Sidelined

by Marquita Valentine

  “Swear to God, I’ll never leave you.” I’m dead serious. I don’t want her to dread the future once she’s not in my arms and reality sets in, with some of her old fears fucking with her head. “You’re my always and forever because, it’s just like you said to me once, true love doesn’t change its mind.”

  “You remember me telling you that?”

  “Hell yeah, I do.”

  “You’re my rock, Aiden... always and forever, and I’ll never change my mind about you.”

  Chapter 28

  Layton

  TWO MONTHS LATER

  We’ve just gotten back from our three-week honeymoon in Aruba. Twenty-one glorious days of Aiden in next to nothing or nothing at all as he struts around his home. Well, our home now. I wore my birthday suit to match

  I’m in love, so in love it scares me at times, but I know Aiden’s someone I can count on to always tell me the truth. He’s my rock.

  He’s my true love, and he will never change his mind.

  “I have a surprise for you.”

  “If it involves more naked time, I’m down, but I’m pretty sure Nolan will have a coronary if I take more vacation time, no matter how many Dallas-themed gifts I bribe him with,” I say.

  He drives from the airport straight to Dallas and Paige’s neighborhood, turning left and right until we are on their street.

  “I’m confused. Are we eating at their house for supper?”

  “Nope.” A sly grin curves his mouth. “Close your eyes, LT.”

  I do as he says. After what seems like forever later, we stop.

  “Promise to keep them closed while I come around to get you.”

  I draw what I hope is an X over my heart. “Come and get me, Renegade.”

  He laughs, then I hear him get out of the Suburban.

  Two seconds later, he’s opening my door, unhooking my seatbelt, and helping me out so I don’t fall, or have an excuse to open my eyes before he’s ready.

  He wraps his arm around my waist. “Ready for your surprise, sweetheart?”

  I nod happily. “I really hope it’s chocolate cake.”

  “Shit,” he mutters. “Didn’t think of that.”

  “You can get it later,” I assure him. “Can I open my eyes now?”

  “Yes.”

  I open them.

  My mouth drops.

  Happy tears spring into my eyes.

  I’m standing in front of a huge white house with black shutters. There’s even a wreath on the front door with a wooden M in the center. Planters flank the sides, monogrammed with Ls.

  “Hope you don’t mind that I used your first name, LT. I had no idea how this monograming shit works.”

  “It’s... when did you... is this our house?”

  “It can be.” The tips of his ears turn red. “If you don’t mind a new addition?”

  Oh, crap. Does he know?

  “I was thinking of a dog. I’m home now, and you need someone to dress up in Halloween costumes. Paige said they were getting one, too. Said something about being twinsies.”

  I loop my arms around his neck. “This is the best present ever, and I would love for us to live here.”

  He smiles, his arms coming around me as he dips his head to kiss me. It doesn’t last long because I’m too anxious to get inside.

  “I had the place decorated by Desiree Jenkins—Paige recommended her, but whatever you don’t like, change it. My treat, LT.”

  This man... “I’m sure I’ll love it.” And if I don’t, I’ll learn to.

  His brow furrows. “Hang on. My phone’s buzzing. It’s probably Dallas wanting to know if you know we’re neighbors.” He takes it out.

  I whip my head around so fast that I get dizzy. “We’re neighbors! This doesn’t even look like the same house as before.”

  Sure enough, I spy Dallas and Paige at the end of the drive next to ours.

  “I read the part in the binder about the two of you living together after Dallas and I kick the bucket.”

  I never realized how horrible it sounds until I hear it coming from the man I love. “That was just a joke. I don’t want you to ever—I don’t...” My emotions get the best of me, and I start to cry. “Sorry. I’m ruining your surprise.”

  “No, you’re not.” He kisses my forehead. “Stop worrying about it and start getting excited for the house.”

  Paige waves and shouts, “We left a present for you.”

  “For us?” Aiden murmurs, but I don’t miss Paige’s wink.

  “Let’s go see.”

  “You wanna ask them to come along?” There’s a slightly pinched look to his face. While he has no problem with Paige as a neighbor, I know Dallas will take some getting used to.

  “Maybe later.” I slide my hand into his and he leads the way to the front door, keying in a code and opening it, before sweeping me off my feet.

  “For good luck.”

  “I already have the luck of the Irish on my side.”

  With me in his arms, he steps inside and lowers me to the ground. “Damn right you do.”

  There are blue and pink colored arrows on the hardwood floors. The first one has Follow us written on it in gold glitter.

  “Did you do this, too?” I ask, partially playing dumb. I did have a surprise waiting for him, but now I’m not so sure.

  “Nah. This isn’t me.”

  We follow the arrows straight to a bedroom on the first floor.

  Inside is the nursery of my dreams with white walls, light gold stripes, and a crystal chandelier. A large rocking chair sits in one corner, and a huge changing table/drawer system takes up an entire wall.

  Sweet pictures of baby animals are framed and hung every so often.

  It looks exactly like Paige, Desiree, and I planned out.

  “You’re not shocked by this,” Aiden says tightly, but he looks the opposite of mad. He looks... happy. Scared... and suddenly, love replaces it all. “Talk to me, LT.”

  I touch my stomach. “That’s because I was shocked three weeks ago, right before we left on our honeymoon. And today,” I admit. “I didn’t expect a nursery here. I’d planned for your place because I thought I could surprise you... only you surprised me, too.”

  Aiden is speechless, but he quickly recovers. “I should be mad at you for telling Paige first, but I can’t be. You’re having my baby, Layton.” He covers my hand with his. “You’re having our baby.”

  He lifts me off my feet, carefully, and sweeps me out of the nursery.

  “Where are you taking me?”

  “I figured I’d make love to the mother of my child, as long as my wife doesn’t mind.” He winks. “But seriously, LT, I fucking love you.”

  All the happiness and joy in the world fills me. “I love you, too.”

  Epilogue

  Aiden

  FIVE MONTHS LATER

  “You sure you feel up to visiting?” I ask, worried as a fucking mother hen over her chicks. Swear to God, I sound like my ma.

  Layton smiles at me, dark shadows under her eyes. Her skin’s a little pale, but her smile... her smile is the light of my world. “They’ve been waiting.”

  “They can wait a little longer.” I sit down beside her on the bed with my daughter safe in my arms. Camilla has the tiniest mouth and hands—perfect and pink. She squints up at me. “I think she knows who I am,” I say excitedly.

  “Of course she does. You’ve been talking to my belly for the last five months. I’m sort of concerned about the mixture of accents.”

  A nurse walks in. “Did you decide on visitors, yet?”

  The thing I like most about this place is that they’re all about the mother—as it should be. They’re the ones doing all the work, and since Layton went into labor early, they’ve been, in my opinion, extra about all about her. “What do you say, LT?”

  She adjusts her gown. “Send them in.”

  The nurse nods and walks out.

  “Does my hair look okay?”

  No way in he
ll will I answer that without lying. “Beautiful as always.”

  She snorts. “O-h-kay.”

  My ma bursts through the door. Dom hot on her heels. “Lemme see my—oh. my. God.”

  Layton’s parents fall in behind them, their mouths dropping as well. “Would you look at that,” Mrs. Price finally says.

  “What? You guys act like you never seen twins before.” I nod at my son, who is sleeping in Layton’s arms. “Don’t wake Declan up.”

  Layton clears her throat. “Don’t y’all want to meet them?”

  As our families recover from their shock, we’re engulfed, surrounded in love and congratulations

  Believe it or not, I wouldn’t have it any other fucking way.

  Thank you for reading Aiden and Layton’s story in Sidelined. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter so you don’t miss out on any of my upcoming releases and sales: www.marquitavalentine.com/contact

  AND KEEP GOING TO READ a sneak peek of NAILED, an enemies-to-lovers office romance featuring Kingston Price and an all-new heroine, Gracen, as they face off in a battle of wills and hot sex when he buys her father’s sports agency, only to make her his personal assistant.

  Sneak Peek of Nailed

  Kingston

  “HOW DID YOU MANAGE to steal this from my dad?” she asks, full of fire that makes her brown eyes snap at me.

  “Sorry to break it to you, sweet cheeks, but I bought this company—fair and square.”

  She crosses her arms. “You wouldn’t know fair and square if it jumped up and bit you in the butt. Ted was supposed to run this company for our dad.”

  “You and I both know that Teddy-boy would run a lemonade stand into the ground, given the chance.”

  Gracen doesn’t deny it, and I didn’t expect her to. One of the reasons I negotiated for her to stay on is because she’s so damned honest. I need that in this line of business. I need her for my business.

  I slide the buyer’s contract across the desk. “Luckily for you, I made sure that you’re staying on, but in a new position.”

  A black brow arches as she picks up the contract and reads through the part I highlighted. “I’m the office manager—you know you need me to do your dirty—oh, hell no.”

  “Is there problem?” I ask innocently.

  She throws the contract at my face, but it only goes halfway before falling. A good thing since she looks as though she’d like to give me a million paper cuts with it. “I will not be your personal assistant.”

  “Think of all the benefits.”

  “Unless one of those is a pair of scissors to geld you, I’m not interested.”

  But I am and the more she talks, the more turned on I get. “Not to worry, I don’t plan on mounting you in the supply closet.” My desk, however, is fair game.

  “You’re a walking, talking lawsuit waiting to happen.” She turns on her heel, delectable ass swaying as she marches to the door.

  “See you Monday morning, bright and early. I like my coffee hot and sweet.”

  Gracen flips me off before slamming the door behind her.

  With a grin, I settle back into my chair and put my hands behind my head. I’m really going to like it here.

  Read where it all began in SCORED, available everywhere!

  Prologue

  Dallas

  MY MIND SHOULD BE ON the game. It’s the biggest one of my life. The game that will determine if we go to the playoffs or not.

  Instead, my brain is focused on the woman who refuses to see things my way.

  I’m done chasing her.

  Almost.

  I’m done playing by her rules.

  Completely.

  “Dallas?” Becks prods, keeping her toothpaste-commercial-worthy smile wide. The bubbly blonde doesn’t like dead air, and that’s what I’ve given her for the past five seconds. “C’mon. Can you tell me if the rumors about a special lady in your life are true? Promise it won’t go any further than our millions of viewers.”

  She winks.

  My jaw works.

  I know what I have to do, and it’s going to break Paige’s heart when I break the promise I made. But it’s a risk I’ll have to take.

  Besides, I’m fucking tired of hiding our relationship from everyone.

  “Actually, there is someone special.” Turning to the camera, I stare straight into the lens. “Bright eyes, I love you. I want to be with you, out in the open. I want to show you off and kiss you in front of the camera after the game—win or lose. But you know it’s going to be a win for the Renegades.”

  Hey, what I can say—I’m a cocky son of a bitch and that won’t change, but I can humble myself, be all vulnerable just for Paige so she can see what I’m willing to do and how much I’m ready to commit to her. “I’m done being your secret. If you’ve got the lady balls—and I know you do, baby—then meet me tonight, right after the game, in the Renegades’ end zone. I’ll be the one with the diamond ring.”

  The entire room goes silent. Even Finley stops talking on her phone, her mouth dropping so far open I can see the mint she’d been sucking on. Hell, even the camera guy is stunned, frozen in place while the producer stands to the side, his chin practically on his chest.

  “And that, kids, is how you let a woman know you mean business.” Standing, I yank the microphone off my shirt, drop it on the floor, then swagger out of there without saying another word.

  Chapter 1

  Paige

  “THEY’RE STILL NOT COMING off,” I mutter in the lowest voice possible. Handcuffs encircle my wrists, imprisoning me, and not in the good way either.

  Oh, no. I’m cuffed in front of an audience of twenty preschoolers and their parents/caregivers.

  Barney the Magnificent, a local magician invited to read from his first published book and perform magic tricks for this week’s preschool power-hour group, yanks on them harder, making the metal scrape my skin.

  Holy poopballs, that hurts! I fight back a wince and the bubble of nervous laughter that threatens to burst out of my mouth.

  “This has never happened before,” he replies in a faint voice, then raises it to address his audience. “I think I got the magic words wrong—it happens sometimes, and it’s okay to make a mistake.”

  The group of preschoolers nod along with him.

  My eyes widen as I realize I might have to work the rest of the day with these dang things on.

  My first thought after the realization: That will go over well with the patrons.

  My second: I’m going to tit punch Layton when I see her.

  Layton is not only my coworker, but she’s also been my best friend since kindergarten. She’s the one responsible for Barney’s gig here today

  I smile wider, not wanting to spoil the magic for the kids or ruin Barney’s big moment. He is around eighty, wears bow ties, and stops by once a month with muffins for the staff—basically, he’s the absolute sweetest man in existence. He’s also blind as a bat because he refuses to wear bifocals on account of the ladies not being into them. His words, not mine.

  “Do you have a magic key in your hat, Magnificent Barney?” I ask hopefully.

  “Er... I left it in my other hat, at home.” He jiggles the handcuffs with more vigor. “Don’t worry, kids. There’s nothing magic can’t solve.”

  Except how to unlock a pair of handcuffs.

  Barney’s fingers, slick with nervous sweat, slip off, hitting a piece of metal slightly sticking out to one side. There’s an audible click.

  “Pesto Chicken Pizza,” Barney announces with a flourish, waving his hands in an intricate pattern.

  The preschoolers giggle. A few of them repeat his words. I love when they do that, but I like being free even more.

  Like magic, the handcuffs fall to the floor.

  “Ta-da!” I chirp, rubbing my wrists. This is the last time I will ever cover for Layton so she can run wedding errands. Okay, so it probably won’t be the last time, because I’m her maid of honor and covering for her is listed u
nder my duties.

  I’m totally serious. She had a list printed out and laminated for me. It’s the size of a credit card, so I can take it with me wherever I go.

  Layton’s such a thoughtful friend.

  Did I also mention I’m a sucker and I love her, because both are true?

  “Let’s clap for Ms. Paige.” Barney bows and picks up the handcuffs, tossing them into his bag while the kids give me a round of applause.

  “Thank you, Barney the Magnificent.” I gesture to him. “Wasn’t he amazing, y’all?” I start clapping. The kids copy me almost immediately, but it’s not forced. This kind of joy can’t be forced. Barney is a natural, which makes my job of subbing for Layton a heck of a lot easier.

  I nod at the moms, dads, and nannies sitting along the perimeter of the ginormous rug Layton purchased for the kids’ area. They start to gather their children, the chatter in the room rising to almost normal levels.

  “Be sure to pick up a signed copy of Magic Me before you leave, compliments of the library. Barney the Magnificent will be around for pictures and personalization as well. Next Thursday, we’ll have Leonardo the Lizard Charmer and his Komodo dragons, Pete and Jane,” I call out.

  A round of oohs and ahs from the crowd let me know that Layton has picked another winner. She’s pretty good at that.

  “You were a great assistant,” Barney says, his thin lips curving into a smile. “Reminded me of my wife. God rest her soul.”

  “Oh?” I get misty-eyed every dang time Barney mentions his late wife. It’s the glow that appears on his face, the emotions that shine in his eyes, and the grin he can’t keep off his lips. That’s the kind of love I want—one that lasts beyond the grave.

  I really need to stop reading paranormal romance novels. It won’t happen, of course, but I should probably stop wishing for love beyond the grave.