Chapter 20 - Lindsey
TWENTY
LINDSEY
I’m still not convinced this is a good idea. In fact, I’m sure it’s not. But I feel young and excited, like I’ve been given a second chance to experience a great love story, so I’m going to stuff those worries deep down while I’m away with Brooks. I deserve to enjoy this.
The boys are excited for their weekend with their dad, which helps.
He’s taking them camping, which . . . I don’t think Brandon knows much about.
But he’s going with our old neighbors, who have three boys of their own.
I suspect the reason Deacon and Riggs like going to their father’s so much is ninety-nine-point-nine percent due to seeing their friends down the street.
Two weekends ago, the neighbors were gone, and the boys were miserable.
Brandon rented a fifth wheel, so it’s not like they’ll be roughing it. It has running water, and a full working kitchen. I doubt they’ll actually fish, which is one of the things the boys want to do, but I can take them when they come back. I’m better at it anyhow.
This weekend, I’m just the nanny. Well, not just the nanny.
I’m also Brooks’s dirty little secret, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it for the entire drive to Little Rock.
Brooks had to ride with the team, but I’ve trailed along, keeping pace with the charter bus for most of the way.
I maybe should have held back a few miles to avoid walking into the hotel with the team, but I’ve already parked near the bus and have been spotted by several of his teammates.
I flip open Holly’s stroller, then secure her carrier to it. She’s still asleep from the long car ride, but I’m sure she’ll wake soon. And she’ll be hungry.
I’m loading her things into the space at the bottom of her stroller when a shadow looms over me. I glance up expecting Brooks, but it’s Roddy getting in his baby fix.
“Nice of you to bring her for this trip, Linds. Too bad the boys couldn’t come along,” he says, tucking Holly’s blanket around her feet.
“Maybe they can make the next one,” I say, standing and stretching my back from the long drive. “If this goes well, Brooks would like to make it a thing. So he has more time with her . . . ya know.”
“Yeah, I bet,” Roddy says. His gaze lingers on mine, and I can’t say for sure, but I think he knows me being here isn’t strictly to be Holly’s nanny.
“Hey, how was your drive?” Brooks says, stepping in before the tension between Roddy and me boils to my breaking point and I confess everything right here in a Marriott parking lot.
“Same as yours, only my experience was probably more like your bus driver’s,” I say, rubbing my lower back.
“You should give her a massage,” Roddy says, a little under his breath but not enough so I can’t hear it. He winks at me, then walks toward the bus to unload his catching gear.
“Shit,” I mutter.
“Yeah, Roddy might be on to us. But honestly, Linds? Nobody really cares. If I tell them you’re here to take care of Holly, that’s the story they’ll tow. And Roddy wouldn’t say shit to anyone. You know, he said he never liked your ex.”
I stare at Roddy’s back while he yanks his catcher’s bag from the belly of the bus.
“Yeah, I think he and Daisy wanted me to get with their son, Jake. But I babysat that boy when he was ten, and I just never saw him as anything other than the little kid who was obsessed with fart jokes.” I shrug as Brooks chuckles.
“So, you knew Roddy when he was with Daisy?”
I snort out a laugh.
“I knew Roddy when he fucked things up, and when he came back and blew it again, and again. We’ll see how it goes this time. He’s a great guy, but I’m not sure he’s a great husband. And the verdict’s out on his parenting.”
Brooks nods and grunts a short, “Hmm.” He takes my suitcase out of the back of my van, then closes the door, wheeling it for me along with his gear bag while I push Holly toward the hotel entrance.
I hang back with Holly while Brooks checks in with the team.
When he waves me toward the elevator bay, I scurry to catch up.
I push the stroller in and step to the side while Brooks moves in behind me.
The doors are almost closed when a hand pushes them back open and Jayden and the team’s female hitting coach slip inside with us.
“Hey, Brooks,” Jayden says, giving his teammate a slight nod.
“Hey.” Brooks keeps it short, and I look down at my feet as the elevator moves upward.
“You going to the dinner?” Jayden asks through a yawn.
“I’m pretty beat. Plus, I got Holly. I’d like to give Lindsey a break and spend some time with her.” Brooks says it so casually, I almost buy his story.
“Yeah, I’m exhausted too. Bus trips suck, man. I’ll probably turn in early. Gotta get the legs fresh and ready for tomorrow morning, chasing down all the damn fly balls our fucking bullpen gives up.
“No doubt,” Brooks says through a breathy laugh.
The doors open on the fourth floor and Jayden slips out first, holding the door with his hand so it doesn’t close while Coach steps out.
“Good night, dude,” Brooks says.
Jayden nods and says, “You too.”
While I keep my chin down, I lift my gaze and watch Jayden head down the hallway as the elevator doors shut, and though I can’t say for certain, I swear he reaches for his coach’s hand.
“Uhh,” I hum.
Brooks turns to face me. “What? I think that went fine.”
I huff out a short laugh.
“Oh, we’re fine. I don’t think he was interested in me or you at all. He had his mind on other things.”
Brooks narrows his gaze on mine, puckering his lips while his mind works, and I see the moment it hits him.
“Oh, shit!” His brow shoots up.
“Yeah, I think he’s hitting that. Pun totally intended.”
“Yeah, I’ve had a feeling. That’s . . . well, all right. See? You and I aren’t controversial at all.” He reaches up and strokes his thumb across my nipple through my T-shirt, and I suck in a quick breath.
“Uh, fooling around in an elevator is a little too public,” I chastise.
He chuckles, then turns back around while we ride the rest of the way to the eighth floor. Meanwhile, my nipple is now buzzing with heat. And I feel myself getting wet.
I’m not sure how Brooks pulled it off, but we have adjoining rooms at the end of the hallway on the top floor, and my room comes with a full wall of windows that looks out over the river.
I push Holly inside and take in the view while Brooks pulls her out of her seat and lays her on the bed to change her.
She’s such a good baby, and normally, I’d love spending this time with both of them, playing with her and watching her discover new things.
But all I can think about is the buzzing energy Brooks left behind when he touched by breast.
Holly cries as Brooks cleans her up. I hand him a fresh diaper, then dispose of the soiled one by double bagging it, then running it down the hall to the maintenance trash. By the time I get back to our rooms, Brooks has already made Holly a bottle and he’s pacing his room while feeding her.
“I’m going to freshen up while you spend some time with her. Is that cool?” I point with my thumb toward my shower, and he nods.
It’s been a while since I’ve stayed in a hotel.
In fact, other than a trip downtown to catch the Thunder game with Brandon when the boys were first born, I don’t think I’ve been in a hotel since before we were married.
There wasn’t time for getaways, and all of our funds went to pay for school, which Brandon was in for six straight years.
A hotel shower is literally one of the world’s wonders, in my opinion. An endless stream of hot water, and a large space with fresh towels that someone else cleans at the end of the day. Gah! It’s bliss.
I get the water steaming hot, then strip out of my T-shirt and linen shorts, shimmying out of my white lace panties before unhooking my bra.
I open the glass door and hold my hand out to test the temperature before stepping inside, then glance over my shoulder to see if Brooks can see me through the open door.
He can’t at this angle, but I leave the door wide open anyhow, just in case.
I lather my hair with the hotel’s shampoo, washing it twice before filling my palm with way too much conditioner.
When it’s someone else’s supply, I don’t have to be stingy, and I love the way this particular product smells of vanilla and lavender.
I’m massaging my scalp when Brooks suddenly steps into the shower with me.
“May I?” he says, working his hands into my hair and threading his fingers between mine.
“Mmm,” I hum, leaning back until my back rests on his hard chest. His cock pushes against my ass.
“Holly’s out like a light. She takes after her daddy. A full meal and it’s time for a nap,” he says, chuckling against my neck, then licking the beads of water from my skin.
I lower my hands and reach behind me to feel for his hips, guiding him so his cock slides between my ass cheeks. I’ve never had anyone that way, and suddenly I’m filled with so many ideas.
“You should eat, then. So you can get a good night’s sleep,” I say, hinting in the most obvious way.
“I should,” he says, nipping at my ear before gliding his hands, slick with conditioner, down to my breasts.
“I fucking love your tits,” he groans, kneading my breasts, then pinching my nipples while the water washes away the leftover product from my skin.
I arch my ass as his hands move to my hips, and he lowers himself to his knees as I press my palms against the tile wall. He nudges my legs apart more, then palms my ass with both hands before licking my pussy from behind.
“Oh, fuck,” I moan, bending over further to give him better access.
He pushes his tongue inside my pussy while his hands pull my cheeks apart, and when the pad of his thumb teases my asshole I whimper, wanting more.
“Oh, you like that,” he says through a devious chuckle.
“Uh huh,” I cry, nodding and bending over even more so the top of my head is resting on the wall.