Catching Her Heart (For the Love of the Game)

by Jody Holford

  “Seriously? That’s it? Is this some sort of girl code? A test?” He was only half joking. He picked up their empty plates and handed them to Isla at the dishwasher.

  “No. I just don’t think you need any guidance. You know your girl. She spends all her time thinking about others. The fact that you’re doing something to show her you care will be enough no matter what it is.”

  “Guys need more guidance than that, baby,” Liam said, walking into the kitchen from the other side. Cruz had a full workout room downstairs and clearly, he’d been using it.

  “Maybe you did. I’m fine,” Sawyer said, more just to give his buddy a hard time than because he meant it.

  “Yeah? Is that why you’re in my kitchen eating my coffee cake and grilling my fiancée?”

  “The cake was awesome, man. You’re going to make a great wife.”

  They both laughed, and Isla rolled her eyes. “Okay. I’ll tell you this…she spends a lot of time indoors because she’s a workaholic, but she loves being outdoors. It’s not the best weather for that, but if you can find a way to incorporate a view of the water and some stargazing? She’ll be happy.”

  Liam cut himself a chunk of the coffee cake. “You and Addie just casual or does the fact that you’re here mean it’s more?”

  Sawyer leaned on the countertop and crossed his arms over his chest. “I get it, man. She matters to you. But stop big-brothering me.” He said it, but only part of him meant it. He appreciated Liam’s friendship and the fact that he could have Sawyer’s back and look after Addie.

  Liam put his knife in the dishwasher, and Sawyer could see he was choosing his words carefully. He glanced at Isla, the affection in his gaze filling the room with unchecked emotion. Did Sawyer look at Addie like that? Was he that far gone?

  Did he want to be?

  “Addie’s got an innocence to her,” Liam said.

  “What does that mean?” Isla asked, breaking off a piece of Cruz’s cake.

  “It means she’s…gentle. On the inside. You,” he said, looking at Isla, “you’re a fighter because your dad and brother are jerks and to get anywhere, you had to prove yourself. You’re sweet like Addie, but you’ve got an edge, and that’s why you’re successful in business.”

  Liam wasn’t wrong, but still, Sawyer mentioned, “Addie’s doing pretty well in business.”

  His friend nodded. “Yeah. She is. She’s excellent at what she does. But she isn’t cutthroat. She doesn’t have an edge.”

  “Hey,” Isla said, putting her hands on her hips.

  Liam grinned at her and tapped her nose with his fingertip. “Baby. You know I love you. Everything about you. Tell me you’d send Addison into the boardroom with your father.”

  Isla cringed. “Oh. No. I wouldn’t do that. It’d be like sending a teddy bear into battle with a grizzly.”

  Sawyer couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay. I get it. I’m not looking to break her heart.” Or have his own damaged. “Thanks for the intel and for watching out for her. You can trust me to do that now, yeah?”

  They both nodded, yet Sawyer couldn’t help but feel Liam was withholding judgment for now. Fair enough. It wasn’t like Sawyer had the greatest track record publicly or privately where relationships were concerned. But Addie was different. In every single way.

  …

  “Where are we going?” Addie asked for the third time since he’d picked her up.

  Sawyer reached for her hand and held it across the console. “You know what a surprise is, right? It’s where one person doesn’t know what’s going to happen until the other person is ready to tell them?”

  Squeezing his hand, she laughed. “Yeah. I’m familiar with the process. I love planning them but get antsy when they’re aimed my way.”

  “How often do you get surprised?”

  “Uh…not all that often, actually. My parents’ visit was a surprise. They think you’re wonderful, by the way. I’m not sure who seemed more enamored, my mom or my dad.”

  He turned off the freeway at their exit. “It can be a tie as long as you are as well.”

  He felt her gaze on him, and his body lit up with awareness. The quiet hummed between them, electric.

  “You know I am, right? Against my better judgment?”

  With a rough laugh, he pulled to a stop at the traffic light. “Uh, thanks?”

  Addie traced over the back of his hand, like she was memorizing it, with one finger. “I’ve been in a couple of relationships and I’ve dated, but I’ve always stopped short of being all the way in.”

  It was a sentiment he definitely understood, but coming from her, it surprised him. “Why? You give one hundred and fifty percent to everything you do in life. Why would you stop short when it comes to being with someone?”

  Since it led her to you, maybe you shouldn’t be asking.

  The light turned and Sawyer accelerated, looking for the street that would take them up into the hills. She was quiet for a few moments, but after he’d taken a right, she sighed.

  “I think that’s exactly why. There’s never been a guy I was ready to give that much to. I’m not saying that to scare you or whatever—”

  He huffed out a laugh. “You haven’t met my family yet. I won’t be the one wanting to run.”

  “They can’t be as bad as you’re making them out to be. But, really, I’ve never met anyone who pulled my focus from the other things in my life that took precedence. That probably wasn’t fair of me.”

  Sawyer turned his hand, linked their fingers. “Their loss, my gain.”

  She didn’t ask where they were going as the space between the houses lengthened. The incline steepened as the road grew curvy. Addie all but bubbled with energy beside him.

  “You’re going to combust,” he said, laughing.

  “What? I’m totally chill.”

  He’d laughed more with her than any other woman he’d known. “Yeah, babe. You’re completely chill.”

  When they reached the end of the drive, the road plateaued into an expanse of landscaped yard with a gorgeous plantation-style home resting against the bluff. It overlooked the Belle Meade area of Nashville and with the heated glass terrace, they’d have a great view of the stars. Turning off the truck, he shifted in his seat and was more than a little thrilled to see Addie’s jaw had dropped open.

  “Whose house is this?”

  “It’s a friend of a friend of a friend’s. I thought of taking you somewhere else; there’s a few restaurants that people rave about and are hard to get into and all that,” he said, thinking of the list his mother gave him for possible dinner venues. “But I selfishly wanted you all to myself.”

  The moonlight washed over her features in the cab of the truck so he saw the sheen of tears. When he reached out to stroke her cheek, she covered his hand with hers and leaned into it before pressing her lips into his palm. The simple touch, that gentle gesture, undid him in a way he knew no other woman ever could. He wanted that sweetness in his life.

  “When I said I hadn’t met anyone worth the one hundred and fifty percent? I was about to say, until you. But really, you’re worth double that. Thank you for tonight.”

  An unfamiliar lump of emotion lodged in his throat, but he smiled and tried to lighten the moment. “Thanking me before we even start? Totally Pretty Woman.”

  Addison’s laughter washed over him, and he fell a little harder for her right there in the driveway of someone else’s home.

  When they got out and walked hand in hand toward the elaborate pillared porch, she bumped him with her hip. “I think you may have watched that movie far more than you’ll admit to.”

  At the door, he stopped before putting the key in and pressed a kiss to her lips. “I’ll admit to nothing.”

  They took their time walking through the house. It was stunning and almost surreal in its grandeur. Seemingly endless ceilings and two spiral staircases, a kitchen that would house his entire rancher, and the kind of art on the walls that most people only saw insi
de museums.

  They made their way out to the terrace. A long, ornate table took center stage, twelve chairs around it. Two place settings were at one end with taper candles flickering between them. The room was enclosed in glass, allowing them to look out at the city below and the stars above. While Addie stared out at the lights, Sawyer connected his phone to the Bluetooth and shuffled the playlist he’d made for tonight.

  Addie turned when the music started. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a romantic.”

  They met in the middle and he pulled her into his arms, gave her the truth. “I’ve never wanted to be. Until you.”

  Addison went up on her toes, pressing her body into and up his torso as she initiated a kiss that pushed away the rest of the world. It was easy—too easy—to let the music and feelings surround them.

  “This is incredible, Sawyer. Thank you.”

  Smiling against her hair when she lowered her head to his chest, he felt her sigh. “No problem. When we’re ready, dinner is warming in the oven.”

  Addison arched back, her hands coming down from around his neck and moving over his chest, along the buttons of his striped dress shirt.

  “Hmm. That sounds perfect.”

  With her looking at him like that, he could think of other things he’d rather have than dinner, but tonight was about Addie.

  And Sawyer realized he was a lucky, lucky man when her fingers stopped at the first closed button, opening it before moving to the next. And the next. She pressed her mouth to his chest and he couldn’t stop the tremor that racked him.

  “We’ll be hungry,” she whispered, looking up at him. “After.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Every second of Addie’s day felt twice as long and far too short at the same time. She had an inbox full of emails, a list of things needing to be done, phone calls to return and every now and again, out of the blue, Sawyer would pop into her brain. It was almost as if the thought of him put her into pause mode. She just dreamily drifted away and recalled the way he held her, danced with her, whispered how much he cared as they lay under the starlit sky, wrapped up with each other.

  It had been a couple of weeks since that night, and their relationship had fallen into this strange routine that felt startlingly perfect. Addie knew—despite her Pollyanna attitude—that life wasn’t perfect. Sawyer’s knee had been bothering him, he was doing test runs with the cable station and not sure if he loved it. There were issues. But it felt good to be tackling them together.

  “Hey, Ms. Carlisle?” Dustin rapped his knuckles against her door.

  “Hey. How’s it going?” He fit in great with the Slammers. He worked hard and was a great team player. When he finished school, she knew he’d have the option of staying on with the organization.

  “I’m good. Listen, I wouldn’t normally ask to cut out early but…well, I really need to look at this room for rent and the woman has night shifts for the next two weeks. If I don’t go, she’s not sure how long she can hold it.”

  Addie came around her desk and sat against the edge of it. “What happened with your roommates?”

  He shrugged. “The place is just too cramped for all of us. I really don’t want to have to move back in with my dad.” He said it nonchalantly, but she heard the hitch in his voice.

  “I’m not trying to pry, but we pay you enough to rent a fairly nice place, don’t we?”

  His eyes widened. “You do. I’m really appreciative. Honest, I am. It’s just, I was already so in debt when I started, and sometimes my dad needs help. I think it’s better to rent a room or have a roommate. At least for now.”

  He was so competent and capable, sometimes she forgot he was just a kid. He was only seven years younger than her and when she was his age, twenty-one, she’d thought she was as much of an adult as any almost thirty-year-old. Now, she knew how much difference a few years and several experiences made.

  “Where’d you find out about this room?”

  “Online.”

  It was none of her business, technically. There were lines and boundaries, and she didn’t make a habit of poking into personal issues for her employees. The wellness initiative had shifted and changed course to suit their needs rather than Addie’s vision, but the idea in her heart hadn’t changed. She wanted them to feel like a family; that they could count on the organization for more than a paycheck.

  “Mateo Voricco hasn’t moved from the hotel I set him up in yet.”

  Dustin’s eyes widened. “The backup catcher?”

  Was that his label? As far as Addie knew, Sawyer already had someone directly behind him. She didn’t get into the implications and intricacies of the players and their roles. She was behind the scenes. But with Sawyer…she was personally invested.

  “Ms. Carlisle?”

  She waved him off and walked toward the door. “Call me Addie. Come on, I think Mateo and Sawyer are working out.”

  He followed along beside her, and she sensed his nerves rising. “Addie, you’ve already done so much for me.”

  She turned her head, smiled at him. “I haven’t done anything other than give you a chance. You work hard, you’re doing great. Now I’m going to introduce you to another person who may or may not be looking for a roommate. That’s all. No big deal.”

  He shuffled beside her for a moment, but when they stopped to take the elevator, he mumbled, “Maybe not to you.”

  She got that. Family dynamics could be weird. Addie had hit the jackpot with her own. They were supposed to come for Thanksgiving at the end of the week. Liam’s family had invited them all, Sawyer included. But her mother wasn’t feeling well and insisted Addie stay with her friends and boyfriend. Sawyer had already mentioned that he was fine with Christmas in Colorado. The idea both thrilled and terrified her. It was evidence that he was as all in as she felt but also that his views had shifted. That she’d really broken through some of his walls. That mattered to her more than she thought it would.

  They rode the elevator down in silence, but just before the doors slid open on the gym floor, Addie turned to Dustin. She thought of Isla and Sawyer and the way Liam’s family brought everyone into the fold.

  “Sometimes you have to make your own family. That doesn’t mean you give up on the one you have, but it’s okay to need more. To watch out for yourself without feeling guilty. And to let others care enough about you to want to watch out for you as well.”

  “You’re really cool, Addie.” He gave her a very toothy grin.

  “Back at you, Dustin.”

  They found several athletes in the workout center, but Addie’s eyes moved directly to Sawyer. Like he sensed her, his gaze zeroed in and heat rose over her skin.

  “Hey, baby face,” one of the players called out to Dustin.

  His cheeks darkened and he lifted a hand in greeting. They moved through a couple of guys working out toward Sawyer.

  He smiled but didn’t make any motion to kiss her. Which was fine because she was at work. But she’d noticed he was pretty reluctant in general when it came to PDA that went outside a gentle brush of his hand over her back or linking their fingers. When she’d asked him about it, he said it was hard enough to keep his hands off her when they were alone. He said he had to work to keep himself in check when they were out together because he didn’t need the media or anyone else making up stories to share on the internet.

  “Hey.” That was it. Sweat glistened along his hairline. His strong arms, ones that wrapped around her and held her close every night, looked particularly good post-workout.

  “Hey yourself. How’s the workout?”

  “Good, thanks.”

  “We’re looking for Mateo. Dustin was going to go check out a room but I know Mateo is getting tired of the hotel. I have a list of apartments that suit his needs and all have room for a roommate.”

  “Anything you don’t do?” One side of Sawyer’s mouth tipped up.

  “She’s amazing,” Dustin said.

  Addie laughed. “Have you
seen Mateo?”

  Sawyer hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “He’s working with the trainer.”

  The edges of his mouth tightened, and Addie wondered what was wrong.

  Checking her watch, she glanced at Dustin. “I’ll introduce you and you can chat with him. If you need to leave early still, that’s totally fine. But I need to head out for a bit myself for a meeting.”

  “Sure. Thanks Ms. C—Addie.” Dustin started to walk in the direction Sawyer had pointed.

  Addie glanced up at Sawyer. “You okay?”

  “Fine. Just a lousy day.”

  “I could make it better with another attempt at snickerdoodles later.”

  Sawyer’s gaze shifted and he put a hand through his hair like he did when he was frustrated. “I need to head out and see my Grams. She isn’t feeling well.”

  Addie stepped closer. “Oh no. Do you want me to come?”

  Sawyer stepped back. “No. Sorry, babe. My mom is being…my mom, and it upsets my Gram. I’ll probably crash at my place tonight, though.”

  It wasn’t a big deal, but Addie’s heart still clutched. “Sure. Of course.”

  She turned and walked away because her stomach felt unsettled. Something was off. She wasn’t clingy and didn’t mind a night apart. She did mind the feeling that there was more to the story than what he’d said, though, which meant that, once again, Sawyer was withholding his feelings and thoughts. She knew the upcoming dinner with his family was weighing on him, but she really wished he’d…unload on her; tell her everything that was bugging him. If anything was.

  “Addie.”

  She turned but said nothing.

  “I’ll call you later?”

  He was asking her? Play it cool. Not normally one to play games of any sort, she didn’t like the idea that she was forcing herself to hold back her genuine “yes please”. Sawyer needed to know she wasn’t going to give him a hard time for such a little thing. She shrugged, offered a smile. “Sure. If you want.”

  …

  Addie walked to the back of the small diner she’d never noticed despite having driven by it many times. Alyssa was waiting for her in a booth. Dressed very casually, her hair in a ponytail, her face makeup free, a baggy sweater and a cap pulled on her head, she looked like a college student.