The Good Groom

by Taylor Hart

  “I do?”

  “See, I told Sky that if she’d spend the next week with you, helping you, I would let her have the money her daddy left her.” Mr. Kincaid pulled out an ashtray and tapped the cigar in it.

  “I told her I don’t think anyone can help me.” That truth hurt. It wasn’t what Dax wanted to admit or talk about. He pointed at Mr. Kincaid. “But don’t worry about any of this affecting my football career. You see, my fishing trip will cure me. I’ll be better after that. I promise.”

  Mr. Kincaid cocked an eyebrow. “Nope. You’re going with Sky for a week.” He gave Dax a sobering look. “Hopefully, she signs off and says you’re good. But if she doesn’t, young man, you’re as good as gone.”

  It was strange how even though Dax was almost twenty-nine, it wasn’t weird that Mr. Kincaid was calling him “young man.” Yet Dax couldn’t find the humor in it; he was fighting to suppress his panic. Would they really trade him?

  Mr. Kincaid sighed and smoked some more.

  Dax’s heart raced faster. He didn’t like dealing with ultimatums. “What if I don’t care? What if you can just go ahead and trade me?”

  Mr. Kincaid laughed. “It’s obvious you do, or you wouldn’t have shown up at that bachelor auction tonight.”

  Checkmate. Dax let out a breath.

  “If I know a thing or two about Dax Brady, I would say that you don’t want to rock the boat right now. With your brother and everything else, you don’t want to be another concern for your momma.”

  “I guess you know everything,” Dax said flippantly.

  Mr. Kincaid smiled and puffed out more smoke. “I know Sarah Chantez just married Billie, and she was supposed to marry you last year.”

  Dax looked away, clenching and unclenching his hand.

  “I know you have to be in Denver for the Valentine Masquerade ALS fundraiser your brothers are putting on next week. So I want six days.”

  “I’m not going to Denver,” Dax said, making the final decision right then.

  Mr. Kincaid held his gaze and lightly tapped the cigar to the ashtray. “Really? Then you have plenty of time for this therapy week.”

  Right into a trap! Dax wanted to punch the back of the limo seat. Who gave this man the right to sit here and judge him?

  Mr. Kincaid smiled. “If you give me six days, and Sky signs off that you went through her therapy, I’ll give Mr. Knight my recommendation to make you number one.”

  Dax couldn’t believe this. “Your sole recommendation will be based on the next six days I spend with a woman I don’t know doing … what exactly, again?”

  “I told you, she helped my son, and—” His face pinched at the painful memory. “—he was a wreck.”

  Dax knew all about Anthony Kincaid and his problems, but he didn’t need this. “Just let me take my fishing trip. I promise I’ll be fine when I get back.”

  The old man shook his head. “Decision time: what is the great Dax Brady going to do?”

  “What is she going to do? Some mind mumbo jumbo?”

  Mr. Kincaid held his cigar out and stared Dax down. “It might be. You decide, Brady.” The limo stopped in front of Dax’s house, the perfect punctuation to the end of Mr. Kincaid’s lecture. “If you’re on board, meet at Kade’s house tomorrow at ten in the morning.”

  “Kade’s house?”

  “The helicopter leaves from there.” Mr. Kincaid flicked his fingers at him. “You can go.”

  Feeling like a peasant, Dax slipped out of the limo and watched it drive away. First his brother, then the game, and now this.

  He sighed and looked up to the sky. “It’d be nice if you were still around to talk to, Dad. I have no idea what to do.”

  He stood there for a few minutes before sauntering up to his front door. His phone buzzed, and he checked it—it was a text from his mother. Just wanted you to know I love you, Dax.

  Abruptly, he stopped. Unwanted tears surfaced, and he blinked them back. “How did you and Mom always do that?” The emotion stuck in his throat. He could swear that his parents still communicated.

  His mother texted again. Trust God to lead you, son. Just trust Him.

  Dax knew his mother was worried. She had worried about him and Ziggy for the past year. Now, there was this problem with Ty. His mother had always been a worrier, and he hated having her worry about him. Unable to stop himself, he texted her back. Love you too.

  Chapter 4

  Sky stood at Kade’s front door, hesitant to knock or ring the bell. Beyond that door was Kade’s wife, Felicity. Sky felt guilty that she’d left so abruptly and hadn’t stayed in touch.

  After her father passed, she hadn’t been able to stay here, so she’d taken the invitation from her boyfriend—Paul Hawk, the gorgeous rocker—and had gone to California with him while he recorded an album. It’d taken less than three months for that relationship to fail. She hadn’t been able to face coming home, though. Fortunately, she’d met a man named Jorge Vasquez. When he’d told her about his project, she’d decided to work with him. She’d gone to Puerto Rico right away, and it had been the best decision of her life. Sadly, the very project that had saved her was in need of saving.

  She thought of the man she’d been tasked to help—Dax Brady. Could she do it? From her research, yes, she could see he’d had a rough go of it. He wasn’t the part of the equation she was worried about, though. She didn’t know if she could be the therapist she’d once been.

  Her father’s face flashed into her mind, and she remembered her father and Jon standing in the owner’s box together, rooting the Titans on. She’d gone to plenty of games, and she’d been more than flattered when Jon had asked her to help Anthony. Her father would be happy she was helping Jon Kincaid again. She sucked in a breath. She would face this. She would face Dax Brady, and she would figure something out.

  Before she could ring the bell, the door was flung back to reveal Kade. He grinned and opened his arms, leaning to compensate for his knee brace. “Pixie girl.”

  It would be pointless to reiterate that he shouldn’t call her that. She moved into his embrace and cracked a smile, remembering a million childhood memories with him. “Hey, stupid.”

  He laughed and let her go. “I’m really glad you’re doing this.”

  She cocked an eyebrow. “Don’t act like I’m not being blackmailed into it.”

  Kade hesitated. “Even so, maybe it’s good for you to help him.” When she frowned at him, he laughed again. “Dad’s persuasive. I’ll give the old man that.”

  Felicity popped up from behind the door, holding a baby. “Sky! I’m so glad you’re here.”

  They embraced, and as Sky was ushered inside, she thought Kade was lucky to have married such an amazing woman. Felicity was warmth and happiness personified. “Let me see him,” said Sky, reaching for the baby.

  Felicity passed the baby over. “It’s just little Jon. I know that big Jon isn’t at the top of your list right now.”

  “Oh gosh,” Sky said. Her chest warmed as the baby settled into her arms. “He’s so precious. I’m sure his grandpa likes the name way too much.”

  They all laughed.

  There wasn’t much time to coo before the bell rang and Kade opened it, welcoming a very reluctant Dax.

  Jon had shown up at her house last night—well, her father’s old house—and he’d given her the lowdown on Dax. She wasn’t sure exactly what the man needed yet, but she was going to try to help him.

  “Come on in, Dax. I just texted the helo guy to fire it up, so we can walk out.”

  Dax exchanged pleasantries with Felicity, then turned to Sky. “Hey.”

  Her heart raced. Dang, the man was beautiful with his blond hair, his blue eyes, and the dimple in his left cheek. She’d been staring at his face on the computer a lot in the past two days, but that was nothing compared to seeing him in person. Not that she needed to notice that. She’d compared him to his twin brother and saw they were clearly fraternal twins. In stark contrast to Dax, Zigg
y had jet-black hair. She had read they were both six foot three. “H-hi.” Crap, she was nervous. She hadn’t even thought of dating since Paul. She’d kind of turned off her attraction to men while focusing on the projects in Puerto Rico. She mentally chided herself. This wasn’t dating, and she couldn’t be attracted to him. Technically, he was her patient.

  They quickly moved out of the house, and Sky said goodbye to Felicity and Kade. Then they were on the helo pad, and she soon found herself on the helicopter, soaring off to Kincaid Island.

  They donned the headsets, and Dax sat in the back with her. “So the Kincaids have their own island. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”

  Nervous angst ran through the lower pit of her gut. She hadn’t known until last night where Jon would send them. “Yep.”

  He looked at the coastline. “You’ve been there?”

  Her mind flashed to the summers she’d spent a couple of days there with her father. It’d been so much fun for everyone. She’d loved Kade and Anthony like they were her brothers. The way Kade still treated her and how Felicity had instantly put the baby into her arms made tears form in her eyes. They were family, and she had missed them. “Yep.” She looked out the other side of the helo.

  The rest of the trip was quiet, and when they landed, she immediately recognized Ms. Henley, an older woman who had worked at the estate for as long as she could remember.

  “Come here and hug me,” Ms. Henley said as she hugged Sky.

  “Hey, Ms. Henley.” Sky held her, remembering all the times they’d sat in the kitchen and Ms. Henley had baked them cookies.

  Pulling back, Ms. Henley peered into her eyes. “I heard about your father, and I’m so sorry.”

  Sky appreciated the genuine kindness of the woman. “Thank you.” She held her gaze. “I’m so sorry about Mrs. Anders. She was a lovely lady.”

  Ms. Henley’s wrinkles deepened with sorrow. She nodded and turned to Dax. “I’m a big fan, Mr. Brady.”

  Dax relaxed and offered his hand. “Thanks for having us.”

  Ms. Henley wouldn’t let him shake her hand. She opened her arms and hugged him. “Anytime.”

  As they wandered inside the castle, Dax quietly stared at all the pictures and crests on the wall.

  Unwillingly, Sky became the tour guide. “The castle was owned by the Spaniards when they were colonizing the new world. About a hundred years ago, the family of Jon Kincaid’s wife, Ellen, won it in a round of cards with some pirates.”

  “No way.” Dax looked around in awe.

  She showed him the coats of armor on the walls. “That is the Kincaid family crest,” she said, indicating one with a cross with a circle around it and a rose at the top.

  They paused at a portrait of Jon Kincaid. Dax grinned. “The old man looks young, doesn’t he?”

  She smiled. “Larger than life is what my father always said about him.”

  Dax nodded politely and didn’t ask questions. Once they arrived at the room he would be staying in, he said, “You don’t have to be nervous. I’m sure your voodoo will work on me.”

  It was silly, but his remark annoyed her. “It’s not voodoo.”

  He grunted. “Hey, I’m willing to check the box so you can give your report, okay?”

  The fact that he just wanted a recommendation, not real help, ticked her off. “Don’t treat therapy like a test you have to pass.”

  “Isn’t it?” His brown eyes darkened. “You’re here to get access to your trust. I’m here to be the lead guy on the team. Seems like we could just negotiate to do our own thing and tell Kincaid what he wants to hear.”

  Nervousness pulsed through her along with the attraction from earlier. “I’m a doctor, and I don’t sign people off without knowing they are stable.”

  “Listen up, doc,” he said. “We both need this.” When she shook her head, his eyes became surly. “This is really how you’re going to play this?”

  Who did this guy think he was, telling her that they could just agree to lie to Jon? He was way worse off than she’d originally thought. Something shifted inside of her in that moment. She had wanted to get this over with and then get back to Puerto Rico, but right now, all she wanted to do was take this guy down a couple of notches. She crossed her arms. “Let’s get one thing straight, quarterback. I don’t lie. If I pass you off, it’s because I think you’re capable of doing the job that’s being asked of you.”

  “Oh, I can do the dang job. I’m more than capable of being first string on the Titans any day of the week.”

  She turned her back on him and started walking away. “No matter if I get the money or not, I won’t pass you off if you can’t do the job.”

  Chapter 5

  Dax sat at the end part of the candlelit table, waiting. The table was in a little section of the house that had floor-to-ceiling windows and led out to the beach. He was a bit overwhelmed by the Kincaid wealth. Heck, right now he was overwhelmed by everything. He was just trying to keep it all together. He’d angered her by calling her “therapy” voodoo, but what did she want from him?

  “Hi.”

  Dax turned and literally had to tell himself to breathe. The woman was beautiful. He drank in the sight of her in a flowing white dress with a red wrap.

  He would have stood and pulled out her chair, but she was already next to him, pulling it out for herself. She sat in the chair gracefully. “It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?”

  His heart raced, and he didn’t know what to say. Dang, he was attracted to this woman, yet he also didn’t trust her. What had she meant in saying she wouldn’t lie? Did she think she would have to lie for him? Did she think he was a mental wreck like everyone else did, himself included?

  She surveyed the property. “You can never underestimate the Kincaids.”

  For now, he would keep his cards close to his vest and do what he had to do. “She speaks the truth.”

  Their eyes held, and a surge of attraction rushed between them. He reminded himself he was only on this fiasco of a trip to placate Jon Kincaid.

  Ms. Henley arrived, carrying a tray of soup, salad, and rolls.

  “Sit with us, Ms. Henley,” Sky said.

  Ms. Henley lightly touched Sky’s face. “I swear, you have your father’s gorgeous green eyes.” She smiled. “And your red hair never disappoints.”

  Sky’s features darkened, and Dax wondered if she didn’t like getting compliments or if her mood changed because of the mention of her father.

  “Thank you. Eat with us.” Sky patted the space next to her and shot Dax a pointed look.

  “Of course,” Dax said. “Please, join us.”

  “No.” Ms. Henley waved dismissively. “Take your time. I prefer to eat with George in the kitchen.” George must have been the man who’d greeted them.

  So it was just Dax and Sky. As Ms. Henley tottered off, Dax waited until Sky picked up her fork. He closed his eyes and said a little prayer over the food in his head; then he began eating.

  “Were you just praying?” she asked lightly.

  Meeting her eyes, he nodded. “I was taught to say grace.”

  “I was too. I guess I just haven’t for a while.”

  Dax realized he didn’t have much information on her. Getting to know her personally would be easier to talk about, rather than letting her start on the mind therapy or whatever she would do. “Why not?”

  She slowly chewed, pondering his words. “I guess I figured if the Lord wouldn’t spare my father, I didn’t really have much use for Him any longer.”

  The way she spoke so bluntly made Dax wince. He stuck a forkful of food into his mouth. “Guess you like to hold on to a grudge.”

  They both savored the food quietly.

  Dax thought about losing his own father and now being faced with losing Ty. He was the first to break the silence. “I guess I just figure there are no atheists in foxholes, ya know? Might as well cover your bases with the Big Guy so when you need Him, He’s right there.”

  She gave him a
n irritated look. “That makes no sense.”

  He put his fork down and wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Why?”

  “I’m surprised you, of all people, would be saying that prayer works.”

  Holding back his annoyance—why did she think he had a reason to be ticked off at God?—he gave her a slow smile. “And why would you say that about me, doctor?”

  Sky let out an exasperated breath, ripping off a piece of roll and eating it. “Never mind.”

  Dax regarded her. She’d been all holier-than-thou about lying, and now she sat here, basically telling him he shouldn’t believe in God. He honestly couldn’t understand how he’d gotten himself in this situation. “Come on. I want to hear why you, the doctor, think I shouldn’t have hope.”

  She pointed at him with her hand still holding the roll. “I never said that.”

  He sputtered. “Pretty much.”

  “No.” Her voice was calm. “I just said I was surprised.”

  “Why?” He leaned down, forcing himself into a bit of her personal space.

  She moved back, giving him a fake smile. “Let’s not focus on—”

  “No, you started it. Tell me why.”

  She froze. This woman was feisty, and he was good at goading feisty people. Just ask his brothers. “No,” she said.

  “Why? Why wouldn’t I pray and believe in God?” He leaned in more. “Why?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Because your brother is dying.”

  “Exactly.” With his own bland smile, he took another bite of his supper. “It’s a good reason to ask for a miracle.”

  She frowned. “There’s no cure.”

  All of the fun in goading her abruptly ended. “No kidding,” he growled.

  She put her hand to her head and cursed. He glanced at her, but she didn’t explain.

  For a few moments it was quiet between them, and he wished he could bolt and demand that the helicopter come back for him. Did she think he needed someone else to remind him there wasn’t a cure? He couldn’t stop himself. “Believe me, I don’t trifle with God. As you probably know, my dad died of cancer.”