6. Nicole
NICOLE
I pull my baseball hat lower and focus on the pitcher on the mound.
My eyes keep straying to first base, but I have to remind myself that I’m not here to watch Guy Brody.
For the last six days, he’s texted and called me.
I’ve sent him messages saying I’m too busy to talk, trying to break things off cleanly, but it hasn’t slowed him down at all.
When he knows the truth, it will. I’ve just been too nervous to tell him.
The ball is hit straight to Guy, and I watch as he scoops it up and steps on the base for the final out.
The crowd goes wild as the Jasper Bears win, but my eyes stay glued to the white band wrapped around Guy’s wrist. Is that my hair tie?
No way. It can’t be. It looks exactly like it, though.
I guess I’ll never know because I won’t be getting close enough to see for sure.
Reluctantly, I rise from my seat and straighten the VIP pass hanging around my neck. I pull my Grant Foxx jersey down over my hips and follow the crowd through the stadium.
Instead of heading outside, I take the path toward the tunnel that leads to the locker rooms and operations area.
I hold up my pass, pull my hat down until it nearly covers my eyes, and make my way into the tunnel where the rest of the Bears’ families are waiting. There are so many people that there’s no way Guy will see me.
As soon as I spot my dad, I wave. His smile gets even bigger, and he jogs toward me before lifting me into a hug and swinging me around.
I pat his shoulder as he sets me down. “You’ve still got it, old man.”
“Har, har. Funny.”
I squeeze his shoulder. “How does it feel?”
He rolls it once. “Nothing a good massage and an ice bath won’t fix.”
My dad has played in the majors for most of my life.
Everyone thought he would retire years ago, but he’s proven them wrong by continuing to play for one of the best teams in the league.
He was traded to the Bears a few months ago, and this is the first time I’ve gotten to watch him play here in the stadium.
“Get the massage and the ice bath,” I tell him. “We can have pancakes tomorrow.”
He shakes his head. “Absolutely not. It’s tradition, Nikki. Pancakes after a win.”
I smile. “Well, I don’t want to mess with traditions, that is for sure. You pitched a great game, Dad.”
As soon as the words leave my mouth, someone approaches from behind him. “Great job, Foxx.”
My dad turns and bumps fists with Guy Brody. Right now, I wish I were anywhere but here.
Dad gestures toward me. “Brody, this is my daughter, Nikki.”
Guy goes completely still when he looks at me. I try to keep our secret and hold out my hand. “Hey, Guy. It’s nice to meet you.”
He grips my hand and doesn’t let go. From this close, I can see that the white band around his wrist is definitely my hair tie.
Someone calls my dad’s name, and he lifts his hand in acknowledgment. “Nikki, I have to go. I’ll see you out front. Pancakes.”
I don’t take my eyes off Guy. “Sounds good, Dad.”
He walks away, and Guy is still holding my hand.
I gently pull it free.
“Grant Foxx is your dad?” he asks.
I nod, guilt settling heavily in my stomach. I should have told him. I could have, but I knew that once he found out, he would have dropped me off at my room and disappeared. Besides, it wasn’t like anything really happened. We kissed. It’s not like we had sex or anything.
Guy searches my face. “Is that why you’ve been blowing me off and avoiding my calls?”
I shake my head. “Guy, it was a good night, but—”
He grunts. “But nothing. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you, and you’re not in room 312 anymore.”
My eyebrows lift. “You went to the hotel?”
“Yes. I thought I was going to have to hire a private investigator to find you.”
I shrug. “Well, here I am. Now that you know who I am, you understand why we can’t date or do whatever this is.”
He laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “Oh, yeah. We’re dating.”
I can feel people around us starting to pay attention. “Guy, you need to go. There are people waiting for you.”
I gesture toward the chained-off area. A group of women wearing Guy Brody jerseys are calling his name and trying to get his attention. Guy reaches for me, but I step back. “You’re my dad’s teammate. This is a bad idea.”
He looks at me almost desperately before blurting out, “No one has to know.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m not interested in being anyone’s secret booty call. Not even Guy Brody’s.”
He looks around before taking my hand and pulling me farther down the hallway. A man is standing in front of a door, but he recognizes Guy immediately.
Guy bumps fists with him. “Hey, Jerry. Can you let us through?”
The man turns and opens the door. Guy pulls me inside, and Jerry closes it behind us.
I press my hand to my forehead. “Are you kidding me right now? Do you know how many people just saw us come in here?” I look around the room. “What is this place anyway?”
“It’s just one of the many hallways that leads to the locker rooms and offices.” He points toward an exit. “That door will take you to the parking lot without going back through the family area.”
I start toward the exit, but Guy stops me. “Wait. We need to talk.”
I shake my head. “We really don’t. I thought about that night, and it was nice, but I don’t see anything good coming from this.”
His mouth falls open. “Nice? That’s all you thought it was?”
I cross my arms over my chest. I shouldn’t ask, but I have to. “What did you think it was?”
He steps toward me, and his gaze moves over me like he wants to devour me. “Life-changing. I’ll never be the same.”
A laugh bursts out of me. “Guy, you’re crazy.”
He stalks toward me, and I back up until my shoulders hit the wall. One of his hands goes to my waist while the other cups my cheek. He searches my eyes, and I can see the struggle on his face. What surprises me is the question he asks. “Do you like me, Nicole?”
I inhale, and my breasts brush against his chest. My whole body trembles from the contact. “Yes,” I whisper.
He smiles widely. “Good. I like you too.”
I search his eyes. “That doesn’t mean we can date. My dad just joined the team, and I don’t want to cause tension between him and the rest of you.”
Guy presses his lips to mine, and I open for him without hesitation. His tongue strokes against mine, and I melt against him. He ends the kiss long before I’m ready. “No one has to know,” he says. “We can keep this between us for now.”
I close my eyes and lean my head against the wall. Guy must think it’s an invitation because his lips immediately move to my neck.
The man knows exactly what he’s doing. He slides his leg between mine and lifts it until his thigh presses against my center. I have no control over my body because I rub against him like I’m in heat. Damn, this man makes me crazy.
He kisses up my neck and sucks my earlobe into his mouth. A moan escapes me.
“Go out with me tomorrow,” he whispers.
He keeps kissing and nuzzling me, making it almost impossible to form a thought of my own. “Hmmm.”
He stops and looks into my eyes. “Go out with me tomorrow.”
I squeeze his shoulders. “Guy, I don’t think—”
“I don’t want you to think. I want you to feel.” His eyes search mine. “Feel how good we are together.”
His hand trails down my neck and over my collarbone before cupping my breast. I lean into him, and when his thumb strokes over my hard nipple, my body jerks.
He smiles at the control he has over me.
There’s nothing I want more than to stand here and give myself to him completely, but I know I can’t.
My dad is waiting for me. “I have to go,” I moan.
Guy nips at my lips. “Tell me you’ll go out with me tomorrow. After that, if you don’t want to see me again, I’ll leave you alone.”
Before I can answer, he pleads, “Please, Nicole. Give me a chance. Give us a chance.”
In my head, I know this is a bad idea and nothing good can come from it. But my body is screaming something else. A need unlike anything I’ve ever felt surges through me. “Okay,” I mumble. “I’ll go out with you tomorrow.”
He doesn’t stop touching me. His mouth returns to my neck, leaving small kisses against my heated skin. “Where are you staying now?”
“Room 217.”
He pulls back. “You’re still at the hotel? Why aren’t you staying with your dad?”
As soon as he brings up Dad, I pry myself out of his hold and duck beneath his arm. “His house is being remodeled.”
“Stay with me.”
My eyes widen.
He quickly holds up his hands. “Okay. I can see that idea freaks you out. I just hate that you’re living in a hotel.”
“My apartment will be ready in a few days.” I look at the clock on the wall. “I really need to go. Dad is going to be looking for me.”
Guy lets out a frustrated breath. “Okay. I’ll pick you up in the morning. Ten a.m. Room 217.”
Because I don’t trust myself around him, I shrug. “I’ll meet you in the lobby.”
He doesn’t like it, but he doesn’t argue. He holds out his hand. “Come on. I’ll walk you out.”
I move past him, ignoring his hand. “It’s probably better if I go alone.”
Again, he doesn’t like it, but he lets it go. He places his hand on my waist and pulls me back against him. Then he kisses me again, longer this time, and doesn’t stop until we’re both breathless. Finally, he pushes me toward the door.
I nearly walk out, but turn back at the last second. I fluff my hair. “Do I look okay?”
I swear the man growls. “You look like you’ve been making out.”
My eyes widen, and of course he smiles at me possessively.
I roll my eyes. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Guy.”
“Tomorrow, honey.”