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“You’ve got a cute kid.” You’ve got a cute everything, is what I want to say in response.
“I know it’s weird to offer, but I can hold him if you wa—” “No,” I snap. “Geez.” “I mean, no, thank you. He doesn’t do well with women.” “Wonder where he got that from.”
“Oh, well that’s good. I mean, that’s not good. Or maybe it is good? Who am I to say? Goddamn, this elevator is taking forever.” She slaps a palm over her mouth, her eyes darting to Max. “I mean, gosh dang it.” That finally makes me chuckle, a small grin sliding across my lips. She softens a bit. “He does smile.” “He smiles a whole lot more when he’s not being berated by a stranger in an elevator while she’s double fisting beers first thing after she wakes up.” “Maybe she never went to sleep.” Another casual pop of her shoulders. Dear God. “Maybe they should stop talking about themselves
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I love my daughter to death, but she’s a runner and the last thing she wants is to get caught.”
“And Ace,” he calls out. “Keep your dick in your pants. We all know how fucking fertile you are, and I’m too young and too goddamn attractive for someone to be calling me Grandpa.” “Jesus Christ,” I huff, leaving his room.
“He’ll be on his hands and knees most of the time.” “As all men should be.”
Okay, maybe there are three Rhodeses that like her.
“Watch it,” I say from my isolated seat. Standing, my jacket falls from my shoulder as I project my voice loud enough to be heard from the other end of the dugout. “I’m going to say this only once, so listen up. No one better try anything with her. I don’t give a shit if you think she’s God’s gift to this team, she’s not here for any of you. So let this be the one and only warning that if you mess with her in any way that makes her feel uncomfortable or unwelcome, you will be answering to me. You think Monty is scary when it comes to his kid?” I chuckle condescendingly. “You don’t even want to
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“He needs your help, Miller. He doesn’t know how to ask for it and I’m not sure if he knows how to accept it, but if there’s anyone who could bulldoze their way in, it’s you.”
As much as I feel connected to these guys, us all being professional athletes settled down, they both have partners they can lean on. Someone else to help lessen the burden. They’ll luckily never understand what it means to go through the hard stuff alone. But maybe worse than that is going through the good stuff and not having someone to celebrate those moments with. No one else heard Max’s first word. No one else saw the first time he crawled.
“Nothing about this is interesting, you hopeless romantic.” “Hopeful,” she corrects, pointing toward Ryan. “The new term is ‘hopeful romantic.’”
I want his life to be easy. At least, in a reasonable way. I want him to learn how to work hard, to earn things in his life. But the big stuff, like finding a way to get to school when you live across town, figuring out where your next meal will come from, or forging your dad’s signature on paperwork because you don’t want anyone to know you and your little brother live alone. Yeah, my kid will never know what that’s like.
“If you’re as terrible of a listener in the bedroom as you are in real life, Miller, I can promise you this, you wouldn’t be allowed to come.” Those pretty lips part, jade eyes wide. “Two can play this game, Montgomery. Now, let’s go.” I nod toward the other side of the house once again. Her lips press together, holding back a grin. “You keep talking like that, Kai, and I’ll be ditching the ‘baseball’ part and just be calling you ‘daddy.’”
I already accepted that I was staying for the summer, but as we stand in his kitchen, cleaning together, it feels like the moment that Kai has accepted I’m staying too.
And Miller? Yeah? Save my number in your phone. You’re stuck with me for a bit.
Kai brings his son’s hand to his lips, peppering kisses on his palm, finally pulling a sweet giggle from the typically happy boy.
“I didn’t tell you because you’re looking for a reason to retire,” he continues. “I wasn’t going to give you one. If you didn’t love playing anymore, I’d help you pack your bags right now, but I see it. The look you have on the nights you’re pitching. How much you love being with Isaiah again. You still love the game.”
For someone who has always felt alone in my responsibilities, never having anyone else to rely on, it’s not easy for me to see the help around me. But it’s there. There’s not a single soul on this team or staff who wouldn’t go out of their way for me or my son. I tend to wallow in self-pity, telling myself I’m alone in this, but I’m not.
“If you’re going to start coming to my games, I better see Rhodes on your back and I’m not talking about my brother.” “Is this some athlete kink you got? Need to see a girl in your jersey?” The old flirty side of me that I’ve kept hidden and locked down for the most part since Max came into my life is itching to break free. I pop my shoulders. “I like to see pretty girls in my jersey. Like to take it off them too.” Miller’s lips part, a shocked and satisfied grin lifting on the corners. “Well, with that kind of promise, I’ll be sure to wear it next time.”
She brings him a comfort he was missing, and she equally brings me the same, knowing how well they get along.
and I haven’t seen you watch a woman the way you watch Miller in far too long. Hell, maybe ever.”
“You flirting with me, Montgomery?” “Have been since we met. You gonna start flirting back?”
“Well, we all have our limits now, don’t we?” “And I’m yours?” His eyes trail my face, once again landing on my lips. “I think you might be.”
“Get your fucking hands off her.”
She’s just the nanny.” I fucking hate the words as soon as they’re out of my mouth.
My people. Her.
“Kai, I am not your problem.” My attention dips to her lips. “Be my problem.”
“Then do something to make me your problem.”
I make her my problem. There’s nothing soft or sweet about the way my mouth crashes onto hers because there’s nothing soft or sweet about Miller. She aggravates me, pushes me, challenges me. And according to the way her mouth yields to mine—she wants me.
I couldn’t tell you the last time I felt this way. Wanted. Desired. Touched and taken care of.
“That’s cute.” He pins me with a look. “Don’t call me cute.”
And that’s when it clicks. Kai is older now. He doesn’t want to make up for the partying he’s missing out on or even the freedom. He doesn’t need to reminisce on his old life. He simply wants the family he once had. He wants to be enough for Max in hopes that he might not feel the gaps Kai has convinced himself exist.
“Your food is beautiful, Miller. It’s artwork.”
“Will you bake for me sometime?” Kai asks when I don’t respond. “I promise not to judge or analyze it.”
“I want you to kiss me again.” Oh. He stares at my mouth.
“Because if I kiss you again,” he continues, “I have a feeling I’m going to want to do it every time I see you.”
“But you talk to me.” His blue eyes are soft. “Yeah, Mills. I talk to you.”
I wrap an arm around his little body so I’ve got them both
“You promised to help me find my balance in life. I thought I’d try to help you find your joy.”
“Trust me, if I ever kissed you again, it will be as my last and final resort to shut you up.” “Okay, I’ll keep talking then.”
“I love how much you hate that you’re attracted to me.”
I don’t watch the ingredients. I only watch him because I can’t get over seeing him experience these things for the first time. There’s so much joy on his sweet face and I find myself feeling the same way.
But I’ve got a naked baby over here, my hair is messily on top of my head, and I couldn’t feel more like myself.
“I like to bake for other people.”
Max and Malakai and Miller.
“Kai,” she whispers. “Hmm?” “Are you going to kiss me?” “Thinking about it.” “What happened to your no-more-kissing rule?” “Wanting to break it.”
“I’ve always hated that rule,” she says.
“Today was a good day.” It really was. Simple and good. Turning, I look at him, our lips almost brushing. “They can all be good days.”
“What was that for?” I ask, searching for air. “I like you vulnerable, Mills.” “Well, don’t get used to that. That was a one-time thing.” He chuckles. “Then I better make it worth it.”
“Please.” His ice-blue eyes are pleading with me. “All I can think about is fucking you right now, but you’re out of your goddamn mind if you think any of this could be easily forgettable for me.” He shakes his head, running a palm over his disbelieving face. “I think I’m ruined by simply watching you come, so please, do me a favor and go to bed.” Fixing my shirt, he gives me one last quick kiss. “And for the love of God…lock the fucking door.”
