Quarterback Daddy

by Ava Walsh

  She was in one of his jerseys, her hair tied up but her curls tumbling down over the back of her neck.

  She cheered loudly as Lance kicked the team to victory. Bryan, at the other end of the seats, leaned forward to pass her a smile. Margie nodded in response. She decided she was going to warm to him.

  Lance was on the shoulders of his teammates again and he caught her eye. Margie blew him a kiss and he mimed a catch and then rubbed it on his cheeks. Margie’s smile widened and she covered her mouth as she laughed. They’d been together for three months already, college was nearing its end and each day was better and better with him.

  She watched as the cheerleaders swarmed the field now and Chloe ran right towards Lance. He leaned in towards her from above, still on top of two of his teammates’ shoulders and gave her a quick hug. Margie felt a jealous tug somewhere at the bottom of her heart, but he looked up immediately towards her and smiled. He was telling her that she had nothing to worry about. Lance was a man very much in love, and he was in love with her.

  “He’s proven me wrong.” Claire’s voice interrupted her thoughts. It was Claire’s first game, and she had agreed to accompany Margie after days of pleading.

  The buzz in the crowd had caught on to her as well. Claire was standing and clapping now, just like everyone else. Hank, the Arts Major from the bar, was beside her, equally converted on his first attendance of a football game.

  “Your boyfriend is quite the performer,” Hank leaned forward to say, and Margie couldn’t help but laugh. She agreed. If there was ever a performer, it was Lance Healy.

  People everywhere were blowing horns and waving big foam thumbs in the air, and Margie found confetti stuck to her hair now. This was going to be her life now, she was going to attend his games and watch on proudly as Lance took his team to victory after victory.

  “Here she comes.” Claire nudged Margie with her elbow just as Chloe appeared behind them.

  “We won!” Chloe shrieked, right into Margie’s ear.

  “We did!” Margie said excitedly, and Chloe shocked her with a tight hug.

  “What’s the deal with her then?” Claire asked as they watched Chloe walk down the seats towards Bryan and the other guys.

  “Nothing. She still hangs around Lance a lot, but she knows she doesn’t really stand a chance with him. She’s kind of nice to me, though. So as long as she doesn’t throw herself at him anymore, I have no complaints,” Margie said with a sigh and a smile.

  “You’ll have to deal with that a lot, though,” Claire said, rolling her eyes at Chloe, who was now hugging Bryan tightly. “Fangirls throwing themselves at Lance,” Claire added.

  Margie sighed and shrugged. That is what she had signed up for with Lance as a boyfriend, she knew that.

  “I consider myself lucky,” she said with another shrug. Claire pointed ahead and Margie turned to look. Lance had broken away from his team and was climbing the short distance through the bleachers towards her now.

  “You are very lucky. And he’s a lucky guy to have you,” Claire said, clapping again as the crowd cheered for Lance as he made his way to Margie.

  Margie’s heart was beating fast. Lance was coming to her. She was important to him, more than the game and more than the cheers.

  “We won!” he said, just as he came up to her and lifted her up in his arms to give her a twirl.

  “We won!” she repeated after him and leaned in for a kiss.

  “Let’s get out of here?” he asked, gripping her waist tightly.

  “What about celebrating with your teammates?” she asked, and Lance laughed.

  “They’ll understand,” he said, planting a kiss on her belly.

  “We’re leaving, Claire. I’m abducting your friend,” he said, turning to Claire and Hank.

  Margie couldn’t do anything else other than blush a bright red.

  *****

  THE END

  Cowboy Romance Collection

  The Rancher's Virgin

  Description

  Love is like a shooting star – catch it before it’s gone.

  New York is Brie’s life. But when her mother suddenly dies, the 18-year-old doesn’t have a choice. She moves in with her family at a ranch in Texas to start over. Turns out that the ranch owner is one of the most gorgeous men she’s ever laid eyes on.

  But she has to forget about him. She’s too young and inexperienced for him, not to mention his son’s nanny.

  Little does she know that her aunt’s got it all planned out.

  Ranch owner Lance is every woman’s dream with his tousled hair and blue eyes. But underneath the muscles and sun-kissed skin, this wounded cowboy hides his scars. He’s focused on his work and his little son. He has no time for love.

  But everything changes when he sees Brie that first day, all curves, beauty and warmth.

  Is this wrong? Is this right? Despite their age difference and working relationship, Lance and Brie can’t deny the attraction.

  Will Brie be able to move past her loss and start her first relationship? Can Lance let his walls down and give into his feelings? Can they be a family and enjoy a simple life of love and joy together?

  Chapter One

  The overly cheerful flight attendant greeted me and I boarded the plane with a half-smile, uncertain of everything my future was going to bring. I was going to live in Texas but I knew nothing about the lifestyle there. I used to live with my mom in New York before she died from a heart attack, likely from the stress of working three jobs so that I could live a comfortable life. She didn’t have life insurance at any of the jobs, nor was there any other way for me to keep going to college there.

  It’s even sadder that she’s all I had, apart from an aunt with a family in Texas. I didn’t know Aunt Irene well. My mom’s and aunt’s parents, my grandparents, died when they were young, and they lived with an aunt. Ironic, wasn’t it? That aunt died a few years ago and now it was just Aunt Irene. She’d graciously offered me a room in her family’s home. She seemed to be a nice woman, and I appreciated the gesture, but I missed my mom and our apartment in Brooklyn so much. My mom was a big part of the community, selling art at one of the galleries that she worked at on weekends.

  I looked out of the window to the place I’d called home for the last six years. I knew that I’d miss it, but Irene offered me a stable home and a chance to make something of myself. I wasn’t ready to curl up into a ball at eighteen and stop fighting, even if I wanted to sometimes. Mom always told me to stick to my dreams no matter what and I was going to make her happy. She was watching over me.

  I settled into my seat for takeoff and licked my full lips in a nervous gesture. Mom drove me everywhere, so flying was new to me. I secured my thick strawberry blonde curls in a low ponytail and gripped the armrests with my hands as the engine screamed all around me. Oh God. My heart was pounding. I closed my big blue eyes as the panic set in.

  “Think of something pretty, Brie,” Mama said in my mind. I smiled. That was always her way of distracting me from a stressful situation, and I imagined the painting of hers that I loved the most as I took a few deep breaths. It was the Eiffel Tower with a gorgeous sunset behind it, a photo that Mom had seen somewhere and immediately copied. Paris was a trip that we were going to make together someday. I wondered if I’d ever have the heart to make it there alone.

  I felt the plane even out and opened my eyes to watch the distance grow between myself and New York. It was an evening flight and the sun was setting. As I watched for several moments, I felt a peace settle over me. Mom was here. I could feel it.

  Once the sun had set and the sky started to darken, I looked around, watching the other passengers receive drinks and snacks while they prepared their electronic devices for whatever it was they were going to use them for. I pulled the phone my mother had paid for from the pocket of my jeans and held it in my hand.

  I read the texts that Irene had sent me detailing Texas. She lived in a small house on a big ranch where she serv
ed as a cook for the owner. She also took care of her daughter, my cousin Sarah, and his young son, Landon. I didn’t know where I’d fit into the picture, but it seemed like a safe place to go. I knew how much Mom loved her sister and I trusted in that, even if we hadn’t met in person due to distance and finances.

  My father leaving when I was one didn’t help matters in that regard. Mom did what she could and worked a lot to keep our heads above water, though she never had a chance to make that little extra for trips and vacations. We just moved a lot instead until she discovered her place was in New York.

  I didn’t quite know where my place was, having followed her my whole life. I liked New York, and I’d miss it, just like I did the other cities that we’d lived in. Maybe country life would suit me. I liked the idea of life amongst animals, something I’d only seen in zoos before. It might be fun. I liked the idea of quiet and stars in the sky.

  At least that’s what I told myself as we flew through the air.

  The plane landed a few hours later, and I walked off with the other passengers and down a long walkway. We ended up at an escalator that led down to where there was a crowd waiting for their loved ones to arrive. My eyes searched the faces for my aunt and my cousin slowly. Finally, they rested on the pixie face of Sarah and the soft face of Irene.

  My aunt reminded me a lot of my mother with her soft red hair and green eyes, and her daughter looked like me. Sarah had blue eyes, just like me. I had my father’s eyes – at least that’s what I was told. My mom never said much about my dad.

  Irene waved boldly and smiled, nudging Sarah as the twelve-year-old girl smiled up at me. She was a cutie, and I tried to ignore my nerves as I descended towards them.

  Here goes nothing.

  Chapter Two

  “Brie, you look so much like your mama!” Irene pulled me into a hug, and I widened my eyes at the sudden affection. “I’m so glad that you’re here. You’re going to love it!” There was a soothing, smooth drawl to her voice. She pulled back and looked at me before glancing at Sarah. “I can tell that you girls are related.” Sarah gave me a soft smile as she looked up at me and said hi.

  “Hi, Sarah. Hi, Irene,” I said as I smiled at them. “Thank you for inviting me out here.” Irene wasn’t able to come to the small memorial service for Mom due to her work at the ranch. But I had brought Mom with me in the beautiful urn that I’d chosen with what little money that I had left, stowed away in my luggage.

  “Of course! I promised Tess that I’d take care of you if anything happened.” Irene’s face fell as she spoke and I watched a wave of sadness pass over her face. “I never thought that would actually happen since Tess was one of the most vibrant souls that I’ve ever known.”

  I nodded in agreement. Mom was just that to everyone, and there were a lot of people missing her.

  “Well, let’s get your bag and head out of here. There’s so much to show you.” Irene smiled again, and we walked over to the baggage claim. I felt the summer heat come through the door in waves. It was August, and I glanced down at my ripped jeans for a moment with a scowl. It was hot back home, too, but this air felt heavier to me. I was glad that I packed a good mix of seasonal clothing to get by for a while. I stepped forward and looked around the crowd as Irene’s accent carried through the air around me. It was warm, affable, and made me smile. I decided that Texas might not be so bad after all.

  I picked up my green bag as it rolled around. Then, I secured my backpack over my shoulders and took a deep breath. “Let’s go,” I said with false confidence. Irene nodded and smiled. She must’ve said hello to ten people on the way out, making me wonder how big Texas really was. In New York, you would be friendly to those you knew, but not to everyone.

  We made a long drive out to Beaumont, where the ranch was located, just close to the edge of Louisiana. We passed a good-sized city and a lot of water before we headed onto the curvy road into the rolling hills. It was beautiful. I saw a property about fifteen feet ahead and I wondered if that was my new home. There were various houses ranging in size, with three barns and a lot of land for animals. “Is that where you live?”

  “Yes, ma’am. That’s Burke Ranch, one of the biggest cattle suppliers in the state of Texas!” Irene replied with pride in her voice as I frowned beside her. “I know, sweetie. It seems cruel, but it’s survival. It’s what people do here. You’ll grow accustomed to life out here in the country.” She pulled through a gate that was wide open and I stared at the surroundings as Irene wound around and parked at a smaller structure before she put the big SUV into park. “This is our house. It might not look like much from the outside, but there’s a good living space in there and you’ll have your own bedroom. I made Sarah promise to leave you be when you need your privacy.” Irene smiled as she opened the door and slipped out onto the cement in her cowboy boots.

  Did everyone wear those here? I scrutinized my worn Converse shoes and opened my own door to step outside and look around. There was a main house a few miles away and I looked at it as Sarah followed my gaze. “That’s Mr. Burke’s place. He’s the owner.” Wow. It looked massive, and I could see how successful the farm was just by the looks of that house. He must have a huge family to live there… but Irene mentioned only one son.

  “Oh, Brie. I talked to Lance before we came out to fetch you. He hasn’t filled the nanny position yet. Are you comfortable with kids?” Irene asked me.

  My eyes widened. “How old?” I asked as Irene led the way to the door.

  “Logan is just three years old. He’s the sweetest thing, and I know you’ll be okay. I’m almost always in the house in case you need help. I thought I’d offer you the job first since you’re here and we didn’t discuss any plans. Anyway, go on in, hon. Take a look around.”

  It was nice inside even though it did look like a simple cottage from the outside. There was a great living room, a nice kitchen suited for a family, as well as two hallways that led off the main room. “That hallway leads down to our rooms and the one on the left here goes to your room. I wanted you to have some space to yourself.”

  “Thank you,” I said as I admired a big window at the end of my hallway. “So, about the job. I’m okay with kids. I knew people back home that had some and they were great.”

  “That’s fantastic! Lance works all hours so he really wanted someone to care for Logan since he’s so busy around this place,” Irene told me. “There’s a nanny room in the main house as well. That’s just for when he’s out at night in a pinch. Lance prefers to be in at night when Logan is sleeping.”

  “Okay, that makes sense.” A child that age couldn’t sleep in a house alone, particularly one that size. I was curious to see what it looked like inside so I didn’t object when Irene told me that she’d take me over in the morning and show me around. Today, she wanted me to settle in and get a feel for the place.

  I grabbed some water from the fridge and took my bag back to my room. It was spacious, with French doors that led to a small deck of my own. The room itself had a queen-sized bed and a dresser with a large walk in closet. I liked it. I placed my suitcase on the bed and my backpack beside it. I hung my clothes slowly and played some music on my phone, songs that made me think of New York and my mother. I walked outside once I’d set everything up in the bathroom in the hallway and gazed over the fields with a growing smile.

  I could hear the animals nearby, but my view was of stalks of corn and a beautiful pond. I could see fruit trees just past that and wondered what kind they were. Sitting down at the comfortable table, I sipped my water and relaxed a little.

  Irene cooked a roast for dinner and I had a chance to meet her husband, Michael. He was head of the ranch hands and every bit the cowboy. He removed his hat and nodded at me. “You do look like Tess, Brie.” He smiled and shook my hand before he kissed it and excused himself to change for supper. Irene watched him with love shining in her eyes.

  “Are they all like that here in Texas?” I teased her as she blushed and pushed
a strand of red hair behind her ear.

  “You’re in a different world, my girl. Buckle up,” my aunt told me as she turned to remove the meal from the oven.

  That night, I watched as someone walked around the pond in the moonlight before taking his shirt off and looking around. Oh my goodness. Was he going to skinny dip? I shrunk back against my door and hid as a man with a muscled chest slipped out of his jeans and splashed into the water.

  Buckle up, indeed.

  Chapter Three

  I woke up in the morning to the sound of my phone chiming. I remembered that I was going to the main house with Irene. I showered quickly and braided my hair to fall over my shoulder. I dressed in some leggings and a large t-shirt. I wasn’t sure what I should be wearing as a potential future nanny, but the kids that I’d always been around in the past were active and a bit messy at times.

  I walked into the living room to the smell of fresh coffee and I heard Irene talking to Sarah. “Morning,” I called out as she looked over with a harried expression.

  “Brie. Bless your soul for getting up. I wasn’t sure how well you’d sleep last night, being somewhere new and all. Want some coffee before we head over?”

  “Yeah, thanks. I slept well. It’s so peaceful here at night. I looked at the stars for a while.” I smiled as I thought about the man at the pond. He was probably one of the ranch hands, but he was cute. A part of me felt guilty for liking it here. I know that’s what Mom would want, but it seemed like it was too soon.