Cami’s Georgia Patriots Romance Collection

by Cami Checketts

  Hyde chuckled. “Yes, but you have to start calling me Hyde.”

  Josh’s round cheeks broke into a grin. He dove at Hyde and screamed, “Thank you for letting us come visit you, Hyde, sir!”

  Lily was staring at Hyde in awe. He’d set up an outing for her and her brothers. This was better than any date he could’ve planned.

  Caleb laughed, extending his hand to Hyde. “Thanks. This is a dream come true for him.”

  “Thanks for driving him.” Hyde shook his hand. “No Brandon?”

  “He had his geek club—I mean, science club.” Caleb hid a smile. “Sariah’s still at work, and my mom made Mary and Trudy stay home. She said Mary only cared about your ‘sweet ride’ and Trudy only wanted to drool over you.” He rolled his eyes. “She’s such a girl.”

  Hyde laughed. “Well, they were welcome, but it’ll be fun with just us.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with girls.” Lily twisted Caleb’s ear, and he yelped.

  “Nothing wrong with girls at all.” Hyde winked at her. “They aren’t going to be ready down at the stadium until five. What do you say to a little two-hand touch while we wait?”

  Josh grabbed a football off the ground. He must’ve dropped it in his excitement to hug them; he almost always had a football in his hands. “Yes!” He danced around.

  Lily’s heart was in her throat. “Stadium?” she managed.

  “Mr. Metca … Hyde is taking us on a tour of Denver’s stadium!” Josh informed her. “He said it was a surprise for you, and I know how much you love football too, so it’s like the best day of both of our lives!”

  Hyde chuckled and messed up Josh’s thick, dark hair. “Wait until the season starts and you get front-row tickets and flights to Atlanta to come watch me play.”

  Josh stopped still, and Lily could hear his quick intakes of breath. The little guy actually had tears in his eyes as he hugged Hyde again. “You’re my best friend!” he screamed.

  Hyde squeezed him back, then picked him up and swung him around. “Gimme that ball.” He set Josh down and took the football. “Do you know any patterns?”

  “Curl, post, slant, in, out. That’s all I know so far.”

  “Post, seven, hike!” Hyde called out.

  Josh took off, and Hyde tossed the ball to him. Josh caught it, grinning like he’d won the Super Bowl.

  Lily was still in shock about something that may have been the least significant detail to them, but it was the biggest to her. Hyde planned on flying her little brother to Atlanta and giving him tickets to his football games? Did that mean he planned on still having Lily in his life after they finished their training sessions? She could only hope, but hope she did, a lot.

  “He’s even cooler in real life,” Caleb said at her elbow.

  “And we idolized him before we knew him.” Lily watched Hyde throw the pass, then chase after Josh as he caught it. Hyde picked the boy up and gently tackled him to the ground as Josh laughed ecstatically.

  “Thanks for making this possible for us, sis.”

  “I didn’t do it. It was all Hyde.”

  “I mean even that we got to meet him. None of my friends believe it. Do you think he’d take a shot with me so I can post it on Insta?”

  Lily grimaced. She and Hyde hadn’t really gotten into how the press monitored his life. There had been a few shots of them at dinner last weekend that appeared online, but it wasn’t too huge of a story that Hyde went on a date, especially since she was a no-name. If the press saw them again, it might go bigger. “Let me ask him,” she said to her brother.

  “Okay, sweet. I don’t want to mess up his publicity stuff or anything. I could just send it to my friends.”

  “Who send it to their friends and then it explodes.”

  “Yeah, gotcha.” Caleb sounded disappointed, but he took it in stride like always. Coming from a large, financially-strapped family, you learned quickly to deal with disappointment.

  “You two want to play with us?” Hyde called over.

  “Sure,” Caleb exclaimed, rushing to Hyde’s side.

  “Me and Josh against the two of you.” Hyde’s eyes trailed over her in that way that never failed to heat her up from the inside out. “And no cheating, Miss Lily.”

  Josh started celebrating. “Oh, yeah. Me and Hyde are going to kill you two.”

  “I never cheat,” Lily inserted.

  “I’ve seen you do lunges and not go all the way to the ground. Cheating’s in your nature.”

  Lily laughed. She’d cussed him yesterday for cheating on lunges and trying to rush through the motion. She stripped the ball from his hands and said, “What are the rules?”

  “Two-hand touch. Those trees are our end zone, and the pool patio is yours.” He pointed to the pool area behind him.

  “Let’s kick some rear, Caleb,” she said.

  Caleb’s eyes were wide. “Against Hyde Metcalf? Confidence is one thing, but this is stupidity, sis.”

  “Line up, my brother,” she commanded in her loud trainer voice. He did, and she called hike, then tried to dodge Hyde and pass the ball. He charged toward her with such athleticism she knew it was fruitless to try, but try she did—whirling, spinning, and finally admitting that he’d touched her about ten times after Josh yelled that she was cheating. She didn’t mind the way Hyde’s hands encircled her hips and he said, “I think I got you, darlin’.” But she did mind losing. Four downs and she and Caleb got nowhere and had to turn the ball over. Josh was celebrating and looked to be having the time of his life.

  Hyde’s mom, Teresa, and Aunt Allie came out on the patio, sitting in some plush chairs to watch the game. Teresa cheered for everyone while Allie taunted everyone.

  “Hyde, that was pathetic!” she yelled when he threw a pass well over Josh’s head and Caleb snatched it from the air.

  Caleb sprinted toward their end zone, but Hyde was coming at him quick. Caleb’s eyes searched frantically for Lily.

  “Pitch it!” Lily yelled from behind him.

  Caleb obeyed, tossing the ball back to her, then trying to hold on to Hyde to give her some chance for progress. Hyde broke free easily. Lily was giving it everything she had, pumping her legs furiously toward the end zone, but she could see him coming out of the corner of her eye. He reached her, and instead of using a two-hand touch, he picked her up and spun her around.

  “Hey!” Lily cried out. “No tackle.”

  “I’m not tackling; I’m holding.” He pulled her against his body.

  Lily’s breath was coming hard and fast, and she was pretty sure it had nothing to do with how fast she’d just been running. “Still a penalty.”

  “Really?” Hyde’s gaze was concentrated on her face and his hands were keeping her close, not giving her any chance to move. “What do I have to do to serve my penalty?”

  “Oh, we’re way past you repaying the penalty.”

  “How about I pay it with a kiss?”

  Lily’s heart went a bit crazy as she stared into his dark eyes. “It had better be a good one, or you’re still losing yards.”

  Hyde chuckled, then lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. Lily dropped the ball and flung her arms around his neck. The world disappeared around them as Lily clung to him, his strong body surrounding her and his lips creating heat and desire in her she’d never known.

  Josh banged into them from the side. “Lils! What are you doing?”

  Lily pulled guiltily away. It was only then that she noticed Caleb and Allie laughing loudly. She glanced over at Hyde’s mother, who was watching her with narrowed eyes. This was not the look of a confused woman. She looked like a momma bear ready to do battle for her cub.

  “Are we playing football or kissing?” Josh shuddered on the word kissing.

  “Playing football,” Hyde reassured him, winking at Lily. He didn’t seem at all embarrassed that they’d both gotten distracted and kissed in front of their family members. “Go out for a pass, buddy.”

  The football game
dissolved into a game of five hundred with the boys. Lily saw Teresa and Allie carrying food out to the patio. She hurried up the steps to ask if she could help.

  “I think we’ve got it,” Teresa said icily.

  “Can always take help from a cute young thing,” Allie interrupted. “Why don’t you sit down, Teresa. Lily and I will get the rest.”

  Lily followed Allie into the kitchen as Hyde’s mom sat sulkily in a chair.

  “Don’t mind her,” Allie said as soon as they were out of earshot, handing her a platter of fruit. “She always gets jealous when Hyde dates someone, and I don’t think she’s ever seen him kiss someone, except for pictures in the tabloids or online.”

  Lily flushed. “Sorry. That wasn’t planned.” Hyde’s mom obviously didn’t like her. The knowledge weighed in her stomach like a lead balloon.

  “It’s not you.” Allie pressed her hand. “You’re adorable and my favorite, by a landslide, of the girls he’s dated. Don’t let Teresa upset you. She’s a great lady, but Hyde is all she’s got. Of course she’s going to be overprotective of him.”

  “Okay. I’ll just try harder to make her like me.”

  “Good luck,” Allie muttered, then went out through the French door.

  Lily shuddered. She lifted the tray of fruit and followed Allie outside. Hyde was more perfect than any man she’d been around, but she couldn’t come between him and his mom, especially with his mom battling a mental disease that had no cure.

  Chapter Eleven

  Hyde thought the day had gone great so far—except the disdainful way his mom kept eyeing Lily. His mom had said embarrassing things about some of his girlfriends when she had no diagnosed mental illness, and things had ended poorly with the girls irrational and ticked at Hyde. But how could anybody not think Lily was amazing? Even his overprotective mom had to see how great she was.

  The tour of the stadium was fun, even though it wasn’t his stadium, because of how happy Josh and Caleb were. Caleb tried to rein it in a little better, but it was obvious he was loving it, and little Josh was in heaven. Lily didn’t hide her enthusiasm, which made Hyde feel about ten feet tall. How perfect was a girl who truly loved football?

  After the tour, they went to Casa Bonita for dinner. The food wasn’t fabulous in Hyde’s opinion, so he was glad he’d eaten plenty of sandwiches and fruit at the little picnic his mom and Allie had insisted on doing when they’d found out Lily and her brothers were coming earlier today.

  The atmosphere at Casa Bonita more than made up for the bland flavor of the food. Hyde had bought an all-access pass so they could do anything in the restaurant. He figured that was easier than trying to hand them money when they wanted to play one of the games, and he didn’t want to make it awkward like he was giving them a handout. This was the day he’d planned for them. He should be allowed to spoil them.

  They cheered for the gunfights and watched the cliff divers, then played arcade games until their food was ready. Josh’s sheer excitement about everything made it even more fun for Hyde. He felt sympathetic for Lily’s family plight. They were obviously struggling financially. He didn’t want to buy them things to “throw his money around” like Lily said, but these boys and Lily were appreciative and happy about everything he did. He felt like he was Mr. Incredible or something.

  Josh wolfed down his quesadillas in minutes and asked, “Can I go do the gunfight game again?”

  Caleb pushed aside his tacos and stood. “I’ll go with you.”

  Hyde was impressed with Caleb. He didn’t know many teenagers who would put a sibling first like he’d seen the young man do time and again for Josh.

  He’d been a little concerned to come to the restaurant, but the boys’ and Lily’s smiles were more than worth the worry over paparazzi and people staring at him or asking for autographs. Really, paparazzi had no reason to be following him right now. They weren’t in season, and he wasn’t dating anyone famous. The worst that could happen would be someone taking pictures of them and posting them online. Lily had acted great about the online exposure they’d gotten so far. She seemed too good to be true. His girlfriends in the past had either dated him because they loved the fame or wanted to accelerate their careers. He’d also dated a few who were annoyed by the interruptions of fans and photographers, and he felt guilty about exposing them to that part of his life.

  “Thanks,” Lily murmured. “This has been the best day.”

  “For them or for you?” Hyde scooted a bit closer on the bench.

  “Both.” She looked up at him from beneath lowered lashes. She was such a natural beauty, and he loved that she could play a game of football with him, then come to a restaurant and look fabulous in a T-shirt and jeans and not seem uncomfortable that she wasn’t dolled up. “I can’t even tell you what this means to Josh, though.”

  “I love that kid. I bet he makes your life fun.”

  “My brother Brandon teases him because of his exuberance, but I eat it up. It helps me remember to appreciate life and enjoy each moment.”

  Hyde wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer. “I’m enjoying this moment; that’s for sure.”

  Lily smiled, then bit at her lip. That little movement of her lips between her teeth about drove him crazy. He couldn’t resist dipping his head and kissing her. He savored the way her lips felt underneath his, the soft scent of her. She turned into him and he tucked her smaller frame close, bringing them into their own world.

  “Lily!” Josh’s shocked voice pulled them apart again.

  Hyde chuckled and ruffled the boy’s hair. “I love you, Josh, but your timing stinks.”

  “You … love me?” Josh’s eyes were wide. He pushed Lily aside and hugged Hyde. “I wish you were my big brother, Hyde. Would you marry Lily so we can be together forever?”

  “Josh,” Lily reprimanded.

  Hyde wasn’t sure how to respond. He loved this kid, this family, and he could easily see himself falling in love with Lily, but his life was too complicated with his mom and football to commit to a relationship, especially something this quick.

  Josh stared up at him with hopeful eyes.

  “Let’s go play the tank game again,” Hyde said. He had to look away from the disappointment in Josh’s and Lily’s eyes.

  Lily schooled her expression quickly, but Josh drooped and Hyde had no way of reassuring the little boy that they could be together forever. Luckily, the tank game got him laughing, and it was easy to at least restore the little boy’s grin.

  Chapter Twelve

  The next week was even better than the previous one. Though Lily was busy with clients most of the day, she and Hyde spent at least two hours together every morning training, and almost every night they had dinner together, either takeout at her apartment or eating the food his chef delivered to Hyde’s house. His mom seemed to be slowly warming up to her.

  Friday night they drove up to Georgetown and he took her entire family out to dinner at Cooper’s; then, of course, they had to walk down to Cake and buy more pastries than any of them could eat. Josh held on to Hyde’s hand as often as he could and talked his ear off. Lily loved every minute of it.

  More pictures of the two of them appeared on the Internet, prompting lots of comments wondering who Hyde’s new girlfriend was, but no overly sensational stories popped up.

  Lily didn’t mind being called Hyde’s girlfriend. She’d dreamed many a time of meeting him one day and having him actually look at her, notice her. Well, he looked at her now, and she loved it. How many women got the chance to date their dream man? If she had worries about losing his contract, she pushed them to the back of her mind. Hyde was too cool to do that to her.

  Saturday morning she woke to her doorbell ringing. Glancing at the clock, she fell back down against her pillow. Six a.m. Who rang the doorbell that early on a Saturday?

  The annoying sound blared again, and Wynette barged out of her bedroom. “Whoever that joker is, I’m going to rip off his finger and hang it on the
doorbell so they know what’ll happen if they try the prank again.”

  Lily laughed, but felt a little concern for whoever was at their door. What if it was an emergency?

  Wynette flung the door open so wide Lily heard it bang against the wall. “How dare you—Oh, Hyde! Come in, come in.”

  “Hey. Sorry to wake you up. I was hoping to surprise Lily.”

  Lily slid out of the covers, padded across the thin carpet, and poked her head around the corner. She couldn’t hide her smile when she saw him wearing a T-shirt and swimsuit, displaying his beautiful biceps and nicely defined calves. “If anyone else had been at our door, Wynette was prepared to do them bodily harm.”

  Hyde’s skin darkened, and it was endearing. “I’m sorry, Wynette. I texted her to come to the door, but she didn’t answer.”

  “That was you?” Lily should’ve checked her phone. “I was sure it was Sariah annoying me first thing on a Saturday morning. She’s so used to getting up at five, she thinks everyone is awake then.” She gestured to his clothes. “We swimming in your pool?”

  He grinned. “Nope. Well, maybe later. Grab a suit and some girl lotion or whatever you need, and let’s go.”

  She folded her arms across her chest. “You may be my client, but you don’t get the right to tell me what to do.”

  “You tell me what to do for two hours every day. It’s my turn.”

  Wynette stared at Lily. “Grab your stuff or I’m going with him.”

  Lily laughed at the worried expression on Hyde’s face. “Give me a minute.” She hurried to her bedroom, changed into shorts and a tank top, and packed a small bag with her swimming suit; then she went into the bathroom, brushed her teeth, washed her face, refastened her ponytail, and threw in a few toiletries.

  Hyde was chatting with Wynette when she returned to the living room. They said goodbye to her roommate, loaded into his sport utility, and drove south to Broomfield and the small Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.