10. Nicole
NICOLE
I’m really doing this. Everyone standing on the porch is watching us walk toward them. As we get closer, Guy tightens his hold on my hand.
“Are you nervous?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. “No, I’m not nervous at all. I’m actually glad this is happening. I want you to meet my family.”
That should probably make me feel better, but it doesn’t. My stomach is twisting into knots, and I’m suddenly wondering if I should have taken him up on his offer to go straight to the truck.
A woman with dark hair comes down the porch steps first. I’m assuming she is Skyler because she has a small baby strapped to her chest, and there’s a man walking closely behind her as if he’s prepared to catch them both if she stumbles.
Guy drops my hand long enough to hug his sister and look down at the baby. “There’s my girl.”
Skyler smiles, and Guy looks at me. “This is my sister Skyler, my niece Grace, and my brother-in-law Zach.” He gestures to a frowning Zach. “Ignore him. He’s still adjusting to the fact that other people are allowed to touch his daughter.”
Zach doesn’t look amused. “You’ll understand when you have one.”
Something changes in Guy’s expression, and his gaze flicks toward me before he looks back at Zach. “Maybe.”
My heart races at the look he gives me. Skyler doesn’t miss it. Her eyes move between the two of us before her smile widens.
Guy clears his throat and gestures toward me. “This is Nicole.”
Skyler steps forward and hugs me with one arm, carefully keeping the baby between us. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
Before I can respond, another woman comes down the steps and hugs me too. “I’m Bree.”
Then another. “I’m Lindsey. It’s so nice to meet you.”
A fourth woman follows, smiling warmly. “I’m Aria.”
I barely have time to introduce myself before I’m surrounded by them. Guy laughs from beside me. “Give her some room. You’re going to scare her off.”
“We’re being welcoming,” Bree argues.
“You’re smothering her,” Guy deadpans.
Skyler looks at me. “Ignore him. We’re excited.”
Guy points toward Ozzy, who is standing near the door with his arms crossed and a pleased smile on his face. “You.”
Ozzy’s eyebrows lift. “Me?”
Guy nods. “You called everyone.”
Ozzy shrugs as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. “I might have mentioned you were here.”
Guy looks around the porch. “You mentioned it to the entire family?”
Ozzy pops his shoulders. “They were curious.”
“Really!” Guy exclaims, looking at each of the members of his family.
Ozzy’s smile grows. “You’re welcome.”
Guy glares at him. “I didn’t thank you.”
“You will.”
I press my lips together to keep from laughing.
Guy catches me and points at me. “Don’t encourage him.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t say anything.”
His voice softens. “You’re smiling.”
I throw my head back with a laugh. “That’s not a crime.”
His eyes soften as he looks at me. “No, but you’re supposed to be on my side.”
Skyler makes a small sound beside me. I look at her curiously, and she’s staring at me. “What?”
“Nothing.” Her smile is way too innocent. “I’ve just never seen him like this.”
Guy groans. “Here we go.”
Skyler turns toward me. “You’re the first woman Guy has ever brought home.”
My mouth drops open. “Oh, he didn’t bring me home,” I say quickly. “I mean, he was just taking me riding.”
Skyler lifts one eyebrow, and immediately I realize what that sounds like.
My cheeks heat with embarrassment, but I try to fix it. “He knows I grew up around horses,” I continue. “And since we’re keeping this a secret, this seemed like a good place to go. We’re, uh, just friends.”
There’s complete silence. Then almost everyone on the porch laughs.
I look at Guy, but he’s staring at me like I’ve wounded him. “Just friends?” he asks.
My forehead creases. “That’s what we agreed on.”
“No, we agreed to keep this between us. We never agreed we were just friends.”
Heat climbs up my neck as his entire family watches us.
Skyler nods. “Definitely not just friends.”
I turn toward her. “We are. I mean, this is our first date. We just met each other.”
She shrugs. “I know my brother.”
Guy crosses his arms over his chest. “Thank you.”
Skyler ignores him and looks at me. “He has never brought anyone here. He doesn’t talk about the women he dates, and he definitely doesn’t look at them the way he’s looking at you.”
I glance at Guy. He doesn’t look away or act embarrassed. Instead, he reaches for my hand again. “Ignore her,” he says.
Skyler laughs. “Because I’m right.”
Zach leans toward her. “Maybe don’t scare the woman away the first time she meets everyone.”
Skyler looks offended. “I’m helping.”
“Doesn’t feel like it,” Guy mutters.
His mom comes forward next and pulls me into a hug. “I’m Caroline. It’s nice to meet you, Nicole.”
“It’s nice to meet you too.”
Guy’s dad gives me a hug after her, and then Guy begins introducing me to everyone else. There are so many names that I’m not sure I’ll remember them all.
Miller is standing beside Lindsey. Logan has his arm around Bree. Penn is next to Aria, and Ozzy remains near the door, looking proud of the chaos he created. A young boy comes running out of the house. “Uncle Guy!”
Guy lets go of my hand and bends down just as the boy launches himself at him. He catches him easily and lifts him into the air. “There’s my favorite nephew.”
The boy laughs. “I’m your only nephew.”
“For now.”
Guy sets him down and messes up his hair. “This is Eli,” he tells me. “Miller and Lindsey’s son.”
Eli looks up at me. “Are you Uncle Guy’s girlfriend?”
My eyes widen, but Guy doesn’t hesitate. “I’m working on it.”
Eli nods as if that answer makes perfect sense and stares up at me. “Are you good at baseball?”
“I can hit.”
His face lights up. “Really?”
“Don’t challenge her,” Guy warns. “I’ve heard her dad taught her everything.”
Eli looks at me skeptically. “Who’s your dad?”
I smile as I say my father’s name. “Grant Foxx.”
His mouth drops open. “No way.”
I laugh. “Way.”
He grabs Guy’s arm. “Can we play? Please?”
Guy looks at me. “You mind?”
Even though I’m not sure about being left with all his family, there’s no way I’m going to disappoint that little boy who obviously loves his uncle. “Not at all.”
He leans down and kisses my cheek. “I’ll be right back.”
I watch as he follows Eli into the yard. Miller throws them a ball, and Guy begins tossing it back and forth with his nephew. He’s patient when Eli misses and cheers loudly when he catches it. They are talking and laughing, and the sight does something to me.
I’ve seen Guy Brody play baseball more times than I can count.
I’ve watched him hit home runs, make impossible catches, and celebrate championships.
I’ve also seen the pictures of him leaving clubs with beautiful women on his arm.
That’s the version of him I thought I knew. The man in front of me is different.
He’s lying in the grass while his nephew climbs on top of him. He’s laughing with his brothers and teasing his mother when she tells him not to ruin his clothes.
This isn’t Guy Brody, the baseball legend. This is just Guy. A man who drove all the way to Jasper to pick me up because he wanted our date to feel normal. A man that is begging me to give him a chance, and right now, I can’t think of one reason not to.
Skyler moves beside me. “He’s good with him, isn’t he?”
I nod. “Really good.”
“He loves kids.”
I glance at her, and she smiles softly. “He’lI make a great dad.”
Guy catches me watching him and smiles, and that smile hits me straight in the chest. Skyler bumps her shoulder against mine. “You like him.”
I avoid her knowing gaze. “Hmmm. It’s one date.”
She looks toward Guy. “It isn’t one date to him.”
My stomach flips. “How do you know?”
“He told me.”
My eyes jerk toward her. “What did he say?”
Skyler’s smile softens. “He said you’re different. That he can’t stop thinking about you.”
I look back at Guy. He’s talking to Eli now, helping him adjust his grip on the ball. “This is happening really fast,” I whisper.
“Sometimes it does,” Skyler murmurs.
I am not going to let her get my hopes up. I know this is just something in passing, and I’m not going to read too much into it. “I’m just someone he met. I’m not like the women he usually dates.”
Skyler nods. “You’re right about that. You’re nothing like them.”
I look at her, surprised by the answer, and I’m not sure whether to be offended or not.
She shrugs. “I’m not going to tell you there’s no risk. I’m just telling you my brother doesn’t bring women home. He doesn’t introduce them to us, and he definitely doesn’t look at anyone the way he looks at you.” Skyler smiles down at Grace. “I’ll be back. I got a hungry one.”
Before I can answer, Guy walks back toward us with Eli on his shoulders. Eli is holding the baseball over his head like a trophy. “I won,” he announces.
Guy rolls his eyes. “You cheated.”
“I did not.”
“I’m getting old,” Guy mutters. Eli laughs as Guy lowers him to the ground.
Lindsey calls him toward the house, and he runs off.
Guy stops beside me and slides his arm around my waist. “You okay?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
He searches my face. “You look overwhelmed.”
I could deny it, but I should be honest with him. “I am a little.”
His expression immediately turns concerned. “Do you want to go?”
I look around at his family. They’ve stopped staring at us and are talking among themselves now.
His mom is holding the baby. Logan and Miller are giving each other a hard time.
Ozzy is standing off to the side, but he doesn’t look as distant as he did earlier.
It’s loud and crowded, but it’s also warm.
“No,” I say. “I’m okay.”
Guy studies my face. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
He kisses my temple. “Good.”
A little while later, everyone begins heading inside. Guy stays back with Ozzy while I walk ahead with Skyler and the other women.
I glance over my shoulder and see Guy shove his brother lightly.
“You’re an asshole,” he tells him.
Ozzy laughs. “You’re welcome.”
“I told you, I’m not thanking you.”
“You will.”
Guy looks toward me. Our eyes meet, and his expression softens.
He turns back to Ozzy and lowers his voice, but I can still hear him. “Thank you.”
Ozzy slaps him on the shoulder. “Anytime, bub.”
I turn away before Guy catches me listening.
By the time we leave, I’ve been hugged again by every woman in his family. Caroline tells me I’m welcome anytime, and Skyler makes me promise I’ll come back and hold the baby when she isn’t surrounded by everyone.
Guy takes my hand as we walk toward his truck. “Well?” he asks.
“Well, what?”
“Did they scare you?”
I smile. “A little.”
He groans. “I knew it.”
“But I like them.”
He stops beside the passenger door and turns toward me. “You do?”
“Yes. They’re a lot, but in a good way.”
His smile is slow and happy. “They liked you too.”
I put my hands at his waist. “They barely know me.”
“They don’t have to know you long to see what I see.”
I look away before he can see how much his words affect me. He opens the door, but I don’t climb inside. “Your house is in Whiskey Run, right?”
His eyebrows lift. “Yeah.”
I tug on his shirt, pulling him toward me. My heart is pounding so hard that I’m sure he can hear it. I hope this is the right decision. “Take me home with you.”
He goes completely still. “What?”
I look up at him. “I want to see your house.”
His eyes darken, and he takes a step closer. “Nicole, you need to be sure.”
I slide my hands up his chest and wrap them around his neck. “I’m sure.”
His hands close around my waist. “You know if I take you home, I’m not going to want to let you leave.”
I rise onto my toes and press my lips to his. “Then take me home, Guy.”