His eyes track to find his parents and sister. “It sucks.”
It isn’t the game he’s talking about.
“It does. I can’t imagine what your family is going through.” He turns saucered eyes to me, and I can tell it’s a relief to him that I understand. “I bet you have a lot of responsibility, especially with your younger sister.” He nods. “That can be tough. But man-to-man, I’m sure you can handle it. You seem like a pretty tough guy.”
He shrugs. “She’s so annoying.”
He glances over at the youngest sibling who has moved away to find a club of her own and is entertaining herself.
“I doubt she understands what’s happening in the same way you do.”
“She’s always happy. Like doesn’t she get it? Nobody at our house is happy anymore, but her.”
Yelling isn’t exactly what he did. He does, however, gain his family’s attention. I wave and they take a second to ensure that their son’s okay before going back to what they were doing.
“I bet your sister would appreciate the happy more than the sad faces. You can’t want your memories to be filled with sadness. This is an awesome day. You get to play with the pros. And Riley’s one of the best.”
“She’s a dumb girl,” he mumbles, taking about my girl.
“She’s definitely not dumb, and she can play better than most guys I know.” Then I point off to the side. “You see that guy there.”
His face lights up in recognition. “That’s Ryder Wilde, one of the best pitchers in the game. He got traded to New York, though.”
“Well, he’s her brother. And one thing he never said to her was that he was better than she was in anything. In fact, he said that Riley can play every sport, probably better than he can.”
“He did?”
I’m not sure of the exact conversation Gina shared with me, but I’m close.
“Absolutely. He encourages her and never makes her feel like she isn’t good enough. And now, she’s one of the best golfers in the world.”
I don’t clarify female golfers because I firmly believe that Riley can beat at least some of the men on the professional circuit.
“Why don’t we go help your little sister with her swing?”
By the next hole, the boy is more engaged. He asks Riley if her brother would sign a ball for him. Riley glances at me, and I shrug. After she helps him and his youngest sister on their tee shot, with their parents’ permission, I walk them over to where Ryder and Gina stand behind the ropes.
“It looks like you have a fan,” I say, before the boy starts talking a mile a minute to Ryder.
Gina smiles at me. “And who do we have here?”
She bends down to the little girl’s level. The girl’s hand tightens in mine.
I follow and squat down, too. “She’s going to be the next golfer or…”
“I want to play football,” she says with confidence she didn’t have before. “My daddy likes football.”
Gina laughs. “That’s awesome. I wanted to play, too, when I was your age.”
“You did?” The little girl is amazed.
Gina nods, and I say, “And now she rides a motorcycle instead.”
That starts a fury of questions.
By the time the day is done, the Wildes have made fans for life. After we say our final goodbyes, Riley leans her head on my shoulder.
She yawns. “That was fun.”
“It was. You were incredible. No, you are incredible.”
I kiss the top of her head, keenly aware of the paparazzi nearby.
“You’re just saying that to get laid. You have to know by now, I’m a sure thing.”
She yawns again. I lift her up, cradling her in my arms, not caring if we get caught on camera. She’s dead on her feet.
“What are you doing?”
“Don’t argue with me, Eagle. Give me my five minutes to be your hero.”
Her giggle is cute, and she sounds drunk with weariness and lack of sleep. “Can you fly like Superman or spin webs like Spiderman?”
I shake my head. “I’m more like Batman or Ironman. I can afford the toys I need to keep you safe.”
She laughs. “And what toys are those? Your joystick?” But her eyes close and I’m forced to keep my response to myself.
On the way back to the hotel, Justin has somehow managed to squeeze in with us. The twerp keeps giving me the stink eye like he’s twelve as Riley slumbers on my lap curled around me. I ignore him, secure in the knowledge she’s mine.
My girl wakes when the van comes to a stop at the hotel. She insists on walking under her own power. That’s my woman, strong and independent. Ryder snags his sister off to the side to talk. Our rooms are on different floors, and I give them a minute to catch up.
“So.” I turn and see Justin casually stand next to me like we’re old friends. “You may have won today, my friend, but I’ll win the war.”
The twelve-year-old in me that’s dying to win this spitting contest eagerly wants to dispute the friendship comment. I manage to shove that boy back in the recesses of my mind.
“How so?” I ask smugly, because the war has already been won in my book.
“I was talking to my friend yesterday.” He rattles off the name of the number one golfer in the world. “He’s a fan of Riley’s. He wasn’t able to attend this week due to a family wedding. But he knows one of the best caddies who just became available and is looking for work and would love to come this weekend and help out Riley. In fact, he should already be here.”
He fucking smirks at me as I do my best to keep it together by grinding my teeth and saying nothing. Riley has stopped talking to her brother, and she stares confusedly in our direction. Justin takes that moment to go to her and give her the news. Riley’s face morphs from annoyance, to bafflement, to utter delight. And can I blame her? She has the opportunity to work with one of the best-known caddies in the world.
My phone buzzes. I see it's Rhoades and answer it.
“Ben, how are you? I’ve been meaning to call.”
I turn away, not wanting to watch Justin talk to my girl, but I don’t leave.
“Just wondering if you’ll have time to think about having dinner with us before you go.”
With everything, I hadn’t decided what to do. On the fly, I make a decision.
“I think maybe Friday night will be good.”
Then I can still go to the gala with Riley.
“Will you bring that gorgeous golfer?” he asks. “Ow.” Then he mumbles something I can’t hear. “Sorry, my wife took offense to my choice of adjectives.”
I laugh, imagining the thump to the chest he’d probably received. “It’s unlikely Riley will come.”
Ben, not one to give up, says, “Then pick a night when she can join us.”
And here’s the rub. Riley’s made it clear to me her position.
“Her schedule is tight. So it will be just me.”
“That’s too bad.”
“Don’t like my company, Ben?” I joke.
“I wanted to bring Samantha and didn’t want her to be bored with our conversation.”
We set a time, but I tell him that I’ll confirm tomorrow. That will give me a chance to talk to Riley about it again. It’s not like she’ll need me on the course if she accepts this new caddie Justin’s set up. If she has a late tee time that day, I’ll duck out in time to make dinner.
“I can’t believe you’re letting that ass win,” Ryder says.
When had he walked over?
“Yeah, Mark,” Gina says, the two of them gang up on me.
“He’s offering her, professionally speaking, the equivalent of something she shouldn’t refuse. I’d be an asshole if I tried to interfere.”
I tell them what Justin told me. Ryder nods and says nothing more. When Riley waves me over, I say goodnight. She doesn’t speak yet, just holds my arm with other people in the elevator. However, it’s easy to tell she’s vibrating with energy she didn’t have befor
e.
Once our suite door closes behind us, she attacks me. Her hands draw my face down.
“I’ve been waiting for this all night.”
The kiss is hungry, and food is last on either of our minds. She slips one of her hands to my chest and then it’s around my cock. Just that quick, I’m instantly hard.
“Waiting, huh?” I growl. “I’ll show you what you do to me when you make me wait more than twenty-four hours to have that sweet pussy of yours.”
We tear at each other’s clothes. She gets tangled in something, and we go down. But that doesn’t stop her. So I don’t let it stop me. I think I rip her shirt and her underwear. It doesn’t matter when my cock finds home. I bury myself balls deep inside her.
Her back arches, and her nails score my skin.
“I’m going to fuck you so hard no other man’s name will ever cross your lips again.”
And I do just that. She repeatedly screams my name until a knock can be heard on the door only five feet away.
RILEY
“Who the hell could that be?” Mark asks.
“I don’t know. Don’t answer it. Maybe they’ll go away.”
He nuzzles my neck and whispers, “Not likely. With the way you were screaming my name, I’m sure they could hear you in the lobby.”
My face heats. “That bad?”
“Oh, baby, it wasn’t bad. It was hot as fuck.” Then he grinds his pelvis against mine, which produces a moan from me. “That’s right.”
The knock turns into a pounding, and a voice calls out from the other side, “Riley, open up.”
“Are we ever going to get rid of that fucker? He’s like a feral cat that keeps coming back for food scraps.”
“Hey, I’m not scraps,” I say, slapping him on the ass.
“I wasn’t referring to you.” His mouth nips at my lips.
Wham, wham, wham. “Riley, I know you’re in there. I heard you.”
Mark rolls off me and helps me up. “Come on, Eagle. Let’s get this over with so we can enjoy the rest of our night in peace.”
We scramble around for our clothing, but I end up having to get a different shirt. “You ruined this.” I laugh as I show him.
“I’ll buy you a new one. Hurry. The creature is restless. He’s probably going to meow in a minute.”
I can’t help but snicker as I hunt down a T-shirt to throw on. When I open the door, I’m surprised and not just slightly embarrassed to see Justin isn’t alone. But I’m not the only one who’s red-faced. Justin looks like a tomato out of my mom’s garden, and the guy he’s with is even worse.
“Riley, I’d like you to meet Wade McClary. Wade, meet Riley.”
Fuck my life. It’s the caddie Justin was telling me about.
“Wade, it’s great to meet you. I’ve heard nothing but awesome things about you. Come in.”
I usher them inside and introduce him to Mark. “Wade, this is my boyfriend, Mark.” They shake hands, and Mark breaks the awkward ice with one sentence.
“Sorry it took us a minute to answer. Riley had me tied up.”
Wade laughs, and Justin scowls. I grin and glance at the area where I tied him up, and then I notice my torn panties lying there. Fuck! How did I miss those?
Wade spies them at exactly the same time I do and says, “Oh, I think I see what she tied you up with.”
Mark follows his gaze to the floor, bends down, and snags them, then stuffs them into his pocket. “Honey, I told you to pick up after yourself,” he says with a wink.
“Uh, yeah. Right then. So, Wade, I hear you’re available for hire?” Now my face is redder than the coals in a fireplace.
“That’s correct. That is, if your boyfriend is willing to give up the reins.”
Mark sidles up next to me and puts his arm around me. “I want to set the record straight here. I stepped in for Riley because she was in a bind. There’s one thing and only one thing I want, and that’s what’s best for her. If she wants you as her caddie, then that is her decision to make, not mine.”
That’s the nicest thing he could’ve said. Not caring a damn who is in the room, I turn in his arm, saying, “That means more to me than I can possibly say. Thank you.” Then I kiss him. Heat fires between us, and a tiny peck turns into a little more than I planned.
Someone clears their throat, so Mark pulls away and offers an apology. “Sorry, guys. I can’t refuse a kiss when my girl offers one.”
Wade says, “I don’t blame you one bit. I’d do the same.”
Mark glares at him. Wade quickly adds with his palms in the air, “I meant if my wife did that. I’m a happily married man. No worries on my account.”
Justin has been suspiciously silent, so I take a peek at him and he is scowling at Mark, who’s is in heaven. I’d laugh if we were anywhere else.
Mark relaxes at Wade’s comment and adds, “You seem like the perfect fit then. To be honest, I’m out of my league here, aren’t I, babe?” he asks me.
“Oh, I don’t know. You’ve done an amazing job so far. I wouldn’t mind keeping you around.”
“Did I say I was going anywhere? I’ll be right here, by your side.” He gives me a squeeze.
Justin finally opens his mouth. “Is this love-fest about over because I’ve had about as much of this as I can take?”
“Hmm,” Mark says. “Love-fest. I like the sound of that.” He’s totally gloating now, and Justin looks as though he could chew through steel. The testosterone flowing in this room is through the roof.
“Wade, let’s talk business. How about we sit over there?” I motion to the sitting area, thinking Justin will leave. But he tags along and now I’m more than a little annoyed.
Even though I appreciate Justin looking out for me, he can’t be present during this business discussion. “Justin, thanks so much for the introduction to Wade, but we need to discuss business now.”
ShitForBrains doesn’t take the cue. Wade gets it as he eyes each of us uncomfortably. Finally, Mark steps in and says, “Look, man, what she’s trying to say is she needs to discuss personal business with him.”
Justin glowers at Mark. “I think I’m better qualified for this discussion than you are.”
Oh, boy. This is not good. But Mark acts like the gentleman he is. “While that may be true, you won’t be a part of her personal business discussions. Now, I’ll kindly ask you to leave.”
Justin shifts from one side to the other and stares at me.
“Justin, please. You’re overstepping here,” I say.
“Yeah, you kind of are.” This time it’s Wade speaking.
Appearing properly chastised, Justin heads to the door, but before he opens it, he says, “Riley, that guy is all wrong for you, and you know it.”
I can’t help myself when I ask, “Who, Wade? Then why’d you bring him here? He’s supposed to be one of the best in the country.”
“Not Wade. Mark.” And he jabs his finger in the air toward my guy.
“Oh, I’d have to disagree with you there. Mark is pretty damn perfect for me. Have a good evening, Justin.” A snicker leaks out of me as I look at my guy.
When the door slams, Mark says, “You’re a bad girl.”
“I’m sorry.” It was a shame they had to witness that exchange.
“Don’t be on my account.”
Wade adds, “It’s a little difficult to get a message across to him, isn’t it?”
Mark chuckles. “You noticed, huh?”
Wade shakes his head. “I practically begged the guy to call you first instead of barging up here. Sorry for that. But when he wouldn’t leave, well, that’s was really weird.”
“Not if you know Justin. He still thinks we’re an item.”
Wade’s eyes go as round as a golf ball. “So, it’s true then?”
“What?” I ask.
“The rumors about his less than stellar intelligence. My buddy is sort of a friend of his. And I use that term loosely. He’s been burned by Justin a few times only because of some
stupid things he’s done, which I won’t go into. But when he started to join us for this talk we’re getting ready to have, I was going to ask him to leave.”
Mark says, “I like you already, Wade, and we’ve known each other for what? Five minutes?”
Wade laughs. “Yeah, something like that.”
“This is great. You being down here this weekend,” I say. Then I quickly glance at Mark, “Not that I don’t appreciate everything you’ve done for me.” And I do. He’s been more than awesome.
“Oh, I’m cool with this. If you find a caddie that works for and with you, that’s the greatest thing. I’m all about your game,” Mark says.
I laugh. “He says that because he knows a well scoring golfer is a happy golfer.”
“I get that,” Wade says.
“Then let’s talk business. This weekend is perfect for you to start. It’s not tournament play so you can sort of get a feel for what I need. And there’s no pressure because I’m spending a lot of time with the kids.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking. I can read your drives and putts, and then we can confer afterward. I have to tell you I’ve watched your career take off, and your skills impress me. I’d love to see them do a match where they’d pair up some women and men. You could take some of the men pros.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Ryder’s told me as much, but he’s a baseball expert, not a golfer.
“Stop with the modesty,” Mark says. “If you’re going to play, you need to own it.”
“He’s right, Riley. It’s okay if I call you Riley, isn’t it?”
I laugh. “Of course. I can’t imagine you calling me anything else. Besides, there’ll be days you might want to call me bitch or worse.”
Everyone laughs.
“I guess this is the part where we negotiate the money,” I say.
“Tell you what,” Wade begins. “Why don’t we do this? Let’s get through this weekend. Since there isn’t a purse, this one will be on me. You won’t owe me anything. We’ll see how compatible we are, whether or not we’ll make a good team. If we think we can work well together, we’ll go back to the table and discuss a contract. How does that sound?”
“Too good to be true,” I say.
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