Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Molly
“Did we leave room for dessert?” the waiter asks with a lift of his manicured eyebrows.
“Actually, we’ve got that covered already,” Bobby answers before I can even contemplate forcing another bite of food into my full belly.
It’s been four days since Bobby modeled my pajama pants for Ramona in my kitchen, and they’ve been the best four days of my entire year. Bobby is so attentive, full of energy, and easy to be with he makes me feel like I’m in my twenties again. And he’s performed a miracle on my sexual confidence.
The waiter nods and retreats as I shoot my date a quizzical look. He’s dressed in a knit polo shirt with charcoal slacks that fit him like a glove and his hair tamed with some type of styling product. He looks good enough to eat—if I weren’t already so full, I mean.
“I picked up a key lime pie earlier. It’s back at my place.”
“Ah, very sneaky.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He feigns innocence, both dimples popping when he can’t hold the expression. I wonder what the other patrons would think if I climbed over the table right now and straddled him right there in his chair.
“I should probably tell you now that I get Matty back tomorrow, which means no more sleepovers, Mr. Rhodes.” I dab my lips with the white cloth napkin and drop it on my empty plate.
“ Mr. Rhodes? How formal. But you forget I’ve seen you naked, Sparkle.”
The waiter returns to drop our check, but Bobby hands him his credit card before the leather folder even hits the table. As soon as we stepped into the restaurant two hours ago, I made up my mind not to fight Bobby for the check. The menu doesn’t have prices listed, which told me it was way above my budget. I’ll pay when I choose the restaurant. I hope Bobby likes ramen.
I wait until we’re alone again to respond, “How can I forget? Every time I move a muscle, I’m reminded of our activities.”
Bobby frowns. “You didn’t tell me that. Did I hurt you?”
I laugh. “No. I’m just way out of practice, that’s all.”
“Well, I’m more than happy to get you back into the habit.”
“How very noble of you.”
Bobby signs the check and then stands to escort me through the dining room. I catch more than a few pairs of eyes trained our way, reminding me I’m out with a local celebrity and have opened myself to public scrutiny. Damn.
I can’t help the heat rising to my face when a woman whispers to another at her table and they both laugh. They don’t even try to pretend they’re not talking about us! What happened to female solidarity?!
When we step out onto the sidewalk, the night is unseasonably cool, and the breeze feels fantastic on my heated skin. Bobby drapes an arm around my shoulder and pulls me closer as we walk to the valet stand.
“You cold?”
I shake my head and muster a smile, not wanting to let him in on my discomfort. I went into this with my eyes wide open. I knew he was a public figure just like I knew I was twelve years older—and look it. Why do I even care what other people think?
When we get to his building, he parks his truck in the underground garage and opens my door like a gentleman before we take the elevator to the thirtieth floor.
“Soon, you’ll have a house and won’t have to wait for elevators or make five trips to get your groceries upstairs anymore,” I say as we head down a carpeted hall.
“Would it be tacky of me to admit I get my groceries delivered most of the time?” he asks with a sheepish look that only makes me smile.
“Not at all.”
Bobby pulls out a set of keys and unlocks a door at the end of the hall before holding it open for me. I step through, craning my neck to tell him I’d do delivery too in his shoes when a stranger’s voice has me jumping in my heels instead.
“I promise I’m not jerking off this time, Boberto!”
“Motherf—” Bobby cuts himself off, quickly shutting the door behind us and sidestepping me to place himself between me and whoever just spoke.
“Richie! I swear to god I’m taking back your key.”
Richie? His brother! Crap! I’m not ready to meet his family!
Bobby turns to face me, apology written all over his face. “I’m so sorry, Molly. I had no idea he was here.” He raises his voice on the next comment. “ He was supposed to be at work! ”
“Wait, who’s here?” Richie asks, voice getting louder as he approaches the entryway.
Well, there’s nothing I can do about it now, so I may as well woman up and make the best of it. Plastering on a smile, I step around Bobby and raise my hand in a friendly wave at the guy standing there. He bears some resemblance to Bobby, but his hair is a mess and he’s taller. And his fashion sense is decidedly different if the “Who farted?” T-shirt and cut-off sweatpants are anything to go by.
Richie looks me up and down as a grin overtakes his lips. “Well, this is a surprise.”
Of all the things he could have said, I suppose that’s one of the better options.
“Hi, I’m Molly,” I say. “You must be Bobby’s brother.”
He approaches, but when he takes my hand and turns it to kiss the back, Bobby shoves him away—hard.
“Don’t touch her, asshole,” Bobby snarls, but it only makes Richie laugh. Bobby looks down at me, nose wrinkled. “He doesn’t wash his hands.”
“He lies,” Richie tells me. “Can I get you a drink, Molly?”
Bobby curses under his breath again. “Dude, this is my apartment. Get out .”
Richie scoffs and addresses me again. “What’s a classy lady like you doing with this rude, lying reprobate?”
I decide not to go with my reflexive answer of orgasms and settle on, “He’s been a perfect gentleman so far.”
Richie cocks his head. “Color me surprised. My brother must be on his best behavior with a real lady instead of his usual puck bunnies.”
“That’s it!” Bobby lunges for his brother and puts him in a head lock.
Richie laughs and tries fighting Bobby’s hold while elbowing him firmly in the gut. I flatten my back against the wall to keep from getting taken out by any stray limbs. Both men grunt and swear as they battle each other until Bobby gets Richie’s arms twisted behind him and frog-marches him to the door.
Bobby lifts his chin to me. “Mind getting the door, baby?”
“Baby?” Richie’s eyebrows spike as they stagger my way. “Wait till I tell the boys!”
I can only shake my head as I hold the door open and step out of the way.
“Nice to meet you, Molly!” Richie yells as the door slams behind him.
Bobby secures the deadbolt, chest heaving from exertion, and then turns to face me again. “I am so sorry about that. I had no idea he would be here, and I am officially disowning him starting this moment. In fact, first thing tomorrow, I’m going down to the county courthouse to change my name legally.”
I blink up at him, still recovering from the whole scene. He looks so earnest and apologetic that I can’t help but pat his chest and offer him a grin. “It’s fine. Family is never easy, in my experience.”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
“You know, you might find this crazy, but I’m actually a little jealous of you and Richie.”
“Jealous? Why would you ever wish for a two-hundred-pound leech with poor hygiene and an overinflated ego?”
“Well, when you put it that way...” I laugh. “No, I just mean it might have been nice to have a sibling, that’s all.”
“Well, you can have all four of mine if you want.” Bobby pulls me in and drops a kiss on top of my head before leading us both into the apartment’s living space.
It’s not at all what I expected for a professional athlete with Bobby’s very specific taste. It feels too...generic for him, from the beige walls and carpet to the vertical blinds covering the windows.
As if reading my mind, Bobby props his free hand on his hip and says, “You can see why I’m looking for a house.” We both glance around the space. “I only got this place because it’s close to the practice facility. I’m so used to being traded every season that I never put any thought into my living arrangements before. It was never worth it.”
“And now?” I ask. I didn’t know he’d been traded around so much. It must be tough not getting to decide where you live or work.
“Kaitlyn got me a six-year contract with the Storm Chasers last year, so I can finally breathe.”
“Kaitlyn’s your agent, right?” I’m not quite sure how all this works.
“Yeah. She and my teammate Benny are the ones who just had a baby.” He gets a goofy look on his face that makes my ovaries perk up. Settle down, bitches! “You might have met her, actually. She was the dark haired woman I was talking to at Matthew’s practice when I met your ex. She’s around the facility a lot.”
A lightbulb turns on. “Oh! That ’ s who that was.”
Bobby cocks his head. “Wait. Did you think...I was hitting on her?”
Heat crawls up my neck. “No!” I deny too quickly, knowing I’ve been caught. So I go on offense instead. “Hey, your own brother said you usually go for ‘puck bunnies.’” I use air quotes.
Bobby gasps. “I’m going to tell Kaitlyn you just called her a puck bunny!”
“No, I didn’t mean that!”
“Kinda sounded like you did.”
“I just meant she’s young—and beautiful, and stylish, and . . . sexy.”
“Now you think she’s sexy too? I’m sure she’d like to hear that as well.”
“No! That’s not . . . I’m going to shut up now.”
Bobby chuckles and turns, drawing me into his chest and wrapping his arms around me. “I’m just giving you shit.”
“Well, don’t be surprised if I just kick you in the shin.” I sound like a third grader.
Bobby’s warm chest shakes against my cheek where my head is cradled. He’s so solid and comfortable. It feels good to be able to lean on him and let myself exhale for a minute.
“Hey.” His voice is quieter now and I can feel his breath ruffle the hair on top of my head. “About what Richie said, he doesn’t know anything about my love life or who I do or don’t date.”
“It’s really none of my busin?—”
Bobby cuts me off. “Yes, it is. And I’m telling you right now that you’re the only woman I want to date.”
As good as that feels, I have to bring up the elephant in the room. “I’m forty, Bobby. And I have a kid.”
“So? You just said you thought Kaitlyn was my type, and guess what? She’s forty and has a kid too.”
“Wow! She’s got great skin,” is my only response.
“She probably moisturizes with the tears of endangered baby seals.”
I choke out a laugh. “What?”
“She’s a hard-ass, to put it mildly. I’m actually a little frightened by her. Scratch that. A lot frightened.”
“Bobby?”
“Yeah?”
“You should definitely continue seeing your therapist.”
His chest shakes again, and I smile against the soft fabric of his shirt. Yeah, I could definitely get used to this.