“But you don’t want love?” I asked and sucked in my lips. It was a bad habit of mine, like I needed approval when I didn’t, but I couldn’t stop myself right now. This was another reason a rational deal to satisfy my wants made more sense than some unrealistic belief that love fixes everything.
He blew out that sexy mouth of his and he said clear as daylight, “Fuck, no. I just want you, in my bed again, and to get more money. Stable players who don’t court trouble get higher offers. And, I want you to outlive me.”
A few fish kisses on blind dates that only confirmed I hadn’t needed them.
I needed Michael’s touch. No one else had ever come close to making me feel…this sexy. I reached out and ran my fingers over his stubble and said, “Let’s see how this winter works, and then we’ll talk about it more.”
A grin showed on his face as he started to take my sweater off. “That’s a start. Now let’s get this outfit off you. We won’t wrinkle it.”
My fingers traced against the fuzz on his face. My skin radiated as I let his face go and curled my arms around his short hair. “We won’t?”
“No.” He tugged it off me and then placed it on a chair behind him as he said, “You’ll want to look like a good mom in this outfit when we pick our boy up.”
This morning was crazy. I held my hands up as he lifted my shirt off my body and laid it with my sweater. “If you make it out of school. I’m sure Jeremy told everyone about your practice, and you didn’t get to meet Olivia.”
He then returned to my side and unzipped my pants as he said, “Good. I want my boy to be happy, after I make his mom and me happy, too.”
If he was anything like I remembered, then I’d not know my own name in a few minutes. But I needed to relive the past right now as seven years was too long and his lips on mine burned through to my soul, reminding me I was already his.
I always had been.
Chapter 6
Michael
Georgie was somehow even better. Maybe because I’d waited all this time.
Finally, my cock found the perfect glove that fit and had never wanted to trade for another. She had no idea the power she possessed over me. I hadn’t believed sex could create monogamy in me, not until I'd lived the past few years.
Maybe I was in love already and had been since we met.
The explosion of sheer joy with my Georgie couldn’t be replicated.
I collapsed beside her, but I felt someone shaking me and I opened my eyes and stared into her brown ember hues.
Tension rushed up my spine and adrenaline poured through me with these thoughts. She had zero idea with that pout as she said, “Get dressed.”
I rubbed my eyes and said, “Is it time to get you all proper…” But I looked at her and my stomach twisted. She was Ms. PTA again. I stretched and slumped my shoulders. “Aww, I missed my chance for a second go.”
“Later.” She tossed my jeans at me and said, “You promised Jeremy you’d teach him to catch.”
Right. And I needed to be a stable family man to earn that paycheck I wanted. My agent said stability earned more contract money.
I wiggled into my jeans and stood to finish. She flounced to the door and I called out, “Let me grab my shirt.”
My shirt was halfway across her floral bedroom. Once we married, if she agreed, we’d have to ditch the blue paisley. I’d compromise on most patterns, but not so bright and bold, or lace curtains…simple was always better.
I ran out of the room, down the stairs, and grabbed my sneakers near the door as she headed to the car. As I jumped in to join her, she clicked the unlock button and asked me, “Any chance you could make Pittsburgh your home base?”
“They lowballed their offer,” I answered.
What I'd told her about love was fucking right, though. We needed to keep this stable family and stay good in bed. Love was messy and complicated for her. Monogamy and sex were a start, and she already had that with me. We’d have years to figure out feelings, or she could deny them forever, as long as she stood beside me.
She turned on her car, clicked a button to open her garage, and we peeled out like we were already a family as she asked, “So where’s most likely?”
Hopefully, this meant she was thinking about what I offered as I said, “I told Phil I didn’t care, and he could just tell me the team names once we’ve gone over the numbers and perks with the offers.”
She tapped the steering wheel like she was listening to a song only she could hear. “What kind of numbers are we talking about?”
There was my spreadsheet analyst. I turned to watch her face as I discussed numbers while she drove. “I want 30 million a year with a guarantee of five to ten years, then I retire.”
She sucked in her lip and her face reddened a little. Then she continued to tap the wheel like she was unfazed and said, “So you’re talking 150 million to 300 million?”
Good. She’d understand that kind of money was worth being a little up in the air about a home. This was why I needed to be mobile, and it wasn’t forever. I nodded and said, “If it’s five years, I’d have to negotiate again, possibly, but I’m not going more than ten. I want a ten-year guarantee.”
“It’s double.” She said without even glancing at me.
We pulled up into some line and we started inching forward slower than a snail in a race. But she didn’t turn off the car, which meant she expected to move.
“It means I could retire when Jeremy is sixteen and then stay home with you and fuck you all day, every day until we tire, like that week in the Bahamas.”
Her cheeks blushed prettily, and she glanced at me, then moved the car a little, as she said, “Well, that is a picture that will live in my mind.” We stopped in front of a walkway and she stiffened and said, “But here we need to be good.”
She unlocked her door to get out and said, “That’s my sister with Jeremy.”
“Olivia?”
“That’s her name.”
Jeremy held hands with a smaller, skinnier version of my Georgie. I followed her out of the car as the young woman hugged her sister and said, “Georgiana.”
Georgie stepped back and patted my arm, standing next to me like we were now in some competition together as she said, “Olivia, this is Michael Irons. He’s Jeremy’s father.”
Olivia stilled but then offered her hand to shake and said, “The mystery is finally solved. Nice to meet you.”
I shook it but asked as I glanced at Georgie, “What mystery?”
Olivia said, “We’ve all wondered who in the world my sister had been with and never talked about. We all guessed you were special to her as she never said a word about you, but when she’d gone to college, she'd ranted all about her then-boyfriend, Osmand, who’d broken her heart.”
“Ozzie? I’d forgotten about him entirely. I think he went to law school.”
She didn’t sound torn up, so I let that go. I’d had girlfriends before I’d met Georgie and, honestly, she had a right to move on with her life these seven years, though I was glad she was free now.
Georgie turned white, like she’d faced an execution, as I said, “It’s nice to meet one of Georgie’s five little sisters.”
Her sister placed her hand on her hip and tossed her hair back as she said, “So you knew about us. Will we be seeing you around?”
Georgie opened the backdoor for Jeremy to get in as I said, “If Georgie here agrees to marry me like I asked.”
Both sisters shared an exchange I didn’t get, but it was clear an unspoken conversation had just happened. Then Georgie buckled our boy in with the click as he asked, “Mom, you’re marrying Michael?”
I waved and opened my door as Georgie then came over, hugged her sister and said, “We got to go. See you later, Olivia.”
I closed my door and leaned over to open hers. She got in and closed the driver’s door without a word. A few minutes later, we were back on the road, away from the school and Jeremy asked, “Mom?”
My
heart stilled as I stared at her profile. Her jawline was clear as she watched the road and simply said, “It’s not been decided.”
She hadn’t even looked at me.
Jeremy didn’t seem fazed by her avoidance and asked, “Why not?”
She turned and softened her gaze as she winked at our boy and then glanced at me as she said, “It’s complicated.”
Jeremy threw his hands up in the air, making my arguments for me as he asked, “How is everything complicated with you?”
Later I’d have to talk to him. Women were a mystery no man has ever fully understood. My own father had explained that to me and, only now, I understood I’d get to pass that tidbit on as she said, “Because…I have to think about it.”
I winked at her, not that she saw me when I said, “Think fast.”
I asked my boy as we neared his home, “Are you ready to practice?”
As we pulled onto her small street, Jeremy’s face reddened and he said, “My friends wanted to know if they could come and learn, too.”
Georgie opened her home without a word and asked, “How many?”
“The whole team?” He asked as his voice squeaked.
We parked and she opened the door. I found my phone and turned it on as I said, “Let me make a phone call.”
“Okay.” He said and we all filed inside.
Phil had called as had a few of the team. I quickly called our manager and stayed in the background of her kitchen as Georgie handed our son a snack and said, “So I have some little leaguers in need of practice.”
Jeremy watched me and my shirt neck felt tighter until the manager said what I hoped. Good. I relaxed and met his gaze while I said, “Perfect.”
I had to wait a second to listen to the schedule and once I hung up, Jeremy asked, “So?”
I placed my phone on the table and nodded like I could offer him the world as I said, “The Sooners will happily help your team if they show up in an hour to the stadium…" My phone beeped and I picked it up to read as I said, “Hold on.” I patted Jeremy’s side and told him fast, “Text your friends. Free parking for moms.” I quickly typed my team manager and then turned off the phone. Family time was now and it wouldn’t be interrupted anymore. But I said, “Okay, Pirates are helping too and whoever shows up gets free tickets to tonight’s game.”
Georgie brought over cut apple slices and placed them in front of my son as she said, “That’s pretty awesome. Text Aunt Olivia, too, sweetheart.”
Jeremy did as asked and I grabbed one of the crunchy healthy snacks she’d made. Once he finished, he met my gaze and asked, “Michael?”
“Yeah, Buddy,” I said fast. The idea this boy was mine somehow made my shoulders bigger, like I had reason to be proud.
He put his phone down and said, “I don’t want to look bad out there.”
Right. I was here to help and pointed toward his backyard and said, “You’ll need a haircut as your hair is getting in the way of seeing, but you and I will practice one-on-one until the others get there.”
Georgie clutched her heart like she was happy as we went out.
Jeremy wasn’t bad. He played like he loved the game. Once, I’d been like him, and my dad pushed that love into a passion to be the best. I talked like my own dad once did with me about watching the other players moves to anticipate action, and how everyone would judge him differently now that it was known he was my son. He got it and jumped with more enthusiasm when I tossed the ball.
A haircut would be fast, but I didn’t want to bug Georgie for clippers. Tomorrow before we shipped out, that was on the agenda, even if he missed some school.
The alarm rang and I knew we had to go. We came back in and Georgie was now wearing shorts that went to her knees, a pink cardigan, and a clingy t-shirt underneath. Fields get hot, but I didn’t argue. We filed into her Rav 4 and headed to the stadium.
Jeremy now wore a plain gray shirt to go along with his jeans.
I tried to give Georgie space in my seat, though we were still close in proximity.
Plus, my body was still relieved after six years of waiting. I directed them where to park and pointed toward the parking signs for the kids. As we unbuckled in our spot, I walked with my family down the player row where press waited for us so I could direct them to family seating. As we stood near reporters, I hugged both closer and said, “Okay. We’re here. Walk fast.”
A woman from a sports network threw her microphone in Georgie’s face as she asked, “So how did you and Irons meet?”
She kept up pace with me. “Years ago.”
The reporter then said, “That doesn’t answer the question.”
Georgie took my hand and held it as lights flashed at us and she said, “I-”
I interrupted and directed them toward the door as I took the direct line of questions when I said, “Georgie and I were in love, but then her father and mother died. We've had a difficult road, but I’m hoping that’s over and she marries me now.”
Georgie squeezed my hand, glanced at my profile, and said, “I…I’m going to say yes.”
“You are?” My skin electrified and my hairs stood on the ends. I stilled and rationalized instantly that this was about the money we'd discussed. It had to be, as she didn’t believe in love.
Money was the root of everything, so I shouldn’t be surprised, even if coldness hit the back of my neck at the thought. I probably shouldn’t be excited about the future if this was just about money and security.
Georgie said as I opened the door for the players, “Yeah. I think we should take the next step and make it official.”
I almost closed the door on the reporters, but the woman from earlier asked, “So, no more prostitutes, Michael?”
“Absolutely not,” I said. No one had ever believed I hadn’t touched that woman. I didn’t care, except I didn’t want that discussion near Jeremy or to rehash it with Georgie. I waved as the door closed, “We have to get going.”
Jeremy asked me as we strolled through the locker room, “What were they talking about, Michael?”
I grabbed a Sooner’s hat for my son and pushed his hair behind his ear as I said. “Nothing that matters. Sometimes people make up stories to help themselves feel better, and it’s important to not always listen to the news about me. You and your mom need to trust me.”
“Okay,” he said while I gloved him up with a professional version he could keep. “In school, Bobby once said I ate black beans because I loved farting. Everyone laughed at me.”
I patted his shoulder and said, “Exactly the same.”
He nodded at me. As I tightened the license, I met his mother’s gaze and said, “I’ll get you a ring, Georgie.”
“I don’t need one,” she said fast.
For better or worse, they were mine. And, no one was going to interfere with that, but as I stood, I patted her backside and said, “After the game, we need to talk.”
She nodded like she agreed but then went with her son to meet the other kids. I motioned to my manager and he gave me a thumbs-up.
This was for publicity and to show I was a dedicated family man. Using my son’s team to earn myself $30 million a year was fine. It had to be.
Georgie and I were taking the money and that didn’t include real love, just the kind we talk about on TV when others are watching, at least for her. One day, I might tell her she was always the one for me, when she might believe that love doesn’t destroy her voice and we’d be fine.
Today was not that day.
Chapter 7
Georgie
The game went on and on.
He wore his sexy gray pants that showed off his ass on the field, which kept me from paying any attention to the game at all.
I kept my head high, but during the fifth inning, Michael rushed over to me and my heart pitter-pattered like I was a little kid about to get a present.
He grabbed my arm and said, “I’ve been thinking about our son’s game while I've been playing.”
&nbs
p; “Seriously?”
“We need to get Jeremy a haircut.”
Okay, so that wasn’t exactly romantic, but I tilted my head and asked, “Why?”
He ran his hand through Jeremy’s hair and said, “He can’t see from the locks you have on the side. That is why he is having problems catching the ball.”
I glanced down at my son’s dirty blonde hair. “His cute, angelic locks that he wanted.”
Jeremy picked at his locks the way Michael played with his own tiny piece of hair and said, “Up to him, but if he wants to catch and throw correctly, we’ll need to shave that off. He needs to see.”
“I want to if it helps.”
“Okay,” My heart thudded. On the field, he thought about us and Jeremy’s needs. Part of me was flattered.
My son’s eyes had tears that washed down his upturned cheeks and a glow I’d not seen in him before.
Guess they’d talked about it. My mind had been in a cloud for hours now. After saying I’d marry Michael, I’d been dazed, but I was just now focusing.
Michael jogged back to his dugout, and I returned my attention to my son, his team, their parents, and tried to sip my soda.
A minute later, Deena fluffed her curly black hair behind her head. My nose almost winced from the perfume she exuded. I ignored the fact that her hair didn’t quite blow despite the wind. She gave me a once over, held a hot dog, then said like we were friends, “Georgiana, this is lovely what you’ve done for the boys.”
I put my drink down into the holder and stood as Michael was retaking the field. He was shortstop, so he wasn’t near me, but it was weird for the kids around me that seemed torn to not be rooting for the home team, but none of them said anything to me as I just said, “I didn’t do anything special. Michael invited us all.”
Jeremy screamed like he’d woken up Christmas morning when Michael caught the ball.
Michael fist pumped the pitcher near him.
Deena bit into her hot dog and finished chewing while staying near me, like she was one of my sisters. As she finished, she said, “So you’ve been dating a baseball player for years. No wonder we couldn’t set you up with Andrew.”
Rocking Player: Single Mom Second Chance Romance (Steel Series Book 2) Page 6
