To Professor, with Love (Forbidden Men #2)(115)

“So how was your first day of teaching, Mr. Gamble?”

I’d been stressed all day that he would regret taking the teaching position here. After he’d broken his collarbone his senior year of college during a football game and lost his chance to play for the NFL, I’d worried he’d eventually grow to hate the new life he’d had to make. And he’d come to resent me for urging him into changing his major to teaching and coaching.

“It was kind of exhilarating, actually,” he said. “When I noticed people paying attention to me when I talked, I almost felt as if I might be able to make a difference in some kid’s life.”

I could’ve told him he’d already made a difference in three very important kids’ lives. But he looked awed by the realization he’d just reached.

“I’m anxious to start football practice and see what sort of team I’m going to have this season.”

Which reminded me of the time. “Doesn’t that start in three minutes?” I arched my eyebrow, silently asking him what he was doing in my classroom.

His blue eyes turned smoky. “Yes, it does. But knowing you were in here was too much temptation to resist. Seeing you in your ‘professor suits’ always reminds me of the days we first met.” He ran his fingers lovingly down the lapel of my blazer.

“But now we don’t have to hide anything.”

“Yeah.” He leaned in to kiss me again. “And it still feels too good to be true. I keep expecting someone to blow in here and tell us we can’t be together.” His arms wrapped possessively around my waist. “This time with you has been the best time of my life. I can’t thank you enough for coming back to me, for being my wife.”

I rested my head on his heartbeat. “You’ve given me the best three years of my life too.” I patted his abs of steel and kissed his chin. “Now you better get going, Coach, before they decide to replace you on your first day.”

“I’ll see you at home. Love you, babe.” He kissed me again before stepping back. I immediately missed his arms around me.

“I love you too. Don’t give Brandt too hard of a time during practice.”

Noel just grinned. “Oh, if he thinks you didn’t show him any family favoritism, just wait until he finds out how hard I’m going to ride his ass on the field.”

He wiggled his eyebrows and blew me one last kiss before backing from the room.

I let out a pleased sigh and sank into my desk chair. When I'd started working at Ellamore University that fateful semester, I'd had no clue my life would end up here. But I'm thrilled it had. Who knew I’d be insanely happy working at a high school while I was married to the football coach? Or that helping him raise his two younger brothers and sister, a junior in college now, would make me feel so complete? But here I was, more content than I'd ever been, and I wouldn’t change my life for anything in the world. All I'd ever wanted was to find love and be loved in return. But this had gone above and beyond. I was completely fulfilled.

***

“What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.” - J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye

THE END