I nod against his head. “Promise.”

He closes the last bit of space between us, tilts my jaw up with his thumb, and his lips descend to mine where he kisses me passionately, desperation in every press of his lips. His hand grips the back of my neck and jaw tightly, his legs intertwine with mine, and his body moves slightly on top of mine, but not all the way, just enough to give me a sense of protection.

Maddox might look like a rebel on the outside, and he might act like one on the baseball field, but in real life, when he’s with me, he’s nothing but loving, protective . . . a broken man looking for someone to love him.

I’m that girl.

I will love him.

I will love him so freaking hard.

And the best part? I know he’ll do the same.

Chapter Nineteen

KINSLEY

“Can you even hear anything through these floppy ears?” Maddox’s voice travels down the hallway as I hear him talk to Herman. He’s keeping his voice low, but I’m also keeping quiet as I finish getting dressed for the day. “Such an old man. You should be wearing a bow tie every day. How come your girl isn’t dressing you up?” He chuckles. “Wait, no, that’s my girl. But I guess I’ll be nice and share since you look so pathetic with these jowls hanging off your face. She can be our girl.”

I smile to myself and I’m about to walk out into the living room when I hear him say, “Think she’ll stick around? Stick with me? I know she said she would, but I don’t know, man. I have this feeling, in the pit of my stomach, that she’s too good, that all of this is too good to be true. I’m just waiting for the ball to drop and when it does, fuck.” He lets out a long sigh. “She’ll take you, she’ll take her love, she’ll take every comfort I’ve ever had in my entire life. And I don’t think that’s something I will survive.”

I press my hand to my chest, my pulse racing, my lungs feeling like they’re working three times harder to bring air in.

How could he possibly think that? Why doesn’t he see his worth?

Why doesn’t he see how much I truly, and desperately love him?

I walk out into the living room, just in time to see Maddox squatting down in front of Herman and giving him a good pet. The sight of this tattooed, rebel of a man, acting like a total gush bear with a dog, tightens my heart even more.

“Getting in some guy time?” I ask, arms folded, leaning against the hallway entrance.

He gives Herman one more scratch and stands. He’s wearing a pair of shorts that hang incredibly low on his narrow hips, showing off the waistband of his boxer briefs. No shirt, hair a total mess, and a sleepy look in his eyes.

So hot.

After scratching his chest, he walks up to me and places his hands on my hips. “Good morning.” He leans forward and presses a kiss to the side of my neck. “How are you feeling?”

I lean into his hold, looping my arms around his neck where I hold him tight. His lips travel up my neck to my jaw and back down again. I tilt my head to the side, giving him better access, loving the feel of his mouth against my freshly showered skin.

“Feeling much better. My period usually only lasts two days. It’s a rough two days, but thankfully it’s over.”

“Yeah?” he asks, bringing his lips to my jaw and then slides them over my mouth where his minty breath ignites something deep inside me.

“Yeah.” I sigh into his hold and smooth my hands down his bare chest where I can feel the beat of his heart. “I wish our schedules matched up better. I feel like I barely get to spend time with you.”

“Trust me, I know. I think about it all the time. I haven’t been able to take you out on a date and it’s killing me.” I lift away so I can look him in the eyes.

“You don’t have to take me out. Keeping me in works just fine.” I wink and he groans, sliding his hands up my back and curling himself into the crook of my neck.

“Are you sure you want to go out with the guys after the game?”

Maddox has a day game today and the girls and I are meeting up. Marcy was very sweet to give me the time off, knowing I’ll make it up this weekend when I go in to check on the animals, like I always do. Tonight, we’re all going out together. Not sure where yet, that’s up to the boys, but I’m excited about it because it’s been a while since I’ve been out in a group.

And even though Maddox sounds tortured about spending time with other people, I know the buildup I have planned for tonight is going to blow his mind.

“Positive.” I chastely kiss his lips and he groans again.

“Fine.” He runs his hands back down to my hips and takes a step away, putting a foot of distance between us. “Want some coffee?”

I give his arms a squeeze and head to the kitchen. “I’m just going to grab a protein bar and some fruit and be on my way so I can get into the shelter early since I’m leaving early.”

Maddox leans against the bar of the kitchen and watches me move around. “Life would be easier if you weren’t trying to save every animal on the planet, then I would have you all to myself.”

“Are you saying you want me at your beck and call?” I ask over my shoulder.

“I’m glad you finally realize that.”

I chuckle and load up a container with some of the fruit I cut up last night. “And if I were at your beck and call, how would I afford my plant-based protein bars?” I hold one up and he just shakes his head.

“You realize I make millions a year, right? Like, I have so much fucking money I could quit right now and still not spend it all in a lifetime.” He stretches his hands over his head, his muscles flexing as he moves side to side, enticing me, making me consider being at his beck and call. “I’ll buy you all the plant-based protein bars you want, baby.”

Tearing my eyes off his chest, I say, “It’s funny how you think I would actually use your money.”

I finish putting everything in my bag and then walk over to him where he snags my wrist and wraps his arms around my waist. “Someday you will.”

“You think so?” I ask, my hand falling to his chest where I can feel his heart pound wildly, the rhythmic thump, thump a comfort.

When I glance up into his eyes, I catch an ounce of vulnerability run through them, a slight tilt to his brow. I think back to his conversation with Herman I overheard. He slowly smooths his hands over my arms to near the juncture of my neck and shoulders. “You’re my forever, Kin. Of course I want to support you.”

Now my heart is the one beating wildly. “You really think that?”

“Don’t you?” he asks, swallowing hard.

“Yes, of course,” I say quickly. “I just . . . I don’t know.” I look away and take a deep breath. “I really never thought we’d get this. I’ve had my crushing moments on you throughout the years, but I guess . . . it’s just hard to believe you feel this way about me. We’re new, but yet we’re not.”

“Yeah, I can understand that,” he says, looking away.

I press my finger to his cheek and force him to look at me again. “You’re my forever, too, Maddie.”

He smirks, a teasing glint returning to his eye. “Just had to add that Maddie in there, didn’t you?”

“Always.” I reach up on my tippy-toes and place a kiss to his lips. “I’ll catch you later, stud.”

He chuckles, a rumbly sound that brings an instant smile to my face. “Now that’s a nickname I can get on board with.”

I leash up Herman and turn toward him. “I’m sure. Good luck today. I’ll be rooting for you.”

“Better be.” He winks and leans against the counter.

I hold back a sigh, as pure perfection stands a few feet away. Ink wrapped and corded around his torso and down his arms, hip divots just above his waistband, sleepy eyes, mussed hair. He’s drool worthy, and I would give anything to spend a few more minutes staring at him. But work calls.

“Love you, Maddox.”

He smirks. “Love you, Kinny.”

And I take off, Herman at my side, counting down the minutes until I get to see him pitch today.

“That’s so hot,” Dottie says next to me.

“What is?” I ask, my eyes trained on Maddox on the mound, unable to look away.

“The way he stares down the batters. I love Jason, more than anything, but whenever Maddox is on the mound, I get this fluttery feeling in my stomach.”

Natalie leans forward, beer in hand and says, “I do too. I think it’s the whole bad-boy vibe and the tattoos.”

“Not to mention the intense look in his eyes and the neck tattoo. It’s as if the ink purposefully carves his jaw to look sharper, more intimidating.”

“Yes.” Natalie nods and points. “The jaw and the neck tattoo, that does something special to his look. Do you get the flutters when you look at him?” Natalie asks me.

Keeping my eyes trained on him, I say, “Every time.”

Dottie grips the armrests and says, “Oh God, look at her, she’s infatuated.”