by Jody Holford
They both looked up, then down at where she and Sawyer held hands, then back at Addison.
“I should have introduced you to Sawyer properly, but I guess between your surprise visit and his, I was a bit overwhelmed.”
“Wouldn’t have been a surprise if you’d checked your phone,” Sawyer muttered, his tone more lighthearted than earlier.
She squeezed his hand and refused to laugh. He wouldn’t find it so funny when her mom asked about his family, what his favorite color was, and what he wanted for dinner on his birthday.
“Oh, sweetie, we didn’t mean to overwhelm you. How should you have introduced Sawyer?” Her mom’s lips tipped up in a completely knowing smile.
“As my boyfriend,” she said, then muttered so only he could hear, “at least for the moment.”
To her surprise, Sawyer chuckled and released her hand, shaking both of her parents’ hands again. “Sorry about that. I was trying to follow Addie’s lead. I don’t think either of us was expecting to meet each other’s parents just yet.”
Her father leaned on her desk and crossed his arms. Oh goody. Here comes the good cop bad cop. “Has Addison met your parents? Addie, you didn’t mention you were even dating, never mind someone so high profile.”
“Oh, stop it, Kyle. We’re thrilled to know our little girl has found someone. That’s what every parent wants for their child. To see them find not only work that fulfills them but the person who makes their life complete.” Her mom reached out and hugged Sawyer, and Addie bit her lip to hide her grin. She’d tried to warn him. “Come sit, honey. Tell me about yourself. I know you’re a catcher but what else?”
She mothered Sawyer toward the couch, pulling him down beside her. “How long have you and Addie been together?”
Addison sighed. “Not long, Mom. Maybe we can forgo the inquisition. We just started dating and we’ve been friends for a little longer than that.”
Her dad wrapped an arm around her and squeezed. “Now pumpkin, we’re your parents. It’s hard to be away from you. Let your mother get to know your man.” My man? What the? Run, Sawyer, run. “Not that we don’t know quite a bit from the media. We follow all the Nashville news, what with Addie being here. You are a popular topic in the sports arena.”
Sawyer’s jaw flexed, but he maintained his smile. She tried to transmit sorry through a look while resisting the urge to hide her face. Sawyer caught her gaze, and her heart tumbled like a lone shirt in a dryer.
“It’s fine, Addie,” he said, his voice soft and sweet. His good-night-I’ll-miss-you-see-you-soon sexy voice. He turned back to Addison’s mom. “I’m thirty-four, live here in Nashville. I love baseball and nachos almost equally. I’m not overly close to my family other than my Grams, and while Addie and I have only known each other a short time, I think your daughter is a wonderful woman and she makes me very happy.”
He summed that up like he thought that would be enough. Addie almost wanted to grab some popcorn and curl up on the other couch. Nice try, McBain. Mom is just getting started.
“Oh, we know how great she is. We’ve just been waiting for her to find the right man to appreciate her. Did you go to college? You have a very…um…well publicized dating history. We keep up on all the Slammers news as a way to stay close to Addie. Isn’t your brother marrying your ex-wife?”
Addie nearly choked. Sawyer cleared his throat. “I’ve never been married, ma’am. Or engaged. A lot of what you read is fabricated.”
Her mother patted his knee. “That’s very good to know. Makes me feel better. Do you have a home here in Nashville? Where did you say your grandmother lived? You know what? This is silly, asking you all of this like an interview.” Her mom slapped both hands down on her lap.
Addison’s eyes widened. Had her mom suddenly realized how embarrassing it was when she did this to any person—male or female, but in particular boyfriends that she introduced?
“Let’s go for dinner. Then we can really get to know you. What are your plans for the holidays, Sawyer? I know you’re still in playoff mode, but of course that’ll all be wrapped up by Thanksgiving. If you’re not close to your family, it shouldn’t be a problem to spend it with us, right?” Her mom stood up, and Addie groaned. Her mother ignored her. “You must know all of the best places to eat. Shall we?”
Her dad chuckled. “Sorry, Sawyer. My wife comes on a little strong. We like to see our girl happy. You’ll understand one day when you and Addie have children.”
“Please save me from this utter humiliation,” Addie said, putting her hands together in the prayer pose and looking up at the ceiling. “Please?”
“Oh, you know we’re just joking, Addison. We simply want to get to know the man who cares for you and you care for,” her dad said.
Sawyer stood, his cheeks a new kind of flushed. Maybe now he was starting to understand what she’d tried to save him from.
“Uh, dinner would be good, but I have practice first,” he said. “Could we make it later this evening? I just need to talk to Addison in private for a second before I get down to the field.”
Her father, the slightly less let’s-marry-Addie-off crazy parent, laughed. “Of course, son. We’ll see you tonight.”
Her mom looked so pleased when she rubbed her hands together. “I’m so happy we surprised you.” She kissed Addie’s cheek before letting her father rush her out of the room.
Addie closed the door behind them and leaned against it, purposely not looking at Sawyer.
“You were raised by June and Ward Cleaver,” he said, coming over to stand right in front of her.
“Uh-huh. With a side of The Goldbergs. I’m just grateful she didn’t use any of my nicknames.” Making herself act like the adult she was, Addie lifted her chin and gazed up at Sawyer. “I’m sorry. I end up saying that to you a lot. But we’re new and I really like you and my parents come on strong. With everyone they think matters to me but more so with the couple of guys I’ve been crazy enough to let them meet in the past. About three weeks after I’d brought Isla home to meet them, after we’d started hanging out as friends, my mom bought us those best friends necklaces. Have you seen those? Teenagers wear them. Young teenagers. Yeah. So, there you have it. You do not embarrass me. I didn’t want my mom asking you if you knew my ring size.” Mortification swamped her again.
Sawyer laughed, low and soft, and leaned in to kiss her but stopped before their lips touched. He put both of his hands to her face, cradling her jaw in that way that melted her from the inside out and made her feel like he thought she was precious.
“Seems like I’m apologizing for being a jerk just as often.”
“You’re not a jerk. You have some trust issues and I wish you didn’t automatically assume the worst, but that wasn’t cool what I did. Again.”
His hips pressed closer, even though the rest of him remained still. “Actually, I think you’re the coolest woman I’ve met. And I really like you, too. Which is why I assumed the worst, I guess. You feel…too good to be true.”
Her breath came out as a choked laugh. “I’m not. Trust me.”
Sawyer’s forehead touched hers, and that connection made her pulse scramble. “I do. I need to show it better, but I do. And just in case the question comes up, what is your ring size?”
She laughed and wound her arms around his neck. “You can’t say things like that! My mom is like an optimist on happy pills. For real. She’ll latch onto anything you say and start knitting baby blankets.”
“I wouldn’t say we’re in that place, and I’m sure your parents understand the idea of a new relationship, babe. But they also love you and want to see you happy. That much is obvious. Hopefully, when I’m not being an idiot, I do make you happy and I don’t mind letting them know I plan to keep doing it.”
Tears welled in her eyes. She loved her parents so much, and she understood her mom’s crazy love-happy brain. That didn’t mean it hadn’t chased off men who were faint of heart in the past.
“She never knows which days are goi
ng to be good or bad. She’s obviously having some really good ones and has been for a while. Some days, you wouldn’t know she has anything trying to tear her down. It’s like she wants to make sure I’ve got my future all mapped out so she…” Addie’s voice cracked and she lowered her gaze.
Sawyer tipped up her chin. “So she what?”
Taking a deep breath, she said the words she hated to think. “So she doesn’t miss out on seeing it.”
Surprise snapped into Sawyer’s gaze before it was drowned out with a look of affection that nearly loosened a storm of Addie’s tears.
“Addie,” he whispered, his voice full of emotion. “Then let’s go to dinner tonight and show her that we make each other happy. Because you do. You make me think there’s a lot more good in this world than I’ve let myself believe. And your mom is adorable. I want to get to know the person—the people—who helped shape you into such an amazing woman.”
His lips finally captured hers, and the kiss he gave her held a sweetness they hadn’t shared yet. It made Addie think of what it would be like to have someone by her side when things were good and when they weren’t. It made her think there was a chance of a future with a man she didn’t mean to fall for. And it made her want it…bad.
Chapter Eighteen
Sawyer leaned back against the leather padding of the booth they were in, laughing at a joke Addie’s dad had made. Sawyer felt more relaxed than he expected to and realized that a certain level of privacy could exist even in a crowd. It helped that Isla and Cruz had joined them at the last minute so the wedding talk was fixated in their direction.
Sawyer was surprised by the depth of his feelings for Addison. He wanted to make her smile the way she was now, he wanted to chat with her parents and listen to embarrassing stories about her childhood. It was scary to feel this way. Almost as scary as the ache in his knee and the knowledge that he had at least one more game to get through. She was the first woman in longer than he could remember to touch parts of him he’d thought had grown dormant. Her shoulder brushed his and he squeezed her knee, liking the connection, the feel of her next to him.
“We wanted to wait until after Christmas but since we met in December, we wanted to get married in that month as well,” Isla said, turning to gaze up at Cruz, who looked back like his woman was some sort of sorceress.
Even a couple of weeks ago, Sawyer wouldn’t have understood that look of enchantment, but now, with Addie, he could see being that far gone. That in itself was a huge shift for him.
“I’m so happy for you, sweetie,” Addie’s mom said. “You deserve this. It’s been a tumultuous year for you.”
“Your father is a fool to miss out on having a relationship with you. I hope you know that,” Kyle said, his affection for his daughter’s friend evident.
“Isla knows her dad and brother are idiots. Though Ian seems to be coming around some,” Addie said.
“Honey,” her mom chastised, making Sawyer grin.
“Seriously, Mom. She’s okay with it. She’s been welcomed into the Cruz family, and they are a lovey bunch. She’s not lacking affection or family connections,” Addison continued.
Cruz leaned across the table. “That love includes you, Addie.”
It wasn’t jealousy that twitched in his gut at the sight of Cruz’s hand covering Addie’s. It was…something else. Sawyer wanted to be the one to reassure her, to make her feel like she belonged. He wanted to be the reason for her happiness, and that thought scared the hell out of him. Because sometimes he couldn’t even manage to make himself happy.
“You’re awfully quiet, Sawyer,” Isla said. She lifted her wineglass and eyed him over the rim as she sipped. Both Cruz and his fiancée had sent him more than a few interested looks. They sort of dropped the relationship on their friends without warning, though he suspected Addie and Isla had spoken. He also suspected Cruz would be offering a “big brother” talk later.
“Just taking it all in,” Sawyer said.
The waiter dropped off more bread and asked if they needed anything else. They’d shared several appetizers instead of having a meal and all of them had agreed they were stuffed. Though, that didn’t stop Addie from looking at the dessert menu.
She picked it up again, and Sawyer leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I promised you ice cream the other night, and we got sidetracked. I’ll buy you some on the way home.”
Her lashes fluttered as she looked up with a hooded gaze. More than happiness shone there. Affection. Lust. Sweetness. Yeah. He could handle this.
“Sounds perfect.” She closed the menu and set it down, and they asked for the check.
He caught Addie’s father studying them all around the table; both couples but Sawyer in particular.
“A lot of overlap for the four of you. Friendships, relationships, business. Is it hard for you to separate professional from personal, Sawyer?” Kyle asked.
Sawyer eyed Liam and Isla, knowing that it was a bit trickier than any of them wanted to let on. “Not usually. I’ll admit this is a different situation than one I’ve been in before. But Cruz and I have been friends for years. We knew each other in our early days. Before both of us got so old.”
Cruz grinned, lifting his beer. “Speak for yourself, old man. I only get better with age.”
Isla curled up against him, snuggling into the crook of her fiancé’s arm. “I agree.”
Sawyer laughed. “She’s looking through rose-colored glasses, man.”
“It’s not a typical situation, I don’t think. But Addie’s my best friend so we’ll have to work around the professional stuff,” Isla said.
Easy for her to say. He didn’t have a backup for her in case she sucked at the whole owner/manager deal. He swallowed down a gulp of his beer, but it didn’t taste as good as it had. The thought of Mateo swooping in seemed more likely if anyone figured out how much his knee was troubling him. He’d called his friend and scheduled a private MRI.
“So far, so good,” Sawyer said. He ignored the tension in his shoulders, willing himself to trust these people.
They were damn good people. Regardless of what else she was trying out, Isla was doing a great job of making this team more of a family. And they were in the playoffs which still felt like an alternate reality.
By the time the evening wore down, Sawyer was more than ready for some alone time with Addie. He paid for dinner, arguing with Liam over the check and, no surprise, winning.
Outside the restaurant, the air had cooled considerably and as they waited for their vehicles, Sawyer pulled Addie closer, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Kyle was saying something to his wife, his face hidden by her hair. When he lifted it, they both had smiles on their faces. A weird feeling struck Sawyer straight in the chest. They were clearly in love. Happy. Even after being married for a few decades. Despite an illness, life’s uncertainties, and having a daughter who they missed.
“We’re going to take a cab back to the hotel,” Kyle said, still looking at Addie’s mom.
“You guys don’t have to stay in a hotel,” Addie said.
Her mom grinned. “It’s our mini vacation, sweetie. We want to. And your dad and I are going to check out a little pub near where we’re staying. They have live music.”
Addie shook her head and then hugged her parents. “Okay. You kids stay safe. I’m not bailing you out if you get up to no good.”
Her dad chuckled and kissed her on the cheek. “That’s why I work hard for my own money.”
Kyle shook Sawyer’s hand again and Stacy gave him a hard hug, asking him to watch out for her girl. She gave Liam and Isla a hug as well, as if she couldn’t stand not passing the love around. Rather than feeling guarded, Sawyer found himself embracing her back and meaning it.
By the time they got Kyle and Stacy in a cab and said goodbye to Liam and Isla, Sawyer felt like he was actually craving Addie. It was a strange sensation to be wrapped up in someone so quickly. More than that, he knew better than
to just go all in. Nothing good happened without escape plans and emergency exits.
“You okay?” Addie reached for his hand across the console.
He glanced at her and gave her a small smile before pulling out onto the street. “I’m good. That was a nice night.”
Tension returned to his shoulders, but it was different than earlier. This was all about Addison Carlisle and how quickly she was becoming important to him.
“Thank you for putting up with all of the questions. I promise, your parents can do their worst and I won’t bat an eyelash.” There was laughter in her tone.
He had to work his jaw to keep it from clenching. “My family isn’t like yours, Addie.”
The traffic was light on the way to her place, but the air in the truck seemed to shift. Tighten.
“I wasn’t suggesting I meet them right now or anything. You only met mine because they surprised me. I’m really not trying to rush things between us, Sawyer. If you’d prefer to take a step back…” she said, letting the words hang in the air.
Stopping at a red light, he turned to look at her, his heart clenching. “I don’t. That’s not what I’d prefer at all. I care about you, Addie. I like being with you. More than I imagined. Tonight was great. I’m glad I got to meet your parents and be there with you. I just…you see so much good and…I don’t want you to be disillusioned or disappointed when you meet my family.” Which, seeing as his brother was having a big engagement shindig, was likely going to be soon. The thought of even going made his skin crawl. But he’d promised his Grams he’d go.
A horn honked behind them, jolting Sawyer from the moment, and he reluctantly turned back to the windshield.
“I’m not as naive as you think. I know not everything is roses and lollipops. I can handle that, Sawyer. As long as I know we’re in this together, I can handle what comes our way.”
She said that now, but the last woman he’d believed was now planning a stupidly expensive engagement party with his brother.
“Me too,” he said. He didn’t want to make a habit of lying to her, and it wasn’t untrue. He could handle what came their way.
