Free Breaking Tackles: A Taking Flight Novel by Erin Brown Page A

you and your fiancée for our social media accounts.”
     
    “Of course,” Adam says graciously before giving me a look that says, Is that okay?
     
    I smile and look toward the maî·tre d', who has motioned over a full-on professional photographer. As the photographer hurries over, a black and gold candle is placed in the cake and quickly lit before we’re being instructed to lean in, tilt our chins a certain way, and smile.
     
    The whole thing is over and done with in under a minute and we’re left in peace, though several other diners are now eyeing us. I hope they just think we’re celebrating a birthday or something, and that they don’t actually recognize Adam. Not that I don’t want him to have fans, but I’d like for him to be just mine every once in a while.
     
    “Sorry about that,” Adam says, picking up a fork and digging into the dessert.
     
    I pick up the other fork and follow suit. “Not a problem.”
     
    “Thanks for being cool about it. I honestly didn’t realize that would happen.”
     
    I start to tell him that it’s impossible for him to be that naïve. His father and both brothers have been through this. He has to know that this is the treatment you receive when you’re a professional athlete.
     
    Then again, he grew up in a small, suburban town in Missouri, the same place his father grew up and retired to because he wanted his kids to have some semblance of a normal childhood. Sure, his dad and their family got some attention, but mostly everyone was used to them, so it’s not like his entire life was documented in tabloids. Maybe Adam really is that naïve.
     
    “I guess you’re going to have to get used to it.”
     
    “I guess,” Adam says, shaking his head before saying, “So hey. We’ve been invited to a cookout tomorrow.”
     
    “That sounds fun,” I say. “One of your teammates?”
     
    “Yeah,” he says, and I raise my eyebrows, waiting for the name. “Jax Montgomery.”
     
    I was not prepared for that name.
     
    “As in beloved quarterback, husband and father of the freaking year, and all-around wonderful person, Jax Montgomery?”
    “That would be the one,” Adam says, looking amused by my description.
     
    But it’s not like I’m wrong. It’s very fitting for that guy to play for the Saints since he practically is one. His wife, Melissa, is a breast cancer survivor, and he created a foundation in her name that pays for cancer treatments and medications for those who can’t afford to pay out of pocket.
     
    “Wow,” I say. “So we’re going to meet Jax and Melissa Montgomery tomorrow.”
     
    “As well as the rest of the team,” Adam says, grinning.
     
    “I might as well rip meeting everyone off like a Band-Aid, I guess.”
     
    “Hopefully it won’t be as painful,” Adam says. “Are you about ready to get out of here?”
     
    “Yeah,” I say, as Adam motions to the waiter to bring our bill.
     
    Then the thought of what might come next tonight enters my mind, as does the matching red lace underwear I brought with me. My stomach clenches involuntarily and I feel clammy all over.
     
    How is it possible that I am still in no way ready for sex? Is this normal?
     
    I tamp down the panic rising in me and breathe in deeply to help myself relax. So I’m not ready yet. That’s okay. Adam has said he’ll wait for me and he will because he loves me.
     
    Besides, maybe I’ll be ready tomorrow.
     
    When we pull up to the Montgomery’s place, I’m shocked by how normal it is.
     
    The white brick house is large, but not enormous. It’s just a bigger-than-average, normal-looking suburban home.
     
    “Should we have brought something?” I ask, even though it’s way too late to be asking the question. I should have thought about it this morning instead of inwardly freaking out about the fact that I brought nothing seemingly appropriate to wear to a cookout at an NFL quarterback’s house.
     
    Adam swore that my red shorts and black