Sam’s grin widened. “I’m so proud of you.”

Dreamily, she looked at Sam. She was a bit overwhelmed by what he’d come to mean to her. “All because you told me to play—just play,” she said, emphasizing the last two words.

He kissed her. “Did I say that?”

She grinned. “Don’t try to be humble, you’re not good at it.”

He let out a laugh, and then Roman’s clan descended upon them.

Before Tiffany knew it, she was taking Maddy out of Katie’s arms and being smothered in a hug by Josh and Katie at the same time. Then when Roman got through giving Sam a bear hug, he moved on to her, telling Josh to help him get her in a big bear hug.

Through all the commotion, she saw Sam and Katie hugging and laughing at Roman’s antics.

Of course, a crowd now enfolded them, taking pictures and recording it.

Then her mother appeared.

“You come give your mama a big hug, girl.” Reese made an entrance through the baggage claim double doors, and Tiffany couldn’t stop herself from running to her.

Almost toppling her when she hugged her, Tiffany laughed and kept her mama in her arms as she turned back to a smiling Sam.

The surprise.

Her mama had tears on her face to match her own and her perfume nearly knocked Tiffany out. She laughed and kept hugging her.

Her mom pulled back, looking her up and down. “Well, you look just as good in person as you do in the pictures.” She winked at her and then gave her a long look. “I’m so proud of you.” Then she patted her cheek and turned to Sam. “Dumont, get over here and hug me. I hope you’re ready to kill those guys tomorrow.”

Good naturedly, Sam picked her mama up in the same kind of bear hug that Roman had used on her and spun her around. Her mama hooted and let out a big laugh.

Something inside of Tiffany burst into a happiness she hadn’t felt since she was little and her family had gone camping. She remembered how happy she had felt sitting by the campfire surrounded by loved ones. She marveled that she could be in a crowded airport and feel that same deep happiness. Complete contentment is what she felt at the moment.

Looking at the whole crew before her, Tiffany couldn’t deny that coming to see Sam in Miami…already felt like coming home.

45

Sam got back from practice that night, happy to smell something grilling on the barbeque and hear the light laughter of people.

He walked into the kitchen and saw Tiffany and her mother making a salad at the counter.

Katie was stirring something on the stove, and the glass door that separated the kitchen from the beach was wide open. He saw Roman playing catch with Josh with Maddy at his feet. He’d spent the past few weeks preparing for this. For all of them. To be here together. He’d given instructions to his decorator to get toys and balls and instructions to his personal assistant to stock the fridge with lots of food.

It was worth it. Something protective and manly and domestic stirred within him. He wanted this every night. Wanted to come home to a family. He wanted a life with her. A family. Friends. Things that meant something. Things that weren’t for the media and weren’t to impress anybody.

He wanted things that mattered.

“Hey.” Her ponytail whirled around as she turned and then leaned up to kiss him. She still wore the yellow sundress that made her look like a princess, but she didn’t have the boots on, and her feet were bare.

The vanilla scent that always clung to her filled him, and he pulled her close, inhaling deeply. It was as if this woman had been perfectly made for him.

She giggled. “Hey, I’m not the entree.”

Putting his face into her neck, he nuzzled below her chin. “Oh, but you could be.” Then he put little kisses up her hair line and finally landed on her lips.

She giggled more and then held him tighter.

“Hey.” Tiffany’s mother laughed lightly, rapping him on the shoulder. “You can’t have her just yet. I need the cucumbers cut up.”

Sam released her, unable to keep himself from grinning. He put an arm over Reese’s shoulders and surveyed the plethora of vegetables they were in the process of cutting. “As long as I can get her back later.”

“Sam!” Roman called from outside.

Katie whooshed by him, wearing one of the apple aprons that the decorator had added as a finishing touch to the kitchen. “I think Josh’s arm is worn out. You’d better get out there and play some catch.” She rushed to the barbeque and threw it open, turning to Roman. “Thanks for watching the chicken, Roman!” She rolled her eyes and grinned at Sam.

Beautiful. Katie Young, with her red hair, lean figure, and her sharp green eyes. He could see why Roman had fallen for her, but it was more than that. She was strong, and she was a true wife and mother. She was in charge, and Roman liked it that way.

For a second his mind flashed to the messy house back in Wolfe Creek, and he smiled. Roman really was lost without her.

Sam headed for the beach, kicking off his flip-flops before hopping off the deck.

The sun was just going down, and the sky had turned pink. The waves lapped gently at the beach. He grinned at his friend, deeply pleased that Roman was here.

A ball flew at him, and he tugged it out of the air.

“Over here!” Josh held his hands out, ready to receive it.

Sam held back, gently throwing it.

Josh frowned. “Is that all you got, Dumont?”

The sound of laughter came from Roman’s direction. He threw his hands up. “He plays with me. What do you expect?”

Funny.

Sam watched Josh throw a nice pass to his father. Then Roman turned, and Sam could see the look in his eye. Coupled with the fact that Roman wasn’t doing two a day practices and wanted to prove to all the women that he was still ‘the great Roman Young,’ Sam tensed, ready for anything.

Cocking his arm back, Roman nodded. Sam took off, knowing that Roman was going deep. “Josh, let’s see if the old man’s still got it.”

Sam watched Roman release, and knew he needed to kick it up a notch to intercept it. Pushing harder, he jumped into the air, pulled it down with one hand, and pulled it into him. Then tucked and rolled onto the beach.

“Whoo!” Roman yelled, pointing at Sam. “That was pretty, Dumont. That was pretty!”

The next day, Tiffany sat with all of them in the box for player’s families with a great view of the Miami Surf stadium. It was an hour until everything started. There was a buffet of food, and Reese was taking pictures of everything. Josh was sitting in his seat, playing a game on his phone. Roman was talking to some people that were coming in and out of their box.

Katie sat next to Tiffany, holding a sleeping Maddy. Katie had her head back on the seat and her eyes closed. “How are you holding up, Miss Country Star?”

She hadn’t realized she would be so nervous for Sam. Tiffany tried to smile and calm herself. “I’m fine, just nervous for Sam.”

Katie grinned. “It’s hard when you know what they’ve gone through. How hard they’ve worked. Everything that’s riding on these games for them.”

Right. Of course she understood. They’d been through a lot last year.

Katie continued, keeping her eyes closed. “The game Roman got hurt, ohmygosh, I thought my heart would stop. It…” Her eyes flashed open. “Josh was with me, and I was eight months pregnant…” She blinked rapidly.

Tiffany’s insides knotted even more. “I’m sorry, Katie.”

Katie smiled at her. “It all worked out.”

“No. I…” Her heart pounded quickly. “I can’t imagine how awful that was.”

Tiffany still remembered watching that game. Roman lying on the ground after getting hit. Them pulling him out on a stretcher. She’d spoken to Katie later, but now she had a whole new respect.