The Curve Ball (Indianapolis Lightning Book 2)

by Samantha Lind

  “I’m ready,” Riley says as she joins us in the living room. I take my time looking up her long, exposed legs. She has on a pair of chucks, shorts, and a tank top that shows off just a hint of cleavage. Enough to make my mouth water and my dick take notice.

  “Let’s go, then!” I clear my throat then stand to walk out to the garage. I put Evie in the stroller then grab Riley’s hand as we head out.

  We make it to the park and find it busier than I would have expected for a Thursday. Riley pulls Evie out of the stroller and beelines it for the swings. I stand a few feet back and just watch the two of them smiling and laughing together as she pushes the swing. The look of complete elation on Evie’s face has me smiling right along with them.

  I tug my ball cap a little lower as I notice people taking note of me being here. I’m sure by the end of the day there’ll be pictures of us up on some website. I wish they’d allow my daughter her privacy, but people aren’t that kind.

  “JJ!” I hear my name called. I look over and see Austin Jones and his wife, Reese. They are here with their daughter. He plays for the hockey team and his wife is a famous singer.

  “Hey, man, good to see you,” I greet him as he stops next to me.

  “You too. How’s fatherhood treating you?” he asks, offering his hand to shake. We have met a few times over the years. I would not say he is one of my close friends, but he’s a good guy, from what I know.

  “It's going. Not something I ever thought I’d be doing right now, but I also wouldn’t change it for anything,” I tell him honestly. “How’s your little one?” I ask, nodding over to where Reese and their daughter are playing.

  “She’s great, saying a few words now, almost walking. Reese thinks she’ll be walking before her birthday in a few weeks.”

  “That’s awesome. Evie said ‘dada’ for the first time the other day, and it about brought me to my knees.”

  “I remember when Nicole did that, and I had the same reaction. What is it with these little girls wrapping us around their little fingers?” he muses.

  “No tour for Reese this summer?” I ask. I know most of the hockey guys leave town for the summer months.

  “Nope. She wanted to take some more time off. She’s got a few shows spread out over the summer at fairs and festivals, but for the most part, she’s still enjoying being a mom first. We just got back home yesterday from a few weeks gone. She played the big CMA fest in Nashville earlier this month, and then we went to spend time with her family in Georgia for the rest of the month. I’ve got a youth hockey camp I’m helping with next week, so we came back for that.”

  “Nice. Yeah, today is my one day off this week, so I’m just spending it with my girls,” I tell him.

  “So, I’m guessing that headline was bullshit, then?” he muses.

  “Don’t get me started.” I shake my head in disgust.

  “Glad to hear that it wasn’t true. A good woman in your life isn’t a bad thing,” he says, and I notice he’s looking directly at his wife.

  “I’ll agree one thousand percent with you on that,” I tell him as I notice Riley taking Evie out of the swing. They walk over just as Reese walks over with their daughter.

  “Hi, I’m Riley,” she introduces herself to both Reese and Austin. If she recognizes Reese, she does a damn good job hiding the fact.

  “I’m Reese, and this is Austin and Nicole,” Reese introduces all of them before I can.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Riley tells them.

  “I know Austin because he plays for the Eagles,” I interject, giving her some context as to whom I’m talking to.

  “Oh, nice. That is the hockey team, right?” she questions.

  “Yeah, babe. That is the NHL team in town,” I chuckle as I answer her.

  “How old is your daughter?” Riley asks Reese.

  “She will be one next month!”

  “She is such a cutie,” Riley replies.

  “How old is your daughter?” Reese asks.

  “Six months,” I answer for Riley. I know it makes her a little uncomfortable when people assume that Evie is her daughter.

  “Such a fun age!” Reese exclaims. “Now that we are back in town, we should exchange numbers and get together with the girls. I can always use some other moms to hang out with that have little girls.”

  “That would be awesome. I’ve got my sister-in-law here in the neighborhood and two nieces, as well,” Riley tells her as she pulls her cell from her back pocket. The girls move away, exchanging numbers as they head off with the kids again.

  “I guess they’ve hit it off,” Austin chuckles as we watch them walk away.

  “I’d say so.” I cannot help but laugh right along with him. “I can’t say that I’ve met someone that Riley didn’t get along with. She is pretty go-with-the-flow, laid back. I think that is why it has been so easy for the two of us. That, and I know deep in my bones that I can trust her with my daughter’s life.”

  “She sounds like a good one, then. Glad you found her.”

  “All thanks to Derek, well, and Evie. She’s Derek’s little sister, so that created some challenges, but after he got over the shock, he has been good with it. Doesn’t like seeing or hearing about any PDA,” I say, chuckling. “But in the grand scheme of things, he’s been pretty chill about it. I knew it could have been a whole lot different. I was expecting him to kick my ass, and he might have if Riley hadn’t been there to step between us and put him in his place.”

  “I could see how that might complicate things,” he says as his attention flashes to Reese and Nicole as she lets out a cry. “I’ll be right back,” he says before he takes off to where they are at the end of a slide.

  I watch as he helps console his daughter. She didn’t like something about going down the slide, I’m guessing.

  “Hey, you,” I whisper into Riley’s ear, pressing a chaste kiss against the skin just below. “Having fun?” I ask, wrapping my hands around her as I stand flush behind her. Her ass presses firmly against my crotch, causing my dick to stir in my shorts. Not what I need popping up while we’re at a public park.

  “Hey, yourself,” she replies, turning her neck slightly, giving me more access. I have to remind myself once again that we’re in public, and I can’t be pervy like I can when we’re in my enclosed backyard.

  “Want to go lay out the blanket and let Evie play with some toys?” I suggest.

  “Sure,” she says, then bends down to pick her up from the baby area they have here at this park.

  I take Evie from her arms, flying her through the air like an airplane as we make our way over to the stroller. Riley pulls the blanket from the basket and spreads it out on the ground in a shaded spot in the grass. I take it she’s done this many times. She spreads out a few toys from the stroller, as well, and I set Evie down, and she army crawls herself over to one of them. It instantly goes into her mouth, just like everything else she gets her little chubby fingers on.

  “So, I have to ask, are you just that good at hiding your shock when you meet people, or do you not recognize Reese?”

  She flashes me a small coy smile before answering. “When I first walked up, I didn’t realize who she was. She just looked like another mom at the park with her daughter. But once she told me her name, I thought, no way, but then once you told me that Austin played for the Eagles, I recalled reading that she married a hockey player. I asked her after we walked away, and she was cool about it.”

  “I just wasn’t sure. I mean, I know you’re used to having your brother, and now me, in your life, but Reese is on another level of celebrity status in my book.”

  “She does have all of you beat out, I’d agree,” Riley teases me.

  “So, what’s the plan for later? Did you text your brother to see if we’re getting together?”

  “I did, he was going to get back to me. Maybe you should try texting him,” she tells me.

  I pull out my phone and shoot off a text of my own.

  JJ: W
hat’s up, man? Are we getting together tonight?

  The three dots pop up for a few seconds, before disappearing and then popping back up a few seconds after that. I toss my phone on the blanket until he replies.

  “Done. Looks like he’s got a lot to say.” I laugh as the bubbles continue to pop on and off the screen until my screen goes black as it times out.

  Riley rolls her eyes, then lies back on the blanket and stretches out. Her tank top rides up slightly, showing off a small sliver of skin just above her shorts. I ache to drop a kiss to that exposed skin but hold myself back since we’re in public. That wouldn’t be a good picture to show up online.

  “Stop looking at me like you’re going to eat me,” Riley says, rolling her head to look at me.

  “How’d you even know I was doing that when your eyes were closed?” I ask, my eyebrows raised to my hairline.

  “I can feel when they’re on me. It's like a brand on my skin,” she tells me.

  “I’ll brand your skin.” I flash a grin as I wink at her.

  “Don’t be crass,” she chides, giving me a stern look. Well, as stern of a look as she can while biting back a smile.

  “Da-da-da,” Evie starts to babble from where she is lying on the blanket playing with her toys.

  “Yes, baby girl.” I turn my attention back to her. I grab one of the toys that are just out of her reach, moving it back next to her. She abandons the toy she has in her hands and picks up the one I just set down. “I was thinking,” I say, grabbing Riley’s attention.

  “What’s that?” she questions.

  “With my parents arriving tomorrow, how about I take you out on a date tomorrow night. You can get all dressed up, and I’ll wine and dine you all night. Leave my parents at the house with Evie, and we’ll take the night off, just the two of us.”

  “Mhmm, that sounds like heaven,” she agrees with me.

  “Then I’ll plan it. Be ready to go by five and pack an overnight bag. I’m going to have you all to myself all night.”

  “Well, okay then,” she says, flashing me her trademark smile.

  My phone finally lights up with a reply from Derek, so I swipe the screen to open the text.

  Derek: Hey, I think we are just going to chill at home tonight. Jillian is tired and just wants a quiet night.

  JJ: Sounds good, man, see you tomorrow at practice.

  Derek: See ya then.

  “We’re on our own for tonight. Derek said that Jillian is tired and just wants to have a chill night.”

  “Sounds good,” Riley says as she shifts on the blanket. She rests her head in my lap, and my fingers go immediately to her hair. I remove the elastic keeping it held in the messy bun she put it into when we laid down on the blanket. I love running my fingers through it, and I know she loves it because she’s told me a few times. Says that it relaxes her. “Let’s order sushi and have an at-home date night.”

  “Sounds perfect,” I tell her as I run a fingertip over her face.

  We stay like that, just relaxing and enjoying the summer day as a family until Evie starts to get fussy. Riley changes her diaper quickly before we pick everything up and head back home for some lunch.

  Twenty

  Riley

  “Mrs. Johnson, nice to see you again,” I greet Justin’s mom as she enters the house from the garage. I stayed home with Evie while he went to pick them up since she was still asleep when he had to go.

  “Please, Riley, call me Julie,” she says, wrapping me in a hug.

  “All right,” I wheeze out as she squeezes me hard.

  “Sorry about that,” she says sheepishly as she releases me. “Now, where is my granddaughter?” she asks as she just about bounces out of her sandals.

  “She’s playing in the jumper,” I say, pointing into the kitchen. “I was just cleaning up from breakfast,” I tell her as she takes off for the kitchen.

  “Oh my!” she exclaims. “She’s gotten so big! Evie girl, what have they been feeding you?” she asks her as I watch her lift her from the toy.

  “She sure is growing like crazy. I just had to rotate her clothes to the twelve-month size already. Girlfriend loves her food,” I tell Julie. I hear the door open again and look back to see Justin and his dad, Paul, come through it, a suitcase in each hand.

  “I might have brought a few things for her.” Julie looks at me, sheepishly.

  “A few?” Paul questions, raising his brows at his wife. “Practically the entire baby store,” he muses.

  “Nice to see you again, Paul,” I greet him as he sets the suitcases down and goes to his wife’s side to say hello to his granddaughter. His face lights up as he smiles down at her, dropping a kiss to the top of her head. This little girl has so many people who love her unconditionally. I can only hope that it makes up for the fact that her mother isn’t in her life.

  “Good to see you again, Riley. How’s my son treating you?” he asks as Justin slides up next to me. He places his arm around me possessively then kisses the top of my head.

  “Just fine,” I tell him honestly.

  “That’s good. Believe it or not, we did raise him with manners,” Paul chuckles.

  “Is that so?” I say as if I do not believe his statement.

  “Yep, a Boy Scout, as well,” Julie tells me.

  “Okay, okay. I am right here, guys. Can you at least wait to talk shit about me until I’m gone at practice?” he protests.

  “Of course. I brought your baby books along to share with Riley, so on you go. I’ll tell her all your embarrassing stories while you’re gone throwing a ball around,” his mom says, just as sweetly as pie, as she flashes her son a shit-eating grin.

  “Mom,” Justin groans. “Please don’t scare Riley off.”

  “Never. If she can put up with your shenanigans, then she’s a keeper in my book,” his mom tells him matter-of-factly.

  Paul steps away and takes their suitcases down to the guest room while I follow Julie outside with Evie. Justin had to get ready and head off to practice for the next few hours. We will see him again later this afternoon, and then, of course, he is whisking me away for our date. Kind of hard to believe that this will be our first actual date with just the two of us. We always have Evie with us, which I do not mind one bit, but it will be nice to just be the two of us. Not have to worry about feeding her or bedtime or being loud or interrupted by a crying baby.

  Once outside, Julie sits down on the grass with Evie, a few toys scattered around the two of them. “I want you to know how thankful we are that you came into Justin’s life when you did. We were so worried about him when he first called us to tell us about Evie, but after that first trip out, it calmed some of those fears, and now seeing the three of you together, you guys make the perfect little family. I hope he expresses his gratitude and makes you feel that way.”

  “Thank you,” I tell her, not really knowing where to take this conversation. “I love both of them,” I say, being as honest as I can. “I still clam up a little bit when people just assume that she’s my daughter, but I get it. She looks like she could be, based on her skin tone and hair color,” I tell her as she looks down at Evie. “I usually just avoid answering people by not correcting the assumption. Figure it is not really any of their business that I am her nanny, but also her dad’s girlfriend. It is kind of weird territory.”

  “It is, but y’all will figure out what works for you. Who cares what people think or assume? If the three of you are happy and healthy, that is all that matters in the end. And I would say this little girl is pretty dang lucky to have you in her life as a strong female role model. If one day you truly step into the role of her mother, or just stay as a friend, she’s lucky to have you.”

  Tears prick my eyes at Julie’s kind words. “Thank you,” I say, just above a whisper. “I can only hope Justin and Evie feel the same way.”

  “Don’t you worry, honey. My boy is head over heels in love with you. I have never seen him like this in his entire twenty-eight years.�
�

  “That’s good,” I muse.

  “Now, why don’t you go start getting ready for tonight, take the day and go get a manicure and pedicure, pamper yourself for your special night out. I hear that son of mine is whisking you away for the night, and this little love bug gets to have a night with Grandma and Grandpa.”

  “She does,” I agree, smiling at the two of them. Evie is playing along happily with Julie right by her. “You’re sure?” I ask as I look down at my toes that could really use a fresh coat of paint, and so could my chipped fingernails.

  “Positive, and if I know my son as well as I think I do, he’d think the same thing.”

  “Okay, but promise me you’ll call or text if anything goes wrong.”

  “I can promise, but I can also tell you that you’ve got nothing to worry about. I did raise that boy that you’re so fond of, and he’s still alive,” she jokes.

  “Of course,” I agree, shaking my head at myself.

  “Off you go,” she says, shooing me away.

  I have not had a day to pamper myself in a long time and I almost don’t know what to do with myself. I slip my cell from my pocket to text Jillian to see if she wants to join me.

  Riley: Want to join me for a pedicure? I’ve been kicked out by Justin’s parents.

  Jillian: Let me see if the neighbor girl is home and can watch the girls! If she is, then absolutely! That sounds like heaven right about now.

  Riley: Sounds good.

  The thought to invite Reese also pops into my head, and before I can talk myself out of it, I shoot her a text, as well.