“Mr. Hale, one last question, I promise.” A beautiful woman grins at me, and I force a smile in return. I don’t even remember what magazine she represents. The coach, a few guys from the team, and I have been answering questions for an hour already, and I’m on the verge of storming out of the goddamn room. I’m just a football player…I don’t like being a talking head. “How do you like LA?”
I blink, reclining in my seat. “I like it here. It’s my hometown, my family is here. And I’ve got an awesome team, one of the best I’ve ever played for.”
“That’s nice to hear. Wishing you all the best for your next game.” Her gaze slowly coasts over my face, and she licks her lips. I’ve seen this look way too many times. I can read the signs, recognize her body language. Fucking a reporter is on the same level as fucking my daughter’s nanny. It’s never going to happen.
“Thank you, Ms. Dunn,” Coach says. “It was great talking to you all, but we have a game to win tomorrow. I need my guys on the field.”
Chatter fills the room, chairs scrape against the floor, and a few exasperated breaths come from me and the team’s goalkeeper, Marek Vavro. We exchange a glance and chuckle as we stand up from our seats.
“I wonder if there will be a day when I actually like talking to them,” Vavro says.
“I’ve been doing it for fourteen years, and I still hate it,” I say as we stroll out the door.
“You’re not helping, you know that?”
“Really?” I laugh, and he nudges me with his elbow. “I truly thought I was.”
“Not in the slightest.” Vavro looks me up and down, his mouth twisting into a smirk. “Ms. Dunn was drooling over you. Just saying.”
“I’m not interested. Just saying.”
“Dunno, she has some moves, for sure. Always so prim and proper, staying one hundred percent professional,” he says, wiggling his eyebrows. “Not today though. I think she has the hots for you.”
“You’ve got it all wrong, buddy.” I shake my head and open the door to the locker room. I don’t have time for this shit; I need to focus on tomorrow’s game. It’s gotta be perfect.
“I know the pattern, Hale. Girls like Autumn Dunn remind me of sharks. They see their prey, they chase it, and then they fucking swallow it whole. You won’t even notice it until she jumps your bones, trust me.”
“Well, I know the pattern too. And I know what I want. It’s not her.”
Vavro looks at me pensively and then starts to grin. “Fair. I love how levelheaded you are. A huge difference from some of the divas we’ve had on the team. I like you, Hale.”
“I like you too.” The door closes behind us with a bang, and we go our separate ways to our lockers.
Vavro might be right about the reporter, but my head is already too busy dealing with another woman in my life. One I can’t really escape just by walking out of the room.
What are things going to be like now? The question found its way into my head last night, and I wasn’t able to get rid of it, but I tried. I’m her boss. I’m the father of the child she’s looking after. I’m her best friend’s brother. The last one is just a nuisance—I wouldn’t take it into consideration if I decided to pursue her. But I won’t. I’d need to deal with the aftermath of banging my kid’s nanny. The same nanny who lives in my house, who I’d have to see every day. It’d push her to quit, and I don’t want that for my daughter. A mindless fuck isn’t worth ruining Story’s happiness.
“Your stadium is so big. It’s so big and so beautiful,” Story says the second I step into the house. She runs to meet me. I set my sports bag on the floor and catch her in my arms, giving her a big hug. “I can’t wait to go back tomorrow.”
“And I can’t wait for you to see me play.” I kiss her cheek, making her giggle. “But I’m a bit confused. When did you see it?”
“Piper took me there after school,” my daughter exclaims, winding her hands around my neck and pressing her cheek to mine. “She also bought me an ice cream. With strawberries.”
“Of course she did. You have your nanny wrapped around your little finger.”
“No.” Story suddenly pouts, pinching her brows together. She leans to my ear and lowers her voice. “Piper is upset about something. She says it’s nothing, that she just slept badly, but I don’t think it’s the truth. Maybe we can cheer her up?”
Cheer her up? I have no idea how she’s going to act around me now, but I guess I can expect her to keep her promise for a little while and not talk to me about anything that doesn’t concern my daughter. And that sucks.
“Daddy?” Two warm palms cup my face, and I meet Story’s gaze. “Can we cheer Piper up? Please?”
“Of course. Do you have something in mind?” Because I’m pretty sure no one is going to like my suggestions.
“You’re the best,” she whispers, and then kisses my cheek. If she knew I was the reason for her nanny’s moodiness, she wouldn’t be so kind. She would probably stop talking to me too, just to teach me a lesson. I should learn to keep my hands to myself.
Fingers crossed this won’t be awkward. The last thing I want is for Story to suspect anything, to feel the tension between Piper and me.
“Oh my God, Story, you shouldn’t have done that.” The closer I get to the living room, the more clearly I hear them. Another tentative step, and my eyes land on Piper, sitting on the couch with Story on her lap. My daughter is playing with Piper’s hair, twirling her locks around her fingers. There is so much adoration in her eyes that it throws me off. Was I really ready to risk that just to wet my dick?
“I wanted to make you smile. Daddy helped me with it.” Story glances at me with a cute smile and then returns her attention to Piper. “I love it when you’re smiling, and I’m sure my dad feels the same way.”
Piper’s gaze swims to me for a brief moment, feigning total indifference. She nods and instantly looks away. I’ll be getting the silent treatment then. What a life.
“What are we going to watch?” I ask, plopping down on the couch.
“Can we watch Frozen II? Please?” Story clasps her hands together, rounding her eyes. “Please, Daddy?”
“How many times have we watched it already?” I smirk, pulling a pizza box closer to me and opening it.
“Five.” She grins, making Piper snort. “But I love Elsa so much.”
“Whatever you want, baby,” I tell her, and then I look at Piper, who already has the remote in her hand. “Can you please turn it on?”
She meets my gaze and again just fucking nods. I should be happy she’s keeping her distance, but I don’t want it to be like this. I don’t want it to be so ice-cold between us. I don’t want her to ignore me.
Later, I have two crying women in the room. Story sits between Piper and me, leaning on my shoulder and sobbing. Her nanny is more discreet, wiping away the tears on her face with her fingers. I sling a hand over my daughter’s shoulder and pull her closer.
“You know they’re fine, right?”
“I-I do…but it’s still saaaaaaaaaaaaad.” She sobs louder, hiding her face in my tee. I smile and shake my head, bringing my gaze to Piper. She feels it and sneaks a glance in my direction.
“Is this your first time watching this? Piper?” Tears are brimming on her eyelashes, but by the way her pupils widen, I know she hates that I’m forcing a conversation on her. Not that I care. I want her to talk to me.
“No.” She focuses on the screen again.
“Then what’s your excuse for crying?”
The next time our eyes lock, she glares at me. Her rosy lips form an adorable pout, and she clicks her tongue in exasperation.
“I’m very sorry for being so…emotional.” This is her jab at me. She probably thinks I have a stone where my heart should be. “I’ll try to do a better job of hiding how I feel.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Oh, you most certainly did.” Her lips quiver, and suddenly she breaks into a smile. “You were very convincing…in the shower.”
I narrow my eyes, staring at her in confusion. I expected her to mention last night, in the kitchen. Not this. What does she mean?
“You should think about soundproofing. It might come in handy when you’re in the shower.”
Did she hear me? Does she know I was jerking off? Calling her name? She needs a fucking spanking to teach her a lesson. What happens behind my bedroom walls stays behind my bedroom walls, Piper.
“You’re talking in riddles,” Story mutters, moving away from me and crossing her arms over her chest. “Can you stop? I don’t understand.”
“Sure, sweetie.” Piper flashes me a smile, enjoying my shocked state. “My lips are sealed.”
Her lips are sealed? They will be when she’s gagging on my cock, begging me to give her more…Jesus fucking Christ. I need a shitload of ice to cool down. The last thing I need is Story noticing my hard-on.
I stand up and head to the kitchen without another word. I lean against the counter and stare in front of me. Piper’s image from last night pops into my head, and my veins instantly heat up. She felt incredible in my arms; her skin was so soft and silky, and those sensual hips and her scent totally blinded me. I wanted nothing more than to taste her, make her choke on my cock and then bury it in her juices. I wanted it so badly, but…I couldn’t.
Back in the living room I look at Story and Piper on the couch. My daughter has her eyes glued to the TV, holding a pizza slice in her hand. Her nanny is watching me, and the satisfied grin on her lips says it all. She loves making me irritated and so fucking horny. I’m tempted to go back to my room and take care of myself. I just want to let go, like the fucking Queen of Arendelle sang. Just move on and push everything aside.
But the pictures of her in my mind make it absolutely impossible.
