plane, I’d be home right freaking now…

Declan sat beside him on the bus, grinning. “Man, this has got to be killing you.”

“What has?”

“How long this is taking. After that whole little speech after the game last night, I’m surprised you didn’t ask if you could fly home by yourself.”

“Dammit…why didn’t I think of that?” he hissed.

Chuckling, his buddy shook his head. “Unless someone died, I don’t think it’s allowed. Besides, the stadium is only a fifteen-minute drive, and we’re all allowed to leave as soon as we’re off the bus. We got the team meeting pep talk last night and again while waiting to take off, so once we stop in the parking lot, you’re free.”

Fifteen minutes never felt so long.

By the time he was actually off the bus and in his truck, he was ready to scream.

“So much for me being relaxed earlier,” he murmured. He was literally the first one out of the parking lot and as soon as he turned onto the highway, he contemplated stopping for flowers or something for Lucy, but decided that he didn’t want any more stops or delays. He just wanted to get home.

At the gate to his community, he scanned his key card and waved to the guard. “Hey, Bill! Did Lucy come through yet?”

“No, sir, Mr. Wylder. Not yet. But I have her on the list, so as soon as she arrives, we’ll get her through.”

“Thanks, Bill!” Okay, that meant he was going to have a few minutes to breathe and change out of his suit. Why they had to travel in suits was beyond him, but rules were rules.

After pulling his truck into the garage, Jax hopped down, loosening his tie, and unbuttoning the top button of his shirt before grabbing his suitcase. He opened the door to the house and…

There was Lucy.

“What…? I thought you weren’t here yet? At the gate, Bill said…”

She took his breath away.

It didn’t matter that she got here first or that he didn’t know; all that mattered was that she was here.

Striding right over to her, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. Pouring everything he felt into that single moment, it reminded him slightly of their last kiss—but this time he knew it wouldn’t be their last.

When he forced himself to pull his lips from hers, he loved the dazed look on her face. “Hi.”

“Hey,” she whispered, blushing slightly. “You totally stole my thunder. I planned on making a big scene when you walked through that door.”

“A big scene? Like…?”

“Like I was going to tell you that there’s no hitting pause on us, Jax Wylder. This thing between us is the best thing to happen to either of us. I don’t care how much time you need to dedicate to your job and this football season; I don’t care if I only get to see you for fifteen minutes a day. All that matters is that I get to see you.” Clutching the front of his shirt, she gave him a little shake. “And if you ever pack up a suitcase and hand it to me and it’s not for a trip we’re taking together, I swear I will throw it at you. Are we clear?”

It was hard to keep a straight face. He towered over her and outweighed her by like a hundred pounds, so the fact that she thought she could intimidate him was adorable.

Not that he was dumb enough to point that out right now.

Taking her hand, he led her over to the couch and pulled her onto his lap as they sat. “Okay, well…you should know that I had a plan too.”

“Oh?” One perfectly arched brow raised.

“Mm-hmm. My plan was to get here before you and when you came to the door, I was going to be on my knees, ready to grovel. But it looks like that went out the window.”