Kylie glanced askance at Chase’s legs as he lowered himself onto the metal riser next to her. His khaki shorts showed off spectacular muscles, and her breath stalled as she remembered how he’d taken her mind off the big day that morning. Oh, yeah, baby. Funny how after six months, he could still make her heart race and her palms sweat just by looking at him.

She raised her gaze to his face, seeing her own reflection in his sunglasses, and smiled. “Nervous about what?”

He chuckled and nudged her arm with his shoulder. “Nice try.”

She clasped her hands together and stared hard at center court. “Yeah, I’m nervous as hell. Is this what it was like when you watched me play?”

“Not really. I was too busy checking out your boobs.”

Laughing, she shielded her eyes as T.J. walked onto the court with his rackets and bag. “He looks terrified,” she said. “Does he look terrified to you?”

“Nope. He looks like a tennis player.” Chase slipped an arm around her shoulders to give her a quick, reassuring hug. “A really fantastic one.”

The tension flowed out of her. He was so good at that.

“I ran into the Coopers in the parking lot,” Chase said, referring to T.J.’s foster parents. “You’d think the kid was in the finals at Wimbledon.”

Kylie nodded. She knew exactly how they felt. “You’d think.” She linked her arm through his and edged as close to him as she could get without climbing onto his lap. “Did I ever thank you for getting him placed with them?”

He chuckled, grazing the tips of his fingers over her forearm until goose bumps rose on her skin. “Many times, but I’m willing to let you thank me again any time.”

She kissed his cheek. “You’re really wonderful, you know that?”

“Well, just for the record, Tom and Annette fell for T.J. on their own. I didn’t pull those strings.”

“Still wonderful,” she said, smiling and resting her chin on his shoulder.

He turned his head and kissed her, slowly and leisurely, until the chill bumps returned and her nipples pressed against his upper arm. “Somebody’s cold,” he murmured against her lips.

She laughed. “I can’t move now until I’m warm again. Oh, wait, I’m already warm.” She nipped at his earlobe. “Really warm.”

He cleared his throat, then awkwardly crossed his legs and made a big show of taking in their surroundings. “This is quite a crowd,” he observed, his voice strained.

Kylie had already taken in the hundreds of spectators filling row upon row of metal bleachers, a phenomenal crowd for a junior tennis tournament. It helped that the newspaper had run a story that morning about T.J. Ritchie, the tennis sensation being coached by Kylie McKay. The story included a nice little plug, too, for McKays’ Tennis Center, opening next year. The bank had stuck with Kylie despite the delays. Cash infusions from both Jane and Lara helped.

After a few minutes, Kylie rubbed her palm up Chase’s arm, keeping the gesture soothing rather than sexual. “Better yet?”

“Not as long as you keep touching me.”

She moved away from him with a soft laugh. “Fine, I’ll keep my distance.”

He caught her chin and kissed her quickly. “Just for now, though, right?”

Heat seared through her at the low, promising tone of his voice. “Just try and keep me away.”

He grinned, then glimpsing someone a few rows down, he jumped to his feet. “Oh, hey, there’s Rhonda and Maddy.”

Kylie rose, too, and greeted Chase’s former wife and daughter, grateful for all the activity to distract her from her nerves and Chase.

Maddy ran up and gave her a tight hug. “Hi, Kylie!”

“Hey, kid. How’s it going?” Kylie returned the girl’s embrace, sharing a smile over the top of her head with Rhonda, who had to be the most amazing ex-wife on the planet. She seriously didn’t seem to harbor any ill will toward Kylie at all.

Maddy peered at the tennis court. “Is T.J. playing yet?”

Chase tapped Maddy on the head. “Hey, don’t I get a hug?”

Giggling, she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Hi, Dad.”

“Thanks for dropping her off,” Chase said to Rhonda.

Rhonda, a petite blond woman with hazel eyes, plopped down on the bleachers. “I’m here to watch. Rumor has it this kid’s going to be the next Kendall Falls tennis star.”

“When are they going to start playing?” Maddy asked.

Kylie drew the girl, who was all elbows and long legs and smelled faintly of her dad’s sunscreen, onto the seat next to her. “It won’t be long, Squirt.”

“T.J.’s going to win,” Maddy said. “Just watch.”

“It doesn’t matter if he wins or not,” Kylie said, inwardly looking forward to watching T.J. kick his opponent’s butt all over the court until the other kid fled, sobbing for his mommy. “It’s how he plays,” she said to Maddy.

“Dad says that’s bullshit. He’s supposed to win.”

“Maddy!” Rhonda exclaimed in parental horror, even as she covered her mouth to hide a laugh.

Chase shrugged at Kylie’s reproachful glance. “Well, it’s true. Isn’t that the point?”

Kylie sat up straight. “The point is that he develops into a mature, professional player.”

“And wins,” Chase said, then grinned before he chucked Maddy under the chin. “Your nose is turning red from the sun already, kiddo.”

“Hi, everyone!”

Jane, in a sundress and floppy yellow hat that sharply contrasted Kylie’s own khaki shorts and white tank top, waved from a few rows down. As Kylie waved back, she couldn’t help but be amused that Jane dressed up even for a junior tennis tournament.

Their relationship had improved considerably in the past six months. Of course, Jane had focused her psychoanalyzing attention on Quinn these days. Luckily, she’d appeared to have learned that a lighter touch was often more productive.

Jane gestured over her shoulder as she made her way toward the empty seats in front of Kylie and Chase. “Sorry we’re kind of late.”

“You’re fine,” Kylie said. “Match hasn’t started yet.” She shifted to see behind Jane, curious about the “we.” Spotting Wade Bell, she smiled and returned his wave, thinking how perfect they were for each other. She hadn’t seen Jane this happy . . . ever.

Seeing who followed behind Wade, she grinned. “Trisha, excellent!” And then she saw who accompanied Trisha and squealed. “Quinn! I thought you had to work.”

Her brother hugged her and pecked her on the cheek. “Playing hooky. Don’t tell anyone, okay?” He waggled his eyebrows toward Trisha, as if to say, “Look who I brought!”

Kylie couldn’t stop grinning. Holy cow. Quinn and Trisha hanging out together. She could hardly believe it.

Chase signaled Maddy. “Come here a sec, Madster. We need to sunscreen that nose.”

“I want to sit next to Kylie during the game,” Maddy said, giving her chin a stubborn set.

Chase chuckled. “Don’t worry. We can share.”

“So,” Quinn said as he and Trisha settled down behind Kylie. “Big day, huh?”

She gave a nonchalant shrug. “Another day, another match.”

“Yeah, right,” Quinn said with a snort. He glanced at Trisha, pitching his thumb toward Kylie. “She’s about to take off like a rocket.”

“I can tell,” Trisha said.

Kylie laughed. “Don’t light my fuse.”

“Hey, have you guys seen Mom yet?” Jane scanned the crowd. “She said she’d meet us.”

Emotion thickened Kylie’s throat. The whole family was going to be here. She didn’t think everyone had ever turned out for any of her matches, even the championship ones. They were all here for her now, though, and that’s what mattered.

She checked center court to see that T.J. and his opponent had begun their warm-up volleys. “Here we go.”

Chase slid his hand over hers and linked their fingers. “Marry me?”

She looked at him with a gasp. “What?”

He hugged her arm to his side and leaned in close to nuzzle her cheek. “Don’t worry. I’ll ask again later when you’re not so distracted.”

The players on the court were introduced, and the stands shook with cheers at T.J.’s name. Kylie saw his eyes widen before he looked toward her and grinned.

He won the coin toss for first serve, and a hush fell over the spectators while he threw the ball high into the air and slammed it at his opponent in perfect grace.

Ace.

While the crowd erupted in cheers, Kylie scooted closer to Chase and put her lips near his ear. “Yes.”