by Nita Brooks
Richard pushed away from the door and stalked towards her with undisguised intent. Her breaths stuttered. Her mind blanked of everything then raced with a dozen questions. What was going on? What was he about to say? Why was he looking at her like that? Why was it suddenly so hot in the kitchen? He stopped right in front of her. “It’s not too late.”
They’d been talking about Jacob, but she thought there was more to the words. Not too late for them? He couldn’t possibly mean that.
Her cell phone rang. Yvonne spun away and quickly pulled it from her purse on the table. Nathan. He must have felt a disturbance in the universe. “Hey, Nathan,” she said with more enthusiasm that she felt.
“Hey, babe,” Nathan said. “I’m done for the day and couldn’t wait to hear your voice.”
“Great,” she glanced over her shoulder at Richard. He’d gone back to check the fries. “I’m making the pizza Jacob loves.” She didn’t want to tell him Richard was there.
“Sounds delicious. I wish I was there for dinner.”
“Do you know when you’ll be back in town?” He’d had to go back to Savannah the day before to make sure the expansion stayed on track.
“Early next week. I’ve got a couple of things I need to wrap up here.”
Crap, she kinda wanted Nathan back in town as soon as possible. She didn’t want to go digging around to discover all the reasons why. They talked for a few minutes more. Richard took out the fries and called in Jacob for dinner. Nathan hadn’t asked her if Richard was coming over. She didn’t want to dig around those reasons either.
Richard stayed for dinner. Jacob kept up enough conversation to prevent any awkward silences. The night was good, but the ease they’d found with each other before Nathan’s call had shattered. That was for the best.
Jacob convinced Richard to watch television with him after dinner. That led to Richard also reading a bedtime story before Yvonne went in to sing to him. When she walked out of Jacob’s room, Richard stood in the living room near the entry way.
He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got some work calls I need to make. I’ll go back to my hotel now.”
Her first instinct was to tell him he didn’t have to rush off. She squashed that instinct like a bug. “I’ll walk you out.”
He stopped at the door and faced her. Richard softly hit the inside of the door with his fist and looked as if he wanted to say something. Her breathing stuttered. Her heart rate jumped to extreme levels. She prayed he didn’t bring back up the idea of it not being too late. Finally, he let out a heavy breath and stepped out onto the porch. “Good night, Yvonne.”
She ignored the disappointment in her chest. “Good night, Richard.”
Chapter 16
Yvonne checked her watch and her jaw tightened. Richard had two minutes to arrive before warm-up ended and Jacob’s first game started. He’d promised not to miss the first game. She knew he shouldn’t have made the promise. He’d spent the entire week in D.C. Jacob hadn’t been the least bit concerned about his dad being away because he was going to see him again this Thursday. Now it looked as if Richard wouldn’t make it.
She looked up from her place near the dugout and scanned the crowd of proud parents, grandparents, and other family and friends who’d gathered at the baseball fields to watch their young kids play ball. Her gaze slid past a tall, handsome man running toward her then jerked back. Richard. Happiness, relief, and frustration took her heart on a wild ride.
She broke away from the crowd of parents to meet him. “You’re late,” she said. Though she couldn’t hide the relief in her voice.
“Work,” he replied, sounding exhausted. “I’m out of the office and that makes things harder. I had to catch a later flight.”
His clothes were rumpled. The sleeves of his white shirt hastily rolled up. The dark green tie askew. Tension lined his face.
“Jacob was afraid you wouldn’t show.” She was afraid he wouldn’t show.
Richard stepped closer and placed a hand on her arm. “I’ll always show up.”
The no-nonsense businessman tone of voice, but his eyes were intent, sure, and begged her to believe him. Yvonne crossed her arms tight beneath her breasts. His hand fell away. She took a shallow breath and quickly licked her lips. “We’ll see.” She tried to sound flippant, to hide that her insides were turning warm and fluttery.
“Hey!” Jacob’s voice interrupted.
Jacob ran right up to Richard. Richard kneeled to his level. Jacob opened his arms, grinned, and wrapped his arms around his dad’s neck.
“You made it,” Jacob said.
“Of course, I did,” Richard said, giving Yvonne another dose of believe me, soulful eyes, over their son’s shoulder. “I had some work to do that held me up a little.”
“It’s okay. We’re waiting for Coach Bell to show up,” Jacob said.
Richard stood and glanced at Yvonne. “Who’s Coach Bell?”
“He’s the assistant coach,” Yvonne answered. “He agreed to help Nathan with the team, but just texted he can’t make it tonight. That means Nathan has to try and keep all fifteen boys in line.”
Yvonne’s mouth twisted in a little grimace. As much as Nathan loved coaching the kids, she also knew he relied on the help of the assistant coach. The boys were so young and easily distracted. It took two of them to get through a game. One to actually coach, and the other to make sure the kids not playing didn’t get into any trouble.
Richard glanced at Nathan surrounded by kids then back at her. He rubbed his hands together. “I’ll help.”
Unease swept through Yvonne. She glanced over to the other parents. Many were strangers, but some of them she recognized from Jacob’s school. Strangers or not, they knew she and Nathan were engaged. If they were keeping Richard’s connection to Jacob a secret, then they couldn’t tell anyone here who Richard was.
She’d already prepped Jacob by telling him he had to call Richard “Mr. Richard” instead of Dad when they were in public. He’d been confused and asked why. Her only explanation was that while Mommy and Nathan were working on a television show they had to pretend as if Richard wasn’t family. She’d expected a dozen more questions. Instead Jacob had asked if that was like his friend Gabby pretending as if the principal in their school wasn’t her mom so the other kids wouldn’t get jealous. Yvonne had immediately said it was exactly like that and Jacob had gotten excited about the idea of keeping his dad a secret from the other kids.
Nathan’s condition for the television deal wasn’t going to work for long. The truth would have to come out. Jacob couldn’t lie forever and neither he nor Richard deserved having to keep things a secret. She hadn’t told Nathan yet, but she wanted to introduce Richard as Jacob’s father during the first season of the show.
“That may not be a good idea.”
“Why?” Richard asked with his brows drawn together.
“The whole we aren’t telling anyone what’s going on,” she said.
Richard’s lips drew together. He ran a hand across the back of his neck. “What did you expect me to do when I got here? Sit in the back and pretend as if I don’t know you?”
Well when he put it like that, of course the plan sounded ridiculous. “We don’t need to draw any attention to you. People may put things together.”
“Please, Mom,” Jacob said grabbing her hand. “I won’t tell anyone he’s my dad.” Jacob whispered dad.
If it were possible for Richard’s jaw to tighten any more, she’d worry his teeth would fuse together. She hadn’t wanted to agree to this deal in the first place. Richard made the concession because he said he wanted their show on his network, but she’d suspected one day it would really hit what they’d done.
“You said yes to this,” she reminded him.
He rolled his shoulders. She noticed the play of muscles beneath the expensive white shirt. Jacob looked between them both.
Richard rubbed his mouth. Maybe to push back what he really wanted to say, then nodded. “I’d s
till like to help out.”
Jacob jumped up and pumped his fist. “Yes!”
Nathan waved at them from the dugout. The game was about to start. “Let’s get back over here for the game.”
Richard fell into step behind them. She felt his gaze burning into her back. She would not feel guilty for this. He’d said yes to this before thinking things through. She’d never asked him why he’d agreed because she hadn’t wanted to have the conversation. How could she defend what Nathan asked without making him appear insecure?
He was doing a damn good job of that already.
Maybe, but as his fiancée she was supposed to support him. Present a united front and not undermine him to anyone. Especially an ex.
“Jacob,” Nathan said grinning when they were at the dugout. “Come on, son, we’re ready to start.”
Richard sucked in a breath at Nathan’s use of the word son. Yvonne only heard it because he’d stopped next to her. She wanted to reach over and take his hand. Tell him it was okay. That they could tell everyone the truth right now.
“Nathan, Mr. Richard is here, and he agreed to help coach,” Jacob said beaming.
Nathan’s smile stiffened. “You sure? Mr. Richard doesn’t look to be dressed for baseball,” Nathan said, eyeing Richard’s polished shoes and rumpled suit.
“Don’t worry. I can handle it. I’m a man of many talents,” Richard replied confidently.
She could see the denial in Nathan’s eyes. For the past few weeks he’d done a good job of making things work with Richard. Mostly by making himself scarce with the job in Savannah, but when they were together, he’d been cordial. There was no hint of cooperation in his eyes right now.
“Jacob really wants him to help,” Yvonne said quickly. She followed it up with a sweet smile.
“Sure,” Nathan said after a few tense seconds. “The more the merrier. Richard, you can keep the kids in line in the dugout. I’ve got another dad who’s offered to help in the outfield.” He patted Jacob’s shoulder. “Okay, son, let’s win this game.”
“Alright!” Jacob jumped up and gave Nathan a high five.
“Good luck,” Yvonne said.
Nathan nodded but didn’t meet her eye. He put a hand on Jacob’s shoulder and led him to the rest of the team. Richard let out a heavy breath. She slipped her hand in the back pocket of her jeans instead of following up the impulse to take Richard’s hand and give it a reassuring squeeze.
“You too,” she said.
Richard looked at the dugout full of chatting and laughing kids. The corner of his lips tilted up. “I’ll be okay. I’ve got two kids remember. I’ll manage.”
She bit back her smile as he walked over to the kids, where Nathan introduced him to the other team members and the dad who’d volunteered to help. Richard’s confidence in his ability to handle any situation was something to admire.
He was a father of two, maybe he’d be okay to handle a few other rowdy boys during a quick t-ball game. As she found a spot on the bleachers to watch the game she wondered about his daughter. He didn’t talk about her with Yvonne. Honestly, she’d never asked. Now she regretted not asking. She didn’t want Richard’s brother or mother pretending as if Jacob didn’t exist. Therefore, she couldn’t pretend as if Richard’s daughter didn’t exist. Jacob had a sister, and he deserved to get to know her.
The game started, and Richard did a pretty good job keeping the kids from wandering off or getting too distracted while their teammates were up to bat. When he got the boys to cheer in unison for the team, she had to admit he’d make a pretty good cheerleading coach. Did his daughter cheer? Maybe he’d coached one of her teams before.
“Who is that fine man helping Nathan?” Hanna Granger, the official team mom, slid down from her top spot on the bleachers to sit next to Yvonne.
Yvonne’s stomach clenched. None of your business was on the tip of her tongue. She picked up the extra Gatorade she’d brought and swallowed back the response. Richard was fine, and he was a new face. The women here would be interested. She shouldn’t care one bit about that.
“His name is Richard Barrington. He’s a friend of Nathan’s,” she said casually.
“Hmm . . . Richard Barrington.” Hanna’s head tilted to the side while she studied Richard from head to toe. “Single?”
“Divorced,” Yvonne answered.
“That means single. Can you introduce me after the game?”
“No,” she snapped. Hanna’s head swiveled to Yvonne. Her brows were drawn together. Yvonne cleared her throat and tried to smile. “I mean, he’s helping with the team. If you want to meet him then go up to him and say hey. He’s cool.”
That seemed to satisfy Hanna because she nodded and relaxed. “Do you know what he does for a living?”
“He’s an entrepreneur.” Multi-millionaire business mogul was not the answer to give. Not because it might make Richard more attractive to Hanna and the other single women out there. Never that. She was protecting his privacy. His and hers. For Jacob’s sake. “He kind of bounces around taking an interest in different things. He’s not just involved in one specific business.”
Hanna frowned. Yvonne watched as some of the interest in her eyes faded. “One of those, huh. Well, I’m not looking for husband number two. He may be fun for a few nights.” She winked and elbowed Yvonne.
Yvonne swallowed hard and forced a laugh. “If you want to try that. I knew his wife and she wasn’t satisfied with him in many areas.”
Hanna’s shoulders slumped. Yvonne ignored the kernel of guilt that tried to worm its way into her brain. This was for Richard’s sake. He was here for Jacob and had just gotten out of a messy divorce. Hanna was nice enough, but the woman was pushy. She’d set her sights on Richard and before he could blink, intended to insert herself in his life. Before he knew it, he’d be engaged and re-married and Hanna would be Jacob’s stepmother.
Okay, she was going off the deep end. Introducing Hanna to Richard did not mean they’d get married. She shouldn’t care about Richard remarrying anyway, but she did. Only because whomever he married would have an influence on their child. Which meant, she had to take an interest in his dating life. For family’s sake.
She’d barely begun convincing herself of the stretch she’d just taken when one of the kids hit the t-ball hard enough to score a home run, ending the game. Richard jumped with the rest of the team and cheered. He high-fived all the boys in the dugout and encouraged them to come out and cheer for their teammate at home plate.
Her breath caught in her throat. The smile on his face was sexy enough to melt hearts within a hundred miles. Hanna even placed a hand on her chest and sighed.
“Well,” Hanna said. “Men can be taught many things. I’m going over to congratulate the team.” She was up and off the bleachers in a flash.
The parents flocked over and gave high fives and congratulations. They thanked Nathan and the other dad for helping. Hanna and a few other moms personally thanked Richard for his help. He smiled graciously and shook their hands.
Yvonne ignored the way they lingered and went to Nathan’s side. He took her hand and kissed her cheek. “We had a good game.”
“You did.”
He looked over at the women surrounding Richard. His victorious smile increased even more. “Yep, everything turned out just fine.”
“Mommy, we won! Did you see?” Jacob ran over.
“I did, baby.”
Yvonne kneeled and hugged Jacob. She took her mind off Richard and the numbers he was probably getting at this exact moment. It wasn’t her business. She was happily engaged, and her future was set. Richard could date every woman at the baseball field. As long as he didn’t tell her about it or bring any of them around Jacob, then she couldn’t care less.
She caught Richard’s eye over Jacob’s shoulder. He lifted a shoulder in a what-can-I-say manner then smiled at her. Her chest tightened. She bit back a knowing smile. In that second, she had a feeling Richard wasn’t getting any other woman�
��s number.
* * *
“Thank you for letting me buy you both dinner.”
Yvonne stopped watching Jacob run around the play area in Chick-fil-A. She shifted in her booth and faced Richard. Nathan was supposed to join them, but Cassidy called freaking out because she’d been in her attic looking for something and stepped through the ceiling creating a hole in her bedroom. Nathan, the great stepbrother that he was, had immediately run over to help her patch up the hole.
Richard hadn’t made the offer to go to dinner with them until after Nathan had taken off. Jacob had asked for his favorite chicken nuggets, and before she could say anything, Richard said he’d treat. She’d been annoyed . . . well, not really annoyed. More like ready to escape the allure of his smile and the way it made her remember things. But she couldn’t say no after seeing the eagerness in Jacob’s eyes. They’d both gotten through the game pretending as if Richard was just a friend, and she didn’t have the heart to not let Jacob spend some time with his dad.
“Jacob’s happy,” she said with a shrug. “That’s what matters.”
“It was difficult for him to not call me Dad a few times this afternoon,” Richard said. “He almost let it slip out once.”
“It’s only until we finish filming this first season.”
“Do you really think he’ll be okay with that?”
“No.” She pulled the straw out of her milkshake and licked the vanilla concoction off. The idea of making Jacob keep a secret made her feel terrible. She considered ordering three more milkshakes and drowning her feelings in sugary goodness.
Richard cleared his throat and shifted in his seat across from her. “Then we shouldn’t let him.”
She stabbed the thick milkshake with her straw. “You’re the one who agreed to Nathan’s request. I didn’t want to keep it a secret anymore.”
“At the time, I thought it would make him more comfortable. I didn’t think about how difficult it would be in practice.”
“Why would you want to make Nathan more comfortable?”
He raised a brow. “It’s obvious he has a problem with me.”