by Connor, Eden
He repeated the procedure with the second gun. Handing that one to Jonah, he kept the pink one and pointed at the rafters. Jonah studied the beams overhead, then examined the toy gun, nodding.
Taking positions a few feet from the court, both pumped their guns.
“What in the world are they doing?” Alice paused, letting plastic letters fall through her fingers to stare.
“Haven’t figured it out yet,” Amy replied.
Eric pulled his trigger. The ball flew toward the high ceiling and fell to the ground. He retrieved the ball and stuffed the twine back onto the gun, moving about a foot closer to the basketball court. He pumped a few more times, then took aim and fired. The dark ball arced into the tangle of ductwork and metal beams and disappeared before falling onto the sections of gleaming hardwood. The white twine hung in mid-air. Squinting, she realized the line had crossed an overhead beam.
“Pump it about ten times,” he called to Jonah. “Then let ‘er rip.”
Dan, Colton, and Maze had completed the floor by the time Eric and Jonah had worked their way around the court, leaving strings dangling in their wake.
The pair ducked out the side door. When they returned, Eric was carrying a huge roll of something that looked like black carpeting. Jonah had an armful of... ski ropes?
“The man’s a freaking genius,” Amy muttered, realizing his plan.
Cynda nodded. “Even Lila has yet to come up with a hare-brained scheme he can’t make happen. Colton fusses all the time that Eric enables her wild ideas.”
“You just don’t get it, do you?” Amy blurted, turning in her seat to glare. “Of course Eric will bust his ass to keep you and Lila happy, because he loves his brothers and in his mind, women always leave.”
Like he busted his ass to help me with this project?
She wasn’t sure where the insight came from, but she knew she’d stumbled on something important. She thought about Tina, and Dani, and Dee. She’d assumed he’d been using them for casual sex, but what if it were the other way around?
Was that even possible?
Well, yeah. Wasn’t she using him for a place to stay?
At least, she could see how he’d still think so.
While she stewed over the idea, she watched Jonah tie the ski rope to each piece of twine, then pull the heavier cord over the beams. Eric crawled along the edge of the court, pushing the black roll in front of him. Amy realized he was rolling out the netting. Every ten feet or so, he connected the dangling ski ropes to the net.
Dan, Colton, and Maze disappeared through the door. Eric sent Jonah with them. When they returned, they’d split into teams, each pair toting a lengthy bundle of metal pipe. Amy recognized the pieces of the frame.
“Mmm, mmm. What is it about watching a man work?” Alice whispered.
“Stop,” Amy hissed. “You can’t ogle them.”
Alice laid two fingers on her wrist. “Still got a pulse. Can, too.”
“Look all you like,” Cynda announced. “But the big one’s mine.”
Amy felt a punch of jealousy.
Long before they’d completed the tedious task of making the signs, the brothers and their helpers had the metal cage assembled.
Getting off his knees, Eric motioned in their direction. “Ladies, we need all hands on deck.”
Amy spied Grams heading their way. She had Woodrow and Hazel in tow. She hurried to give all three hugs. “Wow, so you guys used to work together?”
“Forty years, give or take.” Hazel and Coralinne nodded at Woodrow’s words.
“Now this looks excitin’.” Woodrow gave Amy a quick squeeze but shuffled to Eric’s side.
“Good thing they look nearly done. He’d be tellin’ your man how to do whatever it is he’s doing.” Hazel smiled. “How about it, Coralinne? Wanna go help cutie pie?”
“Help him?” Coralinne repeated, making her eyes wide. “Woman, I feed him.”
“If you tell me you changed his diaper, then I’d be jealous,” Hazel retorted.
Amy shook a finger at the pair. “Behave, you two.”
“Need a few more hands. Any volunteers?” Eric scanned the small group of curious shoppers and vendors.
“We’re here.” Kevin pushed his chair over the angled court edge and grabbed a cord. Amy was relieved to see Jay with him. The massive football player slapped Eric on the back. “How the heck are you, De Marco? Is that Amazin’ Mason Elliot, too?”
A dark expression crossed Eric’s face. He nodded crisply and turned away. Unease slithered down her spine. Eric didn’t seem the type to be jealous of Jay’s success. So, a rivalry over some girl?
A well-dressed woman in heels stepped onto the court. “I’d love to help.”
Amy narrowed her eyes. Tina.
Tina was dressed to kill, of course. Amy glanced down at her referee’s shirt. Still the most unflattering garment ever created. And she’d still choose to wear it any day over heels and a dress.
She didn’t like this game. There was no such thing as incidental contact, not for her, not when it came to sex. Not when it came to Eric. She couldn’t stand the way her gut knotted, watching him smile at Tina. Same as at the doughnut shop, watching the waitress rub all over him. Or that damn nurse at the hospital. Hell, she was even jealous of Grams and Hazel—and her own mother—which was ridiculous.
Casual sex was like walking a tight rope without a net. One slip and she’d be replaced.
So he didn’t risk being left again.
She didn’t know where that insight had come from, either, but she felt the truth of it down to her bones.
What does it mean?
“On my count, just pull the ropes nice and easy. There’s a small cleat welded to each upright post. When I say ‘whoa’, stop pulling and tie off, okay?” Eric announced. “One... two... three, pull!”
When he said to halt, Amy wrapped her rope around the boat-style cleat, once more admiring his meticulous attention to detail. She grappled to lift the net and ducked underneath. Heading for the closest restroom, she dodged strollers and walkers, blinking back tears.
She had to get her emotions under control. She’d worked her ass off for this thing.
And without Eric’s help, it wouldn’t have taken place.
Was he just nicer than the average player, or... did he think he had to bribe her to stay?
She hurried toward the restrooms near the food court, veering to look out those doors. Through the milling picketers and mall patrons, she stared at the spot in the parking lot where she’d been standing when Eric pulled her hair and made her the offer of a lifetime.
She was right back where she’d started a month ago, still unable to believe he’d be interested in her. She could put on a dress, fix her face, delay the inevitable. Wait for him to get a better offer.
Except for one thing. Eric had changed. He was smiling again. He’d beat his demons. The truth of that was in his eyes and in his smile. That sad expression, gone. Now, he was ready to love.
Wedging herself between two women at the crowded bathroom sinks, Amy wrenched on the faucet, splashed cold water on her face, and tried to find her courage. He’d never find anyone who loved him more than her. Hell, he’d already been through over half the town’s roster. Tina, Dee, Dani, the nurse—if they bothered to look past his face, all they saw was the grease on his hands. They acted like he was some trophy fuck, but thought they could do better.
They were welcome to try. She wasn’t giving up without a fight.
And I have home court advantage.
Spinning, she muttered, “Excuse me,” to whoever she’d bumped into. Swiped her palms down the sides of her pants, she ran for the door.
* * * *
Eric fired the sponge ball gun, sending up another line of twine so he could rig an entrance for the players and referees. To his annoyance, Jay Jarius still stood on the court. The football player glided backward, letting the ball fall into his cupped palms. Fucking showoff.
“What
’s the plan, Eric?”
He couldn’t show his ass. He wanted to, but this guy was here to help Amy, so he had to suck it up and deal. He had little use for Kevin’s older brother. Last time Eric had seen Jay, he’d been a senior and Jay a sophomore, strutting down the high school halls like he had the world by the tail because he played on the varsity football squad.
He reloaded the shooter and fired the second shot, ignoring Jay. The damn guy wouldn’t take a hint and go park his ass behind the table Amy put up for him. The athlete caught the second ball just as effortlessly. “Now what?”
Eric didn’t respond until he had the twine tied to the ropes. He lifted a palm without speaking. Jay pulled the twine over the beams until he had the ropes in his hands.
Eric drove his fingers into the net, lifting the pooled excess off the floor. “Throw ‘em under here.”
Colton had left to pick up Lila. Dan was moving their trucks so Phil didn’t get his nose bent out of joint. Jonah was missing in action, but the mall on a Friday was prime time for checking out the ladies. Maze had already gathered the team, drawing diagrams on a dry-erase board.
The football player sidled to the net. Eric kept his attention on the ropes, making sure the net would raise and lower the way he expected. The jerk stuck a piece of paper in his face.
“Don’t deposit it till next Wednesday, okay? I wasn’t gonna donate this much, to be honest. Until I realized you were part of this training camp thing.”
Eric tried not to gape at the amount. Fuckin’ showoff. Who wrote a personal check this large?
Jay squatted and lowered his voice. “Took me longer than I’d like to admit to figure out that when I talked you into letting me drive that Charger of Cotton’s, it cost you the career you wanted. I doubt the recruiters would’ve taken a chance on me if word had gotten around I’d stolen a race car. Blue-collar guys like us don’t get but one chance at gettin’ out of a town this small. So—” Jay shrugged, pressing the check into Eric’s hand. “Thanks for keeping your mouth shut.”
Eric’s hands shook, making him fumble the simple task of folding the check in half. “I’ll be glad to take your money for the camp, but don’t lose any sleep, Jay. I didn’t do that for you. And I’m exactly where I was supposed to end up.”
The pity in Jay’s eyes made Eric want to punch him, but he stood and pulled his wallet out, placing the check inside with care.
Turning away, he plowed into someone, seeing the black-and-white striped shirt too late. Oh, shit. Amy. He grabbed her arm, stopping her before she crashed into the damn fake ficus beside the toy seller’s cart.
To his surprise, she hopped onto the edge of the planter. Her hands felt cool to his cheeks. Bending, she touched her forehead to his. “I love you, Eric. You’re the most amazing, wonderful, generous, intelligent man I know. And you deserve to be loved for exactly who you are. Just give me that chance.”
* * * *
Amy glimpsed her father behind Eric, glaring at his watch. She didn’t care. When Eric’s lips touched hers, the busy mall disappeared. Her entire world became the soft stroke of his tongue, the possessive way his hands grasped her waist, and the sizzle streaking through her body.
* * * *
“Can we play ball yet?” a woman demanded, yanking the back of Eric’s shirt. He lifted his head reluctantly, expecting to see Dee, but Lila grinned from her wheelchair. “The nurses think I’m in the cafeteria. Let’s do this.”
Eric glanced around, relieved to see Dee. Tina stood to her left, Dani to her right, along with several more of his exes who worked here. “Ladies. Thanks for coming.”
He’d spent half his day working on the lease for the camp, but the other half had been spent planning this moment. He wasn’t going to let that light in Amy’s eyes go out one more damn time.
He went down on one knee. Beside Lila, Cynda’s mouth fell open.
“I’ll take my fifty bucks any way you wanna give it to me.” Lila tossed her head and smirked at Cynda, making Eric laugh, though this was the most serious moment of his life. He’d figured out earlier in the day, with all these people around, there was no telling who might say what.
“How did you know?” Cynda demanded.
“Honey, I’ve known since the day Amy nearly killed me with a watermelon, making goo-goo eyes at him. And he never once drove past our house if he saw her car. Even if I was serving bologna and cheese, he stayed.”
“Uh, Lila, can I talk now?” Eric cocked his head and pretended to glare.
“Oh, sorry.” Lila’s grin was unrepentant.
He reached for Amy’s hand. “I asked Dee if she’d help me round up some witnesses, and had Colton break Lila out of the hospital, because I need you to believe what I’m about to say.”
Dee stuck her fingers in her mouth, whistling shrilly.
“I know what it feels like to wonder and never know for sure. I never want you to know how bad that feels. The night we ran into each either in the parking lot, I uh, promised to teach you something. You were a good student, but an even better teacher.” He loved the way those adorable cheeks turned pink.
He stuck his hand into his pocket.“I’ve wasted a lot of time trying to figure out how I could earn you, Amy. How to be the man I feel you deserve. Took me a while to realize, I could never earn a woman like you. You’re a gift. You’re my miracle. Dan,”—Eric saluted his big brother, standing behind Lila—“likes to say I change women the way he changes oil filters. Religiously, every three months, whether a change is needed or not.” He turned again, looking over his shoulder at the group of his ex-girlfriends. “Can I get an ‘amen’?”
The women got louder. “Amens” filled the air, along with more than one “Oh, yeah, he does!” and “You got that right!”
“Okay, ladies, simmer down.” Eric grinned, turning back to look into the most beautiful brown eyes in the world. “I’ve never said what I’m about to say to any of them. There’s a reason for that. See, the men in my family only fall in love once. But once we fall, it’s forever.”
The tiny circle glinted under the lights when he tugged it from his pocket. “Will you do me the honor of being my last filter? I want to flow through you, Amy. I like the man I am when I’m with you. No one’s ever made me feel the way you do. I love you. Will you marry me?”
Before Amy could open her mouth, someone jostled Eric’s elbow, and Amy began to laugh.
“Son, can you afford a wife?” Woodrow demanded.
Eric felt his eyes go wide. This hadn’t been part of his plan. “Yes, sir. I c-can. A-a-bsolutely.”
The old man’s eyes narrowed. “You ever had a wife before?”
“N-no, sir. N-never wanted one b-before.”
Woodrow clapped him on the shoulder with one gnarled hand. “Good answer.” The old man shook a finger at him. “You remember what I told you?”
Eric nodded. “Let her win sometimes and she’ll have your back through every fight.” He turned back to Amy. “Like cars and candles.” He winked.
Her cheeks went scarlet. God, he loved that.
Tucker muttered, “I think I like this guy.” Eric doubted the man meant him.
“If you say no, I want him!”
Amy shook her head at Grams. “He’s mine.” She hopped off the planter and locked her hands around Eric’s neck. Her eyes... oh, God, how could he ever deserve that look in her eyes? “Yes.”
Eric pulled back, fumbling for her hand. The solitaire stuck momentarily on her knuckle. He gave the ring a half-turn. It slipped to the base of her finger like it was made to go there. “This belonged to my grandmother, but if you don’t like—”
She pressed her fingers to his lips. “I love it. And I love you.”
“Son, can I ask a question?”
Eric dared a glance at Tucker, relieved to see the man was grinning. “Yes, sir.”
“Why is it you have the urge to kneel at my daughter’s feet whenever she’s on a basketball court?”
Eric laughed. “Tha
t’s easy.” He puffed out his cheeks. “It’s that whistle. Too cute.”
“Don’t look at me, Tucker,” Alice piped up. “I tried to give her a pacifier, but you’re the one who stuck that whistle in her mouth.” She was grinning when she leaned in to give him a hug, but Amy didn’t move her hands from around his neck.
“One more question,” Tucker said. “How do you feel about elopements?”
His big brother was laughing so hard, Eric spied tears in his eyes. Dan handed Eric the two envelopes he’d been keeping since Eric’s wild dash to the airport earlier in the day. “Funny you should ask,” Dan boomed. “Since I was in such a good mood today, I let Eric twist my arm into giving him next week off.”
Dan placed the tickets in Amy’s hands and Eric waggled his brows. “Vegas was on your bucket list, right?”
He stood and lifted her off her feet. His heart soared at the warmth in her eyes and the way she squealed like a little kid. He didn’t know it was possible to feel this good.
“Yay! Do it, Amy,” Jonah urged, breaking through the crowd of Eric’s exes. “I can remember to call you Mrs. De Marco.”
“Can not believe I’m seeing this.” Dani’s long locks swirled when she shook her head. “Congratulations, you two.”
“Can not believe you’re gonna let Eric and Dan both beat me down the aisle.” Colton shook his finger at Lila.
“They didn’t ask my permission.” Lila laughed when his baby brother scowled.
Inside the net, Gene tapped the microphone. Eric turned toward the court, reluctantly lowering Amy’s feet to the ground. He tugged her close to his side.
“Be happy, you guys.” Dee’s hug was for Amy, he was pleased to see. Behind Dee, Jeb grinned at Eric, sticking up a thumb.
The man on the court waved to the crowd. Several spectators, including Hazel, Woodrow, and Grams, moved onto the low bleachers on either side of the court. “We might as well watch for a while,” Dee added, taking Jeb’s arm.
