To Win Her Back

by Mackenzie Crowne

  Gabe snorted, breaking the spell holding her in its grip, and she looked away. Crossing his tree-trunk arms, he shot Wyatt a smirk. “Get bent, Hunter. She’s looking for me. Ain’t that right, Ms. Price?”

  Blood pressure near stroke level, V met the man’s toothy grin with a stern look. “Your agent still hasn’t contacted me, Gabe. That endorsement deal won’t last forever, and you know I don’t like to be kept waiting.”

  Nearly four hundred pounds of roughhewn muscle, and Gabe still had the ability to blush. Pink tinged the ebony skin covering his high cheekbones. He nodded sheepishly. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll call him right after practice.”

  Sam pushed to his feet and slapped the tablet against the thigh of his khaki slacks. He turned a hard stare on Wyatt. “They’re waiting on the field for the play, Hunter.”

  Unfazed by the sternness of Sam’s tone, Wyatt winked at her, then turned to trot out to the fifty-yard line. Sam turned to Gabe next. The team’s center cleared his throat, grabbed his helmet off the bench, and hurried onto the field.

  V stared at Sam’s profile as he followed their progress. A muscle twitched along his jaw. She clutched the strap of her purse with trembling fingers. “Sam, Lucy just called me.”

  He called out a series of numbers V assumed meant something to the players. They shifted slightly on the line of scrimmage as Wyatt set up behind Gabe. Sam spoke without looking her way. “What did she want?”

  Both offensive and defensive lines burst into movement, and Wyatt dropped back into the pocket. Down field, Tuck made a slicing cut. Wyatt sent the ball sailing in a perfect spiral. Sam sidestepped, following the movement of the play.

  V kept pace with him. “The DNA test results arrived in today’s mail.”

  That got his attention. He stopped short and whipped his head around to meet her gaze. The flash of anxiety in his eyes hit her like a fist to the belly. “Shit.” He briefly squeezed his eyelids shut, then lifted his arm and twisted his wrist to check his watch. “I’ve got another forty minutes before I can head home.”

  “She asked if I’d come out and be with her when she opened the envelope.”

  He lifted his gaze to hers. “What did you tell her?”

  She sighed and couldn’t resist touching him, resting a reassuring hand on his arm. “I told her I’d be there as quickly as I could.”

  He lowered his gaze to her fingers. His Adam’s apple bobbed on a heavy swallow before he blew a harsh breath. “Thanks. How did she sound?”

  “Scared.” V dropped her hand to her side.

  He scrubbed a hand over the back of his neck, then lifted his head. Some of the anxiety had drained from his eyes, but not all of it. “Tell her I’ll be there as soon as we break.”

  V tried to smile, but the exercise felt forced. “I’ll wait with her if she needs me to.” She didn’t add if the results are negative. Sam had relieved Lucy’s fears that he wouldn’t send her away if they were, but learning she really wasn’t his daughter would still be a blow. For both of them and, V had to admit, for her, too.

  He blew another breath and nodded. “Thanks, Red.”

  Her heartbeat skipped at his slip, even as the endearment sliced at her, and she turned away without a word.

  Chapter 21

  Thirty minutes later, V pulled into Sam’s driveway. On the front stoop next to Lucy, Daisy clambered to her feet. The dog cocked her head and eyed V’s car. Despite the forty-degree temperature, Lucy wore no coat. A large manila envelope rested on her knees. She looked so small, sitting with her shoulders hunched against the chill. And so utterly lost.

  Sympathy compressed V’s chest and she sighed, shut off the car, and climbed out.

  Daisy bounded from the stoop and loped forward to greet her. She bent to pet the lab, then crossed the lawn, dead with winter, and climbed the steps. Lowering to the step beside Lucy, V waited for the girl to say something. When she remained silent, V slipped the envelope from her lap and read the return address from the medical facility that had run the tests for the court.

  “So, these are the results, huh?”

  Daisy nosed between them, and Lucy wrapped her arm around the dog. She glanced at the envelope and nodded.

  “You okay?”

  Lucy lifted her head, and her dark gaze met V’s. “I can’t feel my lips.”

  “Probably a case of frostbite.” V shuddered in an exaggerated shiver, then smiled and brushed a lock of Lucy’s dark hair back from her forehead. “It’s freezing out here, sweetie. Why don’t we head inside?”

  Lucy nodded and stood. She didn’t reach for the envelope, just turned and opened the front door. Daisy squeezed inside first, and V followed them. She set the results on the old-fashion hall tree bench, peeled out of her coat, and hung it on one of the hooks.

  “I could use a hot cup of tea. You don’t happen to have any in the house, do you?”

  The ghost of a sheepish smile tweaked Lucy’s lips. “I put some in the cart when we went shopping the other day. Sam said you weren’t coming back, but I believe in thinking positive.”

  V couldn’t help the little pang of her heart. “You do, do you? So do I.” She smiled and picked up the envelope. “What do you say we make ourselves a cup of tea, then we’ll see what’s what.”

  Lucy sighed heavily, but she nodded.

  V followed her into the kitchen. Setting her purse and the envelope on the table, she slipped into one of the chairs and watched as Lucy gathered cups and the makings of their tea on a small tray. Lucy pulled a bear-shaped plastic jar of honey from a cabinet, and V’s lips curved in a sad smile. No doubt the bagels she’d listed as part of her morning ritual had made it into the cart as well.

  “I heard you went with the Romanov Academy. How do you like it?”

  Lucy turned from the stove where she’d set the kettle to boil and braced a hip against the edge of the counter. “It’s different than I’m used to, but the teachers are nice. Especially the ballet instructor. He’s a guy and he’s young. About twenty, I think. It’s kind of weird, since every teacher I’ve had has been a woman, but he’s cool.”

  V cocked her head and held her gaze. “Is he cute?”

  “Really cute, and really gay.”

  V grinned. “And the students?”

  Lucy turned as the kettle began to simmer. “I haven’t met that many, but a girl in my economics class is pretty friendly. She invited me to eat lunch with her and her friends.” She shrugged. “There’s this one boy in ballet class. I don’t think he’s gay and wow, can he dance.”

  V arched a brow. “Is he cute?”

  Lucy rolled her eyes, but she smiled. “He has a big nose and an even bigger ego.”

  V laughed.

  Placing the steaming kettle on the trivet, Lucy approached the table. She set the tray in the center and eyed the envelope. Her smile dimmed as she dropped into a chair.

  V reached over and covered her hand. “It’s only a document. The results don’t matter, remember?”

  “I know, but,” Lucy looked up, “it’s just that….”

  “You want Sam to be your biological father,” V finished for her in a soft voice.

  Lucy’s eyes slid shut and she nodded. V’s throat constricted. She’d spent a good portion of her life wishing she didn’t have a father, but Lucy was different. She had Sam. No matter what.

  After squeezing her hand, V released her to pour the tea. “That’s understandable, but there’s no pressure here. In every way that counts, Sam is already your dad.”

  Lucy opened her eyes, but hesitated to reach for the envelope. When the tea had been poured and V passed Lucy her cup, the envelope still lay untouched. V glanced at the clock on the wall, then stirred honey into the hot brew in front of her. “Do you want me to open it? Sam will be here soon.”

  Lucy wiped her palms on the thighs of her jeans and shook her head. “No, I need to do it.” With a bracing breath, she picked up the report and tore open the seal.
A sheaf of documents was inside. V sat silently as Lucy scanned the top page, then set it aside. She read quietly for several moments and, suddenly, her chest shuddered and her breath hitched.

  Despair washed over V, and she lowered her tea to the table. Oh, Sam. I’m sorry.

  Lucy lifted her head and the dark gaze that met V’s swam with tears. Then slowly, Lucy’s mouth twisted into the most beautiful smile V had ever seen. Chills raced over her skin, raising pebbled bumps and the tiny hairs on her arms.

  She had to take a breath before she could speak. “Yes?”

  Huge tears spilled over Lucy’s lashes and her face crumbled as she started to cry in earnest. Joy and wonder, however, were evident in her sobbing response. “He’s my father. Sam is my father.”

  “Oh, sweetie.” V slid from her chair as Lucy slumped forward to lay her head on the table. Bending over her, V wrapped her arms around the girl’s shoulders. Tears stung her eyes, and she pressed a kiss to Lucy’s head.

  Sam and Lucy were going to be a true family, after all. The knowledge was a bittersweet lashing to V’s heart. Unbearably happy for Sam’s daughter, and Sam, too, her soul cried out in pain and desolation and an overwhelming sense of loss.

  Their dream of a family was her dream. Their joy at learning there would be no more doubts between them, her joy. And she couldn’t claim either.

  The clearing of a throat startled her. She tensed and slipped her arms from around Lucy to straighten, but had no time to school her features into a smile or wipe the tears from her face. Standing like a statue beneath the arched doorway, Sam stared at her, his jaw tight as if he was gritting his teeth. Slicing pain flashed in his eyes before he dropped his gaze to Lucy, then he stepped forward and walked to the table.

  “Luce?” Squatting beside his daughter, he rubbed his hand down her spine. “It’s okay, kid. It’s going to be okay.”

  Almost dreamlike, Lucy rolled upward, lifting her head to look at him. She blinked and turned in her chair to face him until they were eye to eye. Fresh tears erupted in her dark eyes to roll down her cheeks, and she pressed a palm to his cheek.

  Her voice was rough and broken with emotion when she finally spoke. “Hello, Dad.”

  Wonder lit Sam’s face, followed by a slow smile that grew so blinding, V wanted to look away. She couldn’t, however, and locked her knees to keep from slipping to the floor and curling into a fetal ball. Sam dropped his forehead against Lucy’s, and V bit back a sob.

  “I told you, kid.”

  Lucy hiccupped a laugh. “You were only guessing.”

  He rocked his forehead against hers in denial. “No, I wasn’t guessing. I was hoping. Wishing it would turn out you were mine by birth harder than I’ve ever wished for anything in my life.”

  “Me, too.” Lucy slid from the chair and into his embracing arms.

  V couldn’t take it. Couldn’t witness her deepest dream coming true while she stood just out of reach. Rounding the table, she grabbed her purse and hurried down the hallway. Ignoring Sam’s hoarse call, she snatched her coat from the hall tree and raced out the door.

  * * * *

  “V, wait.”

  The front door slammed, and Sam jolted like he’d taken a gunshot to the chest. Lucy’s hold around his shoulders loosened, and she pulled back to look at him.

  “She was crying.”

  He stared into Lucy’s tear-filled eyes. Jesus, she was his daughter. In blood as well as heart. Joy so big it couldn’t be contained threatened to rip through the walls of his chest. He smiled and brushed his thumb over her cheekbone, dispersing the track of her tears.

  “So are you.”

  Her lips curled in a small smile. “Look who’s talking.” She swiped a fingertip beneath his left eye and held it up for him to see. It was wet.

  “Happy tears, kid.” He scrubbed a hand down her arm and rose to his feet. She stood as well.

  “Mine, too.” She glanced away, down the empty hallway. “But V’s seemed more sad than happy.” She looked back at him. “Our plan to help her isn’t working very well, is it?”

  “No, it isn’t.” He tugged off his coat, then twisted around to toss it over a chair.

  “But she came when I called.”

  He slowly turned and met her gaze with narrowed eyes. “And you knew she would.”

  Up came her chin. “I really did want her here when I opened the stuff from the court, but geez, Dad. How can we convince her to be part of the family if we never see her?”

  He froze as she glanced down the hallway again. “Back up a second, kid.”

  She turned.

  “Say it again.”

  He didn’t need to elaborate. If her smug smile was any indication, she knew exactly what he meant. “You’re the one who kept insisting I stop calling you ‘Sam.’ Now that it’s official, I will.” She grinned. “Okay, Dad?”

  He nodded, the best he could do with a lump the size of a baseball clogging his throat.

  She crossed her arms. “So, about V. We’re obviously going to need a little help. The Malones are her friends. I think we should start there.”

  * * * *

  “Well, this is a pleasant surprise.” Clutching the family dog’s collar, Gracie stood in the open front doorway of the Malone’s farmhouse, her violet gaze shifting between Lucy and Sam.

  Sam forced a smile. “Sorry to show up unexpected like this. I was hoping to speak to Jake for a few minutes.”

  Lucy had insisted they visit the Malones immediately so he could talk to Jake, but Sam had the sneaking suspicion his daughter had her own agenda. One that involved V’s good friend, Gracie, and that worked for him. Tonight should be about celebrating, and the pleasure of knowing Lucy was biologically his still zinged through him, but she was right. A piece was missing from their family puzzle, and they were going to need all the help they could get if they were going to make the picture complete.

  He eyed the smudge on Gracie’s cheek and the layer of white powder dusting her hair. “Looks like we came at a bad time.”

  “No, this is a perfect time actually. Tuck and CC are here, too.” Gracie grinned and brushed a hand through her hair, then coughed and fanned at the fine mist of flour she’d dislodged to float in the air. “Our girls are baking cookies for a school thing tomorrow and the boys insisted on helping.”

  She stepped back so they could enter, tugging Murphy with her. The dog whimpered and wiggled with excitement as he lunged for the hand Lucy held out. Gracie let him go and shut the door.

  “I’m so glad you’re here, Lucy. CC and I need reinforcements.” She winked at Lucy and turned to Sam. “Jake and Tuck are in the den watching film. They’re dissecting Seattle’s defense in preparation for Sunday.” Gracie dropped an arm around Lucy’s shoulders and dragged her down the hallway, calling back. “Go on in. Lucy and I will be in the kitchen relieving poor CC in the batter wars.”

  Sam rolled his shoulders against the nerves pulling them tight, and turned toward the closed den door. He wasn’t a man who asked for help. Never had been, but he was desperate. Telling V he loved her hadn’t worked for shit, and all his efforts to seduce her into opening up to him had achieved was a raging hard-on that wouldn’t subside. But agreeing to stay away from her, giving her a little time and space to consider what they could build together, was the worst move he’d made. She’d gone about her business, leaving him miserable.

  He missed her, damn it, and they’d wasted too much time already.

  Knocking on the den door, he didn’t wait for an answer and stepped inside.

  “Look what the cat dragged in.” On the couch in front of the TV, Jake paused the screen and grinned.

  “Hiya, Coach.” Sprawled at the other end of the couch, Tuck bumped his chin in greeting, then turned to Jake. “You don’t have a cat.”

  Jake shoved to his feet with a scowl. “The neighbors do. Damn thing shits in Gracie’s flower beds while her dumb-ass dog watches.” He stuck out
his hand to Sam. “You ready for Sunday?”

  Sam shook Jake’s hand, then dropped his arm to his side. Now that he was here, he didn’t have a fucking clue where to begin. Football was much easier than figuring out how to fix things with V, and he grabbed at the diversion. “The team looks good. Really good. Bob put together an unbeatable offensive line, and the defense isn’t too shabby, either.”

  Tuck crossed his ankles on the coffee table and grimaced. “Nothing personal, Sam, but losing Bob’s talents will be a huge disadvantage come draft time. The man has a knack for spotting talent where others don’t.”

  Sam nodded. “No offense taken.”

  Jake tipped his head toward the TV. “We’re watching tapes of Seattle. You want a beer?”

  Hell, yes. “Please.”

  Jake cocked his head at Sam’s windy reply and headed to the bar. “Something on your mind?” He bent to tug a longneck from the fridge behind the counter.

  Sam swallowed. “Someone.”

  Jake straightened. “Considering your night at the Marriott last week, that could only mean V.”

  Sam shot a wary glance at Tuck. The last thing Sam had expected, or wanted, was to bear his heart to Jake while one of his players listened in.

  Flicking his gaze between Sam and Tuck, Jake rounded the bar and shook his head. “If you and V are expecting privacy in your personal life around here, you’re shit out of luck, my friend. She’s a charter member of Triple Gs.”

  Sam’s confusion must have shown, because Tuck laughed. “Gracie’s Gridiron Girls. You’ll get used to it. We all do eventually.”

  Sam shook his head. “Gracie’s Gridiron Girls?”

  Jake handed him the bottle of beer. “There’s five of them.” He ticked off the names on his fingers. “There’s Gracie, and Tuck’s wife, CC. CC’s cousin, Kris. Kris is married to Tuck’s cousin, Tim. Then there’s Jessi Grayson, another of Tuck’s cousins. She’s married to Max, who is a friend of…” he dropped his arm to his side and grinned, “well, all of us. Max and Gracie sort of grew up together.” He shrugged. “Long story. Anyway, V makes five.” He swept his own beer from the coffee table and toasted Sam. “A friendly warning. Trying to keep the Gridiron Girls in the dark when it comes to their members is not only dangerous, it’s impossible.”