One year later
“Seriously, babe, we need to do something about that shower,” Brody complained as he stepped out of the bathroom.
Hayden couldn’t help but laugh at the aggravation on his handsome face. “The plumber will be here on Monday, babe. Quit getting your panties in a knot.”
He strode into the recently painted master bedroom of their Santa Monica home, his frown deepening. “It really doesn’t bother you?”
“No, Brody. It doesn’t. It’s just a removable showerhead, for fuck’s sake. We’ll live without it for a couple more days.”
She rolled her eyes and rose from the bed. They’d purchased the house two months ago, at a bargain since the rambling three-story Victorian on Ocean Avenue was in desperate need of renovations. So far, they’d painted every room, gutted the living room, retiled the kitchen—and Brody was worrying about a showerhead. Her husband definitely had a one-track mind. Of course, she’d known that when she’d married him.
“We should head over to the restaurant,” she said, swiftly putting an end to the subject Brody refused to drop. “Darcy will be wondering where we are.”
Brody snorted. “Darcy is probably fucking one of the waiters as we speak.”
She wagged her finger at him. “Be nice. She’s taken a vow of celibacy, remember?”
Another snort. “Yeah, and I’m sure that’ll last for, oh, ten seconds. No, make that five.”
Hayden laughed, knowing he was probably right. Leopards couldn’t get rid of their spots, lions weren’t about to grow horns and Darcy White certainly couldn’t “quit” men. But Hayden was glad her friend was finally able to take time off and visit them. Darcy was even considering moving to the west coast, and Hayden was avidly encouraging her friend to do so. She would love having Darcy around on a more regular basis, especially since she wouldn’t be able to travel with Brody to his away games for much longer.
Although the Warriors hadn’t made it far in the playoffs last season, Brody’s stats had impressed the Los Angeles Vipers’ general manager, who’d made him an offer, to both Hayden’s and Brody’s relief. It put an end to the “where do we live” dilemma that had been plaguing them since the engagement. Brody had signed with the Vipers, and since the commute to San Francisco had been too much for her, she’d agreed to transition into teaching online-only courses at Berkeley. She missed the big lecture halls, but the new arrangement worked for both of them; the online seminars gave her the time to work on her PhD at UCLA, and getting to LA from the suburbs was an easier commute for Brody.
They’d married in Chicago, though, deciding it was fitting to say their vows in the city where they’d met and fallen in love. Brody’s parents had flown in for the wedding. Darcy had been the maid of honor, and the guests were a mixture of academics and athletes, including Brody’s former captain Craig Wyatt, who’d brought Hayden’s ex-stepmother. Shockingly, Craig and Sheila were now engaged, and Sheila was happily planning the wedding and enjoying the money she’d gotten from her divorce; she’d eventually settled for half of Presley’s estate.
Hayden’s father had attended the wedding, too, though he’d kept a low profile, asking her if it was all right that he didn’t make a speech. But he did walk her down the aisle, and he’d brought her to tears beforehand when he handed her a beautiful letter that stated how happy he was that she and Brody had found love. He’d also thanked her for supporting him through everything, standing by him when he was in rehab, helping him pack up his various houses after the divorce was settled.
“Hey, you okay?”
Brody’s concerned voice drew her from her thoughts. She managed a nod. “Yeah. I was just thinking about my dad.”
Brody moved closer and wrapped his strong arms around her. “I know you wish he would move out here, but you can’t monitor every move he makes, babe. He’s sober now. Just have faith that he’ll stay that way.”
“I know.” She sighed. “At least he’s not in jail.”
Last year’s league investigation had resulted in criminal charges being brought up on her father, as well as the players he’d bribed, but Presley had gotten off with a fine and four years’ probation. Since he hadn’t been involved in a gambling ring or organized crime, he’d been lucky with his punishment. He’d lost the team, though, forced out by his board of directors, and Hayden knew that had been a big blow for her dad. The Warriors were now owned by none other than Jonas Quade, the man of many mistresses and god-awful tan.
Sam Becker wound up with probation, too, and banned from ever playing in the league again, and Brody still hadn’t forgiven his former friend. Hayden hoped that in time the two men might reconcile.
“Last time he called, he mentioned he’s thinking of buying a place by Lake Michigan,” Brody was saying, still talking about her dad. “Did he tell you that?”
“No, he didn’t mention it.” She suddenly smiled, wondering if maybe there was hope for her dad after all. He might have lost the team, but he seemed much happier lately, and the two of them were on their way to regaining the close relationship they’d had when she was younger.
“I told you he used to take me fishing when I was a kid, right?”
“You did. Maybe if he buys that place, you’ll get to do it again.” Her husband kissed her on the cheek and took her hand. “Come on, we should go.”
“You’re right. Darce will freak out if we don’t show up soon. She’s been really cranky lately. You know, the lack of sex and all.”
“Actually, I think she’ll be more freaked out when she sees this.” Brody rubbed her protruding belly with his palm.
Hayden sighed. She was only five months along, and already she felt huge. “Remind me again how you knocked me up when we decided to wait a couple years?”
He shot her a cocky grin. “I told you. I never miss. It’s my fatal flaw.”
“No, your fatal flaw is not getting me the ice cream I asked for last night.”
They left the bedroom and walked down their brand-new winding staircase. The floor in the front hall still needed to be laid down, but Hayden didn’t care as long as the renovations were done before the baby came. She grabbed her purse from the hall table and slipped into her flat sandals.
Then she followed Brody out on the porch, lifting her head to the late-afternoon sun and breathing in the warm air. She was so busy looking up that she almost tripped on the bottom step. Brody quickly reached out to steady her.
“Careful, Professor,” he warned. “You’re carrying a future champion in that belly of yours.”
Oh, brother. Not again.
“I only need one champion in my life, thank you very much.” She offered a sweet smile. “Maybe I’m carrying a future Nobel Prize winner.”
“Nah. Male or female, our kid is going to be a sports legend,” he said confidently, flashing a charming smile of his own. “Haven’t you figured out by now that I always get what I want?”
“God, you’re arrogant.”
“Yeah, but you like it.” His grin widened. “And if it weren’t for me, you’d still be hiking across some intimacy bridge—”
“I should’ve never told you about that!”
“And deprive me of endless bridge jokes?”
She tried to scowl but ended up laughing. “Fine. I surrender. The intimacy bridge is funny. Now, let’s go before Darcy really does fuck a waiter.”
Brody held her arm as they walked to the car. He opened the door for her, then rounded the vehicle and got into the driver’s seat.
She stretched the seat belt over her stomach and buckled up, then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Suddenly, she became aware of Brody watching her, and when she turned her head, her breath caught at the awe she saw shining in his eyes.
“Have I told you today how beautiful you are?” he said gruffly.
“Twice, actually.” Warmth suffused her body. “But feel free to say it as many times as you’d like.”
“Believe me, I will.” He shifted closer and stroked her cheek. “You know, the happiest day of my life was when you walked up to that pool table and asked me back to your hotel.”
She sighed. “You’re not going to tell our child that, are you?”
“Nah. We’ll say we met at a museum and it was love at first sight.”
He ran his thumb over her lower lip, sending a wave of heat and desire through her. She could never get enough of this man’s touch, not even if she lived to be a hundred.
“Let’s skip dinner,” he murmured, then dipped his head to kiss her.
Her pulse raced as his tongue teased hers with long, sensual strokes.
It took all her willpower to pull back. “We can’t.” When he grumbled, she added, “Come on, it’s one little dinner. I’ll make it worth your while…”
His eyes lit up. “How?”
She laughed. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”
“For you, I’d wait forever. In fact, I’d do just about anything you asked.” His gaze softened. “I love you that much, Mrs. Croft.”
She leaned in and brushed her lips over his. “I love you, too…so let’s get this dinner over with so I can get you home and show you exactly how much.”
