The Tough Love Groom

by Taylor Hart

  “Hmm,” she said, her voice still uncertain.

  “Shoot, I play a game where I could get slammed and get a concussion and be a vegetable the rest of my life, right?” It was a fact he hated to think about, yet with all the current interest in concussions, it really felt like an uncomfortable uncertainty at this point. “But I live with it. I play the game. I guess that’s what you’re doing—living with it, playing the game.”

  “True.” She looked like she hadn’t thought about it in this way.

  “So I’ll make you a deal. You be my friend, and we’ll just deal with the risks the other one chooses to take.”

  Felicity gathered Bonnet in her arms and scratched the dog’s neck. The sun was getting brighter, and it made her hair look like honey and gold and autumn all rolled into one. “So what does a friend do with Kade Kincaid?”

  He knew there was a dopey grin on his face, but he didn’t care. Yes! He wanted to celebrate. To chest-bump X or Ace. It took effort to tamp down the excitement and keep his poker face. He shrugged. “I don’t know, hang out. Come over to my house, have dinner, play the piano for me.”

  “Is this some PR thing for KadeSong?”

  “No! Absolutely not.”

  She stared at him, eyes flickering between emotions. “No. I can’t deal with this,” she said sadly, and started to walk away.

  He caught up to her, hating to go at it from this angle, but he didn’t lose. That wasn’t who he was. That wasn’t the winning quarterback for the Texas Titans. No way. “Be my friend, and I won’t mention your condition to Mr. DaVinci.”

  “What?” She spun on him.

  “I didn’t want to do it this way, but you aren’t exactly making it easy.”

  “You think you can blackmail me so you’ll get what you want?” She sputtered.

  He wondered if she would slap him again if she wasn’t holding Bonnet. He had to admit he did want to kiss her again, even with her so mad at him. He would take a slap for that. “It’s not about my ego. It’s about wanting to be your friend.”

  “You’re a spoiled, bratty, entitled billionaire.” The words sounded tired.

  Unable to stop himself, he laughed. “You’re right.”

  “What?” Her brow furrowed.

  “You’re right. That’s why I need a friend like you.”

  She frowned and shook her head. “You’re unbelievable.”

  “Please.” He wouldn’t have told her boss, but he couldn’t get this woman out of his head. What was he supposed to do?

  “You’re not going to leave me alone, are you?”

  “No. Just give me a chance. Be my friend for a while. If you don’t like me, you can tell me to leave you alone and I will. I won’t tell Mr. DaVinci anything, but give me a fair shake first.” Of course, he wouldn’t do it anyway, but he also wouldn’t accept a no.

  For a few moments, she didn’t say anything. Then she sucked in a loud breath and let it go.

  “Hey, are you okay?”

  Her eyes flashed open, and she glared at him. “Don’t ever ask me that again. I’m fine.”

  “Fine.” Stupid. Stupid. Stupid, Kincaid. Bad move.

  She sighed and scratched Bonnet’s head. “I don’t know why you want me as a ‘blackmail friend.’”

  He shrugged. “Sometimes you can’t understand bratty billionaires.”

  Her lip quirked up. “True. Don’t forget selfish.”

  “I’m not.” He put his hands up.

  She exhaled. “We aren’t to be seen together in public, and you have to date other women. Publicly, so the press doesn’t think this—” She wagged her finger back and forth between them. “—is anything. You have to tell the press we’re not dating. There is no KadeSong.”

  Not the solution he’d hoped for, but since he felt like he was on the verge of a touchdown, he said, “Fine. Who should I date?”

  “Just act like yourself and find another cheerleader.”

  He would have taken offense if it didn’t feel like he was gaining yards. “Fine. Can I pick you up at seven tonight and bring you back to my house for a casual dinner?”

  “I guess.” And with that she walked away, mumbling in Bonnet’s ear.

  Chapter 17

  It was absurd, stupid, and insane. Felicity stood in front of her bedroom mirror, staring at her reflection. She’d put her hair up in a messy bun. She had on a yellow summer dress, one she’d worn to work, so it wasn’t special—or so she insisted to herself.

  Her mother was downstairs, and the Carpenters were streaming on an old record player. The smell of soup filled the house. It was undeniable how much happier her mother had seemed these past couple of days. Relieved. Yes, that’s what it was. All the pressure of paying the mortgage was off of her. She’d been in bed less and had made it a project to clean out each room. It made Felicity happy.

  Of course, her thoughts flitted to the fact that it was Kade Kincaid who had actually taken the pressure off of her mother. Part of her resented that all this relief was from him. The other part of her was trying to convince herself there must be something else he wanted. All day, she’d run through different PR reasons he would want to extend his relationship with her. Maybe there was some PR thing he needed KadeSong for. She couldn’t think of what, though.

  He’d told the press in an earlier clip that day that the date was fun, but they weren’t seeing each other anymore. Then she’d seen a text from him. Did you see the interview about us being broken up?

  She had texted back. We couldn’t break up because we were never together.

  He hadn’t replied.

  As she examined herself one more time, she heard the doorbell ring, followed by her mother greeting Kade. She hurried down the stairs, unwilling to have her mother spill more secrets. When she reached the bottom, she saw how easily he spoke with her mother, the relaxed way they laughed together. The way Bonnet snuggled right up to him. It felt weird.

  Kade turned to her, and a smile lit up his face. “Hey.”

  Felicity knew she was blushing, and she commanded herself not to react to this guy. He just needed a friend. A friend he had to blackmail. Ugh. Why had she agreed to this? She didn’t think he would really tell Mr. DaVinci.

  Her mother shooed them toward the door. “You two have fun tonight.” She winked at her and then pointed to Kade. “She doesn’t have a curfew, so keep her out as long as you want. But don’t let her do crazy things.”

  “Mother.” Felicity let out an exasperated breath.

  Kade grinned and opened the door for her. “I got this, Mrs. Song.”

  The way Kade looked at her and let out a low whistle as they walked out was unsettling. “Stop.” She hit his arm.

  He laughed and took her hand as he led her to his car.

  She yanked hers back. “Friends.”

  “Right.” He snapped to attention like he’d forgotten.

  When she caught his smile and felt the chemistry thicken between them, she knew the truth despite her denial. They weren’t friends at all.

  Two hours later, she and Kade finished a dinner that had seemed rather formal to her. They had even eaten in the formal dining room.

  “Are you finished?” he asked, wiping his face with a cloth napkin. A very expensive-looking cloth napkin.

  She almost laughed because she’d hardly eaten anything, mostly just watched him inhale. “Yep.”

  “Great.” He stood. “Will you play for me?”

  Feeling a bit foolish, she leaned back in her chair. “Is this really what you want? You blackmail me into being your friend and tell me you want me to play for you?”

  “I like your music.”

  “You’re a billionaire. You could hire anyone you want to play music.”

  They both walked into his music room, and he chuckled. “Don’t forget bratty and selfish.”

  “What?” Was he making fun of her?

  He winked at her. “Nothing. You just make ‘bratty, selfish, entitled billionaire’ sound like such a good
thing.”

  Felicity didn’t know why Kade was acting like he wanted to be friends with her. “I never said entitled, did I?”

  Kade mimicked her expression. “Listen. I am asking my friend, Felicity, to play for me.”

  She didn’t like how her mother seemed fine with a football player blackmailing her. In fact, she seemed to genuinely like the guy. Everything was changing so fast between them. She felt upside down, but as she sat at his grand piano, none of it mattered. All that mattered was the music.

  The music washed over her, and she felt the release, the exhilaration. Thoughts of the man who stood next to her drifted through her mind. Although he usually pulled her out of a happy state, she found she was getting used to him.

  Since he’d brought her the vase, it had felt different. He felt different. Even today, after he’d shown up and blackmailed her into friendship, she’d still had this anticipation all day to see him this evening. Reluctantly, she admitted it felt fun.

  He sat next to her, and she was well aware of the way his shoulder lightly brushed hers. His smell permeated all her senses, but she kept her eyes closed and her fingers moving across the keyboard. After she stopped playing, she rested her hands lightly on the keys.

  She heard his measured breathing. It felt so intimate, being with him here like this. As she opened her eyes, she saw that piercing, laser-like focus on her. But his normal intensity looked different. The deep blue eyes appeared stormier.

  “What?”

  “What?” He seemed to come out of his own trance, looking off-balance.

  “What are you doing?” She let out an exasperated sigh. “Why am I here?”

  “I told you. I like your playing.” His eyes darted down to her lips, then back to her eyes.

  Both of them just stared at each other, and she felt the intensity building. She looked away. “I can’t get rid of this dream I keep having.” Dang, why had she said that?

  “Really, please tell.”

  She shoved him hard. “Not that kind of dream.”

  A ridiculous smile washed over his face.

  “Never mind.”

  He put a hand over hers. “Too late, Song. Spill it.”

  Nervous angst wove through her, and she didn’t want to admit it, but she had to tell someone. “I’m sitting at the piano, and you’re walking toward me in that cheesy cowboy hat.”

  His grin widened. “Yeah.” He laughed harder when she shoved him again. “Hey, finish.”

  She sighed. “I get up to walk toward you, and then I’m falling, like I’ve stepped off of a cliff.”

  The second part wiped the huge smile off his face. He frowned, linking his hand reassuringly with hers. “I don’t like that,” he said quietly. “Do I fall with you?”

  Her heart raced. She didn’t make him take his hand away, even though she probably should. “No.”

  Shaking his head, he pulled their hands to his lap, closing both of his hands around hers. “Well, tell that dream next time that I fall with you.”

  She puffed out a laugh. “That’s silly.”

  “Hey, you can only fall if I can come too.”

  It was stupid, but it sounded romantic, and a desire to kiss the man overcame her.

  The air grew thicker as he stared into her eyes. Breaking the moment, he stood. “Want to take a walk in the garden, friend?”

  It was abrupt, but she was grateful. “That would be great.”

  As they went out the balcony door and down the steps, he kept her hand.

  “We shouldn’t be holding hands.” Reluctantly, she pulled hers away.

  “Okay.” He didn’t try to take it back, and he didn’t sound upset about it either. Still, butterflies fluttered through her.

  The sun was setting, and she thought of the night of the dinner cruise.

  “The boat ride was fun, wasn’t it?” he asked as they rounded another corner of the garden.

  It was unnerving that he had read her thoughts. “What?”

  “The dinner cruise.”

  Her cheeks burned. “How did you know I was thinking about that night?”

  Now, he did take her hand. “I didn’t, but I was hoping.”

  She didn’t try to take her hand back this time. It felt pointless. “Kade, I can’t do this.”

  “We’re not doing anything. We’re just friends.” He winked. “Can I see you tomorrow for lunch, friend?”

  Chapter 18

  Forget friendship. Kade waited for her at the greasy lunch cart in the center of the park she’d insisted on, wearing a baseball cap and his grey hoodie and jeans and sunglasses.

  “Hey.”

  With a start, he jumped a little at how she just appeared next to him.

  She laughed. “I scared Kade Kincaid.” She put two fingers up to the hot dog guy. “Two today, Ernie.”

  He was an older gentleman who smiled at Felicity. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “With everything,” she said.

  Kade wasn’t sure what that entailed. He watched as the hot dogs were loaded with onions, sauerkraut, pickles, and cheese. He managed a nervous laugh. “You really eat this for lunch?” The girl was waif-like, but obviously her diet was terrible.

  Taking the first dog, she shoved it at him. “Gotta live each day as if it was your last, Kincaid. You afraid you’re going to ruin your figure?” she taunted as she took the other hot dog and shoved a bite into her mouth.

  Finding himself even more delighted by her, he reached for some napkins and held one up to catch the pickles falling from her mouth.

  She turned away from him. “Pay the man, would you?” she said as if they’d been married fifty years and he always hesitated to pay.

  He chuckled and pulled out a ten. “Keep it,” he said.

  Ernie looked pleased. “Thank you, sir.”

  The sun was out in full force, and she gestured toward a fountain. “Let’s walk and eat.”

  Liking that she was so casual with him, he fell into step with her. “So what have you been working on today?” he asked.

  “You worried about my menial PR job, Kincaid?”

  He rolled his eyes and took a bite. “Whatever.”

  She let out a puff of breath. “Let’s see. Today I met with the senator’s daughter again and emphasized the importance of not uploading inappropriate pictures to Snapchat and Twitter.”

  He choked on his hot dog.

  She laughed. “I also had another chat with the senator about how we can’t help change her image if he doesn’t get on speaking terms with his daughter.”

  “Unbelievable,” he said between bites. He was really enjoying the hot dog.

  “Yes, Mr. DaVinci seems convinced I’m the one for this project. Sadly, I don’t know if that’s true.”

  He wiped his face, realizing the hot dog was already gone. “Of course you are. You handled me, didn’t you?”

  She sputtered out a loud laugh. “Right, obviously, I’m so good at handling you.”

  He smiled at her, and she smiled back. It gave him hope. Maybe they were really becoming friends.

  They wandered around the fountain in the center of the park. He’d been past this fountain probably a thousand times, but he’d never stopped to stroll in the park. There’d never been time for a stroll. But with Felicity, he constantly found himself thinking of little things he could do, as a friend, to hang out with her. Meeting her for a hot dog lunch was fun.

  “What did you do today?” she asked after finishing a bite and wiping at her lips with a napkin.

  Once again, her autumn-colored hair fell softly around her shoulders. She wore a businesslike blue dress with capped sleeves along with a yellow scarf around her waist and matching yellow high heels. She was tall, even if not as tall as him. He thought if he inched in a couple of steps and snaked an arm around her waist, he could pull her to him and his lips would be on hers. He’d been pretty obsessed over that kiss. He’d watched it a couple of times on YouTube today.

  “Kade,” she said a bit loude
r.

  Jolted out of his little daydream, he shook his head and kept walking, looking up at the sun for a second to distract himself. “Today, let’s see. We had practice drills this morning for two hours. I spent some time in the weight room. I had a check-in with my fundamentals coach.”

  “You still get coached on the fundamentals of the game? You’re the number one quarterback in the league.”

  He crumpled up the napkin in his hand. “Because I never get away from fundamentals.” He sighed. “My dad taught us that,” he said, thinking of his dad and then Anthony. He realized he hadn’t thought of Anthony in a few days. It had been a nice break.

  “Hmm.” Out of the blue, she laced her arm with his.

  “Hmm.” He looked at their arms, wondering why she’d done that without him blackmailing her. “That’s an interesting development.” He couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face, feeling like a teenager walking into his junior year at prom.

  She let out a light laugh. “You’re a gentleman. I’m a lady wearing very high heels and walking around the park. I’m just holding on to you to give myself a bit of extra support.”

  His heart hammered at his chest. “I think you need to wear heels all the time.”

  She smiled, and he couldn’t believe how real and perfect this moment felt.

  After a moment, she attempted to unloop her arm. “You’re making this into something it’s not.”

  He squeezed her arm into him and put his other hand over it. “Nope, you’re not getting away so fast, Ms. Song. It’s what friends do.”

  She relented, and they strolled deeper into the park.

  “I had no idea there was a bird aviary in here,” Kade said. There were huge trees, and he saw a sign and realized there were nets above them. Different areas were divided by long stretches of glass.

  “It’s nice. I haven’t worked for Mr. DaVinci that long, but it’s stressful, and I like to eat a hot dog and watch the birds at lunch.”

  The different layers of this woman intrigued him. He found it annoying and delightful how much he wanted to know her. “So this is what you do every day for lunch?”