Earning a Ring (More Than a Game Series Book 4)

by Kristina Mathews

  Bryce reached for his wallet.

  “No. No. Mr. Baxter, you put that away.” Sergio smiled warmly. “You know I don’t accept tips. I was happy to do it.”

  “Just let me know when you can catch a game, and I’ll make sure the tickets are waiting for you.”

  “Will do, Mr. Baxter.” Sergio nodded, and turned his attention to Rachel with a polite smile. “You two have a nice night.”

  “Thank you.” The words sounded forced from her lips. “Goodnight.”

  Bryce shut the door and fell back against the heavy wood. “Should I call him back? Have him carry your luggage down?”

  “No.” Her head was spinning. She didn’t know what to think anymore. She’d packed her bags believing Bryce had been sidelined because of girl. She was right, in a way. But the girl was his daughter. An innocent child who was caught up in adult problems. Rachel didn’t want to add to the drama. “I’ll stay. On the couch. You and your daughter can have the bed for tonight. We’ll figure out the next step tomorrow.”

  “Rachel, I’m sorry to involve you in this mess.” His shoulders slumped as he pushed off from his position against the door.

  “That’s the problem, Bryce.” How could she make him understand how much his silence hurt her? “You don’t want me in your life, except when everything is going great. When you’re winning, you can’t wait to share the glory. But when you get into a slump, you shut down. And when something really hard comes along, you disappear altogether. You don’t want a partner. You want a cheerleader.”

  He hung his head, and without another word, trudged off to the bedroom.

  Rachel wrapped a throw blanket around her and curled up on the couch. She fell asleep quickly, but was plagued by distressing dreams. They were in her old Honda and Bryce was trying to back into a parking space, but they were on a hill and he backed up too far and they started sliding down, down, a mountainside, with nothing to stop them. Brakes didn’t work, and there were no trees or other barriers to slow their progress. Would they burst into flames? Or would they walk away unscathed? Would the car eventually roll, causing her or Bryce to be crushed in the wreckage? And what about the children? How could she possibly protect them? She woke with a start, unwilling to find out what would happen when the car made its inevitable stop.

  Her heart racing, she got up and went to get a drink of water. She downed it in one long gulp and set the glass carefully on the counter. The dream pretty much summed up how she’d felt since the moment she’d peed on a stick. Her life was suddenly out of her control. And even with Bryce at her side, she didn’t know how they could possibly avert disaster.

  * * * *

  Bryce heard Rachel get up in the middle of the night. He had been lying on the floor, trying to sleep, but he couldn’t get comfortable. It wasn’t the hardwood that was making him toss and turn. It was the monumental way he’d messed up with Rachel.

  All he’d wanted to do was protect her from the shit storm that had taken over his life when he landed in Pittsburgh. Instead, he’d only made things worse. By not calling and talking to her, he’d led her to believe the worst. She didn’t trust him. And he couldn’t blame her.

  Oh how he wanted to go to her. To make up some bullshit about how everything was going to work out. How he’d make it up to her. But she’d see right through him. He couldn’t fake confidence until he figured things out. Not with this.

  He wondered if he would be able to sort this situation out. If Hailey wasn’t his daughter, Jillian could make it damned hard to get even partial custody of her. And after what he saw Friday night, he wanted to fight for permanent custody. But if the judge ordered a DNA test and it came up negative…

  No. He couldn’t go there. He had to think about what was best for Hailey. Everything else was irrelevant.

  Except for Rachel. And the child she carried. His child. He was sure of it. Rachel wouldn’t have come to him if it wasn’t. She had too much integrity.

  God, he was a fool. He’d found a good woman. Or she had found him. Either way, he had failed her.

  He knew she’d stay, for Hailey’s sake. She’d help him take care of her until he could make permanent arrangements. Hire a nanny. Enroll her in summer camp. Finally be the dad he’d always wanted to be, but had been afraid of stepping on Jillian’s toes.

  And he knew, if he asked, she’d stand by him if he was able to sue for custody. She’d keep up the appearance of their marriage if it meant an innocent child would be safe.

  He just had to convince her that keeping Hailey was the right thing to do.

  First, he had to convince himself.

  Chapter 26

  Rachel felt like someone was watching her. She opened her eyes, and sure enough, the little girl stood over her, a pillow made out of a shirt of some sort clutched in her hands. On closer inspection, she realized it was one of Bryce’s jerseys, the name “Baxter” sewn on the back. A smile escaped her lips before she could remember that Bryce had let her down.

  “Good morning.” Rachel sat up slowly, hoping her stomach would cooperate. “You must be Hailey.”

  The little girl nodded and offered an uncertain smile. “Are you my dad’s wife?”

  “Yes. I’m Rachel.” She held out her hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  The girl gave a tentative handshake. “You, too.”

  “I’ll bet you’re hungry.”

  “A little.” Hailey shrugged.

  “Give me a few minutes to get cleaned up and I’ll make us some breakfast.” Rachel slowly rose from the couch; her back was a little stiff and her bladder was full. Why had she drunk so much water in the middle of the night?

  “You’re really going to have a baby?” The child’s voiced was laced with curiosity and awe.

  “Yes, I am.” She couldn’t help but rest her hand on her expanding waistline. “And I’m sure you’re going to be terrific big sister.”

  The girl just nodded, and gaped at her as if she’d never seen a pregnant woman. If she was astonished now, just wait a few more months when Rachel would be unable to see her own feet. Rachel made her way to the bathroom, trying not to wake Bryce. She almost stepped on him, since he was lying on the floor, sound asleep.

  A little something tugged at her heart. He’d sacrificed his comfort for his daughter. Although there was plenty of room in the king-sized bed, he let the little girl have it all to herself.

  Maybe she wet the bed. But the spot where she’d tossed the covers aside looked clean and dry, if a little rumpled. The other side of the bed, where Bryce usually slept, was undisturbed. It wasn’t as if he’d crawled into bed with her and given up when the little girl had become too restless.

  She wondered if he’d have felt more comfortable sharing a bed if he’d spent more time with his daughter all along. From what he’d told her, they barely spent three or four weeks together throughout the year. And those visits had been with his ex-wife nearby.

  Damn it. She was doing it again. Letting her heart take over, when she really needed to rely on her head. Now was not the time to soften, just because he’d slept on the floor didn’t mean she should forgive him.

  But what, exactly, did she need to forgive him for? Putting his daughter’s needs above everything else? Including baseball?

  As long as she’d know him, he’d never missed a game. He’d had the playboy reputation for much of his career, but he’d never missed a game. He’d never been unable to work because of it.

  Rachel splashed cold water on her face. She needed to wake up. Just because he had a good reason to hide away from the public didn’t give him an excuse to hide from her. How could they move forward together if they didn’t lean on each other in times of trouble? Their wedding had been somewhat of a blur, but she clearly remembered the part about for better or worse. The fact that he’d shut her out at the first sign of trouble didn’t bode well for their future together.

  After rinsing her toothbrush and straightening the hand towels, Rachel made her way
to the kitchen. A little girl needed her breakfast. She needed her father, and in some small way, needed her stepmother, too.

  “So, do you like pancakes?” Rachel put on her least wicked stepmom smile and motioned for Hailey to join her in the kitchen.

  The little girl just nodded.

  “Would you like to help?”

  She shrugged and clutched her pillow tighter.

  “I’m not the best cook in the world.” Rachel hoped to sound encouraging. She got the feeling the child was frightened. Whether it was of cooking or the whole ordeal, she didn’t know. “But I’m pretty sure I’m the messiest cook in San Francisco.”

  A tiny smile escaped Hailey’s lips.

  “So if you don’t mind a little flour in your hair, and syrup on the counters, you’re welcome to join me.” Rachel reached for the apron and held it out to Hailey. “You might want to leave your pillow in the living room, though. It looks like it’s pretty special.”

  “My mom made it for me.” The girl hugged it even tighter. “When Daddy moved to San Francisco, she ordered one of his jerseys, and made me a pillow so I wouldn’t miss him so much.”

  “That’s sweet.” A big lump formed in Rachel’s throat. She couldn’t imagine anything easing the pain that Bryce’s absence from her life would bring.

  Hailey walked slowly to the couch, and carefully set her pillow on the leather cushions.

  “I’ve never made pancakes before.” Hailey’s eyes were wide with trepidation and eagerness.

  “Well, it’s time you learn how.” Rachel grabbed the cookbook from the shelf. “I find it’s helpful to follow a recipe until you get the hang of things. Then you can get adventurous and add things like chocolate chips.”

  “Chocolate chips?”

  “You’ve never had chocolate chip pancakes?”

  Hailey shook her head.

  “Then you haven’t lived.” Rachel hoped she hadn’t eaten them all. She kept a bag on hand for cravings. She checked the pantry. Whew. Half full. And then she spied a couple of bananas that were getting a little too ripe. “You know what’s even better than chocolate chip pancakes?”

  “No?”

  “Banana chocolate chip pancakes.” A memory slammed into Rachel of her stepfather trying to help in the kitchen when her mother had been on bedrest with her sister. At first, Rachel had wanted nothing to do with the strange concoction. First of all, the pancakes were too big, almost the size of the plate. Her mother had always made silver dollar pancakes, barely bigger than bite-sized. And the ones Greg made had stuff in them. Mushed up bananas, and chocolate chips that were supposed to be for cookies, not breakfast.

  “Okay, I guess.” Hailey still sounded unsure.

  “Try them. You might like them.”

  “Like green eggs and ham?”

  “I guess so.” It had been a while since Rachel had read the Dr. Seuss classic. But if the pancakes were a bust, she could always break out the food coloring and at least make the eggs green.

  “Do you like bacon?” Rachel asked, a sudden craving hitting like a tsunami. “Because I feel like also making some bacon.”

  “Okay.”

  Soon they were working together like an all-star team. A few miscommunications along the way, but for the most part, they were doing their best and having fun. The bacon was getting crisp in the oven, all the dry ingredients were measured and blended together. The bananas were mashed and ready to be added after the eggs and buttermilk were mixed in. Last, but not least, came the chocolate chips, carefully folded into the batter.

  “Now, let’s make sure the griddle is nice and hot.” Rachel placed a small dot of batter on the surface of the pan. When it quickly browned and bubbled, she flicked it over, pleased with the perfect color. “Looks like it’s ready.”

  She helped the little girl stand on a chair, and guided her in pouring half-cup scoops of batter onto the hot griddle. A few drips would make those crispy little micro pancakes that her stepfather always used to swipe through the butter dish before popping them into his mouth.

  “Something smells good.” Bryce stumbled into the kitchen, his hair matted and his clothes rumpled from sleeping on the floor. “Almost good enough to eat.”

  “We’re making pancakes.” Hailey’s face lit up at the sight of him. “With banana and chocolate chips.”

  “Wow. What a treat.” He started for the coffee pot, but stopped short.

  “It’s okay. If you want coffee, go ahead.” Rachel could use some herself, but she’d forego it for the sake of her child. Bryce looked like he needed it. And she didn’t want him having to go down the street to order it like he usually did. “I can handle it.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” To prove it, she pulled the coffee out of the cupboard, opened the package, and inhaled. The aroma was comforting more than anything.

  Bryce took over making the coffee, while Rachel finished the pancakes. Soon they all sat down at the small kitchen table to have their breakfast.

  With a sigh, Bryce sipped his coffee. He looked exhausted. As if he hadn’t slept in days. Well, neither had she. Having her husband communicate only via short texts while the Internet exploded with rumors did that to a person.

  He twisted his neck, an audible crack sounding a little bit like corn popping.

  “The first thing we need to do is order some bedroom furniture for Hailey’s room.” Bryce dug into his pancakes. He washed the first few bites down with more coffee. “And we’ll have to get the exercise equipment moved out.”

  “We could use my bedroom furniture.” Rachel realized she wouldn’t need it as long as Hailey was living here. With Bryce’s schedule, there was no way he could take care of a nine-year-old on his own. “And make room in the storage shed at the same time.”

  “That would be fine.” Bryce looked a little surprised by her suggestion. “But I was thinking Hailey might like to pick out something for herself.”

  “That’s okay.” Hailey shrugged. “I don’t need anything fancy. I’m only going to be her for a month, right?”

  A look of concern passed over Bryce’s features, but he quickly changed his expression to a carefree grin. The one she’d learned was a mask. One he used to shut out the world. Including her.

  “Why don’t we call the movers and have them take out the treadmill, weight bench, and stuff we don’t need.” Bryce sounded entirely too cheerful. “We’ll take them to the storage place and if Hailey likes the furniture set we’ve got stored there, great. If not, we’ll go shopping.”

  “That sounds like a great plan.” Rachel tried to sound positive, but it still bothered her that he was putting on a show. Maybe it was for Hailey’s benefit, not because he didn’t want to open up to her.

  And he never would. Especially not with Hailey in the house.

  So for the next thirty days, they would live together, under one roof, pretending to be a family.

  * * * *

  When Hailey found Rachel’s bedroom furniture acceptable, Bryce had the movers load it in the truck and deliver it to the apartment. Getting it set up didn’t leave much time to shop for bedding and accessories. But there would be no time after tonight’s game.

  “So let’s go downtown and buy you some new sheets and a bedspread.” Bryce tried to sound more excited than stressed.

  “Okay.” Hailey agreed, but didn’t seem too enthusiastic.

  The three of them piled in Rachel’s Range Rover. Rachel let him drive. She’d suggested Target and Hailey agreed. A far cry from the exclusive children’s boutique he’d been dragged to when picking out Hailey’s nursery. But that trip had taken hours, looking at all the perfectly coordinating bedrooms organized by theme. Then arguing over whether to do fairies, princesses, or fairy princesses. He didn’t remember what they’d (Jillian) decided, since she’d gone and changed the bedroom several times before Hailey even started school.

  “Okay, here we are. Pick out anything you want.” They stood in the bedding section, where he was b
ombarded with an assortment of choices. He supposed she was too old for the Disney princesses and Hello Kitty sheets. And he didn’t want to think about her sleeping with this year’s version of N’Sync on her comforter. He shuddered at the image of a boy band on a little girl’s bed.

  Hailey shrugged, as if nothing really appealed to her. She walked past the little girl comforter sets, and reached for a plain set of white sheets.

  “I want you pick out something that will make you feel comfortable in your room.” He knew what it was like to stay in an unfamiliar room. He’d lived with host families when he first started in the minor leagues. He’d slept in recently vacated teen rooms, antique furnished guest rooms, and he’d shared a room or two with fax machines or sewing machines, sleeping on a futon in basements. “It will be your space for as long as you’re here.”

  “You’re just buying me lots of stuff and then you’re going to go away.” Hailey’s voice was so soft, he almost didn’t hear her.

  “Hey.” He knelt down in front of her. “Is that what you think? That I’m just going to go away?”

  She nodded.

  “I know I’ve been gone a lot. Even when I lived in Pittsburgh, I spent a lot of time on the road.” His heart sank. He’d still spend a lot of time traveling over the next month. “I’ll be here for a little more than a week. And then maybe you can come with me on my next road trip. We’ll go to San Diego and Los Angeles. Would you like that?”

  “I guess.” She didn’t sound too excited about the idea.

  He had to remember the girl had been through a lot in the last few days. Maybe he should have let her stay in Pittsburgh with her friend. At least she would have familiar surroundings. And she wouldn’t have to travel to the ballpark with him and fall asleep in the clubhouse. He really hadn’t thought this through.

  And he’d made a huge mistake in not discussing his decision with Rachel.

  “Well, good. That’s settled.” He stood up and clapped his hands together. “Now, you still need sheets for your bed. And blankets and a comforter.”