Marrying the Football Billionaire

by Stephanie Street

  “Alright, let’s go get your boy.”

  Oakley locked up her house and let Chris hold her hand as he led her to his truck. He realized he’d never driven them anywhere and the thought of her riding in the seat beside him filled him with a heady sense of completeness, contentment he’d never felt before.

  “Wait.” Oakley stopped short. “What about Kaden’s carseat? Maybe we should take my car?”

  Chris made a face. “No way. I’d never fit in that thing. Plus, you don’t know where we’re going.” He stowed her bag in the back seat of the truck and headed back to her driveway. “We’ll just put it in mine.”

  It took a few minutes, but finally they had Kaden’s carseat installed in his truck. Chris helped Oakley into her seat, then closed her door before making his way around to his own. He turned the key in the ignition and faced her with a smile. “Thank you for coming with me.”

  She inhaled a quick breath then gave him a smile of her own. “Thank you for asking.”

  And for the first time since looking up to see Oakley’s stunned face in the restaurant, Chris felt hope things might actually work out.

  It was a short drive and too soon, Chris pulled up in front of her parents house. Oakley knew a moment of panic. Her parents were aware of her neighbor named Chris who she’d become friends with, but they had no idea he was Chris Bragg, retired football player, or that they’d recently become more than friends.

  How would they react to them showing up to pick up Kaden together? She had a feeling she knew and it was going to be embarrassing.

  “Chris.” She laid her hand on his arm before he could exit the truck. She’d texted to let her mom know she was on her way to get Kaden. She was sure he was ready to go and it wouldn’t take long to get him out of the house on her own. That was not going to be the case if Chris went with her.

  “What?” he asked, his brows furrowed.

  “Are you sure you want to come up there with me? They’re going to ask a million questions,” she let her voice trail off.

  Chris studied her for a moment. “Do you want me to stay here?” She could tell he didn’t like the idea.

  “Do you really want to deal with an inquisition?” she countered.

  “Babe, I know you don’t trust me yet, but I’m in this.” He picked up her hand and tugged until she slid over to his side. “I will meet your parents, your brother and sister, your great-aunt Ida, whoever else.” His hand slid up her cheek. “I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”

  Oakley glanced between his eyes. “I don’t have a great-aunt Ida.”

  Chris’s shoulders relaxed. “Well, I’d meet her if you did.” Bending down he brushed his lips over hers in a gentle kiss that melted her bones and her resistance. “Let’s get your son. We have a big day ahead of us and I, for one, can’t wait to get started.”

  Oakley nodded, unable to speak, she was so filled with emotion.

  “Okay.” Chris kept hold of her hand as he got out of the truck and tugged her again, helping her out on his side.

  She tried to keep the butterflies in her stomach under control, but there was no help for it, they had a mind of their own. She was tempted to break the contact of their hands, but it was no use, she wanted to hold his hand and didn’t care who saw them.

  They hadn’t even reached the front door when it burst open and Kaden came running out. Oakley spread out her arm to catch him, but he bypassed her and wrapped his little arms around the big man’s knees.

  “Chris! Why are you at my grandpa’s house?”

  Chris, who seemed even more stunned by Kaden’s reaction than her, reached down to lift Kaden up with one arm. “Hey, bud. I came here to get you.”

  Kaden’s eyes widened. “Me? How come? Are we going somewhere?”

  Chris grinned and Oakley watched in wonder at the affection in his eyes as he gazed at her little boy. “Yes, we are. But it’s a secret. I can’t tell you where we’re going yet.”

  Kaden squealed and wrapped his arms around Chris’s neck in a stranglehold. “Is Mommy coming, too?”

  “Yep. All of us.” Chris turned to Oakley and the promise in his eyes threatened to bring her to tears again.

  “Oakley, honey.” Mercy stood on the front porch beside a wide-eyed Jerry. There was no doubt in Oakley’s mind her dad knew exactly who held his grandson so carefully in his arms.

  Taking a deep breath, she tugged on Chris’s hand, leading him closer to her parents.

  “Hey, Mom. Thanks for keep Kaden. I’m sorry to do that again with such short notice.” Her mom didn’t even spare her a glance, riveted as she was by the sight of Kaden with his arms around a man she’d never even seen before.

  “You know I don’t mind,” Mercy replied. Beside her, Jerry reached for her hand, but he wasn’t any better, staring unabashedly at Chris with his mouth hanging open.

  Thinking her parents were being a little ridiculous, but not exactly blaming them for it, Oakley kept pulling Chris forward. Not that he resisted. “Mom. Dad. I’d like you to meet my neighbor-”

  “Chris Bragg,” Chris interrupted, stepping forward and letting go of Oakley’s hand. He shifted Kaden to his left side and held out a hand to her father. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  Jerry continued to stare until Mercy nudged him with her elbow.

  “Excuse me, I’m just a little surprised.” Her father swiped his hand down the side of his leg before reaching out to grasp Chris’s in a firm handshake.

  Chris cut her a sideways glance. “Yeah, that seems to be going around.”

  Oakley jabbed his firm abdomen with her elbow, but he just smiled and turned his attention to Mercy. “Mrs. Abbott. I can see where Oakley comes by her beauty. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Oakley watched with amazement as a pink blush stained her mother’s cheeks. “It’s nice to meet you, Chris.”

  Chris gently took her mother’s hand and it was plain to see he’d already won them both over.

  “We’d love to stay and visit, but we have plans today and need to hurry to stay on schedule.” Chris gripped Oakley’s hand again.

  “That sounds wonderful. How about dinner?” Mercy knew how to close a deal with the best of them.

  “Mom-” Oakley started, but Chris cut her off again. She was going to have to speak to him about that. This date was a trial period. He still lied to her. And as much as she wanted to melt into a pile of lovey dovey goo when he kissed her, they still had a lot to discuss before having dinner with her family.

  “Yes, ma’am. Just have Oakley tell me when.” Well, at least he didn’t commit them to a time. If things didn’t go well today, it wouldn’t be very difficult to break it to her parents that things were over.

  But, goodness, she sincerely hoped things wouldn’t be over at the end of the day. Hopefully, this was just the beginning.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  It was a gamble, what he was about to do, but he just had to believe that in the end it would pay off and Oakley would be that much closer to forgiving him. After leaving her parents house, they had about a twenty minute ride to their first destination. He knew this first one would be the most difficult to convince her to follow through on, but if he could get her on board, both figuratively and literally, it would be so worth it and the rest of the day would be a piece of cake.

  He took the loop to the Denver International Airport.

  “Um, where are we going?” Oakley sat up in her seat, alarmed.

  Chris covered her hand with his. “You’ll see.”

  “Chris, this is the airport.” She glanced over her shoulder at Kaden. “We are not flying today.”

  He lifted their joined hands to his lips and kissed her fingers. “Please, just trust me. I know it’s a lot to ask, but please?”

  He glanced over. A storm brewed in her eyes. He could see the indecision in her expression. She wanted to tell him to turn around and take her home, he just knew it.

  “I promise. Everything will be fine.”
Even as he said the words, anxiety swirled in his gut. What if she shut him down before he even got started? But he couldn’t think like that. Think positive, Bragg, he instructed himself.

  Bypassing the main entrance to the airport, Chris took the road leading to a private airstrip. It had been a long time since he’d used the family jet, but he knew exactly where to go. Bragg Enterprises owned a hanger and several planes of varying sizes. When he called Carter last night, Chris made certain the jet was available and then asked Carter to contact their pilot, Raul Vasquez, and have him get the plane ready and a flight plan logged.

  Beside him, Oakley was becoming more and more agitated. Thankfully, Kaden was entertained, watching videos on her phone, completely oblivious to the worried vibes radiating off his mother in waves.

  Chris felt guilty and wondered if he should have planned something a little more low key for their first date, but then again, he knew this was what he wanted to do. More than anything, this should prove how he felt about her and Kaden.

  Chris pulled his truck up in front of the hanger and parked. The cab was completely silent as Oakley took in the large metal building before turning to him with hurt in her eyes.

  “What are we doing here? What are you trying to prove?”

  The crack in her voice and the tears in her eyes had him moving faster than he thought possible in the cab of his truck. He unbuckled both of their seatbelts and dragged her into his arms. Pulling her across his lap, Chris enveloped her with his body.

  “I’m not ashamed of who I am, Oakley.” While holding her with one arm, he reached out with the other to cup her cheek in his hand. “I want you to know me. All of me. And this,” he glanced around them. “This is part of me, too. I want to take you somewhere. Will you come with me?”

  “I don’t need all of this, Chris. I-” she broke off.

  “I know you don’t. I do. But if this can ever work between us, I have to share all of me with you. Please say you’ll take a chance.”

  He waited. She chewed her lip, indecision warring with something else he couldn’t decipher, cloaking her in vulnerability.

  Chris didn’t want her to feel that way. He was a strong man. In many different ways, he wielded power. On the football field, he’d dominated. In his business dealings, he ruled his own small empire. Even working on the house, it was all his will.

  But not with Oakley. With her it had to be on her terms. She had more than just herself to look out for and Chris had to respect that. He held her close for a long moment before settling her back into her own seat and backing away. It had to be her choice.

  “It’s up to you. I’ll turn around and we can go home if that’s what you want. But I promise I won’t hurt you.” He glanced into the backseat. “I won’t hurt him.”

  Oakley stared out the window long enough for Chris to start sweating bullets. But then she faced him. “Okay.”

  His shoulders sagged. “Okay?” A smile pulled at his lips.

  Oakley nodded. “Yes. We’ll go.”

  Chris laughed as he threw his arms around her again. “Alright! Let’s go.” Drawing her close, he dropped a kiss on her lips. “You’re going to love it.”

  She hoped he was right. Oakley tried to keep herself from gawking as Chris unbuckled Kaden and settled the little boy on his shoulders with instructions to hold on tight before grabbing their bags out of the backseat. Taking hold of her hand, he led Oakley into the large hanger where several planes were parked.

  “Holy cow! Do you own all of these?” she asked, gazing around in wonder.

  Chris chuckled. “No. I personally don’t own any of them. Although, I suppose I could. I should look into that,” he mused to himself. “Anyway, these all fall under the Bragg Enterprises umbrella. Except for that one.” He pointed to a sleek looking jet at the front. “That’s the one we’ll be taking today and it belongs to my parents.”

  Oakley shot him a look. “And they don’t care if you just take it?” It wasn’t like asking her parents for the keys to the car to drive to a basketball game back in high school.

  Chris shook his head. “Nope. Carter manages the schedule. As long as neither of them need it for anything, it’s fair game.”

  A man walked out of a small office area at the edge of the building. He was muscularly built, but short with close cropped graying hair. He seemed to be in his late forties or early fifties and he was dressed casually in pressed slacks and a navy polo. A shiny pair of golden wings winked from his collar. This was the pilot?

  “Hey, Chris. Long time, no see, man.” The man greeted Chris with a handshake and a back-slapping side hug that forced him to drop their bags at his feet and bring Kaden off his shoulders and onto his arm. “How are you doing?”

  Chris grinned, obviously happy to see his friend. “Good. Living the retired life now.”

  Raul laughed, slapping Chris’s shoulder. “Ha. That’s why you are here. Living the life of luxury now instead of getting your brains knocked around every day.”

  “That’s right.” Chris smirked.

  Oakley winced. She still hated to think of Chris playing football and getting injured. That was one thing she hoped they would talk about. But after making the decision, again, to trust him, she also decided all things would just have to come in their time. She could be patient.

  “It is good to see you, no matter the circumstances. Now, introduce me to your guests.” Raul smiled at Oakley.

  Chris grazed her lower back with his hand, sending tingles of awareness up her spine and making the hairs on her neck stand on end.

  “This is Oakley.” She noticed he didn’t define their relationship and she was glad. While she didn’t want him to downplay what they had by saying they were friends, she wasn’t sure calling her his girlfriend was right, either.

  Chris ruffled Kaden’s hair. The boy had laid his head on Chris’s shoulder, half hiding his face from Raul, a stranger. “And this little guy is Oakley’s son, Kaden.”

  Raul took everything in stride. “It is nice to meet you both. Now,” he rubbed his hands together. “Are you ready to fly?”

  “Like a bird?” Kaden lifted his head from Chris’s shoulder.

  “Yes, my young friend. Exactly like a bird.” Raul’s eyes danced with amusement and Oakley realized she liked the man. She was feeling better and better about deciding to trust Chris.

  “Yay!” Kaden shouted, waving his hands out to the side like a bird flapping his wings.

  It was a good thing Chris wasn’t lacking the muscles department. Kaden’s sudden motion would have made her come close to dropping him if she’d been the one holding him.

  Raul left them to board while he finished a few last details. He also introduced them to his son, Rodrigo, who would be his co-pilot for the trip. Rodrigo was young and seemed a little brash when he greeted Chris with a chin nod, only shaking hands when Chris forced the issue by holding out his own and waiting.

  Oakley wondered if Chris would be offended by the younger man’s behavior but he only laughed when Raul rolled his eyes at Chris behind his son’s back.

  “Come on. Let’s get settled on board.” Chris picked up their bags again with one hand, keeping Kaden safely perched on his arm as they climbed the flight of stairs leading up to the plane’s cabin.

  “I can take those.” Oakley gestured to the bags. “Or Kaden.”

  But Chris just smiled. “I got it. Don’t worry.”

  He indicated she should proceed up the stairs ahead of him. She took the first step and wished she didn’t feel so nervous. But she’d only flown once before, a round trip to Washington, D.C. for a school field trip, that was it. And it had been nothing compared to this.

  At the top of the stairs, Oakley got her first glimpse of the luxury jet, realizing just how right she was. But first, she was greeted by a tall, slender, beautiful woman with flaxen hair pulled into a sleek knot at the back of her neck. She was dressed in navy, the same as Raul and Rodrigo, but instead of slacks and a polo, she wore a penci
l skirt, blazer, and four inch heels. Oakley suddenly felt underdressed in her linen sundress and leather sandals.

  “Welcome, Ms. Abbott.” Her smile was practiced and not entirely genuine until it landed on Chris. “Mr. Bragg, it’s been a long time.”

  “Hello, Bethany. It’s good to see you.” Chris’s greeting was polite and professional, unlike the friendly way he’d spoken with Raul. Chris kept moving until they were in the spacious cabin lined with soft leather chairs and sofas the color of whipped butter. He dropped their bags on one seat, and deposited Kaden on another. “Bethany, this is Kaden, Oakley’s little boy. I think a snack during takeoff would be a good distraction for him.” He glanced at Oakley. “Has he flown before?”

  Oakley shook her head. “No.”

  “I have something,” Bethany reassured him. “I’ll get it ready now. Anything for either of you?” At least she included Oakley in the question. With the way the woman was ogling Chris when he wasn’t looking, it was a surprise.

  “I’m good for now,” Chris responded. “How about you, babe?”

  Hearing the endearment, Oakley glanced over and lifted a brow. With his back to Bethany, Chris winked. Oakley pursed her lips. “I’m fine, thank you.”

  Bethany spun on her heel and headed toward the galley to prepare a snack for Kaden. With her out of the main cabin, Chris settled into a reclining seat and pulled Kaden onto his lap.

  “Wanna watch a movie?” he asked. He opened a compartment in the wall beside them and removed a remote which he used to turn on a rather large flat screen television mounted across from his seat.

  Kaden bounced in his lap and clapped his hands.

  “Come sit by us?” Chris patted the recliner beside him.

  Oakley dug through her bag for Kaden’s favorite blanket, tossing it in their direction once she found it. Kaden settled into Chris’s lap as though he’d been doing it all his life. And Chris seemed just as comfortable.

  She sat beside them. The leather was just as soft as it looked. It was nearly impossible to stop running her fingers over the smoothness. Looking up, she caught Chris watching her. A blush warmed her cheeks.