Blindsided (Fair Catch Series, Book Three)

by Christine Kersey

  The reminder that she was leaving dimmed her happiness, but she had to face reality. “It smells delicious.”

  “I only burned one batch, so I’m doing pretty good.”

  She laughed. “Yeah. One burned batch is acceptable.”

  He scooped the golden-brown slices of bread out of the pan and placed them on a plate, then dipped more bread in the batter before dropping them into the pan with a sizzle.

  “Maybe you should get Harper up,” he said. “I’d like to spend some time with her before you leave.”

  Didn’t he want to spend time with her? More than a little disappointed, she plastered a smile onto her mouth. “Of course.”

  He must have read the dismay in her eyes, because he set the spatula down and said, “Come here, Mari.”

  Hurrying around to his side, when he opened his arms, she went right into them, and when he kissed her neck, his lips moving over her jaw and stopping on her mouth, love and desire tore through her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, not ready to say good-bye. Not ever wanting to say good-bye.

  “It’ll all work out,” he murmured near her ear.

  Why did he keep saying that? He had no idea if anything would work out, and it was starting to drive her crazy that he seemed so confident that it would. Still, she didn’t want to ruin the moment by starting an argument, so instead of responding to his words, she just held him tight.

  The smell of burning bread hit them.

  “Oops,” he said as he released her. “Make that two batches that I burned.”

  She didn’t care, and she couldn’t quite bring herself to laugh. She couldn’t even crack a smile. “I’ll go get Harper,” she said instead, then she trudged out of the room and up the stairs.

  Hank was trying to make the best of an impossible situation. Why did Mari have to be so downcast? It only made it harder for both of them.

  Sighing despite his determination to not become melancholy, he flipped the batch of French toast, and when Harper bounded into the kitchen a few minutes later, her bright smile cheered him considerably.

  “Good morning, Princess Pink Rose,” he said as he swept her into his arms.

  “I’m going on an airplane today.”

  “That’s right. You are.” He looked at Mari, who had followed Harper into the room. “You and Mari.”

  Mari had a smile on her face, but he could tell it was forced.

  “I get to see Mommy,” Harper said.

  “That’s right. And I’m gonna miss you.”

  She hugged him. “I miss you too.”

  He snuggled her in his arms, then he looked at her. “Will you come back to see me?”

  She held up her little finger. “I promise my pinky.”

  He looked at Mari, whose smile seemed genuine now. “She’s giving you a pinky promise.”

  Softly chuckling, Hank wrapped his pinky around Harper’s, then kissed her on the cheek before setting her down. “Are you ready for some French toast?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay. Go sit at the table and I’ll bring it to you.”

  She did as he asked, and Mari sat beside her.

  Limping slightly, he carried the platter to the table, set it in the middle, then sat down. They ate in relative silence, and the morose mood didn’t go away as Mari helped him clean up while Harper watched a movie.

  In an hour, they would be gone.

  He tried not to think about it.

  “Are you going to talk to London?” Mari asked as she placed a dirty dish in the dishwasher.

  That was something he was dreading even more than them leaving because he knew London would be livid. Not a pleasant thing under the best of circumstances. But he would do it. “Yeah.”

  Mari straightened and looked at him. “When?”

  “I’ll call her tonight.”

  Her forehead creased. “Tonight?”

  “Yeah. I’m gonna tell her that we’re together, but that you still want to take care of Harper. That it’s in Harper’s best interest for her to leave things be.”

  While Mari was beyond grateful that he was willing to talk to London, to try to fix things, when he laid it out like that, panic blossomed inside her. If he told London the truth, she would fire Mari for sure. She couldn’t let that happen. Harper needed her.

  Maybe if they kept quiet, it would all blow over. Besides, Mari would be in LA and Hank would be in Sacramento. They weren’t going to be together any longer, were they? Really, there was nothing to tell. This incredible thing she had with him? It was about to fall completely apart. In all reality, once she was in LA, under London’s roof, she wouldn’t be able to continue with him. How could she? Right under London’s nose? That would be insane.

  There was no hiding from it. Their relationship was about to crash and burn.

  She wanted to be brave about this, but as she looked at Hank, at those amazing eyes, at those lips that had set her on fire numerous times, it felt as if her heart was shattering. And there was nothing she could do to stop it.

  “No,” she said, her voice just above a whisper. “Don’t call her.”

  Hank’s eyebrows shot up. “I thought that’s what you wanted.”

  “It’s just…there’s no point. I mean, we’re not going to be together anymore.”

  Is that really how she saw it? Hank was surprised. And a little hurt. Was she ready to end things already? Did she want to make a clean break?

  Maybe she had the right idea. Maybe that would be the best way to handle this impossible situation.

  But he’d fallen in love with her. He’d told her as much the day before. And she’d said she loved him. Did that mean nothing to her? He didn’t believe that.

  Could it be that this time at his house had just been an interlude—for both of them? Had it been like their own little paradise, cut off from the world with only each other to focus on? And now that reality was about to intrude, perhaps their love for each other wouldn’t stand up to it?

  Yes, making a clean break would be best.

  “You’re right,” he said. “We should let it lie.”

  So it was over. No trying to change her mind, no hint of regret. Nothing. She looked away, devastated.

  She should have heeded London’s warning, and now she would have to live with her heartbreak.

  Regret, painful as acid, washed over her, and she finished loading the dishwasher in silence, but she could feel Hank’s eyes on her.

  The limo arrived a short time later.

  “It’s time to go,” Mari called out to Harper, who slid off the couch and walked toward her, dragging her Snow White backpack behind her. Swallowing the tears that clogged her throat, Mari smiled. “Come tell your daddy good-bye.”

  Hank scooped Harper into his arms and held her tight as he swayed back and forth. “I love you, Princess Pink Rose.”

  “I love you, Daddy.”

  He kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you soon, okay?”

  She nodded and he set her down.

  Not sure what to do—Mari wasn’t about to throw herself at Hank in front of Harper—she ushered Harper out the door and toward the limo. While she secured Harper’s carseat, Hank and the limo driver loaded their luggage.

  “Climb on in,” she said to Harper, and once Harper was inside, Mari closed the door and turned to Hank.

  Hank told the driver he would help Mari get in, and the driver got behind the wheel.

  Mari couldn’t stand it a moment longer. The damn burst and tears filled her eyes, sliding down her face. Hank pulled her into his arms and she sank against him, her heart disintegrating into a million pieces.

  “It’s gonna be okay,” he murmured in her ear. “You’ll be back soon and we’ll figure things out.”

  Soon wasn’t soon enough. He held her while she cried, then when her tears slowed, he cupped her face with his hands and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.

  “I love you, Marigold. Don’t forget that.”

  Those words meant everything to her
and she smiled through her tears. “I love you too.”

  Using his thumbs, he wiped the tears from her cheeks, then he walked her to the other side of the limo and opened the door. After a final kiss, he helped her inside, bending down to tell Harper good-bye one more time.

  Mari sniffed away her tears—she couldn’t have Harper seeing her so upset—then she smiled as Hank closed the door and the limo pulled away from the curb.

  Minutes later, Harper burst into tears. “I miss my daddy.”

  Wanting to burst into tears herself, Mari took several deep breaths to get her emotions under control, then she smiled at Harper. “I know. But we’ll be back here before you know it. And today you get to see your mommy!”

  That seemed to cheer Harper, although it didn’t do a thing for Mari.

  Hank didn’t allow himself time to miss Mari or Harper. Instead, he headed to the team facility to get his hamstring worked on. But as he drove, he couldn’t help but think about Mari, about her sobs. He’d been wrong to think she wanted a clean break. Clearly, she didn’t want that at all. Yet she wasn’t prepared to abandon Harper. That just made him love her all the more.

  He had no idea what he was going to do.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  When Mari walked into London’s house with Harper later that day, the familiarity of the place washed over her and for a moment it seemed as if the time at Hank’s had been a dream. A wonderful, amazing, spectacular dream.

  Now that she was back, she wanted nothing more than to focus on Harper and do her job. Which is why she was on edge, worried that Harper would say something about the kiss she’d witnessed. Hoping Hank was right, that not making a big deal about it would keep Harper from thinking about it, she inhaled deeply, then slowly released her breath.

  “Welcome home, my sweet girl,” London said as she met them in the entry. Her jeans flattered her slim figure, and the turquoise blouse looked gorgeous with her blonde hair and porcelain skin.

  “Mommy!” Harper squealed, running into London’s open arms.

  London held her tight. “I missed you so much.”

  “I missed you too.”

  Straightening, London smiled at Mari. “How was the flight?”

  Struggling to hide how much she wished she was in Sacramento, Mari plastered a smile onto her mouth. “It was fine. Much shorter than your flight.”

  London laughed. “Those international flights can be brutal. Flying private is the only thing that makes it bearable.”

  Mari smiled like she knew what London meant, but she’d only ever flown commercial.

  “Why don’t you girls freshen up and then we’ll have some lunch.”

  Mari followed Harper up the stairs and to their wing of the house. She helped Harper get changed into a fresh outfit, then left her to play with her dolls while she went into her own room.

  As she walked in, an image of the room she’d had in Hank’s house filled her mind, and right behind that were the memories of all the time she’d spent with Hank. All the times he’d kissed her.

  She missed him desperately.

  Trying not to think about him, she freshened up, then she and Harper met London in the shaded outdoor area that overlooked the city of Los Angeles.

  As they ate, London asked Harper about the things they did, and as Mari listened, her nerves were stretched thin. She was terrified that Harper was going to mention that kiss.

  “I painted with my fingers,” Harper said, holding up her hand.

  “What did you paint?”

  “A tree. Mari showed me how to do it.”

  “Maybe you can make a tree for me.”

  That’s what Mari needed to do. She needed to concentrate on Harper and painting. She needed to evict Hank from her mind. That’s when Mari realized she’d completely forgotten about the painting of Harper that she’d meant to give Hank. It was still sitting in the corner of their art studio. She’d known they were coming back in October, so she’d left all of their art supplies. Holding back a frown, she listened to the conversation between London and Harper.

  “What else did you do?” London asked.

  Harper giggled. “We played shark in the pool and daddy got me.”

  “He did?”

  She nodded as she used her fork to pierce a chunk of cantaloupe.

  “That sounds like fun.”

  “Uh-huh.” She chewed the cantaloupe. “Mari telled Daddy a secret on his mouth.”

  Mari almost dropped her glass of water as her gaze shot to London. Her heart began to pound so hard she thought it would explode out of her chest and land right in the middle of the pristine, white tablecloth.

  London was staring at her, her eyebrows nearly in her hairline, her eyes wide. “What is she talking about?” London’s calm tone belied the shock on her face that was quickly being replaced by fury.

  Hank was wrong. Harper hadn’t forgotten.

  “Uh…”

  London threw her hand up. “Don’t bother, Mari. You and I will discuss this later.” Then she turned to Harper and completely ignored Mari for the rest of the meal.

  After they’d finished eating, London finally turned to Mari. “Keep Harper occupied while I make a phone call.”

  “Of course.”

  Who was London going to call? It could be anyone—a producer or a director. But Mari knew who it was. Hank.

  All because of one little kiss. Okay, they’d kissed many, many times. But only once in front of Harper. Clearly, that kiss had made an impression on the little girl. It had made an impression on Mari too, because that was the kiss she’d shared with Hank after he’d told her he was falling in love with her.

  Terrified of what would happen now, Mari tried to push it out of her mind while she read book after book to Harper, and then while they played with Harper’s dolls.

  What was taking so long? Not knowing was torture, and when Harper started getting grumpy, Mari’s nerves were stretched tight and she nearly scolded her. Stopping herself just in time, she immediately felt bad for her impatience. It wasn’t Harper’s fault that her daddy was so amazing, handsome, and beyond incredible. And it wasn’t her fault that Mari had let herself fall for him.

  “Do you want to watch a movie?” she asked her.

  “I wanna see Tangled.”

  “I love that one. Let’s watch it.”

  They went into the media room where Mari queued up the movie, then they stretched out on the recliners. It didn’t take long for Harper to fall asleep. Mari wasn’t surprised—she was worn out herself.

  A few minutes later London walked into the room. She looked at Harper sleeping on the recliner, then she motioned for Mari to come with her.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Extreme apprehension swept over Mari as she stood and followed London out of the media room and to a nearby grouping of chairs.

  “Have a seat, Mari.”

  When they were both seated, Mari tried to slow her galloping heart as she wiped her suddenly sweaty palms on the legs of her jeans.

  “I just finished a very interesting conversation with my ex-husband.”

  Just the mention of Hank made Mari’s heart do a little flip. She loved him so much.

  London crossed one long leg over the other. “But I’d like to hear your side of the story.”

  What had Hank told London? She had no way of knowing, so she decided the best option would be to tell the truth.

  “I should have listened to you, London,” she began, hoping to appeal to London’s vanity. “You were right. Hank’s a very charming man.”

  London’s jaw tightened and her lips pinched together. “You fell for him, didn’t you?”

  The memory of him holding her only hours before filled her mind, and she nodded. “Yes.” It came out as a whisper.

  Sighing audibly, London looked away as she slowly shook her head. Then she turned back to Mari. “At what point did you start lying to me?”

  “What?”

  “I asked you several times if
anything was going on between the two of you, and you denied it every time.” She glared at Mari. “At what point did you start lying to me?”

  Was it really necessary to tell her that she’d lied from the start? How would that help anything? She’d already admitted that she’d fallen for Hank. Why couldn’t they just work from that point?

  “I don’t know,” she finally said, not willing to admit the complete truth, but not willing to underline a particular moment when she’d lied.

  “I see.”

  “I’m so sorry, London. I was wrong to—”

  She threw her hands up. “Save it for someone who cares.”

  Uh-oh. This couldn’t be good.

  “You ignored my warnings and you flat-out lied to me, Mari. That is completely unacceptable.” She stared at Mari, her blue eyes chips of ice. “You’re fired.”

  Mari’s heart dropped and her thoughts flew. “Wait. Are you saying you wouldn’t be firing me if I had admitted the truth from the start?”

  A scoffing sound burst from London’s throat. “No. You being involved with my ex-husband is unforgivable. But lying to me on top of that…” She shook her head. “How dare you? How dare you claim to love my only child while at the same time carrying on with my ex-husband?” She glowered at Mari. “Do you have any idea how deeply you’ve betrayed me?”

  Mari had known London would be upset, but she’d had no idea how much. And London was wrong. Her love for Harper wasn’t something she merely claimed. “I do love Harper.” Tears filled her eyes. “She’s the sweetest, most adorable child I’ve ever known.”

  “I’m well aware of that, which is why you don’t deserve to be her nanny.” She paused a beat. “You’re not irreplaceable in Harper’s life, Mari.” She glared at her. “I’m her mother. I’m the only one who’s irreplaceable.”

  The truth of that statement hurt and hurt deeply. In a way, Mari had begun to feel like Harper’s mother. She’d taken care of her for nearly twenty-four hours a day since she’d been hired as her nanny. Still, she knew London was right.