Ballers: His Game (Ballers Series Book 1)(39)

I reach to take her from Tam’s arms to carry her out to Ann’s car. “That’s good baby girl. I want you to be good for your aunt and uncle and have fun, okay,” I kiss my baby girl’s forehead and beam with pride to have such an adorable and smart little girl.

“I will daddy,” Ellie says with a sage nod of her head.

I can tell Tam is exhausted by the time we get Ellie in the car with my sister and her kids. We each climb in our trucks and start for her place. I know she is tired when she watches me toss my bags in my truck and only shakes her head and laughs in protest, not at all the fight I thought we would have over me sleeping over tonight.

I drive close behind her on the way to her place to insure she is okay. That is why I become alarmed when we turn into her block and her car comes to a halt. I pull around her SUV to her driver’s side to see what is going on and that is when I see the reporters and cameras surrounding the front of her home.

I pinch the bridge of my nose as all the blood drains from my face. I’m just not going to catch a break, am I? Before I can signal for Tam to roll her window down, she floors it and rushes through the crowd pulling into the garage door. I hadn’t noticed it open.

I quickly follow her inside. The door is already closing by the time I make it inside and cameras are flashing behind us. Once the door fully closes Tam is out the car slamming the door behind her so hard I am surprised the window didn’t crack.

She rushes into the house closing the side door loudly as well. I slowly make my way into the house happy she hasn’t locked me out. I follow the sound of her boots stumping and more doors slamming. I am in no rush for the fight that is ahead of me.

I make my way upstairs to the closed bedroom door. With a deep sigh I open the door and sag in relief to hear the shower going and see the bathroom door closed. This I could do, if I can distract Tam I can buy myself some time. I start to strip out of my own clothes.

I walk to the bathroom door and nod to myself when I turn the knob and it too is unlocked. I step into the bathroom and lose my thoughts at the sight of the woman I love standing beneath the water with her head against the tiles. However, my thoughts come crashing back down when I realize that her shoulders are shaking as the water rolls down her spine.

The sight is killing me. I never want to see this woman in pain. Just the thought itself has my feet moving toward her. I step into the shower and wrap my arms around her waist. I nuzzle her neck but Tam stiffens in my arms. I curse in my thoughts and move to turn her to face me. I reach up and wipe the tears from her cheeks. It is literally tearing me up to see this strong woman reduced to tears.

“Talk to me baby,” I plead.

“I worked so hard to put my life together after meeting you. The one time I do something so out of my character it bites me in the biggest way ever,” Tam sobs. “I finally have things in my life in order and here you are again. I wanted to take this slow and now I have reporters camping out outside my daughter’s day care and my home. I didn’t ask for this I don’t want this for me and Brielle.”

“Now wait a minute there,” I seethe. “Brielle is our daughter. I was just as upset and worried about her as you. I care about you Tam and it is killing me to see you like this. I had no intention to come and disturb your life, but I have a right to be a part of Brielle’s life and I want to be a part of yours if you will let me. But Tam, I am who I am and you know all about my career, you deal with your clients all the time. You had to know that it was possible that dating me would change some things in your life.”

“I don’t want this,” Tam snaps. “I don’t want to be in the spot light, I don’t want your family thinking I want you for your money, I don’t want to be in love with you. I didn’t ask for any of this.”

I lock eyes with her as her word sink in. There are a few words that I am hearing loud and clear above all the rest. I cup her face in the palms of my hands, crushing her plump lips with mine. I kiss her deeply and feel her moan vibrate through my chest as I taste her salty tears on my tongue.

“Say it for me Darlin’,” I groan against her lips.

Tam pulls back with a confused look on her face. “Say what?”

“Tell me you love me,” I smile down at her.

She frowns and slaps a hand against my wet chest. “Is that all you heard me say?” She snaps with no real bite.

“It was the most important thing that you said. Now say it for me Baby,” I reply as I back her up against the shower wall.

She pinned her hair up this time so I figure I am in the clear this time around. Even if I am not I am so turned on by her words that I can’t think pass what I want to hear.

“Brad, I love you but….,” I cutoff the rest of her words with a hard kiss to her lips.

I grab two hands full of her warm round backside and lift her until her legs wrap around my waist. I thought it would take a lot more and a lot longer for Tam to admit that she loves me. But to hear her say it now seals my mind on the fact that I will do anything and everything to make this woman happy and keep her in my life ‘til the day I breathe no more.

“Tamara,” I groan her name. “I love you, baby. I’m going to fix all of this, I promise.”

I drop to my knees holding her up against the shower wall. Hanging her legs over my shoulders, I bury my face between her thighs pulling her waist to me. Her hips start to rock against my face and I hum in satisfaction. I’ll have to wait until the morning to fix everything else but for right now I can make it all about her.