:: JJ's POV ::

I had just walked out of the juice bar in downtown Houston when I saw her face. She was flawless, I couldn't remember the last time a girl had captivated me the way she managed to without even trying. Her lean legs I had the pleasure of seeing just last week were crossed, covered by her black leggings, her Nike clad right foot bobbing up and down as her eyes focused on her phone. Her hair was thrown up into ponytail, some of the small pieces that had freed themselves from the grasp of her hair tie cascading down her back.

"Emma?"

She looked up and I was instantly met by her eyes, "Hey."

The smile that crept across her face nearly rendered me speechless.

"You a juicer too?" She referred to the green concoction I held in my hand.

"Oddly... yeah." I chuckled.

"You wanna sit?" She gestured to the empty chair across from her.

"If you're in the middle of something I don't want to interrupt."

She laughed, "There's nothing to interrupt. Honest. I was just feeding my online shopping addiction. You'd be doing me a favor."

I nodded as I pulled out the chair, "Fair enough."

"So, what brings you to the juice bar?"

She looked at me from across the table and I took the site of her in.

"My trainer. Apparently I need to eat more fruits and vegetables." I mocked my trainer's words, yet I knew he was right.

Her giggle caused me to smile, "That'll do it."

"And you?"

"Well, I started the whole juicing thing ages ago. I always hated the mess and the hassle of making my own so... I started coming to these nifty little bars. Gives me a boost after my yoga class."

Yoga. That explained the leanness in her physique. Let's just say yoga definitely agrees with her.

"How's Noah?"

She nodded, "He's good. Really good. You're a nice guy Mr. Watt."

I chuckled to prevent myself from blushing. As kind as it was of her to say, I hated how formal it sounded.

"So what is it you do?" I wanted to know more.

"I own Belle Amie boutique."

"Wow." I was impressed. Young, beautiful and successful.

"Wow bad or wow good?"

"Good, definitely good. I think that's great. I admire that." She was incredible.

We carried on conversation for what seemed like hours. She was so easy to talk to. She really seemed to have her head on straight. I guess being forced to grow up and raise a child would do that to you, but she made it seem so simple. I gave her credit, not many people could've handled a tough situation with such grace.

The more and more I learned about her, the more she blew me away. We seemed to see eye to eye on most things, we valued a lot of the same things. If you had asked me to describe my perfect girl, from what I know so far, chances are Emma would fit the bill perfectly. Not only was she breath taking in the naturalness of her beauty, but she was dedicated to the people and things she loved and passionate about her goals, her business and her future. It was refreshing. She knew exactly where she wanted to go in life and she knew exactly what she was going to do or not do to get there.

The last time we had talked, I had left her on her front porch. We had talked about her ex being abusive at times and the way he was just an absent father in Noah's life. Naturally, the compassionate side of me felt bad for her. I hated that a guy ever made a woman feel the way her ex had made her feel and I hated even more that he abandoned his duties as a father. But at that time what I didn't know, was Emma. I didn't know her strength and determination. I felt blessed to know her, in a lot of ways she reminded me of my own mother, granted my father was and is beyond present in my life, but just the way that she put herself on the back burner in order to give Noah everything he needed. My mother was always putting herself last in order to help my brothers and I do what we love, football. My success in the NFL only helped me to show her a fraction of how much I appreciated her sacrifices.

"Well, I've gotta head out. I have to get home and get cleaned up before I need to open the shop." She stood up from her chair grabbing her phone and keys off the table, "Thanks JJ."

"Tell Noah I said hi. I'll call soon, if that's okay?"

"Yeah." She smiled at me.

I knew I wanted to see her and Noah again.

.....................................................................................

:: Emma's POV ::

I sat on top of the picnic table at the local park sipping on my tea, enjoying the sunshine and watching JJ and Noah toss around a football. JJ was so good with him; it blew me away to watch them together. The fact he was eye candy for me was just a complete bonus.

Ever since my run in with JJ at the juice bar a couple weeks back he's been ever so present in our lives. I really grew to know a whole different side of the infamous "JJ Swatt". He really was just a big teddy bear and I now appreciated him on a much larger scale.

"Mommy come play with us!" Noah ran towards me leaving JJ standing in the field, his hands on his hips.

"Please please please!"

I chuckled at Noah's eagerness. He knew I was a sucker for those puppy dog eyes, I almost always gave in.

"Ok, ok... I'll play." I set my cup down on the table and stood up.

"Yay! She's playing!"

Noah cheered as he went running back to a laughing JJ.

"He was determined to get you out here."

"I don't know why... I'm not any good."

The last couple weeks have been so special for Noah. JJ seemed to be spending every moment he had with him, with us. I couldn't help but to wonder what JJ could possibly want from a 25 year old single mom and a 5 year old boy that most men our age would've considered "baggage".

"You ready?" He asked as I spaced myself equal distance from the two of them forming a triangle of sorts.

"Hang on..." I bent my head back as I gathered my long hair into a pony tail.

"Oh no, the hair is goin in a ponytail. Things are gettin serious folks!"

"Shut up." I laughed as JJ teased me for my girly ways.

JJ tossed me the ball, that damn smile on his face slowly making me feel like I wanted to melt. I only hoped I wouldn't make a complete ass of myself and that everything I had learned from my brothers would pay off.

"Let's see what you've got momma."

JJ clapped his hands together and I was beginning to feel as if there were a hundred people watching. I was certain I was a million shades of red by now.

I took a deep breath, said a Hail Mary and threw the football the best I could. I watched the ball spin through the air and JJ reached out to catch it.

"Damn Em..." He looked at me like he was impressed and then turned to Noah, "Did you know your mom could throw?

Noah laughed at JJ's surprised expression. I laughed too, I couldn't help it. It was funny to see him so amused.

Once the awe of my throwing arm subsided we began to play catch. JJ to Noah, Noah to me and me to JJ. Noah was insistent JJ throw to him. His admiration for him was only growing the more time they spent together.

I found myself continually locking eyes with JJ and it was completely accidental. We'd smile at each other then continue playing ball with Noah. I couldn't help but wonder if I was the only one that felt that chemistry.

I pulled myself from dreamland as I caught Noah's pass only to find the two of them laughing and whispering back and forth to one another. They were definitely scheming. I shifted my weight to my left hip as I tried to hear what they were up to. I had no such luck and realized my chance was over once they exchanged a high five.

They seemed to resume their positions for playing catch and just as I got ready to throw the ball both of them started running towards me.

"Mommy's got the ball... tackle her!" JJ calls out.

"What?" I let out a shriek as I started to run away from them.

Little did JJ know I was a runner and I'd be damned if I was going to allow myself to be easy to catch. It wasn't long before Noah tired out and fell behind. I could still hear his little giggles as he watched JJ chase me.

"Oh come on! I thought sacks were your specialty!" I taunted him a little, my competitive side shining through.

"I was giving you a head start!"

We both laughed and I knew it was going to slow me down. I turned around to see how close he was. I didn't even have time to focus before I felt arms come around me, gently tackling me to the ground. At that moment all I could think about was how sweet it was that he made sure I landed softly, making sure he didn't hurt me. We broke into a fit of laughter.

Our laughing slowed as I realized he had me pinned beneath him, his arms and legs holding me hostage as his weight rested on his hands and knees. My eyes wandered their way up to his, I never realized how beautiful and blue they were; they held so much kindness. My eyes couldn't help but to study his face, to take everything in I may not have appreciated from a distance. My heart was racing; I had never been so close to him.

"You're so beautiful." His voice was soft as he rested his large hand on my flushed cheek.

His touch sent a wave of goose bumps down my skin as my eyes fluttered shut and I allowed myself to melt into his touch. My stomach once again felt as if a million butterflies were trying their hardest to escape. I felt a tingling sensation spread across my body as his lips landed on mine. Was this what they meant by sparks? I had never experienced such bliss.

The first kiss was soft and short as if he was waiting for permission from me to continue. I didn't stop him, I didn't want to. When I didn't protest he took it as an invitation and recaptured my lips. This time the kiss was so passionate and slow and when he pulled away it took me a moment before I could even open my eyes, but when I did, my eyes were met by his. My heart was beating out of my chest.

"Is mommy hurt?" Noah's small voice quickly snapped us back into reality as he ran towards us.

We had gotten lost in our own little world for what seemed like forever, yet it had only been minutes. JJ flashed me that smirk that made my knees so wobbly, I was thankful I was lying down because after that kiss, I know my knees would've given out.

"No, she's not hurt." JJ chuckled as he pulled himself up and extended his hand to help me get to my feet.

"I'm okay buddy." I smiled at Noah as he threw his arms around my waist.

"I love you mommy." He reached his little arm out for JJ, pulling him into our hug, "I love you JJ."

"I love you too buddy." JJ accepted Noah's embrace.

My heart melted at the way those words came out of his mouth knowing he truly meant them. I could tell JJ was touched as he wrapped his other arm around me completing our group hug. I smiled at him; I knew he was beside himself. My mind just couldn't shake that kiss and I couldn't help but to wonder what that meant for us.