“Really? I'm surprised. Aren’t you the car snob? I’d have thought this was right up your alley.”
“You drive an old school Jeep. If I’m a car snob what are you?”
I bite back a smile. “Classic.” I slide up beside him, setting my hands on the handlebar. “Hmm, this one is pretty wide.” I look at him, Rose nestled close to his massive frame and I feel a twinge of jealousy for my niece. In that split second, I want to be close enough to smell him, breathe him in.
Tatum must notice where my eyes rest. “Pretty sweet, right?”
I nod, looking away. Not trusting myself to speak.
“So, not this stroller?” he asks.
I shake my head and take a step to the left. “What about this one?”
“It’s pink,” he deadpans.
I laugh. “Not your signature color?”
He points to a jogger stroller with wheels that are the same size as a bike. “Do you run?”
I shake my head. “Walking trails are more my speed.”
Tatum smiles. “Yeah? Me too. Have you ever been out to Franklin Canyon?”
“I love it out there.” We walk over to another model. More compact and the tag says good for all terrain. “What about this one?”
Tatum is beside me, his hand brushing against mine on the stroller’s handlebar and suddenly it doesn’t feel like I’m in a big box store. It feels like we’re alone, in that canyon out in Beverly Hills, with blue skies and fresh air and possibility. Maybe a little sweat on our brow. His hazel eyes meet mine and time stills.
And then, just like that, his lips are on mine.
I know I should pull away. Everything about it is wrong, and yet it feels so right. His lips are soft, his mouth inviting, and I swear I feel the heat of the kiss straight in my core.
But then a small cry has Tatum drawing back.
Rose gives another squawk, and I’m standing there dazed, my fingers rising to my lips as I watch his flustered response.
He’s trying to get her out of the carrier that’s strapped to his chest, but failing miserably, and Rose is getting more and more upset.
“Here,” I say, helping him unlatch the buckle and take her out. She’s soothed instantly when she’s in my arms and I hush her as I rock her.
Tatum rubs the back of his neck, looking as unsettled as I feel. “Shit, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have...”
“It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“I get it. I look like Ashley. She’s Rose’s mom. It makes sense.”
“God, no that’s not--”
“You two okay?” Cleo asks brows raised as she pushes her cart towards us.
“Uh, yeah,” I say, plastering on a smile that I know my friend can see right through. “Rose is just getting a little fussy.”
“I’ll start paying for this stuff,” Tatum says, flagging down one of the salesclerks to help him.
“Your face is all red.” Cleo is watching me. “What happened?”
I find a pacifier in the diaper bag and give it to Rose. “Nothing,” I mutter. “He just... he kissed me.”
“He what?” she squeaks.
I shush her. Thankfully, Tatum is filling out some kind of form and doesn’t seem to hear. “It was nothing,” I say, even though it felt like something. My lips are still tingling from the warmth of his lips.
“Maybe I was wrong about him,” Cleo says, frowning. “I didn’t think he was a player.”
“I don’t think he is.” And I really don’t. I don’t know why he kissed me, or more importantly why I let him. All I know is it can’t happen again. “I just think he’s confused. It’s been a crazy couple of days.”
“I guess,” she says, “But--”
“Okay,” Tatum has returned, and he still seems agitated.
I feel the same way; my lips are still vibrating with a warmth that sends tingles through my entire body. Of course, the only man to have that effect on me pretty much ever just happens to be the only guy who is completely off limits.
“So, I ordered the stroller,” Tatum says, those green eyes focusing on me, his gaze doing all sorts of things it shouldn’t. “We just have to pay for the smaller things at the front, and they’re going to deliver the bigger items tomorrow.”
“Holy shit.” Laughter floats down the aisle. “You’re Tatum Madden.” A man approaches, his very pregnant wife pushing a cart behind him. He doesn’t ask, just puts his arm around Tatum’s shoulder and smacks his back with the hug. “What are the odds of seeing you in a place like this. You don’t mind if I get your autograph, do you?” He snaps his finger at his wife for a pen, then pulls out his phone and starts to take a selfie with Tatum. “I have got to get a picture of this. The guys are not going to believe it. Tatum fucking Madden.”
I’m already slinking away. This is exactly what I was afraid of. And for a moment I’d forgotten to be on my guard. Thankfully, the man doesn’t pay any attention to me. He’s too awestruck by Tatum. But his excitement has caused more people to start to pile into the aisle and circle Tatum.
“I need to get out of here,” I whisper to Cleo.
She nods, grabbing the keys from the diaper bag.
“What are you doing here?” The guy asks Tatum when his gaze lands on me and Rose, and for a second, I think he recognizes me, but then his focus is back on Tatum. “You have a kid?”
“I’m just picking up some gifts,” Tatum says, giving me a look that tells me to take Rose and go.
“Well, you just made my day. Do you think I can...?”
I don’t hear the rest of the conversation, because Cleo and I are darting down the aisles and out the door. I don’t take a real breath until we’re in the SUV.
“Well, that just happened,” Cleo says, sitting in the front passenger seat.
I’m in the back, strapping Rose into her car seat. “I shouldn’t have agreed to this. Of course, people are going to recognize him. What if he’d snapped a picture of me with Tatum, or if he’d seen...?”
“You kissing?” She raises a dark brow at me.
I groan and close my eyes. “This is so messed up.”
“It’s pretty Jerry Springer,” she agrees. “But what are you going to do? Eventually, someone’s going to figure out that Tatum and Ashley had a kid. That means--”
“I know what it means.” That once again my face will be blasted all over TV and social media. My stomach starts to hurt with the thought of it.
Tatum returns to the car without any bags. He looks stressed when he gets in. “I’m having them ship everything to my place.” He glances over his shoulder at me and holds my gaze. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I just... maybe it’s not a good idea if we’re seen in public together. People might start thinking...” I break his gaze and look out the window. “We just don’t want to give them anything to gossip about.”
He runs a hand over the back of his neck. “Okay.”
“Can you take us back to the studio?” I ask, my stomach still flip-flopping, but I’m not sure from what, almost being recognized or Tatum’s lips against mine.
“Sure,” he says with a sigh.
The drive back is silent and tense and no matter how hard I try; I can’t stop thinking about the kiss. How long has it been since I’ve allowed anyone to kiss me? Years.
I’ve gone out with Zac five times and every time he even tries to hold my hand, I freeze up. But when I’m with Tatum, it’s like my whole body relaxes. I’m not on edge. Not feeling like my whole world might implode on me at any second.
Which is dangerous.
Not only is he a pro-football player with fans swarming all over him, but he’s also my sister’s ex-lover and the father of my niece. It can’t get any more complicated than that.
But when he drops Cleo and me off, I realize how very wrong I am. Things can always get more complicated.
Tatum is long gone with Rose and Cleo is in her own car, starting to pull out of the parki
ng lot when I realize something is off. The front door isn’t locked when I open it, even though there are no classes until this evening. None of my instructors except Cleo and Bernadette have a key, and I know neither of them is so irresponsible as to leave it open.
I remember locking the door myself before I’d left with Tatum. But nothing seems out of place or missing. All the lights are still off and nothing is broken.
Maybe I did forget to lock it. My head was spinning at the thought of seeing Tatum again. Maybe I’d only thought I had.
I go into my office and turn on my laptop, sitting back in my chair as it starts up.
“Christ, you really are the spitting image of her.” The voice is deep, threatening, and it takes me a second to see where it comes from. I stand, grabbing a coffee mug from my desk to use as a weapon.
The man is sitting in the far corner beside the filing cabinets, completely in the shadows. He doesn’t move, and I can barely make out his dark, beady eyes as they scan me.
“Who are you?” I flip the light on, keeping my back to the wall as I move toward the door.
In the light, I can see the man more clearly. His long hair is stringy and hangs past his shoulder. He’s tall but slim, his dark shirt hangs off his body, and when he smiles his teeth are stained yellow.
He takes a step towards me and I lift the mug, making him chuckle. “Now, there’s no need for that.” He puts his hands up, but when he does his shirt lifts slightly and I see the gun he’s carrying.
“Wha-what do you want? I don’t have any cash. All our transactions are made through credit.”
He chuckles a noise that comes from the back of his throat and makes the hair on my arms stand on end. “I don’t want your money, kitten. I’m looking for your sister.”
Shit, Ashley. How much more trouble are you going to cause me?
“You and me both,” I say, trying to keep my voice calm. I glance over my shoulder and calculate the distance to my car. But even as I think about bolting, I know that I may be fast, but I’m not faster than a bullet.
“So, you haven’t seen her?” the man asks.
“Not in over a year.” I swallow the bile that rises in my throat. “What do you want with her?”
He takes another step toward me, and my entire body goes cold. “She has something that belongs to me, and I want it back.”
“Whatever she took, don’t hold your breath on getting it back. If Ashley doesn’t want to be found, she won’t be.”
“That’s unfortunate.” He leans closer, his foul breath on my face. “For you.”
“Whatever she’s done, I’m not involved.”
He smirks, those black beady eyes trained on me. “But you are, kitten.” He takes a piece of my hair and twists it between his finger and thumb, then brings it to his nose and inhales deeply. “Mmm. So sweet.” Then he drops my hair and straightens. “You better hope your sister comes out of hiding, soon, or I’ll have to collect in other ways.” His smile makes my blood turn to ice. “It was nice to meet you, Aria. I’ll be in touch.”
When the door shuts behind him, I lock it and let out the whimper I’d been holding in as I sink to the ground.
I love my sister, but right now it’s really hard not to hate her.
Chapter Nine
Tatum
“You don’t have to knock,” I tell Aria when I answer the door. “I gave you the key and passcode so you can just come in.”
She’s dressed casually, in jeans and a soft pink blouse with lace sleeves. Everything about her is delicate and soft, and I can’t control the need to protect her. Especially now, as she comes into my apartment, not meeting my gaze, a heaviness seeming to weigh her down. I can tell something is bothering her.
“I didn’t want to interrupt in case you had... company,” she murmurs, not meeting my gaze. Her eyes land on the massive pile of baby gear that was delivered this morning. I only got as far as putting together a baby swing and seat. Boxes crowd the hallway and spill into the living room.
“You mean a date?” I say, trying to lighten the mood. “Trust me, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a girl here. I’m mean... other than you.” I stumble over my words.
She just keeps frowning, those blue eyes filled with worry. And I wonder if I didn’t ruin everything yesterday.
I know I shouldn’t have kissed her. And I also know what it makes me look like -- a player. I hate that she might see me like that.
“Look, we should probably talk about what happened at the store.”
“It’s fine. Really.” She rubs her arms and looks around, anywhere but at me. “Honestly, it’s the least of my concerns right now.”
“Why?” An alarm goes off in my head. I knew something wasn’t right the second she walked through the door. “Did something happen? Did Ashley contact you?”
“No. But God, when I see her...” Frustration pours from her words, and she seems shaken today. “I’m just so angry with her. With all of this.”
I take a few steps towards her, then stop, not wanting to get too close and end up repeating what happened yesterday. Of course, I want a repeat, but I know if I mess up again, I’ll end up pushing her away.
And my daughter needs her in her life, way more than I need another taste of those sweet lips.
“If you’re not okay with watching Rose, I can see if--”
“No. I’m fine. I want to be here.” She smiles, but I can tell it’s forced. “Go to your practice.”
“You’re sure?”
She nods. “I just need to leave by seven.”
“You have a hot date?” I tease.
She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth and shrugs.
Shit, she does. I don’t know why, but jealousy burns a path in my gut. “I thought you said you weren’t dating anyone?”
“I’m not. But there’s this guy... I’ve been out with him a few times, and he’s been asking me to go to this new Thai restaurant that just opened up.”
She shouldn’t have to explain herself. Of course, she can date. But the thought of her with someone else has the Neanderthal part of my brain pounding its chest.
“Right,” I say tightly, nodding more emphatically than makes sense. “Then I’ll see you at seven.”
“Great,” she says, lifting Rose from her bouncy seat and giving her attention to my little girl. “Have a good practice.”
“Yeah, well, PT and sitting on the sidelines aren’t going to be much fun,” I say, knowing I’m sounding like a moody teenager.
“Sorry, Tatum.” She turns to me and gives me a look of pity I don’t want. “That must be rough.”
“It’s all good,” I say, waving as I pull the door shut, needing to get the hell away from the apartment. Truth is, I don’t trust myself alone with Aria. I want her too damn much.
* * *
Practice is a bitch -- besides my raging headache the entire afternoon, I can’t help but imagine Aria going on that damn date tonight. I try not to think about it but clearly, it’s making me tense.
My physical therapist, Reggie, keeps telling me to relax as we work on strengthening exercises, but it’s hard to do.
“Damn, T, what gives?” he asks.
Reggie and I have worked together for the last two years since I was drafted to the Chargers. He is a solid guy who was in the LAPD before he got shot on duty and decided to become a physical therapist. Still, he always gives me a hard time for never having a lady. “You need to get laid, bro.”
He’s not wrong. My cock has been twitching since yesterday’s shopping trip and I’d be a goddamn liar if I said Aria’s lips weren’t the thing that got me to sleep last night. “Yeah well, now isn’t a good time for me to get mixed up with anyone.”
“Why’s that?” Reggie asks, just as Knox and Drew come into the PT room.
“Family stuff,” I mutter, hoping he drops the topic.
“Dude, you totally left me hanging last night,” Knox says, punching my shoulder. I texted him after dropping of
f Aria and Cleo and telling him I needed to rain check dinner. “What was going on?”
“Family stuff,” Reggie says with a smirk. “You know what that’s a code word for?”
To his credit, Knox doesn’t drop the baby-bomb instead, he tells Reggie he hasn't’ a clue.
“Well you better not ditch us on Tuesday,” Drew says.
“What’s happening again?” I ask. I swear my head has turned to mush. But in all fairness, I just found out I was a father a few days ago. And as my dad always says, I’ve got bigger fish to fry.
“Poker night,” Knox says giving Drew a sharp look. “But dude, no pressure.”
“I’ll see what Aria is doing. It might not be a problem.”
Reggie grins. “Ah, so there is a woman in your life.”
Drew laughs. “A few, actually.” He and Knox leave before I can punch him like he deserves and I’m glad when Reggie tells me we can call it a day.
“Hey, T,” he says, stopping me as I’m grabbing my gear. “I know you have your boys on the team, but if you ever need anything, I’m here for you, man.”
I nod, thanking him. The way my life is going right now, I very well might need the help of his buddies on the force to help me find Ashley. Maybe he could get me a private investigator. I can’t exactly start cold-calling PI’s I find online. I’m too high profile. Maybe my agent could do me a solid-- but there is something about Reggie I trust.
When I get home, Aria has Rose in a sleeper and is feeding her a bottle.
“Everything alright?” I ask, tossing my keys on the table and kicking off my shoes.
“Yeah,” she says with a smile. “Hope you don’t mind, when she slept, I showered and got ready.”
“For your date.” I hope she doesn’t hear the jealousy in my voice. Fuck, what is wrong with me?
She nods. “Yep, for the date.” She sets the empty bottle on the coffee table and stands, Rose resting on her shoulder. Aria pats her back expertly before handing her off to me. “Practice go alright?”
“Yeah, next week’s game is in Seattle. Everyone’s amped.”
Game Day Baby Page 5
