The Kicker: A New Adult Sports Romance ~ Nico (The Rookies Book 4)

by Zoë Lane

  I forced a smile. “I’ll cook dinner some night.” I rubbed Nico’s arm. “And I’m not offended. I know your mother just wants to make sure you’re taken care of.”

  “I am,” he said firmly. “Mamma, don’t I look like I’m being taken care of?”

  After a critical glance: “You look a little thin.”

  “I’ve always been thin, but I’m strong.”

  “Of course you are. I’m sure she’s taking care of you in the bedroom.”

  Nico groaned and I looked down at my empty plate. “I don’t kiss and tell, especially to you, Mamma. You walk in unannounced anyway, which you need to stop.”

  She stood, patting her lips with a napkin. “I will. I promise. I’m going to bed early, if you don’t mind.”

  “We’ll handle the dishes,” I said.

  “Thank you,” she said. She kissed Nico and me on the cheek and then said goodnight.

  Nico and I looked at each other and exhaled.

  9

  NICOLAS

  I should’ve listened to Veronica and not dragged her into this.

  The fact that I couldn’t handle my Mamma probably said more about me as a man than the number of women I’d had over the years. I’d told Mamma I was engaged. Why? Why hadn’t I just said that I wanted to get established in my career before getting married and having kids?

  Actually, why hadn’t I just told her I wasn’t getting married?

  Dad had the right idea. Just have the women. Marriage trapped you and denied you the right to express your basic instincts. You couldn’t be selfish; your spouse came first. Dad couldn’t do it, and I didn’t think I could either.

  Didn’t want to try and fail.

  Didn’t want my Mamma to say disparaging things about me at another dinner with people she didn’t know. Even though my parents have been divorced for years, the dissolution of her marriage had the most profound affect on her that still continued to this day. She wasn’t old. She could still date and find someone.

  Ugh. My Mamma dating…

  I punched a couple of pillows until they were the proper height, and tossed them on the floor next to my oversized bed with the most premium mattress I was going to miss dearly in these next few days. With a large fleece blanket from my closet, I had a bed.

  I stared longingly at the large one Veronica would sleep in every night for however long Mamma would be here. Maybe if I made a line of demarcation, she’d let me in.

  I thought better of it and parked my butt on the floor. She was already pissed that Mamma had called her Michaela and that I had forgotten to tell her my parents were divorced. I really needed to plan better when my mother came into town. Good thing this would be the only time she would meet my “fiancée.”

  Vero came out of the bathroom, looking comfortable in pajama shorts and a tank top. Her face was free of makeup, which gave her a fresh, youthful appearance. It occurred to me that I had no idea how old she was.

  “We should probably get to know each other,” she said, a trace of irritation in her voice and eyes. “I don’t want to say something stupid—again.”

  I sighed. “Yeah, that was completely my fault.”

  “As is this whole situation.”

  I didn’t argue.

  She climbed into bed and came to the edge near me. “Okay, how about you tell me your birth date and where you’re from. What college you went to…”

  I got my phone out to take notes. She rattled off the answers to her own questions. “You’re twenty-six?”

  She laughed. “Yes. And you’re a baby.”

  I smarted. Her being four years older didn’t bother me so much as my own ego questioning how I’d measure up to others she had experienced. Diego, for one. She had to have known he was cheating on her. What would make her stay with him? I could treat her better in my sleep.

  “Whatever,” I clipped. “Both our families are from New York, but I grew up in Massachusetts.”

  “Hoity-toity.”

  “Hardly, but my dad did have—and still does—a thriving business.”

  “My mother passed away last year. Cancer.”

  “Vero…” Her face looked like stone, but her eyes held pain.

  I sat up and eyed the bed. I’d have to awkwardly climb over to get in. My arms ached to hold her. Last year? And then she had to deal with a lying, cheating boyfriend?

  “It’s okay,” she whispered, tears welling in her eyes. “I was able to spend a lot of time with her. I promised her I wouldn’t be sad.” Her twitchy smile couldn’t hide what she promised her mother. I sat quietly, waiting for her to say more. “But my parents were together until the end. No divorce.”

  I swallowed a few times to wet my cracked throat. “Good. That takes care of that subject. Vero…really, I am so sorry about your mom.”

  “Thank you, Nico. Let’s move on, please.” She hugged herself tightly.

  “Okay, sure. What else do you want to know?”

  “Are you really like your father?” she asked quietly. Her eyes held no clue to her meaning.

  I took a guess. “Do you mean am I running around stealing other men’s wives?”

  “No, that’s not what I mean. But…”

  “But?”

  “You do have a reputation.”

  I rubbed my hand over my mouth to hide a grin. A reputation a guy my age could be proud of. Guys in the locker room looked to me for advice. I never had to work on confidence because I had rarely been denied. Probably not good for personal growth, but in clutch situations on the field, I never doubted myself.

  “I like women, sue me. And I wouldn’t marry someone and cheat on them.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Have you done it?”

  Her brows crashed together and she had a look of shock on her face. “No! And I wouldn’t, either.”

  “How do you know?”

  She sighed. “We’re not getting anywhere.”

  “Well, you brought it up. I think I’ve been honest about who I am.”

  She smirked. “Honesty isn’t one of your finer qualities.”

  I locked my phone and put my hands behind my head. I stared hard at the ornate square-tiled ceiling above us. She had a point, but only when it came to this situation. She didn’t know me well enough to believe anything else, which was fine by me. We were only going to be in this fake relationship for a week at best. No sense in getting feelings involved. “Well, then, Nurse Tirado, why don’t you tell me what they are? We already know one of them…my lips.” I made a smacking noise.

  Silence.

  I glanced up. She was biting her lip like she seriously considered the question, and like it was a difficult one to answer. I rolled my eyes and then positioned myself on my left side opposite her. I’d be asleep in two minutes if she didn’t say anything.

  “You’re generous,” she said softly.

  I rolled over. “What?”

  Her intense eyes locked me in a trance. “You’re generous. I mean, look at me. I came here with a handful of clothes.” She huffed. “Not all of them. I’m sure Theresa is wearing them out.”

  “I gave you my card.”

  “And that’s another thing. You would give a strange woman—”

  “Not strange.”

  “Okay, fine. You’d give…an acquaintance your credit card and tell her to go shopping. It’s a little disconcerting.” She studied my face. “You don’t find many people that would do that.”

  “Richard Gere did.”

  “Huh?”

  “Pretty Woman is one of Mamma’s favorite movies. That and Moonstruck. She likes to claim she was named after Cher’s character.”

  “Ah…good to know,” she said with a chuckle. “Yeah…I guess I should’ve assumed Pretty Woman and not that you believed I was a gold digger.”

  “I did have to convince you to move in, and to take the engagement ring I bought you.” I took her left hand in mine. “Looks good on you,” I said softly.

  “It’s the mos
t gorgeous thing I’ve had on me.”

  “Hmm, not yet.” I caught her gaze and held it, my lips curving up to one side. I loved watching the myriad of emotions cross her face. Desire, embarrassment, forced indignation. She slapped the side of my head with a pillow. Hard. I fell back laughing. “I didn’t mean me!”

  “Sure you didn’t.”

  Of course I did. “I swear.” I crossed my chest. “To all the saints.”

  “Don’t be blasphemous!” she hissed. “What would your mother say?”

  “She won’t know unless you tell her.”

  Her annoyed expression relaxed. “Thank you, Nico. I mean it.”

  I stared into brown eyes swirling with gratitude and pain. My own heart swelled, and my stomach churned uncomfortably with nerves. She’d been the perfect solution to my problem, and a few bucks here or there didn’t make a difference considering my contract.

  But this…vulnerability.

  I shouldn’t have kissed her earlier. It might be presumptuous to think her words meant more than gratitude, but I had felt mutual desire in her kiss. If I was the son my mother raved about, then I wouldn’t give Vero the wrong impression.

  “What is it?”

  “What?” I lay back down.

  “What was that look? What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” I was done with emotional intimacy. “Could you turn off the light, please?”

  “Uh…sure.”

  “Thanks. And let’s try and do a better job at anticipating my Mamma.”

  Darkness flooded the room.

  “She is your mom.”

  Right. I had to do a better job.

  “Goodnight, Nico,” Vero said softly.

  The way she whispered my name… Why, heart? Stop racing!

  “Goodnight, Vero.”

  10

  VERONICA

  “How’s your arm, Casper?”

  Casper sat in the exam room, rotating his arm.

  “It’s a lot better. No pain, and I have full rotation. Doc thinks it’s good to go.”

  “Great! I’m sure you’re anxious to get back on the field. When’s your suspension up?”

  “Next week.” He slipped on his shirt without wincing. He declined my help with the sling, which he still used.

  “Siobhan’s been complaining about you lounging around the house all day,” I teased with a wink.

  Casper reddened. “I know that’s not true,” he said meekly. I laughed.

  I couldn’t have been happier for Siobhan. She needed a man with goals, who was as driven as her. And someone who wasn’t a jerk and would love her and be her partner. Casper had been married once. His wife’s death had changed his perspective on love and relationships. Namely, he didn’t take his and Siobhan’s for granted. My friend had never felt so loved in her entire life.

  Casper followed me to my desk at the front of the office. “You have a couple more follow up visits,” I said while swiping my hand across the laptop screen, looking at his schedule. “If you have any questions, you can always come back in or contact me and I’ll get you an answer.”

  “Thanks, Veronica. Say…congratulations.”

  “On what?” I looked at him curiously.

  He pointed at my left hand. “The ring.”

  I put a hand to the space between my eyes and shook my head. “Right…right. My engagement.”

  “Don’t worry. Siobhan told me all about it. But if you’re actually trying to keep up appearances, you might want to remember you’re engaged.”

  “You forgot you’re engaged?”

  My hand slipped from my face to see Nico’s mother at the entry door behind Casper. My heart stopped. How much did she hear?

  Casper’s eyes widened and he slowly faced her. “Uh, you must be Nico’s mom. He’s told us all about you and that you’re a great cook.”

  She grinned brightly. “Why, yes, of course. I’m so happy to meet you…”

  “Casper.” He awkwardly accepted her hug. “I’m injured right now, but I can still eat.”

  She laughed. “Then I will fix you boys some of my famous sweet rolls.”

  “Oh, Casper, you will die, trust me,” I said quickly, grateful that Casper changed the subject from my engagement. Nico would be pissed to learn I’d given his mother any indication this relationship wasn’t real.

  “Yes, please, Mrs. Langetti.”

  “Okay, then.” She focused her eyes on me. “How can you forget your engagement?”

  That didn’t take long.

  “Have you started planning the wedding? Maybe that’s why. You and Nico are so complacent. When is the date?”

  “Uh…” I watched Casper walk backwards towards the office door and then duck out, leaving me alone. Jerk. “Nico and I haven’t actually set a date.”

  Her expression clouded. “What are you waiting for? I know you’re sleeping with my son. Do you want your babies to be illegitimate?”

  My face never felt so hot. “Um, actually…Nico and I…” I couldn’t finish. I didn’t have a ready excuse.

  She arched a brow. “You are living with him, yes?”

  I nodded. “I am, but you see…Nico and I, we haven’t talked about having children—”

  “You’re not having children?” she screeched.

  “No! No, not… we are, we…the number of kids,” I stammered. “We haven’t agreed to the number of children we’re having so I want to be as safe as possible.”

  She waved a hand. “I’m not a strict Catholic. Birth control doesn’t offend me.”

  The skin melted off my cheeks. “Well…it makes me break out,” I said with a croaky laugh. I had to learn how to be a better liar, and I hated thinking that. “We are being as safe as possible.”

  A slow grin spread across her face. “I’m not a naive woman. I know my Nico has had conquests. But you…” She came around the desk, took a hand, and held it fast. “You have been able to capture him with more than your body. I am impressed.”

  Well.

  My lips twitched as I forced a smile. I giggled. “I…I have. I can’t even believe it.”

  No one could!

  She patted my hand. “That is true love. A man willing to wait.”

  I coughed to hide the involuntary snort racing up my throat. Nico wait? No way he possessed the willpower. The way he had pulled me into his lap yesterday…I could feel his need for me, and if his mother hadn’t been in the other room waiting to serve us dinner—no, it wouldn’t have happened. I wasn’t emotionally ready to handle no-strings-attached sex.

  And I wanted more than that, even though I didn’t deserve it. Not after what had happened with Diego. You lose them how you get them.

  And how I’d gotten Diego was exactly how I had lost him.

  “Yes…true love. I never thought I’d find it,” I said quite unconvincingly—at least to myself.

  “What was it about my son that made you fall in love with him?” She took a seat and crossed her legs, her steady gaze holding mine.

  This was happening. The conversation I had hoped to avoid. I sank slowly into my chair. “Well…he…he’s handsome, of course. But—”

  “Of course he is. What about him? Looks fade you know.”

  I knew that. But at twenty-two, Nico had a long way to go before his looks faded. His mother’s question was honest, and I had to be honest too. “He…he has a kind heart,” I said. “He’s always been there for me.”

  “Always? How long have you known him?”

  “Oh, not long,” I rushed to say. “But…he entered my life like a regular knight in shining armor, and he’s been there ever since. I don’t think I could find a more dependable man.”

  Please let that be enough.

  She sighed and smiled wistfully. “In that way, I’m glad he’s not his father. It’s hard to find a man you can trust and depend on. I didn’t, but not everyone has my bad luck.”

  “You raised him right.”

  “Thank you, Veronica. That’s a lovely thing to say.�
�

  I looked around the office. Mrs. Langetti didn’t budge from her spot. “You’re not going to watch Nico practice today?” It’s not that I wanted her gone. Mrs. Langetti was nice enough, but the more we connected, the harder it would be for her to take the news of the fake breakup.

  “I thought I’d spend the day with you, Veronica. Get to know the woman my son has chosen.”

  “Oh! Great.” I gave her an toothy grin to convince her that I was all in on this plan. Which, of course, I wasn’t.

  “Where’s the restroom?”

  When she left for the restroom, I sent Nico an SOS text.

  He sent a laughing face emoji.

  That bastard…

  I mean it, Nico!

  She’s harmless. You’ll have fun. Relax.

  “What are your goals?”

  I locked my phone while she settled back into her seat. “Goals?”

  “For life! Are you planning on working after the children are born? Make your own money, or will you be dependent on my son’s income?”

  I cringed. She asked the questions with a curious expression, but her tone held suspicion. “I’m not after your son’s money, Mrs. Langetti,” I said too firmly. My mother taught me better than that. I turned back to my computer and started typing an update to someone’s file.

  “I never said you were,” she retorted.

  I met her sharp gaze. “Well, I wouldn’t want you to get the wrong impression about me. I worked my way through nursing school. I don’t have any debt to my name. If I have to, I’ll work for the rest of my life to support myself. I didn’t fall in love with your son’s money. I fell in love with your son.”

  What did I just say?

  I cleared my throat and dropped my gaze. I was taking this fake fiancée role way too seriously. The insistence in my voice had nearly convinced me.

  Mrs. Langetti nodded, her lips curved into a small, victorious smile. Had she won something? I thought I had gone into halftime with more touchdowns.

  “I’m glad to hear it. Because he’s an athlete. They can get injured at any time.”

  “I’m aware of that. I am a nurse.”

  “That means they could lose all their money. Endorsement contracts will dry up. That ring you’re wearing”—she pointed to my engagement ring—“you won’t be able to afford such extravagance.”