Love of the Game - The Complete Collection (Box Set)

by Shayne McClendon

  “Sure thing, sugar.”

  He snagged Kenzie’s hand and suddenly the feel of his huge, warm hands all over her flooded into her brain. Her mind was going crazy. She was not equipped to deal with Diesel LeBlanc in the flesh.

  MacKenzie Rhodes…in the flesh.

  They slid into opposite sides of a booth and she shrugged off the jacket that sported his old team’s name. He glanced at the familiar logo and wondered at the way things happened sometimes. A year ago, he’d have never considered going to another team.

  Last month, it suddenly seemed right.

  Here he sat, across from a woman that had haunted his dreams more nights than he cared to admit. He stared at her openly, taking in her black bar tank top and snug jeans. Her dark hair was pulled back on top, held in small clips. The rest fell loose down her back, a little longer than he remembered.

  There was something about her…something that made her even lovelier than she’d been years ago.

  He rested one arm along the back of the booth and watched her eyes take him in for just a moment. He laid his hand flat on the table and she followed the movement. It was when he rubbed his thumb against his fingers, and her lips parted, that he realized she was pretending a disinterest she didn’t feel.

  “You’re lovelier than ever, Kenzie. You look exhausted though.”

  “I told you I was. I keep a lot of plates spinning.”

  She started to talk and asked him how he was. He answered as a man accustomed to talking about himself. The more he answered, the more she asked. He tried to ask questions about her life, and she told him a little, but he felt like she was not saying more than she was saying. She quickly turned the conversation back to him.

  They ordered their food and the owner asked him to sign an autograph and he did. The woman thanked him and left them alone. Kenzie was focused on the table.

  “Where do you live, Kenzie?”

  Her eyes jumped to his. “Here in Cambridge,” she said quietly.

  “Funny how I figured that. I meant where?”

  “Why, Diesel?”

  There was no way he was imagining her distress. “I want to see your house…you’ve seen mine before.” He watched her every expression intently.

  “No. Thad has classes all day during the week and…he’s sleeping.” She stumbled over the last part and he fixed on it. Kenzie glanced through the window to her truck. Suddenly, she seemed desperate to escape him.

  He stared at her in silence for a long time. “There it was again. That strange hesitation, like you’re censoring yourself. What aren’t you telling me, MacKenzie?”

  She leaned forward. “Diesel, this situation makes me nervous. I haven’t seen you in four years. I’ve grown up and changed a lot. I’m not interested in playing with you, or in you playing with me for that matter. I’m not the same person I was.”

  “I’ll make you a deal, MacKenzie. Tonight we’ll catch up on unimportant topics and keep things light.” He leaned forward.

  “For tonight, I’ll be satisfied to talk to you and watch you…I’m hoping to make you smile because you look like you need to, like you don’t have enough chances to smile. Looks like we’re going to be living near one another again, Kenzie…like old times. And I’m going to figure out this little thing…whatever it is you’re keeping from me.”

  She committed to nothing but their food came and she watched him dig into his pancakes. She picked at her club sandwich. “How is your jaw?”

  Diesel’s smile was smug as he swallowed and took a sip of his coffee. “You really have been paying attention, haven’t you?” That pleased him far more than it should have. “It’s good. Thankfully, it was the last game of the season, so I didn’t have to go on the injured list. I’m doing pretty good overall right now.” He pointed to his teeth. “These three are implants.”

  “I know. I saw the post-game footage. That had to hurt.”

  “Kenzie, tell me you’ll see me again so I don’t have to stalk you.”

  “Diesel, that’s a really horrible idea. You’re doing so well. You don’t need a Rhodes girl mucking your shit up. You should let things lie. Leave the past in the past.”

  He sat back with a grin. “Stalking it is then.” She laughed because she couldn’t help herself. “Do you know Damien and Cristiana have been dating on the sly for the past several months? Trying not to let any of their siblings know?” Diesel wiggled his brows and made her crack up again.

  Kenzie pushed her plate to the side and crossed her arms on the table. “Do you know Douglas and Katya have been having hot monkey sex off and on for over a year and not even Cristiana knows? He makes business trips out to see her in LA.”

  He came to full attention. “What?” He shook his head and she nodded. “Digger would have told me. No way.”

  “Think so? I thought Kat would have told me, too…I happened to catch her talking to him on the phone the last time she visited. I had to wrestle the damn thing from her…being nosey is my prerogative since I’m the oldest. Can’t mistake the caller ID of Digger Baby. She confessed after I threatened to tell her twin she was keeping secrets.”

  Diesel was floored but smiling. “Dean has been chasing Jackie in Chicago for months. She won’t give him the time of day. Says she has more important things to do than entertain a flighty LeBlanc boy. Drives him nuts.”

  “Just hard to get. She’s crazy about him…doesn’t want him thinking she’s easy,” Kenzie assured him.

  Pushing his empty plate aside, he folded his massive arms on the table to mimic her position. “Three out of four Rhodes girls with three out of the four oldest LeBlanc boys. Interesting odds. So MacKenzie…why are you playing hard to get?”

  “How do you know I’m just not interested, Diesel? You’ve gotten used to supermodels falling at your feet, I think. We mere mortals do things a little differently.”

  He flinched before he could stop the reaction to her knowing about his highly publicized flings. He recovered quickly when he realized she was using it to deflect him.

  Was she really trying to convince him she wasn’t physically attracted to him? Her nipples told a far different story.

  Diesel leaned further across the table and whispered, “I dare you to test that theory, Kenzie.”

  She took a deep breath and looked down at the tabletop. “You don’t want to do this, Diesel. I mean it. Things are good for you. Leave them alone. My personal notch is already in your bedpost; no need to go there again. I’m sure there are plenty of women just praying you’ll call them.”

  She stood up and grabbed her stuff. Kissing his hair, he felt her inhale deeply. As she stood up, she added, “It was good to see you, Diesel. I’m so proud of you.”

  Then she was out the door as if she was fleeing the scene of a crime.

  Diesel threw money on the table and hauled ass to his truck. He could see her at the end of the block and peeled out to catch her.

  For several miles, he stayed far enough away to avoid her catching sight of him. As they slowly maneuvered the streets of Cambridge, he grinned to himself. He hadn’t been kidding about the stalking.

  She was hiding something, and since she wouldn’t come clean, he was going to figure it out.

  When she pulled into an apartment complex, he passed it then circled around and waited to see which apartment she was going into.

  A window lit up and he smiled. Got ya, baby.

  He watched as she moved around, turning lights on and off. A soft blue light in another window drew his attention. It seemed to be moving, like a display or something.

  What the fuck?

  Then he noticed the action figures and plastic animals lined up inside the two windows of that room. There was a child sleeping in that apartment. There was a small child in Kenzie’s apartment.

  He thought about their conversation, about her hesitations and nervousness, and he knew exactly what she’d been hiding from him.

  No…oh, hell no.

  Chapter Seven


  Diesel got out of his truck and walked slowly to her second floor apartment. Taking a deep breath that didn’t help the spinning in his head, he knocked softly.

  He knew she was standing on the other side. Knew there was only one person who’d be knocking on her door so late at night. She was probably scared and wondering what to do.

  That was pretty simple actually.

  Softly but firmly, he said, “Kenzie, open the door. Open the door.”

  He heard the locks click and she pulled it open, standing aside for him to enter. He stared at her for a long moment but she wouldn’t look at him. One hand lifted to stroke her hair and she jerked so slightly he almost didn’t catch it.

  “I would never hurt you. Not ever, Kenzie.”

  He passed her, walking through her living room, and absently noted the children’s books, toys, and drawing supplies in a little play area off to one side. He went down a short hallway and stopped at a door with a colored drawing taped to it.

  For just a second, he placed his palms on either side of the door and hung his head. His heart was pounding like a freight train as he took another deep breath.

  As he pushed open the door, he realized the moving blue light was a solar system night light. Mystery solved. A toddler bed on the far side of the room held a small form, breathing evenly in sleep.

  Diesel felt like crossing the room took forever. He looked down at the little boy curled under a New Jersey Devils quilt. He had black hair and was big for his age. No matter his size, he couldn’t be more than four and there was no way he was younger than three.

  Sensing someone, the little boy opened his eyes and stared at Diesel. After several big blinks, he said sleepily, “You’re da hockey p’ayer. Mommy said you was a friend. Diesel, huh?”

  Diesel nodded, floored and overwhelmed at the magnitude of this situation. He was looking at a younger version of himself. In a voice he didn’t recognize he asked, “What’s your name?”

  “Dalton.”

  “That’s a really good name.”

  “Thanks. Mommy gave me it.” The little boy rubbed his eyes and sat up.

  “Can you stand up for a minute, Dalton?” The little boy nodded and scrambled to his feet. He wasn’t just big…he was huge for his age. LeBlancs only came in extra-large. “How old are you?” He held up three chubby fingers. “When is your birthday, do you know?”

  “Are you gonna give presents?”

  Diesel nodded and the hysterical voice in his head thought, I will buy you anything, everything you want…just don’t hate me.

  Dalton grinned and answered, “Setender thirteen. I’m gonna be four.” He turned and saw Kenzie in the doorway. “Mommy!” His voice was like a gunshot in the quiet apartment and he ran for her.

  He jumped and Kenzie caught him but she wouldn’t be able to for much longer.

  “I’m starvin’ Mommy. I want more ’sagna.” She nodded and carried him down the hall to the kitchen. Kenzie kissed his cheek and set him on a chair.

  He scrambled up on his knees and started chatting a mile a minute. “Mommy, Uncle Thad and me watched Muppet Caper. It was so funny, we laughed and laughed! You have to watch.”

  “Okay, Dalton. Maybe we’ll have time before I leave tomorrow. PS, its Uncle Thad and I, sweetie.”

  He giggled and repeated the sentence a half dozen times while she put lasagna on a plate and microwaved it. When she placed it in front of him she said, “Use your fork, Dalton.” He picked up the utensil with a look that said he’d much rather use his hands. She poured juice in a cup with a straw but no lid.

  The sound of another door down the hall opening had Diesel turning his head. “Dalton you promised to let Mommy sleep, you know she never does. You can’t be hungry aga…”

  He was running his hands over his face and head when he caught sight of Diesel and drew to an abrupt stop. “Well, shit.”

  “Uncle Thad! You owe de jar money!” Dalton looked at Diesel and said, “Mommy won’t let him say cusses. Said soap is next. I will laugh ‘til I throw up if dat happens!”

  Thad recovered from his shock and held out his hand to Diesel who shook it. “Good to see you, Diesel. Glad the cat’s out of the bag. With all our sisters dating LeBlancs, it was only a matter of time.” He looked at Kenzie who looked like she was going to shake apart. He said gently, “It will be fine, MacKenzie. You worry too much.”

  He poured himself some juice and kissed her temple. To Diesel he said, “No matter what you might think, she did it for you, man.”

  Kenzie pushed away from the counter she’d been leaning against and rushed out, “I need a…a few minutes. I’m going to shower and change. I smell like peanuts and beer.”

  She tousled Dalton’s hair on her way by and he caught her hand. She stopped and he lifted his arms for a hug. Diesel watched as she smelled her…their…son’s hair just as she’d done to him earlier.

  As she disappeared down the hall, Thad took a seat across from his nephew. Dalton had already resumed inhaling his food and both males watched.

  “Dude, slow down, no one’s going to take it from you.”

  “I’m hungry d’ough. My belly was starvin’. Breakfast was forever away, Uncle Thad.”

  “This guy eats non-stop. Kenzie cooks ahead because he chows like eight times a day.” He paused to make sure Dalton was fully engaged in his food then leaned toward Diesel.

  “I need to say something before she gets back. Kenzie won’t allow herself to be an obligation…or let anyone else be either. She’s rocked this little surprise just like she did with the four of us. Goes to school full-time and pulls three twelve-hour shifts at the bar. She’s exhausted.”

  “Why didn’t she tell me, Thad? I don’t understand.” Diesel was doing everything possible to hide his agony.

  “She didn’t want you to quit school or feel like you had to go back after you graduated. She thought you’d give up your future to do the right thing, when she felt it was totally the wrong thing for you.”

  Thad cleared his throat. “Probably the worst was knowing everyone would say they always expected it of a Rhodes girl.” Diesel rubbed his temple. “She had a thing for you for years, Diesel. Way before you guys hooked up. She doesn’t think I know that.”

  Diesel let the shock of that sink in. He’d thought she didn’t care one way or another about him. Jesus. One thing at a time. “I wouldn’t have left her to deal with…everything alone. Ever.”

  “Yeah, she knew that so she decided to deal on her own. I fill in where I can, but she has him in hockey lessons and skips sleep to take him. Takes him skating all day on Sunday. She’s a great mom…”

  Thad laughed at Dalton. “It’s gone, buddy. You lick that plate and Mom is going to flip out. You want a banana?” Dalton nodded and held out his hand. “After that, you have to go back to bed. Mommy hasn’t slept in a really long time, okay?”

  Dalton nodded again and said, “I won’t wake her up. S’posed to read dis mornin’. She’ll wake up wit de buzzer to do dat.”

  Diesel leaned forward. “Can I read with you, Dalton?”

  “Don’t you have to play hockey?” Loose black curls slid over his forehead as he tilted his head.

  “Nope, I’m off for the next couple of days. How about we hang out together? We’ll let your mom sleep and take her out to eat later. What do you say?”

  “If you’re sure. Don’t wanna mess up your hockey job. You have to make shots and keep your teeth in your mout’, okay?” Diesel nodded and Dalton took a huge bite of his banana. When both his cheeks were full, he held out the banana to Diesel who smiled and took a bite.

  Thad stood up and said, “I have to crash or I’ll be useless in the morning. I’m going back to bed. Dalton, be good. Love ya, buddy.” Dalton lifted his banana-filled cheek, demanding kisses, and Thad gave him one then pretended to chew on him.

  Less than a minute later, Diesel found himself alone with his son. “What do you know about your dad, Dalton?”

  “He’s a goo
d guy. Does important stuff and loves me. Mommy says she’s fillin’ in for now but one day I’ll meet him and he’ll be my bestest friend ever. ‘Til den it’s just us ‘round here. She’s a good mommy. She skates gooder dan de other moms when we go to de ice park. Prettier, too.”

  “Yes, your mommy is a very beautiful woman and a wonderful skater. Do you want to go skating later, Dalton?”

  Diesel watched as the toddler climbed down from the chair and threw the banana peel in the trash. When he tried to help the boy climb back up, Dalton shooed his hand at him to show he could do it by himself. Settled again, he shook his head.

  “Can’t. Mommy works and reads for school every day but we go Sunday until her work.” Dalton’s eyes focused intently on Diesel. “I don’t t’ink I should go wit’out Mommy. It’s de only fun she has.”

  When MacKenzie came out of her bedroom, she was wearing a pair of loose sleep pants and a tank top, socks on her feet. Her damp hair was in a thick braid down her back. He’d never seen her look sexier.

  Diesel was directed to a big recliner, informed it was where they sat to read. Dalton crawled across his lap with a Dr. Seuss book in his hands. He was blown away that a child so young already knew how to read.

  Kenzie murmured groggily, “Good boy, Dalton. I’m just going to close my eyes for a few minutes. Don’t play in the kitchen. If you’re hungry, wake me up.”

  She walked slowly to the front door and locked it; also latching a child-lock higher up. Then she shuffled to the couch and lay down. She was asleep in seconds.

  Chapter Eight

  Kenzie was snuggled happily beneath her favorite blanket. As she pushed it away from her face, she opened her eyes to bright sunlight, and immediately hit her internal panic button. “Thad! What time is it? What day is it?” She bolted to her feet and looked around wildly. “Where’s Dalton?”

  Diesel poked his head around the kitchen wall. “Kenzie. Everything is alright. It’s Monday. Thad said you don’t have classes until much later. It’s only noon. Dalton is fine and Thad went to class. You needed to sleep.”