1. Brynlee
CHAPTER 1
Brynlee
“ C ome on, Aunty Bryn, you have to stay this time!” I love my twelve-year-old nephew, Hunter, I really do, but I’m also falling in love with his coach.
Logan Dawson is the man of my dreams. I’ve silently stalked him online since laying eyes on him at Hunt’s first game of the season a few weeks ago. We’ve never been introduced, never said hello. Nothing. There’s been literally no communication between the two of us, so, realistically, I shouldn’t be considering it love.
I blame my father.
That stubborn old man gave me an ultimatum a little over a year ago.
Find a husband by your twentieth birthday, Brynlee Willows, or I have just the man for you.
His words ring in my head as I drop Hunter off at every game. His mother, my sister Chelsea, is more than a socialite, she’s the IT girl. The one gracing all the tabloids because of her exploits. Hunter comes second string for her, and I hate it. But I’m selfish enough to love it just as much because it means I get to spend as much time with him as I want.
But now, I feel that crunch. I turn twenty in four months and have yet to find attraction with a man who knows I exist.
Logan’s son, Carter, is Hunter’s best friend, and while I’ve met Carter plenty of times, I’ve never been introduced to his father. But I’ve eavesdropped on conversations between the boys to find out as much as I can about the single father. Yeah, I only learned about that little gem a week ago.
Carter confessed to Hunt that his mom ran away when he was a toddler, and they hadn’t heard from her since. I’m also selfish enough to be glad about that but compassionate enough to feel for the young boy who needs a mother in his life.
My own parents had Chelsea and me a little late in life. Me, later than her, obviously. And I know they lost hope of her settling down long ago. I, however, take care of Hunter, go to college—online courses because crowds give me hives—and volunteer weekly at various shelters around the city.
“Please?” His dark brown eyes and the pouting lip get me every time.
“Fine,” I respond and pretend to be mad, but his smile shows he understands I’m not. I love Hunter, and I’d do anything for him.
“Hey, Lee!” I hear Carter seconds before arms wrap around my waist from behind. This boy. He’s such a sweetheart.
“Hey, Carter, how are you?” I turn to give him a hug and get captured in the intense gaze of the man that stars in every fantasy of love and marriage I’ve ever had.
Carter lets go and steps to the side as Hunter comes around the trunk of my Honda. “I’m good.” He grins, and they run off. I watch their retreating backs for so long, I almost forget the man they left behind.
“Ahem.” I slowly spin back around to face him. “So you’re, Lee.” He smirks, and I don’t miss the way his gaze travels up and down my body. I suddenly feel very naked in my cut off shorts and tank top.
“Brynlee Willows.” I hold out my hand for him to shake while trying to untangle my tongue, but he walks off. “Nice to meet you too,” I mutter under my breath when he’s far enough away that I don’t think he can hear me.
Now I remember the reason I haven’t been interested in men. As usual, the one I choose to stupidly fall for is kind of a jerk.
Logan
Brynlee Willows.
I can’t believe I didn’t put it together sooner. I damn well should have with the way those boys have been acting. Hunter has always referred to his aunt as Bryn, so when they switched things up and started talking about a "Lee" a couple of weeks ago, I should have noticed.
Carter and Hunter are too damn much alike for their own good, and not necessarily in a positive way either. Neither of their mothers cares enough about them to be active in their lives, and yet, they’re two of the most exceptional kids I’ve ever met.
I used to be the star pitcher for the Kansas City Royals until retiring at the end of the 2012 season when Carter needed me more than baseball did. It wasn’t a hard decision to make. My contract had been up for renewal, and I was being offered more opportunities than I thought I would after playing for six years, but my son was all I gave a damn about.
Now, I’m here for him whenever he needs, like filling in as his baseball coach for the season. After moving to Newark, Delaware, six years ago, I accepted a job as athletic director for one of the larger high schools in town, and I don’t think we’ve ever been happier.
Or so I thought.
Over the last year or so, Carter has been asking about his mom. Even hinting about me dating. Since meeting Hunter Willows a little over a year ago, though, it’s become more insistent. And now that I’ve met Brynlee, I can see why.
In all the times she’s dropped my son off or picked him up at my house, school, or games, I’ve somehow never met her.
Now that I have, I’ve got a burning desire to learn more about her. If only I hadn’t been such a dick to her.
“Fuck,” I hiss under my breath as I order the kids to start warming up.
“Don’t swear, Dad.” Carter laughs as he runs off with his mitt and ball.
Chancing a quick look behind me, I see Brynlee sitting quietly in the stands off to the side with the other parents. She doesn’t attempt to interact with anyone else, only concentrating on her nephew. When I see the way Hunter lights up as he notices her attention, I’m left wondering where his parents are. I met his mom, Chelsea, twice, and neither time was I impressed with her.
As the other team arrives and the kids get pumped to play, we settle into our usual routine of cheering, having fun, keeping it as friendly as possible.
When I register a bit of a commotion behind me on the last hit of the game, I try to ignore it until I see Hunter’s rigid stance from first base. He’s been one of the calmest kids I’ve ever met in my life, but when he tosses his glove to the ground just as the batter hits the ball towards him—a catch I’ve never seen him miss—and storms off the field towards the stands, I pay more attention.
Turning around, I feel the kid's rage.
There’s some asshole manhandling Brynlee, and I can see she’s doing her best not to make a sound and distract the kids, but the dick won’t let her go, as she and another parent try to reason with the man quietly.
“Hey!” I shout, catching the attention of everyone around us as I storm after Hunter towards his aunt. “Get your damn hands off my woman.” I can feel my glare settle in as the stranger looks up, his eyes glossy, and I can immediately tell that he’s drunk.
“She ain’t no one’s woman.” His slurred words and the stench coming off of him almost make me feel bad for the fist I slam into his jaw.
“I said, get your hands off.” With the man knocked on his ass and grumbling, now, I turn my attention back to Brynlee and see she’s trying to tie the broken strap of her shirt together. “You alright?” I ask her as I pull her out of the stands and away from the gawkers. Peeling my uniform shirt off, I help her into it before buttoning it up to her chin.
“Bryn, you okay?” I ask again because she seems shell-shocked.
“I asked him to leave me alone.” Her chin wobbles.
“And he should have.” Brushing the stray strands of hair off her face, I lift her chin with a knuckle. “I’m sorry I was a prick to you earlier.”
Her gentle gaze darts up to meet mine. “That’s okay.” Her shoulders lift in a shrug.
“Can I take you to dinner tonight?”
Her eyes widen with shock. “Uhm…the kids…”
“Sleepover at Jason’s planned for the whole team.” I know she knows about that because, last week, she offered to drive both boys after today’s game.
“Well, I guess so, then.” Her voice is so soft, lyrical. It’s how I imagine a pixie’s to sound.
“I’ll pick you up at seven.” Kissing her cheek, I leave her with Jason’s mom as she drags Brynlee back to the stands so we can finish this game. The drunk now staggering away, with a couple of the baseball club’s members escorting him away from the fields.
It’s been a long damn time since I’ve been so excited for a date, and I get the feeling it has everything to do with Brynlee.