Rocking Player: Single Mom Second Chance Romance (Steel Series Book 2)

by Victoria Pinder

  Right. Andrew, the widower with five small children and a bald head, who hadn’t been looking for a wife so much as a babysitter to relieve him of duty. Deena’s set up had been an horrendous mistake, and I avoided discussing dating with her, but now I said only, “Michael’s…well, Michael’s pretty special to me.”

  Deena finished her hot dog then said, “If you’re looking to be more involved at school, you have our vote.”

  My heart raced a little more as I asked, “Vote?”

  “For PTA president,” she said.

  Wait. My son loved his team and the game. Today’s invitation wasn’t political, but I shook my head. My soda dripped on the ground as I wasn’t drinking it and the ice melted more while I tried to find the words. Then I glanced over at Michael, who expected me to move, and said, “Oh, I can’t. My sister’s a teacher there.”

  Deena pinched my side and said, “You doing things like this for our boys… you’re the clear leader here.”

  “This is just for the team, not the school.” That wasn’t what this was. I was here for Jeremy…and Michael. I crossed my legs and remembered how complete I was when he rammed inside me, not that I would ever, ever, ever say that out loud. I shrugged and said, “I don’t know. It’s a big time commitment.”

  Deena’s nose went up in the air as she said, “You can do it. You’re working part-time, minimum wage at that store, and now we know how you afford that.”

  Deena's assumptions about my life were wrong. My skin prickled as I just stared at her and asked, “Excuse me?”

  She leaned closer and pretended we were just best buddies as she said, “You’ve been in that big house, alone, and we’ve all wondered.”

  The practice inning ended and Michael’s water boy motioned toward me. I politely told Deena, “I have to go,” and went to speak to Aaron, who delivered a message. I was to take Jeremy and go with Aaron after the top of the ninth of the real game.

  I nodded and returned to my seat. Thankfully, she was gone.

  Good. Jeremy returned and hugged me like today was his birthday. My son hugged less frequently these days, so I took my moment.

  Done, we settled into our seats for the game and the sun went down, but soon the appointed hour came. Once the game ended, Michael walked over to me as the other men filed further in where we couldn’t see. I wrapped my arm around his neck that was slightly sweaty now as I said, “Congrats.”

  He hugged me but stared at my face when he asked, “What’s wrong?”

  Deena. I let out a long breath and said, “I was just insulted but ignored it.”

  He picked up my chin and stared at me when he said, “Good. Pennsylvania has a waiting period, so I want us to fly to Vegas tomorrow. There is a 6:30 AM nonstop that gets us there by 9:00. We can be married before 3:00 and we can catch a flight to Tulsa for the 7:00 game.”

  During the game, he’d searched for tickets? I held my breath, but his blue eyes were like sirens that dared me to do something out of character. Michael’s offer made my pulse skip. I nodded and said, “You researched this.”

  He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me.

  I heard applause somewhere, but I thought maybe I imagined it. As the kiss ended, the sound roared in my ear, but he let me go and said, “Think about it. Jeremy misses a day of school, but you and he can be back by Monday morning. I have to go shower and interview. Meet me near the parking lot.”

  “We’ll be there,” I said and turned around to see all the parents and other children in Jeremy’s school staring at us.

  The kids looked horrified, but the mom’s seemed…jealous. I fiddled with my hair and held my son’s hand. That was a bad thought. I waved at them and we followed Aaron out of the stands.

  This time, I didn’t want to wait in the dressing room, so we headed to my car. He knew to join us, so I wasn’t worried about whatever he said to reporters, though as Jeremy jumped into his seat, he asked, “Mom, were you serious about marrying Michael?”

  “I think I am,” I said, and double-checked the passenger seat was clean for Michael.

  I started to close his door when he said, “Maybe I’ll feel comfortable calling him dad, then.”

  I slumped my shoulders and took my seat. When I closed my door, I turned back toward him and said, “You don’t need my wedding to do that.”

  “I guess.” He shrugged. “I love hanging out with Michael, a lot.”

  “I’m sure he likes you, too.”

  I buckled my own seat and turned the engine on. I didn’t need Jeremy feeling like he needed to defend me from Michael. Marrying him would hopefully help Jeremy feel secure. But I wasn’t sure what to say either, so I played music.

  A few minutes later, Michael slipped into the seat beside me, wearing jeans, a black t-shirt that clung to those ab muscles of his, and his hair still wet. “You both ready?”

  I glanced in my mirror. Jeremy was paying attention to his father like he’d worship him. I asked, “Do you want to go to your hotel or home?”

  I reversed out of my spot to get us out as he said, “Home, with you, unless you don’t want me to?”

  “No, home is good,” I said and focused on my driving. Maybe getting married was a good idea. Jeremy gained a father, health insurance, and I had amazing sex with Michael. All of that added up to a pretty good life.

  Michael took out his phone. “I’ll have my things sent over, so I have them to hit the road when I return the rental to the airport.”

  This was finite unless we went to Vegas. The idea of hopping on a plane with him had adrenaline pulsing inside my skin. Or maybe it was that he was here again with me. Jeremy broke the silence. “So what do you usually do after a game?”

  He glanced back, “I normally hit the hotel gym.”

  After spending hours in the hot sun, the last thing I wanted to do was work out. And he’d played hard out there. I navigated the backroads to my home, “Why?”

  He glanced at my breasts and my body warmed. “I have a lot of pent-up energy inside my body still. I found working out calmed me down to sleep.”

  My body heated from his perusal as my son said, “We don’t have a gym at home.”

  Michael smiled brighter and glanced at our son. “It’s fine. Having Georgie and you safe and home is perfect. I'll find another way to get rid of my overdrive of energy from adrenaline.” He winked at me and my face warmed.

  No one said anything as I parked next to the two-seater rental car and opened the kitchen door. As we locked the door behind us and took off our sneakers, Jeremy waved us off. “I’m going to shower and go to bed.”

  I called behind him as I placed shoes in the rack properly, “Jeremy, pack a bag for a few days.”

  He stopped midstride and stared at me as he asked, “Why?”

  I stood and widened my stance. “We’re going to Tulsa and Vegas.”

  “No school?” Jeremy’s lips curled high on his cheeks.

  Michael nodded at me, but his face was more mysterious as I told Jeremy, “You miss a day. I’ll write you a note.”

  Michael went down on one knee. “I’d like permission to marry your mom from you.”

  My heart thundered a little differently as I pressed my hand to my heart.

  “My… yeah, I’d like that.” Jeremy hugged Michael and my heart melted a little.

  Michael stood and Jeremy shrugged like this wasn’t a big moment and headed up the stairs as he waved behind him. “Night, Mom. Night, Michael.”

  Right. Hopefully, my son grew more confident near Michael the more they spent time together. Hopefully, in time, combining our family would help Jeremy trust both his parents, which was important, and was another reason to agree to our wedding. He needed a strong male figure in his life. My dad had been the heart of my own family growing up. As the door closed upstairs, I opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of wine for us as he said, “He’s struggling with calling you 'dad'.”

  “It’s only been two days.” Michael went to my cabinet
s and grabbed two glasses for us as he said, “He can take his time. I’m not pushy, though my parents want to meet him.”

  So he’d talked about me to his parents, too? I didn’t ask, but I finished pouring and ignored how my skin was slightly jumpy and sipped my wine. Michael did the same and, as I finished, I asked him, “Will that be this weekend, as well?”

  He gave me a smirk and put his glass down on the counter as he hugged my waist and said, “No. They live in Florida, not Oklahoma. I need to tell you my house isn’t kid-friendly.”

  “It’s okay. We’ll manage.” Jeremy wasn’t a toddler anymore.

  I soon lost sight of where I was, except in Michael’s arms. I asked Michael, “Now, tell me, what happened at the game that had you thinking ‘Vegas'?”

  I put that in air quotes to emphasize.

  “It’s nothing. Though, someone set you off at the game?” He asked, and his gaze melted my tension.

  I ignored how goosebumps grew on my arm and glanced down at how our bodies touched as I said, “One of the parents thought I’d been living off your money the whole time.”

  His hand traced my back as he said, “That’s stupid.”

  Well, it wasn’t that. I sucked in my bottom lip and then let it out as I knew that was a horrible habit of mine and said, “I don’t tell people about my inheritance. It’s no one’s business.”

  He cupped my face as I was lost in his gaze. His words melted me like chocolate in a pan, “No one needs to know how you drive me wild, either.”

  “I do?”

  “Hell, yes.”

  I tugged on his waist and tugged him toward me when I said, “Wait until we’re in our bedroom.”

  Then, I let him go. He took the glasses and wine and followed me as I led up the stairs.

  Having Michael Irons at my call sent a thrill through me. I knew he watched and I took the next few steps with more a sway to my hips and opened the door.

  He closed the door and placed the still filled wine glasses and the bottle on my bureau.

  And then his arms wrapped around me.

  I was alive with him, in a way I never was, ever. I ached. He unzipped his pants and let them fall as I slipped my plain shirt off me.

  My heart raced as I unsnapped my own jeans and tore them off as he tossed his shirt next to his pants.

  Then he peeled off my bra, so I was just in my panties when his lips claimed my mouth for a kiss that burned into my soul

  Nothing about being with Michael was calming.

  Michael made me forget my inhibitions and a thrill raced through me like I loved to follow through on dares. And his lips went lower, my body trembled as he sucked my nipples into his mouth.

  I arched to give him more and, as he released my chest, he laughed and said, “Your breasts are just the beginning.”

  He walked me backward toward the bed. His cock was roaring to life like the bat he’d held in his arms earlier tonight.

  His face was just as hard as he motioned with his head and said, “I’ve been fantasizing of taking you near that bedroom window of yours that overlooks the street.”

  “Hmm, guess you'd better seduce me into that,” I said and climbed on the bed.

  Maybe later, we’d get daring. Tonight, I just wanted him, inside me, so I tossed my panties, he tossed his tighty-whities, and joined me on the bed.

  Marrying Michael hopefully meant we’d have more of this release and I’d figure out how to remain calm and peaceful the rest of the time. When he touched me, I was already in a crescendo of desire that rocked through my entire body and I lost the ability to think.

  Chapter 8

  Michael

  We got up way too early, but with Jeremy sleeping, and everyone only having a small bag, I tucked everything in the back and carried my sleeping son. One day soon, this wouldn’t just be for the sex and the money for her, but I’d have to convince her to open her heart.

  Georgie was half-asleep herself, but she got in the car, helped with the airport where she showed Jeremy’s birth certificate. The spot for the father’s name was blank.

  I cringed and hoped we could get that paperwork fixed.

  I hadn’t asked to fix it or anything that required thinking this early. The moon was still in the sky when we shuffled through getting to the plane.

  As we approached the terminal gate, I’d guessed I’d been recognized, but I kept my head down.

  A boy three years older than Jeremy approached for an autograph and selfie. If I got the contract I’d wanted, soon we’d book a private plane, if we wanted. For the next few minutes, I was standing with the agents to sign boarding passes as autographs and take selfies.

  Normally, I flew first class, but Southwest had no option. So, this morning I pasted on my smile.

  Three hours into the flight, Georgie’d had enough sleep and coffee that she sat up. I’d scouted wedding packages while she’d been out of it and now she said, “We’re lucky he slept.”

  They were both here with me, so everything was good, no matter what. If we ended up at a drive-through wedding and not one of the packages, I’d not complain too much. I’d have my family, but I put my coffee on her tray for her and said, “I’d have flown you first-class, but the first nonstop plane was first come, first served.”

  “Next time.” She lifted her cheeks in that pretty smile of hers that made everything near her shine brighter. “We didn’t mind holding our seats as you autographed boarding passes.”

  I showed her on my phone the packages I'd found as I said, “We’re almost at Vegas. Do you have a wedding theme you want?”

  She scrolled the pages and said, “I am digging the gondola ride.” She pointed toward our son. “Would Jeremy be able to join us?”

  His face was plastered to the plastic wall.

  I nodded. “He’s on the small side. He can share my seat.”

  The plane started the descent.

  “It sounds pretty,” Georgie said.

  Chosen then. The captain hadn’t said anything, so we had a few minutes. I typed in my credit card information and picked the package options, as she sipped the coffee. I finished right when the captain said, ‘No Electronics’ or whatever the spiel about descent is, but I held my phone a moment longer until I saw the confirmation page. “Done. It’s booked.”

  She locked arms with me. As we landed, I said, “We get a two-night stay, but we can’t take that right now. When baseball season ends, in November, if we make the playoffs, we can decide where we want a proper honeymoon.”

  “That’s a lot of detail.” She ran her hands through her brown hair. The plane was finally nearing land. “So what was included in that package you booked on the flight?”

  I checked on my son who pivoted his head from the wall to his mother’s side as I said, “We have the wedding, the lunch, the limo to and from the hotel, so we just need a ring and a dress, and you have two hours at the spa to get yourself ready. Less, if taking the dress takes more than an hour. Once we finish, we have to get right back to the limo for the flight to Tulsa, so I can be there for the home game.”

  “Got it. You are a planner,” she said as the wheels hit the ground.

  Once we pulled into a gate, I said, “With details taken care of, we get better service and what we expect, without guessing.”

  “I normally consult spreadsheets to make decisions, but at least you plan something. I’d panic if the plan was to show up and just see what’s available.”

  I remembered that detail about her already, but her comfort with me was good.

  We’d have a good life together and taking care of my family made me feel more grounded.

  A few minutes later, we were off the plane. I held Georgie’s hand and she led our son with her other. Her hands were soft but capable as she said, “Jeremy will be bored if I’m getting hair, makeup, and a dress.”

  “He can come with me.” The limo drove to pick us up, so we headed right to the Venetian, where they had everything for us in one place.


  “What will you both do while I’m off getting pampered?”

  One of the perks I’d offered, but the word pampered rubbed my skin like sandpaper. I said as I realized Jeremy was listening to music, “We’ll get our tux’s and he can help me pick out a ring and check everything is in order.”

  We stepped inside, but she lowered her voice as the driver took off, so only I heard her, “You and he haven’t spent any time alone.”

  “Until now.” I pressed my forehead to hers. I wanted my son to trust me just as I needed Georgie to. “We’re about to be a family.”

  “Sounds good,” she said.

  I nodded and said, “Perfect.”

  The limo went to the front and she tugged the earbuds out as she said, “Jeremy, take those off.”

  “What’s going on?” He asked and put his headphones away.

  The driver opened my side and I slipped out as I said, “We’re at the hotel now.”

  I waited near the door and took her hand. Jeremy saw us and his face was red. “Did I miss the wedding?”

  We headed inside the hotel and went toward the wedding reception desk as I said, “No, you and I need to go find a ring and get tuxes.”

  I gave my name and the girl behind the desk typed it in the computer. Then, two women came for Georgie in their uniforms and she hugged us both. I kissed her cheek though she hadn’t offered her lips as she said, “Have fun, you guys.”

  Jeremy stood next to me with his hands in his pockets, but his face was white as he asked, “Where is mom going?”

  I tilted my head and then mimicked his body stance though my back went tight. I never slouched, but I said, “To get a dress, her hair, and makeup. Do you want to go with her or come with me to do the guy stuff like getting our clothes and picking out the ring for her? You know her better, so I’d need your help and, if you come with me, you can help pick out your own clothes.”

  “I like picking out my own clothes.” I stilled. I’d hoped we’d get a few minutes to ourselves to get to know him, but I held my breath until I heard the words, “Bye, Mom.”