had in common, from our love of old country music to our obsession with old band tees. We picked at each other and flirted. However, even with sensual vibes, I still managed to fall asleep.
When I woke up, my heart skipped a beat to find Ford holding my hand. I tried to play it off and act casual, but fireworks were exploding on the inside.
“Where are we?”
“Hey, gorgeous. We’re pulling into Shreveport. I have to stop by the Horseshoe and check on the room, and then I have to head to weigh in at Century Link.”
“Sounds good. I’m just along for the ride.”
I savored the way he squeezed my hand.
“Hardly,” he asserted.
Lightheaded, I inhaled. I felt like I was dreaming and I was terrified of waking up. We pulled into the parking garage next to the towering hotel shaped like a horseshoe.
“Hi, how can I help you?” The woman wearing a crisp blazer asked, clearly directing her attention towards Ford, who appeared oblivious.
“Yeah, I have a reservation.”
“Excellent, sir. I just need your driver’s license and credit card.”
Ford pulled his wallet from his back pocket and handed his information to the captivated clerk.
“Okay,” she began as she punched keys on the computer. “Wilford Herveaux. You’ll be in room 2020. Unless you need two rooms?”
Ford’s face flushed red at the mention of his full name. I stifled a giggle watching him try to regain his composure.
The woman’s gaze darted between Ford and me. I saw it as an opportunity to loop my arm through his. “No need, I’ll be rooming with Wilford, here.”
He pulled me to his side. I grinned watching the girl squirm.
“In that case, you’re all set.”
“Thank ya’, ma’am.” He flashed a smile and coiled his arm around my waist. I knew he was doing it more for me than himself and I was already plotting ways to thank him for the gesture.
We hopped back in the truck and headed to the arena. Ford’s demeanor began to change. He grew quiet, intense.
He snatched his bag from the back of the pickup. “Hey, before we go in,” he started. Instead of finishing, he enveloped me in his arms and cradled me to his massive chest. I could feel his heart battering against his ribcage. I gazed up at him. The gleam in his eyes awakened my body. He dipped his head and claimed my mouth with his.
His kiss was different this time. Carnal. Violent.
I panted as he pulled away.
“When we go in I’ll have some stuff to take care of. I don’t want you to get lost in the shuffle, but it can be pretty hectic.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m here for the show. You worry about you and do what you need to do to win.”
That lopsided grin. Those panty-dropping dimples.
He reached for my hand and we walked in together. Masses of people rushed around with lights and camera. There were people hollering and photographers snapping pictures.
“Shit, it’s about time,” someone said from behind us. I recognized the weathered face from Champs. He rushed up to Ford with an entire entourage in tow.
“Hey Jake, this here is...”
Jake threw his hand up. “No time.”
Ford shot me a look and I responded with a wink to put him at ease.
“There’s our champ!”
The familiar voice belonged to the man with the familiar mustache.
“Lookie here, you brought a good luck charm. How you doin’, Dakota?”
“Hey Boss. I’m good. Just here to lend support.”
His bushy stache bounced as he laughed. He winked at me. “Sure thing, honey.” His expression grew serious as he looked back to Ford. “You ready, son?”
“Hell yeah.”
“That’s what I wanna hear.” Boss directed his attention back towards me. “Let’s get you a seat, doll.”
Ford and I gave each other a parting glance. We were both grateful that Boss was here to step in. He shuffled me through the stadium that was slowly starting to fill up and showed me to a front row seat.
“Surely this isn’t mine.”
Boss nodded. “It’s part of Ford’s VIP package.
When I woke up, my heart skipped a beat to find Ford holding my hand. I tried to play it off and act casual, but fireworks were exploding on the inside.
“Where are we?”
“Hey, gorgeous. We’re pulling into Shreveport. I have to stop by the Horseshoe and check on the room, and then I have to head to weigh in at Century Link.”
“Sounds good. I’m just along for the ride.”
I savored the way he squeezed my hand.
“Hardly,” he asserted.
Lightheaded, I inhaled. I felt like I was dreaming and I was terrified of waking up. We pulled into the parking garage next to the towering hotel shaped like a horseshoe.
“Hi, how can I help you?” The woman wearing a crisp blazer asked, clearly directing her attention towards Ford, who appeared oblivious.
“Yeah, I have a reservation.”
“Excellent, sir. I just need your driver’s license and credit card.”
Ford pulled his wallet from his back pocket and handed his information to the captivated clerk.
“Okay,” she began as she punched keys on the computer. “Wilford Herveaux. You’ll be in room 2020. Unless you need two rooms?”
Ford’s face flushed red at the mention of his full name. I stifled a giggle watching him try to regain his composure.
The woman’s gaze darted between Ford and me. I saw it as an opportunity to loop my arm through his. “No need, I’ll be rooming with Wilford, here.”
He pulled me to his side. I grinned watching the girl squirm.
“In that case, you’re all set.”
“Thank ya’, ma’am.” He flashed a smile and coiled his arm around my waist. I knew he was doing it more for me than himself and I was already plotting ways to thank him for the gesture.
We hopped back in the truck and headed to the arena. Ford’s demeanor began to change. He grew quiet, intense.
He snatched his bag from the back of the pickup. “Hey, before we go in,” he started. Instead of finishing, he enveloped me in his arms and cradled me to his massive chest. I could feel his heart battering against his ribcage. I gazed up at him. The gleam in his eyes awakened my body. He dipped his head and claimed my mouth with his.
His kiss was different this time. Carnal. Violent.
I panted as he pulled away.
“When we go in I’ll have some stuff to take care of. I don’t want you to get lost in the shuffle, but it can be pretty hectic.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m here for the show. You worry about you and do what you need to do to win.”
That lopsided grin. Those panty-dropping dimples.
He reached for my hand and we walked in together. Masses of people rushed around with lights and camera. There were people hollering and photographers snapping pictures.
“Shit, it’s about time,” someone said from behind us. I recognized the weathered face from Champs. He rushed up to Ford with an entire entourage in tow.
“Hey Jake, this here is...”
Jake threw his hand up. “No time.”
Ford shot me a look and I responded with a wink to put him at ease.
“There’s our champ!”
The familiar voice belonged to the man with the familiar mustache.
“Lookie here, you brought a good luck charm. How you doin’, Dakota?”
“Hey Boss. I’m good. Just here to lend support.”
His bushy stache bounced as he laughed. He winked at me. “Sure thing, honey.” His expression grew serious as he looked back to Ford. “You ready, son?”
“Hell yeah.”
“That’s what I wanna hear.” Boss directed his attention back towards me. “Let’s get you a seat, doll.”
Ford and I gave each other a parting glance. We were both grateful that Boss was here to step in. He shuffled me through the stadium that was slowly starting to fill up and showed me to a front row seat.
“Surely this isn’t mine.”
Boss nodded. “It’s part of Ford’s VIP package.
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