by Jamie Wesley
“Wow. Way to break out the big guns. You couldn’t have said he likes Coke more than Pepsi or something?”
“No, because you would’ve made a smart-ass comment.” He didn’t deny it. “If all else fails, I have an arsenal of pirate jokes to break the ice.”
“Pirate jokes?”
“Yes.”
“Like what?” He crossed his arms across his chest.
“What’s a pirate’s favorite letter?”
His side-eye was epic. “Really? That’s the best you got?”
She struggled not to laugh. “You’re not answering my question.”
“Because I already know the answer.”
“Then tell me.”
“R.”
“No, it’s aaarrr. Say it like a pirate.”
“No.” Although his lips were twitching.
“See! You think it’s funny!”
“No, I think it’s funny that you think it’s funny.”
She couldn’t stop the giggle from escaping. Because it was funny. “Whatever. I have a million more where that came from.”
“I can’t wait to hear them.”
“I’m going to pretend you’re not being sarcastic.”
A shout of laughter burst from Brady, his eyes crinkling at the corners, the skin stretching across his sharp cheekbones. He was so hot. She stared at him, transfixed. He was usually so contained and intense, but in this state, he was irresistible. Talking, breathing became impossible. He tapped her on the chin, the look in his eye turning serious. All of a sudden, she realized how close they were standing.
“Thanks for making me laugh,” he said.
“My pleasure,” she murmured, inching away from the sphere of his charisma back to the real world. Making him laugh with jokes that only five-year-olds would find funny kept her mind off her own nerves. But she would be all right. She was always all right. She took whatever life threw at her and came out on the other side. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for tonight. Signs that Mack was a jerk, she guessed. A quote she could use in her story. Maybe proof that he had a ton of love children stashed all across the country. Who knew? But if she was given an opportunity to find any secrets, she would take it.
Brady rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, the door opened, and Mack stood there. The sight of him hit her squarely in the chest, making it hard to breathe, like it had the first time they’d come face to face. It wasn’t obvious she was his daughter. Not to the casual observer anyway. But the shape of his nose and the curve of his jaw reminded her of her brother so much.
Mack smiled. “Hudson, right on time. I approve. And you brought your lovely girlfriend. Great to see you again. Caitlin, isn’t it?”
“Yes, sir.” At least her voice came out okay. No need to tip Brady off that her nerves were jangling fierce. He was sharp. Observant. “Thanks for inviting us.”
“Come in. Didn’t mean to leave you out on the doorstep. A few of your teammates are already here, Hudson.”
They followed him into the cavernous home down the hall. Mack’s wife stood at the entry into the living room. Although Caitlin had seen her in the video, she wasn’t what Caitlin had imagined. She guessed she’d expected someone who physically reminded her of her mother, but Abby Jameson wasn’t it. Caitlin’s mom was short and petite like her. Abby was five-ten if she was a day and had a statuesque frame. “Mack, you didn’t tell me others had arrived. Hi, I’m Abby.”
Caitlin shook her hand. Did this woman know about the children and other woman Mack had treated so abominably? Had she chosen to look the other way because of the fame and money? Had Mack been the devoted husband to her that he claimed to be? Did it matter? No, not really. Her beef was with Mack, not his wife.
They congregated in the living room with the other players. Small talk commenced. Everyone was on their best behavior. They had to be under the sharp eye of Mack. When Tilly drew Brady aside to talk strategy about their next game, Caitlin wandered over to the fireplace. A large portrait of Mack and his family hung above the mantle. Caitlin studied the photo. She had two younger siblings she’d never met. Siblings she hadn’t known existed two weeks ago. And now she stood in their shared parent’s home. Could life get any crazier?
“Hi, you’ve been awfully quiet.”
Caitlin turned to Abby, who was watching her politely. “Just a long day at work.”
“But you came here tonight anyway? You’re a supportive girlfriend.”
Caitlin shrugged. “I try to be. He’s supportive of me.”
Abby smiled. “So I hear. I listened to the radio show when he was on.”
Had Mack listened? “Oh. Thank you. I hope you enjoyed it.”
“I did. Mack, too. Don’t look surprised. Mack keeps an eye out on his players. If they’re doing something that public, he knows. He encourages his players to confide in him. To trust him. That’s why he insists on holding these family dinners as he calls them. That’s my favorite photo,” Abby said, gesturing toward the photo on the wall that had caught Caitlin’s attention earlier.
“You have a beautiful family.” Caitlin gave herself bonus points for sounding normal.
“Thank you.”
“How long have you been married?”
“Twenty-five years.”
Four years after Caitlin and her brother had been born. “Congratulations. How did you meet?”
“At a nightclub of all places. Some guy would not take no for an answer, and Mack stepped in.”
“That was nice of him.”
“It was. He thinks I don’t know he was checking me out for most of the night prior to that, but I let the rescuer story stick.”
Caitlin’s lips cracked into a brief smile, the best response she could muster.
The doorbell rang, and Abby glanced around the room. “Excuse me,” she said. “My husband has disappeared, it seems, so I need to get that.”
“By all means. Don’t worry about me.”
Caitlin made her way to Brady’s side. She tried not to jump when he curved his arm around her waist. Oh yeah. Pretend girlfriend. Even if he denied it, he wanted to make a good impression on his teammates. He was nervous. Concerned about how his time in Dallas was going to go. So unlike the Brady she knew from the media, but it was real. And she wanted to help him. Because she owed him, yes, for helping her out, but more importantly, because she liked him.
The arm around her waist tightened. She glanced up to him. His expression hadn’t changed. Neither had his tone of voice. But something was up. She looked to the entrance of the room. Maguire and his fiancée had entered. They were speaking to one of the assistant coaches, but it was only a matter of time before he and Brady met up. Surely Maguire wouldn’t try to cause any problems here under the watchful eye of his coach? Except Mack was still nowhere to be found.
Maguire and his fiancée sauntered up to them a few minutes later. Maguire smirked. “Hudson.”
“Maguire,” Brady answered. Polite. He could do polite even if it killed him.
“Enjoying your first Jameson Mandatory Fun Team Dinner?”
“I am.”
“Surprised you’re not somewhere whispering in his ear about running more plays for you.”
A muscle in Brady’s jaw ticked. He longed to retort. Put this asshole in his place. But where would that get him? Other than momentary satisfaction, little else. As much as it killed him, they were teammates and they needed to get along. Or at the very least, not kill each other. At least until after the season was over and they’d won a championship. Caitlin’s words of advice whispered through his head. So he forced a laugh out of a throat that didn’t want to cooperate. “Come on, Maguire. You know that’s not my style. If I want something, I go and get it for everyone to see. Let’s relax tonight. Caitlin tells me congratulations are in order. You’re engaged. Why don’t you introduce me to your fiancée?”
Maguire’s eyes flashed, but he held out his hand. “Thanks. Patrice, Brady.”
Brady shook her hand.
“Nice to meet you. Lance, this is my girlfriend Caitlin.”
Caitlin, for her part, looked unbothered by the undercurrents of tension. “Hi. Nice to meet you, Lance. Hi, Patrice.” She gave a small wave to the other woman. “I like your dress.”
“Thanks,” Patrice said. “Yours is cute, too.”
Stilted conversation commenced. Not even close to good, but better than open or even banked hostility. It helped to have Caitlin at his side, who had a knack for steering the conversation away from any incendiary topics and keeping things lighthearted. Soon other teammates joined them and the conversation turned to basketball, the one thing they all had in common.
“Did you see that monster dunk Kevin Durant laid out on that Kings player?” Tilly asked.
“Yeah, they’ve only replayed it on ESPN every three minutes since last night,” Brady said. The laughter of his teammates calmed him.
“Dude, you should have seen your face when Dale ordered you to kiss Caitlin in front of everybody,” Whitmore said.
“Yeah, how would you say he looked at that moment?” Tilly asked.
Whitmore stroked his chin. “Shocked?”
“Horrified?”
“Mortified.” Whitmore snapped his fingers. “Yes, that’s it.”
“It was hilarious,” Tilly said.
“It was the first time we’d seen you with something other than the Badass Brady look on your face,” Whitmore said. “I thought, wow, he is human. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time.”
They weren’t holding Dale’s display against him? No, they were giving him shit like teammates did. Brady slipped his hands into his pants pockets. “Which is why you egged him on.”
“Hell, yeah,” Whitmore said. “The moment was too priceless not to.”
They were all laughing when Mack came out of the kitchen, his hands up. “Sorry to interrupt the good times, but I have a confession to make. Dinner was catered, but I was hoping to show off my baking skills for dessert. However, I’m afraid it’s not coming out the way I’d intended.”
“What are you making?” The question came from Caitlin.
Brady turned to her, surprised.
“German chocolate cake,” Mack said.
“That’s one of my favorites.” She glanced at Brady. He noted the uncertainty in her eyes before she faced Mack again. “Maybe I could take a look.”
Mack held out his hand. “Oh, I couldn’t impose. You’re a guest.”
“Don’t be silly. I love to bake. And help.”
“By help, she means butt in,” Brady interjected.
She stuck her tongue out at him, while the others laughed.
“Well, if it’s not an imposition, I’ll take any assistance I can get,” Mack said.
She turned to him, her eyebrows lifted in silent query. She was worried about him. About leaving him alone. He was touched, more than he could remember being in a long time. When was the last time someone had been genuinely concerned about him and not the basketball player who helped decide if their team won and they got to celebrate or if they kept a job coaching a team? Or, better yet, if he was going to buy them something expensive? He couldn’t remember. And it felt good. Damn good.
He squeezed her waist. “Go,” he said. “I’ve got this.” And strangely enough, he meant it. She’d given him the tools to survive the night, and he would. Thanks to her.
Caitlin looked over her shoulder once more before entering the kitchen with Mack. As much as she’d tried to be there for Brady tonight, he’d been there for her tonight even if he never knew it, offering a distraction, and more importantly, a steadying presence from her nerves.
Brady smiled and gave her a little shoo motion. Right. He was okay. A grown man. Besides, her offer to help Mack wasn’t about him. It was about her and her haste to get some alone time with Mack. Which meant it was time to put aside her nerves and get to it.
She shifted and found Mack watching, a small smile on his face. “You really care about him, don’t you?” he asked.
She started. “Um, yes, I do.”
“I can tell. Good. He’s very proud, but wary. Doesn’t trust easily. Holds too much in and takes too much on his shoulders. He needs someone he can relax with.”
Caitlin rolled her shoulders, guilt tensing her muscles. Yes, she and Brady were in this deception together, but it extended further than Brady was aware of. And when he did find out she’d suggested the fake relationship to get near Mack? Well, she’d make him understand and do her best to keep him out of any fallout that came. Mack deserved his reputation to be besmirched. She offered up a tentative smile when she noticed Mack looking at her expectantly. “I try.”
“That’s all we can do,” he said, his tone supportive. Almost fatherly.
Her heart clutched. How strange was life? She was alone with her father for the first time in her life. In his home. In his kitchen about to bake a cake with him. A moment that should have taken place twenty years ago. A moment she would have treasured. A moment he’d done his best to make sure never happened. She took a deep breath. But she was here now, and she would take advantage.
“Yes,” she said, stepping farther into the kitchen. “Now, how can we get dessert back on track?”
“I should have let the caterer make the dessert, but baking is my hobby, how I relax, and I thought I could handle it. But a dinner party, with a bunch of starving basketball players, probably wasn’t the right time to try out a new recipe.”
Caitlin was struck silent. Something she had in common with her father? Her mom had never been much of a cook, and Caitlin had assumed a lot of those duties in a bid to help her out. In the course of doing so, she’d discovered that she loved it, especially baking.
“Thanks for rescuing me. My wife offered to help, but I told her I wanted her to tend to the guests,” Mack continued. He glanced at the door, then lowered his voice. “Between you and me, she’s a terrific woman, but cooking is not her forte. My attempts to teach her over the years have been even more disastrous than tonight is threatening to be.”
To her surprise, Caitlin found herself chuckling. Wait. What was she doing? She couldn’t be bonding with this man. She was here to gather intel, not learn how devoted a husband he was. “How did you learn to cook?”
“My mother was a single woman and was often too tired to cook when she got home, so I learned how to do my best at an early age.”
At the mention of his childhood, her anger came roaring back. He’d grown up in a single-parent home, knew firsthand how stressful that could be on everyone involved, and had still chosen to walk away from her and her brother? Her movements became more stilted, her smile struggling to maintain its status. “Let’s get to it. What do you have?”
He paused, stared at her, considering, for a second, then shook his head. He moved to the oven and opened the door. Unfortunately, the smell that came out was not mouthwatering. Closer to tear-inducing. Caitlin coughed, while Mack sighed and shut the door. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. We’re up against it.”
“The bad news is I don’t think that’s salvageable.”
“But there is good news, right? Please tell me there’s good news.” He sent a pleading look her way.
Despite herself, Caitlin found herself chuckling again. “Yes, there’s good news. I’ve made that cake before and, assuming you bought more ingredients than were necessary for the recipe, we should be okay.”
A huge grin spread across his face. “That I did.”
Caitlin walked over to the huge refrigerator. The Jamesons had spared no expense when it came to their kitchen. Stainless steel everywhere. Granite countertops. A range worthy of any five-star restaurant. “Do you mind?”
Mack spread his arms wide. “Everything in here is at your disposal. I’m only here to help. While I’m thinking about it, let me get you an apron. I don’t want you to get anything on that pretty dress.”
“Thanks.” Caitlin rummaged in the refrigerator which was possibly as deep as she was ta
ll and stocked with everything under the sun.
“We got used to keeping as much food around as possible with two teens who played sports and came home every night starving and woke up on weekend mornings even hungrier,” Mack said.
Knowing it was expected of her, Caitlin threw a smile over her shoulder. She didn’t begrudge her half-siblings their stable upbringing. But how could he talk about them, so easily and so proudly when he knew he had two others out there who’d never received that same attention from him?
Caitlin gathered the supplies she needed out of the fridge and dropped them off on the center island. She accepted a red apron from Mack and tied it around her waist, then retrieved a few more items from the refrigerator and placed them on the countertop. She studied her haul. Looked like everything was here. She’d never made a cake for forty people before, but there was nothing she liked better than a challenge. Including getting more dirt on Mack.
She’d start him off with softball questions. Get him to relax. “So where are your kids now?”
“Spread across the country in college. Eva is at Northwestern, Thomas a little closer to home at Baylor.”
“So your kids are your world, huh?”
“Absolutely.”
Caitlin nodded and rummaged through the cupboards for the necessary pots and pans. “Why did you decide to host these dinners? How often do you do it?”
“Each player is talented in his own way. Most are used to being the man, but that’s not possible at this level. But egos are a fragile thing. You have to have team chemistry if you have any shot of winning. Talent is great and will get you far, but if everyone isn’t on the same page moving in the same direction…”
“Then talent means very little,” Caitlin finished.
“Exactly.” Mack beamed. Her breath caught. God, that smile reminded her so much of her brother it wasn’t funny.
“So when I was a player, I started having my teammates over about once a month when we weren’t on the road. When I became a coach, it seemed natural to start them up again. It’s a little different now that I’m the coach and in a position of authority, but I still think they’re important and worthwhile. Players are more than their stats and numbers on the back of their jersey.”
