Protective Instinct

by Tricia Lynne

  Mouth falling open, I guffawed. These two were something.

  “Honestly, my first thought was ‘who gives a shit what this chick thinks is going on,’” she continued. “Then, after you left, he told us who you are to him. Brody has eyes only for you, Lily. He told Erica he went by your house to explain before he left, but you weren’t home. He barely made the team plane.”

  That was news. “I had a class. I brought CC back here with me.” I should have asked him to explain. Instead, I’d judged, and I was so, so wrong. I met their gazes in turn. “Thank you. I appreciate you telling me what happened, but Brody and I...” I shook my head, examined my nails.

  In a move that shocked me, Erica tipped my chin up. “For some of us, fear is a natural reaction to love. It was for me. It is for Brody. And I think it is for you, too.”

  “But Brody is a good man,” Staci cut in. “All this shit on the news and tabloids, the lawsuits, it’s bull. Most nights he spends with a beer and his dog.”

  “Unless he’s camped on our sofa begging for chocolate and watching Supernatural reruns.” Erica winked.

  I laughed, nodded. That was my Brody. “I believe you, but there’s a lot of baggage that comes with his job, too. My stepfather is the team’s general manager. Seeing me could hurt his career. I also grew up with this lifestyle. It’s not easy on anyone involved.”

  Erica nodded, searched my face. “I get your hesitance, Lily. He’s afraid, too. Of more than your relationship getting outed. But you two either face your fears or you don’t evolve.”

  I nibbled the inside of my cheek.

  “Andra—” Staci blurted, but Erica squeezed her hand.

  “They’re not our stories to tell.”

  Staci nodded. “But they’re worth hearing. He’s worth it, Lily. Love is worth it, isn’t it?” She turned to her wife, who returned her smile.

  “Yes. Yes, it is.”

  “Anyway.” Erica cleared her throat. “I’m representing Brody in the civil suit. The woman may have a suit against the Bulldogs and another player, but her case against Brody is baseless. Her lawyer filed blanket suits to see who’d pay. Once they know Brody will fight it, they’ll drop the suit. I hope you’ll let him tell you those stories, Lily. Brody is a good man.”

  “If he’ll tell me his stories.”

  “He will. If you give him a chance.”

  With that, I peeked at Staci’s watch. “Oh, shit. I’m late for class.” Jumping up, I hugged them both. “Thank you. I admit I leapt to conclusions, and we’ve both got some secrets to tell, I think. But I’ll listen.”

  Erica cupped my arm. “It’s not easy, love. Nothing worth it ever is.” With that, I led them back in and made a run for my class.

  If he called again, I’d answer, and I would apologize for assuming the worst. He had enough on his plate right now when he should’ve been concentrating on football. If I didn’t hear from him, when he got home from camp, I’d share my secrets and hope he did the same.

  I’d also be able to tell him what Carrie had dug up about our possible puppy farmer.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Yo, can I get a luggage cart for all this baggage?

  Lily

  I’d just gotten home when I got the call from Brody.

  Shit. I was nervous. Taking a deep breath, I stowed my nerves. “Hey.”

  “Hey. You actually answered.” His velvety tenor soothed my nerves.

  “Yeah. I was going to call you anyway when—”

  “So, about CC,” he said, cutting me off. Chilly. “Can you bring her home? I’m back in Frisco, but driving isn’t easy right now.”

  “What? Why?”

  “My shoulder. I’m out the rest of the preseason, maybe the first couple regular games, too.” He was trying to mask it, but I could hear his frustration. Hell, I was disappointed for him. He had to be worried about his place on the team.

  “Brody, I’m sorry. How’d it happen?”

  “Long story.”

  When he didn’t go into it, I got the hint. “Of course, I can bring her home. Consider yourself warned, she and Mack are connected at the hip. I’m afraid you might have to get another dog.” It was meant to be a joke, but he didn’t laugh. “When do you want me to bring her by? Tomorrow, or do you want a couple days to adjust?”

  “Ah, I was hoping you’d drop her off tonight. It’s kinda empty here without her.”

  He missed her. “No problem. Is there anything else you need since I’m coming?”

  “No, I’m good. Just, miss my girls.”

  Of course, he missed his girl. Wait. Girls. Had he said girls? “Okay, let me get my guys fed, and I’ll be over.” I bit the inside of my lip. “Brody, I... I’d like to talk. If you’re up for it. About us.”

  He sighed into the phone, sounded so tired. “Yeah, sure. Hey, can you bring me a couple of Hershey bars? I’m dying over here.”

  I chuckled into the phone. “You bet. Give me an hour.”

  After feeding the furries, I got a shower and changed into a band T-shirt and old cutoff shorts that fit like a glove. Forty-five minutes later, I was standing outside his door with CC in tow.

  He answered the door without a shirt on, but an immobilizer brace in place. A wide band went around his waist that had a cuff attached at his bicep, and a strap went up his back flaring out into a soft pad. The pad covered the joint, then narrowed to a strap across his chest that held his lower arm in a sling.

  CC darted inside, sliding all over the place as she ran from one end of the apartment to the other. “Hey, baby girl!” Brody yelled, and her legs went out from under her as she slid into a closed door while she scrambled to turn around. One-hundred-forty-pound dogs didn’t exactly stop on a dime when the floors were slick.

  “She’s such a doofus.” I smiled.

  “I’ve been meaning to get rugs, so she’ll stop doing that. She’s already put one hole in the door with her head.” He bent at the waist. “Who’s a good girl, huh? Who’s my best baby girl?”

  “I’m the goodest girl, dad. Bestest. I like Lily, but you’re my person.” The dog dork in me leaked out of my mouth without thought.

  “Yes, you are, baby girl. Who’s the prettiest girl in the world. My big sweet doggo. I missed you, too, puddin’.”

  “Puddin’?” I laughed. It sooo did not fit CC’s breed, but very much fit her personality with Brody.

  “Says the woman who does dog voices.” His lips curled into a smile. He had a dog dork in there, too. CC would get it all the way out someday.

  “Don’t even try to act like you haven’t given her her very own voice in your head. You’ve become one of us, Brody. You’re one of those dog people.”

  His dimples made an appearance.

  When CC commenced with a happy dance, his smile could’ve powered the sun.

  Until she poked him in the eye with her snout.

  “Ah.” He reared up.

  It wasn’t a hard poke. I lifted one side of my mouth, shook my head. “Big dogs have big hearts, but also cause more collateral damage.”

  Kind of like her owner.

  “True enough. Thanks for bringing her home. I can drive, but it’s not easy.”

  I pulled her bowls out of her bag and handed her her favorite toy. Producing a six-pack of Hershey’s with almonds, I slapped them against Brody’s chest. “Here you go, big man. Sit down, eat your chocolate, and tell me about this shoulder while I get her settled so she doesn’t knock you on your ass.”

  His expression was grateful. “Thank you.”

  I waved him off and walked to the kitchen to fill CC’s water bowl.

  “No, seriously. Look at me.”

  I shut the tap off, turned to him. Brody sauntered across the kitchen, stopping only when his chest brushed my arm. This wasn’t the chilly Brody I heard on the phone.


  “Thank you for taking care of my girl. When you have her, I know she’s safe, loved, and well cared for. It means a lot to me, Lil. Even when you didn’t return my calls, I knew you’d never mistreat my dog.”

  My voice came out a little hoarse, a lot nervous. “Anytime. She and Mack are buds. I’m happy to keep her when you travel. You said you won’t dress for a while? What happened?”

  Lines formed between his brows. “I think the team may put me on injured reserve.” He shuffled over to the couch and sat, leaning his head on the back. “I don’t get it. It doesn’t feel bad. Achy. That’s it. I don’t need this thing.” He gestured to the brace.

  I slid down on the couch facing his side. He told me about practice and the accident in the gym followed by the diagnosis.

  “Hmm. Acromioclavicular dislocation is the technical term. The clavicle is what dislocates, not the shoulder joint. Most of the time, it pops back in before you even knew it was out. It generally happens with an impact, so it’s not inconceivable, but it doesn’t sound like you had the right kind of impact in practice.” I noodled on the options. “It’s possible you could have had a small or partial separation during practice, then the weight bar pulled it the rest of the way out. But even after a partial, you shouldn’t have been able to do shoulder presses the same day. The pain receded quickly?”

  “Yeah, it was a sharp pain when it happened. It’s still achy, but it doesn’t feel like I need this thing.”

  I bit the inside of my lip, running through what I knew about shoulder injuries. “When you dislocate a shoulder, that happens at the big ball joint, here.” I put my hand on the front of his right shoulder and pushed against the joint. “Separation happens where your clavicle meets your scapula. You feel it here.” I moved my fingers to the top of his shoulder near the edge of his collarbone. “Can we take the brace off so I can poke around?”

  He smirked as he slid forward to undo the Velcro. “Old habits, Lil?”

  “Mmm, I enjoy this stuff. It’s all the people I don’t like. Dogs are more loyal,” I added as I moved to the table to sit in front of him.

  “Loyalty is important, isn’t it.” It wasn’t a question, but I nodded as I worked my fingers along his left shoulder.

  No bruising. Mild swelling. “If it were a serious separation, you’d have a bump here.” I circled the area with my finger. “Unless it snapped right back in, in which case it’s not a severe separation and wouldn’t need four to six weeks to heal.” Walking my fingers to the ligaments around the clavicle, I pushed down hard. “That hurt?”

  “No. The ache is all but gone, but it was up front. Not on the top of my shoulder.”

  I angled his elbow at ninety degrees tight to his body. “Make a fist.” When he did, I rotated his forearm out and away from his torso while making sure the elbow stayed tight to his side. “Any changes in pain level?”

  “No.”

  “Lift your arm straight in front of you, palm down.” Putting my palm on top of his hand, I told him to push against me. “Now?”

  He shook his head.

  “Normally, I’d err on the side of caution. I’m not a doctor, Brody, but you don’t have the classic symptoms of a separation.”

  Forehead wrinkled, he clenched one fist in his other palm.

  “You want me to help you put that back on?”

  “Nah. I’m going to leave it off. See how it feels.”

  No more stalling. It was time to do the hard stuff.

  “Erica and Staci came by the training center today.” I tried for nonchalant and failed.

  Surprise on his features, he slid back against the sofa.

  Getting up from the table, I pulled a leg under me before sitting on the couch to face him. “You’ve got good friends in those two. I know I jumped to conclusions about them being here, Brody. I let my own crap affect how I perceived you, and the situation. I’m sorry for that, and for not taking your calls to talk.”

  He turned toward me, put his elbow along the back of the couch. “I need to ask you something and I want you to be straight with me.”

  “Okay?”

  The way he watched me, I felt like I was under a microscope. “Are you engaged?”

  “Huh? No! Why would you think that?”

  “I overheard Dick talking about you and your fiancé.”

  It was time to unpack some baggage for this beautiful man and hope he didn’t run screaming from the room.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Baggage

  Brody

  “I’m not engaged.” She glanced at her lap. “I was once. A long time ago. I broke it off.”

  “What happened?”

  “I walked in on my fiancé fucking one of my would-be bridesmaids. We hadn’t announced anything, so there wasn’t a lot of fallout, not publicly anyway. Privately, was another thing.”

  Ohhh. “Is this the ugly breakup you mentioned at the park?”

  She nodded. “His father is a Texas bigwig, and my ex didn’t take the rejection well. The more adamant I got about him leaving me alone, the more assertive he got about me being ‘the one.’” She made the air quotes. “He harassed me for a long time. Kept saying we were meant to be together. That was never going to happen, but he just wouldn’t hear the word no. He texted and called constantly, sent me outlandish gifts. He even confronted me while I was on a date. At one point, I considered leaving Dallas, but I couldn’t let him win, ya know?”

  “Wait. So, he cheated on you, then harassed you.” I could feel the vein in my forehead start to rise. “Is this the one who convinced you not to go to law school?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Who is he? I feel the need to pay him a visit.”

  She shook her head. “No, no. He’s... I have an order of protection now. He doesn’t bother me anymore, but in the beginning, my mom pushed me to forgive him. She doesn’t now, but Dick still tries to get me to patch things up. Lord knows he’d love to have a senator in his back pocket.” Her eyes met mine. “I’d never do that. Even when he tried to use money to force me. He cut me off financially after that. The only reason he left me in his will was because he has no heirs.”

  Damn. That couldn’t have been fun. Her reaction to Erica and Staci made more sense now. “And you get here, and it looks a lot like I’m screwing two women not long after I slept with you.” Her fiancé, her dad. Men in Lil’s world weren’t faithful.

  But I couldn’t go around paying for their mistakes. “I get it, Lily. I really do. Between your dad and your ex...but I’m not him, and I’m sure as hell not your dad. I’m not a cheater, but you treated me like one. I kinda feel like no matter what I do here, I can’t win with you. I know I have a reputation for sleeping around, but you are the only person I’ve been with or want to be with. Yet, I can’t do that if you’re always going to believe the worst of me. I am not that guy anymore, not your dad and not your ex, and it hurt me when you treated me like I was. I won’t pay for their failings, Lil.”

  A little irritation bled into her voice. “I’m not an idiot, I know you’re not them. But you can’t ask me to trust blindly yet either, Shaw. My responses are conditioned a certain way and it takes time to break a pattern. I won’t lie, when they opened that door, I absolutely thought the worst, but I broke that pattern and gave you a chance to explain, and you didn’t take it. You didn’t even try.”

  It was more than valid. “I should have. Some part of me knew I was screwing up, but I couldn’t see past my own hurt feelings. I didn’t want to give you any more of my heart if you weren’t going to be able to trust me. I’m sorry, darlin’.”

  She sighed. “Oh my god, we’re both so screwed up. You don’t owe me an apology.”

  I couldn’t help the little laugh. “True enough. Staci and Erica didn’t know I was seeing someone. When I talked to Erica this morning, she asked if I’d cleaned up my mess yet. I told h
er you’d been sending me straight to voicemail.”

  Her focus shifted to the sofa back.

  “I didn’t ask them to come see you, Lily. But I know I shouldn’t have let you leave without an explanation. Part of me wanted you to give me the benefit of the doubt and when you didn’t, I pouted. I knew it was a mistake before the elevator closed behind you.”

  I wanted to reach for her, pull her to me, and without prompting, she slid under my outstretched arm.

  She belongs here.

  “I know I push people away, Shaw. I know it’s stupid, even dangerous sometimes, but I promise I’m trying... I’m willing to try with you, if you are, too.”

  When she blinked up at me, tears rolled down her cheeks. “There’s only you.”

  Sliding my hand over hers, I marveled at how tiny it felt. This brave, smart, strong woman.

  She had me right then and there. Lily Costello owned my heart.

  “I’m scared of all of this, Brody. I’m falling for you, and I’m afraid you’ll let me down, too, and I know I’m going to screw up at some point.” She rolled her lip between her teeth and searched my face as I wiped her tears with my thumb.

  “I promise I won’t.”

  Her eyes softened, but I could see the hesitance. “There’s your career to think about, too. I don’t want to put your job in jeopardy.”

  Leaning in, I cupped her jaw. “Then we’ll do our best to keep it quiet until either the game, or the team, is done with me, whichever comes first.” It might be sooner than I’d like to admit. “I want to retire here.” If they didn’t push me out first. “Now more than anything because I don’t want to move away from you. So, we’ll keep this our secret. And if we’re found out, I’ll deal with it.”

  When she nibbled the inside of her cheek, I brushed her forehead with a kiss. “Liliana, I’m so fucking gone for you. I knew it the moment you walked down that hall and got in the elevator. I don’t give my heart away easily—if you want it, though, it’s all yours if you’ll be careful with it.”