The Guardian Groom_Texas Titans Romance

by Lucy McConnell

  Owen reached for Bree’s hand. She hesitated. They’d been dating heavily for about a month, but Mom didn’t know that and Bree didn’t go for public displays of affection. Usually. With Owen, everything was different—in so many good ways. That’s what she needed to focus on, and so she slipped her hand into his and pulled him around the corner and into the tiny kitchen.

  The galley had room for two people tops, so she headed to the other side of the bar and settled onto a stool so she could face her mom. Owen sat beside her, but angled towards her and not the kitchen. Their hands hung linked together between them.

  Mom smiled up at them, her hands covered in flour and dough. In front of her was a lump that would soon be fresh rolls.

  “Mom, this is Owen. Owen, this is my mom, Doris.”

  Owen smiled carefully. “We met at the expo. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”

  “You too.” Mom’s smile was guarded. She took in their clasped hands. “I’m sorry about the mess. I’m a little behind.”

  “No worries.”

  Their less than enthusiastic greeting made Bree’s blood pressure hike up. Her fantasies of the two of them becoming fast friends were evaporating quickly as Owen cleared his throat and glanced around the room. Mom stared at the dough as she kneaded.

  “What are you making?” Bree asked.

  “Rolls.” Finished with the kneading process, Mom ripped the dough into small balls and placed them in a prepared dish.

  “That sounds good.”

  “You’ve had my rolls a hundred times.”

  “I know. I just haven’t had them for a while.”

  Mom didn’t answer. Owen squeezed her fingers.

  Every thought that entered Bree’s head sounded trite, and so she kept her mouth shut. Owen stared at the clock on the microwave.

  Mom worked quickly as if she couldn’t wait to get dinner over with. “How’s work?” she asked.

  “Good.” Bree sat up taller, relieved to have something to talk about. “I still don’t have a grand prize for the reading program.”

  “What about the books you were looking at?”

  “They’re good, but the kids want something different. I suppose I could buy passes to the local pool again. But that seems anticlimactic after all the secrecy.”

  Mom set the rolls in the oven and washed her hands. “What about you?” She nodded toward Owen.

  Owen’s head jerked back. “Me?”

  “Yeah—I’m sure the kids would love the chance to spend some time with a football star.”

  Bree hadn’t even thought of asking Owen. Strangely enough, she didn’t look at him as just a football player anymore. She just saw Owen—the guy who liked nuts on or in his ice cream and who’d installed a shelf in his office so she would have a space to leave her books at his house.

  Mom’s hands paused under the flowing water. Her face brightened as she warmed to the idea. “The kids would love it! They get so excited when they meet their heroes.”

  Owen’s ears turned red. “I’ll have to check with my agent.”

  Bree’s heart sped up. She felt like she was watching a car wreck about to happen, and her voice was frozen in her throat. Waves of discomfort rolled off Owen and buffeted Bree.

  Mom continued, gaining excitement as she spoke. “You could plan a hot dog roast and small carnival at the park. Nothing big, mind you, because we all know your budget is small. But Audrey and I could run a booth each, and the mayor could cook the hot dogs. And Owen—” She threw a hand out towards him, sprinkling the counter with water. “—could autograph footballs or shirts or even bookmarks.” She paused to breathe.

  Next to Bree, Owen’s arms were tight and bulging muscles in all directions and his eyes were narrow slits.

  “Mom, I told you—Owen’s private. He doesn’t like people to make a big fuss.”

  Mom finally looked at Owen, really looked at him. Had he the ability, steam would blow from his ears.

  Her face fell. “I-I’m sorry. I got carried away.” She rubbed her right hand up her left arm.

  Bree was torn in two directions. Her mom really was just trying to help. And Owen wasn’t the type to work his fame for himself. Yes, he did sponsorships, but they were as hands-off as possible—a photo shoot for cereal or game footage for a sneaker. Bree wanted him to feel at ease and she wanted her mom to feel valued for the suggestion. Was there a way to do both?

  Owen swallowed heavily. “I would like to help, but I’ve signed contracts with the team and sponsors that have clauses limiting my public appearances. I’d need to make sure I’m not violating a contract.”

  “That’s completely understandable.” Bree nodded, desperate to find even ground for the two of them. Although he would make an awesome surprise for the kids. The kids would get tickets for the games based on how many minutes they read over the summer. Once she announced the prize, the children would double up their reading time to earn more tickets. Yeah, this could be the best end-of-summer bash the library has ever seen.

  “I didn’t realize your life was so complex.” Mom dried her hands and stood across from Owen. “I’m sorry if I put you on the spot.”

  Owen lifted a shoulder. “No worries.”

  Bree cringed. He’d used the “no worries” phrase twice now. Which made her worry.

  Mom reached for a stack of plates and a pile of flatware. “I’m going to set the patio table. It’s such a nice night I thought we could eat outside.”

  Owen was on his feet and had the plates in his hands before Bree realized he’d let go of her hand. “I’ve got this. You two relax for a few minutes.” He escaped through the sliding glass door and slowly laid a plate down—like he was taking his time and drawing out the chore so he could be alone for a few moments.

  Bree sighed.

  Mom leaned on her forearms on the bar. “That was nice of him to offer to set the table.” That was Mom—looking on the bright side.

  “He’s good like that.”

  “Good.” Mom went to check the lemon chicken.

  Owen finished arranging the table and went to stand at the edge of the deck, his arms folded. Bree wished she’d waited to introduce her mom and Owen. But hindsight was always 20/20. She just hoped the two of them could recover from tonight.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  A little over a week later, Bree was finishing up with the new arrivals for the children’s section when her phone rang. “Hey, Mom.”

  “Hi, sweetheart. I haven’t seen you for a while. How about a movie night tomorrow night?”

  Bree cringed. She had plans with Owen. Nothing big—dinner and breaking in his new pool table. She’d read every book the library had on billiards and was looking forward to beating him soundly at a competition. He’d crushed her at basketball, soccer, tennis, bowling and tetherball. Billiards was all about angles and geometry and trajectory. If there was a sport she could beat him at, this was it.

  But her mom was right: she hadn’t been around much. “Can I bring Owen?” That way, she’d get to see him and her mom. The introductory dinner was strained at best. The two of them needed more time—time to relax. Owen was like that; it’d taken several weeks for him to warm up to her. A movie night was the perfect solution. Not a lot of talking combined with a lot of being around each other.

  Her request was answered with silence. Silence that amplified the words her mom was not saying. Bree’s heart sank.

  Finally, Mom said, “I don’t think he likes me very much.”

  Although Bree could understand how her mom came to that impression, she also knew that Owen needed people in his life. She was happy being his one and only, but there was something missing inside of him. He probably missed his family. A person didn’t grow up with brothers and sisters and then write them off that easily. If he couldn’t have his family, she’d be happy to share hers. “That’s not true.” She thought back to the night he told her he liked her more than he should, his gruff words and grumbling, and smiled. “Owen has a hard
candy shell. It takes time for it to melt away, but inside he’s sweet.”

  Silence—again.

  “He’s important to me.”

  “Bring him.” No more silence. No more hesitation. If Owen was important to Bree, then he was included.

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  * * *

  Owen rubbed his hands together in anticipation as he waited outside the library for Bree to finish work. He’d packed a picnic dinner and a blanket in the motorcycle’s storage compartment and couldn’t wait to take her to the gazebo he’d found in the vineyard on the outskirts of town. It had taken him two days to track down the owner and get permission to use the spot. A set of tickets to the Titans’ opening game greased the wheels of agreement with the man. Totally worth it.

  Bree burst out of the doors, pulling her hair free from the knot at her neck and allowing it to fall in big waves over her shoulder. The sight was something to behold and Owen soaked in the way she moved, the happiness radiating from her smile, and her hips swaying. He couldn’t remember if her hips swayed like that when they first met, but they sure as shooting did now.

  “Hey, beautiful.”

  She grinned and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him hello as he sat on the bike. “Hey there.”

  He held her close, drinking in the smell of perfume and aged paper that was unique to her. He buried his nose in her neck, and she giggled. “I have news.” He was practically bursting with it, and there was no way he’d be able to hold back until they got to the gazebo. “I talked to my agent, and I am free to do the reading incentive program.”

  When Doris had first suggested he be the grand prize, he’d bristled more out of feeling unworthy of being called a grand prize than anything. His reaction came across as stuck-up. He hoped his explanation over contracts had made a difference. They hadn’t spent much time with Bree’s mom since, so he doubted it. Maybe he’d scared Doris off. If so, and she wasn’t the overbearing mother he’d pegged her to be, then he felt bad. But if she was the type to control her daughter, then he was happy he’d made an early stand.

  The only reason he’d pursued the idea was the light of hope that twinkled in Bree’s eyes.

  Her mouth dropped open and she let out a squeal. “Truly?”

  He laughed, happy that he could make her happy. “Yep.”

  She kissed him soundly before climbing on behind him and holding tight. She didn’t have to hold on to him that securely; she had enough experience on the bike that she could have let her arms hang loose. He reveled in the feeling of rightness that came with her wrapped tightly around him. Bree, as small as she was, fit just right into his world.

  “Oh, uh, before I forget, Mom invited us over for a movie night tomorrow night.”

  Owen’s body tightened. He and Tammy used to hang out at her place, in the basement, with her brother and sometimes her parents. Her mom would make sure they were only close enough to hold hands—going so far as to sit between them if she thought they needed to “cool off.” She used those moments to convince Tammy that all Owen wanted was to take her to bed. Like he’d ever pushed that line with Tammy. Idealist that he was, he wanted their wedding night to be their first. None of his chivalry or self-control mattered. Tammy believed her mom more than she believed Owen.

  There was no hiding his physical reaction from Bree. “Do you want to go?” he asked.

  “Of course.” She sat back and rubbed her palms over his back in soothing circles.

  He couldn’t go back to that place of uncertainty in a relationship, couldn’t repeat the past. Not with Bree. As much as he’d loved Tammy, he was falling harder and faster for the spunky librarian. He just couldn’t stand by and let her mom get a foothold between them. Instead of handing her ammunition, he’d step out of the way. She wouldn’t be able to say that Owen was trying to take her daughter away—another of Tammy’s parents’ favorite weapons to wield. “You should go, then.”

  Bree’s hands stilled. “She invited both of us.”

  He turned, looking over his shoulder. “It’s you she really wants.” He grinned as wide as he could. “I’m not offended. I’ve been keeping you all to myself. You should spend some time with her. Just the two of you.” Because if Doris really was a nice person, which he still wasn’t sure of, then she should spend some time with her daughter.

  Bree’s forehead puckered with worry. “We had plans.”

  He patted her thigh. “We can play pool another night.”

  “If you’re sure …”

  “I’m sure.” But he wasn’t. Not really. He’d reviewed the last few months of his relationship with Tammy in his head a hundred times—like game tape stuck on replay. Analyzing where he’d gone wrong and what he could have done to be a better boyfriend, to be marriageable material, to be good enough. He wouldn’t make those same mistakes again.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “Where’s Owen?”

  Bree’s chest tightened. She’d come up with a thousand excuses—everything from “there was a football emergency” to “his motorcycle had a flat”—and none of them sounded plausible. So she went with the truth. “He stepped out so we could have a girls’ night.”

  “Oh.” That one little word was packed with disbelief as well as suspicion.

  Bree presented the bag of microwave caramel popcorn. “Shall we get started?” She was in a rough spot—between the man she daydreamed about when they were apart, and her mom, who’d always been her biggest cheerleader and wise confidant.

  She wouldn’t let either of them go. She needed both in her life. There had to be a way to bring the two of them together.

  * * *

  Owen’s shoulders and back were on fire. He pounded the punching bag over and over again. Bree was with her mom and he was with Kyle. The house was as empty as the Titans’ stadium in February without her smile there to fill it up. Maybe he should have gone with her to the movie night. No. Going had a whole different set of problems.

  He grunted and landed a particularly hard hit, making the bag shudder. Kyle, who was stabilizing the bag, stumbled back. He glowered at Owen. “Are you trying to kill me?”

  “Sorry.” Owen grunted and ripped off his gloves. “Why couldn’t I fall for a nice orphan hermit?”

  Kyle rubbed his shoulder. “Do you really want an answer to that?”

  Owen’s head snapped up. “You have one?” He’d spent hours analyzing the reasons why he wanted Bree, why she was the one who called to him.

  Kyle lifted his palms. “Dude, you pay for me to fly to Vegas whenever my parents call. Anytime we go out to eat, you watch the parents and kids. I think, deep down, you want a family. So you picked a woman who values what you value.”

  The fight melted out of Owen. He had a hard time standing and fell onto Bree’s couch. Kyle was right. He did want a family all his own. One he could hold close, cherish, and unleash all the pent-up love he saved for them and only them. He didn’t give out affection like it grew in the grass. He was saving his love for those who would accept it without question.

  He wanted Bree to be one of those people. “I think I’m falling in love with her.” He hung his head in defeat. As much as he’d tried to protect his heart, Bree had seized it in her delicate hands.

  Kyle fell onto the couch, angling himself against the armrest. “Man up and tell her.”

  “Yeah.” He would. As scared as he was to put himself out there again, he had to do this. Bree was worth the risk. And if she chose not to love him back or her mom got in the way, he’d finally know that he was the problem. That he wasn’t husband material. If that was the case, he’d tuck his dream of a family away and not bring it out again.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Saturday night hadn’t been all that special of a night in Bree’s life until Owen came along.

  Owen liked date night to be special. They drove out of town to try new restaurants, they attended a concert or went to a new movie, and they always got dressed up. As much as Bree enjoyed snuggling next
to him on the couch and reading a book, she adored the opportunity to turn his head when she wore a new dress.

  And she wore a lot of new dresses now that she had a reason to. Her closet was filling up fast. She’d need to curb her impulse shopping on Amazon before she put herself in the poorhouse, but the results were worth it.

  Especially tonight. She’d picked a dress that was tight, like a pencil skirt, that stopped four inches above her knee. The top of the dress bloused out and hung precariously on her shoulder. The fabric was stretchy and silky and hugged her skin. She’d debated between the black and the plum and gone with the black. It felt dressy and sexy and daring. She paired it with black lace heels and a delicate gold chain and hoop earrings that caught the lighter color in her eyes.

  Owen knocked and she hurried to answer, anticipating his reaction. She pulled the door open and held her breath, butterflies filling her stomach and fluttering right along with her pulse.

  He looked incredible in a button-up light blue shirt two shades lighter than his eyes. The difference in hue made his eyes pop like never before. The sleeves were rolled up over his corded forearms and the top button was open, revealing his tan, smooth skin underneath. His hair was freshly cut, and he smelled like spices and danger and hot, demanding kisses.

  As his eyes swept over her, something in them changed. Added to the appreciation was something more, something deeper. Something that caught her breath and took away her ability to think clearly. “Owen,” she managed to whisper.

  He stepped forward, tracing a finger over her lips and sending shivers down her arms. “You look amazing.” He shook his head quickly. “Amazing doesn’t cut it.”

  A smile grew from her toes all the way across her cheeks. “Thank you. You look amazing too.”

  He slowly leaned in, his breath warm and minty on her forehead. She closed her eyes, unable to keep them open under the heavy cloud of desire. She would have given up her whole library to feel his lips on her skin. Finally. Finally! He kissed her, just above her eyebrow. She sighed in relief and then gasped as he took her face in his hands and tipped it to the side so he could kiss her temple, then her cheek, then her jaw. Her hands gripped his arms, holding on for all she was worth. Never had she felt so cherished and wanted by a man.