He smells good. Musky and clean.

He smells of Will.

“I love you,” he whispers against my lips.

“I know,” I respond, and he smiles again.

“I have to get back to the team for meetings the rest of the day. I’ll see you tonight?” He raises a brow in question and I smile.

“I’ll be there.”

“Great.” He kisses me, one last time, hard, and then turns to walk back to the elevator. “Later.”

“Later.” I wave and watch him disappear into the elevator.

“Oh yeah,” Jill murmurs with humor behind me. “He’s good. Damn, girl.”

I just sigh and nod in agreement. “Yeah, he’s good.”

Chapter Eighteen

Apparently, losing a game makes Will a wee bit grumpy.

Or a lot grumpy.

We’re driving to his parents’ home after the game this morning, and he’s unusually quiet.

I was at the game today, in his private sky box with Nat and Jules and the guys. It was fun. Until the end of the fourth quarter. We were up by three points against Arizona, but in the last two minutes, Will threw an interception, and the guy ran it in for a touchdown.

We lost.

Will was off his game most of the day. I could see it. He just wasn’t himself.

The others went on ahead to the Montgomery’s house and I hung back to wait for Will to give a couple interviews and take a shower. He’d hugged me when he saw me, but he hasn’t said much.

What the hell am I supposed to say?

I don’t know.

So I just reach over and take his hand in mine, link our fingers and kiss his hand, then rest them in my lap.

That earned me a half smile.

He pulls into his parents’ drive, parks and opens the door for me. It’s an unseasonably warm fall day.

“I smell rain,” I say casually.

“I hope not. Grilling in the rain sucks.”

“You live in Seattle. Grilling in the rain is the norm.”

He smirks and leads me around his parents’ house to the back yard, and I gasp. Holy shit, his dad must put in hours and hours each week into this yard. Even in the fall, when most of the flowers have died, and the leaves are turning, it’s a sight to behold with paths and benches and fruit trees.

“This is gorgeous.”

He looks back and grins. There he is.

“Yeah, Dad works hard on it.”

“I can tell.”

“They’re here!” A little girl of about five years old shrieks and jumps up and down. She’s in a Seattle football jersey and jeans, her long raven hair braided down her back. And suddenly her mirror image is standing next to her.

“Well, hello there,” I smile down at the sweet little girls.

“Hi,” they say in unison, smiling widely at us.

“Meg, this is Josie and Maddie. They’re Brynna’s daughters.”

Everyone looks up from what they’re doing and waves and I just stand here and look about the back yard in awe.

It looks like some sort of beautiful people convention.

Seriously.

“Come help me grill, son! Grab a beer.” Will’s dad is manning the grill, wearing a Chillin’ and Grillin’ apron and wielding a long metal spatula. Most of the guys are near the grill, either standing with Steven, or sitting at a nearby table.

What is it with men and grilling?

The women are scattered on the covered patio, in small groups chatting and laughing, holding babies, sipping drinks.

Holy shit, I didn’t know that family gatherings like this existed.

“Sure, dad, let me just introduce Meg around.” He grins down at me and links his fingers with mine reassuringly.

“I don’t think I should be here,” I whisper up to him. He scowls and leans down to kiss my dimple.

“You definitely should be here,” he whispers in my ear. He straightens and leads me to the patio. “You know most everyone. My ugly brothers are over there,” he points to his brothers, including Luke and Nate, who all grin and wave. Fuck, they’re all hot.

“You know my mom and dad, and the girls,” again with more smiles and waving. “And that’s Luke’s mom and dad, Neil and Lucy. That couple wandering through the trees is Stacy’s parents, and Brynna’s parents are sitting with my mom. And that big guy that looks like Nate with my dad at the grill is Nate’s dad, Rich.”

I’m completely overwhelmed.

“Hi everyone,” I smile and wave at the group as a whole, and they all smile and wave back. They are a sea of green and blue, clearly dressed to support Will and his team.

Except Nate, who’s just wearing a black t-shirt and faded blue jeans, his hair down, tattooed arm wrapped around Jules’ waist, and he’s whispering in her ear, making her laugh.

“I think Meg could use a drink,” Caleb steps forward and hands me a beer. He has kind blue eyes and an effing killer body.

Of course, he’s a SEAL.

“Yes, Meg could,” I agree and take the beer from him. “Thanks.”

“Come sit with us,” Natalie calls, her daughter Olivia on her shoulder. She is sitting with Brynna, Samantha and Stacy in plush outdoor couches at the far end of the patio.

“I’ll be over there,” I wink at Will and turn to go, but he holds onto my hand and pulls me against him, swinging our linked hands behind my back and kisses me, long and slow, in front of all of these people.

“Get a fucking room!” Caleb calls out.