by Meader, Kate
“Mid-September.”
“We’re at the beginning.” Cade’s eyes were bright as buttons as he split a gaze between Elle and Theo. “Just in time for the new season. We’ll be setting up a Rebels daycare next.”
She laughed because it was a cute idea, then caught Hunt’s eye. His expression asked, are you okay? She smiled to let him know she was, surprised that she meant it. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so terrible after all, especially if she was part of the Rebels family.
That’s what these people were to each other, a family bonded by friendship, respect, and love. Was there really room here for someone like her?
Cade gripped Theo’s shoulder. “Come in and celebrate with us, the both of you. Plenty of cake to go around.”
Theo opened his mouth, and Elle knew what he was going to say. We’re keeping it quiet. Carry on without us. Maybe later. All the excuses he’d been making for her.
Her excuses.
Time for her to own this. She got there first. “We’d love that. Thanks, Cade.”
And then she took Theo’s hand and led him back into the lounge.
18
@TheTheoKershaw Baby Daddy in the house! Oh, yeah. Won our first playoffs game which is awesome, but … BABY! #RebelsBaby #PlayoffsBaby #TheoBaby #DinoBaby
“Hey, guys! It’s been a whirlwind 24 hours. If you haven’t heard, I’m having a baby!”
Elle put her hand over her mouth, wishing she could put it over his. Theo was back to his daily Instagram live check-ins and doing what he did best: blabbing for his country.
“Yeah, I don’t know how I managed to keep quiet about it because as you’ve probably figured out, I’m not known for being quiet about anything! I’m a total attention ho but Eh—the mother of our baby—she’s a private person so I’m hoping people can respect that.”
The comments section was filled with affirmations and congratulations. A couple of them observed that his baby mama was so lucky to have Theo as her main squeeze, and Elle had to admit: if she was going to get knocked up by anyone, Theo Kershaw wasn’t such a bad prospect.
Prospect. That sounded a little too close to “mark.”
The guys had been mostly discreet at the impromptu reveal party, but it wasn’t enough. She woke up to several text messages from Jordan telling her that her name was all over social media. No pics, but everyone was speculating on who she was and how she’d managed to snag a fine piece like Theo.
Her phone rang with a number she didn’t recognize, but as the location ID read Saugatuck, MI—Theo’s home town—she answered. Someone was already talking. Loudly.
“ELLE? Elle Butler, this is Aurora! THEO’S GRANDMOTHER!”
“Oh, hello, Mrs. Kershaw.”
“Please! There isn’t nor ever has been a Mr. Kershaw. It’s Aurora. Now I KNEW there was something about you.”
Elle’s muscles solidified to cement. “You did?”
“As soon as my Theo mentioned you at the holidays I knew you were THE ONE.”
“Um, Mrs. K—I mean, Aurora, this wasn’t planned and we’re really just trying to take it a day at a time. Theo’s great. Lovely, really, but we’re not a couple in the traditional sense…” Where was she going with this?
Aurora picked up the slack. “I just want you to know that you are part of THE FAMILY. Now, what about your parents?”
A chill seeped into her bones to go with the cement muscles. “My parents?”
“When can we meet them? Theo says he hasn’t had a chance to talk to them yet.”
“Oh, they’re … traveling right now? On business.” Probably true, they were always moving from Point A to Point B to bilk someone out of their life’s savings. “They’re really pleased.”
“OF COURSE THEY ARE! Maybe they can come to Chicago for one of Theo’s games. Okay, I have to go. Someone just came in and he looks like he’s got cash to spend on that nice print of the lighthouse surrounded by ferrets. I’ll send a care package of lotions and brownies soon and we’ll set up a weekly—maybe twice-weekly?—check-in. SOUND GOOD?”
“Uh, okay.”
Hurricane Aurora rang off. Damn. Elle was going to have to get her story ducks in a row regarding her parents and why they would always be traveling. She also needed a backup plan for if/when Theo found out about them.
She checked her oh-shit fund, knowing already the balance to the penny and knowing also that it was not enough to start over. Would it ever be now that she had another mouth to feed? And if the kid had Kershaw’s appetite … No matter what happened, Theo would provide for the baby but she refused to take more than her due.
Her phone rang again. A dreadful shiver slithered down Elle’s spine as Amy’s silvery laugh echoed in her ear. “Elle-Belle, you naughty girl.”
“Hey, what’s up?”
“You little minx. So that’s what you’ve got going on. And I thought you were the good twin.”
“This isn’t a con, Amy. This is a real situation where I accidentally became pregnant.”
“Maybe you didn’t plan it,” she said, her voice thick with disbelief, “but now it’s happened. How are the financial arrangements?”
“Anything Theo provides will be in trust for the baby.” She assumed. “No one will be making a profit from my kid, okay?” She was surprised at the titanium tone her voice had taken on.
“Okay, calm down, preggo. Sheesh, you sound deranged over there. When can I visit?”
“What? No, you can’t.”
“Oh.” Amy actually sounded hurt. “I thought you wanted to mend fences but I’m guessing you don’t need us now you have your new, rich friends.”
She didn’t need the drama. Surely, Amy saw the difference.
“He doesn’t know about any of you.”
“That we exist or that we exist by our wits?”
Her family loved to talk about their business as if it was a noble calling. “I’m not letting you get your hooks into him, Amy. He’s too nice.”
“Ha! You like him. You actually like him!” Her smug tone indicated such an accidental slipup would never have happened to a pro like her.
“I do like him. A lot.” Call it hormones or weakness or just needing to be honest with the person who knew her best, but she had to share her feelings with someone. “He’s an incredible guy. And if he finds out who I am, where I come from, he’s going to think I tricked him, Ames. He’s going to be really hurt and I can’t do that to him.”
“Aw, Elle,” Amy said sympathetically. “He doesn’t have to know anything. I’ll stay out of your hair and I’ll do my best to keep George and Dee away. Tell them you’re working the con and it’s better you do it alone. They’ll be so proud of you.”
Great, exactly the sort of pride she wanted to instill in her parents. Here’s your trophy for best little scam artist, darling!
“I still plan to earn my way and not take a dime of Theo’s money.”
“Hmm, pity, because I could do with some of that cash right now.”
“Ill-gotten gains running low?”
“Must be nice to land in a big pile of legit money by accident.” She snatched a breath. “Sorry, I’m just jealous. Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out. I always do.”
There it went again, that ping on Elle’s twin radar telling her something was wrong—other than the usual.
“Amy, are you in trouble?”
“I am trouble, Elle-Belle,” she said in her sexy vixen voice.
“Seriously, what’s going on?”
“Oh, Jackson’s people aren’t too happy with me.”
Elle had to dig deep. “Jackson? Is that the guy you were going to marry? What do you mean they’re not happy?”
“They’re connected, Elle. And they didn’t like being made fools of. I’ve been lying low but I’m not sure how long that’s going to work.”
Her sister sounded worried. Amy never sounded worried. “Connected? Like …” She lowered her voice, though she was alone in her apartment. “Mob connected?”
> “Not that bad. Just a little import/export stuff. They’ve got a nice front with their shipping company but it turns out they’re not as understanding as I’d hoped they’d be. And with you blabbing the family’s secrets—”
Elle’s stomach dropped. “Hey, wait a second. Don’t think you can blame me for trying to scam the wrong people.” The prospective groom had seemed so nice when she met him, a really sweet guy. It was why Elle had butted in. His family were some sort of criminal enterprise? “That mark was not our kind of people. He was too nice for you.”
“You don’t think I know that? He’s not in deep with all that but his family is. And they’re not pleased that we made their baby boy look like a fool.”
Her skin felt clammy, her head spun. “Are you lying, Amy? Is this just a way of getting Theo to cough up something for the cause?”
“No! You think I’d lie about this? I’ve been totally downplaying it with Mom and Dad so they won’t worry. Not like they would, hyenas that they are. And I’m not asking you to pump the jock for cash.”
Guilt pinged her. “I’m sorry, Ames.”
Her sister heaved a sigh of discontent. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll do my best to keep George and Dee out of your business. And, Elle?”
“What?”
“Congratulations. You’re going to be a great mom.” She hung up.
Would she be a great mom? Only if she could continue to keep her before-Theo life separate from her present. Her parents had yet to check in, which meant they were scheming their best play. Amy might be able to hold them at bay for a while but soon they’d turn up like the bad pennies they were. Angling for box seats, special treatment, a place to stay so they could be close to their future grandchild. Then they would insinuate themselves into Theo’s life, gaining his trust, eventually asking that he help out with this debt here, invest in that scheme there. Theo would want to do the right thing by his baby’s grandparents.
She needed to come clean and head the problem off before it blew up in her face.
* * *
Theo shifted his big frame on the tiny blue sofa. Carefully, because he suspected that any sudden moves might send it—and him—crashing to the plush carpet beneath his size twelve feet.
Seated beside him, taking up approximately three square inches of space and looking like she could buy and sell him fifty times over, Harper held up a tall fancy pot with blue flowers on it. “Coffee, Theo?”
“Sure, Ms. Chase. Thanks.”
“It’s Harper. I’m on a first-name basis with your grandmother after all.”
He grimaced, not liking where this was going. Aurora was none too pleased to be out of the loop. Then she called Harper and started in on her—as if the team’s CEO was to blame for one of her players getting a girl knocked up and not telling his grandmother. Now he was seated in the woman’s swanky office at Rebels HQ after a royal summons.
“I didn’t tell Aurora or anyone because Elle wanted to keep it under wraps for a while.” Forever, if she had her way. “Sorry you got caught in the crossfire.”
“Sugar?”
“No, just a little cream.”
Harper handed off the coffee on a saucer. Milano cookies were whispering sweet nothings of temptation, but he didn’t indulge.
“Don’t worry about your gran calling as much as she does. I think she’s glad you’re back in the game, so to speak, even if the consequences are not what she imagined.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why do I get the impression you’re not just talking about hockey?” At Harper’s grimace, he blew up. “You mean she talks to you about my sex life?”
“You’re her pride and joy, Theo, and she wants to think you’re happy, healthy, and—”
“Tapping plenty of ass.” He winced, expecting his face would lock in that position by the time this heart to heart was done. “Sorry, that was out of line.”
She waved it off, a gesture that said nothing could faze her. No doubt she’d heard it all. “Why I really asked you to stop by this morning is to let you know that we’re here to support you and Elle throughout the pregnancy. I know it’s really none of my business but someone said it was a surprise to you both?”
He nodded, and she smiled sympathetically. “The team’s here for you. And with Violet in the same boat, we can share resources. We want to help.”
So did his gran. He thought back to the conversation he’d had with her at two in the morning. She’d been upset not to hear it sooner but mostly she wanted to be sure he was okay with it because it brought up memories. Of Candy, and the guilt he still carried for not being the best son he could be when he found out who she really was to him.
He wouldn’t let Elle or the baby down.
“I appreciate it, Ms. Ch—uh, Harper. Right now, Elle’s biggest concern is that certain business decisions made by Rebels management might affect the ability to see my kid.”
Her shrewd green eyes narrowed. “Are you angling for trade gossip, Kershaw?”
“Who, me?”
She smiled. “You’re safe for another year, at least. You bring something special to the team and our defense wouldn’t be the same without you. Now if Elle’s worried about you being traded does that mean you’re not a couple?”
“Right. Is that a problem?”
She considered that. “Not for us, though team PR or your publicist would probably prefer if you were. You might not think it but players are role models for younger fans. As long as you’re doing the right thing by Elle and your baby, Theo—and everyone sees that—then your love life is not our concern.”
The right thing. There were several ways to parse that.
Harper went on. “Now if you need any of the team’s professional services, in particular, legal, then don’t hesitate to ask.”
“You sound like Tommy. He’ll be here soon to stick his nose in.”
“It’s what agents do. Just make sure that you protect yourself, Theo.”
Did everyone think he was some sort of putty-hearted dick-on-two-legs who couldn’t spot a gold digger at fifty paces?
“I don’t need protection, Harper. I can handle myself and I’m going to do right by Elle and my kid.”
She studied him for a long beat. “Never doubted it for a second.”
Three hours later, Theo was faced with another person in his life acting like they knew best.
“She’s late.”
Theo checked his phone to verify his agent’s statement. Elle was indeed late, but he’d dropped this meeting on her last minute.
After their conversation last night, he’d recognized that she was feeling insecure. He wanted to keep her calm and centered during the pregnancy, so he’d decided to be more up front about the legalities. Surely she wouldn’t object to ensuring their baby’s future was financially secure.
They were meeting in a fancy law office in downtown Riverbrook. His agent, Tommy Gordon, had flown in uninvited from New York to make sure it was all above board, and right now he was fidgeting two seats down at the conference table.
“A hundred bucks says she brings her own lawyer,” Tommy said.
“What’s your problem, man?” The minute Tommy heard that Elle was pregnant, he’d gone into shark mode.
“You think you’re the first player who’s found himself in this situation? You should be waiting for a paternity test.”
“The baby’s mine.”
“You don’t know that.” Tommy tapped the table with one of his manicured fingernails. “You’re an athlete in your prime, a rich mark, and now you’re handcuffed to this woman unless we can think of a way to uncuff you.”
Theo shook his head. “Not everyone is trying to rook me, or you, for that matter. Have a little faith.”
“You won’t even let me do a search.”
“Like that stopped you.”
Tommy grinned, which would probably look attractive to women susceptible to well-dressed reptiles.
“Of course I did. Unlike you, I care abo
ut where my clients’ money is going.” His grin faded. “Didn’t find anything useful. No college. Four years in the army, honorably discharged. Before that she waited tables at a couple of places in Miami.”
She’d never mentioned living in Florida. Wasn’t her family from New York? Theo’s curiosity burned bright, and his silence rewarded him with more revelations from his tight-fisted agent.
“Mother and father run a financial consulting firm in Long Island. Twin sister is—”
“Twin sister?”
Tommy’s eyes ignited with the pleasure of discovery. “And why don’t you know this?”
Why, indeed. “I know she has a sister but she gave me the impression they’re not close.” A twin? That seemed like an essential piece of information he should have in his possession.
Unease shivered through him. His kid shouldn’t grow up under a cloud of secrets, not knowing where he came from or who his mom or his mom’s family was. His gaze flickered to the sheaf of legal documents on the cherrywood table. According to the lawyers, the settlement for their child was generous, but it was just ink on paper. A contract wouldn’t tell a kid he was loved.
“Maybe this isn’t enough,” he said, picking up the papers.
Tommy’s eyes flew wide. “Are you kidding? You’re settling a fucking fortune on this kid and …” He waved a hand, searching for the name but not looking disappointed when it refused to come to him.
“Elle. She’s carrying my kid, Tommy, so you’d better start remembering her name.”
“Sorry.” His agent sounded anything but contrite. “So she’s carrying your child, but what else do you need to give her?”
“My name.” He didn’t have that as a kid. His father’s name. In fact, he didn’t even have his mother’s—not really. Not when she’d rather go off partying with her friends than be a mom. Maybe it would have been different if Nick had stuck around. Maybe his mother would have felt like she wasn’t alone.
His child wouldn’t suffer that fate. He’d make sure of it, and the best way to make sure of it was to offer Elle the kind of security a woman in her precarious position needed.