“You don’t seem too concerned,” said Joe. “That’s good. Enjoy the game.”
She shrugged. “You said it first. It’s his passion. His choice. I’m not getting emotional about a stupid game.” But her heart began to race, and her hands were damp. With the stealth of a shadow, fear had made its presence known. She was angry with herself for caring, and with Dan for choosing such a dangerous sport.
“In fact, Joe, I’m not going to watch,” she said. “And Michelle’s not going to watch, either. How does your mother survive?”
Without waiting for an answer, she picked up the baby. “Let’s go find your little cousins and play.”
“Ostrich,” Joe teased.
Ignoring him, she scanned the room and approached a lively group of boys and girls, the oldest maybe eight or nine.
She didn’t have to say a word before she was surrounded.
“Michelle wants to say hi.” Alexis waved the baby’s arm at the kids.
“Can I hold her?” asked Emily. Or was it Elizabeth? Both had dark eyes and identical ponytails. Sisters for sure. An adorable toddler girl stood next to them. Theresa and Larry’s kids, she surmised.
“Let’s all sit down on the floor,” Alexis began. The little girls obliged immediately. The little boys just stood there. “Hi, Michelle,” one said. “Gotta watch the game. See you later.” A small boy chorus echoed his sentiments.
Alexis saluted. “Gotcha. Go have fun.” She joined the girls on the floor and plopped Michelle on her lap. “Who’s first to hold Michelle?”
The tallest girl, Elizabeth, answered immediately, and Alexis carefully put Michelle into her big cousin’s lap.
The middle sister, Emily, tapped Alexis on the arm. “I know who you really are,” she whispered. “You’re Auntie Kim’s angel. Aren’t you?”
“Um…” Her voice trailed away. Obviously, no one had clued the kids in about the resemblance. And now she had to handle a loaded question. When Alexis was a kid, Sherri used to ask her impossible questions, too, her nose wrinkled in confusion as she waited for logical answers from her big sister. Half the time, Alexis invented the answers, but Sherri had needed to believe her and been satisfied. Alexis wondered if she still had a working imagination.
The little girls waited as Alexis slowly looked from one to the other. “If I were an angel, I’d have wings to fly with, and I’d fly around the football field helping Uncle Danny. Just like that.” She snapped her fingers. “But, look,” she said, standing up again and turning around. “Nothing. No wings. I have to walk step by step, just like you and everyone else.”
“See! I told you so.” Elizabeth frowned but hugged the baby. “She’s not Auntie Kim’s angel. She’s just a regular person.”
“But maybe—” the younger girl tugged Alexis’s hand “—maybe you just don’t got your wings yet. You gotta earn them, you know, just like Clarence did.”
Clarence. Shades of It’s A Wonderful Life.
The older girl was paying attention again, and Alexis wished she could think of a brilliant response, one that would satisfy these sensitive children. She didn’t have a clue.
Theresa’s voice chimed in at that moment, and Alexis sagged with relief. “I see five beautiful angels in front of me.” She pointed at each of the four girls, including Michelle, and then at the adult. Her gaze met Alexis’s in a warm expression of what could only be sincere gratitude. “In my book, you are an angel—for bringing Michelle to us. She is exactly what Danny needs—and you’re not such bad medicine, either.”
“Should have watched the darn game,” mumbled Alexis, avoiding Theresa’s glance. “I’m being sacked too many times myself.”
THE MIAMI DOLPHINS WERE kicking their butts. Particularly Dan’s. Their defense was all over him like cheese on a pizza. He’d barely caught the snap before they brought him down right in the pocket. Where were his guards? Overwhelmed, too. He had no time to set up a pass to his receivers. Sure, Miami wanted the win, wanted it bad. The two AFC teams were tied for the season so far with nine wins and one loss. Neither of them wanted a second loss.
But one would earn it.
Dan’s team was down by seven, the score 28–21 with three minutes left in the game. By now, he knew he’d need an extra moment to scan the defense before passing, because the Dolphins were taking him out every damn time. He was tired of the slew of bodies on top of him. He didn’t want to go home limping again. Alexis already thought football was a dumb game.
They’d made a first down and were going for their second. On the thirty-seven-yard line, he signaled his center and guards for a shotgun offense, rarely used, and then placed himself six yards back to receive the snap. If his teammates were surprised, they kept it hidden. He’d studied his playbook, he’d reviewed hundreds and hundreds of hours of videos, he’d studied the offense, the defense, every nuance of the game, and he’d studied the pros from yesterday and today. Pictures stayed in his head. Now, he saw John Elway of the Denver Broncos, who’d been an expert in shotgun offense.
Dan took his place, his center snapped to him and, in what felt like slow motion, he caught the ball, scanned the Dolphins’ defense and spotted his receiver. He threw the ball in a straight line toward Al Tucker, who ran on an angle to meet it. Tuck jumped, caught it and drove toward the goal, three Dolphins after him.
Touchdown!
The screams of the hometown crowd filled the stadium. In his own world, Dan heard nothing. His eyes told him that his strategy had worked.
Six points earned, and now they were only one point behind. The Patriots’ special team kicker got ready for the point-after kick. And made it.
Tied score at twenty-eight.
In the suite, Alexis held the baby while Nicky, Rita and the entire family jumped and cheered, screaming like the crazed fans in the bleachers.
“Only a minute and a half left,” said Nicky. “They’ll go into overtime.”
“More chance for him to get killed,” Alexis said. “In fact, I’m surprised his wife didn’t mind. I read that the damage to a person’s body playing one game is the equivalent of being in an auto accident.”
Rita came over and patted her shoulder. “Who knows what will happen in life? In the end, it was Kim who was taken, no football involved. She often said that Dan’s high energy perked her up and made her feel safe.” Then she hugged Alexis. “But it’s nice to see that you’re concerned for him. You’re a lovely woman, Alexis. We like you.”
An odd thing to say. “Well, thanks. I hope you’ll still feel that way when my nanny stint is over. Michelle is…well, she’s the only real family I’ve got.” It was true. She hadn’t seen or heard from her parents since Sherri’s death, which was fine with her. They all lived in the same city but in different worlds.
“You’re the baby’s aunt, Alexis. You’re part of our family now, just like Michelle is,” said Nicky. “And that’s a fact.”
Maybe. Maybe not.
“Overtime’s starting,” Joe called out.
She scanned the room for Andy Romano. Reminding him about drafting the visitation arrangements couldn’t hurt.
LUCK WAS WITH NEW ENGLAND. The Patriots won the coin toss and had the first crack at scoring in overtime. Their offense took the field, including Dan Delito. Eleven determined opponents would do everything in their power to stop him from scoring.
Alexis’s nails bit into her palms. In her imagination, the baby could wind up with no father at all.
After two minutes of play, however, New England drove the ball far enough downfield to try for a field goal. The field goal kicker kicked. The ball flew between the goalposts and the game was over. A sudden-death victory by three points.
Alexis went limp with relief. At this rate, she wouldn’t last through the season.
“Dan’s in the press box,” Nicky said a few minutes later.
She turned toward the jumbo screen to watch and listen.
“It was a tough, man-to-man game,” said Dan into the camera. “Miami i
s a great team.” He stood on the sidelines, helmet under his arm, microphone in his face.
“He looks good,” said Rita, eyes glued to the screen. “Dirt doesn’t count. He walked evenly, his eyes are focused….”
Seemed like Rita did her own play-by-play after each game.
Dan continued. “A tough contest—we’re all breathing hard—but it turned out right, at least for New England.” He grinned into the camera.
“What about that shotgun offense at the end of regulation?” asked the commentator.
“When it’s life or death, sometimes you can’t stick to the script. You’ve gotta rewrite it. That’s my job. In fact,” he said, “I’m going to do it again. Right now.”
He raised his helmet. “Here’s to Michelle and Ally, a couple of new fans.”
The announcer chuckled and thanked his guest. Dan waved at the camera again and trotted to the locker room.
Alexis sat openmouthed in the suite. Ally? What was that all about?
“You know something?” asked Rita. “I think his new fans are doing him a world of good.”
But at what cost to herself? Alexis looked at the crowd in the suite, then glanced back at the emptying field, her stomach cramping as all the changes in her life crashed down on her simultaneously. Protecting Michelle. Quitting her job. Dealing with too many new people. Deciphering relationships. Rubbing shoulders with the NFL. Missing her conversations with Roz, the new friend who’d seen her through the worst time of her life. They’d never had that dinner….
Scariest of all for Alexis, however, was finding herself attracted to Michelle’s dad, a man who still yearned for his late wife. A man whose only interest now was his daughter.
GULPING FROM HIS water bottle, Dan walked out of the locker room into the night an hour after game’s end, knowing he’d be soaking his sore muscles in his home spa later on. The entire team would be back on the field by noon tomorrow to start their weekly reconditioning process and to review videos of today’s game, especially the first half, when they’d trailed the Dolphins.
He peered ahead, trying to spot the limo, wondering where the normally reliable Louis was, while at the same time waving to fans who’d remained to greet him. A lot of fans. It seemed like hundreds.
“Great job, Dan!”
“Whaddayathink about the Super Bowl? Any chance?”
Wincing at that one, he kept waving and smiling.
“Hey, Dan. How’s fatherhood?”
He almost stopped to answer but thought better of it and just called over his shoulder. “Fantastic. I love it. She’s gorgeous.”
Whoops and hollers followed that, some cheers and applause. With all his concern about paparazzi and gossip sheets, he hadn’t realized he’d also receive some public support. Interesting. And gratifying.
He finally spotted the limo. Actually, he spotted Louis waving both arms up and down as if he were making vertical snow angels. Dan jogged over and received a huge clap on the back. Rather unusual for the driver—a handshake was more in order—but everyone loved a winning team. Why should Louis be an exception?
“Mr. Delito, we have special company tonight.” The man opened the back door with a flourish, and there were Alexis and Michelle.
Warmth filled him, a warmth that had nothing to do with the game or the win or the cheering crowd. He gave Louis a thumbs-up and could feel a smile cross his face as he got into the car and sat next to his passengers on the wide seat.
“What a great surprise.”
“I hope so. Your dad’s idea, to save him the extra driving. He has to open the store early tomorrow. I didn’t see a reason to refuse, but I don’t want to intrude on your privacy, either.”
“Intrude? Never.” But Dan smelled a setup arranged by his dad and carried out by his chauffeur. Extra driving? His folks lived less than five miles from him. And Nicky always gave him a bear hug after a game. Dan wanted to laugh.
The baby was awake, trying to eat a rattle. He peeked in at her and whispered her name. She waved her arms wildly, excited at seeing him. Who knew being a daddy would be this wonderful? Who knew that one grin from this baby could melt 220 pounds in a nanosecond?
“When we get home,” he said to his daughter, “we’ll give you a bath and a bottle. We’ll play, too.”
More kicks and waves. Lots of vocalizing.
“She’s really bonding with you, Dan. That part of the plan is working out perfectly.”
“I hope so. She needs to be happy with me.”
“And the kids were great with her, too. They all wanted to hold her, not to mention Theresa and Mary Ann almost fighting over her.” Alexis rattled on so quickly, her words bumped into one another. “We’re going to have one spoiled baby here.”
Something was wrong. Her words were encouraging, but her tone was odd. He snapped on the reading light and looked at Alexis who was biting her bottom lip.
The barracuda was easy to read tonight. “Michelle needs you, too, Auntie. I know that. When the season’s over, we’re not letting you disappear.”
“You can’t,” she said quickly. “I reminded Andy Romano about the visitation papers earlier.”
Disappointed that she still didn’t trust him, Dan said nothing.
“Andy said they were ready,” she continued.
“I could have told you that,” Dan said.
“But you didn’t. When the season ends, or if you get married again one day, Michelle needs to know she can count on me.”
“I promise, you won’t have to worry about that.” He’d always maintained that Kim had been his one and only, and the pain of watching her lose the battle—the pain of losing her—had been too much. That’s when he’d started to drink heavily. But he hadn’t had a drink since…was it the day Alexis and Michelle had visited him that very first time? He thought about the days and weeks afterward. He was right. He hadn’t touched the stuff since their first visit. Not that he hadn’t had the urge. He had. So what did that mean? Was he merely enjoying a temporary reprieve, because of the distraction of Alexis and Michelle? Or was he in control of Jack Daniel’s after all?
He played with the baby and studied the woman—both precious cargo. Fear sluiced through him as he wondered if, in the end, alcohol would put that precious cargo at risk. He needed to find out quickly.
Suddenly, Alexis smiled and gestured at the stadium, now in the distance. “If you keep your word about not remarrying, you’re going to disappoint a lot of love-struck fans out there.”
Glad she’d lightened the mood, he leaned back, one arm going around her. His fingers automatically stroked her hair, the back of her neck.
“Oh, that feels good,” she murmured, “but I think you deserve a massage more than I do after a three-hour game.”
“Sixty minutes plus OT.”
Alexis lifted her arm and tapped her watch. “Uh, what time is it?”
She had a point. Sixty minutes on the clock usually took three hours to play. “I love this side of you,” he replied, taking her hand but ignoring the timepiece. “The funny, bantering Ally.” He kissed her palm and felt her shiver.
“Strange, but I’ve never had a nickname before.”
“Do you mind?” he asked. “Counselor Alexis Brown can knock ’em out in court, but I think Ally suits you more at home.”
Her temporary home. “Ally’s fine. In fact, I like it. And it will be easier for Michelle to say, anyway. But speaking of home—look at that traffic. Louis will have to double-park.”
Dan scanned the scene out the window. They’d arrived on Chestnut Street, and Ally was right. There were no parking spots near his house at all, and several cars were already double-parked.
Louis’s voice came through the speaker. “Mr. Delito, we definitely have a situation here.”
“What does he mean?” asked Alexis. “What situation?”
“Paparazzi,” Dan explained. “Louis and I have handled this before. Just do what I tell you.”
He tamped down the anger that f
lared at the sight of the vultures with their cameras. Hadn’t they done enough to make his life miserable two years ago? Getting mad never changed anything, he reminded himself. And he had to take the unpleasant trappings of his fame along with the good ones.
Dan unstrapped Michelle from her car seat and handed her to Alexis. “Get your house key out and in your hand. Louis will come around and get you with an umbrella that he’ll open to prevent pictures. You take Michelle directly inside the house. At the same time, I’ll exit the car on the street side and distract them.”
Their limo came to a halt. Car doors slammed up and down the block. As Dan had predicted, Louis got out and walked to the trunk of their vehicle.
“As soon as Louis opens the umbrella and pulls open your door, you go!”
She nodded. “I understand.”
They scrambled, and the choreography worked. A minute later, Dan, Ally and Michelle were inside the town house, Louis back in the car. No harm done, but Ally’s complexion had paled.
“The lights! You didn’t mention all those strobe lights. I think they got us after all. What if the baby’s picture is in the paper? She’d be recognized, she could be kidnapped—”
Wanting to play it cool and calm her down, Dan shrugged. Yawned. Stretched his arms slowly over his head. “You’ve worked too many criminal cases. Relax. It’s too late now. Whatever will be, will be.”
“Whatever will…?” Alexis stared at him in disbelief. “That’s very Zen of you, and totally not you at all. You took charge out on that street as though you were on the gridiron. I don’t believe a word you’re saying now. What’s going on?”
She was sharp. He’d known from the beginning that he’d have a hard time staying one step ahead of her. But he had a plan—a good plan—to handle the paparazzi, and he didn’t want her to worry. Oh, well, he’d always loved a challenge, and she was as tough as the Dolphins had been that day.
“Not believe me? Why, Ally, you’re breaking my heart.”
He was playing, teasing, trying to distract her. But rather than garnering a smile, his words seemed to puzzle his housemate. Her crinkled brow cleared for a moment, but only a moment, before the frown returned. She began biting her lip before lifting her hand and touching his cheek.
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