Quarterback Sneak (Red Zone Rivals, #3)

by Kandi Steiner

“I like vanilla romance sometimes… a sweet friends-to-lovers, maybe a second-chance situation.” “And those don’t have sex in them?” Giana snorted. “Like I’d waste my time on a book without spice.”

“You are enough, Julep,” he whispered, the words wrecking me and healing me all at once. “And you are needed. Most of all by me.”

see you, everything that you are, and I’ve never needed anything more in my life. And don’t say we can’t,” I warned her when she opened her mouth. “I know the risk. I know. But… maybe, if we can show him how good we are together, your dad will understand.”

“I will give you anything you need, Julep. Even this. But only on one condition. You have to promise me we will talk after you’ve taken some time, some space. You have to promise me that this isn’t the end.”

“Good morning. I’m still here, too. Every breath burns without you,” she said, her voice wavering a bit.

“I haven’t given up on us. You’re crazy if you think I’ve looked anything close to beautiful in this mess of a state I’ve been in. I do trust you.” She paused, smiling, and then whispered. “Merry Christmas.”

“I love your daughter, Coach Lee,” I said, though my eyes didn’t leave her. “I love her, and I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks about it. My heart used to belong to football, but now it belongs to her. And none of this,” I added, throwing my hands up. “None of it means a damn thing without her.”

“I will be here,” I said, tugging her hands to my chest again. “Every day. I’ll be right by your side reminding you that you matter, that you are needed, that there is a reason to have hope and a reason to live. I’ll be here reminding you that for me? You are that reason.”

“I have never seen more clearly than I do in this moment, Julep Lee. And I meant what I said. I am not walking away from you. I never could.”

“Marry me, Julep. Marry me, and I promise to take you to every yard sale we can find in every state we go to. Marry me, and I will grow a garden in your name. Marry me, and I promise to set up a chrome pole in the middle of every piece of property we own.” She laughed, though it was garbled with tears. “Marry me,” I repeated, swiping the fresh tears away. “And I will spend the rest of my life loving you. No matter how long that is. Every minute I am here on Earth is yours. And after that, too.”