The Last Honest Man: A Sports Romance (One Pass Away: A New Season Book 3)

by Mary J. Williams

  “Go away, Sasha.” Dylan placed both palms flat onto the bar’s surface. “Find someone else to torture.”

  “Interesting word,” Sasha said, not the least bit discouraged. “You always like it when I get a little rough.”

  “No.” Dylan shook his head. “I tolerated you.”

  “You’re lying,” Sasha purred as she ran one long, red nail along the back of his hand. “I know when a man is under my spell.”

  Dylan turned his head, meeting Sasha’s gaze before returning his attention to the whiskey.

  “Let me be absolutely clear. Consider me see-through from this moment on—like fine crystal or cellophane.” He smiled, pleased by the analogy. “You were a diversion when I had nothing better to do. Never again.”

  “I still have things to show you,” Sasha said, blowing a puff of hot breath into his ear.

  “Ew.” Dylan shuddered. “Don’t ever do that again.”

  “You heard the man. Shoo.”

  “Levi?” Dylan twisted his head to the right. “You’re my best friend. Make her go away.”

  “Can’t you see the man’s in a bad way,” Levi said, appealing to Sasha’s finer qualities. “You don’t want to take advantage when he’s dropped to such a pathetic low.”

  “I’ll make him feel better. I always do.” Sasha brushed her fingers across Levi’s arm. “Come and watch if you want. Or join in.”

  “No touching.” A beautiful redhead dressed in a formfitting burgundy dress and killer black heels, flicked Sasha’s hand away as though the woman was less consequential than a flea. “He’s mine.”

  “Piper. Thank God.” Levi smiled into his wife’s green eyes. “I don’t know how to make her go away.”

  “Did you say shoo?” Piper asked before placing a sympathetic kiss on Levi’s cheek. Moving to his lips, she lingered.

  “I did,” Levi said. He wrapped an arm around Piper’s waist. “Shoo didn’t work.”

  “Then ignore her.” Piper wedged herself between the barstools, effectively blocking Sasha out. The other woman fumed, then knowing she met her match, slunk away. “Tell me what’s going on with our boy.”

  “Sad.” Dylan sighed. “Alcohol might be the answer.”

  Worried, Piper looked at Levi.

  “How much has he had?”

  “Nothing yet,” Levi assured her. “Or he’d be flat on his ass.”

  “Where’s Daisy?” Piper asked.

  “On a sleepover with my mother and Tanner,” Dylan muttered.

  “Really?” Levi seemed skeptical.

  “Big brother’s been stepping up lately. Visited Daisy every day last week.” Dylan sighed. “Eve gave her permission to let Daisy stay over.”

  “Eve rules the roost?” Levi asked. Dylan simply nodded.

  “Okay.” Levi grinned. “Where is Eve.”

  “On a date.” Dylan reached for a glass of whiskey. Piper swatted his hand away. She drank the contents in one gulp. “Second night in a row. Same guy? Beats me.”

  Catching on to his friend’s dilemma, Levi nodded.

  “Why did you let her go?”

  “Couldn’t stop her.” Frowning, Dylan raised his head. “Could I?”

  “No.” Piper shot Levi a dirty look. “What you can do is ask her out. You have the home-field advantage. Knock out the competition.”

  “Promised Eve if she came with me to Seattle, I wouldn’t make her feel uncomfortable.” Dylan lifted his hands, slamming them hard against the bar. “No pressure. No touching. Can’t even hold her hand.”

  “Well, crap. No wonder you’re in a snit.” Meeting her husband’s gaze, Piper lowered her voice. “Dylan needs to get laid.”

  “Only Eve will do.” Dylan grabbed drink number two. “She has to make the first move.”

  “My turn.” Levi brought Dylan’s hand, and the whiskey to his mouth. Swallowing, he grimaced.

  “What the hell?” Dylan gaped. “You don’t drink.”

  “Because I don’t like the taste. You’re the one who gets shit faced after a single sip.” Levi tipped the final glass until the whiskey spilled out. With a nod of apology to the bartender, he took out five twenties and set them on the bar. “Let’s go.”

  “Where?” Dylan asked. “I can’t go home. The house is sad and empty.”

  “I have an idea.” Piper took one of Dylan’s arms, Levi took the other.

  “Tempting,” Dylan winked, smiling for the first time all night. “But I told you, Eve is the only one I want.”

  “Hey, you’re talking about my wife, dickhead. Wait a minute.” Levi sent a wary look Piper’s way. “Did you just proposition my best friend?”

  “She did,” Dylan said.

  “One foot in front of the other, boys.” Piper pushed them toward the door. “Our car is out front. Did you drive?”

  “Not when I planned to drink. Sheesh. What do you take me for?” Dylan asked as Levi shoved him into the back seat before climbing in front. “Where are we going?”

  “Just relax.” Piper started the engine. “I’m about to make you a very happy man.”

  “How many times must I make myself clear,” Dylan teased. “Eve or no one.”

  “Dylan?”

  Knowing what was coming, Dylan played along.

  “Yes, Levi?”

  “Shut the fuck up.”

  ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲

  DYLAN WALKED INTO the bar, unsure why he was there. JUMP!!! was the kind of trendy establishment frequented by college students from the nearby University of Washington.

  “If you wanted to buy me a drink, we could have stayed put.” Dylan looked around at all the fresh eager faces and winced. “Were we ever that young?”

  “Stop acting like you’re ready for the old folk’s home.” Piper patted Dylan’s shoulder. “We’ll find a table. Go order me a glass of white wine from the waitress. Levi will have a beer. You, water—straight up.”

  “Yes, Mom.”

  Scooting away, Dylan barely avoided the toe of Piper’s shoe. He looked around until his gaze found a young woman serving drinks to a table of men. Closer to boys, by the looks of their peach fuzz covered faces. He wasn’t there to judge. He assumed they were over twenty-one. But again, not his business.

  “Excuse me, miss.” Dylan topped the waitress on the arm. “See the table by the door. I’d like to have some drinks delivered.”

  “Not my station,” she said without turning around. “I’ll send someone over right away.”

  “Wait.” Dylan grabbed her arm when she would have scurried away. “Eve? What the hell?”

  “Well, poo.” Eve heaved a sigh.

  “That old man bothering you, honey,” one of the college boys called out.

  “Honey?” Dylan bristled. “Old man?”

  “Calm down,” Eve said when Dylan took a step toward the table. “The kid is a little drunk. Besides, he’s half your size.”

  Not an excuse in Dylan’s book, but he let it slide.

  “I won’t ask where your date is,” Dylan growled. “I don’t need a brick house to fall on me to let me know that you don’t have one.”

  “Careful,” Eve sniped. “Your college education is showing.”

  “Watch the attitude,” Dylan said. “I have the moral high ground here.”

  “Moral high ground my sweet fanny.” Eve tried to pull away. “I have work to do.”

  “Quit. Now.” Dylan tugged at her apron strings. “We’ll talk at home.”

  “I have an hour left on my shift.” Eve slapped his hand. “You can sit and wait. Or leave. Take your pick.”

  Dylan waited. And fumed.

  “You knew Eve worked here.” Looking at Piper, Dylan shook his head. “Why didn’t you say something?”

  “Eve asked Erin if she knew of any job openings for a waitress,” Piper explained with a shrug. “Erin talked to Riley. Riley mentione
d the situation to me. Did I mention your name anywhere in there?”

  “No,” Dylan muttered.

  “You have your answer.” Piper smiled. “I thought you might do something reckless. I worried you might drink then sleep with what’s her name. That’s why we’re here.”

  “Sasha,” Dylan said, unsure why when Piper speared him with a frighteningly evil gaze.

  “Bitch hit on my husband.” She was not happy.

  “Sorry.” Dylan felt he needed to apologize. “Instead of a date night, you spent the evening babysitting me.”

  “You’re a friend. End of story.” Levi held his wife’s hand. “Do you want us to stay and keep you company?”

  “Go.” Dylan smiled. “Thank you, Piper.”

  “I betrayed Eve’s confidence for you,” Piper said. “So, don’t screw it up.”

  At the end of her shift, Eve walked to where Dylan waited. She looked at him for a moment before she turned and exited the bar. He followed close at her heels.

  Neither spoke on the ride home. Inside the house, Eve hung up her coat.

  “Before we talk, I need to wash off the smell of booze.”

  “I’ll meet you in the living room,” Dylan said.

  Rather than pace the floor, Dylan followed Eve’s lead and took a quick shower. Slipping on a pair of sweats and a long-sleeved t-shirt, he padded to the kitchen and turned on the electric kettle.

  “Want a cup of tea?” he asked when Eve joined him a few minutes later.

  “Sounds good.” She ran a hand through her damp hair. “I quit. Not because you told me to. I turned in my notice before the start of my shift.”

  “Why did you take the job in the first place?” Dylan asked. He moved to the living room and put their tea on a long, glass table. They sat on the sofa. “You have money. A place to live. Food. Clothes.”

  “All provided by you.” Eve took a sip from her cup. “Don’t misunderstand. I’m grateful for what I have here with you and Daisy.”

  “Grateful?” Dylan didn’t like the word. “Can’t you just feel at home?”

  “That’s the problem,” Eve said. “If I get too comfortable, I won’t want to leave.”

  “Then don’t.” Dylan reached for Eve, stopped, and cursed under his breath. “Fucking promise.”

  Eve held out her hand. She threaded her fingers through his, tightening her grip.

  “Most of my life, I worked hard. I don’t regret anything. I don’t feel like a victim because my mother threw me out.” Eve sighed. “I think you ruined me.”

  Dylan was so happy to have Eve’s hand in his, he almost forgot the reason for their conversation. Running his thumb along the side of hers, he forced himself to concentrate.

  “Ruined? You?” Dylan scoffed. “What did I do?”

  “After a few weeks of living with you and Daisy, I hated serving drinks. Dodging grabby handed jerks.” Suddenly tired, Eve rested her head against the back of the sofa. “Walking around in a soaked top because a bunch of men thought it would be cute to produce a wet t-shirt contest by themselves.”

  “Give me names,” Dylan said, his temper rising.

  “I wouldn’t if I could.” Eve shook her head. “I handled the jerk the way I always do. But the thought of going back next weekend made me sad. And exhausted.”

  “Will you be angry if I admit something?” Dylan asked.

  “Maybe,” Eve said.

  Dylan rested his head next to Eve’s. He kept a firm grip on her hand.

  “I’m glad I ruined you.”

  “Okay.” Eve laughed. “I still want to do something. Sitting around the house all day is driving me up the wall.”

  “If you could do anything? Be anything? What would it be?” Dylan wanted to know.

  “You can’t make my dreams come true,” Eve warned. “If something is important to me, I’ll find my way without you or anyone else to help. Understand?”

  “Hands off,” he said. “I promise.”

  “I want to go to college,” Eve said. “I was never in one place long enough to enroll. Even if I stayed put, I didn’t have the money. Student loans are out of the question because I refuse to go into debt. Besides…”

  “What?” Dylan prompted. He didn’t want Eve to stop before she told him everything.

  “I’ll be twenty-eight soon. A little old to go back to school.”

  “No such thing as too old,” Dylan said. “Do you know what you want to study?”

  Eve shook her head.

  “All I want to do is learn.” She smiled. “Go to class. Take a little of one subject. A little of another until I discover what interests me.”

  “Find your passion.” Dylan understood.

  “You know what scares me?” Eve sighed. “If I finally get to college, after years of dreaming, what if I’m not as smart as I think? I might fail every course.”

  “If Tanner can graduate law school and pass the bar, you can be a Rhodes Scholar.”

  “What did you just say?” Eve’s mouth fell open. “Tanner passed the bar? When? No. Different question. Does he work as a lawyer?”

  “Tanner passed the bar seven years ago.” Dylan paused. “Yes, seven is right. He was offered a position with a big law firm down in Tacoma. He said no. I can’t tell you why. Preferred taking off with his friends at a moment’s notice.”

  “You supported him all these years?” Eve asked.

  “I stopped giving Tanner money after he graduated.” Dylan shrugged. “My mother is a different matter. The money she receives from me is hers the second I deposit it into her account. Occasionally, she tells him no”

  “What does Tanner do?”

  “Mooches off friends. Let’s drop the subject of my brother. I used him as an example of why you will succeed if you go to college.” Dylan squeezed Eve’s hand. “I believe in you. You should enroll.”

  “Ah,” Eve sighed. “I’m so comfortable. Let’s stay here for a little bit. Close our eyes. Just be.”

  Dylan nodded. He promised not to push Eve. He would keep his promise. She shared her dream with him. For now, that was enough.

  ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲

  EVE KNEW THE moment Dylan lifted her into his arms. She dozed off but woke as he carried her up the stairs to her room. He placed her in bed, pulling the covers to her chin.

  “Sleeping on the sofa is fine,” Dylan whispered. “You’ll be more comfortable up here.”

  “Thank you,” she said without opening her eyes. “Kiss me goodnight.”

  “Of all the times to ask.” Dylan chuckled. “You’re lucky I’m a man with a strong moral code or you would be in trouble.”

  Eve felt the brush of his lips on her forehead and sighed. She always wondered if there were any honest men left in the world. She found her answer. His name was Dylan Montgomery.

  ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲

  ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲

  CHAPTER TWENTY

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  DYLAN LIKED TO dream. Lately, he especially enjoyed when Eve played a main part in the images swirling through his subconscious. Now was a perfect example.

  The setting was his bedroom. The morning sun streamed through the purposely curtainless windows. He liked to wake early and preferred natural light as his alarm clock.

  Simple and clean. White walls. White sheets and comforter. The light-colored hardwood floors. Everything reflected Dylan’s tastes. What he liked most, was the sight of Eve kneeling on his bed.

  Bathed in sunlight, almost glowing, Eve wore a flowing white nightgown—and a smile.

  “Dreams are the best,” Dylan said as a happy sigh drifted across his lips.

  “Are you dreaming?” Eve asked. She placed a hand on his. “Am I?”

  “Maybe we’re in each other’s dreams,” Dylan reasoned. “I don’t mind.”

  Eve stretched her body out next to his. She ran her finger down the bridge of his nose and over the tip. When she reached his mouth, she
lingered, tracing the curve of his bottom lip.

  “Wouldn’t you prefer the real me to a dream?”

  “Are you?” Dylan’s heart pounded like a drum in his chest. “Are you here? Or are you just another fantasy?”

  “Last night we slept together, remember?”

  “On the sofa.” Dylan nodded.

  “You carried me to my bed. As you set me under the covers, I waited, hoped, for a kiss.” Eve sighed. “You brushed your lips across my forehead. Then, you left.”

  Dylan was wide awake. Eve was real. Sometimes wishes do come true.

  “Did you want me to stay?” When Eve nodded, he said a silent prayer of thanks. “We made a deal. I won’t touch you unless you ask.”

  “When I agreed, I didn’t think things through.” She took his hand in hers. “I was shy.”

  “You?” Dylan scoffed. “Since when?”

  “I’m not a virgin.” Eve shrugged. “But my experience is limited. I don’t know how to seduce a man. Never met one who made me want to learn.”

  “Do you want me, Eve?” Dylan asked, reminding himself to breathe. If he passed out now from lack of oxygen—if he ruined the moment—he would never forgive himself.

  “The first time I saw you, I hated you with a passion I didn’t think possible.” Eve laughed at the memory. “The second time, I wished you to the farthest reaches of hell.”

  “So much for my winning personality,” Dylan said with a wry smile.

  “You did win me over,” Eve insisted. “How could I not want a man who was sweet and loving toward Daisy? A man who helped me shovel manure to the detriment of his precious sneakers.”

  Dylan smiled at the memory.

  “Tell me more,” he demanded.

  “You were a pain in my backside from day one.”

  “The point is to extol my virtues, not my faults,” he reminded her. “When did you start to want me?”

  “Hard to pinpoint the exact moment.” Thinking, Eve tapped her chin. “Best guess? What sealed the deal was when I saw you shirtless.”

  “I would remember if I removed my shirt in front of you,” Dylan said.