by Cari Quinn
“What if it doesn’t work out?”
“What if it does?” he countered.
“But what if it doesn’t?” she repeated. “It’s not fair for Gabby to get her hopes up.”
She had a point. He’d hate to see Gabby upset, never mind be the cause of it. Still, if there was any chance they could give their daughter a normal family life, then they should take it. “It would be more unfair to Gabby if we didn’t try.”
The bathroom light cast a surreal glow onto the bed as if marking the moment as one happening in an alternate universe. Because no one would believe that Billy Burner, the womanizing pro football player, was not only begging for a second chance, but using his child as leverage. Justifying this means to an end was simple; it wasn’t what was best for him, but what was best for them as a family. He waited in the blessed silence. At least he wasn’t hearing a ‘no’ from those swollen kissed lips.
“Okay—”
He moved to kiss her, but she placed a firm hand on his chest.
“But there are rules,” she continued.
He brushed his thumb along her cheekbone. “I remember a girl who didn’t like rules.”
“Well, I’m a mom now.”
“I’m not a child who needs rules.”
“No, but we have one together. And these rules are for Gabby’s sake.”
Billy fell back to the mattress with a thud. “Okay, shoot.”
“Number one. No outward displays of affection. No ‘kissing’ mommy goodbye.”
“I’ll try to restrain myself,” he said, his voice laced in sarcasm.
“Number two. No other women.”
He supposed his ladies’ man reputation would give any woman pause, but he never cheated on a woman. Of course that was because since Angel he’d never been in a steady relationship. Still, he decided to have some fun with her and asked, “And that rule is for Gabby?”
She turned from her sitting position to look at him. “Well, no, not exactly.”
Billy smiled, but then he grew serious. “That’s a two way street. What goes for me goes for you. No other men.”
“I haven’t even been on the road until tonight.” She rolled her eyes. “Rule three.”
If she said no sex Billy swore he’d argue the point by making love to her again until she begged for release. And what did she mean by ‘she hadn’t been on the road’? Had she never had sex after him? Impossible.
“I go back to my bed each night.”
Okay so it wasn’t a ‘no sex’ clause, but damn it, they were adults. The days of sneaking around were long over. He wanted to wake up with Angel in his arms. To pull her close as dawn broke. To feel her warm body next to his, to hear her breathe while she slept, and to wake her up in the most pleasant of ways. “No.”
“Gabby is not stupid. If she sees us sharing a bedroom, she’ll start asking questions.”
“But.”
“Those are my terms.”
Billy blew out a breath. He reminded himself of his game plan. What was his game plan again? Oh yeah, patience. So far his strategy was working like a charm. He already made love to her; now he had to prove to her that they belonged together. Always had.
“Agreed.” He added a silent rule of his own, to make love to her each night until she was too weak to get out of his bed, never mind walk back to her room. With that in mind he pulled Angel on top of him and kissed her. The taste of her lips filled him with hunger. The feel of her naked skin ignited his blood. Her scent of vanilla intoxicated him. Rolling to the side, limbs entwined until the heat they generated seem to meld them together as one. He breathed her in as if it was the last breath he’d ever take. If she ever left him again, he felt sure that it would be.
Chapter Fourteen
For once Angel felt like she fit in. Shocking, considering she currently lounged in the plush seating area of the owner’s skybox at the stadium with Samantha and Hannah.
Behind them stood a mahogany bar with top end liquor, a poker table and a couple of high tables with stools. Off to the side stood a large chalkboard on an easel and on the other a lit up trophy case stood as a testament to the team’s success. Television screens hung about the room so none of the action would be missed. A group of high-powered men talked football and business deals. Hell, minutes ago she was introduced to the Governor.
Samantha had her eyes on the game, but Angel could tell she was listening with a reporter’s ear. Though the other wives and girlfriends sat in the seating just outside the box, a wall of glass separated them. At first Angel received some dirty looks from the other women, but Hannah said not to worry. The owner loved the good publicity he received from having a supermodel and a probable future Pulitzer Prize winner grace his skybox. And now Angel served in the same role. After a photo of her coming out of Billy’s apartment building ended up plastered all over the New York gossip pages, she received an invite from the owner’s wife. Instead of the scandal she’d feared they’d report, the press treated the story as a star-crossed lovers tale. She guessed they were in a good mood that day.
Concerned about the invite, Angel was grateful Hannah had taken her under her wing. When Angel fell in love with a sleek pair of faux leather pants, she put it back on the rack thinking that such clothes would be more appropriate for a pool hall. Then Hannah took it off the rack suggesting a smart looking black and white glen plaid jacket along with a crisp white blouse that flowed loosely about Angel’s hips. The outfit cost more than Angel would spend in an entire year for clothes but Billy had slipped her his credit card before she’d left and said ‘have fun’. Angel blushed when Hannah tossed in several silky bras and matching panties saying Billy deserved something too.
“Oh, no.”
Angel followed Samantha’s gaze. The owner’s daughter arrived with a flourish of laughter. Hayden Middleton was a tabloid reporter’s wet dream. The curvy heiress to a fortune was as morally bankrupt as she was rich. As she paused at the top of the stairs the fake smile turned into a mean girl smirk that marred her otherwise pretty features. “So who’s this? Don’t tell me. Burner’s baby mama?”
Turning her back, Angel clenched her jaw in an effort not to respond to the cutting barb. For Gabby’s future, and for Billy’s, she decided to remain silent despite the comment’s sting. So much for thinking she fit in.
Not to be ignored, Hayden stepped down, and with a perfectly manicured hand snagged a cone of candied nuts. She leaned against the glass, away from the game in progress. “What’s your brat anyway? Boy? Girl?”
Angel’s eyes narrowed in anger.
“What, no answer?” Hayden popped a nut into her mouth. “Surprised Burner doesn’t have a litter. Of course, who knows? Maybe he does.”
Angel’s right hand curled into a fist. If this were O’Malley’s, Angel would’ve broken a cue stick over the bitch’s head. It was one thing to disparage Angel’s reputation but Gabby’s? Oh hell no. She went to lunge at Hayden but Samantha placed a firm grip over Angel’s hand.
“Why, Hayden, how lovely to see you,” Hannah twirled a piece of her long blonde hair around her finger. “And here I thought you’d still be on your court-ordered vacation.”
“You’re going to pay for that.”
“Going to run to daddy?” Samantha chimed in.
In true brat style, Hayden stomped back up the few steps and joined the group of men. Angel released a slow breath and Samantha let go of her hand.
“Thank you,” Angel said. Realizing they saved her from making a scene, she added, “I hope I’m not going to get you into trouble.”
“Don’t mind her. ‘Hoyden’ is just pissed because I refuse to sign on for her new reality show,” said Hannah.
Grinning, Samantha relaxed back into her seat. “Besides I’m pretty sure we just saved Hayden’s life.”
Angel vowed Gabby wouldn’t end up like Hayden, princess room be damned. Her daughter would learn the value of a dollar and work for what she wanted. Angel needed to lay down the law with B
illy. She was adding some new rules. No more arriving home after every practice with a new toy for Gabby. No more sneaking her a cookie after every meal.
Angel bit her lip each time, understanding he was trying to make up for lost time. Still, Billy had to start thinking of what was best for their daughter’s future. With money tight Angel had scrimped for healthy foods and left the desserts for special occasions. Gabby still had no idea what soda even tasted like. God help them all if she ever did. Billy had yet to hear a whine out of Gabby. He was in for a rude awakening.
“No, not him,” groaned Hayden. “There goes the season.”
A sudden hush fell over the room and Angel turned her attention back to the field where a Cougar player lay prone on the turf. With his helmet on she couldn’t tell who it was. She desperately searched for Billy, not taking a breath until she spotted him. Standing in profile, his long blond locks flowed from beneath his helmet. His hair identified him even before she noticed the number and name on his jersey.
A quick glance at her friend’s faces told Angel it wasn’t one of their husbands either.
“Our quarterback.” Samantha winced at the TV close-up. “Look at his leg. His career is probably over.”
Angel stared up at the large monitor and watched the replay in horror. That could have been Billy.
Chapter Fifteen
Billy knew from the sound of muzzled gunfire that Todd had just broken his leg.
Baker, the defensive end from the Warriors, leapt up from the pile signaling frantically to the sideline and screaming, “Get somebody out here, get somebody out here now.”
Writhing, Todd grabbed both sides of his helmet then pounded the turf with his fists. Suddenly he went still, so still that Billy prayed it was just shock kicking in. He eyed the bone protruding from Todd’s bloody sock.
“Out of the way.” The medical team from both sides rushed over to the gruesome scene.
The offensive coordinator shouted for Billy, Miller and the backup quarterback, Liam McQueen to get over to the bench to review some plays. The Cougars liked to run a two tight end formation but since Terell never practiced with the second string, Billy would be the McQueen’s main target. If the coach let him throw that is.
Not that the former first round draft pick didn’t have skills, but he squandered them away letting the fame go to his head, skipping practice like he was too good for it and boozing it up to the point of being forced into rehab.
Once his career tanked and hit rock bottom, he found God. Funny how that happens. Clean and sober McQueen rededicated himself to football, but none of the teams were buying it except for the Cougars. He didn’t know if the owner did it for the publicity or because he believed in second chances like he said during the off-season press conference announcing the signing.
For Billy it amounted to one big distraction. Billy knew he had to put that all aside. It was important for him to believe in McQueen, now the leader of the offense. Billy did his best to concentrate on the plays, but an injury like the one Todd sustained could rattle even the toughest of players. Ten minutes went by and the medical team was still working on him.
Once McQueen started throwing warm-up passes along the sidelines, Billy ran back out. A pressure cast surrounded Todd’s leg. Billy and a couple of the guys lifted him onto the stretcher, then to the golf cart.
“I’ll be back,” Todd said.
“Sure you will.” But from the lack of jibes and ribs, everyone knew there would be no comebacks for their teammate.
A roar of cheers rose up for the injured quarterback as he exited the stadium on the back of the cart. Then just as quickly, a flurry of boos rang down as his replacement ran onto the field. McQueen joined the huddle like he didn’t hear a thing.
“Hope you’re feeling the Holy Spirit,” Miller joked.
“Let’s get one thing straight. God doesn’t care who wins this football game,” said McQueen. After a few nods of respect he added, “Burner break at the 10, cut back to the 20, the ball will be there.”
“Coach called for the run.” As a running back, Miller wanted the ball.
“The D, hell, everyone in this stadium, is expecting that.”
McQueen was looking to make a statement with a thirty-yard pass, but Billy didn’t argue; there wasn’t time. The game clock ticked down.
On the snap Billy broke down the field. The defender matched him step for step, but Billy stopped on a dime at the ten and hit the twenty-yard line just as the ball arrived. Just like in practice. But he wasn’t done yet. The defender who tried to scramble back fell at his feet as Billy performed his signature move, the Turn and Burn, and jumped over the prone body of the defender and ran the ball into the end zone.
The crowd erupted.
A couple of teammates joined him in the celebration. He looked back to see McQueen on his knees with his hands in the air as if he were being anointed by the angels. What happened to ‘God doesn’t care who wins this football game’?
Speaking of which, he wondered if his Angel witnessed the spectacular touchdown.
* * *
In the locker room Billy watched as frenzied reporters surrounded McQueen. They’d already dubbed the new quarterback’s celebration move the McQuing. McQueen shrugged off the attention, nodding at Billy with a grace so unlike his old ways.
A few reporters made their way to Billy’s locker. After countless times of sticking his own foot in his mouth, Billy kept to his stock answers.
As he left the locker room the adrenaline from the win started to wear off. The bumps and bruises settled in his body. All he wanted right now was his whirlpool tub and an ice-cold beer.
And Angel.
He spotted her easily among the crowd in the greeting room. Despite her average height, she stood out to him. Hot damn, those leather pants hugged her ass. Angel upped her game by wearing pin-up red lipstick instead of her signature purple. His cock approved. Great, the one body part that hadn’t ached now caused him the most discomfort. He hoped they could sneak in a quickie before picking up Gabby from the neighbors.
Catcalls were directed towards her and he wasted no time marking his territory. Planting a big kiss on her lips, he made it clear to his teammates that Angel belonged to him.
Chapter Sixteen
Billy kissed her in front of everyone. A kiss? It was more like a claiming. What else would you call it when a man pulls you into his arms and lifts you a foot off the ground in a bruising kiss?
Not that she was complaining. Billy could kiss her anywhere, at anytime, and anyway he wanted to. Except in front of Gabby. Perhaps it was time to lift that rule. She hated putting him on the spot when Gabby expected him to kiss Mommy.
Unable to clear her head, Angel clung to him for a few moments after he ended the kiss. Billy introduced her to Ryan Terell, Samantha’s husband; Jake Miller, Hannah’s husband; and Liam McQueen, the playboy turned Born Again Christian. She remembered watching him play years ago. You didn’t work in a pub and not see your share of football games.
Hannah and Samantha joined the group. “Jake, I had a little run in with Hayden.”
“Ah, Hannah.”
“It was my fault,” Angel defended her friend.
“No, it was Hayden’s fault.” Samantha directed her gaze at Billy. “She called Angel your baby mama, then implied Gabby was part of a litter.”
“What!” The muscles in Billy’s jaw clenched like a wolf ready to tear into its prey.
“So before Angel could release that fist of hers, I jumped in to deflect Hayden’s wrath to me,” Hannah explained.
Angel received a proud look from Billy. “Next time punch her.”
“What she needs is a good spanking,” piped in McQueen.
Angel thought she saw a gleam in Hannah’s eye and knew the quarterback was in trouble.
“Liam, you’re just the man to give her one.”
“Stop matchmaking, woman,” said her husband.
Samantha, ever the journalist, said, “It wo
uld be epic, I can see it now,” She placed her hand in the air like it was a headline. “Sinner and saint go head to head.”
“Hah,” Liam laughed. “Sure, throw the Christian into the lioness’ den.”
Miller smacked Liam on his non-throwing arms shoulder. “Come on, take one for the team.”
“On the field, I’m your man. Off it, I’m my own man.” Liam said goodbye and headed out ahead of the group.
Billy nodded to the exit and Angel followed his lead.
“Hey Burner, five Gs? I’ll even spot you 3 points?” offered Jake.
“Should never bet with your heart, my friend,” said Billy.
Angel’s heart dropped into her stomach. A bet?
As they came out of the players exit, three groupies surrounded Billy even though he was holding her hand. Before they could jostle her away, he pulled her closer.
“Billy, pick me,” one pleaded.
“Sorry ladies, I’m taken.”
Angel barely registered his words or the sour looks thrown her way from the other women. How many times had she argued with her father over his gambling addiction? How many times had she had to hustle a pool game because her father literally gambled the milk money away?
In the car, Billy tried to engage her in conversation but she kept looking out the window to avoid a confrontation. Not now. She wanted one more night in his arms. One more night before the fairy tale ended with a not so happily ever after.
“Are you mad about those women?”
She wasn’t mad. She wasn’t exactly thrilled about it either, but really did trust Billy when it came to other women.
“It’s going to happen, even when word gets around that I have a girlfriend. Hell, it still happens to the married players.”
“I’m not upset about that.”
Billy blew out a breath. “Can you give me a clue then to what you are upset about?”
She remained silent, unable to express the feelings of disappointment.
“Is it the run in with Hayden?”