The party had moved from the stadium to Ian and Kathy’s home, flowing between their kitchen, great room, and landscaped backyard complete with tennis court and swimming pool. Pizza, chicken wings, chips, and Jake’s mandatory salad crowded the counter. The boys, filled with the adrenaline of victory, were boisterous in their celebration.

At one point, Dominique slipped away from the crowd in search of the bathroom and, honestly, some peace and quiet. She was as jubilant as the rest of them but for the first time she realized the advantage of having only one child—the noise ratio was decidedly less. She admired the Longmires’ home as she made her way down a short stairway into what looked to be the den. She noted a bathroom to the left of the steps and was making a beeline to it when she was accosted from behind.

Dominique gasped and immediately smelled Jake’s cologne right before she felt a large hand place a firm grasp on her behind. “Jake!” she hissed. “Stop, someone will see us!”

“I don’t care,” Jake murmured, reaching around and tweaking a nipple. “I’m ready to continue the celebration in the privacy of my bedroom.”

Dominique turned around, admiration shining in her eyes. “You did good today, Coach. I’m so proud of you.”

Jake acknowledged the compliment by pulling Dominique into his arms and grinding himself into her. “Justin is going to spend the night with Travis so you and I can be together.”

Dominique looked up, surprised. “How did this happen?”

“You think Ian and Kathy don’t know what’s up?”

“I love you, Jake McDonald.”

Later that night, with no one to distract them, she showed him just how much.

Dominique’s cell phone rang. She smiled as she looked at the caller ID. “Hey, little sis.”

“Hey, big sis,” Faith replied. “For a minute, I thought I was going to have to send a search party out.”

“Didn’t you get my text?”

“Girl, you know I’m not into that newfangled stuff. I called your cell phone and your home phone. Went to voicemail all weekend.” Dominique could imagine her sister’s raised brow. “Hum. Wonder where we were ...”

“Ha! You know where I was, girl—with Jake.” Dominique paused, her face breaking out into a smile. “I told him, Faith.”

“Told him what?”

“That I loved him, and that I was ready to put aside my fears and officially enter a relationship. We went public this weekend.”

Faith whooped. “I love it! When you make a decision you don’t waste time!”

“It wasn’t planned; at least not by me. I think we just got caught up in the excitement of the game.”

“Yeah, Aaron and Michael told me all about it, much to my dismay.”