Page 158 of Payoff Pitch
Kam mentioned us moving back into our apartment. I know we need to have this conversation with Tanner. He’ll be more than happy to get rid of Kamryn, but I don’t think he’ll warm to the idea of me leaving. The truth is, I don’t want to leave this house. My mind has been swirling with thoughts of my future maybe not looking exactly like I always thought it would. Do I need marriage? Do I need children of my own when Harper fills me with so much joy?
With my physical strength and abilities gradually coming back to me, I’m able to do some of the smaller things that bring me happiness, like getting up early and making breakfast for Harper every morning. I can’t believe how much I missed cooking for her. I’ve also been making dinner for everyone at night. It’s equally as therapeutic for me as anything else I do. I love our big group meals so much. I feel like we’re back to a general place of happiness as opposed to feelings of sadness over the accident.
It’s a Saturday morning. I’m at the stove in Tanner’s huge T-shirt and my shorts, making a big batch of pancakes for our full house. Tanner is behind me in only flannel pajama pants, unable to keep his hands off me. That’s something that he’s become more liberal with as the weeks have gone on. Except in front of Harper, he’s always touching me and no longer cares who’s around. I can only hope no one realized what he was doing to me under the blanket while we all watched a movie the other night. I drew blood on the inside of my cheek as I bit it, trying to keep quiet through my orgasm. The crazy man then sat there subtly sucking on his fingers. All it served to do was turn me on again. I can’t seem to get enough of him. I don’t think I’ll ever have my fill.
I slap his hand as it slips up my shirt to grab my braless boob. “Stop distracting me. Don’t you want breakfast?”
In his sexy, gravelly morning voice, he responds, “I already had breakfast. It was delicious.”
I smile. “Notthat, you sex maniac.” I reach back and make a small grab for his very hard cock. “You better take care of this before anyone else wakes up.”
He thrusts it onto my ass, kisses my neck, and mumbles into it, “Why don’tyoutake care of it?”
I giggle. “I already did.”
Suddenly I see Fallon’s legs appear, walking down the stairs. I try to push him away, but he doesn’t budge. Maybe he hasn’t seen her yet.
Nope, it’s obvious. He just doesn’t care.
She arrives at the bottom of the steps and stops short when she sees us. “Umm, sorry.” She fidgets a bit. “Ooh, this is awkward, but it’s a good opening for me to tell you that I’m moving back to my house tomorrow.”
Tanner doesn’t make any attempt to remove his body, currently glued to mine, but looks up. “Do you think it’s time?”
She nods. “Bailey is more than ready for outpatient treatment. She’s doing great. I’m not going back to work for another two weeks. I’ll come by in the mornings for physical therapy until then.”
I wish he wasn’t groping me in front of her. It feels disrespectful. I elbow him away a little to create some space.
He softly whispers, “I like when you’re rough with me.”
I try to ignore the sex machine attached to me and look at Fallon. “I’ll never be able to repay you for everything you’ve done. You gave up your life for me over the past three months. I’m so appreciative of you and know I wouldn’t have come as far as I have if it wasn’t for you.”
She smiles. “Tanner didn’t really give me a choice in the matter, but it was honestly my pleasure. You’re a medical marvel at how quickly you’ve recovered. I’ve never had a patient work this hard. It’s not surprising that you’re an accomplished professional athlete.”
“I feel like a normal person now, but I still have a long way to go to get back into game shape. I can’t grip the bat quite right.” I make a show of my reduced grip strength. The doctors had mentioned to me that minor things might take longer or might never return. My ability to grip smaller items tightly seems to be one of those things.
I’ve been in that batting cage every afternoon trying to get my swing back. It’s not even close yet. The bat keeps flying out of my hands.
“Give it time. You’re still healing. Your body is working on reconnecting everything. Playing any sport will be tough for a little while longer, but if you keep up with your therapy, I truly believe you can get there. Your being in such fantastic shape beforehand was certainly a contributing factor to your accelerated recovery time.”
“Speaking of playing sports, guess who’s coming over today for a little one-on-one rehab on the basketball court?”
Fallon’s face lights up. “Sulley?”
Sulley moved back to her hometown during the off-season but did visit once shortly after my accident. She checks in with me all the time though. She’s very sweet.
Fallon fangirls over my friendship with Sulley and is dying to get on the basketball court with her.
I nod. “Yep, I told her she was going to have some major competition in Fallon Montgomery.”
“Eek. I’m so excited.” She jokingly narrows her eyes at me. “I’m still going to work you hard this morning. You’re not getting out of that.”
I smile. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
We hear the familiar footsteps of Harper running down the stairs. She’s surprisingly loud for a little kid. Tanner backs away from me just before she comes into sight.
Her eyes light up. “Pancakes?”
I nod. “Yep.”